Program, device, and system

Abstract

To execute a lottery with high user satisfaction. [Solution] The computer functions as a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine which character content will be granted to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element, and when the lottery execution unit (i) has consecutively determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) has consecutively determined character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, when executing a new lottery, (iii) reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) reduces the probability that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program, an apparatus, and a system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technology that aims to make it easier for players to select game media to be exchanged. Patent Document 2 describes a technology that aims to involve players in the card creation process. Patent Document 3 describes a lottery system that aims to promote products while reducing the burden on campaign organizers. (Prior art document) (Patent Documents) (Patent Document 1) JP 2014-188366 A (Patent Document 2) JP 2017-131321 A (Patent Document 3) JP 2005-070937 A Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a first aspect of the present invention, a program is provided. The program causes a computer to function as a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine character content to be granted to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element, and as a registration unit that registers the character content to be granted to the user determined by the lottery execution unit in association with the user's identification information. When (i) the same character content has been determined as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been determined as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the lottery execution unit (iii) reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) reduces the probability that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user, when executing a new lottery.

[0004] In a second aspect of the present invention, a device is provided. The device includes a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine a character content to be granted to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element, and a registration unit that registers the character content to be granted to the user determined by the lottery execution unit in association with the user's identification information. When (i) the same character content has been determined as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been determined as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the lottery execution unit (iii) reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) reduces the probability that the character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user, when executing a new lottery.

[0005] In a third aspect of the present invention, a system is provided. The system includes the above-described device and a user terminal usable by a user. The device executes a lottery in response to the user terminal receiving an instruction from the user to execute a lottery. The device executes a lottery in response to the user terminal receiving an instruction from the user to execute a lottery.

[0006] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention. Also, subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 2 shows an example of the overall configuration of a system 5 in the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 10. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 shows an example of character content information stored in the device 10. [Diagram 5] 1 shows an example of character content registration information stored in the device 10. [Figure 6] 1 shows an example of product information stored in the device 10. [Figure 7] 1 shows an example of payment information stored by device 10. [Figure 8] 8 shows an example of a character content list screen 800 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 9] 9 shows an example of a serial code input screen 900 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 10] 10 shows an example of a character content list screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 11] An example of a first shopping screen 1100 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 12] 12 shows an example of a second shopping screen 1200 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 13] 13 shows an example of a third shopping screen 1300 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 14] 14 shows an example of a lottery result screen 1400 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 15] An example of a character content screen 1500 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 16] An example of a deregistration screen 1600 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 17] An example of a character content screen 1700 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 18] An example of a transfer screen 1800 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 19] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 10. [Figure 20]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a device 12 in a second embodiment. [Figure 21] 13 shows an example of a data structure of character element information stored in the device 12. [Figure 22] 13 shows an example of a data structure of selected character element information stored in the device 12. [Figure 23] 24 shows an example of a character element selection screen 2400 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 24] An example of a character content list screen 2500 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Diagram 25] 26 shows an example of a second shopping screen 2600 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a device 13 in a third embodiment. [Figure 27] An example of a character content list screen 2800 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 28] 29 shows an example of a second shopping screen 2900 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Figure 29] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 13. [Diagram 30] 10A and 10B show schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. [Diagram 31] 3 shows an example of a lottery result screen 3200 displayed on the user terminal 20. [Diagram 32] An example of a second shopping screen 3300 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Diagram 33] An example of a lottery result screen 3400 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Diagram 34] An example of a lottery result screen 3500 displayed on the user terminal 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Diagram 35] 10A and 10B show schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. [Diagram 36]10A and 10B show schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. [Figure 37] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 13. [Figure 38] 10A and 10B show schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. [Figure 39] 10A and 10B show schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. [Diagram 40] 10A and 10B show schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. [Diagram 41] An example of a computer 2000 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0009] (First embodiment) 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a system 5 in the first embodiment. The system 5 includes a device 10 and a user terminal 20.

[0010] The device 10 and the user terminal 20 can communicate with each other via a communication network 90. ​​The communication network 90 may be a data transmission path. The communication network 90 may be a wired communication transmission path, a wireless communication transmission path, or a combination thereof. The communication network 90 may include the Internet, a dedicated line network, a wireless communication network, a telephone line network, various cable networks, or a combination thereof. The communication network 90 may include a P2P network such as an ad-hoc network.

[0011] The communication method in the wireless communication network may be a mobile communication method or a wireless data communication method. Examples of the mobile communication method include the 3G method, the LTE method, the 4G method, and the 5G method. Examples of the wireless data communication method include the wireless PAN method, the wireless LAN method, the wireless MAN method, and the wireless WAN method. The communication method in the wireless communication network may be various short-distance wireless communication methods.

[0012] The user terminal 20 is an electronic device used by a user 30. The user terminal 20 may be, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA (registered trademark), a tablet, a personal computer, a wearable computer, or the like.

[0013] The device 10 manages character content that can be assigned to the user 30. A plurality of character elements are associated with the character content.

[0014] In this embodiment, the character element indicates a character of a virtual person, such as a virtual idol, but is not limited thereto. The character element may indicate a character of a real person, may indicate a character of a living thing including an animal, or may indicate a character of various devices such as a robot or a ship. In addition, the character element may indicate characters of various concepts such as emotions, nature, and nations. In this embodiment, the character content is digital content. The character content is presented to the user 30 in the form of a virtual card including an image of a virtual idol.

[0015] The device 10 manages the character content by using a serial code. The serial code is an example of content identification information that identifies the character content.

[0016] The user terminal 20 communicates with the device 10 in response to an instruction from the user 30, and requests the device 10 to grant character content to the user 30. The device 10 determines the character content to be granted to the user 30 in response to the request from the user terminal 20. The device 10 registers the serial code of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in association with user identification information, which is the user identification information of the user 30.

[0017] The user terminal 20 receives from the device 10 character content identified by a serial code registered by the device 10 in correspondence with the user identification information of the user 30, and presents the character content to the user 30 by displaying the received character content.

[0018] The device 10 manages character content that is granted to the user 30 on condition that the user 30 pays a fee, and promotional character content that is granted to the user 30 without the user 30 paying a fee. The character content that is granted to the user 30 on condition that the user 30 pays a fee is an example of a first type of character content. The promotional character content that is granted to the user 30 without the user 30 paying a fee is an example of a second type of character content.

[0019] Methods by which user 30 obtains the first type of character content include an individual designation method in which user 30 designates specific character content to be granted to user 30, and a lottery method in which device 10 determines by lottery the character content to be granted to user 30 from among a plurality of character contents of the first type.

[0020] The serial code of the second type of character content is provided to a plurality of users by, for example, printing it on the face of a promotional card and distributing the promotional card to an unspecified number of people. The serial code of the second type of character content may be distributed to a plurality of users 30 through a website or the like. When the user 30 inputs the serial code of the second type of character content into the user terminal 20, the device 10 registers the serial code received from the user terminal 20 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0021] The device 10 can cancel the association between the serial code of the first type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30 in response to an instruction obtained from the user 30 via the user terminal 20. The serial code of the character content whose association with the user 30 has been cancelled can be re-registered in association with the user identification information of another user 30 in response to an instruction from the user 30. This allows the user 30 to freely cancel the registration of character content that was registered to the user 30 by paying a fee.

[0022] On the other hand, the device 10 cannot cancel the association between the serial code of the second type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30. This allows the promotional character content to be maintained in a state registered to the user 30.

[0023] 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the device 10. The device 10 includes a processing unit 100, a storage unit 190, and a communication unit 192.

[0024] The device 10 is realized by a computer. The processing unit 100 is realized by an arithmetic processing device including a processor. The processing unit 100 executes various calculations executed in the device 10 and controls the memory unit 190 and the communication unit 192. The processing unit 100 includes a lottery execution unit 110, a first registration unit 121, a release unit 130, a presentation control unit 140, a determination unit 150, and a selection control unit 160.

[0025] The communication unit 192 is mainly responsible for communication with the user terminal 20 via the communication network 90. ​​The storage unit 190 is realized by a volatile storage medium and a non-volatile storage medium. The storage unit 190 stores a program for causing the computer to function as the device 10, and stores data necessary for the processing unit 100 to perform calculations.

[0026] The functions of the processing unit 100 will now be described.

[0027] The first registration unit 121 registers a plurality of character contents in association with first user identification information, which is user identification information of a first user. The release unit 130 releases the association between the first user identification information and at least one of the plurality of character contents registered in association with the first user identification information by the first registration unit 121. In the first embodiment, the first user is any one user 30, and the second user is another user 30.

[0028] The plurality of character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content. The release unit 130 can release the association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information among the plurality of character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the first user identification information, but cannot release the association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information.

[0029] The presentation control unit 140 performs control to present to the first user a plurality of character contents registered in association with the first user identification information by the first registration unit 121. For example, when the first type of character content is registered in association with the first user identification information by the first registration unit 121, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present at least the first type of character content to the first user, and when the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is released by the release unit 130, the presentation control unit 140 does not perform control to present the first type of character content to the first user.

[0030] The first registration unit 121 is capable of registering the first type of character content, the association of which with the first user identification information has been released by the release unit 130, in association with the second user identification information that is the user identification information of the second user. After registering the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, the first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on the condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content has been released by the release unit 130.

[0031] After registering the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, the first registration unit 121 may register the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is released by the release unit 130 and the second user is notified that the first type of character content should be registered.

[0032] The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine a first type of character content as the character content to be granted to the first user from among the multiple character contents. On the other hand, the lottery execution unit 110 does not determine a second type of character content as the character content to be granted to the first user from among the multiple character contents.

[0033] The determination unit 150 determines whether or not the first user has completed a procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery on condition that the determination unit 150 has determined that the first user has completed a procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The first type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user on condition that the first user has completed a procedure to pay the fee. On the other hand, the second type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user without the condition that the first user has completed a procedure to pay the fee.

[0034] When a first type of character content is determined by the lottery executing unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the first user, the first registration unit 121 registers the first type of character content determined by the lottery executing unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the first user in correspondence with the first user identification information, without requiring any operation by the first user 30.

[0035] The first type of character content is identified by the first content identification information. The second type of character content is identified by the second content identification information. The first registration unit 121 registers the first content identification information and the second content identification information in association with the first user identification information, thereby registering the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information. The release unit 130 can release the association between the first content identification information and the first user identification information, but cannot release the association between the second content identification information and the first user identification information.

[0036] After registering the first content identification information in association with the first user identification information, the first registration unit 121 can register the first content identification information in association with the second user identification information, which is the user identification information of the second user, on condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first content identification information is cancelled by the cancellation unit 130. The first registration unit 121 can perform a process of registering the first content identification information in association with the user identification information of any of the users 30 multiple times on condition that the first content identification information is not registered in association with the user identification information of any of the users 30, and can perform a process of registering the second content identification information in association with the user identification information of any of the users 30 only once, even if the second content identification information is not registered in association with the user identification information of any of the users 30. The cancellation unit 130 can perform a process of canceling the association between the user identification information of any of the users 30 and the first content identification information multiple times.

[0037] The presentation control unit 140 performs control to present the first type of character content and the second type of character content to the first user in a list format when the first registration unit 121 has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information. In addition, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present the first type of character content and the second type of character content in a distinguished manner when the first registration unit 121 has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information.

[0038] The release unit 130 may execute the process of canceling the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content only during a predetermined first period. The first registration unit 121 may execute the process of registering the first type of character content, the association between which has been cancelled by the release unit 130 and the first user identification information, in association with the second user identification information only during a predetermined second period.

[0039] The presentation control unit 140 may execute control for presenting a plurality of types related to the lottery mode of the character content to the user 30. The selection control unit 160 may execute control for allowing the user 30 to select a specific type from the plurality of types. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery according to the specific type selected by the user 30. The plurality of types may include a type for granting one character content to the user 30 and a type for granting a plurality of character contents to the user 30. The presentation control unit 140 may execute control for allowing the user 30 to select the number of times to execute the lottery.

[0040] 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 includes a processing unit 200, a storage unit 290, a communication unit 292, a display unit 294, and an operation input unit 296.

[0041] The user terminal 20 is realized by a computer. The processing unit 200 is realized by an arithmetic processing device including a processor. The processing unit 200 executes various calculations executed in the user terminal 20, and is responsible for controlling the storage unit 290, the communication unit 292, the display unit 294, and the operation input unit 296. The processing executed by the user terminal 20 described in this embodiment is realized by the processing unit 200 mainly controlling each unit.

[0042] The communication unit 292 is mainly responsible for communication with the device 10 via the communication network 90. ​​The storage unit 290 is realized by a volatile storage medium. The storage unit 290 stores a program for causing a computer to function as the user terminal 20, and stores data necessary for the processing unit 200 to perform calculations.

[0043] The display unit 294 displays an image based on the image information generated by the processing unit 200. The display unit 294 can be configured to include a display device such as a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), or a head mounted display.

