Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Program

Abstract

Provide a mechanism that makes it easier for users to obtain the items used in video content. 【Solution means】The information processing apparatus 2 includes a space management unit 233 that generates a virtual space that is a virtual space constructed by imitating the real space that appears in video content that can be viewed by a user, and includes one or more three-dimensional virtual items corresponding to each of one or more items existing in the real space; a transmission unit 232 that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 to the user to a user terminal used by the user; an acquisition unit 231 that acquires item identification information for identifying an item corresponding to a virtual item selected by the user from among one or more virtual items existing in the virtual space from the user terminal on which the virtual space is presented; and a purchase processing unit 235 that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, online shopping services for buying and selling goods over the Internet have become widespread. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for managing the buying and selling of goods.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

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

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism that makes it easy for a user to obtain an item used in video content.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a virtual space constructed by imitating a real space that appears in video content viewable by a user, the virtual space including one or more three-dimensional virtual items corresponding to each of one or more articles existing in the real space, a space management unit that generates the virtual space, a transmission unit that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space generated by the space management unit to the user to a user terminal used by the user, an acquisition unit that acquires article identification information for identifying the article corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user from among one or more virtual items existing in the virtual space from the user terminal on which the virtual space is presented, and a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the article identified by the article identification information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0007] The information processing apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores in association information indicating the video content and information regarding each of the one or more articles included in the video content, and the transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information including information regarding the one or more articles associated with the video content to the user terminal.

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

[0009] The one or more articles may include for-sale items and non-for-sale items, and the transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the virtual item corresponding to the for-sale item and the virtual item corresponding to the non-for-sale item to the user terminal.

[0010] The transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including an actor avatar corresponding to an actor who appeared in the video content in the virtual space to the user terminal.

[0011] The transmitting unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the actor avatar that performs the same actions as the actor's performance in the scene of the video content to the user terminal.

[0012] The transmitting unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the user avatar corresponding to the user to the user terminal. The transmitting unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the user avatar corresponding to the user and other user avatars corresponding to other users different from the user to the user terminal.

[0013] The information processing apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores information about the user, and when the information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content, where the predetermined condition is at least one of the following: the threshold number of times the video content has been viewed, the threshold time the video content has been viewed, being a member of the fan club of the video content, and being a paid member of the information processing service for providing the article to the user via the virtual space, the transmitting unit may transmit the space presentation information to the user terminal.

[0014] The information processing apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores information about the user, and when the information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content, where the predetermined condition is at least one of the following: the threshold number of times the video content has been viewed, the threshold time the video content has been viewed, being a member of the fan club of the video content, and being a paid member of the information processing service for providing the article to the user via the virtual space, the purchasing processing unit may execute the purchasing process.

[0015] The purchasing processing unit may execute the settlement of the article as the purchasing process. As the purchase process, the purchase processing unit may cause the user terminal to access a website where the item specified by the item specification information acquired by the acquisition unit is sold.

[0016] The information processing apparatus may further include a notification unit that notifies a business operator who provided the video content of the sales record of the item based on the purchase process.

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

[0018] The virtual space may be associated with a scene included in the video content, or the transmission unit may transmit content presentation information for presenting the video content to the user terminal, or the acquisition unit may acquire from the user terminal on which the video content is presented scene specification information for specifying the presented scene, or the transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space associated with the scene specified by the scene specification information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0019] The information processing apparatus includes a specifying unit that specifies a consideration to be paid to a target business operator who is at least one of a business operator who provided the video content, a business operator who presents the virtual space, and a sponsor of a scene in which the item appears in the video content, based on the result of the purchase processing unit executing the purchase process corresponding to the item, and a payment processing unit that executes a process of paying the consideration specified by the specifying unit to the target business operator.

[0020] The transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including an advertisement object showing an advertisement related to the sponsor according to the level of the amount supported by the sponsor of the video content.

[0021] The information processing apparatus may further include a determination unit that determines the grade of the advertisement object based on the amount of money supported by the sponsor of the video content, and the transmission unit may transmit the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertisement object based on the grade determined by the determination unit to the user terminal.

