Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

This will make it easier for voters who have voted in a competition to make their votes public. [Solution] The information processing device 20 includes a voting execution unit 211 that executes votes for the competition and a granting unit 214 that grants benefits to users. The voting execution unit 211 executes a second vote based on the first vote of the first user when it receives a second vote from the second user. The voting execution unit 211 executes a third vote based on the second vote of the second user when it receives a third vote from the third user. The granting unit 214 grants benefits to the first user based on the fact that the voting execution unit 211 has executed the third vote, provided that predetermined conditions are met.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a voting device that gives a reward to a predictor when a voter votes in a competition referring to the content predicted by the predictor who predicts the result of the competition (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a case where a second voter who votes referring to the voting content of a first voter in a competition discloses his / her own voting content. In such a case, although the first voter has contributed to the voting of a third voter who votes referring to the voting content of the second voter, when using a conventional voting device, the first voter is not given a reward, so there is a problem that it is difficult for a voter to feel the merit of disclosing the voting content.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to make it easy for a voter who has voted in a competition to disclose his / her own voting content.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a voting execution unit that performs voting for a competition, and a granting unit that grants benefits to a user, wherein the voting execution unit performs a second vote in response to receiving a second vote from a second user based on the first vote of a first user, the voting execution unit performs a third vote in response to receiving a third vote from a third user based on the second vote of the second user, and the granting unit grants benefits to the first user based on the fact that the voting execution unit has performed the third vote, provided that predetermined conditions are met. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, voters who have voted in a competition will find it easier to make their votes public. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the system configuration of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an example of a screen where a second user joins in and casts a vote. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the hardware configuration of information terminal 10. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the hardware configuration of the information processing device 20. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the functional block configuration of the information processing device 20. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of user information stored in the memory unit 22. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of voting history information stored in the memory unit 22. [Figure 8] This is an example of a screen displaying multiple votes that can be "piggybacked" on. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the information processing device 20. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] <Overview of Information Processing System 1> Figure 1 shows an example of the system configuration of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment. The information processing system 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of information terminals 10 (information terminal 10a, information terminal 10b, and information terminal 10c) and an information processing device 20. The plurality of information terminals 10 and the information processing device 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate via a network N of the Internet, intranet, wireless LAN (Local Area Network), or mobile communication network.

[0010] Information terminal 10 is a terminal used by users (hereinafter referred to as "users") who use the services in information processing system 1, and is an information processing terminal such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The service is, for example, a betting service that accepts votes for competitions.

[0011] The information terminal 10 has, for example, a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as "dedicated app") installed for users to use the service. Through the dedicated app, users can vote for contestants in a competition and make their voting choices public to other users.

[0012] The competitions include races where the order of finish is determined, such as bicycle racing, auto racing, horse racing, boat racing, dog racing, and automobile racing; matches, such as baseball, rugby, and soccer; and electronic sports, and are competitions on which users can vote. The voting targets are those on which users vote for a predetermined value, and are determined by a combination of the competition that the user predicts will win from among several candidate competitions (including competitors, competition vehicles, competition teams, or animals) and the betting type. The predetermined value is a tangible or intangible thing that the user can use to obtain goods or services, such as money, electronic currency, or points. In the following explanation, the case where the predetermined value is money is used as an example.

[0013] The betting options include methods such as "exacta" and "trifecta." An exacta involves predicting the order in which the first and second place finishers will be. For example, a user might predict "number 5 in first place and number 3 in second." In this case, the combination numbers would be shown as, for example, "5-3." A trifecta involves predicting which three horses will finish in the top three places, regardless of the order. For example, a user might predict "number 1, number 2, and number 5." In this case, the combination numbers would be shown as, for example, "1-2-5."

[0014] The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer and consists of one or more physical servers. The information processing device 20 may also be configured using virtual servers running on a hypervisor, or it may be configured using cloud servers.

[0015] The information processing device 20 is a device for receiving votes from users for competitions and making the voted items of users viewable by other users. For example, the information processing device 20 receives the voting item for the first vote from the first user of information terminal 10a and makes the voting item public to the second user of information terminal 10b based on the instructions of the first user. In the following explanation, the first user of information terminal 10a who made their predicted voting item public will be referred to as the "public user".

