Information processing apparatus

Abstract

To motivate a user to purchase an article.SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus 2 includes the acquisition unit 231 that acquires the insertion request for inserting the new virtual article into the virtual space constructed by imitating the real space appearing in the moving image content that can be viewed by the user, the space management unit 233 that updates the virtual space by inserting the new virtual article into the virtual space on the basis of the insertion request acquired by the acquisition unit 231, and the transmission unit 232 that transmits the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space updated by the space management unit to the user terminal. The acquisition unit 231 acquires the article specifying information from the user terminal on which the virtual space is presented, and the information processing apparatus 2 further includes the purchase processing unit 235 that executes the purchase processing for the user to purchase the new article specified by the article specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit 231.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002]

[0003] Online shopping services for buying and selling goods over the Internet have become widespread. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for managing the buying and selling of goods. [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, as with conventional online shopping services, presenting only the items for sale may not motivate users to purchase the items.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to increase users' desire to purchase items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first acquisition unit that acquires an insertion request for inserting a new virtual item corresponding to a new item that does not exist in a virtual space constructed to resemble a real space that appears in video content that a user can view; a space management unit that updates the virtual space by inserting the new virtual item into the virtual space based on the insertion request acquired by the first acquisition unit; a transmission unit that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space to a user, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space updated by the space management unit, to a user terminal used by the user; a second acquisition unit that acquires item identification information from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, for identifying the new item that corresponds to the new virtual item specified by the user; and a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the new item identified by the item identification information acquired by the second acquisition unit.

[0007] The virtual space may have a permission area defined to allow the insertion of an item, the first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request including location information indicating the location at which the new virtual item is to be inserted, and the space management unit may insert the new virtual item if the location at which the new virtual item is to be inserted in the virtual space indicated by the location information is within the permission area.

[0008] The virtual space may have a permission area defined for each type of item in which insertion is permitted in the virtual space, the first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request including information indicating the type of the new virtual item and location information indicating the location at which the new virtual item is to be inserted, and the space management unit may insert the new virtual item if the location at which the new virtual item is to be inserted in the virtual space indicated by the location information is within the permission area corresponding to the type of the new virtual item.

[0009] One or more items may exist in the real space, the first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request including replacement information indicating an existing virtual item in the virtual space that corresponds to an item existing in the real space and that is to be replaced with the new virtual item, and the space management unit may update the virtual space by replacing the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space.

[0010] The first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request further including information indicating the type of the new virtual item, and the space management unit may replace the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space when the type of the new virtual item is the same as the type of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information.

[0011] The space management unit may replace the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space if the new virtual item satisfies conditions regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information.

[0012] The space management unit may notify the sender of the insertion request that the existing virtual item cannot be replaced with the new virtual item if the new virtual item does not satisfy the conditions regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information.

[0013] The information processing device may further include a memory unit that stores information regarding each of a plurality of virtual items that can be inserted into the virtual space, and the first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request that includes information indicating the virtual item selected from the plurality of virtual items whose information is stored in the memory unit as information indicating the new virtual item.

[0014] The memory unit may store information indicating the virtual item in association with the type of the virtual item as information regarding the virtual item; the first acquisition unit may acquire selection information indicating the existing virtual item selected from one or more of the existing virtual items before acquiring the insertion request; the transmission unit may transmit a list of virtual items, among the multiple virtual items stored in the memory unit, that are of the same type as the existing virtual item indicated by the selection information to a terminal of a sender who transmitted the selection information; and the first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request including information indicating the virtual item selected by the sender from the list of virtual items as information indicating the new virtual item.

[0015] The transmission unit may transmit the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space specified by the user to the user terminal before the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request, and the first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request from the user terminal. The first acquisition unit may acquire the insertion request from a seller terminal used by a seller who sells the new item. The transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space designated by the seller to the seller terminal before the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request.

[0016] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores information indicating the video content and information regarding the new item in association with each other, and the transmission unit may transmit the spatial presentation information including information regarding the new item associated with the video content to the user terminal.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] The purchase processing unit may execute payment for the new item as the purchase process. The purchase processing unit may, as the purchase processing, cause the user terminal to access a website where the new item identified by the item identification information acquired by the second acquisition unit is sold. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] The present invention has the effect of increasing the user's desire to purchase an item. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system that is a premise of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a content management database. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a space editing screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a space editing screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a list of virtual items. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a content list screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a content playback screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a virtual space presented to a user. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the information processing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] [Outline of information processing system S1 as a premise for this embodiment] First, an overview of the information processing system S1 that is a premise of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overview of the information processing system S1 that is a premise of this embodiment. The information processing system S1 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.

