Information processing method, information processing system, and program

Abstract

To provide a more excellent technique.SOLUTION: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an information processing method to be executed by an information processing system is provided. This information processing method includes: a first acquisition step of causing a management device to acquire first user information associated with a first application and terminal information associated with a user terminal from the user terminal by the execution of the first application in the user terminal; a storing step of causing the management device to store second user information associated with a second application in association with the first user information by the execution of an authentication operation in the user terminal. The second user information is acquired from the second application by the execution of the first application and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing method, an information processing system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing method for linking user information (user IDs) between different applications (games).

[0003] In this information processing method, a token is sent from one application to another application via a management server, and the user information of the two applications is linked when the tokens match. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5946932 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there is still room for improvement in the above technology.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide, for example, a superior technique. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method executed by an information processing system. The information processing method includes the following steps: In a first acquisition step, first user information associated with a first application and terminal information associated with the user terminal are acquired from the user terminal by execution of a first application on the user terminal, and the management device is caused to acquire; In a storage step, second user information associated with a second application is associated with the first user information by execution of an authentication operation on the user terminal, and the second user information is stored in the management device. The second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a better technique can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a first information processing device 2a according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is an activity diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is an activity diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an activity diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in a second embodiment different from the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an activity diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in a second embodiment different from the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a second application login screen P1 for logging in to a second application A2 provided by a second information processing device 2b. [Figure 8]10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of an application list screen P2 displaying a list of applications provided by the second application A2, and an example of an application selection screen P3 for executing an application in the second application A2. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a title screen P4 of a first application A1 provided by a third information processing device 2c, and an example of an account linking screen P5 for linking first user information UI1 and second user information UI2. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-site management ID login screen P6 for logging in with an information management ID at an information providing site. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication information display screen P7 on which authentication information CI1 is displayed. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen P8 for confirming second user information UI2 to be linked with first user information UI1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Various features shown in the following embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0011] Incidentally, the program for realizing the software appearing in one embodiment may be provided as a non-transitory computer-readable medium, or may be provided so that it can be downloaded from an external server, or may be provided so that the program is started on an external computer and its functions are realized on a client terminal (so-called cloud computing).

[0012] In one embodiment, a "unit" may include, for example, a combination of hardware resources implemented by a circuit in the broad sense and software information processing that can be specifically realized by these hardware resources. In one embodiment, various information is handled, and this information is represented, for example, by physical values ​​of signal values ​​representing voltage and current, high and low signal values ​​as a binary bit set consisting of 0 or 1, or quantum superposition (so-called quantum bits), and communication and calculations can be performed on a circuit in the broad sense.

[0013] In addition, a circuit in the broad sense is a circuit realized by at least appropriately combining a circuit, circuitry, a processor, a memory, etc. That is, it includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA)), etc.

[0014] 1. Game Description Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing system 1 according to one embodiment. In the information processing system 1 shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of information processing devices 2 and a plurality of user terminals 3 are communicably connected to each other via a communication network 11, and a game is executed on the user terminals 3. That is, the information processing system 1 is made up of at least one device.

[0015] A game according to one embodiment is an online game executed by the information processing system 1. In this game, a user of a user terminal 3 controls one or more player characters to act in a virtual game space, and pits the player characters against enemy characters, which are non-player characters. A character is an example of an object.

[0016] The above-described games are played using a user terminal 3, which is a home game console such as PlayStation (registered trademark), a portable game console such as Nintendo Switch (registered trademark), or an electronic device such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal.

[0017] 2. Overview of Information Processing System 1 As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 1 is composed of multiple information processing devices 2 and multiple user terminals 3. Of the multiple information processing devices 2, a first information processing device 2a manages game data (for each account information described below) of the user terminal 3. The information processing device 2 is composed of, for example, a server. Of the multiple user terminals 3, the first user terminals 3a, in particular those for playing games, have the same configuration. Note that in one embodiment, a system is composed of one or more devices or components. Therefore, for example, even an information processing device 2 or a user terminal 3 described below alone can be an example of the information processing system 1.

[0018] The first user terminal 3a executes a predetermined game based on a user's operation. To do so, the first user terminal 3a receives (specifically, downloads and installs) a game program and game data from the third information processing device 2c via the communication network 11. Each user is assigned account information, including identification information and a password, that is associated with the first user terminal 3a. This account information is transmitted from the first user terminal 3a to the information processing device 2 at the time of login and is used for user authentication on the information processing device 2.

[0019] After user authentication, the information processing device 2 and the first user terminal 3a can communicate with each other. After logging in, the first user terminal 3a receives data necessary for the game progress (data related to the game progress status) from the third information processing device 2c, and then progresses the game while outputting game images and sounds to the display 4a and speaker 4b based on the user's operations.

[0020] 2.1 Hardware Configuration Hereinafter, each hardware configuration of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] <Information processing device 2> As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 2 includes a first information processing device 2a (an example of a management device) and a third information processing device 2c, which are primarily managed by game developers, and a second information processing device 2b, which is primarily managed by a provider of a comprehensive game-related platform that manages games provided by various game developers and game consoles for running those games. The first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, and the third information processing device 2c all have substantially the same configuration. Preferably, the second information processing device 2b may be a plurality of second information processing devices 2b, and the third information processing device 2c may be a plurality of third information processing devices 2c. More specifically, the first information processing device 2a is a management server that cross-manages user information related to a plurality of first applications A1. The third information processing device 2c is a game server that provides at least one first application A1, and the second information processing device 2b is a platform server that provides a second application A2 different from the first application A1. The second application A2 manages the acquisition status and execution status of multiple first applications A1 for each platform. If the same first application A1 is provided by different platforms, a second application A2 corresponding to each platform manages the first application A1 corresponding to that platform. In other words, multiple second information processing devices 2b may be configured for each game platform service (second application A2). The information processing device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The communication unit 21 and the storage unit 22 are electrically connected to the control unit 23 via a communication bus 20.

[0022] The communication unit 21 is a so-called network interface that is communicatively connected to each user terminal 3 via a communication network 11 such as the Internet and a LAN. Main information that the third information processing device 2c of the information processing devices 2 receives via the communication unit 21 includes game program download request information, a gacha lottery request in response to a user operation, a quest execution request, a request to start / end autoplay, account information, game data, etc. Main information that the third information processing device 2c transmits via the communication unit 21 includes information for confirming that the user terminal 3 has received the game program, information regarding game media obtained through gacha, etc.

[0023] The storage unit 22 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD), random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and solid state drive (SSD), etc. The storage unit 22 stores various programs including a part of the game program according to one embodiment, various data related to the game, etc.