[0016] The information processing apparatus 20 receives a second vote (hereinafter referred to as a "piggyback vote") that matches or is similar to the first vote publicly released by the public user from the second user of the information terminal 10b. The second vote that is similar to the first vote publicly released by the public user is, for example, a vote in which a part of the voting content of the first vote publicly released by the public user is edited by the second user of the information terminal 10b. Specifically, the second vote that is similar to the first vote publicly released by the public user is a vote that matches the voting target of the first vote publicly released by the public user but has a different predetermined value, a vote in which some of the plurality of voting targets included in the first vote publicly released by the public user are deleted, or a vote in which a new voting target is added to the first vote publicly released by the public user. The information processing apparatus 20 publicly releases the voting target publicly released by the public user to the third user of the information terminal 10c based on the instruction of the second user of the information terminal 10b. In the following description, the second user of the information terminal 10b who has cast a piggyback vote on the voting target publicly released by the public user is referred to as the "first piggyback user".

[0017] The information processing apparatus 20 receives a piggyback vote (third vote) on the voting target publicly released by the first piggyback user (that is, the voting target publicly released by the public user to the first piggyback user) from the third user of the information terminal 10c. In the following description, the third user of the information terminal 10c who has cast a piggyback vote on the voting target of the first piggyback user is referred to as the "second piggyback user". FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen on which the second piggyback user casts a piggyback vote. The screen shown in FIG. 2 includes a display area 151, a display image 152, an operation image 153, and an operation image 154.

[0018] The display area 151 is an area that shows the voting information of the user U2 who is the first piggyback user and includes the display image 152. The voting information includes the name of the competition in which the user voted, the bet type, voting target, or combination number selected by the user in the vote, and the predetermined value for which the user voted. In FIG. 2, in the display area 151, text data showing the name of the competition and the voting amount included in the voting information of the user U2, and the display image 152 showing the combination number and bet type included in the voting information are displayed.

[0019] The second piggyback user can place a piggyback vote based on the voting information displayed in the display area 151 by pressing the operation image 153. If the second piggyback user's piggyback vote is successful, the first piggyback user will be awarded a predetermined percentage (e.g., 1%) of the second piggyback user's vote amount or winning amount as a reward.

[0020] The first piggyback user voted by piggybacking on the public user's vote, so the public user's contribution to the second piggyback user's successful piggyback vote was also significant. Therefore, if the second piggyback user's third vote is successful, the information processing device 20 will grant rewards to both the first piggyback user and the public user. By operating in this way, the information processing device 20 increases the benefits that users can gain by disclosing their votes, thus incentivizing users to disclose their votes. The configuration and operation of the information terminal 10 and the information processing device 20 will be described in detail below.

[0021] <Hardware Configuration> Figure 3 shows the hardware configuration of the information terminal 10. The information terminal 10 includes a processor 11, a storage unit 12, a communication interface 13, an input device 14, and an output device 15.

[0022] The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and it realizes various functions by executing programs stored in the memory unit 12.

[0023] The memory unit 12 has storage media such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory unit 12 stores programs that the processor 11 executes.

[0024] The communication IF 13 has a communication controller for wired or wireless communication with the information processing device 20 via the network N. The communication IF 13 notifies the processor 11 of data received from the information processing device 20. The communication IF 13 also transmits data input from the processor 11 to the information processing device 20.

[0025] The input device 14 accepts input from the user, for example. The input device 14 is, for example, a keyboard, touch panel, mouse, or microphone. The output device 15 is, for example, a display unit and an audio output unit that output information to the user, for example. The output device 15 is, for example, a display or speaker, for example.

[0026] Figure 4 shows the hardware configuration of the information processing device 20. The information processing device 20 includes a processor 21, a storage unit 22, a communication interface 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25.

[0027] The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit). This is a Processing Unit that performs various functions by executing programs stored in the memory unit 22.

[0028] The storage unit 22 has a storage medium such as memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 22 stores programs executed by the processor 21. The storage unit 22 also stores user information about users who vote in competitions, and a voting history showing the history of votes cast by users in competitions.

[0029] The communication IF23 has a communication controller for wired or wireless communication with the information terminal 10 via the network N. The communication IF23 notifies the processor 21 of data received from the information terminal 10. The communication IF23 also transmits data input from the processor 21 to the information terminal 10.