[0023] 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 corresponding 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 (a structure in the real space) in this embodiment is, for example, a drama set such as a room that appears in a drama. For example, the structure in the real space and the structure in the virtual space have the same dimensions. Furthermore, for example, the object existing in the real space and the virtual item have the same dimensions.

[0024] 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, etc. The information processing system S1 includes a user terminal 1 and an information processing device 2.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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 S1 will be described below.

[0027] 1 is a virtual space V1 that is constructed to resemble a drama set. Various virtual objects O (virtual objects O1, O2, and O3) that are virtual objects exist in the space V1.

[0028] In this case, first, when the user performs an operation to display the space V1 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 the space V1 ((1) in FIG. 1). The space presentation information is information for presenting the virtual space to the user.

[0029] When the user selects a virtual object O2 that the user wishes to purchase from among the multiple virtual objects O on the user terminal 1 presented with the space V1, the user terminal 1 transmits item identification information corresponding to the virtual object O2 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).

[0030] 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 O2) ((3) in FIG. 1). In this way, the information processing system S1 can provide a mechanism that makes it easy for the user to obtain the items used in the video content.

[0031] [Outline of Information Processing System S2 in the Present Embodiment] Next, an overview of the information processing system S2 in this embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the overview of the information processing system S2 in this embodiment.

[0032] Users who have viewed video content are likely to be users who have some interest in that video content. Users who are interested in video content are likely to have certain impressions or emotional attachments to scenes in the video content and the corresponding real-world spaces. Even if the item being sold is not used in the video content, users are likely to be more motivated to purchase the item when the item is presented in a virtual space constructed to resemble the real-world space corresponding to the video content than when only the item is presented. Therefore, the information processing system S2 presents virtual items corresponding to items not used in the video content to users in a virtual space constructed to resemble the real-world space appearing in the video content.

[0033] The information processing services provided by the information processing system S2 further include a service for a seller who sells goods to edit a virtual space. The information processing system S2 further includes a seller terminal 3.

[0034] The seller terminal 3 is a terminal used by the seller, and may be, for example, a smartphone, tablet PC, personal computer, VR goggles, or head-mounted set. A dedicated app, for example, is installed on the seller terminal 3. The seller can use the information processing service by using the dedicated app on the user terminal 1. The processing executed by the information processing system S2 will be described below.

[0035] First, when a seller displays space V1 on seller terminal 3 and performs an operation to insert a new virtual object O (for example, a virtual object O of a painting) into space V1 displayed on seller terminal 3, seller terminal 3 transmits a request to insert the new virtual object O to information processing device 2 ((1) in FIG. 2). The new virtual object O is a virtual object O that does not exist in space V1. Furthermore, an item corresponding to the new virtual object O is an item that does not exist in the real space corresponding to space V1.

[0036] When the information processing device 2 receives a request to insert a new virtual object O from the seller terminal 3, it updates the virtual space from space V1 to space V2 ((2) in FIG. 2). In space V2, a virtual object O4, which is a painting virtual object O, exists.

[0037] After the information processing device 2 updates the virtual space, when the user performs an operation to display the virtual space of a drama 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 the space V2 ((3) in FIG. 2). When the user selects a virtual object O4 as the virtual object O that the user wishes to purchase from among multiple virtual objects O on the user terminal 1 where the space V2 is presented, the user terminal 1 transmits item identification information corresponding to the virtual object O4 selected by the user to the information processing device 2 ((4) in FIG. 2).

[0038] 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 painting corresponding to the virtual object O4) that does not exist in the drama set ((5) in FIG. 2). In this way, the information processing system S2 can increase the user's desire to purchase the item. The configuration of the information processing device 2 will be described below.

[0039] [Configuration of information processing device 2] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information processing device 2. In FIG. 3, arrows indicate main data flows, and data flows other than those shown in FIG. 3 may also exist. In FIG. 3, each block indicates a functional configuration rather than a hardware (device) configuration. Therefore, the blocks shown in FIG. 3 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] The communication unit 21 has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices such as the user terminal 1 or the seller terminal 3 via the 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] The storage unit 22 stores information about the user. The information about the user 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 the user 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.

[0044] The storage unit 22 also stores information about sellers, such as the seller's ID, seller's name, etc. The storage unit 22 also stores a content management database that manages information about video content.

[0045] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a content management database. The content management database shown in Fig. 4 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The information stored in the content management database is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 4. For example, the content management database may further store 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, information indicating the type of item, the number of items in stock, information indicating the sales status of the item (e.g., whether it is selling well), the ID of the seller, etc. 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.

