Space providing system, server device, space providing method, and space providing program

Abstract

To provide a technology for improving the convenience of a user in the case of performing document retrieval while discussing with a plurality of persons by making it possible to more easily understandably browse a data file retrieved by the user in a virtual space.SOLUTION: The system includes a plurality of user devices used by a plurality of users and a server device. The server device arranges a plurality of data file objects corresponding to a plurality of data files in a virtual space in advance, arranges a plurality of user objects corresponding to a plurality of users, acquires search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files, specifies a reference position based on positions of the plurality of user objects, and determines a display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the specified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information in each of the plurality of data files.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, systems that display search results from a large number of search targets based on a search query entered by a user have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 7167997) discloses a literature search system in which a user performs a search to identify analysis-related preprocessing, analysis-related device names, analysis methods, analysis-related compound names, and analysis-related analyte names. The literature search system of Patent Document 1 searches technical documents such as analysis reports, technical reports, technical papers, and research papers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7167997 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The document search system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a system intended for use by a single user. However, there are cases where documents need to be viewed even during discussions among multiple people. It can be said that there is room for improvement in the document search system disclosed in Patent Document 1 when considering cases where technical documents are viewed while multiple people are discussing something.

[0005] In recent years, a technology called the metaverse, which allows users to interact with others through avatars in a three-dimensional virtual space, has been actively used. If such a metaverse allows multiple users to share and search and view multiple data files in the same virtual space, it would improve the convenience of users when browsing documents while discussing them with others.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that improves user convenience when viewing documents while discussing with multiple people by making it easier to view data files searched by users in a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The space provision system of the present disclosure is a space provision system that provides a virtual space to a plurality of users, and includes a plurality of user devices used by each of the plurality of users, and a server device that provides the virtual space to the plurality of user devices. The server device pre-arranges a plurality of data file objects corresponding to a plurality of data files in the virtual space, arranges a plurality of user objects corresponding to each of the plurality of users in the virtual space, acquires search information for searching for a specific data file from the plurality of data files, calculates a relevance of each of the plurality of data files to the search information based on the search information, and changes a display mode of the arranged plurality of data file objects based on the position and relevance of at least one of the plurality of user objects.

[0008] The server device of the present disclosure provides a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by a plurality of users, and includes a storage device that stores a plurality of data files, and a control unit that controls objects to be placed in the virtual space. The control unit pre-arranges a plurality of data file objects corresponding to the plurality of data files in the virtual space, arranges a plurality of user objects corresponding to the plurality of users in the virtual space, acquires search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files, identifies a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determines a display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be placed based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information for each of the plurality of data files.

[0009] The space provision method of the present disclosure is a space provision method that provides a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by each of a plurality of users, and includes, as processing executed by a computer, the steps of pre-arranging a plurality of data file objects corresponding to each of a plurality of data files in the virtual space, arranging a plurality of user objects corresponding to each of the plurality of users in the virtual space, obtaining search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files, and identifying a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determining the display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information in each of the plurality of data files.

[0010] The space provision program of the present disclosure is a space provision program that provides a virtual space to multiple user devices used by each of multiple users, and causes a computer to execute the steps of: pre-arranging multiple data file objects corresponding to each of multiple data files in the virtual space; arranging multiple user objects corresponding to each of the multiple users in the virtual space; acquiring search information for searching for a specific data file from among the multiple data files; and identifying a reference position based on the positions of the multiple user objects, and determining the display mode of the multiple data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information in each of the multiple data files. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, by making it possible to more easily view data files searched by users in a virtual space, it is possible to improve the convenience of users when conducting literature searches while discussing with multiple people. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a space providing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a configuration included in the space providing system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual space in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of objects as search results in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of determining a display mode of a data file in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for arranging a data file object in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of objects as search results in the second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for arranging a data file object in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for arranging a data file object in the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of objects as search results in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of determining a display mode of a data file in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a data file object placement process according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of determining a position where a data file object is to be placed in a modified example of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] [Embodiment 1] The present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated in principle.

[0014] <Overall configuration of the space provision system> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a space provision system 1000 according to the first embodiment. The space provision system 1000 is a system for providing a virtual space to multiple users Ur1 and Ur2. The space provision system 1000 includes a server device 100, a user device 200A, and a user device 200B. The user devices 200A and 200B are attached to users Ur1 and Ur2, respectively. Note that in the example of FIG. 1, two users Ur1 and Ur2 are shown as multiple users, but it is also possible for two or more users to participate in the virtual space provided by the space provision system 1000.

[0015] The server device 100 holds data necessary to configure a virtual space and manages the virtual space. The server device 100 transmits information to the user devices 200A and 200B to provide the virtual space to the users Ur1 and Ur2. The user devices 200A and 200B display the virtual space to the users Ur1 and Ur2, respectively, based on the information received from the server device 100. In this embodiment, the configuration of the user device 200A and the configuration of the user device 200B are the same. Hereinafter, the user device 200A and the user device 200B will be collectively referred to as "user device 200."

[0016] The user device 200 is, for example, a head mounted display (HMD). The user wears the user device 200 on their head and is immersed in the virtual space. In this embodiment, the user Ur1 and the user Ur2 are present in different positions. The space providing system 1000 provides the same virtual space to the users Ur1 and Ur2, thereby making the users Ur1 and Ur2 perceive as if they are present in the same space. In this way, the space providing system 1000 can promote communication between the users Ur1 and Ur2 by providing the same virtual space.

[0017] In this embodiment, user Ur1 is an employee of the company that manages the server device 100. On the other hand, user Ur2 is an employee of another company that does business with the company that manages the server device 100. In other words, user Ur1 and user Ur2 belong to different organizations. Below, an example is described in which users Ur1 and Ur2 are both researchers, and users Ur1 and Ur2 exchange opinions about their research in a virtual space. As will be described in more detail later, user Ur1 shares data files, such as multiple technical documents of his company, stored in his company's server device 100 with user Ur2 of another company in the virtual space.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration included in the space providing system 1000. The server device 100 and the user devices 200A and 200B are communicatively connected to each other via a network NW. The network NW is typically the Internet. The server device 100 comprises a communication interface (I / F) 101, a processor 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, and a storage device 104. The communication interface 101, the processor 102, the RAM 103, and the storage device 104 are connected to a common bus and configured to be able to send and receive signals to and from each other.

[0019] The processor 102 is a computing entity (computer) that executes various processes by executing various programs. The processor 102 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and a micro-processing unit (MPU). The processor 102 has the function of executing various processes by executing programs, but some or all of these functions may be implemented as an application-specific integrated circuit such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The term "processor" is not limited to a processor in the narrow sense that executes processes using a stored program, such as a CPU or MPU, but may also include hardwired circuits such as an ASIC or FPGA.

