Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, information processing method, and program, which make it easy to find a venue suitable for a completion watching event when planning the competition watching event and to recruit participants for the competition watching event.SOLUTION: An information processing device provided herein comprises: a storage unit configured to store venue information including information on competition watching events that can be held at each of one or more venues; a search unit configured to search for venues that can secure a space for the number of expected participants at the time of the specified competition watching event from among the stored venues, based on information on completion watching event specified by a first user; a registration unit configured to register event information including the venue specified by the first user among the searched venues and information on the competition watching event specified by the first user; and a provision unit configured to provide the registered event information to a second user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, restaurant reservation systems have been known that allow users to search for and reserve restaurants and other establishments by setting an area, genre, date and time, number of people, cost, and the like.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a reservation system that displays on a screen already confirmed reservations and seats that can be reserved for the customer's desired date and time, and when the screen is scrolled in the time direction, it assumes that the customer's desired date and time has changed and displays seats that can be reserved for the new date and time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-204172 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional systems such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1 do not function satisfactorily for organizers of sporting event viewing events, such as live viewing, when planning and recruiting participants. For example, sporting event viewing events of a wide variety of genres and scales have recently been held, and when planning a sporting event viewing event, it has been extremely difficult to find a venue suitable for each of these events. Furthermore, even if organizers are fortunate enough to find a venue, they then have to recruit participants for the event again, which is even more time-consuming and cumbersome.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, information processing method, and program that, when planning a sports viewing event, allows a venue suitable for the sports viewing event to be easily found, and also allows participants for the sports viewing event to be easily recruited. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a memory unit that stores venue information including information about competition viewing events that can be held at one or more venues; a search unit that searches for a venue that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time of the specified competition viewing event based on the competition viewing event specified by a first user (organizer); a registration unit that registers event information including the venue specified by the first user from among the searched venues and information about the competition viewing event specified by the first user; and a provision unit that provides the registered event information to a second user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, when planning a sports viewing event, it is possible to easily find a venue suitable for the sports viewing event and easily recruit participants for the sports viewing event. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram of an event information providing system including an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an event venue. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of an event. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing device and a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of functions of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of functions of a server that constitutes an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a venue information table according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an event information table according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a user information table according to the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an event information providing process. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an event venue determination process. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an event information registration process. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of an event information destination selection process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiment described below is merely an example given to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. That is, the present invention may be modified or improved from the embodiment described below without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention also includes equivalents thereof. In addition, in the following explanation, examples of screens displayed on the terminal are not shown, but examples of screen configurations, displayed information, and specific contents of the GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be freely designed and changed according to design specifications and user preferences.

[0011] <About the sporting event> 1 (hereinafter referred to as "event information providing system S") is a communication system including an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as "server 30") according to one embodiment of the present invention. The event information providing system S provides a first user U1, who is the organizer, with information about venues where a competition viewing event can be held, and also provides a second user U2, who is a potential participant, with event information including information about the venue where the competition viewing event will be held (hereinafter referred to as "event information providing service").

[0012] A "sports viewing event" is a type of event known as live viewing, in which live footage from a stadium where a sporting event is being held is screened at another venue, and multiple spectators watch the event together. A screen is usually set up at the venue, and participants who visit the venue enjoy cheering on the athletes (teams or individuals) they are rooting for while watching the competition footage screened on the screen.

[0013] In this embodiment, in principle, any user U who uses the event information providing system S can host a competition watching event. The following describes a case where a certain user U (first user U1) who uses the event information providing system S becomes the organizer who plans a competition watching event and solicits participants for the competition watching event from other users U (second users U2) who are potential participants. Note that the organizer who plans the competition watching event may, of course, be a venue manager or a specialized event planning company, etc.

[0014] "Competition" is not limited to sports such as baseball, soccer, basketball, etc., or athletics, swimming, or martial arts, but may also include any sport in which multiple athletes compete under certain rules. For example, it may include video games (including electronic sports), Go, Shogi, chess, Othello, poker, backgammon, mathematics, abacus, mental arithmetic, calligraphy, painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, music, or cooking.

[0015] A "venue" is any facility equipped with the equipment to show live footage of the competition, and includes not only restaurants and other establishments, but also hotels, halls, ceremony halls, event spaces, studios, sports facilities, etc. Furthermore, the venue may be divided into sections with separate spaces, seats, tables, etc., to make it easier for participants cheering for the same athlete (participants cheering for the same target) to gather together.

[0016] For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the venue 50 is divided into a plurality of areas, a first area 51 and a second area 52, and a screen 53 is disposed in each of the first area 51 and the second area. In this case, in a competition between competitors A and B, participants who are cheering for competitor A can gather in the first area 51, and participants who are cheering for competitor B can gather in the second area 52. A partition such as a curtain, a partition screen, or a fence can be provided at the boundary 54 between the first area 51 and the second area 52, but the division does not necessarily have to be particularly clear.