[0022] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes steps of: generating, by a computer, a virtual space constructed by imitating a real space that appears in video content viewable by a user, the virtual space including one or more three-dimensional virtual objects corresponding to each of one or more articles existing in the real space; transmitting space presentation information for presenting the generated virtual space to the user to a user terminal used by the user; obtaining, from the user terminal on which the virtual space is presented, article identification information for identifying the article corresponding to the virtual object selected by the user from among the one or more virtual objects existing in the virtual space; and executing a purchase process for the user to purchase the article identified by the obtained article identification information.

[0023] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as a space management unit that generates a virtual space constructed by imitating a real space that appears in video content viewable by a user, the virtual space including one or more three-dimensional virtual objects corresponding to each of one or more articles existing in the real space; a transmission unit that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space generated by the space management unit to the user to a user terminal used by the user; an acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal on which the virtual space is presented, article identification information for identifying the article corresponding to the virtual object selected by the user from among the one or more virtual objects existing in the virtual space; and a purchase process unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the article identified by the article identification information acquired by the acquisition unit. [Effect of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, there is an effect that a mechanism can be provided to make it easier for a user to obtain an article used in video content.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

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

[0027] The information processing service is a service for providing a predetermined article to a user via a virtual space. The predetermined article is an article used in video content, such as, for example, mass-produced products, one-of-a-kind items, furniture, food, etc. Note that the predetermined article may be an article similar to the article used in video content. The video content is a video work that can be viewed by the user, such as, for example, a drama, a movie, etc. The virtual space in the present embodiment is a virtual space constructed by imitating the real space that appears in the video content, and is a virtual space in which one or more virtual articles corresponding to each of one or more articles existing in the real space exist. The virtual article is an object imitating the article existing in the real space. The real space in the present embodiment is, for example, a drama set such as a room that appears in a drama.

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

[0029] The user terminal 1 is a terminal used by the user, such as, for example, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a personal computer, VR (Virtual Reality) goggles, a head-mounted display, etc. A dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as "dedicated app") for providing the information processing service is installed in the user terminal 1. The user can use the information processing service by using the dedicated app of the user terminal 1. Note that the information processing service may be provided on the Internet instead of a dedicated app.

[0030] The information processing device 2 is a device for managing the information processing service, such as, for example, a server. Hereinafter, the processing executed by the information processing system S will be described.

[0031] The space V shown in FIG. 1 is a virtual space constructed by imitating a certain drama set. In the space V, there are various virtual objects O (virtual objects O1, O2, O3, O4) that are virtual items.

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

[0033] When the user selects the virtual object O3 that the user wishes to purchase from among the plurality of virtual objects O on the user terminal 1 on which the space V is presented, the user terminal 1 transmits article identification information corresponding to the virtual object O3 selected by the user to the information processing apparatus 2 ((2) in FIG. 1). The article identification information is information for identifying the article corresponding to the virtual article selected by the user, and is, for example, the ID (identification) of the article.

[0034] Then, when the information processing apparatus 2 acquires the article identification information from the user terminal 1, the information processing apparatus 2 executes a process for the user to purchase the article (the sofa corresponding to the virtual object O3) specified by the article identification information ((3) in FIG. 1). By doing so, the information processing system S can provide a mechanism that makes it easy for the user to obtain the articles used in the video content. Hereinafter, the configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described.

[0035] [Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the information processing apparatus 2. In Figure 2, the arrows indicate the main data flow, and there may be data flows other than those shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, each block represents a configuration in terms of functional units, not hardware (device) units. Therefore, the blocks shown in Figure 2 may be implemented within a single device, or may be divided and implemented in multiple devices. The exchange of data between blocks may be performed via any means such as a data bus, a network, a portable storage medium, etc.

[0036] The information processing apparatus 2 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The information processing apparatus 2 may be configured by connecting two or more physically separated devices wiredly or wirelessly. Also, the information processing apparatus 2 may be configured by a cloud which is a collection of computer resources.

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

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

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

[0040] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the content management database. The content management database shown in Figure 3 stores by associating a content ID, a scene ID, space generation information, and article information (article ID, article generation information, sales type, price, processing type, etc.).