[0020] Therefore, the processor 102 may be interpreted as a processing circuitry whose processing is predefined by computer-readable code and / or hardwired circuitry. The processor 102 may be configured on a single chip or multiple chips. Furthermore, the processor 102 and related processing circuitry may be configured as multiple computers interconnected by wire or wirelessly via a local area network or a wireless network. The processor 102 and related processing circuitry may also be configured as a cloud computer that performs remote calculations based on input data and outputs the calculation results to another device in a remote location.

[0021] The RAM 103 is a temporary storage medium used to store the results of calculations performed by the processor 102. The storage device 104 is a memory such as a read-only memory (ROM), and a non-temporary storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state disk (SSD). The storage device 104 stores a space providing program 1041 executed by the CPU 102 and a data file group Dc100. Like the RAM 103, the storage device 104 may be used as a temporary buffer area for storing the results of calculations performed by the CPU 102.

[0022] The data file group Dc100 is a collection of multiple data files to be searched in this embodiment. The data file group Dc100 includes, for example, multiple data files of technical documents. In this embodiment, the data file group Dc100 includes data files of 100 technical documents.

[0023] In this embodiment, user device 200A includes communication interface (I / F) 201A, processor 202A, RAM 203A, storage device 204A, display 205A, and input device 206A. The configurations of communication interface 201A, processor 202A, RAM 203A, and storage device 204A in user device 200A are similar to the configurations of communication interface 101, processor 102, RAM 103, and storage device 104 in server device 100, respectively, and therefore will not be described repeatedly.

[0024] The user device 200A is a head-mounted display worn on the head of the user Ur1, and displays a virtual space to the user Ur1 by covering both of the user Ur1's eyes with the display 205A. While FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the processor 202A, RAM 203A, and storage device 204A are built into the user device 200A, in some aspects, the processor 202A, RAM 203A, and storage device 204A may be provided separately from the user device 200A. For example, the processor 202A, RAM 203A, and storage device 204A may be provided inside a general-purpose PC connected to the head-mounted display. The user device 200A may also include a speaker for listening to voices or music emitted by other users in the virtual space.

[0025] The input device 206A may be, for example, a virtual keyboard (software keyboard) or a microphone that captures what the user has said. The virtual keyboard is an object in the shape of a keyboard that is placed in a virtual space, and the user Ur1 operates the virtual keyboard that is placed in the virtual space. The user Ur1 can send commands to the server device 100 while wearing the head-mounted display. The input device 206A may include a keyboard or a mouse that exists in the real world, or may include a motion capture sensor for detecting that the virtual keyboard has been operated.

[0026] User device 200B includes a communication interface (I / F) 201B, a processor 202B, a RAM 203B, a storage device 204B, a display 205B, and an input device 206B. Each component included in user device 200B has the same configuration as each component included in user device 200A, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

[0027] <Virtual Space> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual space in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a state after a search result based on a data file search performed by user Ur1 becomes viewable. The virtual space is a three-dimensional space having an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are orthogonal to each other. Hereinafter, the positive direction of the Z-axis may be referred to as the "upward direction," and the negative direction of the Z-axis may be referred to as the "downward direction."

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a plurality of objects arranged in a virtual space. A plurality of user objects corresponding to a plurality of users are arranged in the virtual space. In the example of FIG. 3, an avatar Av1 corresponding to a user Ur1 and an avatar Av2 corresponding to a user Ur2 are arranged in the virtual space. Both avatars Av1 and Av2 are objects having a shape resembling a human.

[0029] Avatar Av1 is positioned facing the positive side of the Y axis. The server device 100 shows user Ur1, via the display 205A, the view of the virtual space on the positive side of the Y axis as seen from the position of avatar Av1. That is, user Ur1 shares the field of view of avatar Av1 in the virtual space. Similarly, user Ur2 shares the field of view of avatar Av2 in the virtual space. This allows users Ur1 and Ur2 to perceive themselves as if they were present in the virtual space.

[0030] As described above, users Ur1 and Ur2 exchange opinions about their research in a virtual space. In the virtual space, users Ur1 and Ur2 exchange opinions while viewing the same technical document, which leads to lively discussions. User Ur1 accesses the storage device 104 of the server device 100 and searches for technical documents useful for the exchange of opinions from among those held by the company to which user Ur1 belongs.

[0031] Specifically, user Ur1 inputs words that may be contained in a data file desired by user Ur1 into input device 206A as keywords. User device 200A transmits the keywords input by user Ur1 to server device 100. Based on the keywords input by user Ur1, server device 100 searches for data files that satisfy the keyword search conditions from among data file group Dc100. The keywords in embodiment 1 may correspond to the "search information" in the present disclosure.

[0032] The keyword search condition is whether the relevance of the data file to the input keyword is higher than a predetermined threshold. As shown in Fig. 3, data files that satisfy the keyword search condition are displayed in front of avatar Av1. In the example of Fig. 3, 12 data files Dc1 to Dc12 are displayed as data files that satisfy the keyword search condition.

[0033] The server device 100 calculates an evaluation value for the search information in each of the 100 data files included in the data file group Dc100. In the first embodiment, the evaluation value is calculated as a degree of relevance to the keyword. In other words, the server device 100 of the first embodiment calculates a degree of relevance to the keyword for each of the 100 data files included in the data file group Dc100. The degree of relevance to the keyword is calculated, for example, from the number of words identical to the keyword included in the data file, the number of words similar to the keyword included in the data file, attribute information previously associated with the data file, and the like. The server device 100 calculates the degree of relevance of a data file in which a word identical to the keyword is included multiple times in a document to be higher than the degree of relevance of a data file in which no word identical to the keyword is included in the document. Note that the algorithm for calculating the degree of relevance may be other algorithms.

[0034] The server device 100 changes the display mode of each of the 100 data files included in the data file group Dc100 according to the calculated relevance. The server device 100 places data file objects corresponding to data files having a relevance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in front of the avatar Av1 corresponding to the user Ur1 who is the searcher. Hereinafter, data files having a relevance equal to or greater than the threshold may be referred to as "search results."

[0035] 3 shows data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 corresponding to data files Dc1 to Dc12. Each of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 is placed a predetermined distance away from avatar Av1 on the XY plane. The distance between each of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 and avatar Av1 is different. As shown in FIG. 3, when the data file objects are displayed as search results, they are displayed in a manner that allows user Ur1 to recognize the document content of the data files.

[0036] Meanwhile, the server device 100 gathers and arranges data file objects corresponding to data files having a relevance level below a predetermined threshold within a range St1. The range St1 is arranged on the positive side of the Y axis from the position of the avatar Av1, and the data file object Ob1 is arranged between the range St1 and the avatar Av1. In other words, the range St1 is located in the background of the virtual space as seen from the user Ur1.

[0037] In this way, in the space provision system 1000 of this embodiment, multiple data file objects are displayed within the range St1 as the background of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 displayed as search results. In the example of the first embodiment, 88 data file objects are collected within the range St1. This allows the space provision system 1000 to three-dimensionally represent in the virtual space the number of technical documents held by the company to which user Ur1 belongs, thereby making it possible to visualize the technical capabilities of the company. User Ur2, who belongs to a different organization from the company to which user Ur1 belongs, can easily recognize the technical capabilities of the company to which user Ur1 belongs from the number of data file objects included within the range St1.