[0049] 3, 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, a payment processing unit 238, and a billing management unit 239. 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, the payment processing unit 238, and the billing management unit 239 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 22.

[0050] [Editing Process] First, the process executed by the information processing device 2 to edit the virtual space will be described.

[0051] The acquisition unit 231 functions as a first acquisition unit that acquires an insertion request to insert a virtual item (hereinafter referred to as a "new virtual item") corresponding to an item (hereinafter referred to as a "new item") that does not exist in a virtual space constructed to resemble a real space that appears in video content that the user can view.

[0052] The acquisition unit 231 acquires, for example, a request to insert a new virtual item from a seller terminal 3 used by a seller who sells a new item. The information processing device 2 acquires, for example, a request to insert a new virtual item from the seller terminal 3 by performing the following two steps.

[0053] As a first step, the transmission unit 232 presents a virtual space specified by the seller to the seller before the acquisition unit 231 acquires a request to insert a new virtual item. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information (e.g., a video content ID, a combination of the video content ID and a scene ID, or a virtual space ID) corresponding to the virtual space specified by the seller to the seller terminal 3 before the acquisition unit 231 acquires a request to insert a new virtual item. The transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information based on the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 from the seller terminal 3 to the seller terminal 3, as will be described in detail later.

[0054] In a second step, the acquisition unit 231 acquires a request for inserting a new virtual item registered by the seller from the seller terminal 3 to which the transmission unit 232 presents the virtual space. For example, the request for inserting a new virtual item includes space specification information and item information corresponding to the new virtual item.

[0055] For example, when a seller first launches a dedicated app on the seller terminal 3 and performs an operation to display a specified virtual space, the seller terminal 3 displays the virtual space based on the space presentation information acquired from the information processing device 2 on a space editing screen for editing the virtual space. When the seller performs an operation on the space editing screen displayed on the seller terminal 3 to insert a new virtual item displayed by reading item data corresponding to the new virtual item into a desired position in the virtual space, the seller terminal 3 transmits a request to insert the new virtual item to the information processing device 2. The item data corresponding to the new virtual item is, for example, information for configuring the appearance of the new virtual item, such as its shape and size. The acquisition unit 231 then acquires the request to insert the new virtual item from the seller terminal 3.

[0056] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic example of a space editing screen. The space editing screen shown in Fig. 5 has an area R1 that displays a virtual space specified by a seller, and an area R2 that has fields for inputting an item name and an interface for loading item data corresponding to a new virtual item. In Fig. 5(a), the area R1 of the space editing screen displays the virtual space before editing, and virtual objects O1, O2, and O3 are displayed as existing virtual items.

[0057] In this case, when the seller performs operations such as inputting the name of an item, etc., or performing operations to load item data corresponding to a new virtual item (e.g., a painting) that is pre-stored in the seller terminal 3 in area R2 of the space editing screen shown in Figure 5(a), the seller terminal 3 displays a virtual object O4, which is a virtual object O of the painting, in the virtual space of area R1 of the space editing screen shown in Figure 5(b).

[0058] When the seller performs an operation to set the displayed virtual object O4 at the desired position to insert it in area R1 of the space editing screen shown in Figure 5(b) and presses button B to execute the process of updating the edited virtual space, the seller terminal 3 sends an insertion request to the information processing device 2, which includes space specification information and item information corresponding to the painting.

[0059] The space management unit 233 updates the virtual space by inserting a new virtual item into the virtual space based on the request for inserting a new virtual item acquired by the acquisition unit 231. The space management unit 233 inserts the new virtual item registered by the seller, for example, by storing item information corresponding to the new virtual item in association with space specification information in the content management database.

[0060] When updating the virtual space, the space management unit 233 may manage the version of the virtual space in the content management database. For example, the content management database further stores information indicating the version of the virtual space. In this case, the space management unit 233 associates information indicating the latest version with item information that is pre-associated with the space specifying information in the content management database, and item information corresponding to the new virtual item acquired by the acquisition unit 231, and stores the information in the content management database.

[0061] Furthermore, the space management unit 233 may manage a virtual space edited by a seller as a virtual space for the seller. For example, the content management database further stores the seller's ID. In this case, the space management unit 233 associates the seller's ID, item information that is pre-associated with the space specifying information in the content management database, and item information corresponding to the new virtual item acquired by the acquisition unit 231, and stores them in the content management database.