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

[0042] An item ID is information for identifying an item. The item ID is information commonly used for both items existing in the real space and virtual items existing in the virtual space. Note that the content management database may further store the ID of the virtual item in association with the ID of the item. Item generation information is information for generating a virtual item corresponding to an item in the virtual space, and is information generated based on a moving image of video content, a scanned image obtained by scanning only the real space or an item such as a drama set. The item generation information includes, for example, information for configuring the appearance of the virtual item such as the shape and size of the virtual item, and the position where the virtual item is placed in the virtual space. The sales type is information indicating whether the item is a salable item to be sold or a non-salable item not to be sold. The processing type is information indicating at least one of whether to process the payment for the item or to access the website where the item is sold. When the processing type indicates accessing the website where the item is sold (when the item is an item not sold by an information processing service), the content management database may further store the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the website where the item is sold in association with it.

[0043] Note that the information stored in the content management database is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3. For example, the content management database may further store the title of the video content, the moving image of the video content, a thumbnail image showing an image of the virtual space, the name of the scene, the period of the moving image in which the scene appears, the ID of the virtual space, the name of the item, the inventory quantity of the item, information indicating the sales status of the item (e.g., whether it is selling well or not), etc. Also, the content management database may further store actor generation information. The actor generation information is information for generating an actor avatar corresponding to an actor who appeared in video content in the virtual space, and includes, for example, information for configuring the appearance of the actor avatar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the content list screen. On the content list screen shown in FIG. 4, for each of the video contents C (contents C1, C2), a moving image M (moving images M1, M2) which is a moving image of the video content and a thumbnail image B (images B1, B2) of the scene are displayed. The combination of the ID of the video content and the ID of the scene is associated with each thumbnail image of the scene.

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

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

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

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

[0055] The information processing apparatus 2 may present to the user a virtual space corresponding to a scene appearing in the video content being viewed by the user. Specifically, the information processing apparatus 2 presents to the user a virtual space corresponding to a scene appearing in the video content by executing the following three steps.

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

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

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

[0059] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a content playback screen. In the content playback screen shown in FIG. 5, there are provided a region R1 for displaying a moving image of video content and a region R2 for displaying a thumbnail image of a virtual space. The user terminal 1 causes the thumbnail image of the virtual space corresponding to the scene (period) to be displayed in the region R2 according to the scene (period) of the video content being played back in the region R1.

[0060] In this case, when the user performs an operation of tapping the displayed thumbnail image of the virtual space in the region R2 of the content playback screen, the user terminal 1 transmits the ID of the scene associated with the tapped thumbnail image of the virtual space to the information processing apparatus 2. Then, the acquisition unit 231 acquires the ID of the scene from the user terminal 1 as scene identification information.

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

[0062] The information processing apparatus 2 may present the user with information about an article in the virtual space. The information about the article includes, for example, the ID of the article, the price of the article, the inventory number of the article, the sales volume of the article, and the like. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits space presentation information including information about one or more articles associated with the video content to the user terminal 1.

[0063] For example, first, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including virtual items associated with information about the item based on the space generation information, item generation information, and information about the item stored in the content management database in association with the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, as space presentation information, a space image in which the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 is displayed to the user terminal 1. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can make it easier for the user to determine whether to purchase the item by referring to the information about the item displayed in the virtual space.

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

[0065] For example, first, the space management unit 233 generates, in the content management database, a virtual space including a virtual item based on the item generation information associated with the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 and the sales type indicating that it is an item for sale, and a virtual item based on the item generation information associated with the space identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 and the sales type indicating that it is a non-sale item. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, as space presentation information, a space image in which the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 is displayed to the user terminal 1. In this way, by presenting a virtual space including virtual items to the user regardless of whether the item is an item for sale or a non-sale item, the information processing apparatus 2 can provide the user with a virtual space that reproduces a scene of video content.

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

[0067] The information processing apparatus 2 may present to the user an actor avatar corresponding to an actor who appeared in video content in the virtual space. Specifically, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to a virtual space including the actor avatar.

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

[0069] Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, as space presentation information, a space image in which the virtual space generated by the space management unit 233 is displayed. Thereafter, the user terminal 1 displays a virtual space including the actor avatar based on the space presentation information acquired from the information processing apparatus 2 on the space display screen.

