Work providing device, work providing system, work providing program, and work providing method

Abstract

To provide a work providing device, work providing system, work providing program, and work providing method that allow a user to transmit a comment without constraint and improve a sense of security when reading a comment by another user.SOLUTION: A work providing device includes a control unit that provides a work including a plurality of sentences and separated into each grouped small section to a user who has logged in as a reader on a small section basis. For example, when receiving a comment transmitted by a user, the control unit provides a comment to another user who has already been provided with the small section the user who has transmitted the comment is reading. When providing a new small section to a user, the control unit may invite the user to a chat room whose members are readers reading the small section. With this configuration, a so-called spoiler is suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work providing device, a work providing system, a work providing program, and a work providing method for providing a work made up of a plurality of sentences. [Background technology]

[0002] A system is known that provides pre-registered text to a user who logs in as a reader (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that provides branch destination options at branch points such as the end of a chapter in content, and provides the user with the branch destination selected by the user.

[0003] In such systems, there has long been a need for readers of the same work to share their impressions, etc. In this regard, many e-commerce sites allow users to refer to comments from other users through word-of-mouth, and manga apps also allow readers to share comments. These functions are likely to be applicable to work distribution systems. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-21469 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when conventional methods are applied to a work distribution system, there is a risk of so-called spoilers occurring, so users are hesitant to read comments posted by other users and are unable to safely post their thoughts, feelings, etc.

[0006] To provide a work providing device, a work providing system, a work providing program, and a work providing method that allow users to send comments without hesitation and increase the sense of security when reading comments from other users, in order to solve the problems described above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A work providing device according to one aspect of the present invention has a control unit that provides a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, in each small section, and when the control unit receives a comment sent by a user, it provides the comment to other users to whom the small section being read by the user has already been provided.

[0008] A work providing device according to one aspect of the present invention has a control unit that provides a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, in each small section. When the control unit receives a comment sent by a user, it provides the comment to other users who have already provided all of the small sections provided to that user.

[0009] A work providing device according to one aspect of the present invention has a control unit that provides a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each small section. The control unit generates chat rooms linked to each of the plurality of small sections, with users currently reading the small section as members, and when providing a new small section to a user, invites the user to the chat room linked to the small section.

[0010] A work providing device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a control unit that provides a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each small section. The control unit generates a chat room that is linked one-to-one to at least one small section and whose members are users who are reading the small section, and when providing a new small section to a user that has a chat room linked to it, the control unit invites the user to the chat room linked to the small section.

[0011] A work provision device according to one aspect of the present invention has a control unit that provides a work, which is composed of multiple sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each small section. The control unit generates a chat room linked to a predetermined combination of small sections, and invites users who have received all of the small sections included in the combination to the chat room linked to the combination.

[0012] A work providing device according to one aspect of the present invention has a control unit that provides a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, in each section. The control unit provides an administrative user who has logged in as the author of the work with reaction data indicating the reactions of all users who have received the work to the work, and also provides the user with reaction data relating to other users that has been approved by the administrative user.

[0013] A work provision system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the work provision device described above, a transmission unit that accepts comments sent by users based on reading data sent from the work provision device, and an information terminal that has a display unit that displays a reaction section in which comments sent through the transmission unit are displayed.

[0014] A work provision program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as provision processing means for providing a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, in each small section. When the provision processing means receives a comment sent by a user, it provides the comment to other users who are receiving the small section that the user is reading.

[0015] A work providing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured so that one or more processors execute a subsection providing step of providing a work, which is composed of a plurality of sentences and divided into small sections, to users who have logged in as readers, in each subsection, and a comment providing step of, when a comment sent by a certain user is received, providing the comment to other users who are receiving the subsection that the user is reading. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The present invention is configured so that only comments from other users who share a common reading path are provided to the user, so that the user can freely send comments and can read comments from other users with peace of mind. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a work providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an outline of selection provision data corresponding to a question and a plurality of options stored in a storage unit of the work provision device of FIG. [Figure 3] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an outline of selected provision data corresponding to a question and answer field in a storage unit of the work provision device of FIG. [Figure 4] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an outline of selection provision data corresponding to a question, a plurality of options, and an answer field, stored in a storage unit of the work provision device of FIG. [Figure 5]This is an explanatory diagram of the structure of works and user management provided by the work provision system in Figure 1, where (a) shows an example of the structure of works, and (b) shows a schematic example of a user database in which the reading progress of each general user is organized. [Figure 6] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic example of a comment database in which user-submitted comments are organized, the comment database being managed by the product providing device of FIG. [Figure 7] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen that the management terminal of FIG. 1 displays to the management user. [Figure 8] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen that the management terminal of FIG. 1 displays to a management user who logs in from a smartphone or the like. [Figure 9] 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a basic setting screen displayed by the management terminal of FIG. 1 when an operation to specify a work is accepted on the initial screen such as FIG. 7 or FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an area including an upper portion of the editing screen displayed by the management terminal of FIG. 1 when an operation to specify a subsection is accepted on the basic setting screen such as that of FIG. 9; FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an area including a lower portion of the editing screen displayed by the management terminal of FIG. 1 when an operation to specify a subsection is accepted on the basic setting screen such as that of FIG. 9; FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a statistics confirmation screen displayed by the management terminal of FIG. 1 when an operation to instruct the display of statistical data is accepted on the editing screen such as that of FIG. 10 or FIG. 11; FIG. [Figure 13] 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen that the information terminal of FIG. 1 displays to a general user. [Figure 14] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen relating to the first subsection, which is displayed to a general user by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 15] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen in an immersive mode that is displayed to a general user by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 16] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a chat-style reading screen displayed by the information terminal of FIG. 1 for general users. [Figure 17] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen relating to the second and subsequent subsections, which is displayed to a general user by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 18] 1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen relating to a subsection of the ending, which is displayed to a general user by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 19] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a route confirmation screen that the information terminal of FIG. 1 displays to a general user who has read the main part of the article. [Figure 20] 1. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a route confirmation screen displayed by the information terminal of FIG. 1 to a general user who has reached a false conclusion. [Figure 21] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a path confirmation screen displayed by the information terminal of FIG. 1 to a general user who has reached the true conclusion by omitting some of the subsections that make up the main story. FIG. [Figure 22] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a route confirmation screen that the information terminal of FIG. 1 displays to a general user to whom a plurality of subsections relating to separate sections have been provided. FIG. [Figure 23] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen including an invitation button, which is displayed to general users by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 24] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen including a chat box, which is displayed to general users by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 25] 1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reading screen including a complete reading chat, which is displayed to a general user by the information terminal of FIG. [Figure 26] 1 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of an outline of the exchange between a work providing device and a management terminal in a work providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of information provision processing from a work provision device to a management terminal in a work provision method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] 1 is a sequence chart illustrating an outline of interactions between a work providing device and an information terminal and a management terminal in a work providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29]1 is a sequence chart illustrating a process flow relating to the management and provision of reaction data in a work provision method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow when an administrative user selects reaction data in a work providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow relating to the management and provision of chat rooms in a work provision method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Embodiment 1 to 25, a schematic configuration example and a functional configuration example of the work providing system 100 according to the embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for components common to each figure, and explanations will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. Some reference numerals may be omitted in each figure to avoid complicating the drawings and explanations.

[0019] 1, the work providing system 100 includes a work providing device 10, an operation terminal 20, a management terminal 30, and multiple information terminals 50. The work providing device 10, the operation terminal 20, the management terminal 30, and the multiple information terminals 50 are capable of communicating with each other via a network N such as the Internet, either wired or wirelessly.

[0020] The work providing device 10 manages works that are composed of multiple sentences and divided into small sections, as well as various information associated with the works. The works may be novels, etc., composed only of text, or manga, etc., which combine pictures and text. In the case of works composed only of text, each of the multiple small sections that make up the work is composed of a single piece of text. In the case of manga, the work may include dialogue, onomatopoeia, etc. The work providing device 10 is composed of a cloud server based on cloud computing, an on-premise physical server, or a server system that combines these.

[0021] The operation terminal 20 is a PC (Personal Computer) or the like used by the operator of a system related to work provision processing managed by the work providing device 10 (hereinafter referred to as the operation system). PCs include desktop PCs, notebook PCs, tablet PCs, smartphones, and the like. An operator on the operation side can add and edit information about the software and databases managed by the work providing device 10 via the operation terminal 20, and perform maintenance of the operation system, etc.

[0022] The information terminal 50 is a PC or the like used by a general user. A general user is a user who logs in as a reader of a work provided by the operating system, and will hereinafter be referred to as a "reader" or simply as a "user." A general user registers user information such as a user name (such as a name or nickname), unique identification information (such as an ID or email address), and unique password in the operating system via the information terminal 50. A general user can use services provided by the operating system, for example, by entering the identification information and password into a login screen provided by the work providing device 10.

[0023] The management terminal 30 is a PC or the like used by an administrative user. The administrative user is a user who logs in as the creator (author) of a work provided by the operating system, and is hereinafter also referred to as the "author." The administrative user registers user information, such as a user name, unique identification information, and unique password, in the operating system via the management terminal 30. The administrative user can use services provided by the operating system, for example, by entering the identification information and password into a login screen provided by the work providing device 10.

[0024] The level and amount of information registered in the operating system may differ between general users and administrative users. In particular, administrative users are granted the authority to modify question data (described below) and the works themselves (the extent of modification is determined by settings). Therefore, the work providing device 10 may require administrative users to register relatively high-level information or a large amount of information. Examples of high-level information include images of photo identification and biometric authentication information.

[0025] More specifically, the work providing device 10 has a communication unit 11, a control unit 12, and a storage unit 13. The communication unit 11 is an interface that allows the control unit 12 to communicate with external devices such as the operation terminal 20, the management terminal 30, and the information terminal 50 via wired or wireless communication. The storage unit 13 is composed of RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, eMMC (Embedded Multi Media Card), SSD (Solid State Drive), or HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 13 stores various information in addition to the operating program of the control unit 12, including the work providing program 13p. The work providing program 13p is software that realizes various functions in cooperation with a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0026] The storage unit 13 stores, for example, a work (information about the work) that includes multiple sentences and is divided into small sections, and question data that corresponds to at least one small section in the work and includes questions related to the content of the small section. In a work that is composed only of text, a small section may refer to, for example, each chapter in a chaptered novel, but is not limited to this and may also refer to an arbitrarily set block of text. If the work is a manga, a small section may be set for each episode, or a small section may be set for multiple episodes, or a combination of these may be set for small sections. However, a small section may be set in the middle of a story, or a single story may be subdivided into multiple small sections.

[0027] The question data may be configured to include, for example, a question related to the content of a subsection and multiple options linked to the question. The question data may include a question related to the content of the subsection and an answer field for the question. The question data may also be configured to include a question related to the content of the subsection, multiple options linked to the question, and a reason field for entering the reason for the selection. Three types of question data configurations are illustrated here, but this is not limiting. Furthermore, a single work may be combined with question data having different configurations. The question data may be associated with all subsections or with only some of the subsections. Hereinafter, a question related to the content of a subsection will be simply referred to as a "question." The work providing device 10 may provide a work in which question data is not associated with any subsection.

[0028] The storage unit 13 includes a setting database that records settings made by the administrative user. Multiple setting databases may be provided. The storage unit 13 stores selection provision data that includes, for example, multiple options linked to a question and information on sub-categories provided when each option is selected (information on the screen to which the user transitions when selected). The selection provision data can be set later by the administrative user.

[0029] Here, the selective provision data will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 illustrates an example of an outline of selective provision data corresponding to a work having a plurality of question data (first question data) each consisting of a question and a plurality of options linked to the question. Figure 3 illustrates an example of an outline of selective provision data corresponding to a work having a plurality of question data (second question data) each consisting of a question and an answer field for the question. Figure 4 illustrates an example of an outline of selective provision data corresponding to a work in which one or more first question data and one or more second question data are set.

[0030] A work handled by the operating system may be composed of, for example, multiple subsections that make up the main story and one or more subsections related to a side story. The side story may include subsections other than the main story, and may include subsections that lead to a false ending in addition to a false ending. The work illustrated in Figure 2 has four subsections that make up the main story and five subsections related to the side story. The work illustrated in Figure 3 has four subsections that make up the main story and four subsections related to the side story. The work illustrated in Figure 4 has five subsections that make up the main story and four subsections related to the side story.

