Virtual space management device

Abstract

To utilize existing real estate so as to increase values of both NFT and the real estate.SOLUTION: A specification unit 22 specifies a space region close to actual real estate, the space region physically different from that occupied by the real estate. A production unit 26 produces, as a tradable token, digital data on a virtual space region as which the specified space region is expressed and exhibits the digital data in an NFT market 50. For example, for a 10-story building, an eleventh floor is produced as an NFT on the building for trade.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for managing virtual spaces, particularly virtual spaces associated with real estate. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, interest in crypto assets based on blockchain technology has been growing, and the development of blockchain applications is progressing. One such application is gaming. If in-game assets such as game items and characters are issued on the blockchain, these assets can be safely exchanged and bought and sold between users.

[0003] Transactions are made in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which are also translated as non-fungible tokens. NFTs are tokens issued based on ERC721, a standard of Ethereum (registered trademark). Each in-game asset is recorded on the blockchain as an NFT, and its uniqueness and authenticity are guaranteed. With the emergence of NFTs backed by the blockchain, in-game assets that were previously difficult to sell are beginning to have great financial value.

[0004] A similar situation is occurring in digital art in general. For example, in February 2021, a work by an artist known for his 24x24 pixel dot icon characters was sold for 650 ETH (approximately 135 million yen at the time). The NFT business is likely to continue to expand in the future.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses technology that allows users to exchange NFTs both inside and outside the games they play. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-152815 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] NFTs have increased the value of digital art and in-game assets. The inventor came up with the idea that tradable tokens, such as NFTs, could generate the value of other assets, which led to the invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The virtual space management device of the present invention comprises a designation unit that designates a spatial area related to real real estate, the spatial area being where human entry is not anticipated, and a generation unit that generates digital data representing the designated spatial area as a virtual spatial area as a tradable token.

[0009] The designated portion may be a spatial area adjacent to an existing real estate, but may be a spatial area that is physically different from the spatial area in which the real estate exists. "Adjacent" may be rephrased as "associated," and refers to an area that is adjacent to the original real estate, or an area that is distant but can be associated with the original real estate in terms of space, ownership, design, or some other concept. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the added value of real estate, or to create asset value from digital data associated with real estate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a virtual space management device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 11 is a flowchart showing a process in which an NFT is generated by a management device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] A flowchart showing the process by which generated NFTs are bought, sold, and recorded. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] First, let me outline the implementation method. In the world of games, the land and buildings within them do not originally have owners. This led to the creation of a business that sells virtual real estate within games as NFTs.

[0013] On the other hand, real estate already has an owner. Therefore, even if you turn it into digital data and turn it into an NFT, the relationship with the owner of the real property becomes questionable. It is technically possible. However, for example, if someone were to unknowingly turn the real house you bought and live in into an NFT and own it, it would not be a pleasant feeling. Moreover, it would be even more unpleasant if that NFT was traded for money.

[0014] The inventor recognized this issue while considering "converting real estate into NFTs," and came up with the following solution. In other words, any spatial area that is related to real estate but cannot actually be entered by humans can be made into an NFT. For example, in the case of a 10-story building, there is no floor above the 11th floor. In that case, that space can be used as an NFT only within the virtual world. Here are some examples of "related to real estate": · It is part of the original estate. · Not part of the original property but adjacent to it. These are characteristics that allow one to recognize some kind of relationship with the original property.

[0015] The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world, with 163 floors. In that case, floors 164 and above can be turned into virtual floors and circulated as NFTs. Moreover, being able to own such an enormous amount of space as "a floor above the world's tallest building" is the very essence of the NFT business.

[0016] Of course, there should be a prior agreement with the rights holder of the Burj Khalifa. For example, when the NFT for the 164th floor is sold, there should be a revenue share with the rights holder. With such an agreement, not only will the real estate rights holder have nothing to lose, but they can essentially make a profit from nothing. A win-win relationship can be built for all involved, including those who promote this business and those who purchase NFTs.

[0017] First embodiment In FIG. 1, a device 20 that manages the virtual space (hereinafter, "management device 20") is the entity that manages the virtual space, and is used by the person leading the business (hereinafter, "management entity"). The management device 20, together with a real estate owner terminal 10 and a user terminal 40, develops business through an NFT market 50. NFTs bought and sold on the NFT market 50 are recorded in a blockchain 60. These terminals and devices communicate via a network such as the Internet (not shown).

[0018] The property owner terminal 10 is used by the owner of the property or the agent who manages the property (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as the "owner"). The management entity will consult with the owner in advance, whether online or offline, to decide on the real estate for which the NFT will be created. In the following, the target real estate will be referred to as the "ABC Building," which has 10 floors above ground and 1 floor below ground.

[0019] The management device 20 has a designation unit 22, a preparation unit 24, a generation unit 26, and a wallet 28. Based on the input of the management entity, the designation unit 22 designates the "11th floor" and "2nd basement floor" of the ABC Building, which cannot be used by anyone in the real world, as targets for NFT generation. The "designation" may directly reflect the input by the management entity, or may be determined based on a simple algorithm such as "a floor above the top floor" based on the building information of the ABC Building. In any case, designation refers to determining the spatial area for which the NFT is to be generated, and the designated spatial area "ABC Building, 11th floor" is used as is by the generation unit 26 as the name of the NFT, which will be described later.

[0020] The preparation unit 24 prepares the interior of the specified floor, the 11th floor. Specifically, the preparation unit 24 has a function of using 3DCAD or linking with it, and the interior design of the 11th floor is done by the management entity. Of course, the NFT can be made in a so-called skeleton state, and the user who buys it can design the interior, but in the virtual world, there is no cost to return it to a skeleton. It is worth having the designation unit 22 create a luxurious interior so that the user can use the 11th floor as it is. The interior is not only for living space, but also has the following examples. 1. Unexpected entertainment facilities, such as a safari park and a theme park where dinosaurs roam, which you wouldn't normally imagine being located on top of a building. 2. A virtual factory that produces dreamy products such as sweets, toys, and monsters, reminiscent of the movie.