[0044] The operation input unit 296 acquires an operation performed by the user 30 on the user terminal 20. The operation input unit 296 outputs an operation signal based on the acquired operation to the processing unit 200. The operation input unit 296 is realized by, for example, a touch pad, a button, a joystick, a trackball, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, or the like.

[0045] 4 shows an example of character content information stored in device 10. The character content information has content identification information, character element identification information, type information, and content data as data items, and these data items correspond to each other. The character content information is stored in storage unit 190.

[0046] The content identification information is identification information for identifying the character content, and is the serial code described above.

[0047] The character element identification information is identification information of a character element associated with the character content, for example, the character element identification information is identification information of a virtual idol.

[0048] The type information indicates the type of character content. The type information indicates whether the character content is a first type of character content or a second type of character content. In FIG. 4, the character content associated with type information "1" is the first type of character content. In FIG. 4, the character content associated with type information "2" is the second type of character content.

[0049] The content data indicates image data of the character content. The content data may be the image data of the character content itself. When the image data of the character content itself is stored separately from the character content information, the content data may be any information for identifying the image data of the character content.

[0050] 5 shows an example of character content registration information stored in device 10. The character content registration information has user identification information, content identification information, registration date and time information, release date and time information, and a transfer flag as data items, and these data items correspond to each other. The character content information is stored in storage unit 190.

[0051] The user identification information is the user identification information of the user 30. The user identification information is assigned to each of the users 30 by the device 10.

[0052] The content identification information is identification information of character content currently registered or previously registered for each user 30.

[0053] The registration date and time information indicates the date and time when the character content was registered to the user 30. The release-recording date and time information indicates the date and time when the registration of the character content to the user 30 was released. In other words, the release-recording date and time information indicates the date and time when the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the identification information of the character content was released. In FIG. 5, character content associated with "-" as the release-recording date and time information indicates that the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the identification information of the character content has not been released, and character content associated with anything other than "-" as the release-recording date and time information indicates that the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the identification information of the character content has been released.

[0054] The transferred flag indicates whether the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the identification information of the character content has been released, and the character content has been re-registered to another user 30. In Fig. 5, the character content associated with "true" as the transferred flag is the character content whose association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the identification information of the character content has been released, and the character content has been re-registered to another user 30. The character content associated with "false" as the transferred flag is the character content whose association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the identification information of the character content has been released, and the character content has not been re-registered to another user 30.

[0055] The content identification information is unique identification information. Character contents having the same content (sometimes referred to as the same character content) are assigned with mutually unique content identification information. This allows the same character content to be registered to the same user, and also allows the same character content to be registered to multiple users. Here, whether or not the character content is the same may be determined based on the content identification information. For example, the content identification information assigned to the same character content may be generated such that a specific substring in a string indicating the content identification information is the same.

[0056] 6 shows an example of product information stored in device 10. The product information has a product ID, content identification information, unit price information, and selection control information as data items, and these data items correspond to each other. The product information is stored in storage unit 190.

[0057] The product ID is identification information of the product. The content identification information is a set of one or more content identification information that can be given to the user 30. In the case of a product in which the character content to be given to the user 30 is determined by a lottery system, the content identification information is a list of multiple content identification information.

[0058] The unit price information indicates the price per character content to be paid by the user 30. The selection control information is information for controlling the selection of products by the user 30. The selection control information includes image information, description information, and quantity information of the products presented to the user 30. The quantity information indicates the number of times the user 30 can select to run a lottery.

[0059] 7 shows an example of payment information stored in device 10. The payment information has the following data items: product ID, user identification information, price information, quantity information, payment method, transaction date and time, and added content identification information, and these data items are associated with each other. The payment information is stored in storage unit 190.

[0060] The product ID is identification information of the product to be traded. The user identification information is user identification information of the user 30 who has completed the payment procedure.

[0061] The price information indicates the price for the user 30 to acquire the character content. The price information includes information indicating the price when the character content to be granted to the user 30 is determined by a lottery system. The price information includes information indicating the price when the character content to be granted to the user 30 is determined by an individual designation system.

[0062] The quantity information indicates the quantity of the item to be traded. When the character content to be given to the user 30 is selected by lottery, the quantity information indicates the number of the character content to be selected by lottery.

[0063] The payment method indicates the method of payment of the price by the user 30. Examples of the payment method of the price include credit card payment, electronic money payment, convenience store payment, bank transfer, etc.

[0064] The date and time of the procedure indicates the date and time when the user 30 carried out the procedure for payment of the price. For example, if the payment method is credit card payment, the date and time of the procedure may be the date and time when authorization for the credit card payment was obtained. If the payment method is electronic money payment or convenience store payment, the date and time of the procedure may be the date and time when a notice that the payment has been made by the respective payment method is received from the settlement institution. If the payment method is bank transfer, the date and time of the procedure may be the date and time when the deposit is confirmed.

[0065] The granted content identification information indicates content identification information of the character content granted to the user 30 by a lottery system. The granted content identification information is generated based on the result of the lottery executed by the lottery executing unit 110, and is set in the payment information.

[0066] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a character content list screen 800 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 800 includes an object 810, an object 820, and an object 830, each of which corresponds to a character content. The object 810, the object 820, and the object 830 shown in Fig. 8 are assumed to be objects corresponding to a first type of character content.

[0067] The character content list screen 800 includes an object 892, an object 894, an object 896, and an object 898. The object 892 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a My Page screen for displaying user information and for performing user settings. The object 894 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a character content list screen. The object 896 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a serial code input screen. The object 898 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a shopping screen.

[0068] When the user 30 performs an operation of pressing the object 894, the user terminal 20 transmits a request to display the digital album to the device 10. The request to display the digital album includes the user identification information of the user 30. When the device 10 receives the request to display the digital album from the user terminal 20, it causes the user terminal 20 to display a character content list screen 800 shown in Fig. 8. Here, it is assumed that the content identification information of the character content corresponding to the objects 810, 820, and 830 is registered in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0069] When the device 10 receives a display request for a digital album from the user terminal 20 to the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the character content registration information and acquires the content identification information with the release date and time information "-" from among the content identification information registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30. The presentation control unit 140 refers to the character content information and acquires the content data and type information associated with the acquired content identification information, and acquires the image data of the object 810, the object 820, and the object 830 based on the acquired content data. The presentation control unit 140 transmits the acquired content identification information, image data, and type information to the user terminal 20 as a display response for the digital album. The user terminal 20 generates a character content list screen 800 based on the image data and the like included in the display response received from the device 10, and displays it on the display unit 294.

[0070] In this way, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present to the user 30 a plurality of character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. When a first type of character content is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present at least the first type of character content to the user 30, and when the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the first type of character content is released, the presentation control unit 140 does not perform control to present the first type of character content to the user 30.

[0071] 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a serial code input screen 900 displayed on the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the serial code input screen 900 when the user 30 performs an operation of pressing an object 896.

[0072] The serial code input screen 900 includes an object 910 for inputting a serial code. When a serial code is input into the object 910 and an operation of pressing the object 920 is performed, the user terminal 20 transmits a content registration request to the device 10. The content registration request includes the input serial code and user identification information of the user 30.

[0073] When the device 10 receives a content registration request transmitted from the user terminal 20, the first registration unit 121 refers to the character content information, identifies content identification information that matches the serial code included in the received content registration request, and acquires content data associated with the identified content identification information. The first registration unit 121 registers the identified content identification information in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0074] When the registration is completed, the presentation control unit 140 performs the same process as that described in relation to FIG.

[0075] This allows the user 30 to obtain promotional character content (corresponding to the second type of character content) by inputting the serial code printed on the promotional card into the serial code input screen. In this way, the second type of character content is character content that is granted to the user 30 without the condition that the user 30 has completed the procedure for payment of the price.

[0076] The first registration unit 121 can register the content identification information of the second type of character content in association with the user identification information of multiple users 30. However, even if the content identification information of the second type of character content is not registered in association with the user identification information of any user 30, the process of registering the content identification information of the second type of character content in association with the user identification information of one user 30 is limited to one time.

[0077] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a character content list screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 1000 includes an object 1010 in addition to the objects shown on the character content list screen 800. The object 1010 is an object corresponding to a second type of character content.

[0078] When displaying the character content list screen, the data transmitted from the device 10 to the user terminal 20 includes type information corresponding to each character content. Based on the type information, the user terminal 20 displays the object 1010 corresponding to the second type of character content in a manner different from the objects 810, 820, and 830 corresponding to the first type of character content. This makes it possible to present the character content purchased by the user 30 and the promotional character content in a distinguished manner.

[0079] In this way, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present the first type of character content and the second type of character content to the first user in a list format when the first registration unit 121 has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the user identification information of the user 30. In this case, the presentation control unit 140 can present the first type of character content and the second type of character content in a distinguished manner.

[0080] Next, a process for granting character content to user 30 by a lottery system will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 14. The character content described with reference to Figures 11 to 14 is a first type of character content unless otherwise specified. As described above, the first type of character content is character content that is granted to a first user on the condition that user 30 has completed the procedure for payment of the price.

[0081] 11 shows an example of a first shopping screen 1100 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 1100 is displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to the user 30 performing an operation of pressing an object 898.

[0082] When the user 30 performs an operation of pressing the object 898, the user terminal 20 transmits a display request for a shopping screen to the device 10. When the device 10 receives the display request for a shopping screen from the user terminal 20, the selection control unit 160 refers to the product information and acquires a product ID, content identification information, unit price information, and selection control information. The presentation control unit 140 transmits display response information including the information acquired by the selection control unit 220 to the user terminal 20.

[0083] The user terminal 20 generates an object 1110 and an object 1120 based on the display response information received from the device 10, and displays them on the display unit 294. Both the object 1110 and the object 1120 indicate products for which character content to be granted to the user 30 is determined by a lottery system.

[0084] Object 1110 indicates a product for which character content to be given to user 30 can be selected in units of one from among 10 types of character content. Object 1120 indicates a product for which character content to be given to user 30 can be selected in units of five from among 20 types of character content.

[0085] Note that the objects 1110 and 1120 function as objects that present the user 30 with options to select from multiple types of selection modes for character content. By selecting the object 1110, the user 30 can select a first type of selection mode in which one character content is granted to the user 30. By selecting the object 1120, the user 30 can select a second type of selection mode in which multiple character contents are granted to the user 30.

[0086] Fig. 12 illustrates an example of a second shopping screen 1200 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 1200 in Fig. 12 is a screen displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to the user 30 performing an operation of pressing the object 1110 on the shopping screen 1100 in Fig. 11.

[0087] When the user 30 performs an operation of pressing the object 1110, the user terminal 20 transmits a product detail information request to the device 10. The product detail information request includes a product ID. When the device 10 receives the product detail information request, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the product information to identify content identification information and unit price information associated with the product ID included in the product detail information request, and also refers to the character content information to identify content data associated with the identified content identification information. The presentation control unit 140 transmits a product detail information response to the user terminal 20, including thumbnail images of each character content generated from the identified content data. The user terminal 20 displays a shopping screen 1200 based on the product detail information response received from the device 10.

[0088] Shopping screen 1200 includes object 1210 showing thumbnail images of the character content to be selected by lottery, object 1220 for selecting the quantity of the character content to be selected by lottery, and object 1230 for user 30 to add a product as a product to be purchased.

[0089] The object 1220 functions as an object that presents the user 30 with an option to select from multiple types of selection modes for character content. When a quantity of 1 is selected in the object 1220, a first type of selection mode that grants one character content to the user 30 is selected. When a quantity of 2 or more is selected by the object 1220, a second type of selection mode that grants multiple character contents to the user 30 is selected.

[0090] When user 30 selects a quantity in object 1220, object 1230 is enabled, allowing user 30 to manipulate object 1230.

[0091] Fig. 13 illustrates an example of a third shopping screen 1300 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 1300 in Fig. 13 is a screen displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to the user 30 performing an operation of pressing the object 1230 on the shopping screen 1200 in Fig. 12.

[0092] The shopping screen 1300 includes an object 1310 showing information about the product to be purchased by the user 30, an object 1320 for selecting a payment method for the price, and an object 1330 for receiving a purchase instruction from the user 30.

[0093] When the user 30 presses the object 1330 on the shopping screen 1300, the user terminal 20 transmits a purchase execution request indicating the product ID, the quantity, and the payment method to the device 10. Upon receiving the purchase request, the device 10 performs a process for the user 30 to pay the price. Specifically, the device 10 registers a new record in the payment information described in relation to FIG. 7 based on the received purchase request.

[0094] If the payment method is credit card payment, the device 10 performs authorization with the settlement institution, waits for the result of authorization approval, and registers a new record to the payment information. If the payment method is electronic money or convenience store payment, the device 10 updates the processing date and time of the payment information after registering a new record in the payment information and receiving a notice from the settlement institution that the payment has been made. If the payment method is bank transfer, the device 10 updates the processing date and time of the payment information after registering a new record in the payment information and confirming the deposit.

[0095] The determination unit 150 determines whether or not the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the price for the lottery. Specifically, the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the price for the lottery when date and time information is set to the procedure date and time in the payment information. The lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the price for the lottery.