[0038] <Placing objects as search results> The arrangement of data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 displayed as search results will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of objects as search results in embodiment 1. Fig. 4 shows a bird's-eye view of avatars Av1 and Av2, data file objects Ob1 to Ob3, and range St1 from above (the positive direction of the Z axis) in the virtual space. Data file objects Ob4 to Ob12 are not shown in Fig. 4.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the distances between avatar Av1 corresponding to user Ur1, the searcher, and the data file objects. The straight-line distance between the position of avatar Av1 and the position of data file object Ob1 is distance D1. The straight-line distance between the position of avatar Av1 and the position of data file object Ob2 is distance D2. The straight-line distance between the position of avatar Av1 and the position of data file object Ob3 is distance D3. The straight-line distance between the position of avatar Av1 and the position of range St1 is distance DS1.

[0040] 4, of distances D1 to D3 and DS1, distance D1 is the shortest and distance DS1 is the longest. Distance D3 is longer than distances D1 and D2 and shorter than distance DS1. Distance D2 is longer than distance D1 and shorter than distances D3 and DS1.

[0041] The server device 100 calculates the relevance of all data files in the data file group Dc100 to the keyword, and determines whether to arrange them as search results or within the range St1 based on the calculated relevance. Furthermore, the server device 100 also determines the details of the arrangement of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 to be displayed as search results based on the degree of relevance of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12.

[0042] Specifically, the server device 100 places data files with high relevance levels near the avatar Av1, and places data files with low relevance levels farther from the avatar Av1. In other words, the server device 100 places data file objects with high relevance levels closer to the avatar Av1 than data file objects with low relevance levels.

[0043] In the example of FIG. 4, of the data file group Dc100, the data file Dc1 is the data file having the highest relevance to the keyword. The data file Dc2 is the data file having the second highest relevance after the data file Dc1. Therefore, the data file object Ob1 is placed in a position closest to the avatar Av1 compared to the other data file objects. The data file object Ob2 is placed in a position next closest to the avatar Av1 after the data file object Ob1. In the example of FIG. 4, the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 are placed based on the position of the avatar Av1. In a certain aspect of the space provision system 1000, when the distance between the avatar Av1 and the avatar Av2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 may be displayed based on the position of either one of the avatars Av1 and Av2. This allows the space provision system 1000 to place the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 in positions with high visibility, at least from the position of the avatar Av1.

[0044] In this way, the space provision system 1000 arranges each data file object so that the display manner of each data file object differs from one another according to the calculated relevance. Note that the data file object Ob1 may correspond to the "first data file object" in the present disclosure. Also, the data file object Ob2 may correspond to the "second data file object" in the present disclosure. Furthermore, the data file Dc1 may correspond to the "first data file" in the present disclosure. Also, the data file Dc2 may correspond to the "second data file" in the present disclosure. Furthermore, the avatar Av1 may correspond to the "first user object" in the present disclosure.

[0045] 5 is a diagram showing an example of determining the display mode of data files Dc1 to Dc12 in embodiment 1. Storage device 104 stores a database using the names of data files as primary keys as a data file group Dc100. Server device 100 calculates the degree of association between each of 100 data files included in data file group Dc100 and a keyword.

[0046] 5 shows the calculation results of the relevance of each data file in the example of embodiment 1. The relevance of data file Dc1 to the keyword is "high," the relevance of data file Dc2 to the keyword is "medium," and the relevance of data file Dc3 to the keyword is "low." Note that in the example of FIG. 5, for ease of explanation, the relevance is expressed as "high," "medium," and "low," but in reality, the calculated values ​​of relevance are numerical values.

[0047] The server device 100 uses the calculated relevance levels to change the display mode of the data files in the virtual space. Specifically, the server device 100 places the data file object Ob1 with the highest relevance level at a position a distance D1 away from the avatar Av1. The server device 100 places the data file object Ob2 with the second highest relevance level at a position a distance D2 away from the avatar Av1. The server device 100 places the data file object Ob3 with the third highest relevance level at a position a distance D3 away from the avatar Av1.

[0048] In this way, the space provision system 1000 places the data file that is most likely to be the data file desired by user Ur1 at a position that is most visible to user Ur1. By expressing the degree of relevance as a distance, the space provision system 1000 allows user Ur1 to intuitively recognize the degree of relevance. As a result, the space provision system 1000 makes it easier for users to view data files searched for by users in the virtual space, thereby improving user convenience when conducting literature searches while discussing with multiple people.

[0049] Furthermore, by displaying data files that are most likely to be the data files desired by user Ur1 in order of visibility, the space provision system 1000 can reduce the burden on user Ur1 of searching for the desired data file. Furthermore, user Ur2, who is immersed in the same virtual space, can visually recognize data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 via avatar Av2. This allows users Ur1 and Ur2 to discuss the same document while sharing it, enabling efficient information gathering for research and development. In other words, the space provision system 1000 can promote the exchange of opinions between users Ur1 and Ur2.

[0050] <Flowchart> Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the data file object placement processing in embodiment 1. The processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 6 is stored as a space providing program 1041 in the storage device 104 of the server device 100. That is, the processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 6 is realized by the processor 102 executing the space providing program 1041 in the storage device 104. The processor 102 repeats the execution of the space providing program 1041 at predetermined intervals.

[0051] The server device 100 places avatars Av1 and Av2 corresponding to multiple users Ur1 and Ur2, respectively, in a virtual space (step S101). In step S101, the server device 100 may rearrange the positions of the avatars Av1 and Av2 based on input from the users Ur1 and Ur2. This allows the users Ur1 and Ur2 to move the avatars Av1 and Av2 to any position in the virtual space.

[0052] The server device 100 places data file objects corresponding to all data files included in the data file group Dc100 in the virtual space (step S102). Before receiving a search command from the user, the server device 100 first places all data file objects within a range St1 included in the background.

[0053] The server device 100 determines whether or not a keyword has been acquired from either of the user devices 200A and 200B (step S103). If a keyword has not been acquired from either of the user devices 200A and 200B (NO in step S103), the server device 100 ends the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 6. If a keyword has been acquired from either of the user devices 200A and 200B (YES in step S103), the server device 100 calculates the relevance of each of all data files included in the data file group Dc100 to the keyword (step S104).

[0054] The server device 100 determines the position of each data file object according to the position of the avatar corresponding to the user who performed the search and the relevance calculated in step S104, and arranges each data file object (step S105). In other words, the server device 100 identifies a reference position based on the position of the avatar, and determines the display mode of each data file object based on the identified reference position and the evaluation value. The reference position is a position that serves as a reference for determining the position at which each data file object is arranged, and is determined based on the position of the avatar to be displayed for each data file object. In the example of the first embodiment, the position of the avatar Av1 corresponding to the user Ur1 who performed the search is identified as the reference position. In the example of the first embodiment, the user Ur1 who performed the search may correspond to a "specific user" in the present disclosure.