[0024] Specifically, for example, the storage unit 22 of the third information processing device 2c stores a user DB, a lottery list, and the like. The user DB stores, for each identification number (account information) of a user playing a game, information such as the user name, user rank, status information regarding the player character operated by the user, the amount of consumable media usable in the virtual game space, information regarding parameters, and the like, in association with each other. The lottery list is used for a lottery process generally known as gacha, and includes multiple pieces of information regarding game media to be selected. The lottery list associates information regarding game media (such as name, ability parameters, rarity, and level) with the selection rate in the lottery. Furthermore, the ability parameters include, for example, combat power, HP, attack power, defense power, intelligence, and speed when the game media is a player character.

[0025] The control unit 23 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU and semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the information processing device 2, which is its own device. In particular, the control unit 23 realizes various functions related to the information processing device 2, which is its own device, by reading out predetermined programs stored in the storage unit 22. That is, information processing by software stored in the storage unit 22 is specifically realized by the control unit 23, which is an example of hardware, and each functional unit described below can be executed. Note that the control unit 23 is not limited to being single, and multiple control units 23 may be provided for each function. A combination of these may also be used. In other words, the information processing system 1 includes at least one processor that executes a program to perform each step of the information processing method.

[0026] Examples of information processing executed by the control unit 23 include a charge settlement process, a user account authentication process, and a gacha lottery selection process. The charge settlement process is executed, for example, based on a request for a charge required to restore a predetermined amount of in-game parameters. The user account authentication process is executed, for example, using user identification information received from the user terminal 3. The gacha lottery selection process is a process in which, in response to a gacha lottery request, one or more game media are selected by lottery from a lottery list based on the selection probability for each game medium. According to the gacha lottery selection process, information about the selected game media and the identification information of the user who performed the operation that sent the lottery request are associated in the user DB, and the user is thereby awarded the game media that they won as a result of their own gacha draw.

[0027] To further expand on the above, "game media" refers to electronic data representing elements related to a game, such as the name of a character used as a player character and items (weapons, armor, tools) used by the player character in the virtual game space. Users can acquire game media through direct purchase, quest completion, or a lottery system known as gacha. The acquired game media is stored and managed in a user DB in association with the identification information of the user who will own the game media. Furthermore, "gacha" refers to a method in which the information processing device 2 randomly selects game media from a lottery list based on a predetermined selection ratio. The selected game media is granted to the user terminal 3 (stored in association with account information). The phrase "granting the game media selected through gacha to the user / owning the user" is synonymous with "associating the game media selected through the lottery process with / being associated with the identification information of the user."

[0028] <User terminal 3> As shown in FIG. 1, the user terminals 3 include a first user terminal 3a, which is primarily used by the user to play games, and a second user terminal 3b, which is primarily used as an auxiliary terminal for linking user information. The first user terminal 3a and the second user terminal 3b have substantially the same configuration. Preferably, the first user terminal 3a is a home game console or a portable game console, and the second user terminal 3b is a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The user terminal 3 is equipped with a display 4a, a speaker 4b, and an input device 4c, which may be externally connected or built-in. The user terminal 3 also includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, a control unit 33, a graphics processing unit 34a, an audio processing unit 34b, and an input unit 34c. The communication unit 31, the storage unit 32, the graphics processing unit 34a, the audio processing unit 34b, and the input unit 34c are electrically connected to the control unit 33 via a communication bus 30.

[0029] The communication unit 31 is a so-called network interface that is communicatively connected to the communication network 11 in order to transmit and receive various data between the user terminal 3 and the information processing device 2. Main information that the user terminal 3 receives via the communication unit 31 includes account information, download request information for new game data, a gacha execution request, a quest execution request, etc. Main information that the user terminal 3 transmits via the communication unit 31 includes new game data sent from the information processing device 2 in response to download request information, information on game media selected by lottery processing, etc.

[0030] The storage unit 32 is composed of an HDD, an SSD, a RAM, a ROM, etc. The storage unit 32 stores game data downloaded from the third information processing device 2c, various programs including a part of the game program, account information of the first user terminal 3a, which is the user's own device, user information other than the account information, etc. The user information is at least a part of the information in a user DB stored in the storage unit 22 of the first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, or the third information processing device 2c. The user DB manages a master of the user information, and the storage unit 32 of the first user terminal 3a stores at least a part of the information in the master distributed from the first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, or the third information processing device 2c.

[0031] The control unit 33 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU and semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the user terminal 3, which is the device itself. In particular, the control unit 33 realizes various functions related to the user terminal 3, which is the device itself, by reading out predetermined programs stored in the storage unit 32. That is, information processing by software stored in the storage unit 32 is specifically realized by the control unit 33, which is an example of hardware, and each functional unit described below can be executed. Note that the control unit 33 is not limited to being single, and the device may be implemented with multiple control units 33 for each function. A combination of these may also be used.

[0032] In particular, the control unit 33 is configured to execute a game in accordance with the operation of the input device 4c by the user of the first user terminal 3a, which is the user's own device. Specifically, the control unit 33 reads data such as virtual game space objects and textures included in the game data from the storage unit 32, or generates two-dimensional or three-dimensional game image information using data received from the third information processing device 2c. The game image information is processed by the graphics processing unit 34a, and the processed game images are sequentially displayed on the display 4a. In other words, the control unit 33 is configured to control the display of the display 4a and the audio output of the speaker 4b in accordance with the operation of the user of the first user terminal 3a, which is the user's own device, when executing a game.

[0033] The graphics processing unit 34a renders game images, including characters and various objects related to the virtual game space, in a moving image format in accordance with game image information output from the control unit 33. The graphics processing unit 34a is connected to the display 4a, which may be, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the rendered game images are displayed on the display 4a as a game screen. The audio processing unit 34b is connected to the speaker 4b and plays and synthesizes game sounds in accordance with instructions from the control unit 33, and outputs the sounds from the speaker 4b. The input unit 34c is connected to the input device 4c and transmits and receives data related to operation inputs to and from the input device 4c. The user inputs operation signals to the user terminal 3 by operating the input device 4c. The input device 4c is a general term for a touch panel integrated with the display 4a, an external game pad, a mouse, a keyboard, etc.

[0034] 2.2 Functional Configuration Next, the functional configuration of the first information processing device 2a of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a first information processing device 2a according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, a control unit 23 (processor) executes various programs stored in a storage unit 22 to function as a reception unit 231, an acquisition unit 232, a calculation unit 233, a presentation unit 234, and a display control unit 235. That is, information processing by software stored in the storage unit 22 is specifically realized by the control unit 23, which is an example of hardware, and can be executed as each functional unit included in the control unit 23.