[0062] The space management unit 233 may insert a new virtual item when the position to insert the new virtual item in the virtual space is within a predetermined area. For example, an allowed area that allows the insertion of an item is defined in the virtual space. In this case, the information processing device 2 inserts the new virtual item by executing the following two steps.

[0063] As a first step, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request including position information indicating a position where a new virtual item is to be inserted. For example, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request including, as position information, information indicating the position of the new virtual item set by the seller on the space editing screen.

[0064] As a second step, the space management unit 233 inserts the new virtual item when the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, which is indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area. For example, the content management database further stores information indicating the permitted area (for example, a range of position coordinates in the virtual space) in association with a video content ID, a combination of a video content ID and a scene ID, or a virtual space ID (hereinafter referred to as a "video content ID, etc.").

[0065] In this case, the space management unit 233 first determines whether the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, which is indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area stored in the content management database in association with the space specifying information. If the space management unit 233 determines that the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, which is indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area, the space management unit 233 inserts the new virtual item.

[0066] On the other hand, if the space management unit 233 determines that the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, indicated by the position information, is not within the permitted area, the transmission unit 232 notifies the seller that the new virtual item must be inserted within the permitted area. Specifically, if the space management unit 233 determines that the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, indicated by the position information, is not within the permitted area, the transmission unit 232 transmits a message to the seller terminal 3 indicating that the new virtual item must be inserted within the permitted area.

[0067] Note that the transmission unit 232 may display the permission area in the virtual space in a manner different from other areas (for example, by displaying the permission area in red) before receiving the request to insert a new virtual item. In this way, the information processing device 2 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the atmosphere of the real space that appears in the video content is damaged by inserting a new virtual item at an arbitrary position in the virtual space.

[0068] The space management unit 233 may insert a new virtual item when the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted is within an area defined according to the type of the new virtual item. For example, an allowed area in which insertion is permitted in the virtual space is defined for each type of item.

[0069] In this case, first, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request including information indicating the type of new virtual item and position information indicating the position where the new virtual item is to be inserted. Then, the space management unit 233 inserts the new virtual item if the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area corresponding to the type of the new virtual item.

[0070] For example, the content management database stores information indicating the permitted area in association with a combination of the ID of video content, etc., and the type of virtual item. In this case, the space management unit 233 determines whether the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area stored in the content management database in association with the combination of the space specification information and the type of new virtual item, and inserts the new virtual item if it determines that the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area. In this way, the information processing device 2 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the atmosphere of the real space appearing in the video content is spoiled by inserting various types of new virtual items into arbitrary positions in the virtual space.

[0071] In the above, an example has been described in which the space management unit 233 updates the virtual space by inserting a new virtual item without changing an existing virtual item in the virtual space, but this is not limiting. For example, the space management unit 233 may replace an existing virtual item with a new virtual item. Specifically, the space management unit 233 replaces the existing virtual item with the new virtual item by executing the following two steps.

[0072] As a first step, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request including replacement information. The replacement information is information indicating an existing virtual item (a virtual item in the virtual space that corresponds to an item existing in the real space) to be replaced with a new virtual item (a virtual item in the virtual space that corresponds to an item existing in the real space), for example, an ID of the item corresponding to the existing virtual item.

[0073] 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a space editing screen. In Fig. 6A, an area R1 on the space editing screen displays the virtual space before editing, and virtual objects O1, O2, and O3 are displayed as existing virtual items.

[0074] In this case, when the seller selects the virtual object O to be replaced (for example, virtual object O2) in area R1 on the space editing screen shown in Fig. 6(a), and performs an operation to input the item name, etc. in area R2, or an operation to read item data corresponding to the new virtual item that is pre-stored in the seller terminal 3, the seller terminal 3 displays the space editing screen shown in Fig. 6(b). Area R1 on the space editing screen shown in Fig. 6(b) displays a virtual space in which the virtual object O2 has been replaced with the virtual object O5.

[0075] When the seller presses button B in area R1 of the space editing screen shown in Figure 6(b) to execute the process of updating the edited virtual space, the seller terminal 3 sends an insertion request to the information processing device 2, which includes space specification information, replacement information, and item information corresponding to the virtual object O5.

[0076] In a second step, the space management unit 233 updates the virtual space by replacing the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with a new virtual item. For example, the space management unit 233 replaces and stores the item information (item information corresponding to the virtual object O2) stored in association with the combination of the space specification information and the replacement information in the content management database with the item information corresponding to the new virtual item (item information corresponding to the virtual object O5).