[0096] In addition, when credit card payment is specified as the payment method and authorization is approved, the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery following the registration of a new record in the payment information. The lottery execution unit 110 refers to the product information to identify multiple character contents associated with the product ID, and determines the probability (sometimes referred to as "selection probability") that each of the identified multiple character contents is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. In this embodiment, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the same selection probability for all character contents. Based on the determined selection probability, the lottery execution unit 110 determines the number of character contents specified by the quantity in the payment information as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 from among the multiple character contents identified from the product ID.

[0097] The first registration unit 121 registers the content identification information of the character content determined by the lottery executing unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30. In this way, when a first type of character content is determined by the lottery executing unit as the character content to be granted to the user 30, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content determined by the lottery executing unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 without requiring any user operation by the user 30.

[0098] Fig. 14 shows an example of a lottery result screen 1400 displayed on the user terminal 20. As described above, when the payment method is credit card payment, when the user 30 presses the object 1330 in Fig. 13, authorization is performed in the device 10, and when the authorization is approved, the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery.

[0099] When the lottery is executed, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the granted content identification information in the payment information to identify the content identification information of the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110. The presentation control unit 140 refers to the character content information to identify content data associated with the identified content identification information, and generates an image of the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 based on the identified content data. The presentation control unit 140 transmits the generated image to the user terminal 20 as lottery result information.

[0100] When the user terminal 20 receives the lottery result information from the apparatus 10, the user terminal 20 generates a lottery result screen 1400 based on the lottery result information and displays it on the display unit 294. The lottery result screen 1400 includes an object 1410 indicating a list of character contents granted to the user 30.

[0101] As described in relation to Figures 11 to 14, the lottery execution unit 110 can execute a lottery to determine a first type of character content from among the multiple character contents as the character content to be granted to user 30, and does not determine a second type of character content from among the multiple character contents as the character content to be granted to user 30.

[0102] The process for canceling the registration of the first type of character content will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0103] 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a character content screen 1500 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content screen 1500 is a screen for displaying a specific character content selected by the user 30.

[0104] For example, when the user terminal 20 is displaying the character content list screen 1000, if the user 30 performs an operation to select an object 830, the user terminal 20 generates a character content screen 1500 that primarily displays the character content corresponding to the object 830, and displays it on the display unit 294.

[0105] Character content screen 1500 includes object 1510 indicating character content selected by user 30, and object 1520 for receiving an instruction to cancel the registration of the character content. When user 30 performs an operation of pressing object 1520, user terminal 20 displays a deregistration screen for canceling the registration of the character content selected by user 30.

[0106] 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a deregistration screen 1600 displayed on the user terminal 20. The deregistration screen 1600 includes an object 1610 indicating the content identification information of the character content selected by the user 30, an object 1620 for receiving an instruction to deregistrate, and an object 1630 indicating the content identification information of the character content that has been deregistered.

[0107] 15, the user terminal 20 transmits an unregistration information request to the device 10. The unregistration information request includes user identification information of the user 30. Upon receiving the unregistration information request, the device 10 refers to the character content registration information to identify content identification information of character content that has already been unregistered by the user 30, and transmits an unregistration information response including the identified content identification information to the user terminal 20.

[0108] When the user terminal 20 receives the deregistration information response transmitted from the device 10, the user terminal 20 generates the deregistration screen 1600 including the object 1630 based on the received deregistration information response, and displays it on the display unit 294. This makes it possible to present to the user 30 the identification information of the character content that the user 30 has previously deregistered.

[0109] When the user 30 performs an operation of pressing the object 1620, the user terminal 20 transmits to the apparatus 10 a deregistration request including the content identification information of the character content to be deregistered and the user identification information of the user 30.

[0110] When the device 10 receives a deregistration request transmitted from the user terminal 20, the cancellation unit 130 updates the character content registration information based on the received deregistration request. Specifically, the cancellation unit 130 sets the cancellation date and time to the cancellation date and time information associated with the content identification information included in the deregistration request among the multiple character contents registered in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30, and sets the transferred flag associated with the content identification information to false. As a result, the cancellation unit 130 cancels the association between the content identification information included in the deregistration request and the user identification information of the user 30.

[0111] In this way, the cancellation unit 130 can cancel the registration of the first type of character content and the user 30. Note that the cancellation unit 130 refers to the character content information to identify the type information associated with the content identification information included in the deregistration request, and discards the deregistration request if the identified type information is "2", that is, if the character content identified by the content identification information included in the deregistration request is the second type of character content.

[0112] 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a character content screen 1700 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content screen 1700 is a screen for displaying a specific second type of character content selected by the user 30.

[0113] For example, when the user terminal 20 is displaying the character content list screen 1000, if the user 30 performs an operation to select an object 1010, the user terminal 20 generates a character content screen 1700 that primarily displays the second type of character content corresponding to the object 1010, and displays it on the display unit 294.

[0114] The character content screen 1700 includes an object 1710 indicating a second type of character content selected by the user 30, and an object 1720. Unlike the object 1520 in Fig. 15, the object 1720 is an object whose operation by the user 30 is invalidated. Even if the user 30 performs an operation of pressing the object 1720, the user terminal 20 does not transition to a deregistration screen for deregistrating the character content selected by the user 30.

[0115] As described above, the first registration unit 121 registers a plurality of character contents in association with the user identification information of the user 30. The release unit 130 releases the association between at least one of the plurality of character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 and the first user identification information. The release unit 130 can release the association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information among the plurality of character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30, but cannot release the association between the second type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30. Specifically, the release unit 130 can release the association between the content identification information of the first type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30, but cannot release the association between the content identification information of the second type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30.

[0116] Fig. 18 shows an example of a transfer screen 1800 displayed on the user terminal 20. The transfer screen 1800 is a screen for transferring the deregistered character content to another user 30. Note that the character content described in relation to Fig. 18 is assumed to be a first type of character content.

[0117] The transfer screen 1800 is displayed via My Page, which is transitioned to by selecting the object 892. For example, when the user terminal 20 receives an instruction from the user 30 to display the transfer screen on My Page, the user terminal 20 transmits a transfer screen display request to the device 10. The transfer screen display request includes the user identification information of the user 30.

[0118] When the device 10 receives a transfer screen display request, it refers to the character content registration information, identifies the content identification information and the transferred flag of the character content for which the date and time is set in the release date and time information, and transmits a transfer screen display response including the identified content identification information and the transferred flag to the user terminal 20.

[0119] When the user terminal 20 receives the transfer screen display response, it displays the transfer screen 1800 on the display unit 294 based on the received transfer screen display response. The transfer screen 1800 includes an object 1810 indicating a list of content identification information of the deregistered character content, and an object 1820 for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to transfer the character content to another user 30.

[0120] The user terminal 20 displays the object 1820 near the content identification information whose transferred flag is false (specifically, "4444-ABCD" in FIG. 18), and does not display the object 1820 near the content identification information whose transferred flag is true. This allows the user terminal 20 to receive an instruction from the user 30 to transfer character content only for character content that has been deregistered and has not been transferred to another user 30.

[0121] When the user 30 performs an operation of pressing the object 1820, the user terminal 20 allows the user 30 to select another user 30 to be the transfer destination. For example, the user 30 may be allowed to select the other user 30 to be the transfer destination from a list of other users 30 who have been preregistered as friends.

[0122] The device 10 acquires user identification information of another user 30 selected on the user terminal 20, and when the other user 30 accesses the device 10 through the user terminal 20 of the other user 30, notifies the other user 30 of the fact that the character content to be transferred from the user 30 should be registered by notifying the other user 30 of the content identification information to be transferred.

[0123] When the other user 30 inputs the content identification information notified through the device 10 through the serial code input screen 900 of FIG. 9, the first registration unit 121 can register the character content transferred from the user 30.

[0124] The release unit 130 can execute the process of canceling the association between the user identification information of any one of the users 30 and the content identification information of the first type of character content multiple times, and the first registration unit 121 can execute the process of registering the first type of character content to another user 30 multiple times on the condition that the content identification information of the first type of character content is not registered in association with the user identification information of any of the users 30. This allows any user 30 to register and cancel the same character content multiple times.

[0125] In this way, the first registration unit 121 can register the first type of character content, the association of which with the user identification information of the user 30 has been released by the release unit 130, in association with the user identification information of another user 30. Specifically, the first registration unit 121 can register the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of the user 30, and then register the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of the other user 30, on the condition that the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the first type of character content has been released by the release unit 130. More specifically, the first registration unit 121 registers the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of the user 30, and then registers the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of the other user 30, on condition that the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the first type of character content is released by the release unit 130 and the other user 30 is notified that the first type of character content should be registered.

[0126] The content identification information to be transferred may be notified to the other user 30 through an SNS application. For example, the user terminal 20 may cooperate with an SNS application installed in the user terminal 20 to select, through the SNS application, a user 30 to whom the character content is to be transferred from a list of other users 30 preregistered in the SNS application. The user terminal 20 may notify the other user 30 that the character content to be transferred from the user 30 should be registered by transmitting, through the SNS application, a message including URI information to be accessed in order to register the content identification information to be transferred and the serial code.

[0127] Alternatively, the user terminal 20 may select the other user 30 to whom the character content is to be transferred by having the user 30 input the telephone number and / or email address of the other user 30 to whom the character content is to be transferred. The user terminal 20 may notify the other user 30 to whom the character content is to be transferred that the other user 30 should register the character content to be transferred from the user 30 by sending a message including the content identification information and URI information of the content to be transferred to the other user 30 by short message and / or email.

[0128] The process by the release unit 130 to release the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the first type of character content may be executable only during a predetermined first period. The first period may be a predetermined campaign period during which deregistration is permitted. The process by the first registration unit 121 to register the first type of character content, the association between which has been released by the release unit 130 and the user identification information of another user 30, in association with the user identification information of another user 30 may be executable only during a predetermined second period. The second period may be a predetermined campaign period during which deregistration is permitted. The first period and the second period may be different periods that do not overlap.

[0129] Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 10. The flowchart in Fig. 19 is started (i) when the device 10 is requested by the user terminal 20 to register character content using a serial code, (ii) when the device 10 receives a purchase execution request and then determines that the user 30 has performed a payment procedure, or (iii) when an instruction to cancel the registration of the character content is received from the user terminal 20.

[0130] In step S2002, the apparatus 10 determines which process to execute among serial code registration, lottery, and character content deregistration.

[0131] (i) When the device 10 is requested by the user terminal 20 to register character content using a serial code, in step S2010, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content identified by the serial code in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0132] (ii) After the device 10 receives the purchase execution request, if it is determined that the user 30 has completed the payment procedure, the lottery running section 110 determines to hold a lottery.

[0133] In step S2004, the selection probability of the character content is determined by the lottery execution unit 110. In the first embodiment, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the selection probability of each character content to be uniform.

[0134] In step S2006, the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery for character content with the lottery probability determined in step S2004. In step S2008, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content granted to the user 30 in the character content registration information based on the result of the lottery execution in step S2006.

[0135] (iii) When an instruction to cancel the registration of the character content is received from the user terminal 20, in step 2012, the canceling unit 130 cancels the registration of the character content that has been associated with the user identification information of the user 30 by the first registration unit 121.

[0136] Second embodiment Next, a system in the second embodiment will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be assigned the same number, and detailed description of operations similar to those described in relation to the first embodiment will be omitted. In the second embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

[0137] The system in the second embodiment includes a device 12 instead of the device 10 included in the system 5 in the first embodiment. When determining character content to be assigned to the user 30 by a lottery system, the device 12 executes the lottery in accordance with a specific character element preselected by the user 30. For example, the device 12 executes the lottery by increasing the probability that character content associated with a specific character element preselected by the user 30 will be drawn. This makes it possible to execute a lottery that provides high satisfaction to the user 30.

[0138] 20 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 12 in the second embodiment. The device 12 includes a processing unit 102, a storage unit 190, and a communication unit 192. The processing unit 102 is a component corresponding to the processing unit 100 of the device 10 in the first embodiment.

[0139] The processing unit 102 further includes a second registration unit 122 in addition to the components included in the processing unit 100 in the first embodiment. The functions of the processing unit 102 will be described.

[0140] The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine a character content to be granted to the user 30 from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0141] The presentation control unit 140 executes control for presenting to the user 30 character elements associated with character content registered in association with the identification information or character content registered in association with the identification information. The second registration unit 122 registers, in association with the identification information, a character element selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with the character content selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140. The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery according to the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the identification information.

[0142] The second registration unit 122 may register, as a first type character element, a character element selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with the character content selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character contents presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the identification information. The second registration unit 122 may register, as a second type character element, a character element not selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with the character content not selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character contents presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the identification information. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery according to the first type character element.

[0143] The lottery running section 110 may determine the probability that the character content will be granted to the user 30 based on the character element of the first type, and run the lottery based on the determined probability.