[0036] The reception unit 231 is configured to receive various information as a reception step. For example, the reception unit 231 receives account information such as first user information UI1, second user information UI2, and third user information UI3, game data, and input from the user from the storage unit 22, the user terminal 3, or another external device. Details will be described later.

[0037] The acquisition unit 232 is configured to acquire various pieces of information as an acquisition step. Preferably, the acquisition unit 232 is configured to execute a first acquisition step and a second acquisition step. Details will be described later.

[0038] The calculation unit 233 is configured to execute calculations or processes related to various information processes. Specifically, the calculation unit 233 may output first user information UI1, second user information UI2, third user information UI3, etc. so that the user can refer to them as an output step, or may execute a predetermined function of the first application A1 as an execution step. Preferably, the calculation unit 233 is configured to execute a storage step, a code issuing step, an authentication step, and an information confirmation step. Details will be described later.

[0039] The presentation unit 234 is configured to present various information to the user as a presentation step. In one embodiment, the presentation may be a display using visual information, or may be a combination of information relating to the five senses other than visual information, such as auditory information, tactile information, or information relating to all five senses (so-called multimodal information).

[0040] As a display step, the display control unit 235 is configured to execute processing for displaying various pieces of information stored in the storage unit 32 or screens containing such information in a visible manner on the display 4a of the user terminal 3. As an example, the display control unit 235 may generate visual information itself generated in a human-visible manner, such as a screen, an image (e.g., a still image or a video), an icon, or text, or may generate rendering information for displaying the visual information on the display 4a and transmit the information.

[0041] 3. Overview of Information Processing The flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 will be described below.

[0042] 3.1 First embodiment 3 and 4 are activity diagrams showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in the first embodiment. Below, the flow of information processing will be outlined along this activity diagram.

[0043] An information processing system 1 according to an embodiment includes at least one device. The first information processing device 2a is a management server, the second information processing device 2b is a platform server, and the third information processing device 2c is a game server. A user has a first application user ID associated with a first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c. The first application A1 is typically a game application. An individual first application user ID (an example of third user information UI3) is set for each first application A1, and different first application user IDs are set for different first applications A1 for the same user. The first application user ID includes at least account information of the user for each first application A1.

[0044] On the other hand, in this embodiment, a cross-platform management ID (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "game ID") for managing multiple first apps A1 provided by the same provider across platforms is associated with the first app user ID of each first app A1 and the second user information UI2, which is an ID assigned to the user on each platform. This allows for cross-platform management of the app execution history by the user, even when the same app is provided on different platforms and multiple apps provided by the provider are provided and executed on different platforms. In this embodiment, the cross-platform management ID is an example of the first user information UI1. Therefore, the first user information UI1 is associated with at least one first app A1.

[0045] The user has multiple pieces of second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 provided by the second information processing device 2b. The second application A2 is typically a game platform application, and multiple second applications A2 exist for different companies, such as companies that provide game hardware. The second user information UI2 includes at least account information (ID) of the user in the second application A2. Because the second application A2 is a platform application, it is easier to obtain user information from the second application A2 while preventing the user information from spreading outside the environment in which the second application A2 is running.

[0046] The first user information UI1 associated with at least one first application A1 can be linked with various second applications A2. In the following description, it is assumed that the user links the second user information UI2 with the first user information UI1 when the first application A1 is executed.

[0047] In the first user terminal 3a, the first application A1 is executed by executing the second application A2. That is, in order to execute the first application A1, the second application A2 must be executed in advance. This prevents the second user information UI2 from being acquired from the first application A1 in an environment where the second application A2 is not running, thereby improving security for the second user information UI2.

[0048] For the reasons described above, the user first executes the second application A2 (platform application) provided by the second information processing device 2b on the first user terminal 3a via the communication unit 31 and the communication network 11 (activity A101). The second application A2 may be executed automatically when the first user terminal 3a is started up. As a result, the user views a screen of the second application A2 (for example, a second application login screen P1 described below) on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. That is, the second information processing device 2b requests the user to log in to the service of the second application A2.

[0049] In order to log in to a service provided by the second application A2 in the second application A2 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs the second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 and a password corresponding to the second user information UI2 (activity A102).

[0050] The second user information UI2 is sent to the second information processing device 2b together with the password when the user makes a predetermined input on the screen of the second app A2. The second information processing device 2b receives the second user information UI2 from the first user terminal 3a and authenticates the received second user information UI2 using the control unit 23 (activity A103). Specifically, the control unit 23 performs a comparison process between the information input to the first user terminal 3a and a database that manages combinations of the second user information UI2 and passwords and is stored in the storage unit 22 of the second information processing device 2b. If the combination of the input second user information UI2 and password is authenticated in activity A103, the user can log in to the service of the second app A2 using the second user information UI2. That is, the screen displayed on the display 4a transitions to a screen after logging in to the second app A2 (for example, an app list screen P2 described later). Note that if the user has already logged in to the service of the second app A2, activities A102 and A103 are omitted. If the user has not created an account for the second application A2, the account is created (second user information UI2 is registered), and then activity A102 and activity A103 are performed.

[0051] After logging in to the second application A2, the user executes the first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c on the first user terminal 3a via the communication unit 31 and the communication network 11 (activity A104). The first application A1 is executed, for example, by the user selecting the first application A1 from a list of purchased applications displayed on the first user terminal 3a by the second application A2. As a result, the user views an execution screen (for example, a title screen P4 described below) of the first application A1 on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. That is, the third information processing device 2c requests the user to log in to the service provided by the first application A1. In the first application A1 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs the first application user ID associated with the first application A1 and the password corresponding to the first application user ID to log in to the service provided by the first application A1 (activity A105).

[0052] The first application user ID is sent to the third information processing device 2c together with the password when the user makes a predetermined input on the screen of the first application A1. The third information processing device 2c receives the first application user ID from the first user terminal 3a, and the control unit 23 authenticates the received first application user ID (activity A106). Specifically, the control unit 23 performs a process of comparing the information input to the first user terminal 3a with a database that manages combinations of first application user IDs and passwords stored in the storage unit 22 of the third information processing device 2c. If the input combination of the first application user ID and password is authenticated in activity A106, the user can log in to the service of the first application A1 using the first application user ID. Note that if the user has already logged in to the service of the first application A1, activities A105 and A106 are omitted. If the user has not created an account for the first application A1, the account is created (the first application user ID is registered), and then activities A105 and A106 are performed.

[0053] When a user logs in to a service of the first application A1, the first user terminal 3a acquires, via the first application A1, second user information UI2 from the second application A2 to which the user has logged in. That is, the second user information UI2 is acquired from the second application A2 by executing the first application A1, and is associated with the first user information UI1 in the first information processing device 2a after an authentication operation, which will be described later.

