A method for commercializing digital content such as avatars placed in a virtual space.

Abstract

The objective is to provide a method for commercializing digital content such as avatars based on user experiences within virtual space. [Solution] A method for commercializing digital content, including avatars, in an application that assists users in communicating with each other in a virtual space, wherein the control unit of a server terminal performs an imaging process to capture an image of the avatar, performs an editing process to edit the image data of the captured avatar, and stores the edited image data as commercialized content data in the storage unit of the server terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for commercializing digital contents such as avatars arranged in a virtual space such as a metaverse space.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, a technology for outputting goods (products) related to digital contents including objects such as avatars and characters by an output device such as a 3D printer is known.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, a technology for designing the decoration of an avatar or the like on a virtual space and outputting it as a good by a printing device or the like is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, although Patent Document 1 discloses a method for editing digital contents such as avatars based on a predetermined posing and making them outputable, it does not disclose a method for producing goods related to digital contents based on experiences in a virtual space, such as a user operating an avatar or the like on a virtual space or interacting with other avatars or the like...

[0006] Therefore, based on such a situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for commercializing digital contents such as avatars based on the user experience in a virtual space.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A method for commercializing digital content including an avatar in an application that assists users in performing communication in a virtual space, according to one aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit of a server terminal performs an imaging process to capture an image of the avatar, performs an editing process to edit the image data of the captured avatar, and stores the edited image data as commercialized content data in the storage unit of the server terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a method for commercializing digital content such as avatars based on the user experience in a virtual space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing a system for commercializing digital content according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the server terminal 100. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the user terminal 200. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of user data stored in server terminal 100. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of design data stored in server terminal 100. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process of commercializing digital content. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of a screen used to capture images of digital content such as avatars in a virtual space. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a screen for editing digital content such as avatars captured in a virtual space. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are not intended to unduly limit the scope of the present invention as described in the claims. Furthermore, not all components shown in the embodiments are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0011] <Structure> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention that enables users to commercialize digital content such as avatars in a virtual space. As an example of this embodiment, the system 1 includes a server terminal 100 associated with a virtual space service provider that provides an application that allows users to communicate with other users by operating 3D models (hereinafter referred to as "avatars") such as user avatars and characters in a virtual space, and user terminals 200A and 200B (hereinafter collectively referred to as "user terminals 200") associated with the above-mentioned users.

[0012] The server terminal 100 and the user terminal 200 are connected to each other via the network NW1. The network NW consists of the Internet, intranet, wireless LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), etc.

[0013] The server terminal 100 may be a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or personal computer, or it may be logically implemented through cloud computing.

[0014] The user terminal 200 is, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal, but it may also consist of a smartphone, mobile phone, PDA, VR device, etc.

[0015] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the server terminal 100 shown in Figure 1. The server terminal 100 comprises a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

[0016] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for communicating with the user terminal 200 via the network NW, and communication is performed according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

[0017] The storage unit 120 stores programs for executing various control processes and each function in the control unit 130, input data, etc., and is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. Further, the storage unit 120 has a user data storage unit 121 for storing various data related to the user, and a design data storage unit 122 for storing design data including design content necessary for editing digital content such as an avatar imaged in the virtual space in the process of commercializing digital content such as an avatar. Here, a database (not shown) storing various data may be constructed outside the storage unit 120 or the server terminal 100, and all or part of the above user data and design data may be stored in the user terminal 200.

[0018] The control unit 130 controls the overall operation of the server terminal 100 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 120, and is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. As functions of the control unit 130, it has an information reception unit 131 for receiving information from each terminal, and an information processing unit 132 for referring to and processing various data related to the user and various data related to the design. The information reception unit 131 and the information processing unit 132 are activated by the programs stored in the storage unit 120 and executed by the server terminal 100 which is a computer (electronic computer). Further, the programs stored in the storage unit 120 may be stored in the user terminal 200 and processed by the control unit 240 of the user terminal 200.

[0019] The information reception unit 131 receives information from the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 110 provided by the server terminal 100. For example, the user terminal 200 receives a predetermined request or the like via an avatar in the virtual space.

[0020] The information processing unit 132 executes predetermined processing while referring to the user data and design data. For example, in response to an imaging request for an avatar via the avatar, a process of imaging the avatar is executed.

[0021] Also, the control unit 130 can also have a screen generation unit (not shown), and generates screen information to be displayed via the user interface of each of the plurality of user terminals 200 as required. For example, using the images (not shown) and text data stored in the storage unit 120 as materials, various images and texts are arranged in a predetermined area of the user interface based on a predetermined layout rule to generate the user interface. The processing related to the image generation unit can also be executed by a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0022] FIG. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram showing the user terminal 200 of FIG. 1. The user terminal 200 includes a communication unit 410, a display operation unit 420, a storage unit 430, and a control unit 440.

