Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a mechanism for enabling a user to easily acquire an article used in moving image content.SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus 2 includes a transmission unit 232 that transmits, to a user terminal used by a user, space presentation information for presenting a virtual space to the user, the virtual space appearing in moving image content that can be viewed by the user and being constructed by imitating a real space in which one or more articles are present, and an acquisition unit 231 that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, article specifying information for specifying an article corresponding to a virtual article selected by the user from one or more virtual articles present in the virtual space and corresponding to each of the one or more articles; And a purchase processing unit 235 that executes purchase processing for the user to purchase the article specified by the article specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit 231.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002]

[0003] Online shopping services for buying and selling products over the Internet have become widespread. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for managing the buying and selling of products. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-068514 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there are cases where users cannot find the desired product even when searching on the Internet. For example, a user who has watched video content such as a drama or a movie may want to buy an item used in the video content, but may not know where to purchase the item.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a system that makes it easier for users to obtain items used in video content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a transmitting unit that transmits space presentation information to a user terminal used by the user to present to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content that the user can view and in which one or more items exist; an acquiring unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying one or more virtual items that exist in the virtual space and correspond to a virtual item selected by the user from among the one or more virtual items that correspond to each of the one or more items; and a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquiring unit.

[0007] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores information indicating the video content in association with information regarding each of the one or more items included in the video content, and the transmission unit may transmit the spatial presentation information including information regarding the one or more items associated with the video content to the user terminal.

[0008] The acquisition unit may acquire the item identification information corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user in the virtual space presented on the user terminal.

[0009] The one or more items may include items for sale and items not for sale, and the transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the virtual items corresponding to the items for sale and the virtual items corresponding to the items not for sale.

[0010] The transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space, which includes performer avatars corresponding to performers who appear in the video content in the virtual space.

[0011] The transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatar performing a predetermined action to the user terminal.

[0012] The transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including a user avatar corresponding to the user to the user terminal. The transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space, which includes a user avatar corresponding to the user and another user avatar corresponding to another user different from the user.

[0013] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores information about the user, and the transmission unit may transmit the spatial presentation information to the user terminal when the information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition regarding the video content.

[0014] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores information about the user, and the purchase processing unit may execute the purchase processing when the information about the user satisfies predetermined conditions regarding the video content.

[0015] The purchase processing unit may execute payment for the item as the purchase process. The purchase processing unit may, as the purchase processing, cause the user terminal to access a website that sells the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0016] The information processing device may further include a notification unit that notifies a business that has provided the video content of sales results of the item based on the purchase process.

[0017] The transmission unit may transmit, to the user terminal, scene presentation information for presenting a scene in which the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit appears in the video content.

[0018] The virtual space may be associated with a scene included in the video content, the transmitting unit may transmit content presentation information for presenting the video content to the user terminal, the acquiring unit may acquire scene identification information for identifying the presented scene from the user terminal on which the video content is presented, and the transmitting unit may transmit to the user terminal the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space associated with the scene identified by the scene identification information acquired by the acquiring unit.

[0019] The information processing device may further have an identification unit that identifies a consideration to be paid to a target business, which is at least one of the business that provided the video content, the business that presents the virtual space, and the sponsor of the scene in which the item appears in the video content, based on the performance of the purchase processing unit in executing the purchase processing corresponding to the item, and a payment processing unit that executes processing to pay the consideration identified by the identification unit to the target business.

[0020] The transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including an advertising object showing an advertisement related to the sponsor, depending on the amount of support provided by the sponsor of the video content.

[0021] The information processing device may further have a determination unit that determines a grade of the advertising object based on the amount of support provided by the sponsor of the video content, and the transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertising object based on the grade determined by the determination unit.

[0022] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: transmitting, to a user terminal used by the user, space presentation information executed by a computer for presenting to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content viewable by the user and in which one or more items exist; acquiring, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying one or more virtual items existing in the virtual space and corresponding to a virtual item selected by the user from among the one or more virtual items corresponding to each of the one or more items; and executing a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the acquired item identification information.

[0023] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as: a transmitting unit that transmits space presentation information to a user terminal used by the user to present to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content that the user can view and in which one or more items exist; an acquiring unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying one or more virtual items that exist in the virtual space and correspond to a virtual item selected by the user from among the one or more virtual items that correspond to each of the one or more items; and a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquiring unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The present invention has the effect of providing a mechanism that makes it easier for users to obtain items used in video content. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a content management database. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a content list screen. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a content playback screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a virtual space presented to a user. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the information processing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] [Outline of Information Processing System S] 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system used to provide an information processing service to a user. The user may be a member of the information processing service or a non-member of the information processing service.