[0144] When there is a character element that is registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in correspondence with identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine a high probability that character content associated with the character element of the first type will be granted to the user 30.

[0145] The second registration unit 122 may limit the number of character elements of the first type that are registered in association with the identification information to a predetermined number or less.

[0146] The lottery execution unit 110 may differ the manner of the lottery depending on whether a character element exists that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in correspondence with identification information or whether a character element does not exist that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in correspondence with identification information.

[0147] When there is a character element that is registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in correspondence with identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery without relatively changing the probability that multiple character contents associated with the character element of the second type will be granted to the user 30.

[0148] When there is no character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in correspondence with the identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery without relatively changing the probability that multiple character contents associated with the character element of the second type will be granted to the user 30.

[0149] Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery according to the attribute assigned to the first type of character element. Specifically, when there is a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the identification information as a first type of character element, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine a high probability that a character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the first type of character element is assigned will be assigned to the user 30, and execute a lottery based on the determined probability.

[0150] When there is a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 in correspondence with identification information as a character element of the first type, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine a low probability that character content associated with a character element to which an attribute different from the attribute assigned to the character element of the first type will be granted to the user 30, and may execute a lottery based on the determined probability.

[0151] Based on instructions from user 30, second registration unit 122 may re-register a character element that is registered in association with identification information as a character element of a first type in association with identification information as a character element of a second type.

[0152] The presentation control unit 140 may further execute control to present to the user 30 that a lottery will be held based on the character element of the first type when a character element is registered by the second registration unit 122 in correspondence with identification information as a character element of the first type.

[0153] The presentation control unit 140 may further execute control for presenting the first type character element and the second type character element to the user 30 in a distinguished manner.

[0154] The presentation control unit 140 may further execute control for presenting a plurality of types relating to the lottery mode of the character content to the user 30. The selection control unit 160 may execute control for causing the user 30 to select a specific type from the plurality of types. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery according to the specific type selected by the user 30. The plurality of types may include a type for granting one character content to the user 30 and a type for granting a plurality of character contents to the user 30.

[0155] The selection control unit 160 may execute control for allowing the user 30 to select the number of times to execute the lottery. The lottery executing unit 110 may execute the lottery further depending on the number of times selected by the user 30.

[0156] The determination unit 150 determines whether or not the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery.

[0157] 21 shows an example of the data structure of character element information stored in device 12. The character element information has character element identification information, name information, and attribute information as data items, and these data items correspond to each other. The character element information is stored in storage unit 190.

[0158] The character element identification information is identification information of the character element. The name information indicates a name associated with the character element. In this embodiment, the name information is the name of a virtual idol.

[0159] Attribute information indicates attributes assigned to character elements. In Fig. 21, "summer" and "winter" are shown as examples of attributes. For example, if an idol named "Ako" and an idol named "Bumi" are set to like summer, and an idol named "Cina" is set to like winter, "summer" is set as the attribute information of the idol named "Ako" and the idol named "Bumi", and "winter" is set as the attribute information of the idol named "Cina".

[0160] 22 shows an example of the data structure of selected character element information stored in device 12. The selected character element information has user identification information, character element identification information, and a selection flag as data items, and these data items correspond to each other. The selected character element information is stored in storage unit 190.

[0161] The user identification information is user identification information of the user 30. The character element identification information is identification information of the character element.

[0162] The selection flag indicates whether or not the user 30 has selected a character element as a character element of the first type. A character element associated with a selection flag set to true indicates that the character element has been selected as a character element of the first type by the user 30. A character element associated with a selection flag set to false indicates that the character element has been selected as a character element of the second type by the user 30.

[0163] As an example, the first type of character element is a character element selected by the user 30 as a favorite (so-called "favorite") character element, and the second type of character element is a character element selected by the user 30 as a character element that is not a favorite.

[0164] 23 shows a schematic example of a character element selection screen 2400 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character element selection screen 2400 is displayed via My Page, which is transitioned to by selecting an object 892. For example, when the user terminal 20 receives an instruction from the user 30 to select a favorite character element on My Page, the user terminal 20 transmits a character element selection screen request to the device 12. The character element selection screen request includes the user identification information of the user 30.

[0165] When the device 12 receives a character element selection screen request, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the character content registration information to identify content identification information of the character content registered in association with the user identification information included in the character element selection screen request. The presentation control unit 140 further refers to the character content information to identify character element identification information of the character element associated with the identified content identification information. The presentation control unit 140 further refers to the character element information to acquire name information associated with the identified character element identification information.

[0166] The presentation control unit 140 further acquires an image of the character element corresponding to the specified character element identification information. For example, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the character content information and acquires an image of each character element based on the content data associated with each character element identification information. The image of the character element may be an image of a character element extracted from the character content, or may be an image of the character content itself.

[0167] The presentation control unit 140 further refers to the selected character element information to acquire character element identification information and selection flags associated with the user identification information included in the character element selection screen request. The presentation control unit 140 transmits to the user terminal 20 a character element selection screen response including the acquired character element identification information and name information, an image of each character element, and the character element identification information and selection flag.

[0168] Upon receiving the character element selection screen response, user terminal 20 displays character element selection screen 2400 on display unit 294 based on the received character element selection screen response. Character element selection screen 2400 includes object 2410 indicating a list of character elements, and object 2420 for receiving an instruction from user 30 to select a character element.

[0169] When the user 30 performs an operation of pressing an image of a specific character element, the user terminal 20 highlights the selected character element. In the example of FIG. 23, a character element named "Ako" is selected. The user 30 can select multiple character elements up to a predetermined number. The predetermined number may be less than the total number of character elements.

[0170] When the user 30 presses the object 2420 while a specific character element is selected, the user terminal 20 transmits a character element selection request to the device 12, the request including the identification information of the selected character element and the user identification information of the user 30.

[0171] When the apparatus 12 receives a character element selection request transmitted from the user terminal 20, the second registration unit 122 updates the selection flag of the selected character element information based on the received character element selection request.

[0172] In this way, the presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to the user 30 the character elements associated with the character content registered in correspondence with the user identification information of the user 30 or the character content registered in correspondence with the user identification information of the user 30. The second registration unit 122 registers, among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, the character elements selected by the user 30 or the character elements associated with the character content selected by the user 30, in correspondence with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0173] 23, the second registration unit 122 registers, as a first type character element, a character element selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with a character content selected by the user, among the character elements or character contents presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the user identification information of the user 30. Also, the second registration unit 122 registers, as a second type character element, a character element not selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with a character content not selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character contents presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0174] Fig. 24 shows an example of a character content list screen 2500 displayed on user terminal 20. Character content list screen 2500 is a screen corresponding to character content list screen 800 of Fig. 8. Specifically, character content list screen 2500 is a character content list screen displayed in a state in which a first type of character element has been selected by user 30.

[0175] When the device 12 receives a digital album display request from the user terminal 20, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the selected character element information and identifies the character element identification information of the character element selected as the first type character element by the user 30. The presentation control unit 140 transmits the identified character element identification information to the user terminal 20 by including it in a digital album display response.

[0176] The user terminal 20 generates an object 2510 based on the character element information included in the received digital album display response, and displays it on the display unit 294. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the object 2510 indicating the character content associated with the character element named "Ako" is displayed more emphasized than the other objects 820 and 830. In this way, the presentation control unit 140 executes control for presenting the first type character element and the second type character element to the user 30 in a distinguished manner. This allows the user 30 to easily recognize the character content of the user's favorite character element.

[0177] 25 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a second shopping screen 2600 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 2600 includes an object 2610 in addition to the objects included in the shopping screen 1200 of FIG.

[0178] The object 2610 is generated based on the product detail information response transmitted from the device 12. When the device 12 receives a product detail information request from the user terminal 20, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the character element information and the selected character element information to identify name information of the character element selected as the first type character element by the user 30. The presentation control unit 140 includes the identified name information in the product detail information response and transmits it to the user terminal 20.

[0179] The user terminal 20 generates an object 2610 based on the name information included in the product detail information response. The object 2610 indicates that the selection probability of the character content related to the first type of character element is high. The object 2610 is an example of an object indicating that a lottery will be held according to the first type of character element.

[0180] In this way, when there is a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in correspondence with the user identification information of the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to the user 30 that a lottery will be held based on the character element of the first type.

[0181] Next, a specific example of the process relating to the lottery executed by the lottery executing unit 110 in the second embodiment will be described.

[0182] (Chance of selection when the first type of character element does not exist) When there is no character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as the first type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the lottery is executed without relatively changing the probability that the plurality of character contents associated with the second type character element are granted to the user 30. That is, the lottery execution unit 110 selects the character element to be granted to the user 30 with the same selection probability, as described in relation to FIG. 13 and the like. As an example, when determining the character content to be granted to the user 30 from among 10 types of character content, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the probability that each character content is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 to 10[%] for each character content. Here, the same selection probability set when there is no character element registered as the first type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30 is referred to as the "reference probability".

[0183] (Chance of selection when the first type of character element is present) A case will be described in which a character element is registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30. In this case, the lottery execution unit 110 determines a high probability that the character content associated with the first type character element will be granted to the user 30. In contrast, the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery without relatively changing the probability that a plurality of character contents associated with the second type character element will be granted to the user 30.

[0184] As an example, as shown in FIG. 25, a case will be described in which character content to be assigned to the user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content. In the example of FIG. 25, there are three character contents associated with the character element named "Ako", there are three character contents associated with the character element named "Bumi", and there are four character contents associated with the character element named "Cina". In this case, the selection probability of the three character contents associated with the character element named "Ako" is set to K1 times the reference probability (where K1 is a value greater than 1), and the selection probability of the character contents associated with the other character elements is set to be relatively uniform. For example, K1 may be 1.5. For example, the selection probability of each of the three character contents associated with the character element named "Ako" is set to 15[%], and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with the other character elements is set to 55 / 7[%].

[0185] (Selection probability based on attributes) When a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with the user identification information of the user 30 exists, the lottery execution unit 110 may perform a lottery according to the attribute. For example, when a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with the user identification information of the user 30 exists, the lottery execution unit 110 determines a high probability that a character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element of the first type is assigned to the user 30. In addition, the lottery execution unit 110 determines a low probability that a character content associated with a character element to which an attribute different from the attribute assigned to the character element of the first type is assigned to the user 30, and performs a lottery based on the determined probability.

[0186] As an example, as shown in FIG. 25, a case will be described where character content to be assigned to user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content. The attribute information assigned to the character element named "Ako" and the character element named "Bumi" is "summer", and the attribute information assigned to the character element named "Cina" is "winter". Therefore, the selection probability of six character contents associated with "summer" is set to K2 times the reference probability (where K2 is a value greater than 1), and the selection probability of character contents associated with other character elements is set to be relatively uniform. For example, K2 may be 1.3. For example, the selection probability of each of six character contents associated with the character element named "Ako" or "Bumi" is set to 13[%], and the selection probability of each of character contents associated with other character elements is set to 22 / 4[%] (i.e., (100-13x6) / 4[%]).

[0187] (Selection probability based on both character elements and attributes of the first type) When there is a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may perform a lottery according to the first type character element and attributes. For example, the selection probability of the character content of the character element named "Ako" may be K1xK2 times the reference probability, and the selection probability of the character content of another character element (character element "Bumi") that matches the character element named "Ako" only in attributes may be K2 times the reference probability. For example, the selection probability of each of the three character contents associated with the character element named "Ako" may be 10xK1xK2 [%], the selection probability of each of the three character contents associated with the character element named "Bumi" may be 10xK2 [%], and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with the other four character elements may be (100-10xK1xK2x3-10xK2x3) / 4 [%].

[0188] In this way, the lottery execution unit 110 determines the probability that the character content will be granted to the user 30 based on the character element of the first type, and executes the lottery based on the determined probability. As described above, by increasing the selection probability of the character content associated with the character element of the first type, the user 30 can obtain the character content associated with the favorite character element with a higher probability.

[0189] Note that, instead of increasing the selection probability associated with the first type of character element, a configuration in which the selection probability associated with the first type of character element is decreased may also be adopted. In this case, the first type of character element selected by the user 30 does not necessarily have to be the favorite character element of the user 30.

[0190] Furthermore, the lottery execution unit 110 "executing a lottery according to the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" includes various concepts other than changing the selection probability of each character content. For example, "executing a lottery according to the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" may include making the manner of the lottery different between a case where a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 as a first type character element exists and a case where a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 as a first type character element does not exist. As an example, "executing a lottery according to the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" may include allowing the user 30 to participate in a time-limited lottery associated with the first type character element.

[0191] As described above, according to the second embodiment, a lottery can be held according to a specific character element selected in advance by the user 30. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to the user 30.

[0192] Third embodiment A system in the third embodiment will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, the same configuration as in the second embodiment will be assigned the same number, and detailed description of the operation described in relation to the second embodiment will be omitted. In the third embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

[0193] The system in the third embodiment includes device 13 instead of device 12 in the second embodiment. When determining the character content to be given to user 30 by a lottery system, device 13 changes the probability that the same character content as the character content already registered to user 30 will be given to user 30 according to the price paid by user 30. As an example, device 13 may lower the probability that the same character content as the character content already registered to user 30 will be given to user 30 as the price paid by user 30 is higher. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides high satisfaction to user 30.