[0031] The number of questions that can be set for one subsection may be three or more and can be increased or decreased as appropriate, and the number of question options may be four or more and can be increased or decreased as appropriate. Chapter 3 of the work in Figure 2 and Chapter 2 of the work in Figure 3 are configured with two questions, and the transition destination is determined by a combination of correct and incorrect answers to these questions. Chapter 3 of the work in Figure 4 is an example in which the transition destination is determined by a combination of correct and incorrect answers to two questions, or a combination of two options (A, B) for one question and the validity (○, ×) of the input in the reason field. A question may be set between subsections related to the separate sections, such as between Separate 1 and Bad 2 in Figures 2 and 3, and a correct answer may return to the main section. While Figures 2 to 4 illustrate table information that shows the selection provision data alone, the selection provision data may also be part of table information that includes other settings.

[0032] The storage unit 13 may include a reaction database (hereinafter referred to as a reaction DB) in which reaction data representing reactions of general users is linked to the unique identification information of the general users and stored. The unique identification information of the general users is a user ID or the like, hereinafter referred to as a "user identifier." The reaction DB may link reaction data with information on the date and time of the reaction (such as information on the date and time of the comment submission). The reaction DB may link reaction data with identification information of the subsection that the general user was reading when the reaction data was submitted. In this specification, "reading" refers not only to reading works such as novels that are composed only of text, but also to reading works such as manga that combine pictures and text. The identification information of the subsection is unique information assigned to each subsection and is hereinafter also referred to as subsection data. The reaction DB is managed and updated by the control unit 12. The storage unit 13 may include a chat database for sequentially recording information on interactions between users in the social chat described below. Multiple chat databases may be provided.

[0033] The storage unit 13 may include a user database (hereinafter referred to as a user DB) in which the reading progress status of each work for each general user is stored. In the user DB, status data indicating the reading progress status of each general user for each work is organized by being linked to a user identifier and is updated as needed. The status data may be in any format, and may be, for example, data organized for each general user indicating whether each of multiple subsections constituting a work has been provided (see FIG. 5(b) described below), or may be information such as a flag that is set each time a subsection is provided to the general user. The status data may be in any format as long as it is information indicating the subsections that have been provided to the general user. The user DB may be provided in multiple parts. The user DB is managed by the control unit 12 and is used when providing reaction data (comments, etc.) to general users or administrative users.

[0034] The control unit 12 requests a general user to provide an answer to a question associated with a subcategory currently being provided to the general user, and determines the next subcategory to be provided to the general user based on the answer from the general user. The control unit 12 also grants the administrative user the authority to manage question data. More specifically, the control unit 12 has a management control means 12a that manages information to be provided to the administrative terminal 30, and a provision processing means 12b that manages information to be provided to the information terminal 50.

[0035] The management control means 12a provides the administrative user with an initial screen 5A, a basic setting screen 5B, an editing screen 5C, and a statistics confirmation screen 5D via the administrative terminal 30. For example, the management control means 12a provides the basic setting screen 5B to grant the administrative user the authority to change the basic settings of the work. The management control means 12a may provide the editing screen 5C to grant the administrative user the authority to manage question data. The authority to manage question data includes the authority to adjust question data, i.e., the authority to modify at least a portion of question data, and the authority to add question data. The management control means 12a may grant the administrative user the authority to modify one or more options. In other words, some of the multiple options may be set to be modifiable and the rest may be set to be unmodifiable.

[0036] The management control means 12a may grant the administrative user the authority to modify the question and multiple options. The management control means 12a may grant the administrative user the authority to add a question and multiple options associated with the question. The management control means 12a may subdivide an already set subdivision to create new subdivisions and grant the administrative user the authority to create question data related to the new subdivision. The management control means 12a may grant the administrative user the authority to modify the selection data provided by providing an editing screen 5C. In this embodiment, the administrative user can set a course (transition destination) for each option, for example, through a correct answer setting unit 3f and an incorrect answer setting unit 3g described below. The management control means 12a may provide the administrative user with statistical data that compiles the selections made by general users for multiple options, through a statistics confirmation screen 5D. The management control means 12a manages the setting database and reflects the settings made by the administrative user in the setting database.

[0037] The management control means 12a may provide the administrative user with reaction data representing reactions of general users to a work via at least one of the initial screen 5A, basic setting screen 5B, editing screen 5C, and statistics confirmation screen 5D. Reactions are expressions of emotions expressed by general users while reading a work, and include reactions to each subsection and reactions to the work as a whole. The reaction data includes readers' comments and answers to questions (including selection of options), as well as simple reactions (such as "like"). The management control means 12a may refer to a user DB when providing the reaction data.

[0038] The reaction data may be the reason for the selection entered in the reason field. For example, in a setting in which the administrative user manually selects the information on the next subsection (information on the destination screen) to be provided when a general user selects an option, the administrative user may decide which subsection to provide next based on the content entered in the reason field. In other words, with this configuration, the administrative user's impressions can be flexibly reflected in the story development of the work, such as by "providing a subsection related to the main story even if the answer is incorrect depending on the reason." However, the administrative control means 12a may also analyze the reason for the selection entered in the reason field by processing that combines natural language analysis and machine learning, and use the analysis results to decide which subsection to provide next.

[0039] The provision processing means 12b provides the general user with the initial screen 6A, reading screens 6B to 6E, route confirmation screens 6F to 6H, 6J, and creation screen via the information terminal 50. The provision processing means 12b may provide the general user with reaction data related to other general users. The provision processing means 12b may provide the general user with reaction data related to other general users that has been approved by the administrative user. This can prevent, for example, comments that could lead to spoilers from being made public, thereby reflecting the administrative user's intentions and suppressing a decrease in readers' motivation to read. Incidentally, spoilers refer to the revealing of important parts of the content of a work, such as detailed settings or the core of the story.

[0040] The provision processing means 12b sequentially collects reaction data, associates each with a user identifier and subsection data, and stores the data in the reaction DB. The provision processing means 12b may provide a general user currently reading a certain subsection with reaction data related to other general users regarding the subsection via each screen. Note that the reaction data related to other general users regarding the subsection may include not only reaction data related to other general users currently reading the subsection in real time, but also reaction data related to other general users who have read the subsection in the past. The provision processing means 12b may provide a general user currently reading with only comments from other general users who have the same correct answers to questions as the general user. The provision processing means 12b may provide a general user with reaction data from other general users associated with each of the subsections the general user is currently reading and the subsections the general user has already read. The provision processing means 12b may be configured to sequentially collect only comments posted by general users as reaction data, associate each with a user identifier and subsection data, and store the comments in the reaction DB.

[0041] [First method to prevent spoilers from being posted in comments] When the provision processing means 12b receives a comment posted by a general user, it may provide the comment to other general users to whom the general user has already been provided with the subsection he or she is currently reading. The provision processing means 12b may also provide the general user with a comment posted by the general user. A general user who has already been provided with a subsection is a general user who has received a screen including a text display field 7a (see FIG. 14, etc.) on which the content of the subsection can be viewed via the information terminal 50. However, it is presumed that a general user who has just received a subsection does not yet understand the content of the subsection. Therefore, the provision processing means 12b may consider the subsection to have been provided when a set time has elapsed since the subsection was provided, and perform the above processing. The set time may be changed as appropriate. For example, the provision processing means 12b may provide a reaction field 6g (see FIG. 14, etc.) including a comment posted by the general user to the general user and other general users who meet certain conditions via the information terminal 50.

[0042] Here, a specific processing example related to the first technique will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIGS. 5 and 6, it is assumed that a work X consisting of eight subsections is provided, and the subsections are simply numbered 1 to 8. FIG. 5(a) is a configuration diagram of work X, and FIG. 5(b) is an example of a user DB (story progression management database). As shown in FIG. 5(a), work X is configured such that subsection 1 branches into subsections 2 and 6, and subsection 2 branches into subsections 3 and 5. Furthermore, in work X, subsection 4 develops after subsection 3, and subsections 7 and 8 develop sequentially after subsection 6. All of these subsections may be main stories, or may be a combination of main stories and separate stories. In the user DB illustrated in FIG. 5(b), user identifiers A to F are assigned to multiple users, and subsections that have already been provided to each user are marked with a circle (hereinafter, each user will be referred to as user A to F, respectively). The information indicating the subsection that has already been provided may be dummy data such as "1" or may be information such as the viewing time of the subsection.

[0043] FIG. 6 is an example of a comment database (hereinafter referred to as the comment DB), which is a reaction DB specialized for user-submitted comments. In the comment DB illustrated in FIG. 6, each comment is associated with a comment identifier, a user identifier, source data, comment content, and information on the subsections already provided. Source data is information indicating the location of the user who submitted the comment, i.e., the subsection the user is currently reading, and corresponds to the subsection data described above. Comments submitted from a sending unit W, described below, are associated with source data (subsection data) linked to the screen including the sending unit W.

[0044] In FIG. 6, comment identifiers "I" to "T" are simply assigned to the posted comments (hereinafter, each comment will be referred to as "I" to "T", respectively). Comment "I" is a comment posted by user A returning to subsection 2, comment "R" is a comment posted by user A in subsection 4, comment "H" is a comment posted by user C returning to subsection 1, and comment "N" is a comment posted by user D in subsection 1. Comment "H" is a comment posted by user E returning to subsection 2, comment "E" is a comment posted by user A returning to subsection 6, and comment "T" is a comment posted by user D in subsection 3. In the comment DB in FIG. 6, comments are arranged chronologically (oldest first) from top to bottom.

[0045] In the first method, the comment "i" is posted in subsection 2, so it is provided to users A, B, E, and F. The comment "ro" is posted in subsection 4, so it is provided to users A and F. The comments "ha" and "ni" are posted in subsection 1, so it is provided to users A to F. The comment "ho" is posted in subsection 2, so it is provided to users A, B, E, and F. The comment "he" is posted in subsection 3, so it is provided to users A and F. Note that when user A posted the comment "he" there were more subsections provided to him than when he posted the comment "ro" (subsections 6 to 8 were added). The comment "to" was posted in subsection 6 by user D, whose number of subsections had increased, so it is provided to users A, C, and D to F. In this way, when a user posts a comment, if the number of subsections provided to other users increases due to an update to the user DB, the number of recipients for that comment also increases. In FIG. 5(b), the updated user DB is indicated by a dotted circle.

[0046] [Second method to prevent spoilers in comments] When the provision processing means 12b receives a comment posted by a general user, it may provide the comment to other general users to whom all of the subsections provided to the general user have already been provided. In other words, when the provision processing means 12b receives a comment posted by a general user, it may provide the comment to other general users to whom the general user has been provided with all of the subsections currently being read and all of the subsections that the general user has read. For example, the provision processing means 12b provides a reaction column 6g (see FIG. 14, etc.) including the comment posted by the general user to the general user and other general users who satisfy predetermined conditions via the information terminal 50.

[0047] 5 and 6, a specific example of processing related to the second method will be described. In the case of the second method, the comment "I" is sent in subsection 2, but since the sender, user A, is provided with subsections 1 to 4, it is provided only to user A and user F. The comment "Ro" is provided to users A and F. The comment "Ha" is sent in subsection 1, but since the sender, user C, is provided with subsections 1, 6 to 8, it is provided only to user C and user F.

[0048] The comment "ni" is provided to users A to F. The comment "ho" was sent in subsection 2, but since user E, the sender, has been provided with subsections 1, 2, and 5 to 7, it is provided only to user E and not to other users. However, when another user who has been provided with subsections 1, 2, and 5 to 7 appears, the provision processing means 12b may provide the comment to that user. The same applies to other comments.

[0049] The comment "To" was sent in subsection 3, but since the sender, User A, has been provided with subsections 1-4 and 6-8, it is only provided to User A and User F. The comment "To" was sent by User D after subsections 1 and 6 had already been provided, so it is provided to Users A and C-F. In this way, when a user sends a comment, if the number of subsections provided to other users increases due to an update to the user DB, the number of recipients of the comment will also increase (in this case, User A has been added).