[0055] In this way, in the space provision system 1000 of this embodiment, the position in the virtual space where the data file displayed as the search result is placed is determined according to the relevance to the keyword. As a result, the space provision system 1000 makes it possible for the user to more easily view the data file searched for by the user in the virtual space, thereby improving the convenience for the user when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0056] [Embodiment 2] In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the position of avatar Av1 corresponding to user Ur1 who performed the search is identified as a reference position, and a data file object is placed in the virtual space based on the identified reference position. However, the server device 100 may also consider the position of avatar Av2 in addition to the position of avatar Av1 when placing the data file object in the virtual space. In the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the reference position is identified and a data file object is placed based on the positions of both users Ur1 and Ur2.

[0057] 7 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of objects as search results in embodiment 2. Note that in embodiment 2, description of the configuration that overlaps with that of space provision system 1000 in embodiment 1 will not be repeated.

[0058] In the second embodiment, data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 are arranged with point Cp1 as the reference position. Point Cp1 is the midpoint in the straight-line distance between the position of avatar Av1, which is the display target of the search results, and the position of avatar Av2, which is the display target of the search results. The server device 100 in the second embodiment recognizes the avatar Av1 that performed the search and the avatar Av2 that is arranged within a predetermined range from the position of the avatar Av1, as the avatars that are the display target of the search results. In FIG. 7 as well, as in FIG. 4, the illustration of data file objects Ob4 to Ob12 is omitted.

[0059] That is, distance D1 in Figure 7 is the straight-line distance between the position of point Cp1 and the position of data file object Ob1. Distance D2 in Figure 7 is the straight-line distance between the position of point Cp1 and the position of data file object Ob2. Distance D3 in Figure 7 is the straight-line distance between the position of point Cp1 and the position of data file object Ob3. Distance DS1 in Figure 7 is the straight-line distance between the position of point Cp1 and the position of range St1.

[0060] In this way, in the second embodiment, the point Cp1 is specified as the reference position taking into consideration the position of the avatar Av2 corresponding to the user Ur2 in addition to the position of the avatar Av1 corresponding to the user Ur1 who performed the search, and the positions at which the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 are to be placed are determined based on the specified point Cp1. This allows the space provision system 1000 of the second embodiment to place the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 taking into consideration not only the visibility of the user Ur1 but also the visibility of the user Ur2.

[0061] In the example of FIG. 7, a reference position is identified based on the positions of avatar Av1 and avatar Av2, and data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 are placed thereon. In a certain aspect of the space provision system 1000, the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 may be displayed based on point Cp1 only when the distance between avatar Av1 and avatar Av2 is shorter than a predetermined distance. This allows the space provision system 1000 to place the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 at positions with high visibility when viewed from the positions of both avatars Av1 and Av2. In the example of FIG. 7, avatar Av1 may correspond to a "first user object" in the present disclosure. Avatar Av2 may correspond to a "second user object" in the present disclosure.

[0062] Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the data file object allocation process in embodiment 2. Steps S201, S202, S203, and S204 in the flowchart in Fig. 8 are similar to steps S101, S102, S103, and S104 in the flowchart in Fig. 6, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

[0063] In the second embodiment, after calculating the relevance in step S204, the server device 100 arranges data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 based on the positions of the target avatars and the relevance calculated in step S204 (step S205A). The target avatars are avatars determined by the server device 100 as targets for which search results should be displayed. For example, the server device 100 recognizes avatars corresponding to users arranged within a predetermined range from the position of the user Ur1 who performed the search as avatars for which search results should be displayed.

[0064] In the example of the second embodiment, the server device 100 recognizes the avatars Av1 and Av2 as avatars for which search results should be displayed. The server device 100 calculates a point Cp1 that will be the center of the arrangement of the multiple avatars Av1 and Av2, and arranges the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 based on the position of the calculated point Cp1 and the relevance.

[0065] In this way, the server device 100 of the second embodiment changes the display mode of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 based on the position of the avatar Av1 corresponding to the user Ur1 who performed the search, as well as the position of the avatar Av2 of the user Ur2 who is the display target of the search results, and the calculated relevance. As a result, the space provision system 1000 of the second embodiment can arrange the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 taking into consideration not only the visibility of the user Ur1, but also the visibility of the user Ur2. Also, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the data files searched by the user can be viewed more easily in the virtual space, thereby improving the convenience for users when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0066] [Embodiment 3] In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which a keyword search is performed by the user Ur1 inputting a keyword into the user device 200A. However, other methods may be used to acquire keywords, and in the third embodiment, a configuration will be described in which a phrase that satisfies a condition is acquired as a keyword from the content of an utterance by the user Ur1. Note that in the third embodiment, the description of the configuration that overlaps with the space provision system 1000 of the second embodiment will not be repeated.

[0067] Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the data file object allocation process in embodiment 3. Steps S301, S302, S304, and S305 in the flowchart in Fig. 9 are similar to steps S201, S202, S204, and S205A in the flowchart in Fig. 8, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

[0068] 9, after arranging avatars Av1 and Av2 and all data file objects within range St1, server device 100 determines whether the user has spoken (step S303A). If the user has not spoken (NO in step S303A), server device 100 ends the processing of the flowchart in FIG.

[0069] When the user has spoken (YES in step S303A), the server device 100 identifies the content of the user's utterance using voice recognition and determines whether the keyword detection condition is met (step S303B). The keyword detection condition is met, for example, when a specific word or phrase is spoken by the user a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the keyword detection condition may be met when a command to execute a keyword search for a specific word or phrase is detected after the user utters the specific word or phrase.

[0070] If the keyword detection condition is not met (NO in step S303B), the server device 100 ends the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 9. If the keyword detection condition is met (YES in step S303B), the server device 100 calculates the relevance of the data file to the keyword detected in step S303B (step S304).

[0071] In this way, the space provision system 1000 of the third embodiment automatically acquires keywords from the user's utterances. As a result, in the third embodiment, search processing can be performed automatically without the user having to input keywords, thereby reducing the burden on the user. In the third embodiment, search results can be automatically displayed from the natural flow of conversation between users. Also, in the space provision system 1000 of the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be more easily viewed, thereby improving the convenience for users when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0072] [Embodiment 4] In the first embodiment, it has been described that a data file object corresponding to a data file having a high relevance to a keyword is placed in a position close to an avatar so that the data file object can be placed in a position where the user can easily see it. However, a display mode that can easily be seen by the user is not limited to placing a data file object in a position close to an avatar. In the fourth embodiment, a configuration for changing the size of a data file object corresponding to a data file having a high relevance will be described.

[0073] 10 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of objects as search results in embodiment 4. Note that in embodiment 4, description of the configuration that overlaps with that of space provision system 1000 in embodiment 1 will not be repeated.