[0077] Furthermore, for example, the content management database further stores a flag for each virtual item that determines whether or not the virtual item is to be displayed in the virtual space. In this case, the space management unit 233 updates the flag for the item information stored in the content management database in association with the combination of space specification information and replacement information to "display," and stores the item information corresponding to the new virtual item in association with the combination of space specification information and replacement information and a flag indicating that the item is to be displayed. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make it easier to edit the virtual space.

[0078] The space management unit 233 may replace an existing virtual item with a new virtual item if the existing virtual item to be replaced and the new virtual item satisfy a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is a condition regarding the type of virtual item, such as the type of the existing virtual item to be replaced being the same as the type of the new virtual item. The type of virtual item may be, for example, furniture, miscellaneous goods, a sofa, a table, a potted plant, a wall decoration, a clock, etc.

[0079] Specifically, first, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request that further includes information indicating the type of new virtual item. Then, if the type of the new virtual item is the same as the type of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, the space management unit 233 replaces the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space.

[0080] The space management unit 233 determines whether the type of the new virtual item is the same as the type of item associated with the ID of the item indicated by the replacement information in the content management database, and if the space management unit 233 determines that the type of the new virtual item is the same as the type of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, it replaces the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space.

[0081] On the other hand, if the space management unit 233 determines that the type of the new virtual item is not the same as the type of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, the transmission unit 232 notifies the seller that the type of the new virtual item must be the same as the type of the existing virtual item. Specifically, if the space management unit 233 determines that the type of the new virtual item is not the same as the type of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, the transmission unit 232 transmits a message to the seller terminal 3 indicating that the type of the new virtual item must be the same as the type of the existing virtual item. In this way, the information processing device 2 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the atmosphere of the real space appearing in the video content is damaged by replacing an existing virtual item with a new virtual item in the virtual space regardless of the type of virtual item.

[0082] The predetermined condition may be a condition related to the appearance of the virtual object, such as that the size of the new virtual object is within a predetermined threshold range based on the size of the existing virtual object (for example, a range of 10 centimeters from the size of the existing virtual object), that the color of the new virtual object is the same color or a similar color to the existing virtual object, etc.

[0083] Specifically, the space management unit 233 first determines whether the new virtual item satisfies the conditions regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information. For example, the space management unit 233 compares the item information associated with the replacement information in the content management database (item information corresponding to the existing virtual item to be replaced) with the item information corresponding to the new virtual item acquired by the acquisition unit 231, and determines whether the new virtual item satisfies the conditions regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item.

[0084] For example, the content management database further stores information (e.g., size, color, etc.) about the appearance of an item (existing item), and the request for inserting a new virtual item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 includes information about the appearance of the new item corresponding to the new virtual item. In this case, the space management unit 233 may compare the information about the appearance of the item associated with the replacement information in the content management database with the information about the appearance of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231, and determine whether the new item satisfies the conditions about the appearance of the existing item, thereby determining whether the new virtual item satisfies the conditions about the appearance of the existing virtual item.

[0085] If the space management unit 233 determines that the new virtual item satisfies the appearance conditions of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, it replaces the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space. On the other hand, if the space management unit 233 determines that the new virtual item does not satisfy the appearance conditions of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, it notifies the sender of the request to insert the new virtual item that the existing virtual item cannot be replaced with the new virtual item.

[0086] Specifically, when the space management unit 233 determines that the new virtual item does not satisfy the conditions regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item indicated in the replacement information, it transmits a message indicating that the existing virtual item cannot be replaced with the new virtual item to the seller terminal 3. In this way, the information processing device 2 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the atmosphere of the real space that appears in the video content is damaged by replacing the existing virtual item with a new virtual item in the virtual space regardless of the appearance of the virtual item.

[0087] Although the above describes an example in which the information processing device 2 inserts a new virtual item registered by a seller, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information processing device 2 may insert, as a new virtual item, a virtual item selected by the seller from a plurality of virtual items stored in advance. For example, the storage unit 22 stores information on each of a plurality of virtual items that can be inserted into the virtual space (hereinafter referred to as a "list of virtual items"). The list of virtual items includes, for example, information indicating virtual items that are set by an administrator of the information processing device 2 and correspond to items sold by the seller (for example, the IDs of the items corresponding to the virtual items).

[0088] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a list of virtual items. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the list of virtual items associates item IDs with item types. Note that the information included in the list of virtual items is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 7, and may further include item information (information other than item IDs and item types) stored in the content management database.