[0050] The above information can be summarized as follows based on the user base: Comments provided to user A: "i" "ro" "ni" "he" Comment provided to User B: "to" Comments provided to user C: "ha" "ni" Comments provided to User D: "to" "to" Comments provided to User E: "Ni" "Ho" Comments provided to user F: "i", "ro", "ha", "ni", "e", "to"

[0051] The comment providing process by the providing processing means 12b is not limited to the above two methods, and various methods with changed providing conditions may be adopted. For example, the providing processing means 12b may provide only comments from other general users who selected the same option to a general user who is reading. When the providing processing means 12b receives a comment posted by a general user, it may link the comment to subsection data and manage it, and provide the comment to other general users who are reading the subsection related to the subsection data.

[0052] The provision processing means 12b may, when accepting a new creation for a subsection by a general user via the creation screen, provide creative data including the new creation to the admin user, and register the new creation adopted by the admin user as a new subsection. If a work includes a true ending and a false ending as subsections related to the ending, the provision processing means 12b may, when accepting a new creation for a false ending by a general user via the creation screen, provide creative data including the new creation to the admin user, and register the new creation adopted by the admin user as a new false ending.

[0053] The providing processing means 12b may have a function of generating a social chat, inviting general users or administrative users who meet predetermined conditions to the social chat, and managing interactions between users in the social chat. That is, the providing processing means 12b may sequentially record information on interactions between users in the social chat in a chat database, and provide the latest information on the social chat to participating members.

[0054] The social chat may be a chat room associated with each of the small sections that make up the work. In this case, the provision processing means 12b generates a social chat associated with each of the small sections and whose members are general users who are reading the small section, and when providing a new small section to a general user, invites the general user to the social chat associated with the small section. When providing a new small section to a general user, if the general user is participating in a social chat associated with the small section provided previously, the provision processing means 12b may cause the general user to exit the social chat.

[0055] The social chat may be a chat room linked one-to-one to at least one of the small sections that make up the work. In this case, the providing processing means 12b generates a social chat that is linked one-to-one to at least one small section and whose members are general users who are reading the small section, and when providing a new small section to which a social chat is linked to a certain general user, the providing processing means 12b invites the certain general user to the social chat linked to the small section. When inviting a certain general user to a social chat, if the certain general user is participating in the social chat to which they were previously invited, the providing processing means 12b may cause the certain general user to exit the social chat.

[0056] That is, the social chat may be generated in association with each of all the small sections, or may be generated in association with one or more small sections. The small sections to which the social chat is associated may be set by the administrative user or may be set automatically. Here, among the social chats in each work, a chat room whose members are only general users who have received all the small sections that make up the main story is called a "completed chat." When the provision processing means 12b generates a "completed chat," it may be configured to invite the administrative user to the generated "completed chat."

[0057] A social chat may be a chat room provided for each combination of small sections (including a case where there is only one small section). In this case, the provision processing means 12b generates a social chat associated with a predetermined combination of small sections and invites general users who have received all of the small sections included in the combination to the social chat associated with the combination. When inviting a general user to a social chat, the provision processing means 12b may cause the general user to withdraw from the social chat if the general user is participating in the social chat to which the general user was previously invited. More preferably, when providing a new small section to a general user, the provision processing means 12b may cause the general user to withdraw from the social chat if the general user is participating in the social chat. In other words, the provision processing means 12b may generate a social chat for each reading path (including during the reading path) and may change the social chat in which each of multiple general users participates as appropriate by sequentially referring to the user DB.

[0058] Taking work X in Figure 5(a) as an example, in the return NG mode, where it is not possible to return to the branching point, the combinations of subsections are eight: "1", "1-2", "1-2-3", "1-2-3-4", "1-2-5", "1-6", "1-6-7", and "1-6-7-8". In Return OK mode, which allows you to return to a branching point and proceed on a different route, the following combinations are added: "1-2-6", "1-2-6-7", "1-2-6-7-8", "1-2-3-6", "1-2-3-6-7", "1-2-3-6-7-8", "1-2-3-4-6", "1-2-3-4-6-7", "1-2-3-4-6-7-8", "1-2-3-5-6", "1-2-3-5-6-7", "1-2-3-5-6-7-8", "1-2-5-6", "1-2-5-6-7", "1-2-5-6-7-8" (in any order), bringing the total number of sub-division combinations to 23.

[0059] However, the provision processing means 12b does not need to generate social chats linked to all combinations, and may be configured to generate social chats linked to some combinations. That is, the provision processing means 12b may generate social chats linked to a predetermined combination of small sections, and invite general users who have received all of the small sections included in the combination to the social chat linked to the combination. Only one combination of small sections may be set, or multiple combinations may be set. That is, the provision processing means 12b will generate one or multiple social chats depending on the settings. The combinations to be linked to social chats may be set by an administrative user, or may be configured to be set automatically.

[0060] When a general user answers a question, if the general user is participating in a social chat, the provision processing means 12b may cause the general user to withdraw from the social chat and invite the general user to a social chat corresponding to the next subsection to be provided. In other words, the social chat may be a chat room associated with each of the correct and incorrect answers to the question, and the members of the chat room may be only users who have the same correct or incorrect answer to the question. When a general user selects one of multiple options associated with a question, if the general user is participating in a social chat, the provision processing means 12b may cause the general user to withdraw from the social chat and invite the general user to a social chat corresponding to the next subsection to be provided. In other words, the social chat may be a chat room associated with each of the multiple options associated with the question, and the members of the chat room may be only users who selected the same option.

[0061] In any case, the work providing system 100 may be configured so that a general user who is currently reading can only participate in a social chat to which they are invited immediately after moving on to a subsequent subsection. Even if they are participating in that social chat, if they move on to a subsequent subsection, they will be forced to leave the social chat at that time. This is because if a general user were able to participate in social chats associated with multiple subsections, there is a risk that they might comment on information from a later subsection in a social chat associated with an earlier subsection. In social chats, so-called spoilers can be prevented by simultaneously and consecutively inviting and forcing general users to leave. Social chats may display comments posted by users who have left, or may be configured so that comments posted by the user are deleted when the user leaves. Social chats may be configured so that a user's comments are deleted after a certain period of time has passed since the user left, or so that comments are deleted sequentially, starting with those for which a set period of time has passed.

[0062] The control unit 12 is configured with one or more processors. Specifically, the control unit 12 is configured with an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU, MPU, or GPU, and the various functions of the control unit 12 are realized by the arithmetic processing device and the work provision program 13p. Some of the various functions of the control unit 12 may be realized by hardware alone. The work provision program 13p causes a computer (one or more processors) to function as the management control means 12a and the provision processing means 12b.

[0063] The operation terminal 20 includes, for example, a communication unit, an operation processing unit, a memory unit, an input unit, and a display unit, none of which are shown in the figure. The communication unit is an interface that enables the operation processing unit to communicate with external devices such as the work providing device 10 via wired or wireless communication. The memory unit stores various information in addition to the operation program of the operation processing unit. The memory unit is composed of RAM, ROM, flash memory, eMMC, SSD, HDD, etc. The input unit accepts input operations by the user and outputs operation signals to the operation processing unit according to the content of the accepted operation. The display unit displays various information in response to instructions from the operation processing unit.

[0064] The operation processing unit, for example, displays various information on the display unit, and, in response to user operations on the input unit, updates the operating program of the control unit 12 in the work providing device 10, updates various databases inside and outside the storage unit 13, etc. The operation processing unit can be configured with a computing device such as a CPU or GPU, and software that works with the computing device to realize the various functions described above.

[0065] The information terminal 50 includes, for example, a communication unit 51, an information processing unit 52, a memory unit 53, an input unit 54, and a display unit 55. The communication unit 51 is an interface through which the information processing unit 52 communicates with external devices such as the work providing device 10 via wired or wireless connections. The memory unit 53 stores various information in addition to the operating program of the information processing unit 52. The operating program of the information processing unit 52 also includes a division program transmitted from the work providing device 10 as appropriate. The division program constitutes the work providing program 13p. The information processing unit 52 can perform simple processing, such as switching the display of elements on the screen, without communicating with the work providing device 10, based on the division program. The operating program of the information processing unit 52 is software that cooperates with a processing unit such as a CPU, MPU, or GPU to realize various functions. The memory unit 53 is composed of RAM, ROM, flash memory, eMMC, SSD, HDD, etc.

[0066] The input unit 54 accepts an input operation by the user and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the content of the accepted operation to the information processing unit 52. The input unit 54 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball. The display unit 55 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and displays various information in response to instructions from the information processing unit 52. The information terminal 50 may have a touch panel instead of the input unit 54 and the display unit 55, or in addition to at least one of them. The touch panel includes a display panel that displays characters, images, etc., and detection means that is stacked on the display panel and detects touch operations.

[0067] In response to an operation signal from the input unit 54, the information processing unit 52 cooperates with the work providing device 10 to display the initial screen 6A, reading screens 6B to 6E, and route confirmation screens 6F to 6H, 6J on the display unit 55. The information processing unit 52 accepts operations from the administrative user via each screen and executes processing according to the operation content. The information processing unit 52 is configured with one or more processors. Specifically, the information processing unit 52 is configured with an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU, MPU, or GPU, and various functions of the information processing unit 52 are realized by the arithmetic processing device and an operating program. Some of the various functions of the information processing unit 52 may be realized solely by hardware.

[0068] The management terminal 30 includes, for example, a communication unit 31, a management processing unit 32, a memory unit 33, an input unit 34, and a display unit 35. The communication unit 31 is an interface through which the management processing unit 32 communicates with external devices such as the work providing device 10 via wired or wireless communication. The memory unit 33 stores various information in addition to the operating program of the management processing unit 32. The operating program of the management processing unit 32 also includes a division program transmitted from the work providing device 10 as appropriate. The division program constitutes the work providing program 13p. The management processing unit 32 can perform simple processing, such as switching the display of elements on the screen, without communicating with the work providing device 10, based on the division program. The operating program of the management processing unit 32 is software that cooperates with a processing unit such as a CPU, MPU, or GPU to realize various functions. The memory unit 33 is composed of RAM, ROM, flash memory, eMMC, SSD, HDD, etc.

[0069] The input unit 34 accepts input operations by the user and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the content of the accepted operation to the management processing unit 32. The input unit 34 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball. The display unit 35 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays various information in response to instructions from the management processing unit 32. The management terminal 30 may have a touch panel instead of the input unit 34 and the display unit 35, or in addition to at least one of them.

[0070] In response to an operation signal from the input unit 34, the management processing unit 32 cooperates with the work providing device 10 to display the initial screen 5A (5X, 5Y), the basic setting screen 5B, the editing screen 5C, or the statistics confirmation screen 5D on the display unit 35. The management processing unit 32 accepts operations from general users via each screen and executes processing according to the operation content. The management processing unit 32 is composed of one or more processors. Specifically, the management processing unit 32 is composed of an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU, MPU, or GPU, and the various functions of the management processing unit 32 are realized by the arithmetic processing device and an operating program. Some of the various functions of the management processing unit 32 may be realized solely by hardware.

[0071] Next, various pieces of information and authorities provided to the administrative user from the work providing device 10 will be specifically explained with reference to the screens exemplified in Figures 7 to 12. Each display screen and display image is displayed on the display unit 35 by the management processing unit 32 based on various data provided by the work providing device 10. In each figure, the same reference numerals are used for similar components, and their explanations are omitted or simplified. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted in order to avoid cluttering the drawings, etc.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows an example of an initial screen (management initial screen) provided to an administrative user who has logged in to the operating system. The management processing unit 32 displays, for example, an initial screen 5A as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 35 based on the management initial data transmitted from the work providing device 10. The management initial data is data related to the initial screen and specifically includes various information and programs for displaying the initial screen 5A. The initial screen 5A shown in FIG. 7 has a work section 5 including a published work section 5a and an edited work section 5b. The published work section 5a displays information related to one or more works that are currently published. The edited work section 5b displays information related to one or more works that are currently being edited by the currently logged-in administrative user.

[0073] The public works section 5a in Fig. 7 is configured to display information about one or more works under the heading "Public Works." The information about a work may include, for example, a combination of an image related to the work and the name of the work. At least one of the image related to the work and the name of the work functions as a virtual button that allows transition to the basic settings screen 5B for managing the work.