[0030] The input device 24 receives input operations from, for example, the administrator of the information processing device 20. The input device 24 is, for example, a keyboard, touch panel, mouse, or microphone. The output device 25 outputs information to, for example, the administrator of the information processing device 20. The output device 25 is, for example, a display or speaker.

[0031] <Functional Block Configuration> Figure 5 shows an example of the functional block configuration of the information processing device 20. The processor 21 includes a voting execution unit 211, a control unit 212, a display control unit 213, and an assignment unit 214. The processor 21 functions as the voting execution unit 211, control unit 212, display control unit 213, and assignment unit 214 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 22.

[0032] The memory unit 22 stores user information about users who vote in competitions, and voting history information showing the history of users' votes in competitions. Figures 6 and 7 show examples of information stored in the memory unit 22.

[0033] Figure 6 shows an example of user information stored in the memory unit 22. In the user information shown in Figure 6, user identification information (hereinafter referred to as "user ID") for identifying the user, privacy settings indicating the scope to which the voted items of the user will be made public, and the user IDs of other users that the user has added as friends are associated with each other. Friends are other users that the user has added in order to make their voted items public or to send and receive messages. For example, a user can add another user as a friend by inviting them to be friends and the other user accepting the friend request.

[0034] The scope of who can see the voting targets as indicated by the privacy settings is all users, friends, and friends of friends. A friend of a friend is the third user for the first user if the first user's friend is the second user, and the second user's friend is the third user. In Figure 6, "○" indicates that the user has set the scope of who can see the voting targets, and "×" indicates that the user has not set the scope of who can see the voting targets. The information processing device 20 obtains the scope of who can see the voting targets set by the user operating the information terminal 10 from the information terminal 10, associates it with the user ID corresponding to the user, and stores it in the storage unit 22.

[0035] Figure 7 shows an example of voting history information stored in the memory unit 22. In the voting history information shown in Figure 7, at least the user ID of the voting user, the vote ID, the name of the competition, the venue, the date and time of the event, the vote amount, the refund amount, the privacy setting, the user ID of the user who made the vote, and the user ID of the first user who joined the vote are associated with the information. The vote ID is voting identification information used to identify a user's vote. The privacy setting indicates whether or not the user will make their vote public to other users.

[0036] For example, vote V12 is a vote cast by user U2, the first user to join in, by piggybacking on vote V11 cast by user U1, a public user. Vote V13 is a vote cast by user U3, the second user to join in, by piggybacking on vote V12 cast by user U2, the first user to join in. In such a case, if user U3's vote V13 is correct, users U1 and U2 will be awarded a reward. Returning to Figure 5, the configuration of each part realized by the processor 21 will now be explained.

[0037] The voting execution unit 211 executes the votes for the competition received from the user. The voting execution unit 211 obtains voting information, including the competition name, betting type, group number, betting amount, and public settings, associated with the user ID corresponding to the user, from, for example, the information terminal 10 used by the user, and executes the vote. The voting execution unit 211 associates the obtained voting information with the user ID corresponding to the user and stores it in the storage unit 22 as voting history.

[0038] The voting execution unit 211 executes the vote when it receives a piggyback vote from the first piggyback user that matches or is similar to the vote of the public user. Similarly, the voting execution unit 211 executes the vote when it receives a piggyback vote from the second piggyback user that matches or is similar to the vote of the first piggyback user.

[0039] For example, when the first piggyback user casts a vote that matches the vote of a public user, the voting execution unit 211 obtains voting information for the piggyback vote from the first piggyback user's information terminal 10. The voting information includes the user ID of the public user who is casting the piggyback vote, the voting ID of the public user's vote that is the target of the piggyback vote, and the voting amount.

[0040] The voting execution unit 211 identifies the competition name, betting type, and group number associated with the voting ID included in the voting information by referring to the storage unit 22. The voting execution unit 211 executes the vote using the identified competition name, betting type, and group number, and the voting amount included in the voting information. The voting execution unit 211 stores the identified competition name, betting type, and group number, along with the public user ID and voting amount included in the voting information, in association with the first piggyback user ID in the storage unit 22. The voting execution unit 211 may also execute a piggyback vote similar to the public user's vote, where the first piggyback user has changed the betting type.