[0089] In this case, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request including, as information indicating a new virtual item, information indicating a virtual item selected from the list of virtual items whose information is stored in the storage unit 22. For example, first, the transmission unit 232 transmits a list of virtual items to the seller terminal 3. When the seller selects a virtual item as a new virtual item from the list of virtual items displayed on the space editing screen and performs an operation to insert the new virtual item at a desired position in the virtual space, the acquisition unit 231 acquires from the seller terminal 3 an insertion request including information indicating the new virtual item and information indicating the position at which the new virtual item is to be placed in the virtual space set by the seller. In this way, the information processing device 2 can make it easier for the seller to edit the virtual space.

[0090] The space management unit 233 may replace an existing virtual item with a new virtual item if the existing virtual item to be replaced and the virtual item selected by the seller (new virtual item) satisfy a predetermined condition. For example, the list of virtual items stored in the storage unit 22 further includes the type of virtual item.

[0091] In this case, before receiving a request to insert a new virtual item, the acquisition unit 231 first acquires selection information indicating an existing virtual item selected from one or more existing virtual items in the virtual space. The transmission unit 232 transmits a list of virtual items, among the multiple virtual items included in the list of virtual items stored in the storage unit 22, that are of the same type as the existing virtual item indicated by the selection information to the terminal (seller terminal 3) of the sender who transmitted the selection information. The acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request that includes, as information indicating a new virtual item, information indicating a virtual item selected by the sender from the list of virtual items transmitted by the transmission unit 232. The space management unit 233 then replaces the existing virtual item to be replaced with a new virtual item selected by the seller and of the same type as the existing virtual item.

[0092] The space management unit 233 may determine whether the existing virtual item to be replaced and the new virtual item selected by the seller from the list of virtual items are the same type, and if it determines that the existing virtual item to be replaced and the new virtual item selected by the seller from the list of virtual items are the same type, replace the existing virtual item with the new virtual item. In this way, the information processing device 2 makes it easier for the seller to edit the virtual space, and reduces the occurrence of a situation in which the atmosphere of the real space that appears in the video content is damaged by replacing the existing virtual item with a new virtual item in the virtual space regardless of the type of virtual item.

[0093] The space management unit 233 may insert a new virtual item into the virtual space if the new virtual item fits within a structure in the virtual space. Specifically, the space management unit 233 first compares the dimensions of the structure in the virtual space with the dimensions of the new virtual item to determine whether the dimensions of the new virtual item are shorter than the dimensions of the structure in the virtual space. Then, if the space management unit 233 determines that the dimensions of the new virtual item are shorter than the dimensions of the structure in the virtual space, it inserts the new virtual item into the virtual space. On the other hand, if the space management unit 233 determines that the dimensions of the new virtual item are shorter than the dimensions of the structure in the virtual space, the transmission unit 232 notifies the seller that the new virtual item to be inserted must be sized to fit within the structure in the virtual space. In this way, the information processing device 2 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the atmosphere of the real space appearing in the video content is damaged by the insertion of a new virtual item that is too large to fit within the structure in the virtual space.

[0094] In the above, an example has been described in which the information processing device 2 inserts a new virtual item based on a request from a seller to insert the new virtual item, but this is not limiting. For example, the information processing device 2 may insert a new virtual item based on a request from a user to insert the new virtual item.

[0095] Specifically, first, before the acquisition unit 231 acquires a request to insert a new virtual item, the transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space designated by the user and a list of virtual items to the user terminal 1. When the user selects a virtual item as a new virtual item from the list of virtual items displayed on the space editing screen and performs an operation to insert the new virtual item at a desired position in the virtual space, the acquisition unit 231 acquires an insertion request from the user terminal 1, the insertion request including information indicating the new virtual item and information indicating the position at which the new virtual item is to be placed in the virtual space set by the user.

[0096] Then, the space management unit 233 updates the virtual space by inserting the new virtual item selected by the user into the virtual space. In this case, the space management unit 233 may update the virtual space in association with the user's ID. In this way, the information processing device 2 allows the user to consider purchasing a new item corresponding to the new virtual item selected by the user while trying out whether the new virtual item fits into the virtual space.

[0097] [Purchase Process] Next, a process executed by the information processing device 2 for a user to purchase an item will be described.

[0098] 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. More specifically, the transmission unit 232 presents the virtual space to the user by transmitting space presentation information for presenting the virtual space updated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1. Hereinafter, the virtual space updated by the space management unit 233 may be referred to as an updated virtual space. The transmission unit 232 presents the virtual space to the user by, for example, executing the following three steps.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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.

[0101] 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).

[0102] 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.

[0103] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic 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. 8 displays videos M (videos 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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] 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.

[0106] 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.