[0074] The edited work section 5b in FIG. 7 is configured to display information related to one or more works under the heading "Work being edited." The information related to the work in the edited work section 5b consists, for example, of a combination of candidate images related to the work and candidate work names. However, if no candidate images related to the work have been registered, a message indicating "not displayed" or "undecided" is displayed, and if no candidate work names have been registered, a message indicating "undecided" is displayed. At least one of the candidate images related to the work and the candidate work names functions as a virtual button that accepts transition to a work editing screen for editing the work. The work editing screen has a configuration similar to the basic settings screen 5B in FIG. 9, and the editing screens for each subsection to which transitions can be made from the work editing screen have a configuration similar to the editing screen 5C illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, and therefore are not shown in the figures.

[0075] The initial screen 5A illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a reaction display section 5c that displays reader reactions. For example, the reaction display section 5c displays reader comments and responses to questions for each work. The reaction display section 5c illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a reaction display section A1 that displays comments about work B and a reaction display section A2 that displays comments about work C. When referring to the reaction display section A1 and the reaction display section A2 without distinction, they are referred to as the reaction display section Ao. The reaction display section 5c includes a reaction display section Ao for each work. The reaction display section Ao may be configured to display comment displays Am that show reader comments and answer displays As that show readers' answers to questions in order of most recent, and each may include the time of the comment or answer. The reaction display section Ao may also be configured to display a notification section M that indicates that feedback on the work has been received. The work section 5 and the reaction display section 5c may be configured to be individually scrollable. The reaction display field 5c may display a reason display Ar corresponding to the reason field, similar to the second initial screen 5Y of FIG. 8(b) described later.

[0076] When a message has been received from a reader to the author via an individual button D or the like on the reading screen provided to general users (described later), the management processing unit 32 may display a notification section M indicating this information on the editing screen 5C. The notification section M in FIG. 7 is labeled "Your feedback has arrived" and functions as a virtual button that accepts an operation to display the message. When the notification section M is pressed, the management processing unit 32 may display the received message in a sub-window or the like. The notification section M may be displayed outside the reaction display field 5c.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows an example of an initial screen (administration initial screen) provided to an administrative user who logs in to the operating system using a smartphone or the like. The work provision device 10 in this embodiment automatically or in response to a user's instruction provides information and processes information based on a work provision program 13p, which is a smartphone application. For example, the application switches between a first initial screen 5X as shown in FIG. 8(a) and a second initial screen 5Y as shown in FIG. 8(b) when the user swipes (holds a finger down on the touch panel and slides it up, down, left, or right). This prevents the disarray of the arrangement of objects on the screen and reduces visibility. Similarly, for the other screens (FIGS. 9 to 15 and 17 to 25) described below, it is preferable to configure the content displayed on a single screen on a PC monitor or the like to be split across multiple screens for a user who logs in using a smartphone or the like.

[0078] Fig. 9 shows an example of a basic setting screen provided to the administrative user. When the management processing unit 32 receives an operation to designate a work on the initial screen such as Fig. 7 or Fig. 8, it causes the display unit 35 to display, for example, a basic setting screen 5B such as that shown in Fig. 9. The basic setting screen 5B shown in Fig. 9 corresponds to the case where the administrative user designates work C on the initial screen of Fig. 7 or Fig. 8, and therefore the work name display 5d displays "Work C" as the work name.

[0079] The basic setting screen 5B has a setting section Bx for setting basic settings, a transition section By for transitioning to an editing screen for each subsection, and a reader information management section Bz associated with information about readers. In the example of Figure 9, the setting section Bx includes a derivative work permission section 5e, a billing setting section 5f, a chat permission section 5g, a participation permission section 5h, and a disclosure instruction section 5j.

[0080] The derivative work permission section 5e is a section that accepts a setting as to whether or not derivative works of the work are permitted, and is composed of an explanation display B1 and a switching section S. The charge setting section 5f is a section that accepts a setting of a fee to be requested of a user who is reading, for example, for each subsection or for each answer to a question, and is composed of an explanation display B2 and a fee setting section P. The charge setting section 5f may be configured so that the fee setting section P is subdivided so that the requested fee can be set for each subsection or each question, such as not charging when moving from chapter 1 to chapter 2, but charging when moving from chapter 2 to chapter 3.

[0081] The chat necessity section 5g is a section for accepting a setting as to whether or not to create an interactive chat, and is composed of an explanation display B3 and a switching section S. The participation necessity section 5h is a section for accepting a setting as to whether or not the administrative user of the work will participate in an interactive chat of general users, and is composed of an explanation display B4 and a switching section S. In this embodiment, the participation necessity section 5h is used to set whether or not the author of the work will participate in a complete reading chat.

[0082] The disclosure instruction section 5j is a section for accepting settings for whether to disclose the name of the author of the work or the timing of disclosure, and is composed of an explanation display B5 and a disclosure setting section T. FIG. 9 shows an example of a pull-down type disclosure setting section T. The display contents of the explanation displays B1 to B5 are not limited to the example in FIG. 9, and may be changed as appropriate. The contents that can be set in the setting section Bx are not limited to the example in FIG. 9, and may be changed, increased, or decreased as appropriate.

[0083] The switching unit S is configured to change its display mode in response to an operation such as clicking or tapping (hereinafter referred to as pressing, etc.). The form of the switching unit S is not limited to the examples shown in the figures, and various forms such as radio buttons or check boxes can be used. When the management processing unit 32 receives an operation on the switching unit S, it changes the display mode of the switching unit S and transmits switching data corresponding to the changed display mode to the work providing device 10, either in response to a user operation or automatically. The management processing unit 32 may transmit updated information to the work providing device 10 each time the settings related to the basic settings are updated, or may display an update button K as shown in FIG. 9 and transmit the updated information to the work providing device 10 in response to pressing the update button K, for example.

[0084] In Figure 9, it is assumed that work C has four chapters (sub-sections) that make up the main story and two false endings (sub-sections) that relate to separate stories. Therefore, transition section By has section button 1z that accepts an instruction to transition to the editing screen for chapter 1, section button 2z that accepts an instruction to transition to the editing screen for chapter 2, section button 3z that accepts an instruction to transition to the editing screen for chapter 3, and section button 4z that accepts an instruction to transition to the editing screen for chapter 4. Hereinafter, these will be collectively referred to as "section buttons." Furthermore, transition section By has false section button 5v that accepts an instruction to transition to the editing screen for false ending 1, and false section button 5w that accepts an instruction to transition to the editing screen for false ending 2. Hereinafter, these will be collectively referred to as "false section buttons."

[0085] In work C, questions are set for each subsection (chapter), and general users are configured to proceed to subsequent subsections by answering the questions. The reader information management unit Bz illustrated in Figure 9 includes a first response unit r1 that displays general users' responses to questions related to Chapter 1, a second response unit r2 that displays general users' responses to questions related to Chapter 2, and a third response unit r3 that displays general users' responses to questions related to Chapter 3. Furthermore, the reader information management unit Bz includes a comments unit d that displays impressions of the work, a chat display unit e that displays complete chats, a creation display unit f that displays creations for subsections related to separate chapters posted by readers, and a derivative work unit g that displays derivative works by readers. Each display (r1-r3, d-g) in the reader information management unit Bz functions as a virtual button for displaying specific content in a subwindow or the like. The type and number of displays in the reader information management unit Bz can be changed as needed. However, the reader information management unit Bz may be configured to display specific content relating to at least one of the displays.

[0086] The basic setting screen 5B may have a sending section W including an input field W1 for entering a message and a send button W2. The sending section W is used when the administrative user wants to send a message to general users, such as a reading comprehension hint. The sending section W may be configured to allow selection of subsections so that a message can be sent by specifying one or more subsections. With this configuration, the administrative user can comment on subsections that general users have already read or questions after answers, while being careful not to spoil the story.

[0087] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an area including the upper part of the editing screen provided to the administrative user. FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an area including the lower part of the editing screen provided to the administrative user. When the management processing unit 32 receives an operation to specify a subsection on the basic setting screen 5B as shown in FIG. 9, the management processing unit 32 displays, for example, an editing screen 5C as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 on the display unit 35. That is, in response to pressing of each subsection button as shown in FIG. 9, the management processing unit 32 cooperates with the work providing device 10 to display the editing screen 5C as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 on the display unit 35. Note that the editing screen 5C for the subsection related to the ending basically does not include elements related to questions. However, question data including questions such as questionnaires may be associated with the subsection related to the ending.

[0088] The editing screen 5C illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 corresponds to the case where Chapter 1 is specified by the administrative user on the basic setting screen of Figure 9. Figure 10 shows the text "Editing Chapter 1" as an example of a status display 5k. The editing screen 5C has a text display field 3a, a question field 3b, a selection section 3c, a required selection section 3d, a time limit setting section 3e, a correct answer setting section 3f, one or more incorrect answer setting sections 3g, an answer acceptance instruction section 3h, a other reader display setting section 3j, and an author comment setting section 3k.

[0089] The text display field 3a displays the text of the subsection linked to the editing screen 5C in a scrollable manner. The editing screen 5C of this embodiment allows the text in the text display field 3a to be modified. The question field 3b is a field for managing questions associated with the subsection linked to the editing screen 5C. When a pre-registered question is displayed in the question field 3b, the question field 3b is configured to allow the administrative user to modify or change the question. When the question field 3b is blank, the administrative user can input and register a question in the question field 3b. The selection unit 3c has a plurality of option fields Co, each of which is an option. When a pre-registered text is displayed in the option field Co, the administrative user can modify or change the text. The administrative user can input and register text in a blank option field Co.

[0090] The add button 3t is a virtual button for adding a question field 3b and a selection section 3c. In other words, when the add button 3t is pressed, a combination of the question field 3b and the selection section 3c is added, and the administrative user can add a new question and its options. The add button 3u is a virtual button for adding an option field Co corresponding to a new option. In other words, when the add button 3u is pressed, an option field Co is added, and the administrative user can increase the number of options.

[0091] The mandatory selection section 3d is a section that accepts a setting as to whether or not an answer to a question is mandatory. In the mandatory selection section 3d of FIG. 11, a switch section S is associated with the explanatory text "Answer mandatory." The time limit setting section 3e is a section that accepts a setting as to whether or not a time limit is to be set for answering a question, and the time limit if one is to be set. In the time limit setting section 3e of FIG. 11, a switch section S and a time setting section E are associated with the explanatory text "Set time limit." The time setting section E can be input when the switch section S is in the on state.

[0092] The correct answer setting section 3f accepts the correct answer to the question and the course setting for the correct answer, while the incorrect answer setting section 3g accepts the incorrect answer to the question and the course setting for the incorrect answer. If there are three or more options for a question, multiple correct answer setting sections 3f or multiple incorrect answer setting sections 3g will be displayed on the display unit 35. More specifically, the correct answer setting section 3f includes a correct answer selection section S1 and a course selection section T1, while the incorrect answer setting section 3g includes an incorrect answer selection section S2 and a course selection section T2. ​​The correct answer selection section S1 and the incorrect answer selection section S2 in FIG. 11 are configured to allow the user to select "Choice A" or "Choice B" in a pull-down format. The course selection section T1 and the course selection section T2 in FIG. 11 are configured to allow the user to select one of the sub-sections in the work in a pull-down format. However, if the correct and incorrect answers to the questions are already determined and no adjustment is required, the correct answer selection unit S1 and the incorrect answer selection unit S2 may be omitted. If the course for the correct answer is already determined and no adjustment is required, the course selection unit T1 may be omitted. If the course for the incorrect answer is already determined and no adjustment is required, the course selection unit T2 may be omitted.

[0093] The answer acceptance instruction section 3h is a section that accepts a setting as to whether or not to accept answers from the second round onwards. In the answer acceptance instruction section 3h of FIG. 11, a switch section S is associated with the explanatory text "Accepting answers from the second round onwards." The other reader display setting section 3j is a section that accepts a setting as to whether or not to provide reactions from other general users (readers) to an arbitrary general user (reader). In the other reader display setting section 3j of FIG. 11, a switch section S is associated with the explanatory text "Display reactions from other readers." The author comment setting section 3k is a section that accepts a setting as to whether or not to provide comments from the author to general users. In the author comment setting section 3k of FIG. 11, a switch section S is associated with the explanatory text "Display author comment."

[0094] The editing screen 5C also has a reader information management section Cz to which information about the reader associated with the subsection is associated. The reader information management section Cz displays, for example, elements displayed in the reader information management section Bz that are related to the subsection. The content displayed in the reader information management section Cz can be adjusted after the fact by the administrative user. The comment section d1 functions, for example, as a virtual button that displays comments from general users about the entire work.