[0023] The communication unit 210 is a communication interface for communicating with the server terminal 100 via the network NW, and communication is performed according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP.

[0024] The display operation unit 220 is a user interface used to display text, images, etc., in response to user input and input data from the control unit 240. If the user terminal 200 is a personal computer, it consists of a display and a keyboard or mouse; if the user terminal 200 is a smartphone or tablet, it consists of a touch panel, etc. This display operation unit 420 is activated by a control program stored in the memory unit 430 and executed by the user terminal 200, which is a computer (electronic calculator). Other examples of user terminals 200 include game consoles and smartwatches, and display devices include VR glasses, AR glasses, head-mounted displays, holograms, projectors, etc., but the combination of user terminal and display device can be selected as appropriate and is not limited to a specific combination. In this case, the display operation unit 220 can also be a VR controller.

[0025] The memory unit 230 stores programs for executing various control processes and functions within the control unit 240, input data, etc., and is composed of RAM, ROM, etc. The memory unit 230 also temporarily stores the contents of communications with the server terminal 100.

[0026] The control unit 240 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 200 by executing programs stored in the memory unit 230, and is composed of a CPU, GPU, etc.

[0027] Figure 4 shows an example of user data stored in the server terminal 100.

[0028] User data 1000 stores various data related to the user. In Figure 4, for the sake of explanation, an example of one user (a user identified by user ID "10001") is shown, but it can store information related to multiple users. Various data related to the user may include, for example, the user's basic information (username arbitrarily registered by the user, etc.), avatar data (avatar image data, 3D shape data, bone object data, texture data, animation data and parameter data that constitutes them such as coordinate information and color information, as well as the avatar's profile, conversation / behavior history, etc.), world data (background image data, animation data, and object data that constitute the virtual space, etc.), product or content data (data generated as commercialized content based on the avatar and design data, etc.), and social data (user and avatar data registered as friends with whom the user communicates in the virtual space, etc.). As mentioned above, all or part of the user data 1000 can also be stored in the user terminal 200.

[0029] Figure 5 shows an example of design data necessary to generate commercialized content based on digital content such as avatars, which is stored in the server terminal 100.

[0030] Design data 2000 can store product data (information about the type of product (such as acrylic keychains, business cards, figurines, etc., which are the products to which digital content designed in the virtual space will be output), stamp data (object data for decorating digital content such as captured avatars, etc.), and text data (text data for decorating digital content such as captured avatars, etc.). As mentioned above, all or part of the digital data 2000 can also be stored in the user terminal 200.

[0031] <Processing flow> Referring to Figure 6, the process flow for commercializing digital content such as avatars in a virtual space, as executed by System 1 of this embodiment, will be described. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for commercializing digital content according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, an example is given in which the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 processes various data and programs stored in the storage unit 120 of the server terminal 100. However, if the above various data and programs are stored in the user terminal 200, this can be interpreted as a process mainly executed by the control unit 240 of the user terminal 200. In addition, in this example, an avatar operated by a user is given as an example of digital content, but it is not limited to avatars operated by a user, and may also include non-player characters (avatar NPCs), backgrounds and objects placed in the virtual space.

[0032] First, as a preprocessing step for step S101, in order to use this system 1, users access the server terminal 100 using a web browser or application (hereinafter referred to as "application, etc.") on their respective terminals. If it is the first time using the service, users register by entering their basic data. When registering, users can also register an arbitrary username without providing personal information. The information receiving unit 131 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 receives the information necessary for user registration from the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 110. The information processing unit 132 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 stores the received information as user data 1000 in the user data storage unit 121 of the storage unit 120. If a user has already registered and obtained a user count, they can use the service by logging in after undergoing a predetermined authentication, such as entering an ID and password. After this authentication, a predetermined user interface is provided via a website, application, etc., and for example, a user can operate a user avatar in a virtual space and communicate with avatars operated by other users via voice or text. For example, a user can install an application on their user terminal 200 that has a pre-installed program that allows their avatar to automatically move around as a non-player character (avatar NPC) within a world decorated with world asset data consisting of graphic data and object data. By placing their own favorite avatars and characters within the world assets, the user can realize a virtual life coexisting with their favorite characters. Here, the user can select and acquire avatar data consisting of graphic data and object data that corresponds to the world asset data and user avatars available in this system from businesses that sell this data, on a paid basis. This data can be downloaded to the user terminal 200 from a server (not shown) operated by the business, or installed to the user terminal 200 via a storage medium containing this data.