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

[0071] For example, the performer generation information includes information for the performer avatar to perform a predetermined action. In this case, after generating the virtual space including the performer avatar, the space management unit 233 controls the action of the performer avatar by causing the performer avatar to perform a predetermined action based on the performer generation information. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatar whose action is being controlled by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can enable the user to experience the scene of the video content via the virtual space.

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

[0073] For example, first, the space management unit 233 generates a virtual space including the user avatar based on the user generation information included in the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the user avatar generated by the space management unit 233 to the user terminal 1. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can provide the user with an experience as if the user exists in the scene of the video content via the user avatar.

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

[0075] For example, in a virtual space (for example, a metaverse space) generated by the space management unit 233 before the acquisition unit 231 acquires the space identification information from the user terminal 1, another user avatar exists (logs in). In this case, first, the space management unit 233 generates a user avatar in the virtual space based on the user generation information included in the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22. Then, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 space presentation information corresponding to a virtual space including the user avatar generated by the space management unit 233 and another user avatar that already exists. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can provide a place where users who prefer a specific scene of video content gather in the virtual space and can have active exchanges and information exchanges with each other. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 2 can provide the user with a motivation to use the virtual space. As a result, the information processing apparatus 2 can improve the sales of goods in the virtual space.

[0076] The information processing apparatus 2 may present a virtual space to a user who satisfies a predetermined condition regarding video content. The predetermined condition is a condition determined for each information processing service or video content, and examples thereof include the threshold number of times the video content has been viewed, the threshold time the video content has been viewed, being a member of a fan club of a video work, being a paid member of the information processing service, and the like.

[0077] Specifically, when the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22 satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content, the transmission unit 232 transmits the spatial presentation information to the user terminal 1. For example, first, the transmission unit 232 refers to the information about the user stored in the storage unit 22 and determines whether the user satisfies a predetermined condition. Then, when the transmission unit 232 determines that the user satisfies the predetermined condition, it transmits the spatial presentation information to the user terminal 1. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can prompt the user to take actions for receiving the provision of the virtual space.

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

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

[0080] The transmission unit 232 may transmit the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertisement object to the user terminal 1 according to the level of the support amount, which is the amount supported by the sponsor of the video content. Specifically, the information processing apparatus 2 transmits the spatial presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertisement object according to the level of the support amount of the sponsor of the video content by performing the following two steps.

[0081] As a first step, the determination unit 234 determines the grade of the advertisement object based on the level of the sponsorship amount of the sponsor of the video content. The grade of the advertisement object is, for example, the size of the advertisement object, the position where the advertisement object is to be displayed in the virtual space (e.g., a position that is easy for the user to notice in the virtual space), the number of advertisement objects to be displayed in the virtual space, the amount of information to be displayed in the advertisement object, and the like.

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

[0083] As a second step, the transmission unit 232 transmits, to the user terminal 1, space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertisement object generated by the space management unit 233 based on the grade determined by the determination unit 234. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can display an advertisement object corresponding to the degree of contribution of the sponsor of the video content in the virtual space.

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

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

[0086] In the above, an example where the space presentation information is an image displaying the virtual space generated by the information processing apparatus 2 has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the space presentation information may be information for the user terminal 1 to generate a virtual space.

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

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

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

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

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

[0092] When the processing type stored in association with the ID of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the content management database indicates that the payment for the item is to be processed, the purchase processing unit 235 uses the credit card number associated with the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the storage unit 22 to execute the settlement for the item specified by the item specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231. After that, the administrator of the information processing apparatus 2 performs a procedure to deliver the item to the address of the user specified by the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit 231. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can make it easier for the user to purchase the item used in the video content.

[0093] As a purchase process, the purchase processing unit 235 may cause the user terminal 1 to access the website where the item specified by the selection information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 is sold. For example, when the processing type stored in association with the ID of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the content management database indicates that the website where the item is sold is to be accessed, the purchase processing unit 235 transmits the URL stored in association with the ID of the item acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the content management database to the user terminal 1. After that, when the user terminal 1 acquires the URL from the information processing apparatus 2, the user terminal 1 accesses the website indicated by the URL. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can present to the user where the item used in the video content is sold.