[0017] "Screen" refers to any display device capable of projecting live footage of a competition. For example, this includes displays such as LED screens or large monitors that receive live broadcasts and display competition footage, or projection screens that display competition footage projected from a film projector or projector.

[0018] The term "support target" refers to a competitor in a competition who is supported by a participant. Therefore, it can also be said that the participant is a fan of that support target. The support target may be a team or an individual.

[0019] The "target participants" are users U who may participate in the competition viewing event, and include all users U who are searching for a venue for the competition viewing event. In this embodiment, for the sake of convenience, the target participants are referred to as second users U2, but may include all users U who use the event information providing system S.

[0020] "Participant" refers to a user U who is actually at the venue of the competition viewing event among the above-mentioned target participants or a user U who plans to participate. In other words, participants also include users U who have not yet come to the venue of the competition viewing event but who have already purchased tickets for the competition viewing event and are therefore certain to participate in the competition viewing event or who are highly likely to participate.

[0021] 3, a general flow of steps up to the holding of a competition watching event will be described using the event information providing system S. In this embodiment, the main participants involved in holding a competition watching event are the organizer (first user U1), potential participants (second user U2), and a venue manager or other venue personnel (third user U3) who provides the venue where the competition watching event is held.

[0022] First, if the venue manager believes that the venue he or she manages or administers meets the conditions for hosting a sports viewing event and intends to offer the venue to the organizer as a venue for a sports viewing event, the venue manager will register the venue in advance in the event information provision system S as a venue capable of hosting a sports viewing event.

[0023] When planning a sports viewing event, the organizer specifies the target sports, decides the date and time of the event and the expected number of participants (number of reservations), etc., and then uses the event information providing system S to search for a venue that can secure space for the expected number of participants on the date and time of the event. If a suitable venue is found as a result of the venue search, the organizer uses the event information providing system S to make a reservation for that venue. At this time, the organizer may search and reserve by venue, or if the venue is divided into sections, the organizer may search and reserve by section.

[0024] The "date and time of the event" generally refers to the time period including the actual competition time and a predetermined time before and after the competition time.

[0025] In addition, when the venue is divided and multiple organizers simultaneously hold competition viewing events in the same venue, if one organizer A holds a competition viewing event where participants who are supporting athlete A gather, another organizer B may be prevented from holding a competition viewing event where participants who are supporting athlete B gather (hereinafter referred to as a competing competition viewing event). For example, when another organizer B searches for a venue, the same venue may not be displayed in the search results.

[0026] Examples of cases where a competing sports viewing event would prevent another organizer, B, from holding a sports viewing event at the same venue include the following: (a) When the target spectator events are the same (date: "Athlete A" vs. "Athlete B"), and one organizer A holds a spectator event to support Athlete A, another organizer B holds a spectator event to support Athlete B, who is the opponent. (b) When the target competition viewing events are the same (date of month, "FC○○" vs. "△△SC"), and one organizer A holds a competition viewing event to support Athlete A, a player belonging to FC○○, while another organizer B holds a competition viewing event to support Athlete B, a player belonging to the opposing team, △△SC.

[0027] On the other hand, if the venue staff member who has accepted the venue reservation determines that the competition viewing event can be held, he / she uses the event information providing system S to approve the provision of the venue and completes the venue reservation from the organizer.

[0028] When the organizer has decided on the venue for the competition viewing event, the organizer determines the participation fee (ticket price) per participant for the competition viewing event, taking into consideration the venue fee (venue usage fee) of the reserved venue and the number of participants expected, and creates tickets on the event information providing system S. At this time, the event information providing system S may automatically calculate the minimum participation fee amount that is profitable based on the venue fee and the number of participants expected. Note that even in this case, the organizer is not bound by the minimum participation fee amount, and can freely determine the participation fee himself by referring to this minimum participation fee amount.

[0029] The organizer then registers information about the competition viewing event that he or she has created (hereinafter referred to as event information) in the event information providing system S, and then uses the event information providing system S to make some or all of the event information public, sell tickets, and recruit participants. At this time, the organizer may preferentially or exclusively make the event information public to potential participants who are estimated to be interested in the competition viewing event and are likely to participate, in order to recruit participants.

[0030] A "ticket" refers to data that permits participation in a sports viewing event. The ticket contains event information. The ticket may be a so-called electronic ticket, a physical object printed on paper, or data for printing. Furthermore, if the venue 50 is divided into a first zone 51 and a second zone 52 based on the support target, the ticket may be associated with each of the first zone 51 and the second zone 52.

[0031] "Event information" refers to information for identifying a sports spectator event, including, for example, information about the content of the sports that constitutes the sports spectator event, the date and time of the event, the venue, the participation fee, the attributes of the organizer, or the history of past events.