[0054] After authenticating the first application user ID (i.e., after executing the first application A1), the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a issues, as a code issuing step, a code to the first user terminal 3a executing the first application A1, for causing the first information processing device 2a to acquire the terminal information TI, the first user information UI1, and the second user information UI2 of the first user terminal 3a (activity A107). With this configuration, the first user terminal 3a can simultaneously transmit the terminal information TI and the two pieces of user information to the first information processing device 2a, thereby reducing the number of communications and data processing operations. The terminal information TI is information associated with the first user terminal 3a, such as an ID or the like individually assigned to the first user terminal 3a in order to identify the first user terminal 3a.

[0055] Specifically, in activity A107, the first information processing device 2a transmits an instruction to the first user terminal 3a to issue a code via the first application A1. The first user terminal 3a receives the instruction from the first information processing device 2a and displays a code on the display 4a, the code including information on the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the second user information UI2, which are held by the first application A1 (activity A108). This allows the user to view a display screen of the code (for example, an account linking screen P5, which will be described later) on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. The code includes access information to a website (hereinafter referred to as an "information acquisition site") that allows the first information processing device 2a to acquire the terminal information TI, the first user information UI1, and the second user information UI2. This configuration reduces the amount of work required for the user to access a specific website (information acquisition site). The information processing site is a site managed by the first information processing device 2a.

[0056] The code displayed on the second user terminal 3b includes the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the URL of an information acquisition site corresponding to the second user information UI2. The code is typically an identification code (for example, a two-dimensional code) that can be read by the camera (an example of the input device 4c) of the first user terminal 3a.

[0057] The user reads the code displayed on the first user terminal 3a with the camera of the second user terminal 3b (activity A109). By reading the code, the second user terminal 3b accesses the information acquisition site via the communication unit 31 and the communication network 11 (activity A110). The information acquisition site is a site that is individually prepared for each combination of terminal information TI, first application user ID, and second user information UI2 (i.e., a URL is individually set). Upon receiving access to the information acquisition site from the second user terminal 3b, the first information processing device 2a acquires the terminal information TI, first application user ID, and second user information UI2 associated with the information acquisition site from the accessed information acquisition site (activity A111). That is, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a acquires the second user information UI2 as a second acquisition step before an authentication operation, which will be described later, is performed. With this configuration, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 can be linked without delay after the authentication operation is performed.

[0058] The information acquisition site requests the user to input the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password. That is, the user views an input screen for the first user information UI1 (for example, a cross-site management ID login screen P6) on the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b. The user inputs the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password from the second user terminal 3b (activity A112). The first user information UI1 is transmitted to the first information processing device 2a together with the password when the user makes a predetermined input to the information acquisition site.

[0059] The first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 from the second user terminal 3b and authenticates the received first user information UI1 via the control unit 23. When the combination of the input first user information UI1 and password is authenticated, the first information processing device 2a acquires the first user information UI1 (activity A113). Next, the first information processing device 2a associates the first user information UI1 with the first application user ID acquired from the information acquisition site. As a result, the first application A1 corresponding to the associated first application user ID is added to the group of first applications A1 being played by the user, and the first application user IDs of the multiple first applications A1 are associated and managed. Furthermore, by associating the first user information UI1 with the second user information UI2 of each platform (second application A2), even if the user runs each first application A1 on different platforms, play history and the like can be acquired from each platform and managed and analyzed across platforms.

[0060] As described above, in a first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a executes the first application A1 on the first user terminal 3a to acquire, from the first user terminal 3a, first user information UI1 associated with the first application A1 via the first application user ID and terminal information TI associated with the first user terminal 3a. Furthermore, in the first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 as input at the information acquisition site and acquires the first user information UI1. This configuration makes it possible to easily and reliably transmit the first user information UI1 to the management device.

[0061] After acquiring the first user information UI1 in activity A113, the first information processing device 2a transmits authentication information CI1 for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 to the second user terminal 3b that accessed the information acquisition site (activity A114). The authentication information CI1 is a one-time password for authenticating the user who accessed the information acquisition site, and is associated with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The authentication information CI1 is composed of a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, etc. that the user can input into the first user terminal 3a, and is typically composed of a multi-digit number. The second user terminal 3b receives the authentication information CI1 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A115). As a result, the user can view a display screen of the authentication information CI1 (for example, an authentication information display screen P7 described below) on the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b.

[0062] Next, the user inputs the authentication information CI1 displayed on the second user terminal 3b into the second app A2 on the first user terminal 3a (activity A116). The authentication information CI1 input on the first user terminal 3a is transmitted to the first information processing device 2a together with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The first information processing device 2a verifies whether the authentication information CI1 transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the authentication information CI1 transmitted to the second user terminal 3b and whether the terminal information TI transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the terminal information TI acquired from the information acquisition site (activity A117). That is, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a provides the authentication information CI1 associated with the terminal information TI to the second user terminal 3b as an authentication step, and the authentication information CI1 is input into the first app A1 on the first user terminal 3a, thereby executing an authentication operation. This configuration facilitates the user's authentication operation for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2.

[0063] After verifying the authentication information CI1, the first information processing device 2a transmits confirmation information CI2 to the first user terminal 3a (activity A118). The confirmation information CI2 is information for confirming the second user information UI2 used to log in to the second application A2 executed on the first user terminal 3a (i.e., the account logged in to the second application A2). That is, as an information confirmation step, after performing the authentication operation, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a outputs the confirmation information CI2 that enables the first user terminal 3a to recognize the second user information UI2 before associating the second user information UI2 with the first user information UI1 and storing the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a. This configuration prevents the user from associating the wrong second user information UI2 with the first user information UI1. In particular, from the perspective of discouraging account buying and selling, when unlinking linked user information, there may be restrictions on the number of times or the amount of time it can be done, or procedures such as identity verification may be required. Therefore, by requiring the user to confirm the second user information UI2 with the confirmation information CI2, the effort required for unlinking can be reduced.

[0064] The first user terminal 3a receives the confirmation information CI2 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A119). As a result, the user visually confirms a display screen of the confirmation information CI2 (for example, a confirmation screen P8 described later) via the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. The user performs a selection operation on the first user terminal 3a to determine whether or not to change the second user information UI2 displayed as the confirmation information CI2 (activity A120). That is, if there is no problem with the second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1, the user performs an input on the first user terminal 3a to proceed with the linking of the second user information UI2. On the other hand, if the user wants to change the second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1 to another second user information UI2, the user performs an input on the first user terminal 3a to change the second user information UI2.