[0094] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a virtual space presented to a user. In the example shown in FIG. 6(a), when a user performs an operation of selecting virtual object O3 from among a plurality of virtual objects (virtual objects O1, O2, O3, O4) in space V, which is a virtual space constructed by imitating a drama set, user terminal 1 transmits article identification information corresponding to virtual object O3 to information processing apparatus 2. When acquisition unit 231 acquires the article identification information, transmission unit 232 transmits information regarding the article specified by the article identification information to user terminal 1. When user terminal 1 acquires information regarding the article from information processing apparatus 2, it displays space V shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0095] In space V shown in FIG. 6(b), there is displayed information object I on which information regarding the article corresponding to virtual object O3 is displayed. Further, on information object I, there are provided button B1 for purchasing the article and button B2 for accessing the website where the article is sold. Information processing apparatus 2, for example, when the processing type stored in association with the ID of the article corresponding to the virtual article selected by the user in the content management database indicates that access to the website where the article is sold is to be made, causes button B1 to be displayed on information object I, and when the processing type indicates that access to the website where the article is sold is to be made, causes button B2 to be displayed on information object I.

[0096] In this case, when the user performs an operation of pressing button B1 in the virtual space shown in FIG. 6(b), user terminal 1 transmits a purchase request for the article to information processing apparatus 2. When purchase processing unit 235 acquires the purchase request for the article from user terminal 1, it executes settlement for the article. Further, when the user performs an operation of pressing button B2 in the virtual space shown in FIG. 6(b), user terminal 1 transmits an access request to the website to information processing apparatus 2. When purchase processing unit 235 acquires the access request from user terminal 1, it causes user terminal 1 to access the website where the article is sold by transmitting the URL corresponding to the article to user terminal 1.

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

[0098] By doing so, the information processing device 2 can prompt the user to take actions for purchasing an item. When the purchase processing unit 235 executes the purchase process for an item, it stores in the storage unit 22 the history of the executed purchase process (for example, the ID of the item, the ID of the user, the number of purchased items, the time when the purchase process was executed, etc.).

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

[0100] For example, in the content management database, for each item, a highlight video of the scenes in which the item appears in the video content is stored in association with the ID of the item. In this case, the transmission unit 232 transmits to the user terminal 1 the highlight video associated with the ID of the item specified by the item specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 231 in the content management database. Then, the user terminal 1 displays the highlight video acquired from the information processing device 2. By doing so, the information processing device 2 can make it easier for the user to recognize where the item selected by the user appears in the video content.

[0101] The information processing apparatus 2 may present the sales record of the articles in the information processing service to the business operator who provided the video content. The sales record of the articles is, for example, the number of the articles sold, the remaining inventory number of the articles, the sales amount of the articles, and the like. Specifically, the notification unit 236 notifies the business operator who provided the video content of the sales record of the articles based on the purchase process by the purchase processing unit 235.

[0102] For example, first, the specifying unit 237 specifies one or more article IDs associated with the ID of the video content provided by the business operator in the content management database. The specifying unit 237 refers to the history (the history in which the purchase processing unit 235 executed the purchase process) including the one or more article IDs specified in the storage unit 22, and specifies the sales record of the articles. Then, the notification unit 236 notifies the terminal used by the business operator who provided the video content of the sales record of the articles specified by the specifying unit 237. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can make the business operator who provided the video content recognize how well the articles are sold via the information processing service.

[0103] The information processing apparatus 2 may execute a process of paying a reward (consideration) corresponding to the sales record of the articles in the information processing service to the target business operator. The target business operator is a business operator predetermined as the payment destination of the consideration, and is, for example, at least any one of the business operator who provided the video content, the business operator who presents the virtual space, and the sponsor of the scene where the article appears in the video content. Specifically, the information processing apparatus 2 executes a process of paying the consideration corresponding to the achievement of the user's purchase of the article to the target business operator by executing the following two steps.