[0027] The information processing service is a service for providing a user with a predetermined item via a virtual space. The predetermined item is an item used in video content, such as a mass-produced item, a one-of-a-kind item, furniture, food, etc. The predetermined item may also be an item similar to an item used in the video content. The video content is a video work that can be viewed by a user, such as a drama or a movie. The virtual space in this embodiment is a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in the video content, and is a virtual space in which one or more virtual items exist that correspond to one or more items that exist in the real space. The virtual items are objects that imitate items that exist in the real space. The real space in this embodiment is, for example, a drama set such as a room that appears in a drama.

[0028] The information processing service may further include a service for providing video content such as video distribution, and a service for selling products such as online shopping. The information processing system S includes a user terminal 1 and an information processing device 2.

[0029] The user terminal 1 is a terminal used by a user, and may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a personal computer, VR (Virtual Reality) goggles, a head-mounted set, or the like. A dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as a "dedicated app") for providing an information processing service is installed in the user terminal 1. The user can use the information processing service by using the dedicated app in the user terminal 1. Note that the information processing service may be provided over the Internet rather than through a dedicated app.

[0030] The information processing device 2 is a device that manages information processing services, and is, for example, a server. The processing executed by the information processing system S will be described below.

[0031] 1 is a virtual space V that is constructed to resemble a drama set. In the space V, various virtual objects O (virtual objects O1, O2, O3, and O4) exist.

[0032] In this case, first, when the user performs an operation to display space V on the display screen of the dedicated app displayed on the user terminal 1, the information processing device 2 transmits space presentation information corresponding to space V ((1) in FIG. 1). The space presentation information is information for presenting a virtual space to the user.

[0033] When a user selects a virtual object O3 that the user wishes to purchase from among multiple virtual objects O on the user terminal 1 presented with the space V, the user terminal 1 transmits item identification information corresponding to the virtual object O3 selected by the user to the information processing device 2 ((2) in FIG. 1). The item identification information is information for identifying an item corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user, such as an item ID (identification).

[0034] Then, when the information processing device 2 acquires the item identification information from the user terminal 1, it executes a process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information (the sofa corresponding to the virtual object O3) ((3) in FIG. 1). In this way, the information processing system S can provide a mechanism that makes it easy for users to obtain items used in video content. The configuration of the information processing device 2 will be described below.

[0035] [Configuration of information processing device 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information processing device 2. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and data flows other than those shown in FIG. 2 may also exist. In FIG. 2, each block indicates a functional configuration rather than a hardware (device) configuration. Therefore, the blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0036] The information processing device 2 has a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The information processing device 2 may be configured by two or more physically separate devices connected by wire or wirelessly. The information processing device 2 may also be configured by a cloud, which is a collection of computer resources.

[0037] The communication unit 21 has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device such as the user terminal 1 via a network. The communication unit 21 notifies the control unit 23 of data received from the external device via the network. The communication unit 21 also transmits data output from the control unit 23 to the external device via the network.

[0038] The storage unit 22 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 22 may be provided outside the information processing device 2, in which case data may be exchanged between the storage unit 22 and the control unit 23 via a network. The storage unit 22 stores in advance programs to be executed by the control unit 23.

[0039] The storage unit 22 stores information about users. The information about users includes, for example, the user's ID, address, credit card number, video content viewing history, whether the user is a member of a video content fan club, whether the user is a free member or a paid member of an information processing service, etc. The information about users may further include user-generated information. The user-generated information is information for generating a user avatar corresponding to the user in a virtual space, and includes, for example, information for configuring the appearance of the user avatar. The user-generated information may be predetermined information or may be information set by the user. The storage unit 22 also stores a content management database that manages information about video content.

[0040] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a content management database. The content management database shown in Fig. 3 stores content IDs, scene IDs, space generation information, and product information (product IDs, product generation information, sales types, prices, processing types, etc.) in association with each other.

[0041] The content ID is information for identifying video content. The scene ID is information for identifying a scene included in the video content. The scene ID may also be information for identifying a virtual space corresponding to a scene. The space generation information is information for generating a virtual space, and is information generated based on a scanned image of a moving image of the video content or a real space such as a drama set. The space generation information includes, for example, information for configuring the appearance of a drama set, such as walls and floors.