[0065] If the second user information UI2 remains unchanged in the activity A120, the first information processing device 2a links the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A113 with the second user information UI2 acquired in the activity A111, and stores the linking result in a database managed by the first information processing device 2a (activity A121). That is, in a storage step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a associates the second user information UI2 associated with the second app A2 with the first user information UI1 by performing an authentication operation on the first user terminal 3a, and stores the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a. With this configuration, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 can be associated with each other by executing the first app A1 and the authentication operation. Therefore, user information can be linked between different apps with a simple operation.

[0066] On the other hand, if the second user information UI2 has been changed in the activity A120, the process returns to the activity A102, and the first user terminal 3a is prompted to input different second user information UI2 in the second app A2 (log in to the second app A2). That is, in the information confirmation step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a transitions the app being executed on the first user terminal 3a from the first app A1 to the second app A2 in response to a selection operation on the confirmation information CI2. With this configuration, a screen for changing the second user information UI2 (an input screen in the second app A2) can be automatically displayed, facilitating the user's operation to change the second user information UI2.

[0067] When the user selects activity A120 and returns to activity A102, activity A104 and subsequent activities may be executed in the same manner as the first time, or some activities may be skipped. For example, if the first application A1 is still running when returning from activity A120 to activity A102 (when transitioning to second application A2), after authenticating second user information UI2 of activity A103, activity A104 and activity A105 may be skipped and a code may be issued in activity A107.

[0068] 3.2 Second embodiment 5 and 6 are activity diagrams showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in a second embodiment different from the first embodiment. Below, the flow of information processing will be outlined along this activity diagram.

[0069] In the second embodiment, the roles of the first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, the third information processing device 2c, the first user terminal 3a, and the second user terminal 3b are the same as those in the first embodiment. In addition, the first application A1, the second application A2, the first user information UI1, the second user information UI2, and the first application user ID in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0070] As in the first embodiment, the user first executes the second application A2 provided by the second information processing device 2b on the first user terminal 3a (activity A201). In the second application A2 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 and a password corresponding to the second user information UI2 to log in to a service provided by the second application A2 (activity A202).

[0071] As in the first embodiment, the second information processing device 2b receives the second user information UI2 from the first user terminal 3a and authenticates the received second user information UI2 by the control unit 23 (activity A203). If the combination of the input second user information UI2 and password is authenticated in activity A203, the user can log in to the service of the second application A2 using the second user information UI2.

[0072] As in the first embodiment, after logging in to the second application A2, the user executes the first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c on the first user terminal 3a (activity A204). In the first application A1 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs the first application user ID associated with the first application A1 and the password corresponding to the first application user ID to log in to the service provided by the first application A1 (activity A205).

[0073] As in the first embodiment, the third information processing device 2c receives the first application user ID from the first user terminal 3a, and authenticates the received first application user ID using the control unit 23 (activity A206). If the combination of the input first application user ID and password is authenticated in activity A206, the user can log in to the service of the first application A1 using the first application user ID.

[0074] When a user logs in to a service of the first application A1, the first user terminal 3a acquires, via the first application A1, second user information UI2 from the second application A2 to which the user is logged in. In the second embodiment, the second user information UI2 is acquired from the second application A2 by execution of the first application A1, and is associated with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a or the first user information UI1 by the time an authentication operation, which will be described later, is completed.

[0075] After authenticating the first application user ID, the first information processing device 2a determines whether an authentication operation for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 has been executed (activity A207). The authentication operation in the second embodiment will be described later.

[0076] In activity A207, if the authentication operation has not been performed, that is, if the authentication operation has never been performed, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a issues, as a code issuance step, a code to the first user terminal 3a executing the first application A1, for causing the first information processing device 2a to acquire the terminal information TI and the first user information UI1 of the first user terminal 3a after executing the first application A1 (activity A208).

[0077] In activity A208, the first information processing device 2a transmits an instruction to issue a code to the first user terminal 3a that is executing the first application A1. The first user terminal 3a receives the instruction from the first information processing device 2a and displays a code on the display 4a, which includes information related to the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the second user information UI2 that are held by the first application A1 (activity A209). The code includes access information to a website (information acquisition site) for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information TI and the first user information UI1. The form of the code displayed on the second user terminal 3b in the second embodiment is similar to the form of the code in the first embodiment.

[0078] The user reads the code displayed on the first user terminal 3a with the camera of the second user terminal 3b (activity A210). By reading the code, the second user terminal 3b accesses the information acquisition site (activity A211). The information acquisition site of the second embodiment is a site that is individually prepared for each combination of terminal information TI and first application user ID. In response to the access to the information acquisition site from the second user terminal 3b, the first information processing device 2a acquires the terminal information TI and first application user ID that correspond to the information acquisition site (activity A212).

[0079] The information acquisition site requests the user to input the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password. The user inputs the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password from the second user terminal 3b (activity A213). The first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 from the second user terminal 3b and authenticates the received first user information UI1 using the control unit 23. When the combination of the input first user information UI1 and password is authenticated, the first information processing device 2a acquires the first user information UI1 (activity A214). Next, the first information processing device 2a associates the first user information UI1 with the first application user ID acquired from the information acquisition site. The first information processing device 2a may also transmit the acquired first user information UI1 to the first user terminal 3a to use it as linkage confirmation information, which will be described later.

[0080] That is, in a first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a executes the first application A1 on the first user terminal 3a to acquire, from the first user terminal 3a, first user information UI1 associated with the first application A1 via the first application user ID and terminal information TI associated with the first user terminal 3a. Also, in the first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 as input at the information acquisition site and acquires the first user information UI1.

[0081] After acquiring the first user information UI1 in activity A214, the first information processing device 2a transmits authentication information CI1 for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 to the second user terminal 3b that accessed the information acquisition site (activity A215). The authentication information CI1 is a one-time password for authenticating the user who accessed the information acquisition site, and is associated with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The form of the authentication information CI1 in the second embodiment is similar to the form of the authentication information CI1 in the first embodiment. The second user terminal 3b receives the authentication information CI1 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A216).

[0082] Next, the user inputs the authentication information CI1 displayed on the second user terminal 3b into the second application A2 on the first user terminal 3a (activity A217). The authentication information CI1 input on the first user terminal 3a is transmitted to the first information processing device 2a together with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The first information processing device 2a verifies whether the authentication information CI1 transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the authentication information CI1 transmitted to the second user terminal 3b and whether the terminal information TI transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the terminal information TI acquired from the information acquisition site (activity A218). That is, as an authentication step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a provides the authentication information CI1 associated with the terminal information TI to the second user terminal 3b, and the authentication information CI1 is input into the first application A1 on the first user terminal 3a, thereby executing the authentication operation.