[0021] The generation unit 26 converts the spatial data of the 11th floor, including the interior design, into an NFT. At that time, the following information is added. 1. Information on the rights to the ABC Building, especially the current owner. 2. Information indicating that the owner of the ABC Building has given permission for this NFT to be created.

[0022] With this information, both the owner and the users who purchase the NFT can feel secure. In particular, the owner's permission can be added to the NFT as a tamper-free digital signature, which can provide even more security. Of course, information about the management entity and the owner's revenue share can also be included. When the NFT is later bought or sold, the wallet 28 receives payment in cryptocurrency or the like. The wallet 28 has not only a data storage function but also the programs necessary for it to function as a wallet.

[0023] The user terminal 40 is a computer on which the user makes NFT transactions, and has a wallet 42 for storing cryptocurrency and possibly purchased NFTs and their certificates. There are many user terminals 40, but only one is illustrated here.

[0024] The NFT market 50 is a trading market where NFTs generated by the management device 20 are exhibited and viewed, bought and sold by user terminals 40. When an NFT is purchased, payment is made between the management device 20 and the user terminal 40 in cryptocurrency specifying each other's wallet addresses, and the NFT is sent. This transaction is verified and blocked by miners (not shown), and is recorded as one transaction in the blockchain 60. Rewards to miners, so-called "gas fees," may be paid by the management device 20 or by the user terminal 40. Although the blockchain 60 is a distributed database, it is depicted as one database for convenience of illustration.

[0025] Figure 2 shows the process of generating an NFT using the above configuration. First, through consultation between the management entity and the owner, the real estate for which the NFT should be created is determined to be "ABC Building" (S10). Next, the designation unit 22 designates the spatial area for which the NFT should be created as "ABC Building, 11th floor" (S12).

[0026] Next, the preparation unit 24 provides the interior design of the 11th floor of the “ABC Building, 11th Floor”, and the result is output as 3DCG data (S14). Finally, the generation unit 26 adds necessary information to generate an NFT (S16).

[0027] Figure 3 shows the flow of NFT trading. Upon receiving instructions from the management entity, the generation unit 26 exhibits the generated NFT on the NFT market 50 (S20). After this, when a user purchases this NFT, the price is paid, the record of the purchaser is updated, and the NFT is sent to the user. Finally, the transaction is recorded on the blockchain 60 and the business is completed (S22).

[0028] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a new source of revenue for real estate. In addition, it is possible to generate and distribute NFTs with high scarcity value. The higher the value of the original real estate, the higher the value of the NFT, and the higher the value of the NFT, the more profit the real estate owner can make.

[0029] Embodiment 2 Gas tanks are also real estate. They are filled with gas or liquid, and people are prohibited from entering them except for special cases such as inspections. At least, the general public cannot enter them. Because no one can use them in the real world, they are easy to use as NFTs, just like in the first embodiment.

[0030] The configuration for realizing this embodiment may be the same as that of the first embodiment, with the following differences. 1. The designation unit 22 designates the “interior” of the gas tank or a virtual “rooftop space” as a target for NFT generation. 2. The preparation unit 24 can create CG of the "inside of a gas tank" not only as a living space but also as a planetarium venue or a sphere with a motorcycle rotating on the wall, making use of the shape of the original real estate.

[0031] 3. The preparation unit 24 can set the "rooftop space" as the peak of the ski resort and draw a slope from there to the site of the gas tank. In other words, not only the gas tank but also the adjacent spatial area can be used. In this case, it is desirable that the spatial area to be used is within the scope of real estate, i.e., the rights of the gas tank owner.

[0032] In addition, if there are two gas tanks and the land between them is also owned by the gas tank owner, the designation unit 22 designates the spatial area between the two gas tanks, the preparation unit 24 generates a 3DCG image of a virtual third gas tank there, and the generation unit 26 may convert this image into an NFT. In this example, although the third gas tank is separated from the original two gas tanks, the relationship can be recognized in terms of ownership or design, so it is convincing to have the real estate owner receive a revenue share. There is also a sense of unity in the design.

[0033] Third embodiment In the first embodiment, the preparation unit 24 decorates the designated spatial area. The preparation unit 24 may go further and generate an image of the space for a person to reach the spatial area. For example, if the 100th floor of the ABC building is to be made into an NFT, a virtual elevator that goes from the 1st floor to the 100th floor may be prepared, allowing the user to reach the 100th floor while enjoying the view from the high-rise elevator.

[0034] In this embodiment, the generation unit 26 provides a data area in the NFT for writing user information for allowing the user to get on and off the elevator. In reality, when a user purchases this NFT, the wallet 28 of the management device 20 or the generation unit 26 writes the user's information into the NFT, making the user the owner of the NFT and simultaneously granting the user exclusive rights to access the spatial area. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Real estate owner terminal 20 Management device 22 Specified section 24 Preparation Department 26 Generation part

Claims

1. a designation unit for designating a virtual spatial area related to real property, the virtual spatial area being physically unavailable to anyone in the real world; A generation unit that generates digital data representing a specified spatial region as a virtual spatial region as a tradable token; A virtual space management device comprising:

2. 2. The virtual space management device according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit designates a spatial area adjacent to the real property and physically different from the spatial area in which the real property exists.

3. 2. The virtual space management device according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit records, in the token, right information of real estate that exists and from which the digital data originates.

4. 2. The virtual space management device according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit records, in the token, permission information given by a right owner of real estate from which the digital data originates.

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