[0104] As a first step, based on the results of the purchase processing executed by the purchase processing unit 235 for the article, the specifying unit 237 specifies the consideration to be paid to the target business operator. For example, when a reward unit price per article is determined, the specifying unit 237 refers to the history including the ID of the article in the storage unit 22 and multiplies the number of articles sold by the reward unit price to calculate the consideration. Also, for example, when the consideration is determined according to the range of the number of articles sold, the specifying unit 237 refers to the history including the ID of the article in the storage unit 22 and specifies the consideration determined within the range including the number of articles sold.

[0105] As a second step, the payment processing unit 238 executes a process of paying the consideration specified by the specifying unit 237 to the target business operator. The payment processing unit 238 executes, for example, a process of transferring the consideration specified by the specifying unit 237 from the account where the sales amount of the article is managed to the account of the target business operator. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can provide a reward to the target business operator who has contributed to the sale of the article in the information processing service.

[0106] [Processing of Information Processing System S] Subsequently, the processing flow of the information processing system S will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the processing flow of the information processing system S. This processing starts when the user terminal 1 transmits the space specifying information to the information processing apparatus 2 (S1).

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

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

[0109] [Effects of the present embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 2 executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the article specified by the article identification information acquired from the user terminal 1 that presented the space presentation information. By doing so, the information processing device 2 can provide a mechanism that makes it easier for the user to obtain the articles used in the video content.

[0110] In addition, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to contribute to Goal 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation," of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations.

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

Description of reference numerals

[0112] 1 User terminal 2 Information processing device 21 Communication unit 22 Storage unit 23 Control unit 231 Acquisition unit 232 Transmission unit 233 Space management unit 234 Decision unit 235 Purchase processing unit 236 Notification unit 237 Identification unit 238 Payment Processing Unit S Information Processing System

Claims

1. a space management unit that generates a virtual space that is constructed to imitate a real space that appears in a video content that can be viewed by a user, the virtual space including one or more three-dimensional virtual objects corresponding to one or more objects present in the real space; a transmission unit that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space generated by the space management unit to the user to a user terminal used by the user; an acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying the item corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user from among one or more of the virtual items present in the virtual space; a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit; An information processing device having the above configuration.

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

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

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

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

6. The transmission unit transmits to the user terminal the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the performer avatar performing the same action as the performance of the performer in the scene of the video content. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

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

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

9. The information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information about the user, the transmitting unit transmits the space presentation information to the user terminal when the information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content, the predetermined condition being at least any one of a threshold number of times the video content has been viewed, a threshold time the video content has been viewed, being a member of a fan club of the video content, and being a paid member of an information processing service for providing the item to the user via the virtual space. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. The information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores information about the user, the purchase processing unit executes the purchase processing when the information about the user satisfies a predetermined condition related to the video content, the predetermined condition being at least one of a threshold number of times the video content has been viewed, a threshold time the video content has been viewed, being a member of a fan club for the video content, and being a paid member of an information processing service for providing the item to the user via the virtual space. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. The information processing device further includes a determination unit that determines a grade of the advertisement object based on an amount of support provided by a sponsor of the video content, The transmission unit transmits, to the user terminal, the space presentation information corresponding to the virtual space including the advertising object based on the grade determined by the determination unit. The information processing device according to claim 17.

19. The computer executes A step of generating a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space appearing in a video content viewable by a user, the virtual space including one or more three-dimensional virtual objects corresponding to one or more objects present in the real space; transmitting space presentation information for presenting the generated virtual space to the user to a user terminal used by the user; acquiring, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying the item corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user from among one or more of the virtual items present in the virtual space; executing a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the acquired item identification information; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

20. Computer, a space management unit that generates a virtual space constructed to imitate a real space that appears in video content that can be viewed by a user, the virtual space including one or more three-dimensional virtual objects corresponding to one or more objects present in the real space; a transmission unit that transmits space presentation information for presenting the virtual space generated by the space management unit to the user to a user terminal used by the user; an acquisition unit that acquires, from the user terminal to which the virtual space is presented, item identification information for identifying the item corresponding to the virtual item selected by the user from among one or more of the virtual items present in the virtual space; and a purchase processing unit that executes a purchase process for the user to purchase the item identified by the item identification information acquired by the acquisition unit; A program to function as a

Images