[0095] Furthermore, the editing screen 5C has a statistics confirmation button 3m, a reader display confirmation button 3n, and a settings confirmation button 3o. The statistics confirmation button 3m is a virtual button for displaying a statistics confirmation screen 5D (see FIG. 12) in which information related to the question is organized. The reader display confirmation button 3n is a virtual button for referencing a reading screen provided to general users who are reading the relevant subsection. When the reader display confirmation button 3n is pressed, for example, a screen such as the reading screens (6B to 6E) in FIGS. 14 to 18 and 23 to 25 is displayed on the display unit 35. The settings confirmation button 3o is a virtual button for displaying a settings confirmation screen (not shown) that allows the administrative user to check the overall settings related to the relevant subsection.

[0096] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a statistics confirmation screen provided to the administrative user. When the management processing unit 32 receives an instruction to display statistical data by, for example, pressing the statistics confirmation button 3m on the editing screen 5C shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the management processing unit 32 displays a statistics confirmation screen 5D, such as that shown in FIG. 12, on the display unit 35. The statistics confirmation screen 5D illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a screen title 5p, an explanatory text 5q relating to the options, an option display Dp indicating the content of each of the multiple options, and a selection rate R for each of the multiple options. As shown in FIG. 12, the statistics confirmation screen 5D may also include a number-of-answers display section 5r and a dropout rate display section 5s.

[0097] The statistics confirmation screen 5D may have a reader information management section Dx associated with information about the reader associated with the subsection. The elements displayed in the reader information management section Dx are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 12 and can be changed as appropriate. The statistics confirmation screen 5D may have a comment section 5t in which comments related to the subsection are displayed. The control unit 12 may be configured to extract one or more comments useful for adjusting the content of the question or options, for example, by a process combining natural language analysis and machine learning, and display the extracted comments in the comment section 5t. The initial screen 5A (5X, 5Y), basic settings screen 5B, editing screen 5C, and statistics confirmation screen 5D may include an author login indicator 5L indicating that the user is currently logged in as the author, as shown in each of the figures.

[0098] Next, various information and authorities provided to general users from the work providing device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 25. Each display screen and display image is displayed on the display unit 55 by the information processing unit 52 based on various data provided from the work providing device 10. In each figure, the same reference numerals are used for similar components, and their explanations are omitted or simplified. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted in order to avoid cluttering the drawings, etc.

[0099] FIG. 13 shows an example of an initial screen (general initial screen) provided to a general user who logs in to the operating system. The information processing unit 52 displays, for example, an initial screen 6A as shown in FIG. 13 on the display unit 55 based on the general initial data transmitted from the work providing device 10. The general initial data is data related to the initial screen 6A and, specifically, includes various information and programs for displaying the initial screen 6A. The initial screen 6A illustrated in FIG. 13 has a work section 6 including a recommended work section 6a and an ongoing work section 6b. The recommended work section 6a displays information related to one or more works that the general user is recommended to read. The ongoing work section 6b displays information related to one or more works that the logged-in general user is currently reading. The structure and function of the work section 6 are similar to those of the work section 5 in FIG. 7. The initial screen 6A illustrated in FIG. 13 has an information display section 6c in which information such as new arrivals is displayed.

[0100] Fig. 14 shows an example of a reading screen provided to a general user. When the information processing unit 52 receives an operation to specify a work on the initial screen 6A shown in Fig. 13, it causes the display unit 55 to display, for example, a reading screen 6B shown in Fig. 14. The reading screen 6B shown in Fig. 14 corresponds to the case where a general user specifies work C on the initial screen 6A shown in Fig. 13, and therefore the work name display 6d displays "Work C" as the work name.

[0101] Additionally, the reading screen 6B has a related data display 6x, a subsection display 6e, an explanation display 6f, a reaction section 6g, a message section W, a text display section 7a, a question section 7x, a selection button Sa, and a selection button Sb. The related data display 6x is where information related to the work related to the reading screen 6B is displayed, such as the author, year of publication, version information, and rating. The subsection display 6e displays information about the subsection related to the reading screen 6B, and the text display section 7a displays the text of that subsection.

[0102] The question section 7x displays question data. The question section 7x illustrated in FIG. 14 is composed of a question sentence 7b and a selection section 7c. The selection section 7c includes a selection sentence 7m corresponding to option A and a selection sentence 7n corresponding to option B. The selection button Sa is a virtual button for accepting the selection of option A, and the selection button Sb is a virtual button for accepting the selection of option B. Alternatively, the selection sentence 7m may function as the virtual button for selecting option A instead of the selection button Sa, and the selection sentence 7n may function as the virtual button for selecting option B instead of the selection button Sb. The text display field 7a is configured to be scrollable. In this embodiment, the question section 7x is configured to be displayed overlapping a portion of the text display field 7a when the end of the text related to the subsection is displayed on the reading screen 6B or when a set time has elapsed since that time.

[0103] The explanation display 6f is an explanatory text about the content displayed in the reaction field 6g, and the reaction field 6g is associated with a sending unit W that accepts comments sent by users. The sending unit W includes an input field W1 and a send button W2. The reaction field 6g is configured to display reactions (comments, etc.) from general users who are currently reading or have already read the work. In this embodiment, the reaction field 6g is configured so that the comment display restrictions change depending on the general user's progress in reading.

[0104] Furthermore, the work providing device 10 in this embodiment has two operating modes for providing text: a general mode, which is the normal setting, and an immersive mode, which allows users to enter comments by quoting portions of text from subsections and easily check the comments associated with the entered text. Therefore, the reading screen 6B has a mode switching unit Ms for switching between the general mode and the immersive mode. The mode switching unit Ms illustrated in each figure is configured so that the switching unit S corresponds to the words "immersive mode," and the switching unit S is in the form of a radio button. Note that FIG. 14 illustrates the switching unit S in the off state, i.e., the radio button is not selected.

[0105] FIG. 15 shows an example of a reading screen related to immersive mode, which is provided upon selection by a general user. When the information processing unit 52 receives an instruction to switch to immersive mode on the reading screen 6B shown in FIG. 14, it displays the reading screen 6B in immersive mode on the display unit 55. However, if the initial setting is immersive mode, the operation is the opposite of the above. In immersive mode, a general user can input and register a comment by linking it to an arbitrarily specified extraction unit 7p, as shown in FIG. 15. The insertion unit 7q, where the comment is registered, is configured to have a different appearance from other units (an example underlined in FIG. 15). When the cursor is placed on the insertion unit 7q, a comment display unit 7r containing the registered comment appears, as shown in FIG. 15, for example.

[0106] FIG. 16 illustrates a reading screen in which text for each subsection is provided in a chat format. The reading screen 6C illustrated in FIG. 16 includes a text display field 7a with a text 7v related to the subsection and a question section 7x. The question section 7x in FIG. 16 includes a question 7b, a selection section 7c, and an auxiliary display 7s. In the chat format, when a general user sends an answer 7z, a text display field 8a related to the subsection corresponding to the content is provided. In this type of reading screen, as in the example of FIG. 8, a response field 6g such as that shown in FIG. 14 may be displayed in response to a switching operation such as a swipe, and the input field D1 and send button D2 may function similarly to the sending section W.

[0107] FIG. 17 shows an example of a reading screen for the second or subsequent subsections among the reading screens provided to general users. When the information processing unit 52 receives an operation to designate a work in the continuing works section 6b on the initial screen 6A shown in FIG. 13, or when it receives an answer to a question on the reading screen 6B shown in FIG. 14 or 15, the information processing unit 52 displays the reading screen 6D shown in FIG. 17 on the display unit 55. Note that FIG. 17 illustrates a state in which the question section 7x is not displayed, such as immediately after a screen transition. The reaction field 6g may be configured to preferentially display comments, etc., corresponding to the subsection currently displayed in the text display field 7a (comments, etc., posted while reading the subsection).

[0108] The reading screen 6D in FIG. 17 assumes, for example, a case where the chat required / unrequired section 5g (see FIG. 9) of the basic settings screen 5B is set to not create a social chat. The individual button D is a virtual button for sending comments to the author. When a general user presses the individual button D, a comments page (not shown) for inputting and sending a personal message to the author is displayed on the display unit 55. The review button 6z is a virtual button for displaying the previous subsection. In FIG. 17, it is assumed that a general user who has progressed to chapter 3 or later has returned to chapter 2, so the progress button 6s is displayed. If a general user presses the progress button 6s, they can move to the subsequent subsection without answering the question, even if a question is set in the subsection.

[0109] FIG. 18 illustrates a reading screen provided to general users, which is related to a subsection of the ending. There are two types of endings: a true ending and a false ending. FIG. 18 illustrates a reading screen 6E related to a subsection of the true ending. As shown in FIG. 18, the reading screen 6E may have a path confirmation button Bm for checking the reading path and returning to a subsection or branch as necessary. While FIGS. 14, 15, 17, and 18 illustrate examples of using the look back button 6z and the progress button 6s to move between subsections, the reading screen may also be configured to allow movement between subsections by a simple scroll operation.

[0110] 19 to 22 are explanatory diagrams illustrating example path confirmation screens for general users to confirm their own reading path. FIG. 19 illustrates a path confirmation screen provided to general users who have read the entire main story. When the information processing unit 52 receives a path confirmation instruction, such as by pressing the path confirmation button Bm on the reading screen 6E (see FIG. 18) related to the true ending, the information processing unit 52 displays a path confirmation screen 6F as shown in FIG. 19 on the display unit 55. The path confirmation screen 6F in FIG. 19 has virtual buttons for confirming each subsection: a Chapter 1 button H1, a Chapter 2 button H2, a Chapter 3 button H3, and a Chapter 4 button H4 (hereinafter collectively referred to as subsection buttons H). It also has virtual buttons for confirming branches (such as questions) that have been passed: a First Branch button K1, a Second Branch button K2, and a Third Branch button K3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as branch buttons Ko). By pressing these virtual buttons, general users can reconfirm the subsections and branches (such as questions) that have been passed. A general user can reconfirm the question by pressing a branch button Ko or the like and change the answer, thereby reading a subsection that is different from the main story, such as a false ending.

[0111] The route confirmation screen 6F may have a challenge button Ec that displays a creation screen (not shown) that allows a general user to create a subsection different from the main story. While the route confirmation screen 6F in FIG. 19 has a challenge button Ec for each branch, the route confirmation screen 6F may be configured to have a single challenge button Ec, allowing the user to select the target branch on the creation screen. Alternatively, the challenge button Ec may be configured to be displayed for each branch when all subsections associated with that branch have been provided to the general user. Alternatively, the creation screen may be included in the screen displayed after the branch button Ko is pressed, or the creation screen may be displayed from the screen displayed after the branch button Ko is pressed.

[0112] FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a path confirmation screen provided to a general user who has reached a false ending. When the information processing unit 52 receives a path confirmation instruction, such as by pressing the path confirmation button Bm on the reading screen 6E related to the false ending, it causes the display unit 55 to display a path confirmation screen 6G as shown in FIG. 20. The path confirmation screen 6G of FIG. 20 has a Chapter 1 button H1, a Chapter 2 button H2, and a BAD2 button U as virtual buttons for confirming each subsection, and a First Branch button K1 and a Second Branch button K2 as virtual buttons for confirming the branch (question) that has been passed. Note that the Challenge button Ec is not displayed on the path confirmation screen 6G related to the false ending.

[0113] FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a path confirmation screen provided to a general user who has reached the true ending after omitting some of the subsections that make up the main story. The path confirmation screen 6H in FIG. 21 is provided to a general user whose answer to a question in Chapter 2 is determined to be incorrect, for example. The path confirmation screen 6H in FIG. 21 has a Chapter 1 button H1, a Chapter 2 button H2, and a Chapter 4 button H4 as virtual buttons for confirming each subsection, and a First Branch button K1 and a Second Branch button K2 as virtual buttons for confirming the branch (question) that has been passed. However, one or more subsections related to a separate chapter may be inserted between Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 to alleviate the sense of incongruity that may arise when Chapter 3 is omitted from Chapter 2 and connected to Chapter 4.

[0114] In this way, when using a setting that omits some of the subsections that make up the main story, the work does not necessarily have to have subsections related to a separate story. In other words, the operating system may handle a work that is made up of only multiple subsections that make up the main story. In other words, even if a work is made up of only subsections that make up the main story, it is possible to adjust the story development of the work for general users by taking advantage of branching in questions.