[0074] 10, data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 are arranged based on the position of avatar Av1. In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the relevance of data file Dc1 to the keyword is "high," the relevance of data file Dc2 to the keyword is "medium," and the relevance of data file Dc3 to the keyword is "low."

[0075] 10, the server device 100 places all of the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 at a distance D1 from the position of the avatar Av1. That is, the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 are placed at the same distance from the position of the avatar Av1.

[0076] On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the data file objects Ob1 to Ob3 are arranged so that their sizes in the virtual space are different. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the width of the data file object Ob1 in the display direction is width D1A. The width of the data file object Ob2 in the display direction is width D2A. The width of the data file object Ob3 in the display direction is width D3A. Of the widths D1A to D3A, width D1A is the longest and width D3A is the shortest.

[0077] 10 is a view from the positive side of the Z axis, only the width of the data file object relative to the display direction is shown, but the vertical length of the data file object relative to the display direction also changes depending on the width. In other words, the display area included in the field of view of avatar Av1 is the largest for data file object Ob1 and the smallest for data file object Ob3. If the display area of ​​a data file object is large, a larger area occupies the user's field of view, improving the visibility of the data file object.

[0078] In this way, the server device 100 of the fourth embodiment displays the data file object Ob1 larger than the data file objects Ob2 and Ob3. The space provision system 1000 of the fourth embodiment expresses the degree of relevance to a keyword using the size of the data file object, rather than the distance between the avatar Av1 and the data file object. As in the first embodiment, the space provision system 1000 of the fourth embodiment also makes it possible to more easily view the data files searched by the user in the virtual space, thereby improving user convenience when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0079] [Embodiment 5] In the first embodiment, a method for calculating the degree of relevance based on keywords has been described. However, the degree of relevance may be calculated based on factors other than keywords. In the fifth embodiment, an example will be described in which the degree of relevance is calculated taking into account the attributes of the user and the attributes of the data file.

[0080] 11 is a diagram showing an example of determining the display mode of the data files Dc1 to Dc12 in the embodiment 5. Note that in the embodiment 5, description of the configuration that overlaps with that of the space providing system 1000 in the embodiment 2 will not be repeated.

[0081] The space providing system 1000 in the fifth embodiment acquires user attribute information when users Ur1 and Ur2 start immersing themselves in a virtual space. The user attribute information may be, for example, the user's field of expertise, academic background, department name, past research field, etc. Furthermore, the storage device 104 in the fifth embodiment stores attribute information of data files associated with each data file included in the data file group Dc100. The attribute information of a data file may be the field to which the contents of the data file are related, the field of expertise of the author of the data file, etc.

[0082] When a correlation is found between attribute information associated with a data file and attribute information of user Ur1, the server device 100 of the fifth embodiment places a data file object corresponding to the data file in a position where the user can easily see the data file. In the example of the fifth embodiment, the specialty of user Ur1 is "pharmacy," and the specialty of user Ur2 is "biology." As shown in FIG. 11 , the server device 100 of the fifth embodiment calculates, as distance D1, the distance between the position of the avatar and the position of a data file object Ob3 corresponding to a data file Dc3 in the same specialty as user Ur2. That is, the server device 100 of the fifth embodiment places the data file object Ob3 corresponding to the data file Dc3 in a position where the data file object Ob3 is most easily seen.

[0083] Fig. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the data file object placement processing in embodiment 5. Steps S401, S402, S403, and S404 in the flowchart in Fig. 12 are similar to steps S201, S202, S203, and S204 in the flowchart in Fig. 8, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

[0084] Before arranging multiple avatars, the server device 100 acquires user attributes (step S400). For example, before users Ur1 and Ur2 enter the virtual space, they input their attribute information to the user devices 200A and 200B, respectively. After calculating the relevance, the server device 100 arranges the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 based on the user attributes, the positions of the avatars Av1 and Av2, and the calculated relevance (step S405).

[0085] In this way, the server device 100 of the fifth embodiment acquires the user's attributes and changes the display mode of the data file object based on the user's attributes. As a result, in the space provision system 1000 of the fifth embodiment, data files in fields in which the user has deep knowledge can be presented in a highly visible position, further stimulating discussion. Also, in the space provision system 1000 of the fifth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be more easily viewed, thereby improving the convenience for users when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0086] <Modification of the second embodiment> In the second embodiment, an example has been described in which data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 are arranged with point Cp1, which is the midpoint between the positions of avatar Av1 and avatar Av2, as the reference position. However, the reference position may be determined based on other methods. In the modified example of the second embodiment, first to third examples will be described in which the reference position is determined taking into consideration not only the position of the avatar to be displayed as a search result, but also other circumstances.

[0087] 13 is a diagram showing an example of determining a position to place a data file object in a modification of embodiment 2. Note that in the modification of embodiment 2, description of the configuration that overlaps with that of space provision system 1000 in embodiment 2 will not be repeated.

[0088] Fig. 13 shows the virtual space as viewed from the negative side of the Y axis. In the example of Fig. 13, in addition to avatars Av1 and Av2, avatar Av3 corresponding to user Ur3 is also shown. Avatars Av1 to Av3 are arranged side by side in the X axis direction. Each of avatars Av1 to Av3 is arranged facing the positive direction of the Y axis. In other words, the field of view of users Ur1 to Ur3 is the field of view in the virtual space when facing the positive direction of the Y axis from the position of each of avatars Av1 to Av3.

[0089] Point Cp2 is the midpoint between the positions of avatar Av1 and avatar Av2 in the X-axis direction. Point Cp3 is the position of avatar Av2 in the X-axis direction. Point Cp4 is the midpoint between the positions of avatar Av1 and avatar Av3 in the X-axis direction.

[0090] In the example of the second embodiment, the server device 100 recognizes avatars located within a predetermined range from the position of the searched avatar as avatars to be displayed as search results. In the example of Fig. 13, the search is performed by avatar Av2 corresponding to user Ur2. Also, in the example of Fig. 13, avatars Av1 and Av3 are located within a range that can be recognized as display targets, based on the position of user Ur2.

[0091] In a first example of the variation of the second embodiment, all of the avatars Av1 to Av3 are positioned within a range where they can be recognized as display objects, and therefore all of the avatars Av1 to Av3 become display objects in the search results. The server device 100 specifies a position that is easily visible from the positions of all of the avatars Av1 to Av3 as the reference position. In the example of FIG. 13, the server device 100 specifies, for example, a position corresponding to point Cp4 as the reference position. As shown in FIG. 13, the server device 100 places data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 at positions corresponding to point Cp4. In the example of FIG. 13, the data file objects Ob2 to Ob12 are not shown. In the example of Figure 13, for the sake of simplicity, an example is described in which the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 are placed taking into consideration only the X-axis direction, but the server device 100 may also place the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 in positions that are easy to see from the positions of the avatars Av1 to Av3, taking into consideration the positions of the avatars Av1 to Av3 in the Y-axis or Z-axis direction.