[0041] The control unit 212 executes a process to make voting information published by a user available to other users. Specifically, the control unit 212 refers to the "Privacy Settings" and "Friends' User IDs" shown in Figure 6 to determine which users to make voting information published by a given user available to.

[0042] For example, if user U1, a public user, casts a vote, the control unit 212 ensures that the vote is included in the scope of public access set based on instructions from the public user (hereinafter referred to as the "first public access scope"), and that users U2 and U3, who are set as friends in Figure 6, can view the first voting information showing the content of user U1's vote. Specifically, in response to requests from users U2 and U3, the control unit 212 transmits the first voting information to the information terminals 10b and 10c used by users U2 and U3. In this case, users U2 and U3 can view the first voting information and cast their own votes. On the other hand, in the example shown in Figure 6, user U4 is not set as a friend of user U1, so the control unit 212 does not allow user U4 to view user U1's first voting information.

[0043] Furthermore, when User U2, the first piggyback user, casts a vote, the control unit 212 makes the second voting information, which shows User U2's vote, viewable to User U3, who is included in the voting disclosure scope (hereinafter referred to as the "second disclosure scope") set based on instructions from User U2. Specifically, in response to a request from User U3, the control unit 212 transmits the second voting information to the information terminal 10c used by User U3. Here, if User U2 casts a piggyback vote based on the first voting information showing the vote of User U1, the public user, then the second voting information showing User U2's vote will match or be similar to the first voting information. Therefore, if the second voting information is made public to other users, the first voting information will effectively be made public to other users.

[0044] Therefore, the control unit 212 may allow user U3, who is included in the first public access scope, to view second voting information showing the vote of user U2, who is the first piggyback user who voted by joining in on the vote of a public user, while preventing user U4, who is not included in the first public access scope, from viewing the second voting information. The control unit 212 may also allow user U3 to view second voting information showing the vote of user U2, who voted by joining in on the vote of user U1, provided that user U3 is included in the first public access scope and is also included in the second public access scope specified by user U2, who is the first piggyback user.

[0045] With the control unit 212 operating in this manner, user U3, who is friends with user U1, can vote on behalf of user U2 even if they do not vote on behalf of user U1. Furthermore, even if user U4 is a friend of user U2, if user U4 is not a friend of user U1, it is possible to prevent user U1's voting information from being leaked to user U4 via user U2.

[0046] The display control unit 213 controls how the voting information, which shows the voting content of the public user or the first piggyback user, transmitted by the control unit 212 to the information terminal 10 of other users, is displayed on the information terminal 10 of other users. The display control unit 213 controls the display manner of the second voting information, which shows the voting content of the first piggyback user, to be displayed on the information terminal 10 of other users, based on, for example, a first public access range set based on instructions from the public user and a second public access range set based on instructions from the first piggyback user.

[0047] For example, if user U2, who is the first piggyback user, votes by piggybacking on user U1, who is a public user, the display control unit 213 ensures that the display of user U1's second vote information displayed on the information terminals 10 of other users included in the first public scope along with the second public scope is different from the display of the second vote information displayed on the information terminals 10 of other users included in the second public scope but not in the first public scope. For example, the display control unit 213 displays the second vote information on user U4's information terminal 10 in a display manner that does not indicate who the piggyback vote was cast for, but displays the second vote information on user U3's information terminal 10 in a display manner that indicates that the user U3 voted by piggybacking on user U1.

[0048] Figure 8 shows an example of a screen displayed on another user's information terminal 10 after user U2 has joined user U1's vote. Figure 8(a) shows the screen displayed on user U3's information terminal 10, which is included in both the first and second public access areas, and Figure 8(b) shows the screen displayed on user U4's information terminal 10, which is not included in the first public access area but is included in the second public access area.

[0049] In the screen shown in Figure 8(a), it is indicated that user U2 voted on behalf of user U1, and the display area 151 is highlighted, allowing user U3 to understand that user U1 voted with the same content as user U2. Therefore, for user U3, it is easier to decide to vote on behalf of user U2 because both of their friends have voted with the same content. On the other hand, user U4, who sees the screen in Figure 8(b), cannot understand that user U2 voted on behalf of user U1, thus preventing user U1's vote from being leaked to user U4, who is not a friend of user U1.