[0194] 26 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 13 in the third embodiment. The device 13 includes a processing unit 103, a storage unit 190, and a communication unit 192. The processing unit 103 is a component corresponding to the processing unit 102 of the device 12 in the second embodiment.

[0195] The processing unit 103 further includes an acquisition unit 170 in addition to the components included in the processing unit 100 in the first embodiment. The functions of the processing unit 103 will be described.

[0196] The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine a character content to be granted to the user 30 from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. The acquisition unit 170 acquires the amount of payment by the user 30 for the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit 110. The lottery execution unit 110 changes the probability that the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information will be granted to the user 30, according to the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170, and executes the lottery based on the changed probability.

[0197] The storage unit 190 stores information indicating the amount of payment by the user 30 for the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the identification information. The acquisition unit 170 may acquire the payment amount indicated by the information stored by the storage unit 190 in association with the identification information as the amount of payment by the user 30 for the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit 110.

[0198] The lottery execution unit 110 may reduce the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in correspondence with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the amount of payment acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

[0199] The lottery running unit 110 may decrease the probability that the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information will be granted to the user 30, the higher the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

[0200] Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The lottery execution unit 110 may reduce the probability that the character content associated with the character element assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information will be assigned to the user 30, depending on the amount of payment acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

[0201] The lottery execution unit 110 may, the higher the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170, reduce the probability that character content associated with a character element that is assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to a character element associated with character content registered in correspondence with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

[0202] The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the same multiple character contents in a duplicated manner in association with the identification information. The lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that the same character content as the character content is granted to the user 30 in accordance with the number of the same character contents registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

[0203] Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering multiple character contents associated with character elements assigned the same attribute in association with the identification information. The lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that the character content associated with the character element assigned the same attribute as the attribute is assigned to the user 30 in accordance with the number of character contents associated with the character element assigned the same attribute among the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.

[0204] The lottery running unit 110 may run the lottery so as not to grant to the user 30 the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.

[0205] Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery so as not to assign to the user 30 character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to a character element associated with a character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is assigned.

[0206] The presentation control unit 140 performs control for presenting to the user 30 the character content that is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information. The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the same multiple character contents in association with the identification information in a redundant manner. The presentation control unit 140 may perform control for distinguishing and presenting the character contents registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 between the character contents registered in association with the identification information and the character contents not registered in association with the identification information.

[0207] The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information to the user 30. The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the same multiple character contents in association with the identification information in a redundant manner. The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to further present the number of character contents registered in a redundant manner among the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.

[0208] The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 that the probability that the same character content as the character content registered in correspondence with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be granted to the user 30 is changed depending on the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

[0209] The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 a change in the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information, depending on the status of the multiple character contents registered in the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information.

[0210] The character content may include a first character content (first type of character content) that is granted to the user 30 on the condition that the user 30 has completed a procedure for paying the price, and a second character content (second type of character content) that is granted to the user 30 without the condition that the user 30 has completed a procedure for paying the price. The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that the same character content as the first character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information will be granted to the user 30, depending on the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170, and execute a lottery based on the changed probability.

[0211] The lottery running unit 110 may run the lottery without changing the probability that the same character content as the second character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information will be granted to the user 30.

[0212] The method of payment by the user 30 for the lottery executed by the lottery executing unit 110 may include a first method and a second method. The lottery executing unit 110 may change the probability that the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be granted to the user 30, depending on the amount paid by the user 30 in the first method, and execute the lottery based on the changed probability.

[0213] The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in correspondence with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the cumulative amount of the price paid by the user 30, and execute the lottery based on the changed probability.

[0214] The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in correspondence with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the cumulative amount of payment of the price by the user 30 within a predetermined period of time, and execute the lottery based on the changed probability.

[0215] Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a character content list screen 2800 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 2800 shows a state in which, in a state in which four character contents have been registered for the user 30 as shown in the character content list screen 1000, three character contents have been additionally registered for the user 30 as a result of the lottery described in relation to Figs. 11 to 14.

[0216] Character content list screen 2800 includes, in addition to the objects shown on character content list screen 1000, objects 2810, 2820, and 2830. Objects 2810 and 2820 are two character contents newly registered by first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of user 30, in accordance with the lottery result shown in FIG.

[0217] 14, the remaining one character content selected by lottery is the same character content as object 830 already registered for user 30. In this case, the character content is displayed in a form in which it is displayed at the same position as shown in character content list screen 2800.

[0218] Specifically, in the device 13, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the character content registration information, and when a plurality of pieces of content identification information indicating the same character content are registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30, includes information indicating the number of duplicately registered character contents in a display response transmitted to the user terminal 20 in response to a request to display the digital album. This causes the user terminal 20 to display a character content list screen 2800 including the object 2830. This allows the user 30 to distinguish and recognize the duplicately registered character contents from the non-duplicate character contents.

[0219] In this way, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to distinguish and present character content that is registered in duplicate from character content that is not registered in duplicate among the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. Specifically, the presentation control unit 14 performs control to further present the number of character contents that are registered in duplicate among the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0220] 28 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a second shopping screen 2900 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 2900 includes an object 2910 in addition to the objects included in the shopping screen 2600 of FIG.

[0221] The object 2910 is generated based on the product detail information response transmitted from the device 13. When the device 13 receives a product detail information request from the user terminal 20, the acquisition unit 170 refers to the payment information and acquires price information associated with the user identification information of the user 30. When the cumulative amount of the payment amount indicated by the price information exceeds a predetermined amount, the presentation control unit 140 generates probability change information indicating that the selection probability of the same character content as the character content registered in association with the user 30 being granted to the user is changed, and transmits the generated probability change information to the user terminal 20 by including it in the product detail information response.

[0222] When the product detail information response includes probability change information, the user terminal 20 generates an object 2910. This allows the user 30 to know that the probability of selecting the same character content as the character content that the user already owns will change. This can increase the user 30's motivation to purchase the product.

[0223] The presentation control unit 140 may generate probability change information indicating that the selection probability is to be changed when the cumulative amount of the payment of the price by the user 30 within a predetermined period of time exceeds a predetermined amount. The predetermined period of time may be a period from a timing a predetermined time before the present to the present.

[0224] Furthermore, the presentation control unit 140 may generate probability change information indicating that the selection probability is to be changed according to the registration status of a plurality of character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. For example, when the number of identical character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 exceeds a predetermined number, the presentation control unit 140 may generate probability change information indicating that the selection probability is to be changed regardless of the cumulative amount of the payment of the price by the user 30, or even when the amount of the payment of the price by the user 30 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

[0225] The "amount of payment" by the user 30 may be the amount of payment in a first predetermined payment method. The first payment method may be, but is not limited to, a credit card payment or electronic money payment, and may be another payment method.

[0226] A specific example of the process relating to the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit 110 in the third embodiment will be described.

[0227] (Probability of selection when cumulative payment amount is less than or equal to a predetermined amount) When the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the lottery is executed without changing the selection probability. That is, the lottery execution unit 110 selects a character element to be granted to the user 30 with the same selection probability, as described in relation to FIG. 13 and the like. As an example, when determining character content to be granted to the user 30 from among 10 types of character content, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the probability that each character content is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 to 10% for each character content. Here, the selection probability when the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 is less than a predetermined amount is referred to as the "reference probability."

[0228] (Probability of selection when cumulative payment amount exceeds a predetermined amount) When the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability of the character content registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 below a reference probability.

[0229] As an example, a case will be described in which character content to be given to the user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content as shown in FIG.

[0230] 27, it is assumed that two character contents indicated by objects 830 have already been registered for user 30. As shown in FIG 28, one character content indicated by object 830 is included in the character contents to be selected by lottery.

[0231] In this case, the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability of the character content indicated by the object 830 by a predetermined value. The lottery executing unit 110 sets the selection probability of the character content associated with the other character elements to be relatively uniform by multiplying the reference probability by L1 (where L1 is a value greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1). For example, L1 may be 0.5. For example, the selection probability of the character content indicated by the object 830 is set to 5[%], and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with the other character elements is set to 95 / 9[%].

[0232] The lottery running unit 110 may lower the selection probability according to the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30. For example, the lottery running unit 110 may lower the selection probability as the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 increases.

[0233] Furthermore, the lottery executing unit 110 may further reduce the selection probability of the character content in accordance with the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30. For example, the lottery executing unit 110 may reduce the selection probability of the character content as the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 increases. For example, the larger the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the smaller L1 may be made.

[0234] (Selection probability based on attributes) When the cumulative amount of payments made by user 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, lottery execution unit 110 reduces the probability of selecting character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to a character element associated with character content registered in correspondence with user identification information of user 30 is assigned, below a reference probability.

[0235] As an example, a case will be described in which character content to be given to the user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content as shown in FIG.

[0236] For the purpose of easy-to-understand explanation, it is assumed here that only the character content indicated by the object 810 in Fig. 27 is registered for the user 30. As shown in Fig. 28, the character contents to be selected by lottery include six character contents associated with character elements (character element named "Ako" or character element named "Bumi") to which the attribute "summer" has been assigned to the character element associated with the object 810 (character element named "Ako").

[0237] In this case, the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability of the six character contents by a predetermined value. The lottery execution unit 110 sets the selection probability to L2 times the reference probability (where L2 is a value between 0 and 1), and sets the selection probability of the character contents associated with other character elements to be relatively uniform. For example, L2 may be 0.8. For example, the selection probability of the six character contents is set to 8[%], and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with other character elements is set to 13[%].

[0238] The lottery executing unit 110 may further reduce the selection probability of the character content associated with the character element to which the attribute is assigned, depending on the number of character contents associated with the character element to which the attribute is assigned, which are registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30. For example, the lottery executing unit 110 may reduce the selection probability of the character content associated with the character element to which the attribute is assigned, as the number of character contents associated with the character element to which the attribute is assigned, which are registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30, increases. For example, the larger the number of character contents associated with the character element to which the attribute is assigned, which are registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the smaller L2 may be made.

[0239] Furthermore, the lottery running unit 110 may lower the selection probability based on the attributes in accordance with the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30. For example, the lottery running unit 110 may lower the selection probability based on the attributes as the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 increases.

[0240] Furthermore, the lottery executing unit 110 may reduce the selection probability of character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content is assigned, depending on the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30. For example, the lottery executing unit 110 may reduce the selection probability as the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 increases.

[0241] (Chance of selection based on both character content and attributes) If the cumulative amount of payments made by user 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, the lottery execution unit 110 may conduct a lottery based on both the character content registered in correspondence with the user identification information of user 30 and the attributes assigned to the character elements associated with the content.

[0242] For example, as described above, the lottery executing unit 110 sets the selection probability of the character content registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 to L1×L2 times the base probability. The lottery executing unit 110 also sets the selection probability of the character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content is assigned to L2 times the base probability. The lottery executing unit 110 also sets the selection probability of other character contents to be relatively uniform.

[0243] (Selection probability based on the first type of character element) The lottery execution unit 110 may further determine the selection probability based on the character element of the first type described in relation to the second embodiment. For example, for character content associated with the character element of the first type, the selection probability may be further multiplied by K1. Furthermore, for character content to which the same attribute as that given to the character element of the first type is given, the selection probability may be further multiplied by K2. This allows the selection probability to be determined taking into consideration the character element of the first type selected by the user 30. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that only character content of character elements not desired by the user 30 is given to the user 30.

[0244] A specific example of the lottery-related process executed by the lottery execution unit 110 has been described above, but as mentioned above, the "cumulative payment amount" may be the cumulative amount of the payment of the price by the user 30 within a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period may be the period from a timing a predetermined time before the present to the present.

[0245] As described above, the "amount of payment" by the user 30 may be the amount of payment in a first predetermined payment method. The first payment method may be, but is not limited to, a credit card payment or electronic money payment, and may be another payment method.

[0246] Fig. 29 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by device 13. The flowchart in Fig. 29 starts when device 13 receives a purchase execution request and then determines that user 30 has performed a payment procedure.

[0247] In step S3002, the acquisition unit 170 refers to the payment information and acquires the price paid by the user 30. In step S3004, the lottery running unit 110 determines the selection probability of each object to be selected in accordance with the price acquired in step S3002.

[0248] In step S3006, the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery based on the selection probability determined in step S3006. In step S3008, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content granted to the user 30 based on the result of the lottery execution in step S3006 in the character content registration information.

[0249] As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to determine the probability that the same character content as the character content already registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 will be granted in accordance with the price paid by the user 30. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides high satisfaction to the user 30.

[0250] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a system in the fourth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment, the same configuration as in the third embodiment will be assigned the same number, and detailed description of the operation described in relation to the third embodiment will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

[0251] The function of the device 13 in the fourth embodiment will be briefly described with respect to the differences from the function of the device 13 in the third embodiment.