[0092] In a second example of the variation of the second embodiment, an avatar to be displayed as a search result is determined based on the content of the conversation between avatars Av1 to Av3. In the second example of the variation of the second embodiment, avatar Av3 is located within a predetermined range (a range that can be recognized as a display target) from the position of avatar Av2 that performed the search, but avatar Av3 is not participating in the discussion between avatars Av1 and Av2. For example, avatar Av3 is an avatar that temporarily approaches avatars Av1 and Av2, who are discussing the topic, while moving within the virtual space, and is an avatar that is not related to the discussion between avatars Av1 and Av2.

[0093] In a second example of the variation of the second embodiment, the server device 100 determines that the avatar Av3 is not conversing with the avatars Av1 and Av2 based on the speech content of the avatars Av1 to Av3 acquired by the server device 100. More specifically, the server device 100 determines that the avatar Av3 is not conversing with the avatars Av1 and Av2 based on the amount of speech of the avatars Av1 to Av3, the timing of the speech, whether or not the conversation is conversant, and the like. The server device 100 determines that only the avatars Av1 and Av2 are to be displayed as search results, and places the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 at positions corresponding to the point Cp2. This makes it possible to exclude the avatar Av3, who is not participating in the discussion, from the display targets, and to place the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 at positions appropriate for the positions of the avatars Av1 and Av2, which need to be displayed as search results.

[0094] In a third example of the variation of the second embodiment, as in the second example, avatar Av3 is located within a predetermined range from the position of avatar Av2 that performed the search, but avatar Av3 does not participate in the discussion between avatars Av1 and Av2. Furthermore, in the third example of the variation of the second embodiment, a discussion is taking place between avatars Av1 and Av2, but avatar Av1 is the one who issues instructions to avatar Av2, and avatar Av2 is the one who views the search results based on those instructions. More specifically, avatar Av1 is the boss (or teacher) of avatar Av2, and avatar Av2 is the subordinate (or student) of avatar Av1.

[0095] For example, a conversation is taking place between avatar Av1 and avatar Av2 with the aim of helping avatar Av2 view a document that avatar Av2 desires, but avatar Av1 does not wish to view the search results. Avatar Av1 gives avatar Av2 advice on inputting search information. Avatar Av2 inputs search results based on the advice from avatar Av1. In this case, the server device 100 determines that only avatar Av2 will be included in the display results of the search, based on the content of the utterances of avatars Av1 and Av2 or the attribute information of avatars Av1 and Av2 (boss, subordinate, etc.).

[0096] As a result, the server device 100 places the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 at positions corresponding to point Cp3. This allows avatar Av3, who is not participating in the discussion, and avatar Av1, who does not wish to view the search results, to be excluded from the display of the search results, and allows the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 to be placed at positions appropriate for only avatar Av2, who needs to view the search results. Furthermore, in a third example of the modified example of the second embodiment, the search information may be input by avatar Av1, who does not wish to view the search results. The server device 100 does not need to determine the avatar who input the search information as the display result target based on the avatar's utterance content. In this way, the space providing system 1000 of the modified example of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, allows the data files searched by the user in the virtual space to be more easily viewable, thereby improving user convenience when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0097] In this way, in the modification of the second embodiment, the avatar to be the display target of the search results is identified based on the speech content, attribute information, etc. of the avatars Av1 to Av3 in addition to the positions of the avatars Av1 to Av3. This allows the search results to be displayed in a position suitable for the avatar that needs to view the search results. That is, in the space provision system 1000 in the modification of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be viewed more easily, thereby improving the convenience for the user when performing a literature search while discussing with multiple people.

[0098] <Other variations> Various modifications of the above-described embodiments will be described below. In the example of the first embodiment, the user device 200 is a head-mounted display. However, the user device 200 may simply be a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel.

[0099] In the example of the first embodiment, it has been described that the server device 100 has a storage device 104 that stores data necessary for configuring a virtual space and a plurality of data files. However, the storage device 104 may be provided separately from the server device 100. The storage device 104 only needs to be accessible from the server device 100, and may be located in a location remote from the location where the server device 100 is located. Furthermore, the server device 100 may be located in the same location as one of the user devices 200A, 200B, or may exist as a cloud server in a location remote from the user devices 200A, 200B.

[0100] In the example of the first embodiment, the users Ur1 and Ur2 are both researchers, and an example has been described in which the users Ur1 and Ur2 exchange opinions regarding their research. However, the content of the communication between the users Ur1 and Ur2 is not limited to an exchange of opinions, and may include various types of communication such as business negotiations, interviews, consulting, and presentations.

[0101] In the example of the first embodiment, the network NW is the Internet, but the network NW may be a local area network, a wide area network, or the like.

[0102] In the example of the first embodiment, the data files are described as technical documents, but they may be other document files, or may be image data, video data, etc. Also, in the example of the first embodiment, the data file group Dc100 includes 100 technical document data files, but the number of data files included in the data file group Dc100 is not limited to 100, and may be 10, 50, 5,000, or hundreds of thousands.

[0103] In the example of the first embodiment, in a keyword search, the server device 100 executes a search based on one keyword. However, the server device 100 may execute a search based on multiple keywords, and the user may specify an upper limit on the number of characters in a document, the name of the author of the document, etc., in addition to the keyword.

[0104] In the example of the first embodiment, it was explained that data file objects corresponding to data files having a relevance level below a predetermined threshold are collected within the range St1. The data file objects within the range St1 have the shape of a document, and information indicating part of the contents of the actual data file object may be displayed. For example, multiple data file objects within the range St1 may be displayed in a manner that makes the cover, title, and abstract of each data file object recognizable. In this way, the space provision system 1000 allows the user Ur2 to understand that each data file object included in the range St1 corresponds to an actual technical document.

[0105] Furthermore, the plurality of data file objects within the range St1 may be constantly moving within the range St1. For example, the server device 100 may rotate the plurality of data file objects in a swirling manner within the range St1. This allows the space providing system 1000 to emphasize that a data file object corresponding to a technical document that is not displayed as a search result exists within the range St1.

[0106] Furthermore, data file objects within the range St1 may be displayed so that information about the data file objects is recognizable. For example, a predetermined color may be applied to data file objects corresponding to data files created within the last month. Alternatively, different colors may be applied to data file objects according to the decade in which the document was created. This allows the user to easily understand the date on which the data file was created as a document. Furthermore, the server device 100 may apply different colors to data file objects depending on the publisher, author, and field of the technical document. This allows the space providing system 1000 to easily allow the user to understand information about the data file objects located within the range St1.

[0107] In the example of FIG. 3, data file objects Ob1 to Ob12, which are the search results, are placed in front of avatar Av1. That is, FIG. 3 shows the virtual space in a state after the search process. As described in step S102 of FIG. 6, server device 100 collects and places data file objects corresponding to all data files within range St1 before the user performs the search process. However, in some aspects, server device 100 may not place any data file objects within range St1 before the search process is performed, and may start placing data file objects having a relevance level below a threshold within range St1 based on the user performing the search process.