[0083] After verifying the authentication information CI1, the first information processing device 2a transmits confirmation information CI2 to the first user terminal 3a (activity A219). The confirmation information CI2 of the second embodiment is similar to the confirmation information CI2 of the first embodiment. That is, as an information confirmation step, after performing the authentication operation, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a causes the first user terminal 3a to output confirmation information CI2 that can recognize the second user information UI2 before storing the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a in association with the first user information UI1.

[0084] As in the first embodiment, the first user terminal 3a receives confirmation information CI2 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A220). The user performs a selection operation on the first user terminal 3a to determine whether or not to change the second user information UI2 displayed as the confirmation information CI2 (activity A221).

[0085] If the second user information UI2 is not changed in activity A221, the first user terminal 3a transmits the second user information UI2 to the first information processing device 2a together with information associated with the second user information UI2 from the terminal information TI and the first user information UI1 (hereinafter referred to as "collaboration confirmation information") (activity A222). The first information processing device 2a receives the second user information UI2 and the collaboration confirmation information (either the terminal information TI or the first user information UI1) from the first user terminal 3a (activity A223). That is, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a acquires the second user information UI2 after the authentication operation is performed as the second acquisition step. With this configuration, the second user information UI2 is not transmitted to the management device before the authentication operation is performed, and therefore, processing such as discarding the second user information UI2 on the first information processing device 2a side is not required when the authentication operation is not performed.

[0086] The first information processing device 2a refers to the information for linkage confirmation, links the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A214 with the second user information UI2 acquired in the activity A223, and stores the linkage result in a database managed by the first information processing device 2a (activity A224). That is, as a storage step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a associates the second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 with the first user information UI1 by executing the authentication operation on the first user terminal 3a, and stores the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a.

[0087] Specifically, in activity A224, when the first information processing device 2a receives second user information UI2 and terminal information TI in activity A223, the first information processing device 2a compares the terminal information TI with the terminal information TI acquired in activity A212, and if the two match, links the second user information UI2 to the first user information UI1. On the other hand, when the first information processing device 2a receives second user information UI2 and first user information UI1 in activity A223, the first information processing device 2a compares the first user information UI1 with the first user information UI1 acquired in activity A214, and if the two match, links the second user information UI2 to the first user information UI1.

[0088] On the other hand, if there is a change in the second user information UI2 in the activity A221, the process returns to the activity A202, and the first user terminal 3a prompts the user to input different second user information UI2 in the second application A2. That is, in the information confirmation step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a transitions the application being executed on the first user terminal 3a from the first application A1 to the second application A2 in response to the selection operation on the confirmation information CI2.

[0089] If the user's selection operation in activity A221 returns to activity A202, activities A207 to A218 are skipped. In other words, if the authentication operation has already been performed, once authentication of the first application user ID (login to first application A1) is completed in activity A206, confirmation information CI2 of the changed second user information UI2 is immediately transmitted in activity A219 without the user having to perform an authentication operation for user information linkage. After the confirmation information CI2 is displayed in activity A220, if the second user information UI2 is not changed in activity A221, the changed second user information UI2 is linked to the first user information UI1 for which acquisition and authentication operations have already been completed.

[0090] That is, in the storage step, when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a associates the second user information UI2 acquired in the activity A223 with the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A214 and stores the second user information UI2 in the management device without performing the authentication operation again. With this configuration, when the second user information UI2 is changed after the authentication operation, it is possible to save the user the trouble of having to perform the authentication operation again.

[0091] As in the first embodiment, when the user selects activity A221 and returns to activity A202, activities A204 to A206 may be executed in the same manner as the first time, or some of the activities may be omitted.

[0092] To summarize the above, an information processing method according to one embodiment includes the following steps. In the first acquisition step, first user information UI1 associated with the first app A1 and terminal information TI associated with the first user terminal 3a are acquired from the first user terminal 3a to the first information processing device 2a by executing a first app A1 on the first user terminal 3a. In the storage step, second user information UI2 associated with the second app A2 is associated with the first user information UI1 and stored in the first information processing device 2a by executing an authentication operation on the first user terminal 3a. The second user information UI2 is acquired from the second app A2 by executing the first app A1 and is associated with the terminal information TI or the first user information UI1. Furthermore, a program for executing each of the above steps may be provided to at least one computer. According to this aspect, user information can be linked between different apps with a simple operation.

[0093] 4. Details of data processing In this section, we will explain the details of the information processing outlined in the previous section using additional diagrams, etc. In the following explanation, a "button" is an object configured to receive input from the user when pressed. "Pressing" also includes clicking, tapping, etc. In the following screen example, the cross-site management ID is expressed as a "game ID."

[0094] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a second application login screen P1 for logging in to the second application A2 provided by the second information processing device 2b. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an application list screen P2 displaying a list of applications provided by the second application A2, and an example of an application selection screen P3 for executing applications in the second application A2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a title screen P4 of the first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c, and an example of an account linking screen P5 for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-management ID login screen P6 for logging in to an information providing site using an information management ID. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication information display screen P7 displaying authentication information CI1. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen P8 for confirming the second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 7, the second application login screen P1 includes a first input field F11, a second input field F12, a login button B11, and a create account button B12. The second application login screen P1 is displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a when the second application A2 is launched by starting the first user terminal 3a. The first input field F11 is a field where the user enters second user information UI2 (the sign-in ID for the second application A2) as text. The second input field F12 is a field where the user enters the password for the second user information UI2 as text. By pressing the login button B11 with the second user information UI2 and the password entered in the first input field F11 and the second input field F12, respectively, the second user information UI2 and the password are transmitted from the first user terminal 3a to the second information processing device 2b. This allows the user to log in (sign in) to the second application A2. If the user does not have the second user information UI2 (an account for the second application A2), pressing the account creation button B12 causes the display screen on the first user terminal 3a to transition from the second application login screen P1 to a screen for creating an account.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 8A, the application list screen P2 includes titles T21 of multiple applications (games) registered in the second application A2 (provided by the second application A2 as a platform), and a first button B21 and a second button B22 corresponding to these applications. The multiple application titles T21 include applications from different creators or providers. The application list screen P2 is displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a when the user logs in to the second application A2. On the application list screen P2, a first button B21 is arranged for titles that the user has already acquired (purchased), and a second button B22 is arranged for titles that the user has not yet acquired (purchased). Pressing the first button B21 transitions the display screen of the first user terminal 3a from the application list screen P2 to, for example, the application selection screen P3 shown in FIG. 8B. Pressing the second button B22 transitions the display screen of the first user terminal 3a from the application list screen P2 to a screen for purchasing the application.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 8B, the application selection screen P3 includes an application execution button B31. Note that, although only the application execution button B31 for one application (first game) is displayed in Fig. 8B, if the user has acquired multiple applications, application execution buttons B31 for multiple applications will be displayed. Pressing the application execution button B31 causes the corresponding first application A1 to be executed on the first user terminal 3a, and, for example, a title screen P4 shown in Fig. 9A is displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a.