[0032] On the other hand, when a potential participant is thinking of participating in a sports viewing event, the participant searches for a sports viewing event that suits the participant's hobbies and preferences using the event information providing system S. Then, when the participant finds a sports viewing event that suits the participant's hobbies and preferences from among the sports viewing events that are currently accepting participants, the participant uses the event information providing system S to purchase a ticket for the sports viewing event and apply to participate.

[0033] On the day of the event, the organizer will hold a sports viewing event, and participants who have purchased tickets will participate in the sports viewing event according to the start time. The event information providing system S may also be used to manage participants' entry and exit to the venue.

[0034] <Configuration of the Event Information System S> Next, the configuration of the event information providing system S for providing the above event information providing service to the user U will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the event information providing system S is constructed to provide a first user U1 with information about venues where a sports watching event can be held, and to provide a second user U2 with event information including information about the venue where the sports watching event will be held, and is composed of an information terminal (hereinafter referred to as "user terminal 10") operated by the user U (first user U1 to third user U3), and a server 30. The user terminal 10 and the server 30 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network N such as the Internet. The user terminal 10 may also be connected to a GPS satellite (not shown) so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0035] The user terminal 10 is equipped with a program stored therein and a processor that executes the program, and is carried and operated by its owner, the user U. The user terminal 10 may be any known device used as an information processing terminal, such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a laptop PC, a tablet device, a wearable device, or a gaming device with a communication function. The number of user terminals 10 constituting the event information providing system S is not particularly limited and may be any number. However, for convenience of illustration, FIG. 1 shows one user terminal 10 owned by a first user U1, three user terminals 10 owned by a second user U2, and one user terminal 10 owned by a third user U3.

[0036] The server 30 is a computer that constitutes the information processing device of the present invention. For example, it is configured by a server computer managed by an information provider, and is responsible for a series of processes related to the event information providing service. Specifically, it manages information about each user U (venue information for the third user U3) and distributes various data to each user U. Furthermore, the server 30 is not limited to a server device consisting of a single computer that independently performs a specific function, but may be configured as a group of server devices consisting of multiple computers that are distributed but work together to perform a specific function.

[0037] The network N may be any network that connects the user terminal 10 and the server 30 in a state that allows data communication between them. It may be wired or wireless, and includes the Internet, a mobile communication network, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, Ethernet (registered trademark), and the like. The user terminals 10 may communicate with each other via the network N, or may communicate directly with each other via Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark), or the like without going through the network N.

[0038] In the event information providing system S of this embodiment, the user terminal 10 and the server 30 cooperate with each other through the above configuration to realize an event information providing service. Specifically, part of the event information providing process is performed on the server 30 side, and part of the graphic processing and the like is executed on the user terminal 10 side. For example, a program including certain rules, logic, and algorithms is executed on the server 30 side. Meanwhile, the user terminal 10 side synchronizes with the server 30 and provides the event information providing service to the user U using the same rules, logic, and algorithms as the program executed on the server 30.

[0039] <Configuration of User Terminal 10> Next, the configuration of the user terminal 10 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 4, the user terminal 10 has a hardware configuration including a processor 11, a storage device 12, a communication interface (referred to as communication I / F in Figure 4) 13, an input device 14, and an output device 15, and these devices are electrically connected via a bus not shown.

[0040] The processor 11 includes, for example, a central processing unit, a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit, or a digital signal processor, and executes various types of arithmetic processing based on programs or data stored in the storage device 12, and controls each part of the user terminal 10. The programs executed by the processor 11 include an OS (Operating System), which is system software for controlling the entire user terminal 10, and application programs for the event information provision service, and the functions of the user terminal 10 constituting the event information provision system S are fulfilled by reading and executing these various programs by the processor 11.

[0041] The storage device 12 includes, for example, a memory or storage, and stores various programs and data. The memory is composed of semiconductor memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and provides a working area for the processor 11 by temporarily storing programs and data, and temporarily stores various data generated by the processing executed by the processor 11. The storage stores various data related to the event information provision service and is composed of, for example, flash memory, HDD (Hard Disc Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), FD (Flexible Disc), MO disk (Magneto-Optical disc), CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), SD card (Secure Digital card), and USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory).

[0042] The communication interface 13 is configured by, for example, a network interface card (NIC) or the like, and controls communication processing of the user terminal 10. There are no particular limitations on the communication standard used by the communication interface 13, and any public communication standard can be applied without any restrictions. The communication method used by the communication interface 13 may be a wireless method or a wired method.

[0043] The input device 14 is a device that receives an operation by the user U and generates data indicating the content of the received operation. As an example, an operation key, an operation button, a microphone for collecting sound, a camera for taking pictures, etc. provided on the user terminal 10 can be used.

[0044] The output device 15 is a device that draws a screen to display images, character string information, etc., and plays back audio. As an example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, a head-mounted display, a speaker, etc., provided in the user terminal 10 can be used. In this embodiment, the output device 15 includes at least a display. The display may be a device that combines the functions of both the input device 14 and the output device 15, such as a touch panel display.