[0108] As described in embodiment 1, when data file objects are placed in range St1 in advance before the search process is performed, the server device 100 may, after calculating the search results, display an animation in which data file objects equal to or greater than the threshold value are moved from range St1 to in front of the avatar Av1.

[0109] In the example of the second embodiment, the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 are arranged based on the midpoint of two users Ur1 and Ur2. When the number of users immersed in the virtual space is three or more, the server device 100 acquires the positions of avatars corresponding to the three users on the XY plane. The server device 100 may determine the center of gravity of the positions of the three avatars as point Cp1. The server device 100 may determine the position of point Cp1 using other methods, for example, may determine the center of a circle that passes through the positions of all three avatars as point Cp1. In a more specific example, the server device 100 may prepare a classroom in the virtual space, arrange avatars representing 30 students in the classroom, and determine the center point of the classroom as point Cp1.

[0110] In the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the server device 100 arranges the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 based on the point Cp1. The server device 100 may arrange the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 taking into consideration the direction in which the avatars Av1 and Av2 are facing. For example, when a partial area in the visual fields of the avatars Av1 and Av2 overlaps with the virtual space, the server device 100 may arrange the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 in the overlapping area. In other words, the server device 100 may display the data file objects Ob1 to Ob12 in an area that is commonly included in the visual fields of the avatars Av1 and Av2.

[0111] The method for calculating the relevance and the method for determining the location of the data file object according to the relevance may be changeable by the user or the administrator of the server device 100 as appropriate.

[0112] In the example of the first embodiment, it has been described that the server device 100 places the data file object in a position with high visibility by placing the position of the data file object near the avatar. If other objects are already placed around the avatar Av1, the server device 100 may place the data file object taking into consideration the positions of the other objects. In other words, if other objects exist between the avatar Av1 and the data file object with a high degree of association, the server device 100 may change the position of the data file object with a high degree of association and relocate the data file object with a high degree of association to a position with high visibility. In this way, the space providing system 1000 can place the data file object while taking into consideration the presence of objects that may obstruct the user's view.

[0113] 6, 8, 9, and 12 may be executed by a device external to server device 100. For example, the acquisition of keywords and the calculation of the relevance of the keywords shown as steps S103 and S104 in FIG. 6 may be executed by user device 200. The order of the processing steps in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9, and 12 is not limited to the order shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9, and 12. For example, in FIG. 6, step S102 may be executed before step S101.

[0114] In the examples of the first to fifth embodiments, the example has been described in which the user performing the search is immersed in the virtual space. That is, an avatar corresponding to the user performing the search is placed in the virtual space. However, the user performing the search does not have to be immersed in the virtual space. For example, the avatar Av1 to be displayed as a search result may be talking to an external user via voice call, and the external user may input a search command. Even in this case, the server device 100 identifies only the avatar Av1 as a search result to be displayed, based on the content of the user's utterance and the fact that an avatar corresponding to the user who input the search command is not placed in the virtual space.

[0115] In the examples of the first to fifth embodiments, the display mode of the search results is changed depending on the relevance to the search information as an evaluation value. However, the evaluation value may include an index other than the relevance to the search information. For example, the evaluation value may change the display mode of each data file object depending on the number of times each data file has been cited in other papers or the number of times it has been viewed in the past. More specifically, the server device 100 may place a data file that has a low relevance to the search information but has a high number of past citations or views in a position that is more visible to the user than a data file that has a low relevance to the search information.

[0116] [Aspect] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0117] (Item 1) A space provision system according to one embodiment provides a virtual space to a plurality of users, and includes a plurality of user devices used by each of the users, and a server device that provides the virtual space to the plurality of user devices. The server device pre-arranges a plurality of data file objects corresponding to each of a plurality of data files in the virtual space, arranges a plurality of user objects corresponding to each of the plurality of users in the virtual space, acquires search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files, identifies a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determines a display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information for each of the plurality of data files.

[0118] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 1, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be viewed more clearly, thereby improving the convenience for users when conducting literature searches while discussing with multiple people.

[0119] (2) In the space providing system described in 1, the server device calculates the degree of association with the search information in each of the plurality of data files based on the search information.

[0120] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 2, the display mode of the data file object can be determined using the relevance.

[0121] (Clause 3) In the space provision system described in paragraph 2, the multiple data file objects include a first data file object corresponding to a first data file and a second data file object corresponding to a second data file having a relevance lower than that of the first data file, and the server device acquires search information from a specific user device used by a specific user and places the first data file object in a position in the virtual space that is more visible to the specific user than the second data file object.

[0122] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 3, data file objects corresponding to data files that are highly relevant to the search information are placed in highly visible positions, thereby reducing the effort required for the user to search for the desired data file.

[0123] (4) In the space providing system described in 3, the server device places the first data file object at a position closer to a specific user object corresponding to a specific user than the object of the second data file.

[0124] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 4, by placing the data file object in a position close to the avatar, the data file object can be placed in a position with high visibility.

[0125] (Item 5) In the space providing system described in item 3 or 4, the server device displays the first data file object larger than the second data file object.

[0126] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 5, the data file object can be displayed in a large size, thereby increasing the visibility of the data file object.

[0127] (Clause 6) In the space providing system described in any one of clauses 3 to 5, the server device gathers and arranges within a predetermined range a plurality of data file objects corresponding to a plurality of data files having a relevance level less than a threshold.

[0128] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 6, by placing data file objects corresponding to all data files stored in a storage device in a virtual space, the technical capabilities and data volume of the organization that holds the data files can be expressed in the virtual space.

[0129] (Item 7) In the space providing system described in Item 6, the predetermined range is located in the background of the virtual space as seen by the specific user.

[0130] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 7, by displaying the search results in the background, both the search results and the data file objects located within range St1 can be effectively displayed to the user.

[0131] (Clause 8) In the space provision system described in any one of clauses 2 to 7, the multiple user objects include a first user object corresponding to a first user and a second user object corresponding to a second user, and the server device changes the display mode of the multiple data file objects based on the position and relevance of the first user object.

[0132] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 8, it is possible to improve the visibility of one user who is the display target of the search results.

[0133] (Clause 9) In the space provision system described in any one of clauses 2 to 7, the multiple user objects include a first user object corresponding to a first user and a second user object corresponding to a second user, and the server device changes the display mode of the multiple data file objects based on a position determined based on the position of the first user object and the position of the second user object and the degree of association.

[0134] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 9, it is possible to improve the visibility of all users who are the display targets of search results.

[0135] (Clause 10) In the space providing system according to any one of clauses 3 to 9, the specific user device further includes an input device that acquires a user's utterance. The server device acquires search information from the specific user device based on the utterance acquired by the input device.

[0136] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 10, keywords to be used in a keyword search can be automatically extracted based on the user's utterance, thereby reducing the burden on the user of issuing a keyword search command.