[0050] The rewarding unit 214 grants rewards to users who have voted in the competition. The rewards are, for example, a predetermined percentage of the amount the user voted in the competition, or a predetermined percentage of the amount refunded as a result of the user's vote being correct. The predetermined percentage is, for example, 1%.

[0051] The granting unit 214 grants a reward to the public user based on the fact that a second piggyback user has joined the vote of a first piggyback user who joined the public user's vote, provided that predetermined conditions are met. The predetermined conditions are, for example, that the second piggyback user's vote is correct and that the second piggyback user is friends with the public user (i.e., the second piggyback user is included in the first public scope designated by the public user). The predetermined conditions may also include that the amount of money the second piggyback user has received from joining the vote is equal to or greater than a threshold. In this case, the granting unit 214 may grant a portion of the amount of money the second piggyback user has received as a reward to the public user.

[0052] In this manner, the granting unit 214 can grant rewards to the public user even if the second piggybacking user has not directly joined in and voted on the public user's voting target. As a result, the public user is more motivated to make their votes public because they have more opportunities to receive rewards.

[0053] The granting unit 214 may grant benefits to user U2 and user U1, the public user who made public the vote that user U2 cast on behalf of user U3, the second piggybacking user, based on the fact that user U3 cast a vote on behalf of user U2, the first piggybacking user. In this case, the granting unit 214 grants benefits to user U1 and user U2 respectively based on an allocation determined by predetermined conditions. The granting unit 214 grants benefits to user U1 and user U2 respectively based on allocation information that indicates the allocation of benefits received from user U3, for example. The allocation indicated by the allocation information is the percentage of benefits that user U1 and user U2 will be granted, for example, 70% for user U1 and 30% for user U2.

[0054] Specifically, at the time when user U3 places a vote or when user U3's vote is successful, the display control unit 213 displays a screen on user U3's information terminal 10 for inputting the distribution of rewards. The granting unit 214 obtains distribution information from user U3's information terminal 10 that shows the distribution of rewards entered by user U3. Based on the distribution of rewards indicated by the distribution information, the granting unit 214 identifies the rewards to be granted to user U1 and user U2 respectively, and grants the identified amount of rewards to user U1 and user U2 respectively.

[0055] With the allocation unit 214 operating in this manner, it can grant benefits to both the public user and the first user, respectively, according to the allocation specified by the second user. As a result, the second user can increase the allocation for users whose allocation they wish to increase.

[0056] Incidentally, if User U2, the first piggyback user, places a large bet in a piggyback vote on a public user's vote, User U3 is motivated to piggyback on the public user that User U2 trusts, so it can be considered that User U2's contribution to User U3's piggyback vote is significant. Therefore, the granting unit 214 may grant benefits to User U1 and User U2 respectively based on an allocation determined according to the amount of money that User U2, the first piggyback user, spent in a piggyback vote on the vote of User U1, the public user. For example, the granting unit 214 may decide to increase the allocation to User U2 and decrease the allocation to User U1 as the amount of money that User U2 spent increases.

[0057] Specifically, the reward distribution unit 214 sets the percentage of rewards to be given to user U2 to 0% and the percentage of rewards to be given to user U1 to 100% if user U2's vote amount is 100 yen or more but less than 1000 yen. If user U2's vote amount is 1000 yen or more but less than 5000 yen, the reward distribution unit 214 sets the percentage of rewards to be given to user U2 to 30% and the percentage of rewards to be given to user U1 to 70%. If user U2's vote amount is 5000 yen or more, the reward distribution unit 214 sets the percentage of rewards to be given to user U2 to 50% and the percentage of rewards to be given to user U1 to 50%. The reward distribution unit 214 operates in this way to incentivize the first piggyback user to increase their vote amount when they vote by joining a public user's vote.

[0058] The granting unit 214 may grant benefits to user U1 and user U2 respectively based on an allocation determined according to the amount of predetermined value (e.g., the voting amount) used by user U1, a public user, in the public vote, and the amount of predetermined value used by user U2, a first piggyback user, in a vote that piggybacked on user U1's vote. The granting unit 214 may, for example, identify the ratio between user U1's voting amount and user U2's voting amount in the piggyback vote, and determine an allocation corresponding to the identified ratio.