[0107] In a third step, the transmission unit 232 presents the virtual space generated (specified) by the space management unit 233 to the user. 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. The transmission unit 232 also presents the virtual space to the seller, for example, by executing the above steps.

[0108] 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.

[0109] 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.

[0110] 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.

[0111] 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.

[0112] Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a content playback screen. The content playback screen shown in Fig. 9 includes an area R3 for displaying moving images of video content and an area R4 for displaying thumbnail images of virtual space. Depending on the scene (period) of the video content being played in area R3, the user terminal 1 displays a thumbnail image of the virtual space corresponding to that scene in area R4.

[0113] In this case, when the user taps on a thumbnail image of the virtual space displayed in area R4 of the content playback screen, the user terminal 1 transmits the ID of the scene associated with the tapped thumbnail image of the virtual space to the information processing device 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires the scene ID from the user terminal 1 as scene identification information.

[0114] 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.

[0115] 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.

[0116] 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.

[0117] 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.

[0118] 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.

[0119] 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.

[0120] 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.

[0121] 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.

[0122] 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.

[0123] 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.

[0124] 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.

[0125] 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.

[0126] 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.

[0127] 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.

[0128] 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.

[0129] 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.

[0130] 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.

[0131] 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.

[0132] 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.

[0133] 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.

[0134] 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.

[0135] 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.

[0136] 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.

[0137] 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.

[0138] 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.

[0139] 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.

[0140] 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.

[0141] The acquisition unit 231 further functions as a second acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal 1 presented with the virtual space, item identification information for identifying an item corresponding to a virtual item selected (designated) by the user from among one or more virtual items existing in the virtual space and corresponding to each of the one or more items. The virtual item designated by the user is, for example, at least one of an existing virtual item and a new virtual item existing in the updated virtual space. 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, where one or more virtual items exist. The item identification information is, for example, an item ID.

[0142] 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.

[0143] 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.

[0144] The purchase processing unit 235 executes a purchase process for the user to purchase an item (at least one of a new item and an existing 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.

[0145] 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.

[0146] 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.

[0147] 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a virtual space presented to a user. In the example shown in FIG. 10(a), when a user performs an operation to select a virtual object O5 from among multiple virtual objects (virtual objects O1, O3, O4, and O5) in space V3, which is a virtual space constructed to resemble a drama set, the user terminal 1 transmits item identification information corresponding to the virtual object O5 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 V3 shown in FIG. 10(b).

[0148] 10(b), an information object I displaying information about an item corresponding to a virtual object O5 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 the 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 the button B2 on the information object I.

[0149] In this case, when the user presses button B1 in the virtual space shown in Fig. 10(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. 10(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.

[0150] 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.

[0151] 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.

[0152] 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 (existing item) 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.

[0153] 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.

[0154] 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.

[0155] 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.

[0156] 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.

[0157] 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.

[0158] 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.

[0159] The information processing device 2 may charge the advertiser of the advertisement an advertising fee according to the degree to which a scene in the video content in which a real space corresponding to a virtual space appears is viewed. Specifically, the information processing device 2 executes the following two steps to charge the advertiser of the advertisement an advertising fee according to the degree to which a scene in the video content is viewed.

[0160] As a first step, the identification unit 237 identifies the viewing degree of a scene in the video content in which a real space corresponding to a virtual space appears. The viewing degree is, for example, the number of people who watched (viewing rate), the number of times it was watched, or the period during which it was watched. The identification unit 237, for example, refers to the viewing history of each user's video content stored in the storage unit 22, and identifies the number of people who watched a scene in the video content in which a real space corresponding to a virtual space appears, the number of times the scene was watched, or the period during which the scene was watched.

[0161] In a second step, the billing management unit 239 bills the advertiser of the advertisement for an advertising fee according to the viewing degree identified by the identification unit 237. The billing management unit 239 functions as a calculation unit that calculates the advertising fee. In this case, first, the billing management unit 239 calculates the advertising fee based on the viewing degree identified by the identification unit 237. For example, the billing management unit 239 calculates a higher advertising fee the greater the viewing degree identified by the identification unit 237, and calculates a lower advertising fee the smaller the viewing degree identified by the identification unit 237. Note that the billing management unit 239 may calculate a lower advertising fee the greater the viewing degree identified by the identification unit 237, and calculate a higher advertising fee the smaller the viewing degree identified by the identification unit 237.

[0162] Then, the billing management unit 239 bills the advertiser of the advertisement for the calculated fee. The billing management unit 239 bills the advertiser of the advertisement for the fee, for example, by transmitting information indicating the calculated fee to a terminal (not shown) used by the advertiser of the advertisement. In this way, the information processing device 2 can bill the advertiser for the fee according to the popularity of the scene of the virtualized video content.