[0045] Next, the configuration of the user terminal 10 will be explained again from a functional perspective with reference to FIG. 5, the user terminal 10 includes multiple functional units, specifically, an operation identification unit 16, a terminal storage unit 17, a terminal generation unit 18, a terminal transmission / reception unit 19, and a display processing unit 20. These functional units are realized by the cooperation of hardware devices of the user terminal 10 and programs stored in the user terminal 10 as software.

[0046] [Operation specification part 16] The operation identification unit 16 is mainly realized by the processor 11 and the input device 14, and identifies the content of various operations performed by the user U through the input device 14 of the user terminal 10. The operations identified by the operation identification unit 16 include an operation by the first user U1 to search for or reserve a venue where a competition viewing event will be held, an operation to determine a participation fee, an operation to register event information, etc.; an operation by the second user U2 to search for or determine a venue where a competition viewing event will be held, an operation to purchase a ticket and apply to participate in the competition viewing event, etc.; and an operation by the third user U3 to register a venue, an operation to approve the provision of the venue, etc.

[0047] [Terminal side storage unit 17] The terminal-side storage unit 17 is mainly realized by the processor 11 and the storage device 12, and stores various data related to the event information providing service (for example, character data, image data, video data, and audio data).

[0048] [Terminal side generation unit 18] The terminal-side generation unit 18 is mainly realized by the processor 11 and the storage device 12, and generates data etc. according to the operation content of the user U identified by the operation identification unit 16. The data generated here includes operation data according to the first user U1's operation of searching for or reserving a venue for the competition viewing event, an operation of determining the participation fee, and an operation of registering event information. The data also includes operation data according to the second user U2's operation of searching for or determining the venue for the competition viewing event, and an operation of purchasing a ticket and applying to participate in the competition viewing event. The data also includes operation data according to the third user U3's operation of registering a venue and approving the provision of the venue. These generated data are transmitted to the server 30 by the terminal-side transmission / reception unit 19.

[0049] [Terminal side transceiver 19] The terminal-side transmitting / receiving unit 19 is mainly realized by the processor 11, the storage device 12, and the communication interface 13, and transmits and receives data and information between the server 30 and the user terminal 10 of another user U. For example, the terminal-side transmitting / receiving unit 19 receives various data related to the event information providing service sent from the server 30, and transmits the various operation data described above to the server 30.

[0050] [Display processing unit 20] The display processing unit 20 is mainly realized by the processor 11, the storage device 12, and the output device 15, and executes display processing to display on the display using the browsing function the data and information received by the terminal-side transmitting / receiving unit 19. Specifically, the display processing unit 20 expands various data related to the event information providing service received by the terminal-side transmitting / receiving unit 19 from the server 30, and displays text, images, and other information on the display.

[0051] In addition, the user terminal 10 may have a function to acquire the location of the user terminal 10, i.e., the location information (coordinate position) of the user U carrying the user terminal 10, by a method of detecting the location of the user terminal 10 using signals from a GPS satellite (not shown), or a method of detecting the location of the user terminal 10 using radio wave strength from a base station of a mobile phone system or an access point of Wi-Fi communication, etc.

[0052] <Server 30 configuration> Next, the configuration of the server 30 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 4, the server 30 has the same hardware configuration as a general server computer, and is equipped with a processor 31, a storage device 32, and a communication interface (referred to as communication I / F in Figure 4) 33, and these devices are electrically connected via a bus not shown.

[0053] The processor 31 is configured with a CPU, an MPU, a GPU, a DSP, etc., and performs various processes by executing programs installed in the server 30. The programs executed by the processor 31 include an OS, which is system software for controlling the entire server 30, and application programs for causing the server 30 to function as the information processing device of the present invention.

[0054] The storage device 32 includes, for example, a memory or storage, and stores various programs and data. The memory is composed of semiconductor memory such as ROM and RAM, and provides a working area for the processor 31 by temporarily storing programs and data, and temporarily stores data generated by various processes executed by the processor 31. The storage stores various data related to the user U and the games, etc., and is configured, for example, with flash memory, HDD, SSD, FD, MO disk, CD, DVD, SD card, USB memory, etc. Note that a server computer for a database connected to the server 30 via the network N may also be used as storage.

[0055] The communication interface 33 is configured, for example, by a network interface card or the like, and controls communication processing of the server 30. There are no particular limitations on the communication standard used by the communication interface 33, and any public communication standard can be applied without any restrictions. The communication method used by the communication interface 33 may be a wireless method or a wired method.