[0059] Specifically, the awarding unit 214 identifies that user U1 voted 1,000 yen and user U2 voted 3,000 yen by referring to the "voting amount" associated with votes V12 and V13 shown in Figure 7. The awarding unit 214 identifies that the amount of predetermined value voted by user U1 and the amount of predetermined value voted by user U2 are in a ratio of "1 to 3". Based on the identified ratio, the awarding unit 214 determines the distribution to be "25% for the public user and 75% for the first piggyback user". If the total value of the rewards is 100 yen, the awarding unit 214 awards 25 yen to the public user and 75 yen to the first piggyback user. The awarding unit 214 operates in this way to incentivize the public user and the first piggyback user to vote for a larger amount of predetermined value.

[0060] The granting unit 214 may grant benefits to user U1 and user U2 respectively based on an allocation determined according to the number of times user U1, a public user, has voted in the past and the number of times user U2, a first-joining user, has voted in the past. The granting unit 214 identifies the number of times user U1 has voted in the past and the number of times user U2 has voted in the past by referring to the voting history information shown in Figure 7, for example. The granting unit 214 identifies the ratio of the identified numbers and determines the allocation corresponding to the identified ratio. The granting unit 214 operates in this way to incentivize public users and first-joining users to vote more.

[0061] The granting unit 214 may grant benefits to user U2 and user U3 respectively based on an allocation determined according to a parameter indicating the relationship between user U2, the first piggyback user, and user U3, the second piggyback user. The parameter is represented by a value indicating the closeness between user U2 and user U3, for example, the number of times user U3 has voted by piggybacking on user U2's vote, or the number of times user U3 and user U2 have voted in the same competition while belonging to the same group. The more times you've played (so-called "multiplayer"), the larger the value will be.

[0062] For example, if the parameter value is determined based on the number of times a vote has been cast on another user's vote, the allocation unit 214 will increase the allocation for user U2 and decrease the allocation for user U1, who is a public user, as the more times user U3 has cast a vote on another user's vote, the larger the allocation for user U2. By operating in this way, the allocation unit 214 is motivated to increase the number of times the first piggybacking user will receive votes from other users by making more votes public or increasing the number of friends they have.

[0063] The granting unit 214 may grant benefits to users U1 and U2 respectively based on an allocation determined according to a parameter indicating the relationship between user U2, the first piggyback user, and user U3, the second piggyback user, and a parameter indicating the relationship between user U1, the public user, and user U3. For example, the granting unit 214 identifies the ratio of the number of times user U3 has voted by piggybacking on user U2's vote to the number of times user U3 has voted by piggybacking on user U1's vote, and determines an allocation corresponding to the identified ratio. By operating in this manner, the granting unit 214 motivates both public users and first piggyback users to publish more votes and increase their number of friends.

[0064] <Operation flow of the information processing device 20> Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow in the information processing device 20. The flowchart in Figure 9 shows the operation in which the information processing device 20 grants benefits to the public user and the first piggyback user, respectively. In Figure 9, the public user is represented as User U1, the first piggyback user as User U2, and the second piggyback user as User U3. Here, we illustrate the operation in which benefits are granted to the public user and the first piggyback user, respectively, when the second piggyback user's vote is correct.

[0065] As shown in Figure 9, the voting execution unit 211 receives a vote from user U1 and an instruction to make the vote public from user U1's information terminal 10, and executes user U1's vote (S11). The control unit 212 identifies user U2, who is included in the public access range specified by user U1, by referring to the "privacy settings" and "friends' user IDs" associated with the user ID corresponding to user U1 shown in Figure 6 (S12). The control unit 212 makes user U1's vote public by transmitting user U1's voting information to the identified user U2's information terminal 10 (S13). The display control unit 213 displays the user U1 voting information transmitted by the control unit 212 on the identified user U2's information terminal 10.

[0066] The voting execution unit 211 receives an instruction from user U2 to piggyback on user U1's vote and executes user U2's piggyback vote (S14). The control unit 212 identifies user U3, who is included in the public access range of user U1 and user U2, by referring to the "privacy settings" and "friends' user IDs" associated with the user ID corresponding to user U2 shown in Figure 6 (S15). The control unit 212 publishes the content of user U2's piggyback vote by transmitting user U2's voting information to the identified user U3's information terminal 10 (S16). The display control unit 213 displays the user U2 voting information transmitted by the control unit 212 on the identified user U3's information terminal 10.