[0033] Then, the user operates an avatar in a virtual space provided through an application implemented on the user terminal 200 and visits a photo booth located in the virtual space. In front of the virtual camera provided in the photo booth, the user operates the avatar and selects the camera's shooting icon, etc., thereby sending an avatar imaging request from the user terminal 200 to the server terminal 100. When the information receiving unit 131 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 receives the imaging request from the user terminal 200, as the processing in step S101, the information processing unit 132 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 executes the avatar imaging process in the virtual space. For example, as shown in Figure 7, an avatar 710 operated by the user is displayed facing a virtual camera located in a virtual space 700 displayed on the user terminal 200. Here, although not shown in the figure, the information processing unit 132 can also display other avatars or decorative objects located in the virtual space 700 as the background of the avatar 710. When the user selects (and presses) the capture icon 701 located in the virtual space 700 using the operation icon 720, and sends a request to capture the avatar 710 (or the avatar 710 and the objects displayed as the background of the avatar) (hereinafter referred to as "avatar, etc."), the information processing unit 132 executes the imaging process of the avatar 710, etc., and generates image data of the avatar 710, etc. as snapshot data.

[0034] Next, the user operates an avatar within the virtual space and visits a photo booth or image editing booth located within the virtual space. In front of the image editing screen provided in the photo booth, etc., the user operates the avatar and selects image editing icons, etc., thereby sending an editing request for the avatar, etc., from the user terminal 200 to the server terminal 100. When the information receiving unit 131 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 receives the editing request from the user terminal 200, as the processing in step S102, the information processing unit 132 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 executes the image data editing process for the avatar, etc. In this way, during the image data editing process, the user can select products that they want to commercialize (for example, acrylic keychains, business cards, figurines, etc.) on the product selection screen displayed on the user terminal 200, and perform editing based on the selected products. For example, as shown in Figure 8, an image data editing screen is displayed on the user terminal 200. The editing screen displays an image of an avatar 710 placed in the virtual space 700. When the user selects (and presses) editing icons 702, 703, and 704 using the operation icon 720, and sends a request to edit the avatar 710, the information processing unit 132 executes the editing process for the avatar 710 and generates edited image data.

[0035] When the user selects the edit icon 702, a cut path 730 based on a separately selected item (e.g., acrylic keychain, business card, figurine, etc.) is displayed around the avatar 710, and the user can fine-tune the position and shape of the cut path 730 by operating the operation icon 720. Furthermore, when the user selects the edit icon 702, a stamp 740 is displayed, and the user can adjust the position and size of the stamp 740 by operating the operation icon 720. Additionally, when the user selects the edit icon 703, text 750 is displayed, and the user can input text 750 and adjust its position and size by operating the operation icon 720 or the virtual keyboard. In the above-mentioned imaging and editing process of avatars, the information processing unit 132 refers to the social data stored in the user data storage unit 121 and presents the user with a list of friend users so that the user (avatar) and the user's friend users can jointly perform shooting and editing work in the virtual space. The user can also invite friend users to joint shooting and editing work via communication means such as chat communication. The information processing unit 132 can also receive shooting and / or editing requests from the user's avatar and the friend users' avatars and execute the shooting and / or editing process. Alternatively, the user can visit the photo booth together with other avatars, including friend users, that they have encountered in the virtual space, and perform shooting and / or editing by directly making a shooting and / or editing request.

[0036] As described above, after imaging and editing, when the user confirms the image data they wish to commercialize and sends a confirmation request to the server terminal 100, the information processing unit 132 stores the (edited) image data as commercialized content in the user data storage unit 121 of the storage unit 120. Here, the image data is not limited to a specific data format, but can be based on a 2D or 3D model.

[0037] Subsequently, the server terminal 100 transmits the stored commercialized content data to an output device such as a 3D printer (not shown), thereby outputting the commercialized content data via the output device.

[0038] As described above, users can operate avatars within a virtual space and enjoy the virtual world and communication with other users (avatars). Based on this user experience, it is possible to commercialize digital content such as avatars.

[0039] Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, these can be implemented in various other forms, and can be carried out by various omissions, substitutions, and modifications. These embodiments and variations, as well as those with omissions, substitutions, and modifications, are included within the technical scope of the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 System: 100 Server terminal, 110 Communication unit, 120 Storage unit, 130 Control unit, 200 User terminal, NW1 Network

Claims

1. A method for commercializing digital content, including avatars, in an application that assists users in communicating with each other in a virtual space, The control unit of the server terminal is: The imaging process is performed to capture an image of the aforementioned avatar. The editing process is performed to edit the image data of the captured avatar. A method for storing the edited image data as commercialized content data in the storage unit of the server terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, The control unit, A method for receiving requests for image capture and editing from a user's user terminal 200, based on the user's operation of the avatar.

3. The method according to claim 1, The control unit, A method for transmitting the aforementioned commercialized content data to an output device.

4. The method according to claim 1, The control unit, A method for presenting a list of the user's friends to the user's terminal.

Images