[0056] Next, the configuration of the server 30 will be explained again from a functional perspective with reference to FIG. 6. 6, the server 30 comprises a plurality of functional units, specifically a server-side storage unit 34, a server-side transmission / reception unit 35, a server-side generation unit 36, a search unit 37, a registration unit 38, a provision unit 39, a participation fee calculation unit 40, and a management unit 41. These functional units are realized by the cooperation of the hardware devices of the server 30 and software programs stored in the server 30. Note that when the server 30 is made up of a plurality of computers, the above functions may be distributed so that each of the plurality of computers performs a different function.

[0057] [Server-side storage unit 34] The server-side storage unit 34 is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and stores various data including data related to the venue, data related to event information, data related to the user U, and other data related to the event information providing service.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 7, the venue information table T1, which is data related to venues, includes items such as an ID for identifying the venue and venue attributes (name, contact information, address, URL, maximum capacity, facilities, and venue fees). The information also includes items related to available events, which indicate the types of competitions that can be held at the venue, and available dates and times, which indicate the dates and times (available dates and times) that can be reserved as a venue for a competition viewing event. The available events and available dates and times are managed in a separate table (not shown) associated with each venue.

[0059] Also, as shown in Figure 8, the event information table T2, which is data related to event information, includes items such as a serial number for identifying the competition viewing event, the name of the competition viewing event, information about the organizer of the competition viewing event (organizer ID and organizer name), and the date, time, participation fee, and capacity of the competition viewing event. It also includes information about the sport that is the subject of the sport watching event, that is, items related to the sport genre, the sport subject (match card, etc.), the date and time of the sport, etc. It also includes information about the venue associated with the venue information, ie, items related to the venue name, venue contact information, venue address, venue URL, etc. It also includes information regarding the sales record of tickets to participate in the competition spectator event, i.e., items regarding the total number of tickets, the number of sold tickets, and the breakdown of sold tickets (shown as Sold Tickets A and Sold Tickets B in FIG. 8). In this embodiment, ticket A is associated with FC ○○, and ticket B is associated with △△SC. Therefore, it can be assumed that user U who purchased ticket A is a fan of FC ○○, and user U who purchased ticket B is a fan of △△SC. It also includes information about participants who will be attending the competition viewing event, i.e., items related to the number of participants, the participation rate, and the breakdown of participants (referred to as "participants" in FIG. 8). In this embodiment, the number of participants includes the number of users U who are actually participating and the number of users U who plan to participate in the future, so the number of participants is equal to the number of tickets sold. Furthermore, participants are synonymous with ticket purchasers, and the breakdown of participants shows the user IDs of participants associated with the user information described below. In addition, it includes items regarding the characteristics of the venue, etc.

[0060] "Venue characteristics" refers to dynamic venue features such as the atmosphere and excitement of the venue that arise from the attributes of the participants' support targets. In other words, venue characteristics include, for example, the atmosphere of the venue, which is influenced by which athlete the majority of participants support (the number of fans of each athlete), and the excitement of the venue, which is influenced by the number of participants, etc. These venue characteristics are determined by various factors, but can also change over time because they are influenced by, for example, information about ticket sales and information about the participants gathered.

[0061] The characteristics of a venue can also be predicted by, for example, associating tickets with athletes and selling tickets categorized by support target, analyzing the number of tickets sold for each athlete, i.e., which athlete has more tickets purchased. For example, in a match between athletes A and B, if more tickets associated with athlete A are purchased, it can be predicted that more fans of athlete A will gather at the venue, creating an atmosphere in which to support athlete A. Furthermore, even if tickets are sold without linking them to athletes, the characteristics of the venue can be predicted by analyzing the supporters of each ticket-purchasing participant and identifying which athletes are most likely to be supported by participants.

[0062] Also, as shown in Figure 9, the user information table T3, which is data related to user U, includes items such as an ID for identifying user U and personal information of user U (including attributes such as name, gender, age, address, and telephone number). It also includes information about the user U's hobbies and tastes, i.e., items related to genres of interest and targets for support. The items related to targets for support are used to identify athletes who are targets for support by the user U. In other words, the items related to targets for support indicate that the user U is a fan of a specific team or a specific individual, etc., and supports that team or individual, etc. The information also includes items related to other users U who are friends with the user U and who are linked by mutual approval between the users U (hereinafter referred to as "friends"), and past history identifying competition viewing events that the user U has previously participated in (such as genre, support target, organizer of competition viewing events that the user U has previously participated in, or other users U who have previously participated together). The friends section shows a user ID that identifies other users U linked to the user U. The past history section shows a serial number associated with event information indicating competition viewing events that the user U has previously participated in.

[0063] [Server-side transmitting / receiving unit 35] The server-side transmitting / receiving unit 35 is mainly realized by the processor 31, the storage device 32, and the communication interface 33, and transmits and receives data and information to and from the user terminal 10. For example, the server-side transmitting / receiving unit 35 transmits various data related to the event information providing service to the user terminal 10 of the user U, and receives various operation data from the user terminal 10.