[0098] After the title screen P4 is displayed, the first application A1 displays the account linking screen P5 shown in FIG. 9B on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. The account linking screen P5 includes a code CD, an authentication information input field F51, and a register button B51. The code CD is a two-dimensional barcode that includes access information to an information acquisition site. The authentication information input field F51 is a field for entering, as text, authentication information CI1 (numbers) that is displayed on the second user terminal 3b after the code CD is read. When the authentication information CI1 is entered in the authentication information input field F51 and the register button B51 is pressed, an authentication operation for account linking is performed.

[0099] 10, the cross-site management ID login screen P6 includes a first input field F61, a second input field F62, and a login button B61. The cross-site management ID login screen P6 is displayed on the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b when the second user terminal 3b reads the code CD on the account linking screen P5 and accesses the information acquisition site. The first input field F61 is a field where the user enters the first user information UI1 (cross-site management ID) as text. The second input field F62 is a field where the user enters the password for the first user information UI1 as text. When the login button B61 is pressed with the first user information UI1 and the password entered in the first input field F61 and the second input field F62, respectively, the first user information UI1 and the password are transmitted from the second user terminal 3b to the first information processing device 2a. 11. Also, the display screen on the second user terminal 3b transitions from the cross-site management ID login screen P6 to an authentication information display screen P7 shown in FIG.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 11, the authentication information display screen P7 includes authentication information CI1. In Fig. 11, the authentication information CI1 is displayed as a number. The user enters the authentication information CI1 displayed on the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b into the authentication information input field F51 of the account linking screen P5 (see Fig. 9B) displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. When the user presses the register button B51 with the authentication information CI1 entered in the authentication information input field F51, the authentication operation for account linking is performed as described above, and the display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions from the account linking screen P5 to the confirmation screen P8 shown in Fig. 12.

[0101] 12, the confirmation screen P8 includes confirmation information CI2, a first button B81, and a second button B82. The confirmation information CI2 is the name of the account with which the user is currently logged in to the second application A2 (i.e., the second user information UI2 that is to be linked with the first user information UI1). If the user does not need to change the linked account, the user presses the first button B81. If the user needs to change the linked account, the user presses the second button B82.

[0102] Pressing the first button B81 on the confirmation screen P8 causes the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 to be linked and stored in the first information processing device 2a. The display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions from the confirmation screen P8 to an execution screen (game play screen) for the first application A1. Pressing the second button B82, on the other hand, transitions the display screen on the first user terminal 3a from the confirmation screen P8 to the second application login screen P1 (see FIG. 7). The user inputs second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1 on the second application login screen P1 to which the transition has been made.

[0103] [others] The information processing system 1 according to the above embodiment may be configured as follows.

[0104] In the first and second embodiments, after the authentication operation is performed, the first user terminal 3a is caused to output confirmation information CI2 that enables the second user information UI2 to be recognized. However, the output of the confirmation information CI2 may be omitted. For example, after the authentication operation is performed, the first information processing device 2a may store the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 in association with each other without providing the confirmation information CI2 to the first user terminal 3a.

[0105] In the second embodiment, when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the second user information UI2 is associated with the first user information UI1 and stored in the first information processing device 2a without performing the authentication operation again, but the authentication operation may be performed again when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2. That is, when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the authentication operation may be performed again, and then the second user information UI2 may be associated with the first user information UI1 and stored in the first information processing device 2a.

[0106] In the first and second embodiments, the first user terminal 3a issues a code including access information to an information acquisition site, but the code does not necessarily have to include access information to the information acquisition site. For example, the code may include an instruction to the second user terminal 3b to transmit terminal information TI and the like to the first information processing device 2a without going through a website.

[0107] In the first and second embodiments, the second user terminal 3b accesses the information acquisition site. However, for example, if the first user terminal 3a is an electronic device capable of multitasking, such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal, the first user terminal 3a itself may access the information acquisition site. That is, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 may be linked by the user operating only the first user terminal 3a, without the second user terminal 3b being used as an auxiliary terminal. In this case, a code including access information to the information acquisition site is displayed on the first user terminal 3a, for example, as a link to the information acquisition site. The user accesses the information acquisition site on the first user terminal 3a from the code (link) displayed on the first user terminal 3a, and performs an authentication operation by entering authentication information CI1 displayed on a browser or the like executed on the first user terminal 3a into the first app A1 running on the first user terminal 3a.

[0108] As described above, the information processing system 1 includes at least one device (for example, the first information processing device 2a, etc.), and at least one of these devices may be installed outside Japan. For example, the first information processing device 2a may be installed in Japan, and the second information processing device 2b may be installed outside Japan. Similarly, a user may access various information processing devices 2 from outside Japan using his or her own user terminal 3. According to such an embodiment, a more interesting experience can be provided to the user through various management forms.

[0109] In one embodiment, the reception unit 231, the acquisition unit 232, the calculation unit 233, the presentation unit 234, and the display control unit 235 are described as functional units implemented by the control unit 23 of the first information processing device 2a, but at least some of these may be implemented as functional units implemented by the control unit 23 of the second information processing device 2b. Alternatively, they may be implemented as functional units implemented by the control unit 33 of the user terminal 3. Furthermore, the various pieces of information described in the above example may be stored not only in the storage unit 22 of the first information processing device 2a, but also in a distributed manner in other external devices. Furthermore, the first information processing device 2a and the third information processing device 2c may be configured as a single integrated server.

[0110] Furthermore, it may be provided in the following aspects.

[0111] (1) An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising the following steps: in a first acquisition step, by executing a first app on a user terminal, first user information associated with the first app and terminal information associated with the user terminal are acquired from the user terminal to a management device; in a storage step, by executing an authentication operation on the user terminal, second user information associated with a second app is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device; the second user information is acquired from the second app by executing the first app and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information.

[0112] According to this configuration, the first user information and the second user information can be associated with each other by executing the first application and the authentication operation, and therefore, user information can be linked between different applications with a simple operation.

[0113] (2) The information processing method according to (1) above, further comprising the step of: causing the management device to acquire the second user information before the authentication operation is performed.

[0114] According to this configuration, after the authentication operation is performed, the first user information and the second user information can be linked without delay.

[0115] (3) In the information processing method described in (2) above, the code issuance step further comprises having the user terminal issue a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information after the first app is executed.

[0116] According to this configuration, the terminal information and the two pieces of user information can be transmitted simultaneously, thereby reducing the number of communications and data processing times.

[0117] (4) In the information processing method described in (3) above, the code includes access information to a website for allowing the management device to obtain the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information.