[0252] As a first technique, when the device 13 determines the character content to be granted to the user 30 by a lottery system, if the same character content has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the device 13 reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user 30 when a new lottery is conducted.

[0253] This reduces the possibility that the same character content will be given to the user 30 multiple times in succession, making it possible to hold a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to the user 30.

[0254] As a second technique, when the device 13 determines the character content to be granted to the user 30 by a lottery system, if the device 13 has determined character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times in succession, the device 13 reduces the probability that the character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user 30 when a new lottery is conducted.

[0255] This reduces the possibility that the user 30 will be given character content associated with the same character element multiple times in succession, making it possible to hold a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to the user 30.

[0256] The operation of each part of the processing unit 103 of the device 13 in the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0257] The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine character content to be granted to the user 30 from among a plurality of character contents associated with the respective character elements. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. When the lottery execution unit 110 (i) has consecutively determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) has consecutively determined character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, when executing a new lottery, (iii) decreases the probability that the same character content is granted to the user 30, or (iv) decreases the probability that the character content associated with the same character element is granted to the user 30.

[0258] The lottery execution unit 110 may lower the probability when executing a new lottery from the next time onwards, if (i) the same character content has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more.

[0259] The predetermined number of times may be two.

[0260] The lottery execution unit 110 may (i) consecutively determine the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) consecutively determine character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, and (iii) perform a new lottery so that the same character content is not granted to the user 30, or (iv) so that the character content associated with the same character element is not granted to the user 30.

[0261] Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. When the lottery execution unit 110 has consecutively determined character content associated with character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned a predetermined number of times or more as character content to be assigned to the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that the character content associated with the character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned will be assigned to the user 30 when a new lottery is executed. When the lottery execution unit 110 has consecutively determined character content associated with character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned a predetermined number of times or more as character content to be assigned to the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a new lottery so that the character content associated with the character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned will not be assigned to the user 30 when a new lottery is executed.

[0262] The selection control unit 160 executes control to have the user 30 select a specific type from among multiple types related to the lottery mode of the character content. The multiple types include a first type for granting one character content to the user 30 and a second type for granting multiple character contents to the user 30. The lottery execution unit 110 further executes a lottery according to the type selected by the user 30.

[0263] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element when the lottery of the first type is executed multiple times and (i) more than a predetermined number of the same character content is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30, or (ii) more than a predetermined number of character contents associated with the same character element are determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30.

[0264] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute the lottery again for all the character contents when the lottery of the first type is executed multiple times, if (i) all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are the same character contents, or (ii) all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are associated with the same character elements.

[0265] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery of a second type when (i) more than a predetermined number of the same character contents are determined as character contents to be granted to the user 30, or (ii) more than a predetermined number of character contents associated with the same character element are determined as character contents to be granted to the user 30, and may execute a lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element.

[0266] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute the lottery again for all the character contents when (i) all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are the same character contents, or (ii) all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are associated with the same character elements, when a second type of lottery is executed.

[0267] The lottery running unit 110 may further run a lottery again for some of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 by running the lottery, the character contents satisfying a predetermined condition.

[0268] The lottery running unit 110 may run a lottery again for the character content selected by the user 30 from among the character contents determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by running the lottery.

[0269] When the lottery is to be held again, the display control unit 140 may perform control to display to the user 30 a notice that the lottery will be held again.

[0270] The presentation control unit 140 may execute control for presenting to the user 30 the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by the lottery held by the lottery executing unit 110.

[0271] The presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present to the user 30 that the same character content has been registered a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or that the character content associated with the same character element has been registered a predetermined number of times or more in succession, when (i) the same character content has been determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

[0272] The determination unit 150 determines whether or not the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery.

[0273] The character content may include a first character content that is granted to the user 30 on the condition that the user 30 has completed a procedure for paying the price, and a second character content that is granted to the user 30 without the condition that the user 30 has completed a procedure for paying the price. When (i) the same first character content has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) the first character content associated with the same character element has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery executing unit 110 may (iii) reduce the probability that the same first character content is granted to the user 30, or (iv) reduce the probability that the first character content associated with the same character element is granted to the user 30, when executing a new lottery.

[0274] Fig. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the selection probability is changed by the lottery executing unit 110. Fig. 30 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the above-mentioned first technique.

[0275] 30 shows a situation in which character content 3110 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when lottery running unit 110 runs a first lottery (lottery 1) based on an arbitrary timing, and character content 3120 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when a subsequent second lottery (lottery 2) is run. Here, character content 3120 is the same character content as character content 3110.

[0276] In this case, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes the subsequent third lottery (lottery 3), it reduces the selection probability that the same character content as the character content 3110 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. This can reduce the possibility that the same character content is granted to the user 30 multiple times in succession.

[0277] Note that when the lottery executing unit 110 executes a subsequent fourth lottery (lottery 4), the lottery executing unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability that the same character content as the character content 3110 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. The number of times that the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times equal to or greater than one.

[0278] Furthermore, when the same character content is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the lottery executing unit 110 may determine the selection probability of the same character content based on the number of times the same character content is determined in succession as the character content to be granted to user 30. For example, the more the number of times the same character content is determined in succession as the character content to be granted to user 30, the lower the selection probability of the same character content may be.

[0279] Furthermore, when the same character content is consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery executing unit 110 may determine the selection probability of the same character content according to the character element associated with the same character content. For example, when the character element associated with the same character content is the character element of the first type described above, the lottery executing unit 110 may reduce the amount of decrease in the selection probability of the same character content compared to when the character element associated with the same character content is the character element of the second type described above. This can reduce the possibility that a specific character element selected by the user 30 will not be granted to the user 30 for a long period of time.

[0280] Furthermore, when the same character content is consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery executing unit 110 may determine the selection probability of the same character content according to the amount of payment by the user 30. For example, the lottery executing unit 110 may decrease the selection probability of the same character content as the amount of payment by the user 30 increases.

[0281] Fig. 31 shows an example of a lottery result screen 3200 displayed on the user terminal 20. The lottery result screen 3200 is an example of a lottery result screen when the character content 3120 is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in lottery 2 in Fig. 30.

[0282] The lottery result screen 3200 includes an object 3210 indicating a list of character contents determined as character contents to be granted to the same card user 30, and an object 3220.

[0283] The object 3220 is generated based on the control information transmitted from the device 13. Specifically, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the granted content identification information of the payment information and the registration date and time information of the registration information to determine whether the same character content as the character content granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 executing the lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively. When the presentation control unit 140 determines that the same character content as the character content granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 executing the lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively, the presentation control unit 140 transmits to the user terminal 20 an image of the character content 3120 granted by the lottery execution unit 110 executing the lottery, together with control information indicating that the same character content has been granted to the user 30 consecutively.

[0284] As a result, the user terminal 20 displays the object 3220 on the display unit 294 based on the control information received from the device 13. The object 3220 is an example of a message indicating that the same character content has been consecutively selected a predetermined number of times or more. Therefore, the user 30 can know in advance that the selection probability will be changed at the time of the next lottery.

[0285] In this way, when the same character content is determined as the character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to user 30 that the same character content has been determined as the character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

[0286] 32 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a second shopping screen 3300 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 3300 includes an object 3310 in addition to the objects included in the shopping screen 2600 of FIG.

[0287] The object 3310 is generated based on the product detail information response transmitted from the device 13. When the device 13 receives a product detail information request from the user terminal 20, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the granted content identification information of the payment information and the registration date and time information of the registration information, and judges whether or not the same character content as the character content granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 executing a lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively. When the presentation control unit 140 judges that the same character content as the character content granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 executing a lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively, the presentation control unit 140 transmits message information indicating that the same character content has been granted consecutively to the user terminal 20, including the product detail information response.

[0288] The user terminal 20 generates an object 3310 based on the message information included in the product detail information response. The object 3310 is another example of a message indicating that the same character content has been consecutively selected a predetermined number of times or more. This allows the user 30 to know in advance that the selection probability will be changed.

[0289] Fig. 33 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a lottery result screen 3400 displayed on the user terminal 20. Unlike the example shown in Fig. 30, the lottery result screen 3400 is an example of a lottery result screen when the same character content as the character content 3120 is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in the lottery 3.

[0290] The lottery result screen 3400 includes an object 3410 indicating a list of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30, and an object 3420.

[0291] The object 3420 is generated based on control information transmitted from the device 13. For example, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the granted content identification information of the payment information and the registration date and time information of the registration information to identify the character content granted to the user 30 by the predetermined number of lotteries executed most recently. If the number of the same character contents exceeds a predetermined number among the identified character contents, or if all the character contents are the same character content, the presentation control unit 140 transmits control information including a message indicating that the lottery can be executed again to the user terminal 20.

[0292] As a result, the user terminal 20 displays the object 3420 on the display unit 294 based on the control information received from the device 13. The object 3420 is an example of an object indicating that the lottery will be held again.

[0293] The above describes a case where a lottery is executed in a first type of lottery mode in which one character content is granted to the user 30. Next, a case where a lottery is executed in a second type of lottery mode in which multiple character contents are granted to the user 30 will be described.

[0294] 34 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a lottery result screen 3500 displayed on the user terminal 20. The lottery result screen 3500 shows a case where at least some of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are the same character content.

[0295] The lottery result screen 3500 includes an object 3510 indicating a list of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30, and an object 3520.

[0296] The object 3520 is generated based on the control information transmitted from the device 13. For example, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery, the presentation control unit 140 refers to the granted content identification information of the payment information to identify the character content granted to the user 30. When the number of identical character contents exceeds a predetermined number among the identified character contents, or when all the character contents are the same character content, the presentation control unit 140 transmits control information including a message indicating that the lottery can be executed again to the user terminal 20.

[0297] As a result, the user terminal 20 displays the object 3520 on the display unit 294 based on the control information received from the device 13. The object 3520 is an example of an object indicating that the lottery will be held again.

[0298] Note that the user 30 may be able to select character content for which the lottery is to be executed again on the lottery result screen 3500. For example, among the objects 3530, 3540, and 3550 representing character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30 by the lottery, the character content represented by the object on which the user 30 has performed a predetermined operation (e.g., a long press operation) may be set as the target for which the lottery is to be executed again.

[0299] The user terminal 20 transmits to the device 13 the content identification information of the character content indicated by the object on which the user 30 has performed a predetermined operation. When the device 13 receives the content identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may cancel the granting of the content identification information and re-run the lottery for the character content selected by the user 30. In this way, the lottery execution unit 110 can re-run the lottery for the character content selected by the user 30 among the character contents determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by executing the lottery. Note that the lottery may be re-run for all character contents.

[0300] As shown in FIG. 34, a situation in which a plurality of character contents to be granted to user 30 are determined by a lottery conducted by lottery running unit 110 may arise at least when the quantity is set to 2 or more on lottery result screen 3400 shown in FIG. 32, for example.

[0301] Fig. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the selection probability is changed by the lottery executing unit 110. Fig. 35 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the above-mentioned second technique.

[0302] 35 shows a situation in which character content 3610 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when lottery running unit 110 executes a first lottery (lottery 1) based on an arbitrary timing, and character content 3620 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when a subsequent second lottery (lottery 2) is executed. Here, character content 3620 is character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3110.

[0303] In this case, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes the subsequent third lottery (lottery 3), it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content 3610 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. This can reduce the possibility that character content associated with the same character element is granted to the user 30 multiple times in succession.

[0304] Note that, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes a subsequent fourth lottery (lottery 4), the lottery executing unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content 3610 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. The number of times that the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times equal to or greater than one.

[0305] Note that even when the second technique is applied, the same processes as those described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 34 can be executed.

[0306] Fig. 36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the selection probability is changed by the lottery executing unit 110. Fig. 36 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the third technique.

[0307] 36 shows a situation in which character content 3710 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when lottery running unit 110 executes a first lottery (lottery 1) based on an arbitrary timing, and character content 3720 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when a subsequent second lottery (lottery 2) is executed. Here, character content 3720 is character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute (e.g., "summer") is assigned as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710.

[0308] In this case, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes the subsequent third lottery (lottery 3), it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content 3710 is assigned as character content to be assigned to the user 30. This reduces the possibility that character content associated with character elements to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to the user 30 many times in a row.

[0309] Note that, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes a subsequent fourth lottery (lottery 4), the lottery executing unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability of selecting, as the character content to be assigned to the user 30, a character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content 3710 is assigned. The number of times that the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability when performing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times equal to or greater than one.

[0310] Also, when the third technique is applied, the same processing as that described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 34 can be executed.

[0311] The lottery execution unit 110 can determine the selection probability by combining two or more of the first method, the second method, and the third method. As an example, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering the first method and the second method, may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering the first method and the third method, may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering both the second method and the third method, or may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering the first method, the second method, and the third method.

[0312] Fig. 37 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by device 13. The flowchart in Fig. 37 starts when device 13 receives a purchase execution request and then determines that the user 30 has performed a payment procedure.