[0064] [Server-side generation part 36] The server-side generation unit 36 ​​is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and generates data to be transmitted by the server-side transmission / reception unit 35. The data generated here specifically includes various data related to the event information provision service corresponding to the various operation data received from the user terminal 10. The various data related to the event information provision service include data indicating information about the venue searched by the search unit 37 (described later), data indicating event information registered by the registration unit 38 (described later), and data indicating the minimum participation fee calculated by the participation fee calculation unit 40 (described later).

[0065] [Search Section 37] The search unit 37 is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and searches registered venues for venues that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the date and time of the specified competition viewing event based on the content of the competition viewing event specified by the first user U1. If the venue is divided into sections, the search is performed by section. If the venue is divided into sections, the first user U1 searching for a venue for a competing competition viewing event may be excluded from the search even if the section is vacant. Data indicating the search results is sent to the user terminal 10 of the first user U1 by the server-side transceiver 35. Furthermore, based on the conditions specified by the second user U2, the search unit 37 searches for a competition watching event that meets the conditions from among the competition watching events registered by the registration unit 38 (described later). The search unit 37 then transmits the searched event to the user terminal 10 of the second user U2 by the server-side transceiver 35.

[0066] [Registration Section 38] The registration unit 38 is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and registers event information including information on the venue selected by the first user U1 from among the searched venues in the server-side storage unit 34 based on operation data from the first user U1. Furthermore, the registration unit 38 registers in the server-side storage unit 34 venues where the competition watching event can be held, based on operation data from the third user U3.

[0067] [Provider part 39] The providing unit 39 is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and provides the registered event information to the second user U2 by transmitting data indicating the event information to the user terminal 10 in cooperation with the server-side transmitting / receiving unit 35. At this time, tickets are also sold when providing the event information, and the tickets are provided to the second user U2 who has purchased them.

[0068] The providing unit 39 can also select a second user U2 from the second users U2 who is suitable for the competition event, and provide the selected second user U2 with the event information preferentially or in a limited manner. Specifically, the providing unit 39 compares the user information of the second user U2 (attributes, genres of interest, support target, past history, etc.) with the event information to calculate the degree of suitability, selects the second user U2 whose degree of suitability satisfies a predetermined condition, such as a predetermined value or more, and provides the event information to the second user U2.

[0069] The "suitability" is the degree to which a competition viewing event being held is suitable for the hobbies and tastes of the second user U2. For example, the suitability is high when the competition viewing event is related to the genre of interest of the second user U2, when the competition viewing event is related to an athlete who is classified as a support target similar to the support target of the second user U2, or when the competition viewing event is related to a competition viewing event that the second user U2 has previously participated in. Furthermore, the suitability is also high when the ticket sales situation is analyzed and the competition viewing event has participants who are friends of the second user U2 or who have previously participated in the same competition event (participation history). Furthermore, the suitability may be high for competition viewing events held at venues close to the address or current location of the second user U2.

[0070] [Participation fee calculation section 40] The participation fee calculation unit 40 is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and calculates the minimum participation fee that will be profitable when holding a competition viewing event based on the venue fee for the determined venue and the expected number of participants. Specifically, the minimum participation fee is calculated by dividing the venue fee by the expected number of participants. The minimum participation fee calculated here is generated as data in cooperation with the server-side generation unit 36, and data indicating the minimum participation fee is sent to the user terminal 10 of the first user U1 by the server-side transmission / reception unit 35.

[0071] [Management Department 41] The management unit 41 is mainly realized by the processor 31 and the storage device 32, and is mainly responsible for managing tickets and performing settlement of the price (participation fee) of sold tickets. It also cancels sold tickets, manages ticket sales records, tallying the number of participants and analyzing participant data. It also manages the entry and exit of second users U2 to and from the venue.

[0072] In general, the user terminal 10 and the server 30 have various functions other than those described above, but here we will only explain the characteristic functions that have an effect on the event information provision system S of the present invention, and will not illustrate or explain other known functions, etc.

[0073] <Processing flow of the event information provision system S> Next, the flow of processing executed in the event information providing system S configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. The information processing method of this embodiment is realized by using an event information providing system S that functions as a computer system; in other words, the information processing performed by the event information providing system S applies the information processing method of this embodiment.

[0074] [Event information provision processing] First, an example of the event information providing process will be described with reference to FIG. The "event information provision process" is a process executed on the server 30, which searches for a venue from among pre-registered venues that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time of the specified competition viewing event, based on the competition viewing event specified by the first user U1, registers event information including information about the venue specified by the first user and the competition viewing event specified by the first user from among the searched venues, and provides the registered event information to the second user U2.

[0075] As shown in Figure 10, first, the server 30 receives operation data from the first user U1 in response to an operation to search for a venue for a competition viewing event and accepts the event plan (S101), then determines a venue where the competition viewing event can be held (S102), and registers event information including information about the determined venue (S103). Then, a second user U2 to whom the registered event information is to be provided is selected (S104), and the registered event information is provided to the selected second user U2 (S105), thereby terminating the process.