[0115] Fig. 22 shows another example of a route confirmation screen displayed to a general user who has been provided with multiple subsections related to the separate chapter. The route confirmation screen 6J in Fig. 22 is provided to, for example, a general user whose answer to a question in Chapter 2 is determined to be incorrect. The route confirmation screen 6J in Fig. 22 has virtual buttons for confirming each subsection: a Chapter 1 button H1, a Chapter 2 button H2, a Separate 1 button V, and a BAD2 button U.

[0116] In the route confirmation screens 6F-6H and 6J shown in Figures 19-22, other route indicators Rz indicating routes not taken by general users are displayed in a relatively faint color (in each figure, dashed lines or gray are used as examples). This can stimulate the reader's interest in the small sections that have not been read. The route confirmation screen may also have an end button 6u for ending reading. The initial screen 6A, reading screens 6B-6E, and route confirmation screens 6F-6H and 6J may also include a reader login indicator 6L, as shown in each figure, indicating that the reader is currently logged in.

[0117] The reading screens in Figures 23 to 25 are based on the assumption that, for example, the chat necessity section 5g (see Figure 9) of the basic setting screen 5B is set to create a social chat. First, with reference to Figures 23 and 24, we will explain the screen transition when the chat field Dy is displayed in response to a switching operation. Figures 23 and 24 show, as an example, the reading screen 6D corresponding to Figure 17.

[0118] The information processing unit 52 displays a reading screen 6D, such as that shown in FIG. 23, on the display unit 55 when, for example, an operation to designate a work in the continuing works section 6b on the initial screen 6A, such as that shown in FIG. 13, or when an answer to a question is received on the reading screen 6B, such as that shown in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15. The reading screen 6D of FIG. 23 includes an invitation button Ch for accepting a request to participate in a social chat. When a general user presses the invitation button Ch, a chat field Dy, such as that shown in FIG. 24, is displayed on the display unit 55. That is, when the information processing unit 52 accepts a request to participate in a social chat on the reading screen 6D of FIG. 23, the information processing unit 52 displays the reading screen 6D including the chat field Dy on the display unit 55, as shown in FIG. 24. The chat field Dy illustrated in FIG. 24 includes a chat section Do, which displays messages exchanged between participants in the social chat, an input field D1 for entering messages, and a send button D2. The chat field Dy of FIG. 24 has the text "Chapter 2 Social Chat" added as the chat name Dt.

[0119] FIG. 25 illustrates a reading screen provided to general users, specifically a reading screen related to the "Ending" subsection. There are two types of endings: a true ending and a false ending. FIG. 25 illustrates a reading screen 6E related to the "True Ending" subsection. The reading screen 6E in FIG. 25 is an example of the state after the information processing unit 52 accepts a request to participate in a social chat. The chat field Ey illustrated in FIG. 25 includes a chat section Eo in which messages are exchanged between participants in the social chat. In FIG. 25, it is assumed that the author of work C is participating in the "Complete Reading Chat," and the chat section Eo displays author comments Sc. The chat field Ey in FIG. 25 is accompanied by the words "Complete Reading Chat" as the chat name Et. As shown in FIG. 25, the reading screen 6E may also include a path confirmation button Bm for checking the reading path and returning to a subsection or branch as necessary.

[0120] Next, a work providing method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 26 to Fig. 31. First, an overview of the cooperative processing between the work providing device 10 and the management terminal 30 will be described with reference to the sequence chart in Fig. 26, focusing on the processing content of the management terminal 30.

[0121] When the administrative user inputs login authentication information into the administrative terminal 30 and performs an operation to request login (step S101), the administrative terminal 30 transmits a login request including the input login authentication information to the work providing device 10 (step S102). Upon receiving the login request, the work providing device 10 performs a process of verifying the login authentication information and transmits data relating to the administrative user's initial screen (administration initial data) to the administrative terminal 30 (step S103), and the administrative terminal 30 displays, for example, an initial screen 5A as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 35 (step S104).

[0122] When the management terminal 30 receives an operation to designate a work on the initial screen 5A (step S105), it transmits a work management request requesting management authority for the designated work to the work providing device 10 (step S106). The work providing device 10 transmits data relating to a basic settings screen for the designated work (basic work data) to the management terminal 30 (step S107), and the management terminal 30 displays a basic settings screen 5B, such as that shown in FIG. 9, on the display unit 35 (step S108). The data relating to the basic settings screen includes various information and programs for displaying the basic settings screen 5B, and is hereinafter also referred to as "basic work data."

[0123] When the management terminal 30 receives an operation on the basic settings screen 5B to change the settings in the setting section Bx, such as switching the state of the switching section S, changing the input value in the price setting section P, or changing the designation in the public setting section T, the management terminal 30 changes the display on the basic settings screen 5B to match the operation (step S109). When the management terminal 30 receives an instruction to update the setting section Bx, for example by pressing the update button K (step S110), the management terminal 30 transmits basic update data including the changes made in the setting section Bx to the work providing device 10 (step S111). The work providing device 10 updates the information in the settings database based on the basic update data (step S112). When the management terminal 30 receives an operation on the basic settings screen 5B to specify each element of the reader information management section Bz, the management terminal 30 obtains information corresponding to each element from the work providing device 10 and displays it on the display unit 35.

[0124] When the management terminal 30 receives the specification of a subsection by, for example, pressing the section button or pseudo section button on the basic setting screen 5B (step S113), it transmits a subsection request indicating the specified subsection to the work providing device 10 (step S114). The work providing device 10 transmits data related to an editing screen for the specified subsection to the management terminal 30 (step S115), and the management terminal 30 displays an editing screen 5C, such as that shown in Figures 10 and 11, on the display unit 35 (step S116). The data related to the editing screen includes various information and programs for displaying the editing screen 5C, and is hereinafter also referred to as "editing data."

[0125] When the management terminal 30 receives an operation on the editing screen 5C, such as switching the state of the switching unit S, changing the input value of the time setting unit E, or changing the settings of each setting unit (S1, S2, T1, T2), the management terminal 30 changes the display on the editing screen 5C to match the operation. Furthermore, when the management terminal 30 receives an operation on the editing screen 5C to change the display content of the text display field 3a, the question field 3b, or the option field Co, the management terminal 30 changes the display content of each field to match the operation (step S117). When the management terminal 30 receives an update instruction with the changed content (step S118), it transmits small section update data including the changed content to the work providing device 10 (step S119). The work providing device 10 updates the information in the setting database based on the small section update data (step S120).

[0126] The management terminal 30 accepts an update instruction, for example, by pressing an update button displayed on the setting confirmation screen after pressing the setting confirmation button 3o. Alternatively, the editing screen 5C may be configured to include an update button, and the management terminal 30 may accept an update instruction by pressing the update button on the editing screen 5C. When the management terminal 30 accepts an operation to designate each element of the reader information management section Cz on the editing screen 5C, it acquires information corresponding to each element from the work providing device 10 and displays it on the display unit 35. When the reader display confirmation button 3n on the editing screen 5C is pressed, the management terminal 30 acquires data related to a reader display confirmation screen corresponding to the editing screen 5C from the work providing device 10 and displays a reader display confirmation screen on the display unit 35 in a format similar to the reading screens shown in Figures 14 to 18 and 23 to 25.

[0127] When the management terminal 30 receives an instruction to display statistical data, for example by pressing the statistics confirmation button 3m (step S121), it transmits a statistics confirmation request to the work providing device 10 (step S122). In response to the statistics confirmation request, the work providing device 10 transmits data related to a statistics confirmation screen to the management terminal 30 (step S123), and the management terminal 30 displays a statistics confirmation screen 5D such as that shown in Fig. 12 on the display unit 35 (step S124). The data related to the statistics confirmation screen includes various information and programs for displaying the statistics confirmation screen 5D, and will hereinafter also be referred to as "statistics confirmation data."

[0128] When the management terminal 30 receives a return instruction (an instruction to return to the previous screen) by, for example, pressing the return button 5u on the statistics confirmation screen 5D (step S125), it sends a subsection request to the work providing device 10 in the same manner as in step S114 (step S126) to display the previous screen, and displays the editing screen 5C on the display unit 35 based on the editing data from the work providing device 10 (steps S127 and S128). However, when the management terminal 30 receives a return instruction (step S125), it may also display the editing screen 5C on the display unit 35 based on the data held in the cache memory (step S128).

[0129] For convenience, the above description has been given of the interactions between the work providing device 10 and the management terminal 30 in the order of the step numbers shown in Fig. 26, but the order of each process can vary depending on the operations of the administrative user. For example, the process may proceed to step S113 after the process of step S107, or each process may be irregularly repeated as long as the administrative user continues to operate.

[0130] Next, an example of operation relating to a work providing method by the work providing device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 27, focusing on the process of providing data to the management terminal 30. Processing details that overlap with Fig. 27 will be appropriately simplified.

[0131] When the work providing device 10 receives a login request from an administrative user (step S201), it provides the administrative user with an initial screen 5A via the administrative terminal 30 (step S202). When the work providing device 10 receives a work management request from the administrative user via a work designation operation on the administrative terminal 30 (step S203), it provides the administrative user with a basic settings screen 5B via the administrative terminal 30, thereby granting the administrative user the authority to change the basic settings of the designated work (step S204). In this embodiment, the work providing device 10 is configured to provide the administrative user with reaction data representing reactions of general users to a work. For example, the work providing device 10 provides the reaction data to the administrative user via a reader information management section (Bz, Cz, Dx) displayed on the administrative terminal 30. Comments may also be displayed directly in the reader information management section (Bz, Cz, Dx).

[0132] When the work providing device 10 receives a general operation on the basic setting screen 5B via the management terminal 30 (step S205 / Yes), it executes processing according to the operation content (step S206). A general operation on the basic setting screen 5B refers to an operation on the setting section Bx and the reader information management section Bz. When the work providing device 10 receives a subsection designation via the management terminal 30 (step S207 / Yes), it provides the management user with an editing screen 5C via the management terminal 30, thereby granting the administrative user the authority to manage information related to the subsection (authority to correct, change, etc.) (step S209).

[0133] If the work providing device 10 does not receive any operation, it is in a standby state (step S205 / No, step S207 / No, step S208 / No), and if it receives a return instruction, it transitions the display screen of the management terminal 30 to the initial screen 5A (step S208 / Yes).

[0134] When the work providing device 10 receives an operation on the editing screen 5C via the management terminal 30 (step S210 / Yes), it executes processing according to the operation content (step S211). For example, when the work providing device 10 receives an operation on the reader information management section Cz, the reader display confirmation button 3n, or the setting confirmation button 3o via the management terminal 30, it provides the management user with information according to the operation content.

[0135] If the work providing device 10 has not received any operation, it is in a standby state (step S210 / No, step S212 / No, step S213 / No), and if a return instruction is received, it transitions the display screen of the management terminal 30 to the basic setting screen 5B (step S213 / Yes).When the work providing device 10 acquires a statistics confirmation request via the management terminal 30 (step S212 / Yes), it provides the statistics confirmation screen 5D to the management user via the management terminal 30 (step S214).

[0136] When the work providing device 10 receives an operation on the statistics confirmation screen 5D via the management terminal 30 (step S215 / Yes), it executes processing according to the operation content (step S216). The work providing device 10 continues to display the statistics confirmation screen 5D on the management terminal 30 until a return instruction is received (step S217 / No), and when a return instruction is received (step S217 / Yes), it transitions the display screen of the management terminal 30 to the editing screen 5C. However, if the statistics confirmation screen 5D is set to be displayed in a subwindow, the work providing device 10 can simply erase the statistics confirmation screen 5D that is overlapping the editing screen 5C of the management terminal 30 when receiving an instruction to erase it. The above explanation was given in the order of the step numbers assigned to FIG. 27, but the order of each process is not limited to this.

[0137] Next, with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. 28, an overview of the cooperative processing between the work providing device 10, the management terminal 30, and the information terminal 50 will be explained, focusing on the processing content of the information terminal 50.

[0138] When a general user inputs login authentication information into the information terminal 50 and performs an operation to request login (step S301), the information terminal 50 transmits a login request including the input login authentication information to the work providing device 10 (step S302). Upon receiving the login request, the work providing device 10 performs a process of verifying the login authentication information and transmits data relating to the general user's initial screen (general initial data) to the information terminal 50 (step S303), and the information terminal 50 displays an initial screen 6A, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, on the display unit 55 (step S304).