[0313] In step S3802, the lottery executing unit 110 determines whether or not to lower the selection probability of the character content. For example, the lottery executing unit 110 determines whether or not to lower the selection probability of the character content according to at least one of the first method, the second method, and the third method, as described in relation to Figures 30, 35, and 36.

[0314] If in step S3802, the lottery executing unit 110 determines that the selection probability of character content is to be changed, in step S3804, it lowers the selection probability of the character content whose selection probability is to be lowered, and proceeds to step S3806. If in step S3802, the lottery executing unit 110 determines that the selection probability of character content is not to be changed, it proceeds to step S3806 without executing step S3804.

[0315] In step S3806, the lottery running unit 110 runs a lottery. In step S3808, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content granted to the user 30 based on the result of the lottery run in step S3806 in the character content registration information.

[0316] As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the same character content is continuously given to the user 30 many times. It is also possible to reduce the possibility that character content associated with the same character element is continuously given to the user 30 many times. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that is highly satisfying for the user 30.

[0317] Fifth embodiment Next, a system in the fifth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fifth embodiment, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment will be numbered the same, and detailed descriptions of the operations described in relation to the fourth embodiment will be omitted. In the fifth embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

[0318] The function of the device 13 in the fifth embodiment will be briefly described with respect to differences from the function of the device 13 in the fourth embodiment. In general, the device 13 in the fifth embodiment executes the process of lowering the selection probability described as the first method in the fourth embodiment when the same character content as "the character content registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 by the first registration unit 121" is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

[0319] This reduces the possibility that the same character content as that already registered for the user 30 will be consecutively given multiple times. Therefore, the lottery can be held with high satisfaction for the user 30.

[0320] In addition, the device 13 in the fifth embodiment generally executes the process of reducing the selection probability described as the second method in the fourth embodiment when character content associated with the same character element as "the character element associated with the character content registered in correspondence with the user identification information of the user 30 by the first registration unit 121" is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

[0321] This reduces the possibility that character content associated with the same character element as that associated with character content already registered for user 30 will be consecutively given multiple times. Therefore, a lottery that provides high satisfaction to user 30 can be held.

[0322] The operation of each part of the processing unit 103 of the device 13 in the fifth embodiment will be described.

[0323] The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine character content to be granted to the user 30 from among a plurality of character contents associated with the respective character elements. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. When (i) the lottery execution unit 110 has determined the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or when (ii) the lottery execution unit 110 has determined the character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, when executing a new lottery, (iii) the lottery execution unit 110 decreases the probability that the same character content is granted to the user 30, or (iv) the lottery execution unit 110 decreases the probability that the character content associated with the same character element is granted to the user 30.

[0324] The lottery execution unit 110 may lower the probability when executing a new lottery next time or later, if (i) the lottery execution unit 110 has consecutively determined that the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information is to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) the lottery execution unit 110 has consecutively determined that the character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information is to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more.

[0325] The predetermined number of times may be two.

[0326] The lottery execution unit 110 may (i) consecutively determine, at least a predetermined number of times, that character content identical to the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information is to be granted to the user 30, or (ii) consecutively determine, at least a predetermined number of times, character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information is to be granted to the user 30, so that (iii) the same character content is not granted to the user 30, or (iv) the character content associated with the same character element is not granted to the user 30.

[0327] Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. When the lottery execution unit 110 determines, consecutively, as the character content to be assigned to the user 30, a character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as an attribute assigned to a character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information, a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to the user 30 when executing a new lottery.

[0328] When the lottery execution unit 110 has determined, consecutively a predetermined number of times or more, that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute has been assigned as an attribute assigned to a character element associated with character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information is to be assigned to the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may perform a new lottery so that, when a new lottery is performed, the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute has been assigned is not assigned to the user 30.

[0329] The selection control unit 160 executes control to have the user 30 select a specific type from among a plurality of types related to the lottery mode of the character content. The plurality of types includes a first type for granting one character content to the user 30 and a second type for granting a plurality of character contents to the user 30. The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery according to the type selected by the user 30.

[0330] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery again for the same character content or character content associated with the same character element when (i) the first type of lottery is registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information and the number of character contents to be granted to the user 30 exceeds a predetermined number, or (ii) the first registration unit 121 determines, as the character content to be granted to the user 30, more than a predetermined number of character contents associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information.

[0331] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute the lottery again for all the character contents when the first type of lottery is executed multiple times, (i) if all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are the same as the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information, or (ii) if all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are associated with the same character elements as the character elements associated with the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information.

[0332] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery again when (i) it determines that the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information is to be granted to the user 30 in excess of a predetermined number, or (ii) it determines that the character content to be granted to the user 30 is to be more than a predetermined number of character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information.

[0333] The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery of a second type when (i) all of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are the same as the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information, or (ii) all of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 are associated with the same character elements as the character elements associated with the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information.

[0334] The lottery running unit 110 may further run a lottery again for some of the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user 30 by running the lottery, the character contents satisfying a predetermined condition.

[0335] The lottery running unit 110 may run a lottery again for the character content selected by the user 30 from among the character contents determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by running the lottery.

[0336] When the lottery is to be held again, the display control unit 140 may perform control to display to the user 30 a notice that the lottery will be held again.

[0337] The presentation control unit 140 may execute control for presenting to the user 30 the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by the lottery held by the lottery executing unit 110.

[0338] The presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present to the user 30 that the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information has been consecutively determined a predetermined number of times or more as the character content to be assigned to the user 30, or that (ii) character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in correspondence with the identification information has been consecutively determined a predetermined number of times or more as the character content to be assigned to the user 30.

[0339] The determination unit 150 may determine whether or not the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery.

[0340] The character content may include a first character content that is granted to the user 30 on the condition that the user 30 has completed a procedure for paying the price, and a second character content that is granted to the user 30 without the condition that the user 30 has completed a procedure for paying the price. When (i) the lottery execution unit 110 has determined that the same first character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or when (ii) the lottery execution unit 110 has determined that the first character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, when executing a new lottery, the lottery execution unit 110 may (iii) reduce the probability that the same first character content is granted to the user 30, or (iv) reduce the probability that the first character content associated with the same character element is granted to the user 30.

[0341] Fig. 38 is a diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the selection probability is changed by the lottery executing unit 110. Fig. 38 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the process related to the above-mentioned first technique.

[0342] 38, "Lottery 0" indicates a lottery executed by the lottery executing unit 110 before executing (Lottery 1) shown in Fig. 30. The character content 3900 determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by the lottery executing unit 110 executing Lottery 0 is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0343] When lottery running unit 110 executes lottery 1, character content 3110 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30, and when the subsequent lottery running unit 110 executes lottery 2, character content 3120 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30. Here, character content 3120 is the same character content as character content 3110 and is also the same character content as character content 3900.

[0344] In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent lottery 3, it reduces the selection probability that the same character content as the character content 3110 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the same character content is granted to the user 30 multiple times in succession.

[0345] Note that, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes the subsequent lottery 4, the lottery executing unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability that the same character content as the character content 3110 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. The number of times that the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times equal to or greater than one.

[0346] Fig. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the selection probability is changed by the lottery executing unit 110. Fig. 39 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the process related to the above-mentioned second technique.

[0347] 39, "Lottery 0" indicates a lottery executed by lottery executing unit 110 before executing lottery 1 shown in Fig. 35. Character content 4000 determined as character content to be granted to user 30 by lottery executing unit 110 executing lottery 0 is registered by first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of user 30.

[0348] When lottery running unit 110 executes lottery 1, character content 3610 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30, and when the subsequent lottery 2 is executed, character content 3620 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30. Here, character content 3620 is character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3110, and is character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 4000.

[0349] In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent lottery 3, it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content 3610 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that character content associated with the same character element is granted to the user 30 multiple times in succession.

[0350] Note that, when executing the subsequent lottery 4, the lottery executing unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content 3610 is selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30. The number of times that the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability when performing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times equal to or greater than one.

[0351] Fig. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the selection probability is changed by the lottery executing unit 110. Fig. 40 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the process related to the third technique.

[0352] 40, "lottery 0" indicates a lottery executed by the lottery executing unit 110 before executing lottery 1 shown in Fig. 36. The character content 4100 determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by the lottery executing unit 110 executing lottery 0 is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

[0353] When lottery running unit 110 executes lottery 1, character content 3710 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30, and when the subsequent lottery 2 is executed, character content 3720 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30. Here, character content 3720 is character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute (e.g., "summer") as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710 is assigned, and character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute (e.g., "summer") as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 4100 is assigned.

[0354] In this case, when the lottery executing unit 110 executes the subsequent lottery 3, it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content 3710 is assigned as character content to be assigned to the user 30. This reduces the possibility that character content associated with character elements to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to the user 30 many times in a row.

[0355] Note that, when executing a subsequent lottery 4, the lottery executing unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability of selecting, as the character content to be assigned to the user 30, a character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content 3710 is assigned. The number of times that the lottery executing unit 110 reduces the selection probability when performing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times equal to or greater than one.

[0356] Note that, even in the fifth embodiment, the lottery execution unit 110 can determine the selection probability by combining two or more of the first method, the second method, and the third method. As an example, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering the first method and the second method, may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering the first method and the third method, may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering both the second method and the third method, or may determine the extent of decrease in the selection probability by considering the first method, the second method, and the third method.

[0357] Furthermore, as the processing executed by the device 13 and the user terminal 20 in the fifth embodiment, processing similar to the processing explained in FIG. 31 to FIG. 34 in the fourth embodiment can be executed.

[0358] As the process executed by the device 13 in the fifth embodiment, the same process as the flowchart shown in Fig. 37 can be applied. For example, the process of determining whether or not to lower the selection probability in S3802 can be the process described in relation to Figs. 38 to 40. Therefore, the description of the flowchart executed by the device 13 in the fifth embodiment will be omitted.

[0359] As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the same character content is continuously given to the user 30 many times. It is also possible to reduce the possibility that character content associated with the same character element is continuously given to the user 30 many times. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that is highly satisfying for the user 30.

[0360] 41 shows an example of a computer 2000 in which multiple embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. A program installed in the computer 2000 can cause the computer 2000 to function as the system 5 according to an embodiment or each part of the system, the user terminal 20 or each part of the user terminal, or an apparatus or each part of the apparatus, such as the device 10, the device 12, and the device 13, perform operations associated with the system or each part of the system or the apparatus or each part of the apparatus, and / or perform a process or a step of the process according to an embodiment. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 2012 to cause the computer 2000 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the processing procedures and block diagrams described herein.

[0361] The computer 2000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2012 and a RAM 2014, which are connected to each other by a host controller 2010. The computer 2000 also includes a ROM 2026, a flash memory 2024, a communication interface 2022, and an input / output chip 2040. The ROM 2026, the flash memory 2024, the communication interface 2022, and the input / output chip 2040 are connected to the host controller 2010 via the input / output controller 2020.

[0362] The CPU 2012 operates according to the programs stored in the ROM 2026 and RAM 2014, thereby controlling each unit.

[0363] The communication interface 2022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The flash memory 2024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2012 in the computer 2000. The ROM 2026 stores a boot program and the like executed by the computer 2000 upon activation, and / or a program that depends on the hardware of the computer 2000. The input / output chip 2040 may also connect various input / output units, such as a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, to the input / output controller 2020 via input / output ports, such as a serial port, a parallel port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, a monitor port, a USB port, an HDMI port, and the like.

[0364] The programs are provided via a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card, or a network. The RAM 2014, the ROM 2026, or the flash memory 2024 are examples of computer-readable storage media. The programs are installed in the flash memory 2024, the RAM 2014, or the ROM 2026, and executed by the CPU 2012. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 2000, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be constructed by implementing an operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 2000.

[0365] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 2000 and an external device, the CPU 2012 may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM 2014 and instruct the communication interface 2022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 2012, the communication interface 2022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM 2014 and the flash memory 2024, transmits the read transmission data to a network, and writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0366] Furthermore, the CPU 2012 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored on a recording medium such as the flash memory 2024 to be read into the RAM 2014, and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 then writes back the processed data to the recording medium.

[0367] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 2012 may execute various types of processing, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., described herein and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, on the data read from the RAM 2014, and write back the results to the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 2012 may search for an entry that matches a condition in which an attribute value of the first attribute is specified from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0368] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 2000 or in the vicinity of the computer 2000. A recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer-readable storage medium. The programs stored in the computer-readable storage medium may be provided to the computer 2000 via a network.

[0369] A program installed in computer 2000 and causing computer 2000 to function as device 10, device 12, or device 13 may, when executed by the computer, act on CPU 2012 or the like to cause computer 2000 to function as each part of device 10, device 12, or device 13. When information processing described in these programs is read into computer 2000, it functions as each part of device 10, device 12, or device 13, which is a specific means in which software and the above-mentioned various hardware resources work together. Then, by implementing calculation or processing of information according to the intended use of computer 2000 in this embodiment using these concrete means, a specific device 10, device 12, or device 13 according to the intended use is constructed.