[0042] The item ID is information for identifying an item. The item ID is information commonly used for items existing in real space and virtual items existing in virtual space. The content management database may further store a virtual item ID associated with the item ID. The item generation information is information for generating a virtual item corresponding to an item in virtual space, and is generated based on a scanned image of real space such as a moving image of video content or a drama set, or of the item alone. The item generation information includes, for example, information for configuring the appearance of the virtual item, such as its shape and size, and the position where the virtual item is to be placed in the virtual space. The sales type is information indicating whether the item is for sale or not for sale. The processing type is information indicating at least one of processing the price of the item through payment or accessing a website where the item is for sale. If the processing type indicates accessing a website where the item is for sale (if the item is not for sale through an information processing service), the content management database may further store the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the website where the item is for sale in association with the processing type.

[0043] The information stored in the content management database is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 3. For example, the content management database may further store information such as the title of the video content, the video of the video content, a thumbnail image displaying an image of the virtual space, the name of the scene, the period of the video in which the scene appears, the ID of the virtual space, the name of the item, the number of items in stock, and information indicating the sales status of the item (e.g., whether it is selling well or not). The content management database may also store performer generation information. The performer generation information is information for generating performer avatars corresponding to performers who appear in the video content in the virtual space, and includes, for example, information for configuring the appearance of the performer avatars.

[0044] 2, the control unit 23 has an acquisition unit 231, a transmission unit 232, a space management unit 233, a determination unit 234, a purchase processing unit 235, a notification unit 236, an identification unit 237, and a payment processing unit 238. The control unit 23 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and functions as the acquisition unit 231, the transmission unit 232, the space management unit 233, the determination unit 234, the purchase processing unit 235, the notification unit 236, the identification unit 237, and the payment processing unit 238 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 22.

[0045] The transmission unit 232 presents to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content viewable by the user and in which one or more items exist. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 presents the virtual space to the user by transmitting space presentation information for presenting the virtual space corresponding to the video content to the user to the user terminal 1. The space presentation information is, for example, an image displaying the virtual space generated by the information processing device 2. The transmission unit 232 presents the virtual space to the user by, for example, executing the following three steps.

[0046] As a first step, the acquisition unit 231 acquires space identification information for identifying the virtual space to be presented to the user. The space identification information is, for example, an ID of video content. For example, when the user first performs an operation to launch a dedicated app on the user terminal 1, the transmission unit 232 transmits information related to the video content. The information related to the video content is a list of video content, and is, for example, information in which the ID of the video content and the title of the video content are associated with each other for each video content.

[0047] When the user terminal 1 acquires information related to video content from the information processing device 2, it displays a content list screen. When the user performs an operation to select one video content from the list of video content on the content list screen, the user terminal 1 transmits the ID of the video content selected by the user to the information processing device 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires the ID of the video content from the user terminal 1 as space identification information.

[0048] The space specification information may be a combination of a video content ID and a scene ID. For example, the information about the video content includes a list of scenes included in the video content (for example, information in which the scene ID, the name of the scene, and a thumbnail image of the virtual space corresponding to the scene are associated with each scene).

[0049] In this case, when the user selects one video content from the list of video contents on the content list screen and performs an operation to select one scene from the list of scenes included in the selected video content, the user terminal 1 transmits the ID of the video content and the ID of the scene selected by the user to the information processing device 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires a combination of the ID of the video content and the ID of the scene from the user terminal 1 as space identification information.

[0050] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a typical example of a content list screen. For each content C (contents C1 and C2) that is video content, the content list screen shown in Fig. 4 displays video images M (video images M1 and M2) that are video images of the video content, and images B (images B1 and B2) that are thumbnail images of scenes. Each thumbnail image of a scene is associated with a combination of the video content ID and the scene ID.

[0051] In this case, for example, when the user taps on image B1 on the content list screen, the user terminal 1 transmits the video content ID and the scene ID associated with image B1 to the information processing device 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires a combination of the video content ID and the scene ID from the user terminal 1 as space identification information.

[0052] In a second step, the space management unit 233 manages the virtual space. Specifically, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space identified by the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. More specifically, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including one or more virtual items based on the space generation information and one or more item generation information stored in the content management database in association with the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231.

[0053] Note that the space management unit 233 may generate a virtual space before the acquisition unit 231 acquires the space specification information. In this case, for example, the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 is associated with space specification information for identifying the virtual space (for example, a content ID, a combination of the content ID and a scene ID, or a virtual space ID), and the space management unit 233 identifies, from among the one or more virtual spaces generated, a virtual space associated with the space specification information corresponding to the space specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. The space management unit 233 can generate the virtual space using, for example, a known technique.