[0118] This configuration reduces the amount of work required for a user to access a specific website.

[0119] (5) In the information processing method described in (4) above, in the first acquisition step, the first user information is input on the website and the management device is caused to acquire the first user information.

[0120] According to this configuration, the first user information can be easily and reliably transmitted to the management device.

[0121] (6) In the information processing method described in any one of (1) to (5) above, the first app is executed by executing the second app, and further, in an authentication step, authentication information associated with the terminal information is provided to the user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information in the first app of the user terminal.

[0122] This configuration facilitates authentication operations by the user.

[0123] (7) In the information processing method described in (1) above, a code issuing step further includes a step of issuing to the user terminal a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information after the first application is executed, wherein the code includes access information for a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information; a first acquisition step includes receiving the first user information on the website and causing the management device to acquire the first user information; an authentication step includes providing authentication information associated with the terminal information to the user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information in the first application of the user terminal; and a second acquisition step includes causing the management device to acquire the second user information after the authentication operation is executed.

[0124] According to this configuration, the second user information is not sent to the management device before the authentication operation is performed, so that if the authentication operation is not performed, processing such as discarding the second user information on the management device side is not required.

[0125] (8) In the information processing method described in any one of (1) to (7) above, the information confirmation step further comprises outputting confirmation information capable of recognizing the second user information to the user terminal after the authentication operation is performed and before the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device.

[0126] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from associating the wrong second user information with the first user information.

[0127] (9) In the information processing method described in (8) above, in the information confirmation step, the application being executed on the user terminal is transitioned from the first application to the second application in response to a selection operation on the confirmation information.

[0128] According to this configuration, the user can easily change the second user information.

[0129] (10) In the information processing method described in (9) above, in the second acquisition step, after the authentication operation is executed, the second user information is acquired by the management device, and in the storage step, if the second user information is changed in the second app in response to the confirmation information, the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device without executing the authentication operation again.

[0130] According to this configuration, if the second user information is changed after the authentication operation, it is possible to save the user the trouble of having to perform the authentication operation again.

[0131] (11) An information processing system consisting of at least one device, the information processing system having at least one processor that executes a program to perform each step of the information processing method described in any one of (1) to (10) above.

[0132] According to this configuration, user information can be linked between different applications with a simple operation.

[0133] (12) A program that causes at least one computer to execute each step of the information processing method according to any one of (1) to (10) above.

[0134] According to this configuration, user information can be linked between different applications with a simple operation. Of course, this is not the case.

[0135] Finally, various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, but these are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The embodiments and their modifications are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the disclosure, as well as within the scope of the disclosure and its equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1: Information processing system 2: Information processing equipment 2a: First information processing device 2b: Second information processing device 2c: Third information processing device 3: User terminal 3a: First user terminal 3b: Second user terminal 4a: Display 4b: Speaker 4c: Input Device 11: Communication Network 20: Communication bus 21: Communications Department 22: Storage section 23: Control section 30: Communication bus 31: Communications Department 32: Storage section 33: Control section 34a: Graphics processing unit 34b: Audio processing section 34c: Input section 231: Reception 232: Acquisition Department 233: Arithmetic section 234:Presentation part 235: Display control unit A1: First app A2: Second app B11: Login button B12: Create account button B21: First button B22: Second button B31: App execution button B51: Registration button B61: Login button B81: First button B82: Second button CD: Code CI1: Credentials CI2: Confirmation Information F11: First input field F12: Second input field F51: Authentication information input field F61: First input field F62: Second input field P1: Second app login screen P2: App list screen P3: App selection screen P4: Title screen P5: Account linking screen P6: Cross-site management ID login screen P7: Authentication information display screen P8: Confirmation screen T21:Title TI: Device Information UI1: First user information UI2: Secondary user information UI3: Third user information

Claims

1. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: It includes the following steps: In the first acquisition step, first user information associated with the first application and terminal information associated with the first user terminal are acquired by a management device from the first user terminal or a second user terminal by executing a first application in the first user terminal; In the storing step, second user information associated with the second application is stored in the management device in association with the first user information by performing an authentication operation on the first user terminal; the second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information; In the second obtaining step, the second user information is obtained by the management device before the authentication operation is performed; In the code issuance step, after the first app is executed, a code is issued to the first user terminal or the second user terminal to cause the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information.This is an information processing method.

2. 2. The information processing method according to claim 1, The information processing method, wherein the code includes access information to a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information.

3. 3. The information processing method according to claim 2, In the first obtaining step, the first user information is input to the website and the management device is caused to obtain the first user information.

4. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: It includes the following steps: In the first acquisition step, first user information associated with the first application and terminal information associated with the first user terminal are acquired by a management device from the first user terminal or a second user terminal by executing a first application in the first user terminal; In the storing step, second user information associated with the second application is stored in the management device in association with the first user information by performing an authentication operation on the first user terminal; the second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information; The first application is executed by executing the second application; In the authentication step, authentication information associated with the terminal information is provided to the first user terminal or the second user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information in the first app of the first user terminal.

5. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: It includes the following steps: In the first acquisition step, first user information associated with the first application and terminal information associated with the first user terminal are acquired by a management device from the first user terminal or a second user terminal by executing a first application in the first user terminal; In the storing step, second user information associated with the second application is stored in the management device in association with the first user information by performing an authentication operation on the first user terminal; the second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information; in the code issuing step, after the first application is executed, a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information is issued to the first user terminal, wherein the code includes access information to a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information; In the first acquisition step, the first user information is input to the website, and the management device is caused to acquire the first user information; In the authentication step, authentication information associated with the terminal information is provided to the first user terminal or the second user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information into the first app of the first user terminal; In the second obtaining step, the second user information is obtained by the management device after the authentication operation is performed.

6. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: It includes the following steps: In the first acquisition step, first user information associated with the first application and terminal information associated with the first user terminal are acquired by a management device from the first user terminal or a second user terminal by executing a first application in the first user terminal; In the storing step, second user information associated with the second application is stored in the management device in association with the first user information by performing an authentication operation on the first user terminal; the second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information; In the information confirmation step, after the authentication operation is performed, confirmation information capable of recognizing the second user information is output to the first user terminal before the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device, and further, an application being executed in the first user terminal is transitioned from the first application to the second application in response to a selection operation on the confirmation information; In the second obtaining step, after the authentication operation is performed, the management device obtains the second user information; In the storage step, if the second user information is changed in the second app in response to the confirmation information, the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device without performing the authentication operation again.

7. An information processing system comprising at least one device, The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 includes at least one processor that executes a program to perform each step of the information processing method. Information processing system.

8. A program, A program that causes at least one computer to execute each step of the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images