[0370] Various embodiments have been described with reference to block diagrams or the like. In the block diagrams, each block may represent (1) a stage of a process where an operation is performed or (2) a portion of an apparatus responsible for performing an operation. Particular stages and portions may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuitry and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. The programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuitry including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, memory elements such as flip-flops, registers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like.

[0371] A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by a suitable device, such that a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon constitutes at least a portion of a product that includes instructions that can be executed to provide a means for performing the operations specified in a process or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, and the like. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or flash memories), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), static random access memories (SRAMs), compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), Blu-ray disks, memory sticks, integrated circuit cards, and the like.

[0372] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0373] The computer readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, either locally or over a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc., to cause the computer readable instructions to execute means for performing operations specified in the process steps or block diagrams described. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0374] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0375] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and may be realized in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is explained using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the process in this order.

[0376] In addition, some or all of the above-described embodiments may be described as follows, but are not limited to these. [Appendix 1] Computer, a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine a character content to be assigned to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element; and a registration unit that registers the character content to be assigned to the user determined by the lottery execution unit in association with identification information of the user; Function as a When the lottery execution unit (i) has consecutively determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) has consecutively determined character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, when executing a new lottery, (iii) decreases the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) decreases the probability that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user. program. [Appendix 2] the lottery execution unit (i) when the same character content has been determined as the character content to be given to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) when character content associated with the same character element has been determined as the character content to be given to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, reduces the probability when executing a new lottery from the next time onwards; 2. The program described in Appendix 1. [Appendix 3] The predetermined number of times is two. 3. The program according to claim 1 or 2. [Appendix 4] the lottery execution unit (i) when it has consecutively determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) when it has consecutively determined character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, (iii) executes the new lottery so that the same character content is not granted to the user, or (iv) so that the character content associated with the same character element is not granted to the user. 4. The program according to any one of appendixes 1 to 3. [Appendix 5] Each of the plurality of character elements is assigned an attribute; the lottery execution unit further reduces a probability that the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to the user when the lottery execution unit executes a new lottery when the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned has been determined consecutively a predetermined number of times or more as the character content to be assigned to the user; 5. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4. [Appendix 6] the lottery execution unit further executes a new lottery when character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute has been assigned has been determined consecutively a predetermined number of times or more as character content to be assigned to the user, so that when a new lottery is executed, the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute has been assigned is not assigned to the user. 6. The program described in Appendix 5. [Appendix 7] The program causes the computer to a selection control unit that executes control for causing the user to select a specific type from a plurality of types related to the selection mode of the character content; It also functions as the plurality of types includes a first type of granting one character content to the user and a second type of granting a plurality of character contents to the user; The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery in accordance with the type selected by the user. 7. The program according to any one of appendixes 1 to 6. [Appendix 8] the lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element when (i) a predetermined number of the same character content or a predetermined number of the ... 7. The program described in Appendix 7. [Appendix 9] the lottery execution unit further executes the lottery of the first type a plurality of times, (i) when all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user are the same character contents, or (ii) when the same character element is associated with all the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user, again executing the lottery for all the character contents. 11. The program described in Appendix 8. [Appendix 10] the lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element when (i) a predetermined number of the same character content or a predetermined number of ... 10. The program of any one of appendixes 7 to 9. [Appendix 11] The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery of the second type again for all character contents when (i) all character contents determined as character contents to be assigned to the user are the same character contents, or (ii) all character contents determined as character contents to be assigned to the user are associated with the same character element. 11. The program of any one of appendixes 8 to 10. [Appendix 12] the lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for some character contents that satisfy a predetermined condition among the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user by executing the lottery. 12. The program of any one of claims 1 to 11. [Appendix 13] the lottery execution unit executes the lottery again for a character content selected by the user from among the character contents determined as the character content to be granted to the user by executing the lottery. 13. The program according to claim 12. [Appendix 14] The program causes the computer to a presentation control unit that performs control to present to the user, when the lottery is to be held again, a notification that the lottery is to be held again; 13. The program according to claim 12, further functioning as [Appendix 15] The program causes the computer to a presentation control unit that performs control to present to the user character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user by the lottery performed by the lottery execution unit; 15. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further functioning as [Appendix 16] The program causes the computer to a presentation control unit that executes control to present to the user, when (i) the same character content has been determined as character content to be assigned to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been determined as character content to be assigned to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, that the same character content has been registered a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or that character content associated with the same character element has been registered a predetermined number of times or more in succession; 16. The program of any one of claims 1 to 15, further functioning as [Appendix 17] The program causes the computer to a judgment unit for judging whether a procedure for the user to pay a fee for the lottery has been carried out; It also functions as the lottery execution unit executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit determines that a procedure for the user to pay a fee for the lottery has been completed. 17. The program of any one of appendixes 1 to 16. [Appendix 18] The character content includes a first character content that is granted to the user on condition that the user has completed a procedure for payment of a price, and a second character content that is granted to the user without the condition that the user has completed a procedure for payment of a price, when the lottery execution unit (i) has consecutively determined the same first character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) has consecutively determined the first character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, when executing a new lottery, (iii) reduces the probability that the same first character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) reduces the probability that the first character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user, 18. The program according to claim 17. [Appendix 19] a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine a character content to be assigned to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element; a registration unit that registers the character content to be assigned to the user determined by the lottery execution unit in association with identification information of the user; Equipped with When the lottery execution unit (i) has consecutively determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) has consecutively determined character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, when executing a new lottery, (iii) decreases the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) decreases the probability that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user. Device. [Appendix 20] Apparatus according to claim 19, a user terminal available to the user; Equipped with The device executes the lottery in response to the user terminal receiving an instruction to execute the lottery from the user. system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0377] 10, 12, 13 equipment 20 User terminal 30 users 90 Communication Network 100, 102, 103 Processing section 110 Lottery Execution Department 121 First Registration Section 122 Second Registration Section 130 Release section 140 Presentation control unit 150 Judgment Department 160 Selection control section 170 Acquisition Department 190 Memory section 192 Communications Department 200 Processing section 290 Storage section 292 Communications Department 294 Display section 296 Operation input section 800 Character content list screen 810, 820, 830, 892, 894, 896, 898 Objects 900 Serial code entry screen 910 Objects 1000 Character Content List Screen 1010 Objects 1100 Shopping screen 1110, 1120 Objects 1200 Shopping Screen 1210, 1220, 1230 Objects 1300 Shopping screen 1310, 1320, 1330 Objects 1400 Lottery results screen 1410 Objects 1500 Character Content Screen 1510, 1520 Objects 1600 Unsubscribe screen 1610, 1620, 1630 Objects 1700 Character Content Screen 1710, 1720 Objects 1800 Transfer screen 1810, 1820 Objects 1800 Transfer screen 2400 Character element selection screen 2410, 2420 Objects 2500 Character content list screen 2510 Objects 2600 Shopping Screen 2610 Objects 2800 Character content list screen 2810, 2820, 2830 Objects 2900 Shopping screen 2910 Objects 3110, 3120 Character Content 3200 Lottery results screen 3210, 3220 Objects 3300 Shopping screen 3310 Objects 3400 Lottery results screen 3410, 3420 Objects 3500 Lottery results screen 3510, 3520, 3540 Objects 3610, 3620 Character Content 3710, 3720 Character Content 3900, 4000, 4100 Character Content

Claims

1. Computer, a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine a character content to be assigned to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element; and a registration unit that registers the character content to be assigned to the user determined by the lottery execution unit in association with identification information of the user; Functioning as a when the lottery execution unit has determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, when executing a new lottery from the next time onwards, the lottery execution unit reduces a probability that the same character content will be granted to the user; The lottery execution unit determines the same character content as the character content to be given to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, and when the character element associated with the same character content is a character element of a first type selected by the user, reduces the amount of decrease in the probability compared to when the character element associated with the same character content is a character element of a second type not selected by the user. program.

2. The lottery execution unit further reduces the probability when executing a new lottery from the next time onwards, when character content associated with the same character element has been determined as character content to be assigned to the user consecutively for the predetermined number of times or more. The program according to claim 1.

3. The predetermined number of times is two.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The program causes the computer to: a presentation control unit that performs control to present to the user, (i) when the same character content has been determined as the character content to be given to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) when character content associated with the same character element has been determined as the character content to be given to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, (iii) that the probability of the same character content being given to the user when a new drawing is executed next time or later will decrease, or (iv) that the probability of the character content associated with the same character element being given to the user when a new drawing is executed next time or later will decrease. Further function as The program according to claim 2.

5. Each of the plurality of character elements is assigned an attribute; The lottery execution unit further reduces a probability that the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to the user when a new lottery is executed, when the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned has been determined consecutively a predetermined number of times or more as the character content to be assigned to the user.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The lottery execution unit further executes a new lottery when character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute is assigned has been determined consecutively a predetermined number of times or more as character content to be assigned to the user, so that when a new lottery is executed, the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned is not assigned to the user. The program according to claim 5.

7. The program causes the computer to a selection control unit that executes control for allowing the user to select a specific type from among a plurality of types related to the selection mode of the character content; It also functions as the plurality of types includes a first type of granting one character content to the user and a second type of granting a plurality of character contents to the user; The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery in accordance with the type selected by the user. The program according to claim 2.

8. The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element when (i) more than a predetermined number of the same character content is determined as the character content to be granted to the user, or (ii) more than a predetermined number of character contents associated with the same character element are determined as the character content to be granted to the user, in a case where the lottery execution unit executes the lottery for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element, in a case where the lottery execution unit executes the lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element, in a case where (i) more than a predetermined number of the same character content is determined as the character content to be granted to the user, The program according to claim 7.

9. The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for all character contents when (i) all character contents determined as character contents to be assigned to the user are the same character contents, or (ii) all character contents determined as character contents to be assigned to the user are associated with the same character element, when the lottery execution unit executes the lottery again for all character contents of the first type. The program according to claim 8.

10. The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for the same character content or the character content associated with the same character element when (i) more than a predetermined number of the same character content is determined as the character content to be granted to the user, or (ii) more than a predetermined number of character content associated with the same character element is determined as the character content to be granted to the user, in a case where the second type of lottery is executed. The program according to claim 7.

11. The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery of the second type again for all character contents when (i) all character contents determined as character contents to be assigned to the user are the same character contents, or (ii) all character contents determined as character contents to be assigned to the user are associated with the same character element. The program according to claim 8.

12. The lottery execution unit further executes the lottery again for some character contents that satisfy a predetermined condition among the character contents determined as the character contents to be granted to the user by executing the lottery.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2.

13. The lottery execution unit executes the lottery again for a character content selected by the user from among the character contents determined as the character content to be granted to the user by executing the lottery. The program according to claim 12.

14. The program causes the computer to a presentation control unit that performs control to present to the user, when the lottery is to be held again, a notice that the lottery is to be held again; The program according to claim 12, further functioning as:

15. The program causes the computer to a presentation control unit that executes control for presenting to the user character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user through the lottery by the lottery execution unit The program according to claim 1 or 2, further functioning as:

16. The program causes the computer to a presentation control unit that executes control to present to the user, when (i) the same character content has been determined as the character content to be assigned to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been determined as the character content to be assigned to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, that the same character content has been registered a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or that character content associated with the same character element has been registered a predetermined number of times or more in succession. The program according to claim 2, further functioning as:

17. The program causes the computer to A determination unit for determining whether or not a procedure for the user to pay the fee for the lottery has been performed. It also functions as The lottery execution unit executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit determines that a procedure for the user to pay a fee for the lottery has been completed.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2.

18. The program causes the computer to: A determination unit for determining whether or not a procedure for the user to pay the fee for the lottery has been performed. It also functions as the lottery execution unit executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit determines that a procedure for the user to pay a fee for the lottery has been completed; the character content includes a first character content that is granted to the user on condition that the user has completed a procedure for payment of a price, and a second character content that is granted to the user without being subject to a procedure for payment of a price by the user; When the lottery execution unit (i) has consecutively determined the same first character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) has consecutively determined the first character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more, when executing a new lottery, (iii) reduces the probability that the same first character content will be granted to the user, or (iv) reduces the probability that the first character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user. The program according to claim 2.

19. a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine a character content to be assigned to a user from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element; a registration unit that registers the character content to be assigned to the user determined by the lottery execution unit in association with identification information of the user; Equipped with when the lottery execution unit has determined the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, when executing a new lottery from the next time onwards, the lottery execution unit reduces a probability that the same character content will be granted to the user; The lottery execution unit determines the same character content as the character content to be given to the user a predetermined number of times or more in succession, and when the character element associated with the same character content is a character element of a first type selected by the user, reduces the amount of decrease in the probability compared to when the character element associated with the same character content is a character element of a second type not selected by the user. Device.

20. 20. An apparatus according to claim 19; a user terminal available to said user; Equipped with The device executes the lottery in response to the user terminal receiving an instruction to execute the lottery from the user. system.

Images