[0054] In a third step, the transmission unit 232 presents to the user the virtual space generated (specified) by the space management unit 233. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits a space image displaying the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1 as space presentation information. Thereafter, the user terminal 1 displays the virtual space by displaying the space image acquired from the information processing device 2 on a space display screen for displaying the virtual space.

[0055] The information processing device 2 may present to the user a virtual space corresponding to a scene that appears in the video content that the user is viewing. Specifically, the information processing device 2 performs the following three steps to present to the user a virtual space corresponding to a scene that appears in the video content.

[0056] As a first step, the transmission unit 232 transmits content presentation information to the user terminal 1. The content presentation information is information for presenting video content, and includes, for example, videos of the video content and a scene list. The scene list is information in which, for each scene, the ID of the scene, the period of the video in which the scene appears, and a thumbnail image of the virtual space corresponding to the scene are associated with each other.

[0057] For example, first, when the user performs an operation to view video content selected on the content list screen, the user terminal 1 transmits the ID of the video content selected by the user to the information processing device 2. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits content presentation information including the video of the video content and a scene list stored in the content management database in association with the ID of the video content acquired from the user terminal 1 by the acquisition unit 231 to the user terminal 1. Thereafter, the user terminal 1 displays the video of the video content acquired from the information processing device 2 on a content playback screen for playing the video content, and also displays thumbnail images of the virtual space corresponding to the period of the video of the video content being played based on the scene list.

[0058] In a second step, the acquisition unit 231 acquires scene identification information for identifying the presented scene from the user terminal 1 in which the video content is presented. The scene identification information is, for example, a scene ID.

[0059] Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a content playback screen. The content playback screen shown in Fig. 5 includes an area R1 for displaying moving images of video content and an area R2 for displaying thumbnail images of a virtual space. Depending on the scene (period) of the video content being played in area R1, the user terminal 1 displays a thumbnail image of the virtual space corresponding to that scene in area R2.

[0060] In this case, when the user taps on a thumbnail image of the virtual space displayed in area R2 of the content playback screen, the user terminal 1 transmits the ID of the scene associated with the thumbnail image of the tapped virtual space to the information processing device 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires the ID of the scene from the user terminal 1 as scene identification information.

[0061] In a third step, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space associated with the scene identified by the scene identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. The transmission unit 232 transmits, for example, space presentation information based on the space generation information stored in the content management database in association with the ID of the video content and the ID of the scene acquired by the acquisition unit 231 to the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can present to the user a virtual space corresponding to the scene of the video content that the user is watching.

[0062] The information processing device 2 may present information about an item to the user in the virtual space. The information about the item includes, for example, the ID of the item, the price of the item, the number of items in stock, sales of the item, etc. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information including information about one or more items associated with the video content.

[0063] For example, first, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including a virtual item associated with information about the item, based on the space generation information, item generation information, and information about the item that are stored in the content management database in association with the space specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, as space presentation information, a space image displaying the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make it easier for the user to refer to the information about the item displayed in the virtual space and determine whether or not to purchase the item.

[0064] The information processing device 2 presents to the user a virtual space including virtual items corresponding to items for sale, which are items for sale, and virtual items corresponding to items not for sale, which are items not for sale. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the virtual items corresponding to the items for sale and the virtual items corresponding to the items not for sale.

[0065] For example, first, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space in the content management database, including virtual items based on the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 and item generation information associated with a sales type indicating that the item is for sale, and virtual items based on the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 and item generation information associated with a sales type indicating that the item is not for sale. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, as space presentation information, a space image displaying the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can provide the user with a virtual space that recreates a scene from video content by presenting to the user a virtual space including virtual items regardless of whether the items are for sale or not.

[0066] The information processing device 2 may present a virtual space in accordance with a setting made by the user as to whether or not to include non-sale items. For example, the space display screen is provided with a setting item for setting whether or not to include non-sale items. In this case, if the user sets the setting item to not include non-sale items, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 space presentation information corresponding to a virtual space including only virtual items based on the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the content management database and the item generation information associated with the sales type indicating that the item is for sale. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make it easier for the user to recognize that the items displayed in the virtual space are for sale.

[0067] The information processing device 2 may present to the user in the virtual space performer avatars corresponding to performers who appeared in the video content. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatars.

[0068] For example, the content management database further stores performer generation information for generating performer avatars in association with the ID of the video content. In this case, first, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including performer avatars based on the performer generation information stored in the content management database in association with the space specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231.

[0069] Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits the space image displaying the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 as space presentation information to the user terminal 1. Thereafter, the user terminal 1 displays the virtual space including the performer avatars on the space display screen based on the space presentation information acquired from the information processing device 2.