[0139] When the information terminal 50 receives an operation to specify a work on the initial screen 6A (step S305), it transmits a work request to the work providing device 10 requesting the provision of the specified work (step S306). The work providing device 10 transmits data related to a reading screen for the specified work (reading data) to the management terminal 30 (step S307), and the information terminal 50 displays reading screens (6B-6E) such as those shown in FIGS. 14-19 on the display unit 55 (step S308). More specifically, when an unread work is specified by a general user, the information terminal 50 displays reading screens (6B, 6C) such as those shown in FIGS. 14-16 on the display unit 55, and when a work currently being read is specified, it displays reading screens (6D, 6E) such as those shown in FIGS. 17-19 on the display unit 55.

[0140] The information terminal 50 scrolls the text display field 7a in response to a general user's operation, and when the question display condition is met (step S309), the information terminal 50 displays a question section 7x on the display unit 55 (step S310), as shown in FIG. 14 or 15, for example. The question display condition can be set arbitrarily, such as when the last sentence of a subsection displayed in the text display field 7a is displayed on the display unit 55, or when a set time has elapsed since the last sentence of the subsection was displayed on the display unit 55. While FIG. 15 shows an example in which the question section 7x is displayed overlapping the bottom of the text display field 7a, this is not limiting, and the question section 7x may also be displayed outside the text display field 7a. However, the work distribution system 100 may be configured to display the question section 7x from the beginning in step S308, thereby omitting steps S309 and S310.

[0141] When the information terminal 50 receives an answer to a question on the reading screen (step S311), it transmits answer data indicating the received answer to the work providing device 10 (step S312). Based on the answer data, the work providing device 10 extracts reading data including the subsection to be provided next from the storage unit 13, etc. If the answer to the question is information indicating an option, the work providing device 10 extracts reading data including the subsection linked to the option. If the answer to the question is a sentence, the work providing device 10 determines whether the answer is correct or incorrect, for example, by processing that combines natural language analysis and machine learning, and extracts reading data including the subsection according to the determination result. At that time, the work providing device 10 updates the situation data and subsection data, etc., linked to the general user in the user DB (step S313). Then, the work providing device 10 transmits the extracted reading data to the information terminal 50 (step S314). The information terminal 50 displays a reading screen (6D, 6E) such as that shown in FIG. 17 or FIG. 18 on the display unit 55 based on the reading data (step S315).

[0142] In this embodiment, if the extracted reading data relates to the true ending, the work providing device 10 transmits chat invitation data to the management terminal 30 used by the author of the work to invite the reader to a complete reading chat (step S316). The management terminal 30 displays invitation information indicating an invitation to the complete reading chat on the display unit 35 based on the chat invitation data (step S317). When the management terminal 30 accepts participation in the complete reading chat through a predetermined operation by the administrative user who viewed the invitation information (step S318), it transmits a participation request to the work providing device 10 (step S319). In response to the participation request, the work providing device 10 transmits chat data including the complete reading chat to the management terminal 30 (step S320). This allows the administrative user, who is the author of the work, to exchange messages with readers in the complete reading chat.

[0143] When the information terminal 50 receives an operation to instruct route confirmation on the reading screen related to the subsection of the ending (step S321), it transmits a route request to the work providing device 10 (step S322). In response to the route request, the work providing device 10 transmits data related to the route confirmation screen (route confirmation data) to the information terminal 50 (step S323), and the information terminal 50 displays route confirmation screens (6F-6H, 6J) such as those shown in Figures 19 to 22 on the display unit 55 (step S324).

[0144] When a request to display a creation screen is made on the path confirmation screen 6F linked to the true ending (step S325), the information terminal 50 transmits a creation request to the work providing device 10 (step S326). In response to the creation request, the work providing device 10 transmits data relating to the creation screen (creation data) to the information terminal 50 (step S327), and the information terminal 50 displays the creation screen on the display unit 55 based on the creation data (step S328).

[0145] The information terminal 50 displays text in the input field of the creation screen in response to an input operation by the general user, and upon receiving a registration operation by the general user (step S329), transmits creation data including the input text (new creation) to the work providing device 10 (step S330). The work providing device 10 transfers the creation data transmitted from the information terminal 50 to the management terminal 30 (step S331). In response to a predetermined operation by the administrative user, the management terminal 30 displays the text (new creation) as a candidate for a subcategory on the display unit 35 (step S332), and upon receiving an answer from the administrative user regarding acceptance or rejection (step S333), transmits acceptance or rejection data including the answer to the work providing device 10 (step S334).

[0146] If the acceptance / rejection data indicates acceptance, the work providing device 10 registers the text (new creation) linked to the acceptance / rejection data as a new subcategory linked to the work (step S335), and transmits the acceptance data indicating acceptance to the information terminal 50 (step S336). On the other hand, if the acceptance / rejection data indicates rejection, the work providing device 10 links information indicating rejection to the acceptance / rejection data (step S335), and transmits rejection data indicating rejection to the information terminal 50 (step S336). The information terminal 50 notifies the general user of the information regarding acceptance / rejection using a preset method (step S337). The above explanation has been given in the order of the step numbers assigned to FIG. 28, but the order of each process is not limited to this.

[0147] Next, an example of the operation of the work providing system 100 in selecting a destination for providing reaction data will be described with reference to the sequence chart in Fig. 29. Here, the flow of processing when a general user inputs a comment on the sending unit W of a reading screen or a route confirmation screen, etc., displayed on the information terminal 50 will be described.

[0148] When a general user inputs a comment in the input field W1 of the reading screen or the like and presses the send button W2 (step S401), the information terminal 50 displays additional reaction data representing the input comment in the reaction field 6g (step S402), and transmits reaction processing data linking the content of the comment with the user identifier of the general user to the work providing device 10. The reaction processing data may include information on the date and time the comment was sent (step S403).

[0149] Upon receiving the reaction processing data, the work providing device 10 updates the reaction DB (step S404) and checks the user identifier linked to the reaction processing data against the user DB to extract situation data of the general user (step S405). Then, based on the extracted situation data, the work providing device 10 selects an information terminal 50 to which the comment will be provided (the general user providing the comment). For example, the work providing device 10 selects from the user DB a general user to whom all of the subsections already provided to the general user who sent the comment (hereinafter also referred to as the "sending user") have been provided. Alternatively, the work providing device 10 provides the comment to other general users to whom the sending user has already provided the subsection he or she is reading (step S406).

[0150] Then, the work providing device 10 transmits the reaction processing data to the information terminal 50 to which the selected one or more general users are logged in. The reaction processing data transmitted here does not need to include identification information of the general user who posted the comment. At this time, the work providing device 10 may transmit a completion notification to the information terminal 50 that sent the comment (step S407). The information terminal 50 that has received the reaction processing data may, for example, additionally display the reaction data included in the reaction processing data in the reaction column 6g on the display screen (step S408).

[0151] In the work providing system 100, a series of processes similar to those described above is executed each time a comment or the like is sent from an information terminal 50 constituting the system. However, although the above explanation has been given in the order of the step numbers in Figure 29 for the sake of convenience, the order of each process is not limited to this.

[0152] Next, an example of an operation relating to approval of reaction data display by an administrative user will be outlined with reference to the sequence chart of Fig. 30. The same processes as those in Fig. 29 will be designated by the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted or simplified.

[0153] When a general user inputs a reaction such as a comment on the information terminal 50 (step S401), the information terminal 50 adds and displays reaction data in the reaction field 6g or the like (step S402), and transmits reaction data representing the reaction to the work providing device 10 (step S403). The work providing device 10 updates the reaction DB based on the received reaction processing data (step S404). At this time, the work providing device 10 may execute the processes of steps S405 and S406.

[0154] The work providing device 10 transmits the reaction processing data received from the information terminal 50 to the management terminal 30 (step S501). The management terminal 30 notifies the management terminal 30 that the reaction data to be approved has arrived (step S502). When the management user confirms the notification and performs an operation to check the reaction data (step S503), the management terminal 30 displays the reaction data included in the received reaction processing data (step S504).

[0155] When the administrative user performs an operation on the administrative terminal 30 to approve the display of the reaction data (step S505), the administrative terminal 30 transmits approval data indicating that the reaction data has been approved to the work providing device 10 (step S506). Based on the approval data, the work providing device 10, for example, sets an approval flag in the reaction processing data to register approval (step S507), and transmits the reaction processing data to one or more information terminals 50 to which other general users are logged in (step S407). The information terminal 50 that has received the reaction data displays the reaction data, such as comments, in the reaction field 6g or the like on the reading screen (step S408). The above explanation has been given in the order of the step numbers assigned to FIG. 30, but the order of each process is not limited to this.

[0156] Next, an example of operation of a work providing method by the work providing device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 31, focusing on the process of providing data to the information terminal 50. Processing details that overlap with those in Fig. 28 will be appropriately simplified.

[0157] When the work providing device 10 acquires a login request from a general user (step S601), it provides the general user with an initial screen 6A via the information terminal 50 (step S602). When the work providing device 10 acquires a work request from the general user via a work designation operation on the information terminal 50 (step S603), it provides the general user with a reading screen via the information terminal 50 (step S604).

[0158] The work providing device 10 waits until it acquires the answer data (step S605 / No). Upon acquiring the answer data (step S605 / Yes), it determines whether or not a general user is participating in the social chat (step S606). If the general user is participating in the social chat (step S606 / Yes), the work providing device 10 causes the general user to exit the social chat (step S607). Then, the work providing device 10 provides the general user with a reading screen related to a subsection corresponding to the content of the general user's answer via the information terminal 50. At this time, the work providing device 10 updates the situation data of the general user in the user DB (step S608). In this operation example, the social chat is not included in the reading screen provided by the work providing device 10 in step S608. Note that if the general user is not participating in the social chat in step S607, the work providing device 10 proceeds to the processing of step S608.

[0159] When the work providing device 10 accepts a participation application based on the general user's approval for participation (step S609 / Yes), it provides the general user with a reading screen including a social chat as shown in Figure 18 or 19 via the information terminal 50. If the work providing device 10 does not accept a participation application (step S609 / No), it continues to provide a reading screen that does not include a social chat.

[0160] If the reading screen provided in step S608 or S610 is not linked to the subsection related to the ending (final subsection) (step S611 / No), the work providing device 10 waits until answer data is acquired (step S612 / No). When the work providing device 10 acquires the answer data (step S612 / Yes), if a general user is participating in the social chat, the work providing device 10 causes the general user to exit the social chat (step S613). That is, the processing of step S613 is substantially the same as the processing of steps S606 and S607. Then, the work providing device 10 executes the processing of steps S614 to S616 in the same manner as the processing of steps S608 to S611.

[0161] If the reading screen provided in step S608 or S610 is linked to a subsection related to the ending (final subsection), when a route request is acquired from a general user (step S617 / Yes), the work providing device 10 provides a route confirmation screen (6F-6H, 6J) to the general user (step S618). If a general user operates the route confirmation screen (6F-6H, 6J), the work providing device 10 executes processing according to the operation content in cooperation with the information terminal 50 (step S619 / Yes, step S620).

[0162] When the work providing device 10 has not received a route request from a general user, that is, when the work providing device 10 is providing the general user with the reading screen 6E for the final subsection as shown in FIG. 19 (step S617 / No), if there is an operation by the general user, the work providing device 10 executes processing according to the operation content in cooperation with the information terminal 50 (step S619 / Yes, step S620). When the work providing device 10 receives an end request based on the operation by the general user, the work providing device 10 provides the general user with the initial screen 6A via the information terminal 50 (step S621 / Yes). The above explanation has been given in the order of the step numbers assigned to FIG. 27, but the order of each process is not limited to this.

[0163] As described above, the work providing device 10 in this embodiment has a control unit 12 that provides a work, which includes multiple sentences and is divided into groups of small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each small section. The control unit 12 then provides the user with only comments from other users who share a common reading path. For example, when the control unit 12 receives a comment posted by a user, it provides the comment to other users to whom the user has already provided the small section they are reading. In this way, if the comment is delivered only to other users who have read or are currently reading the small section that the user who posted the comment is reading, the user can post comments without hesitation and can read comments from other users with peace of mind.