[0067] The voting execution unit 211 accepts a vote from the identified user U3 to piggyback on user U2's vote and executes user U3's piggyback vote (S17). The awarding unit 214 determines the allocation of rewards to be given to users U1 and U2 if user U3's piggyback vote is successful (YES in S18) (S19). Based on the determined allocation, the awarding unit 214 determines the amount of rewards to be given to each of users U1 and U2 and awards the rewards to users U1 and U2 (S20). If user U3's piggyback vote is unsuccessful (NO in S18), the awarding unit 214 does not award rewards to users U1 and U2.

[0068] If no operation to terminate processing is performed (NO in S21), the information processing device 20 repeats the processes from S11 to S20. If an operation to terminate processing is performed (YES in S21), the information processing device 20 terminates the process. In addition, if in S14 user U2 casts a vote for a target that he or she has decided on, rather than simply voting for user U1, the control unit 212 will, in S15 and S16, disclose user U2's vote to user U3, who is included in the disclosure scope specified by user U2, regardless of whether or not user U3 is included in the disclosure scope specified by user U1.

[0069] <Effects of the information processing device 20> As explained above, the information processing device 20 has a voting execution unit 211 that performs piggyback voting on the public user's vote received from the first piggyback user, and piggyback voting on the first piggyback user's vote received from the second piggyback user. The granting unit 214 then grants a benefit to the public user based on the execution of the piggyback vote by the second piggyback user, provided that the conditions such as the second piggyback user's piggyback vote are met.

[0070] With the information processing device 20 configured in this way, the information processing device 20 can grant benefits to a public user even if a second user indirectly piggybacks on the public user's vote. As a result, the information processing device 20 can increase the benefits granted to the public user as the number of second users piggybacking on the public user's vote increases, whether it is a direct or indirect piggyback vote, thus encouraging public users to make their votes public.

[0071] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, 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 its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in 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 combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments.