[0070] The information processing device 2 may cause the performer avatar to perform a predetermined action in the virtual space. The predetermined action is an action with predetermined content, for example, an action with the same content as the performance of the performer in a scene of the video content. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatar performing the predetermined action.

[0071] For example, the performer generation information includes information for a performer avatar to perform a predetermined action. In this case, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including the performer avatar, and then controls the action of the performer avatar by causing the performer avatar to perform a predetermined action based on the performer generation information. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatar whose action is controlled by the space management unit 233. In this way, the information processing device 2 allows the user to experience scenes of video content through the virtual space.

[0072] The information processing device 2 may present a user avatar corresponding to the user in the virtual space. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including a user avatar corresponding to the user in the virtual space.

[0073] For example, first, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including a user avatar based on user-generated information included in the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the user avatar generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can provide the user with an experience as if the user were actually present in a scene of video content via the user avatar.

[0074] When the information processing device 2 is also presenting the virtual space presented to the user to another user (a person different from the user), the information processing device 2 may further present to the user a virtual space including another user avatar corresponding to the other user. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the user avatar corresponding to the user and another user avatar corresponding to the other user.

[0075] For example, other user avatars exist (are logged in) in the virtual space (e.g., metaverse space) generated by the space management unit 233 before the acquisition unit 231 acquires the space specification information from the user terminal 1. In this case, the space management unit 233 first generates a user avatar in the virtual space based on user-generated information included in the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the user avatar generated by the space management unit 233 and other user avatars that already exist. In this manner, the information processing device 2 can provide a place in the virtual space where users who like specific scenes of video content can gather and actively interact and exchange information with each other. This allows the information processing device 2 to provide users with motivation to use the virtual space. As a result, the information processing device 2 can increase sales of goods in the virtual space.

[0076] The information processing device 2 may present a virtual space to a user who satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content. The predetermined condition is a condition determined for each information processing service or video content, such as a threshold number of times the video content has been viewed, a threshold time for which the video content has been viewed, being a member of a fan club for a video work, being a paid member of the information processing service, etc.

[0077] Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits the space presentation information to the user terminal 1 when the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22 satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content. For example, the transmission unit 232 first refers to the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22 and determines whether the user satisfies the predetermined condition. Then, when it is determined that the user satisfies the predetermined condition, the transmission unit 232 transmits the space presentation information to the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can prompt the user to take action to receive the provision of the virtual space.

[0078] The information processing device 2 may present a virtual space including an advertisement object to a user. The advertisement object is an object showing an advertisement related to a sponsor of video content. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertisement object to the user terminal 1. For example, the content management database stores advertisement generation information for generating the advertisement object in association with a content ID or a scene ID.

[0079] In this case, first, the space management unit 233 further generates a virtual space including the advertisement object based on the advertisement generation information stored in the content management database in association with the space specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertisement object generated by the space management unit 233.

[0080] The transmitting unit 232 may transmit space presentation information corresponding to a virtual space including an advertisement object according to the amount of support provided by the sponsor of the video content, to the user terminal 1. Specifically, the information processing device 2 executes the following two steps to transmit space presentation information corresponding to a virtual space including an advertisement object according to the amount of support provided by the sponsor of the video content, to the user terminal 1.

[0081] As a first step, the determination unit 234 determines the grade of the advertisement object based on the amount of support from the sponsor of the video content. The grade of the advertisement object is, for example, the size of the advertisement object, the position where the advertisement object is displayed in the virtual space (for example, a position that is easily noticeable to the user in the virtual space), the number of advertisement objects to be displayed in the virtual space, the amount of information to be displayed in the advertisement object, etc.

[0082] For example, when the support amount of the sponsor of the video content is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the determination unit 234 determines the grade of the advertising object to be higher than when the support amount is less than the predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is, for example, an amount of money predetermined in the information processing device 2. For example, the information processing device 2 may be defined with a first grade and a second grade lower than the first grade, and the determination unit 234 may determine the first grade when the support amount of the sponsor of the video content is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and may determine the second grade when the support amount is less than the predetermined threshold.

[0083] In a second step, the transmitting unit 232 transmits space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertising object generated by the space managing unit 233 based on the grade determined by the determining unit 234 to the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can display the advertising object in the virtual space according to the degree of contribution of the sponsor of the video content.

[0084] For example, when presenting a virtual space including a user avatar to a user, the information processing device 2 may present additional information of the advertisement indicated by the advertisement object to the user. The additional information may be, for example, a message introducing the advertised item, a decoration such as an arrow pointing to the advertisement, or a highlight video of a scene in which the advertised item appears in video content.