[0137] (Clause 11) In the space provision system described in any one of clauses 3 to 10, the server device acquires attribute data indicating attributes of a specific user, and further based on the attribute data, changes the display mode of multiple data file objects.

[0138] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 11, the data files to be displayed in the search results can be determined taking into consideration the user's attribute data, thereby promoting active discussion.

[0139] (12) In the space provision system described in 11, the attribute data indicates a specialty or an educational background of a particular user.

[0140] According to the space providing system described in paragraph 12, data files related to the user's specialty field and educational background can be easily displayed as search results.

[0141] (13) In the space providing system according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 12, the plurality of data files include at least one data file of a document, an image, and a video.

[0142] According to the spatial provision system described in paragraph 13, technical documents, images, and videos can be displayed as search results.

[0143] (14) In the space providing system according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 13, the plurality of data files include data files of technical documents, and the search information includes keywords contained in the technical documents.

[0144] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 14, technical documents can be searched by keyword search.

[0145] (Clause 15) A server device according to one aspect provides a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by a plurality of users, and includes a storage device that stores a plurality of data files, and a control unit that controls objects to be placed in the virtual space. The control unit pre-arranges a plurality of data file objects corresponding to the plurality of data files in the virtual space, arranges a plurality of user objects corresponding to the plurality of users in the virtual space, acquires search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files, identifies a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determines a display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be placed based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information for each of the plurality of data files.

[0146] According to the server device described in paragraph 15, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be viewed more clearly, thereby improving the convenience for the user when conducting literature searches while discussing with multiple people.

[0147] (Clause 16) A space provision method according to one embodiment is a space provision method for providing a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by each of a plurality of users, and includes, as processing executed by a computer, the steps of: pre-arranging, in the virtual space, a plurality of data file objects corresponding to each of a plurality of data files; arranging, in the virtual space, a plurality of user objects corresponding to each of the plurality of users; acquiring search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files; and identifying a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determining a display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information in each of the plurality of data files.

[0148] According to the space provision system described in paragraph 16, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be viewed more clearly, thereby improving the convenience for users when conducting literature searches while discussing with multiple people.

[0149] (Clause 17) A space providing program according to one embodiment is a space providing program that provides a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by each of a plurality of users, and causes a computer to execute the steps of: pre-arranging a plurality of data file objects corresponding to each of a plurality of data files in the virtual space; arranging a plurality of user objects corresponding to each of the plurality of users in the virtual space; acquiring search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files; and identifying a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determining the display mode of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for the search information in each of the plurality of data files.

[0150] According to the space provision program described in paragraph 17, the data files searched by the user in the virtual space can be viewed more clearly, thereby improving the convenience for users when conducting literature searches while discussing with multiple people.

[0151] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0152] 100 Server device, 101, 201A, 201B Communication interface, 102, 202A, 202B Processor, 103, 203A, 203B RAM, 104, 204A, 204B Storage device, 200, 200A, 200B User device, 205A, 205B Display, 206A, 206B Input device, 1000 Space provision system, 1041 Space provision program, Av1 to Av3 Avatar, Cp1 to Cp4 Point, D1A to D3A Width, D1, D2, D3, DS1 Distance, Dc1 to Dc12 Data file, Dc100 Data file group, NW Network, Ob1 to Ob12 Data file object, St1 Range, Ur1, Ur2 User.

Claims

1. A space providing system that provides a virtual space to a plurality of users, a plurality of user devices used by the plurality of users, respectively; a server device that provides the virtual space to the plurality of user devices; The server device In the virtual space, a plurality of data file objects corresponding to the plurality of data files are arranged in advance; placing a plurality of user objects corresponding to the plurality of users in the virtual space; obtaining search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files; A space provision system that identifies a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determines the display manner of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for search information in each of the plurality of data files.

2. The space providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the server device calculates a degree of relevance of each of the plurality of data files to the search information based on the search information.

3. the plurality of data file objects include a first data file object corresponding to a first data file and a second data file object corresponding to a second data file having a degree of association lower than the degree of association of the first data file; The server device acquiring the search information from a specific user device used by a specific user; The space providing system according to claim 2 , wherein the first data file object is placed at a position in the virtual space that is more visible to the specific user than the second data file object.

4. The space providing system according to claim 3 , wherein the server device places the first data file object at a position closer to a specific user object corresponding to the specific user than the object of the second data file.

5. The space providing system according to claim 3 , wherein the server device displays the first data file object larger than the second data file object.

6. The space provision system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the server device gathers and arranges within a predetermined range the plurality of data file objects corresponding to the plurality of data files having a relevance level less than a threshold value.

7. The space providing system according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined range is located in the background of the virtual space as seen from the specific user.

8. the plurality of user objects include a first user object corresponding to a first user and a second user object corresponding to a second user; The space provision system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the server device changes the display mode of the plurality of data file objects based on the position of the first user object and the relevance.

9. the plurality of user objects include a first user object corresponding to a first user and a second user object corresponding to a second user; The space provision system described in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the server device changes the display mode of the multiple data file objects based on a position determined based on the position of the first user object and the position of the second user object and the degree of relevance.

10. the specific user device further includes an input device for acquiring an utterance of the user; The space providing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the server device acquires the search information from the specific user device based on the utterance acquired by the input device.

11. The server device acquiring attribute data indicating attributes of the specific user; The space providing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a display mode of the plurality of data file objects is changed further based on the attribute data.

12. The space provision system according to claim 11 , wherein the attribute data indicates a specialty or an educational background of the specific user.

13. The space provision system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of data files include at least one of a document, an image, and a video.

14. the plurality of data files includes a data file of technical documentation; 6. The space providing system according to claim 1, wherein the search information includes keywords contained in the technical documents.

15. A server device that provides a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by a plurality of users, a storage device for storing a plurality of data files; a control unit that controls an object placed in the virtual space, The control unit In the virtual space, a plurality of data file objects corresponding to the plurality of data files are arranged in advance; placing a plurality of user objects corresponding to the plurality of users in the virtual space; obtaining search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files; A server device that identifies a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determines the display manner of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for search information in each of the plurality of data files.

16. A space providing method for providing a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by a plurality of users, the method comprising: The process performed by the computer is a step of previously arranging a plurality of data file objects corresponding to a plurality of data files in the virtual space; placing a plurality of user objects corresponding to the plurality of users in the virtual space; obtaining search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files; A space provision method comprising a step of identifying a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determining the display manner of the plurality of data file objects to be arranged based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for search information in each of the plurality of data files.

17. A space providing program that provides a virtual space to a plurality of user devices used by a plurality of users, On the computer, a step of previously arranging a plurality of data file objects corresponding to a plurality of data files in the virtual space; placing a plurality of user objects corresponding to the plurality of users in the virtual space; obtaining search information for searching for a specific data file from among the plurality of data files; A space provision program that executes a step of identifying a reference position based on the positions of the plurality of user objects, and determining the display manner of the plurality of data file objects to be placed based on the identified reference position and an evaluation value for search information in each of the plurality of data files.

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