[0164] That is, with conventional methods such as word-of-mouth, there is a risk of spoilers occurring because there are no viewing restrictions or the like. In this regard, the work providing system 100 grasps the status data of the user who posted the comment based on a user database that is updated at any time, and provides the comment only to other users whose reading progress is the same as or higher than that of the user. This increases the sense of security when posting comments about a work and when checking comments posted by other users.

[0165] When the control unit 12 receives a comment posted by a user, it may provide the comment to other users who have already received all of the subsections provided to the user. In other words, when the control unit 12 receives a comment posted by a user, it may provide the comment only to other users who have already received all of the subsections provided to the user. This can further increase the sense of security when posting a comment on a work and when checking comments posted by other users.

[0166] The control unit 12 generates a social chat room associated with each of the multiple subsections, with the members being users currently reading the subsection. When providing a new subsection to a user, the control unit 12 may also invite the user to the social chat room associated with the subsection. In this configuration, the social chat room only includes users currently reading the same subsection, and since the reading path of each member is basically the same, the likelihood of information about unread subsections being posted within the chat room is low. This allows users to post comments without hesitation and enjoy comments from other users with peace of mind. When providing a new subsection to a user, if the user is participating in a social chat room associated with the previously provided subsection, the provision processing unit 12b may remove the user from the social chat room. This more reliably prevents spoilers and promotes participation in the social chat room and active interaction.

[0167] The control unit 12 generates a social chat that is linked one-to-one with at least one small section and whose members are users currently reading that small section. When providing a new small section linked to a social chat to a user, the control unit 12 may also invite the user to the social chat linked to that small section. Even in this way, the social chat is composed of users who share many common reading paths, reducing the likelihood that information about unread small sections will be transmitted within the social chat. When inviting a user to a social chat, the control unit 12, in the provision processing means 12b, may cause the user to exit the social chat if the user is participating in the social chat to which they were previously invited. This more reliably prevents spoilers and promotes participation in the social chat and active interaction.

[0168] The control unit 12 may generate a social chat associated with a predetermined combination of small sections and invite users who have received all of the small sections included in that combination to join the social chat associated with that combination. Even in this way, only users with similar reading paths become members of the social chat, reducing the likelihood that information about unread small sections will be transmitted within the social chat. When providing a new small section to a user, if the user is currently participating in the social chat, the control unit 12 may cause the user to exit the social chat. This more reliably prevents spoilers and promotes participation in the social chat and active interaction.

[0169] The control unit 12 may provide the administrative user with reaction data representing the reactions of all users who have received a work, and may also provide the user with reaction data related to other users that has been approved by the administrative user. Receiving a work refers to receiving at least one of the subdivisions that make up the work. This configuration can prevent, for example, comments that could lead to spoilers from being published, thereby reflecting the administrative user's intentions, improving readers' sense of security, and preventing a decrease in their desire to read. The control unit 12 may also invite the administrative user to a complete reading chat. Having the author participate in the chat room can be expected to lead to lively exchanges, including questions for the author. Furthermore, the author can hear more frank opinions, including questions for readers, which can be used to improve their work and improve their future creative activities.

[0170] The control unit 12 may be configured to generate chat rooms associated with each of the correct and incorrect answers to the question, with only users who share the same correct or incorrect answers to the question as members. Alternatively, the control unit 12 may be configured to generate chat rooms associated with each of multiple options linked to the question, with only users who selected the same option as members. Other users who share the same answer to the question basically have the same reading path, that is, the structure of the provided subsections is basically the same. Therefore, information about unread subsections is unlikely to be disseminated within the chat room, which can increase the user's sense of security.

[0171] When a user answers a question associated with a certain subsection, if the user is participating in a chat room, the control unit 12 may cause the user to exit the chat room and invite the user to a chat room corresponding to the user's answer. Alternatively, when a user selects one of multiple options associated with a question associated with a certain subsection, if the user is participating in a chat room, the control unit 12 may cause the user to exit the chat room and invite the user to a chat room corresponding to the option selected by the user. This can prevent a situation in which a user is participating in multiple social chats, thereby preventing information obtained in one social chat from leaking to other social chats and suppressing spoilers.

[0172] The control unit 12 may provide the user who is reading only with comments from other users who have answered questions correctly or incorrectly so far. Alternatively, the control unit 12 may provide the user who is reading only with comments from other users who selected the same option. In this configuration, the user can only see comments from other users who arrived at the same small section by the same route, and information about unread small sections is unlikely to be displayed in the reaction field 6g, which increases the user's sense of security.

[0173] The work providing program 13p is a program for causing a computer to function at least as the providing processing means 12b. For example, the providing processing means 12b provides a work, which includes a plurality of sentences and is divided into a set of small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader for each small section. In addition, for example, when the providing processing means 12b receives a comment posted by a certain user, it provides the comment to other users to whom the small section being read by the user has already been provided.

[0174] Furthermore, the work providing method in this embodiment is configured so that one or more processors execute a small section providing step of providing a work, which includes a plurality of sentences and is divided into groups of small sections, to users who have logged in as readers, for each small section, and a comment providing step of, when a comment posted by a certain user is received, providing the comment to other users who have already received the small section that the user is reading. The order of the small section providing step and the comment providing step does not matter, and they may be executed in parallel.

[0175] The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the work provision device, work provision system, work provision program, and work provision method, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the screens shown in the figures may be displayed on the entire screen of the display unit, on a portion of the display unit, or as a subwindow. The work provision system 100 may omit displaying the reading screen (see FIG. 23) including the invitation button Ch and instead display a reading screen (see FIGS. 24 and 25) including chat fields (Dy, Ey) on the display unit 55 from the beginning. The control unit 12 may prioritize displaying comments linked to the subsections related to the ending in the reaction field 6g of the path confirmation screen (see FIGS. 19 to 22). The path confirmation screen may be configured to have a chat field as shown in FIG. 24 or 25 instead of the reaction field 6g, and may be configured to allow switching between the reaction field 6g and the chat field.

[0176] The screens illustrated in each figure (5A, 5X, 5Y, 5B-5D, 6A-6H, 6J) are merely examples. The layout, shape, font, and presentation of each element displayed on each screen can be changed as appropriate, and elements can be freely selected and discarded. While each figure is illustrated in grayscale, actual screens use appropriate colors for text, graphics, and other elements. For example, the basic settings screen 5B may not have the reader information management section Bz. The editing screen 5C may not have the statistics confirmation button 3m, the reader display confirmation button 3n, and the settings confirmation button 3o, but may instead have at least one of the statistics confirmation button 3m, the reader display confirmation button 3n, and the settings confirmation button 3o. The statistics confirmation screen 5D may not have the comment section 5t. Scrollable areas on each screen may be provided with scroll bars or other appropriate features, assuming that the screen will be displayed on a PC monitor. The control unit 12 may not have some of the functions of the management control means 12a described above, and may not have some of the functions of the provision processing means 12b described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0177] 1z~4z Category buttons, 3a Text display area, 3b Question area, 3c Selection area, 3d Required selection area, 3e Time limit setting area, 3f Correct answer setting area, 3g Incorrect answer setting area, 3h Answer acceptance instruction area, 3j Other reader display setting area, 3k Author comment setting area, 3m Statistics confirmation button, 3n Reader display confirmation button, 3o Settings confirmation button, 3t, 3u Add button, 5 Works area, 5A Initial screen, 5B Basic settings screen, 5C Editing screen, 5D Statistics confirmation screen, 5L Author login display, 5X First initial screen, 5Y Second initial screen, 5a Published works area, 5b Edited works area, 5c Reaction display area, 5d Work name display, 5e Derivative creation permission area, 5f Charge setting area, 5g Chat permission area, 5h Participation permission area, 5j Publication instruction area, 5k Status display, 5p Screen title, 5q description, 5r number of answers display section, 5s dropout rate display section, 5t comment section, 5u return button, 5v, 5w fake category button, 6 work section, 6A initial screen, 6B-6E reading screen, 6F-6H, 6J route confirmation screen, 6L reader login display, 6a recommended works section, 6b continuing works section, 6c information display column, 6d work name display, 6e sub-category display, 6f, B1-B5 description display, 6g reaction column, 6s progress button, 6u end button, 6x related data display, 6z review button, 7a text display column, 7b question text, 7c selection section, 7m, 7n selection text, 7p extraction section, 7q insertion section, 7r comment display section, 7s auxiliary display, 7v text, 7x question section, 7z answer, 8a text display column, 10 Work providing device, 11, 31, 51 communication unit, 12 control unit, 12a management control means, 12b providing processing means, 12c chat processing means, 13, 33, 53 memory unit, 13p work providing program, 20 operation terminal, 30 management terminal, 32 management processing unit, 34, 54 input unit, 35, 55 display unit, 50 information terminal, 52 information processing unit, 100 work providing system, Ao, A1, A2 reaction display unit, Am comment display, Ar reason display, As answer display, Bm route confirmation button, Bx setting unit, By transition unit, Bz, Cz, Dx reader information management unit, Ch invitation button, Co option field, D individual button, D1, W1 input field, D2, W2 send button, Do, Eo, Go, Ho, Jo chat unit, Dp Option display: Dt, Et, Gt, Ht, JtChat name, Dy, Ey, Hy chat field, E time setting section, Ec challenge button, H sub-section button, H1 Chapter 1 button, H2 Chapter 2 button, H3 Chapter 3 button, H4 Chapter 4 button, K update button, K1 1st branch button, K2 2nd branch button, K3 3rd branch button, Ko branch button, M notification section, Ms mode switching section, N network, P amount setting section, R selection rate, Rz other route display, S switching section, S1 correct answer selection section, Sa selection button, Sb selection button, Sc author's comment, T public setting section, T1, T2 course selection section, U BAD2 button, V separate 1 button, d impression section, d1 comment section, e chat display section, f creation display section, g derivative creation section, r1 1st reaction section, r2 2nd reaction section, r3 3rd reaction section, W transmission section.

Claims

1. a control unit that provides a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The control unit When a comment sent by a certain user is received, the work providing device provides the comment to other users to whom the small section being read by the certain user has already been provided.

2. a control unit that provides a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The control unit When a comment sent by a certain user is received, the work providing device provides the comment to other users who have already been provided with all of the subsections provided to the user.

3. a control unit that provides a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The control unit A work providing device generates chat rooms linked to each of the multiple subsections, with the users currently reading the subsections as members, and when providing a new subsection to a certain user, invites the user to the chat room linked to the subsection.

4. The control unit A work providing device as described in claim 3, wherein when a new subsection is provided to a certain user, if the user is participating in a chat room linked to the previously provided subsection, the user is caused to exit the chat room.

5. a control unit that provides a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The control unit A work providing device generates a chat room that is linked one-to-one to at least one of the subsections and whose members are the users who are reading the subsection, and when providing a new subsection to a certain user that is linked to the chat room, invites the user to the chat room linked to the subsection.

6. The control unit 6. The work providing device according to claim 5, wherein when a new subsection is provided to a certain user, if that user is participating in the chat room, that user is made to leave the chat room.

7. a control unit that provides a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The control unit A work providing device that generates a chat room linked to a predetermined combination of the sub-sections and invites the users who have received all of the sub-sections included in the combination to the chat room linked to the combination.

8. The control unit 8. The work providing device according to claim 7, wherein when a new subsection is provided to a certain user, if that user is participating in the chat room, that user is made to leave the chat room.

9. a control unit that provides a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The control unit A work providing device that provides an administrative user who logs in as the creator of the work with reaction data showing the reactions of all users who have received the work to the work, and also provides the user with reaction data related to other users that has been approved by the administrative user.

10. A work providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; A work provision system having an information terminal equipped with a transmission unit that accepts comments sent by the user based on reading data sent from the work provision device, and a display unit that displays a reaction section in which comments sent through the transmission unit are displayed.

11. a computer that functions as a providing processing means for providing a work that includes a plurality of sentences and is divided into small sections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the small sections; The provision processing means A work providing program that, when receiving a comment sent by a certain user, provides the comment to other users who have already provided the subsection that the user is reading.

12. a subsection providing step of providing a work, which is configured to include a plurality of sentences and is divided into groups of subsections, to a user who has logged in as a reader, for each of the subsections; A work provision method executed by one or more processors, which includes a comment provision process in which, when a comment sent by a user is received, the comment is provided to other users who have already received the subsection that the user is reading.

Images