[0085] Specifically, when presenting a virtual space including a user avatar to a user, if the user avatar approaches an advertisement object, the transmitting unit 232 presents additional information of the advertisement indicated by the advertisement object to the user. For example, first, if the distance between the user avatar and the advertisement object in the virtual space is within a predetermined threshold, the space management unit 233 generates (displays) additional information corresponding to the advertisement object in the virtual space. Then, the transmitting unit 232 transmits space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the additional information to the user terminal 1. Furthermore, if there are multiple advertisement objects in the virtual space corresponding to multiple different sponsors in video content, the transmitting unit 232 may preferentially present additional information corresponding to the advertisement object of a sponsor with a larger support amount.

[0086] In the above, an example has been described in which the space presentation information is an image displaying a virtual space generated by the information processing device 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the space presentation information may be information used by the user terminal 1 to generate a virtual space.

[0087] In this case, first, the transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information including the space generation information and one or more pieces of product generation information stored in the content management database in association with the ID of the video content acquired by the acquisition unit 231 from the user terminal 1 to the user terminal 1. Then, the user terminal 1 generates a virtual space based on the space presentation information and displays the generated virtual space.

[0088] The acquisition unit 231 acquires, from the user terminal 1 presented with the virtual space, item identification information for identifying an item corresponding to a virtual item selected by the user from one or more virtual items existing in the virtual space and corresponding to each of the one or more items. Specifically, the acquisition unit 231 acquires item identification information corresponding to a virtual item selected by the user in the virtual space presented to the user terminal 1 and in which one or more virtual items exist. The item identification information is, for example, an item ID.

[0089] For example, a virtual item displayed in a virtual space is associated with an item ID. In this case, first, when a user performs an operation to select one virtual item from one or more virtual items in the virtual space displayed on the user terminal 1 (for example, an operation to tap a display area of ​​a virtual item displayed on the user terminal 1), the user terminal 1 transmits the item ID associated with the virtual item selected by the user to the information processing device 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires the item ID from the user terminal 1 as item identification information.

[0090] The item identification information may be the ID of a virtual item. For example, a virtual item displayed in a virtual space is associated with a virtual item ID. In this case, the acquisition unit 231 acquires the ID of a virtual item associated with a virtual item selected by a user as the item identification information. For example, the content management database further stores the ID of a virtual item in association with the ID of the item, and the acquisition unit 231 identifies the ID of an item associated with the ID of the virtual item acquired from the user terminal 1 in the content management database. The acquisition unit 231 may further acquire the ID of the user from the user terminal 1.

[0091] The purchase processing unit 235 executes a purchase process for the user to purchase an item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. Specifically, the purchase processing unit 235 executes payment for the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 as the purchase process.

[0092] For example, when the processing type stored in the content management database in association with the ID of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 indicates that the price of the item is to be processed by payment, the purchase processing unit 235 executes payment for the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231, using the credit card number associated with the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the storage unit 22. Thereafter, the administrator of the information processing device 2 performs procedures to deliver the item to the user's address identified by the user's ID acquired by the acquisition unit 231. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make it easier for users to purchase items used in video content.

[0093] As a purchase process, the purchase processing unit 235 may cause the user terminal 1 to access a website selling an item identified by the selection information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. For example, when the process type stored in the content management database in association with the ID of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 indicates access to a website selling the item, the purchase processing unit 235 transmits to the user terminal 1 a URL stored in the content management database in association with the ID of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231. After that, when the user terminal 1 acquires the URL from the information processing device 2, it accesses the website indicated by the URL. In this way, the information processing device 2 can present to the user where the item used in the video content is sold.

[0094] 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a virtual space presented to a user. In the example shown in FIG. 6(a), when a user performs an operation to select a virtual object O3 from among multiple virtual objects (virtual objects O1, O2, O3, and O4) in space V, which is a virtual space constructed to resemble a drama set, the user terminal 1 transmits item identification information corresponding to the virtual object O3 to the information processing device 2. When the acquisition unit 231 acquires the item identification information, the transmission unit 232 transmits information about the item identified by the item identification information to the user terminal 1. When the user terminal 1 acquires the information about the item from the information processing device 2, it displays space V shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0095] 6(b), an information object I displaying information about an item corresponding to virtual object O3 is displayed. The information object I is provided with a button B1 for purchasing the item and a button B2 for accessing a website where the item is sold. For example, when a processing type stored in the content management database in association with an item ID corresponding to a virtual item selected by a user indicates access to a website where the item is sold, the information processing device 2 displays button B1 on the information object I, and when the processing type indicates access to a website where the item is sold, the information processing device 2 displays button B2 on the information object I.