[0076] Hereinafter, each process (event venue determination process, event information registration process, and event information destination selection process) executed in the event information provision process will be described in detail.

[0077] [Event venue decision process] An example of the event venue determination process will be described with reference to FIG. The "event venue determination process" is a process executed by the server 30, and is the process executed in step S102 of the event information provision process described above.

[0078] 11, first, the server 30 searches for one or more venues that meet the conditions specified by the first user U1 from among the venues pre-registered in the server-side storage unit 34 (S201). Then, if a venue that meets the conditions such as the date and time of the event and the number of participants planned (S202: YES), the server 30 transmits the search results to the user terminal 10 of the first user U1 and displays them (S203). Next, when the server 30 receives operation data from the first user U1 corresponding to an operation to reserve a venue for a competition viewing event from among the venues shown as the search results and accepts the venue reservation (S204: YES), it confirms with the third user U3 whether or not to approve the provision of the venue (S205). Then, the server 30 receives operation data from the third user U3 corresponding to an operation approving the provision of the venue, and when the provision of the venue is approved by the third user U3 (S205: YES), it determines the venue where the competition viewing event will be held (S206) and terminates the processing.

[0079] On the other hand, if there is no venue that meets the conditions specified by the first user U1 (S202: NO), if the venue reservation is not accepted from the first user U1 (S204: NO), or if the provision of the venue is not approved by the third user U3 (S205: NO), the process ends. At this time, a notification according to each content may be sent to the first user U1.

[0080] [Event information registration process] Next, an example of the event information registration process will be described with reference to FIG. The "event information registration process" is a process executed by the server 30, and is the process executed in step S103 of the event information provision process described above.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 12, first, the server 30 reads the venue information of the designated venue designated and determined by the first user U1 from among the venues pre-registered in the server-side storage unit 34 (S301). Next, the server 30 calculates the minimum participation fee based on the relationship between the venue fee included in the venue information and the number of people expected to participate in the competition viewing event set by the first user U1 (S302), and transmits and presents data indicating the calculated minimum participation fee to the user terminal 10 of the first user U1 (S303). Then, the server 30 receives operation data corresponding to the operation to determine the participation fee from the first user U1 and determines the participation fee (S304), registers the event information including the venue information for which the participation fee has been determined (S305), and ends the processing.

[0082] [Event information recipient selection process] Next, an example of the event information destination selection process will be described with reference to FIG. The "event information destination selection process" is a process executed by the server 30, and is the process executed in step S104 of the event information provision process described above.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 13, first, the server 30 reads the user information (attributes, genres of interest, support targets, past history, etc.) of the second user U2 from the user information recorded in the server-side storage unit 34 (S401). Next, the server 30 compares the read user information of the second user U2 with the registered event information (S402), calculates the suitability of each second user U2 for the competition viewing event (S403), and selects the second user U2 whose calculated suitability meets a specified condition, such as a specified value or higher, as the recipient of the event information (S404), and terminates the processing.

[0084] <Other embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In the above embodiment, the server 30 executes the program of the present invention and functions as the information processing device of the present invention, but some or all of the functions of the server 30 as the information processing device may be provided in the user terminal 10. For example, the user terminal 10 may be provided with a function equivalent to the search unit 37, etc.

[0085] <Summary> The main features of the information processing device, information processing method, and program according to the above-described embodiment are as follows.

[0086] [1] The information processing device of this embodiment has a memory unit that stores venue information including information about competition viewing events that can be held at one or more venues; a search unit that searches for a venue from among the venues that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time of the specified competition viewing event based on the competition viewing event specified by a first user; a registration unit that registers event information including the venue specified by the first user from among the searched venues and information about the competition viewing event specified by the first user; and a provision unit that provides the registered event information to a second user. According to the above information processing device, a venue that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time of the competition viewing event specified by a first user is searched for, and event information including information about the venue specified by the first user and the competition viewing event is provided to a second user.This allows the first user, when planning a competition viewing event, to easily find a venue that is suitable for the competition viewing event, and can easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among second users.

[0087] [2] In the information processing device described above, the event information includes information about attributes of the first user or information about a competition watching event held by the first user in the past. According to the above-mentioned information processing device, by providing a second user with event information including information about the attributes of the first user or information about a competition viewing event that the first user has previously held, the second user can more easily select a competition viewing event, and therefore the first user can more easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among second users.

[0088] [3] In the information processing device, the providing unit provides the second user with data for permitting participation in the competition watching event. According to the above-mentioned information processing device, by providing the second user with data permitting them to participate in the competition viewing event, the effort required for selling or managing tickets to participate in the competition viewing event can be reduced, and therefore the first user can more easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among the second users.