[0072] In addition to the embodiments described above, the following should be added. (Note 1) The voting department, which carries out the voting for the competition, A rewards unit that grants benefits to users, It has, The voting execution unit executes the second vote in response to receiving a second vote from the second user based on the first vote of the first user. The voting execution unit executes the third vote in response to receiving a third vote from the third user based on the second vote of the second user. The granting unit grants the first user a benefit based on the fact that the voting execution unit has performed the third vote, if predetermined conditions are met. Information processing device. With the information processing device configured in this way, the device can grant rewards to the first user even if the third user does not directly cast a vote based on the first user's voting targets. As a result, the first user is more motivated to make their votes public because they have more opportunities to receive rewards. (Note 2) The system further includes a control unit that enables users included in the first disclosure scope, which is set based on instructions from the first user, to view second voting information showing the content of the second vote. The information processing device described in Appendix 1. With the information processing device configured in this way, the device can inform a third user designated by the first user of voting targets voted for by the second user that match or are similar to the voting targets published by the first user. As a result, the third user can refer to both the first user's votes and the second user's votes that indicate voting targets similar to the first user's voting targets. (Note 3) The control unit makes the second voting information viewable to users included in the first public access range and the second public access range which is set based on instructions from the second user. The information processing device described in Appendix 2. With the information processing device configured in this way, the information processing device can notify the first user and a third user designated by the second user who cast a vote based on the first user's vote of the voting target that the second user has voted for and that match or are similar to the voting target that the first user has made public. As a result, the information processing device can prevent the voting target from being made public to a third user who is not included in the scope of public disclosure of the voting target. (Note 4) The system further includes a display control unit that controls the display mode of the second voting information, which shows the content of the second vote, to be displayed on the third user's information terminal, based on a first disclosure range set based on instructions from the first user and a second disclosure range set based on instructions from the second user. An information processing device as described in any one of the items 1 to 3 of the appendix. With the information processing device configured in this way, it becomes easier for a third user to determine whether the published voting information was published by the first user or the second user. (Note 5) The display control unit displays the second voting information such that the display mode of the second voting information displayed on the information terminals of users included in the first public access scope is different from the display mode of the second voting information displayed on the information terminals of users not included in the first public access scope. The information processing device described in Appendix 4. With the information processing device configured in this way, a third user, whose access scope is set by the first user, can easily determine whether or not a vote was made public by the first user. As a result, even if the second user makes a vote public, the third user can identify the vote made public by the first user that they wish to designate and cast their vote based on that vote. (Note 6) The granting unit grants the benefits to the first user and the second user respectively, based on the allocation determined by predetermined conditions. An information processing device as described in any one of the items 1 to 5 of the appendix. With the information processing device configured in this way, the device can grant rewards to both the first and second users who published the votes that the third user had joined in on. (Note 7) The granting unit grants the benefits to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on the allocation information indicating the distribution of the benefits received from the third user. The information processing device described in Appendix 6. With the information processing device configured in this way, the device can grant benefits to both the first and second users according to the allocation specified by the third user. As a result, the third user can increase the allocation of the users whose allocation they wish to increase. (Note 8) The granting unit grants the benefits to the first user and the second user respectively, based on an allocation determined according to the amount of predetermined value used by the second user in the second vote. The information processing device described in Appendix 6 or 7. With the information processing device configured in this way, the second user is incentivized to increase the amount of predetermined value they vote for, in order to grant the second user a reward corresponding to the amount of predetermined value they vote for. (Note 9) The granting unit grants the benefits to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on an allocation determined according to the amount of predetermined value used by the first user in the first vote and the amount of predetermined value used by the second user in the second vote. An information processing device as described in any one of the appendices 6 to 8. This configuration of the information processing device motivates both the first and second users to cast more votes. (Note 10) The granting unit grants the benefits to the first user and the second user respectively, based on an allocation determined according to a parameter indicating the relationship between the second user and the third user. An information processing device as described in any one of the appendices 6 to 9. With the information processing device configured in this way, the second user is motivated to make more votes public or to expand the scope of public voting in order to increase the number of times the third user's votes are executed based on the second user's votes. (Note 11) The granting unit grants the benefits to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on an allocation determined according to a parameter indicating the relationship between the second user and the third user, and a parameter indicating the relationship between the first user and the third user. An information processing device as described in any one of the appendices 6 to 10. With the information processing device configured in this way, both the first and second users are motivated to make more votes public or to expand the scope of the votes they make public. (Note 12) The computer performs the voting for the competition, The steps by which the computer grants benefits to the user, It has, In the step of voting for the aforementioned competition, The computer executes the second vote in response to receiving a second vote from the second user based on the first vote of the first user. The computer executes the third vote in response to receiving a third vote from the third user based on the second vote of the second user. In the step of granting a benefit to the user, if predetermined conditions are met, the computer grants the benefit to the first user based on the execution of the third vote. Information processing methods. With this information processing method configured, the method can grant rewards to the first user even if the third user does not directly cast a vote based on the first user's voting targets. As a result, the first user is more motivated to make their votes public because they have more opportunities to receive rewards. (Note 13) On the computer, The steps to cast a vote for the competition, Steps for granting benefits, Make it run, In the step of voting for the aforementioned competition, In response to receiving a second vote from the second user based on the first vote from the first user, the second vote is executed. In response to receiving a third vote from the third user based on the second vote of the aforementioned second user, the third vote is executed. In the step of granting the aforementioned benefit, if the predetermined conditions are met, the benefit is granted to the first user based on the fact that the third vote was performed. program. This program configuration allows the program to reward the first user even if the third user does not directly cast a vote based on the first user's voting targets. As a result, the first user is more motivated to make their votes public because they have more opportunities to receive rewards. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Information Processing System 10 Information terminals 11 processors 12 Storage section 13 Communication IF 14 Input Devices 15 Output Devices 20 Information Processing Devices 21 processors 22 Memory section 23 Communication IF 24 Input Devices 25 Output Devices 211 Voting Execution Department 212 Control Unit 213 Display Control Unit 214 Assignment section

Claims

[Claim 1] The voting department, which carries out the voting for the competition, A rewards unit that grants benefits to users, It has, The voting execution unit executes the second vote in response to receiving a second vote from the second user based on the first vote of the first user. The voting execution unit executes the third vote in response to receiving a third vote from the third user based on the second vote of the second user. The granting unit grants the first user a benefit based on the fact that the voting execution unit has performed the third vote, when predetermined conditions are met. Information processing device.

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