[0096] In this case, when the user presses button B1 in the virtual space shown in Fig. 6(b), the user terminal 1 transmits a purchase request for the item to the information processing device 2. When the purchase processing unit 235 receives the purchase request for the item from the user terminal 1, it executes payment for the item. Furthermore, when the user presses button B2 in the virtual space shown in Fig. 6(b), the user terminal 1 transmits a request to access a website to the information processing device 2. When the purchase processing unit 235 receives the access request from the user terminal 1, it transmits a URL corresponding to the item to the user terminal 1, thereby allowing the user terminal 1 to access the website where the item is sold.

[0097] The purchase processing unit 235 may execute the purchase process when information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content. For example, the purchase processing unit 235 first refers to information about the user stored in the storage unit 22 and determines whether the user satisfies the predetermined condition. Then, if the purchase processing unit 235 determines that the user satisfies the predetermined condition, it executes the purchase process. On the other hand, if the purchase processing unit 235 determines that the user does not satisfy the predetermined condition, it transmits information indicating the condition for executing the purchase process (for example, the number of times the video content must be viewed before it can be purchased) to the user terminal 1.

[0098] In this way, the information processing device 2 can prompt the user to take action to purchase the item. When the purchase processing unit 235 executes the purchase processing of the item, it stores the history of the execution of the purchase processing (for example, the ID of the item, the ID of the user, the number of items purchased, the time when the purchase processing was executed, etc.) in the storage unit 22.

[0099] Before executing the purchase process, the information processing device 2 may present to the user a scene in which the item selected by the user appears in the video content. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 scene presentation information for presenting a scene in which the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 appears in the video content.

[0100] For example, the content management database stores, for each item, a highlight video of a scene in which the item appears in video content in association with the ID of the item. In this case, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 a highlight video associated with the ID of the item identified in the content management database by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. Thereafter, the user terminal 1 displays the highlight video acquired from the information processing device 2. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make it easier for the user to recognize where in the video content the item selected by the user appears.

[0101] The information processing device 2 may present the sales record of the item in the information processing service to the business operator that provided the video content. The sales record of the item may be, for example, the number of the item sold, the remaining inventory of the item, the sales amount of the item, etc. Specifically, the notification unit 236 notifies the business operator that provided the video content of the sales record of the item based on the purchase processing by the purchase processing unit 235.

[0102] For example, first, the identification unit 237 identifies the IDs of one or more items associated with the ID of video content provided by the business in the content management database. The identification unit 237 identifies the sales record of the items by referring to a history including the IDs of the one or more items identified in the storage unit 22 (a history of purchase processing executed by the purchase processing unit 235). Then, the notification unit 236 notifies the terminal used by the business that provided the video content of the sales record of the items identified by the identification unit 237. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make the business that provided the video content aware of how many items have been sold via the information processing service.

[0103] The information processing device 2 may execute a process of paying a reward (compensation) to a target business operator according to the sales performance of an item in the information processing service. The target business operator is a business operator predetermined as a payment recipient of the compensation, and is, for example, at least one of a business operator that provides video content, a business operator that presents a virtual space, and a sponsor of a scene in which an item appears in the video content. Specifically, the information processing device 2 executes the following two steps to execute a process of paying a compensation to the target business operator according to the performance of a user purchasing an item.

[0104] As a first step, the identification unit 237 identifies the consideration to be paid to the target business based on the performance of the purchase processing unit 235 in executing a purchase process corresponding to the item. For example, if a unit price of remuneration per item is set, the identification unit 237 calculates the consideration by multiplying the number of items sold by the unit price of remuneration, with reference to the history including the ID of the item in the storage unit 22. Furthermore, for example, if the consideration is set according to a range of the number of items sold, the identification unit 237 identifies the consideration set within a range including the number of items sold, with reference to the history including the ID of the item in the storage unit 22.

[0105] In a second step, the payment processing unit 238 executes a process of paying the consideration identified by the identification unit 237 to the target business. The payment processing unit 238 executes a process of, for example, transferring the consideration identified by the identification unit 237 from an account in which the sales proceeds of the goods are managed to an account of the target business. In this way, the information processing device 2 can provide a reward to the target business that contributed to the sale of goods in the information processing service.