[0089] [4] The information processing device further includes a participation fee calculation unit that calculates the minimum participation fee for the competition watching event based on the venue fee for the venue designated by the first user and the number of participants expected to participate. According to the above-mentioned information processing device, by providing the first user with the minimum participation fee for the competition viewing event calculated from the venue fee for the venue specified by the first user and the expected number of participants, the first user can easily grasp the break-even point when planning a competition viewing event, allowing the first user to more easily find a venue suitable for the competition viewing event and more easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among second users.

[0090] [5] In the above-mentioned information processing device, the memory unit stores second user information including information regarding the second user's attributes or participation history in past competition viewing events, and the providing unit provides the registered event information to a second user whose value calculated based on the second user information and the event information satisfies a predetermined condition. According to the information processing device, by searching for venues with areas that can secure space for the number of participants expected, the first user can more easily find a venue suitable for a sports watching event. On the other hand, it is also efficient for the venue side, as it allows multiple events to be held simultaneously.

[0091] [6] In the information processing device described above, the venue is divided into a plurality of areas, and the search unit searches for a venue having an area that can secure space for the number of participants expected. According to the information processing device described above, each area corresponds to one of the multiple athletes competing in the competition, making it an attractive competition viewing event where participants can get excited by splitting up into groups based on the athletes they are rooting for, making it even easier for first users to recruit participants in the competition viewing event from among second users.

[0092] [7] In the above information processing device, the venue is divided into a plurality of areas, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of athletes competing in the event. According to the above-mentioned information processing device, by disposing of screens for showing the competition in each area, participants can enjoy an attractive competition viewing event in each area, and therefore, the first user can more easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among the second users.

[0093] [8] In the information processing device, the competition watching event involves watching the competition on a screen, and screens are arranged in each area. According to the information processing device described above, by setting the duration of the competition watching event to a predetermined time period that includes both before and after the competition time, the first user can more easily find a venue suitable for the competition watching event.

[0094] [9] In the above information processing device, the event time is a predetermined time period that includes the time before and after the competition time of the competition. According to the above-mentioned information processing device, by providing event information to a second user for whom a value calculated based on the second user's attributes or participation history in past competition viewing events and the attributes of the competition viewing event satisfies a predetermined condition, the event information can be made known to second users who are likely to be interested in the specified competition target event, making it even easier for the first user to recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among second users.

[0095]

[10] Furthermore, according to the information processing method of this embodiment, a computer stores venue information including information about competition viewing events that can be held at one or more venues, searches for a venue that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time of the specified competition viewing event based on the competition viewing event specified by a first user, registers event information including the venue specified by the first user from the searched venues and information about the competition viewing event specified by the first user, and provides the registered event information to a second user. According to the above information processing method, based on a competition viewing event specified by a first user, a venue that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time the event is held is searched for, and event information including the venue specified by the first user and information about the competition viewing event is provided to a second user.This allows the first user, when planning a competition viewing event, to easily find a venue that is suitable for the competition viewing event, and can easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among second users.

[0096]

[11] Furthermore, according to the program of this embodiment, the program is executed by a computer, and causes the computer to store venue information including information about competition viewing events that can be held at one or more venues, and based on the competition viewing event specified by a first user, causes the computer to search for a venue that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time the specified competition viewing event is held, causes the computer to register event information including the venue specified by the first user from the searched venues and information about the competition viewing event specified by the first user, and causes the computer to provide the registered event information to a second user. According to the above program, based on the competition viewing event specified by the first user, a venue that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time of the event is searched for, and event information including the venue specified by the first user and information about the competition viewing event is provided to the second user.This allows the first user, when planning a competition viewing event, to easily find a venue that is suitable for the competition viewing event, and can easily recruit participants for the competition viewing event from among second users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 10 User terminal 11 processors 12 Storage device 13 Communication Interface 14 Input Devices 15 Output Devices 16 Operation specific part 17 Terminal side memory unit 18 Terminal side generation unit 19 Terminal side transceiver 20 Display processing section 30 servers 31 processors 32 Storage device 33 Communication Interface 34 Server-side storage unit 35 Server-side transmission / reception unit 36 Server-side generation unit 37 Search Section 38 Registration Department 39 Providing Department 40 Participation Fee Calculation Department 41 Management Department 50 event venues 51 Area 1 52 Second area 53 screens 54 Boundary N Network S Event Information System T1 Venue Information Table T2 Event Information Table T3 User Information Table U1 First User U2 Second user U3 Third user

Claims

[Claim 1] a storage unit that stores venue information including information about competition viewing events that can be held at one or more venues; a search unit that searches for a venue from among the venues that can secure space for the number of participants expected at the time the specified competition watching event is held, based on the competition watching event specified by a first user; a registration unit that registers event information including information about a venue designated by the first user from among the searched venues and a competition watching event designated by the first user; a providing unit that provides the registered event information to a second user; An information processing device comprising:

Images