[0163] [Processing by Information Processing System S2] Next, the processing flow of the information processing system S2 will be described. Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the processing flow of the information processing system S2. This processing starts when the seller terminal 3 transmits a request to insert a new virtual item to the information processing device 2 (S1).

[0164] The space management unit 233 updates the virtual space by inserting a new virtual item into the virtual space based on the insertion request for the new virtual item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 from the seller terminal 3 (S2). The user terminal 1 transmits space specification information corresponding to the updated virtual space to the information processing device 2 (S3).

[0165] When the acquisition unit 231 acquires the space identification information from the user terminal 1, the space management unit 233 generates an updated virtual space identified by the space identification information (S4). The transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information based on the updated virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1 (S5). The user terminal 1 displays the updated virtual space based on the space presentation information acquired from the information processing device 2 (S6).

[0166] The user terminal 1 transmits item identification information corresponding to the new virtual item to the information processing device 2 (S7). 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 new item identified by the item identification information (S8).

[0167] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 2 transmits to the user terminal 1 space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space updated based on the request to insert a new virtual item, and executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired from the user terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can increase the user's desire to purchase the item.

[0168] 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."

[0169] 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]

[0170] 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 239 Billing Management Department 3. Merchant terminal S Information Processing System

Claims

1. a first acquisition unit that acquires an insertion request for inserting a new virtual item corresponding to a new item that does not exist in a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content that can be viewed by a user; a space management unit that updates the virtual space by inserting the new virtual item into the virtual space based on the insertion request acquired by the first acquisition unit; a transmitting unit that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space to a user, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space updated by the space management unit, to a user terminal used by the user; a second acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying the new item corresponding to the new virtual item designated by the user; a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the new item identified by the item identification information acquired by the second acquisition unit; An information processing device having the above.

2. An allowed area in which insertion of an item is permitted is defined in the virtual space; the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request including position information indicating a position where the new virtual item is to be inserted; the space management unit inserts the new virtual item when the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, which is indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. an allowed area in the virtual space in which insertion of each type of item is permitted is defined; the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request including information indicating a type of the new virtual item and position information indicating a position where the new virtual item is to be inserted; the space management unit inserts the new virtual item when the position in the virtual space where the new virtual item is to be inserted, which is indicated by the position information, is within the permitted area corresponding to the type of the new virtual item; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. One or more items exist in the real space, the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request, which includes replacement information indicating an existing virtual item in the virtual space that corresponds to an item existing in the real space and that is to be replaced with the new virtual item; the space management unit updates the virtual space by replacing the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request further including information indicating a type of the new virtual item; the space management unit replaces the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space when the type of the new virtual item and the type of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information are the same; The information processing device according to claim 4 .

6. the space management unit replaces the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information with the new virtual item in the virtual space when the new virtual item satisfies a condition regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information; The information processing device according to claim 4 .

7. If the new virtual item does not satisfy the condition regarding the appearance of the existing virtual item indicated by the replacement information, the space management unit notifies the sender of the insertion request that the existing virtual item cannot be replaced with the new virtual item. The information processing device according to claim 4 .

8. the information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information about each of a plurality of virtual objects that can be inserted into the virtual space; the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request including, as information indicating the new virtual item, information indicating the virtual item selected from the plurality of virtual items whose information is stored in the storage unit; The information processing device according to claim 4 .

9. the storage unit stores, as information about the virtual item, information indicating the virtual item and a type of the virtual item in association with each other; the first acquisition unit acquires selection information indicating the existing virtual item selected from one or more of the existing virtual items before acquiring the insertion request; the transmitting unit transmits a list of virtual items, among the plurality of virtual items stored in the storage unit, that are of the same type as the existing virtual item indicated by the selection information, to a terminal of a sender who transmitted the selection information; the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request including information indicating the virtual item selected by the sender from the list of virtual items as information indicating the new virtual item. The information processing device according to claim 8 .

10. the transmission unit transmits, to the user terminal, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space designated by the user before the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request; The first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request from the user terminal. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. the first acquisition unit acquires the insertion request from a seller terminal used by a seller who sells the new item; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. the transmitting unit transmits the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space designated by the seller to the seller terminal before the first acquiring unit acquires the insertion request. The information processing device according to claim 11.

13. the information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information indicating the video content and information regarding the new item in association with each other; the transmitting unit transmits the spatial presentation information including information about the new item associated with the video content to the user terminal; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

14. 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 .

15. 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 .

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

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

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