[0106] [Processing of Information Processing System S] Next, a description will be given of the processing flow of the information processing system S. Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the processing flow of the information processing system S. This processing starts when the user terminal 1 transmits space specification information to the information processing device 2 (S1).

[0107] When the acquisition unit 231 acquires the space specification information from the user terminal 1, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space specified by the space specification information (S2). The transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information based on the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1 (S3). The user terminal 1 displays the virtual space based on the space presentation information acquired from the information processing device 2 (S4).

[0108] The user terminal 1 transmits the item identification information to the information processing device 2 (S5). Then, when the acquisition unit 231 acquires the item identification information, the purchase processing unit 235 executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information (S6).

[0109] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 2 executes a purchase process for the user to purchase an item identified by the item identification information acquired from the user terminal 1 that presented the spatial presentation information. In this way, the information processing device 2 can provide a mechanism that makes it easier for the user to obtain an item used in video content.

[0110] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0111] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1. User terminal 2. Information processing equipment 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit 231 Acquisition Department 232 Transmitter 233 Space Management Department 234 Decision Section 235 Purchase Processing Department 236 Notification Department 237 Specific part 238 Payment Processing Unit S Information Processing System

Claims

1. a transmitting unit that transmits space presentation information to a user terminal used by the user to present to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content that the user can view and in which one or more items exist; an acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying one or more virtual items present in the virtual space and corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user from among the one or more virtual items corresponding to each of the one or more items; a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit; An information processing device having the above.

2. the information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information indicating the video content and information regarding each of the one or more items included in the video content in association with each other; the transmitting unit transmits the spatial presentation information including information about the one or more items associated with the video content to the user terminal; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the acquisition unit acquires the item identification information corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user in the virtual space presented on the user terminal. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The one or more items include items for sale and items not for sale; the transmitting unit transmits, to the user terminal, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the virtual item corresponding to the item for sale and the virtual item corresponding to the item not for sale; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. the transmitting unit transmits to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space, the space presentation information including performer avatars corresponding to performers who appear in the video content in the virtual space; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. the transmitting unit transmits to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatar performing a predetermined action; The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. the transmitting unit transmits, to the user terminal, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including a user avatar corresponding to the user; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. the transmitting unit transmits, to the user terminal, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including a user avatar corresponding to the user and another user avatar corresponding to another user different from the user; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. the information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information about the user; the transmitting unit transmits the spatial presentation information to the user terminal when information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. the information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information about the user; the purchase processing unit executes the purchase process when the information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition regarding the video content. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. the purchase processing unit executes payment for the item as the purchase processing. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. the purchase processing unit causes the user terminal to access a website selling the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, as the purchase processing; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

13. the information processing device further includes a notification unit that notifies a business that provided the video content of a sales record of the item based on the purchase process. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

14. the transmitting unit transmits, to the user terminal, scene presentation information for presenting a scene in which the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquiring unit appears in the video content; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

15. the virtual space is associated with a scene included in the video content; the transmitting unit transmits content presentation information for presenting the video content to the user terminal; the acquisition unit acquires scene identification information for identifying the presented scene from the user terminal on which the video content is presented; the transmitting unit transmits to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space associated with the scene identified by the scene identification information acquired by the acquiring unit. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

16. The information processing device includes: an identification unit that identifies a consideration to be paid to a target business, which is at least one of a business that provides the video content, a business that presents the virtual space, and a sponsor of a scene in which the item appears in the video content, based on the performance of the purchase processing unit that executes the purchase processing corresponding to the item; and a payment processing unit that executes a process of paying the consideration identified by the identification unit to the target business; further comprising The information processing device according to claim 1 .

17. the transmitting unit transmits to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including an advertisement object showing an advertisement related to the sponsor, depending on the amount of support provided by the sponsor of the video content. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

18. The information processing device further includes a determination unit that determines a grade of the advertisement object based on the amount of money supported by a sponsor of the video content; the transmitting unit transmits to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertising object based on the grade determined by the determining unit. The information processing device according to claim 17.

19. The computer executes transmitting, to a user terminal used by the user, space presentation information for presenting to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content viewable by the user and in which one or more items exist; acquiring, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying one or more virtual items present in the virtual space and corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user from among the one or more virtual items corresponding to each of the one or more items; executing a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the acquired item identification information; An information processing method comprising:

20. Computer, a transmitting unit that transmits space presentation information to a user terminal used by the user to present to the user a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content viewable by the user and in which one or more items exist; an acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying one or more virtual items that exist in the virtual space and correspond to the virtual item selected by the user from among the one or more virtual items that correspond to each of the one or more items; and a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit; A program to function as a

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