Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program, configured to easily create a design which is unexpected to a user.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a processing unit. The processing unit acquires multiple pieces of design data related to some or all of designs of an article and each generated on the basis of an instruction of corresponding each user out of multiple users, executes integration processing to generate integrated design data related to an overall integrated design of the article, by integrating multiple designs related to the multiple pieces of design data, on the basis of the acquired multiple pieces of design data, and decides a mode of integration of the multiple designs in the integration processing without being on the basis of, the instructions of the multiple users.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technology that enables users to customize the design of an item when purchasing it on an EC (electronic commerce) site (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Also, a technology has been proposed that allows multiple users to jointly customize the design of a single item. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6034448 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6709308 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is a limit to the design ideas that each user can create independently, and the manner in which each user's designs are incorporated and integrated tends to result in a similar pattern each time, so the above-mentioned conventional technology has the problem that it is difficult to create designs that are surprising to the user.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can easily create a design that is surprising to the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the information processing device according to the present invention comprises: a processing unit; The processing unit acquiring a plurality of pieces of design data relating to the design of a part or the whole of an article, each piece of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; executes an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the acquired plurality of design data; The manner in which the plurality of designs are integrated in the integration process is determined without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the information processing device according to the present invention comprises: a processing unit; The processing unit selecting, from a plurality of parts included in the article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users, such that the selected parts are different for each user; causing a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present the selected selected part; acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; An integration process is executed to generate integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating the designs of the selected parts based on the plurality of design data.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, an information processing method according to the present invention includes: An information processing method executed by a computer of an information processing device, acquiring a plurality of pieces of design data relating to the design of a part or the whole of an article, each piece of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; executes an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the acquired plurality of design data; The manner in which the plurality of designs are integrated in the integration process is determined without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, an information processing method according to the present invention includes: An information processing method executed by a computer of an information processing device, selecting, from a plurality of parts included in the article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users, such that the selected parts are different for each user; causing a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present the selected selected part; acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; An integration process is executed to generate integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating the designs of the selected parts based on the plurality of design data.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the program according to the present invention comprises: The computer of the information processing device a function of acquiring a plurality of design data relating to a design of a part or the whole of an article, each of the plurality of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; a function of executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the plurality of acquired design data; a function of determining the manner in which the plurality of designs are integrated in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; Make this a reality.

[0011] In order to solve the above problem, the program according to the present invention comprises: The computer of the information processing device a function of selecting, from a plurality of parts included in an article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, so that the selected parts are different for each user, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; a function of displaying the selected selected part on a display unit belonging to each of the plurality of users; a function of acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; a function of executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; Make this a reality. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily create a design that is surprising to the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a server. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the terminal device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a design screen. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user design data. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for generating integrated design data in the integration process. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating another example of a method for generating integrated design data in the integration process. [Figure 8] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating another example of a method for generating integrated design data in the integration process. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a design screen in a second state. [Figure 10]10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for collaborative design processing. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for user design processing. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for a component design process. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the control procedure for the component design process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <Configuration of information processing system> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes a server 10 (information processing device) and a plurality of terminal devices 20. The server 10 and the plurality of terminal devices 20 are connected via a communication network N, and are capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from each other. The communication network N is, for example, the Internet, but is not limited to this and may be another network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The communication paths between the server 10 and the communication network N and between the terminal devices 20 and the communication network N may include wireless communication paths.

[0016] The multiple terminal devices 20 are devices used by different users. The terminal devices 20 may be owned by the users or may be loaned to the users. The terminal devices 20 may be either portable devices or stationary devices, such as smartphones, tablet terminals, or PCs (Personal Computers).

[0017] The server 10 executes various processes in response to requests from the terminal device 20, transmits the processing results to the terminal device 20, and displays a screen related to the processing results on the display unit 25 (see FIG. 3) of the terminal device 20. The information processing system 1 provides an e-commerce service to the user of the terminal device 20 through this series of operations by the server 10 and the terminal device 20. The user of the terminal device 20 can log in to this e-commerce service and purchase products by operating the terminal device 20. In addition, this e-commerce service allows the user to customize the design of the product they purchase. Furthermore, multiple users logged in to the e-commerce service can jointly customize the design of a single product. Customization of the product design will be described in detail later.

[0018] <Server configuration> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the server 10. As shown in FIG. The server 10 includes a CPU 11 (Central Processing Unit), a RAM 12 (Random Access Memory), a storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, a display unit 15, a communication unit 16, and a bus 17. The components of the server 10 are connected to each other via the bus 17.

[0019] The CPU 11 is a processor that reads and executes the program 131 stored in the storage unit 13 and performs various arithmetic processing, thereby controlling the operation of each unit of the server 10. In this embodiment, the CPU 11 corresponds to a "processing unit." The processing unit may have multiple processors (e.g., multiple CPUs), and the multiple processes performed by the CPU 11 of this embodiment may be executed by the multiple processors. In this case, the multiple processors correspond to a "processing unit." In this case, the multiple processors may be involved in a common process, or the multiple processors may independently execute different processes in parallel.

[0020] The RAM 12 provides a working memory space for the CPU 11 and stores temporary data.

[0021] The storage unit 13 is a non-transitory recording medium readable by the CPU 11 as a computer, and stores a program 131 and various data. The storage unit 13 includes a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The program 131 is stored in the storage unit 13 in the form of computer-readable program code. Data stored in the storage unit 13 includes user design data 132. The user design data 132 includes multiple design data related to designs of items customized by users. The user design data 132 also includes integrated design data related to an integrated design obtained by integrating multiple designs by multiple users. The contents of the user design data 132 will be described in detail later.

[0022] The operation unit 14 has a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and receives position inputs and key inputs from the operator of the server 10 and outputs the operation information to the CPU 11.

[0023] The display unit 15 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and performs various displays on the display device in accordance with display control signals from the CPU 11.

[0024] The communication unit 16 performs a communication operation in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The communication unit 16 transmits and receives data to and from the terminal device 20 via the communication network N through this communication operation.

[0025] <Configuration of terminal device> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the terminal device 20. As shown in FIG. The terminal device 20 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a storage unit 23, an operation unit 24, a display unit 25 (presentation unit), a communication unit 26, and a bus 27. The units of the terminal device 20 are connected to each other via the bus 27.

[0026] The CPU 21 is a processor that reads and executes a program 231 stored in the storage unit 23 and performs various arithmetic processing to control the operation of each unit of the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 may have multiple processors (e.g., multiple CPUs), and the multiple processes executed by the CPU 21 of this embodiment may be executed by the multiple processors. In this case, the multiple processors may be involved in a common process, or the multiple processors may independently execute different processes in parallel.

[0027] The RAM 22 provides a working memory space for the CPU 21 and stores temporary data.

[0028] The storage unit 23 is a non-transitory recording medium readable by the CPU 21 as a computer and stores the program 231 and various data. The storage unit 23 includes a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The program 231 is stored in the storage unit 23 in the form of computer-readable program code. The program 231 includes, for example, a web browser. When the web browser is executed on the terminal device 20, the web browser can access a website for the e-commerce service provided by the information processing system 1. The web browser that accesses the website displays the results of various processes related to the e-commerce service executed by the server 10 in response to user input operations. For example, the user of the terminal device 20 can purchase products or customize the design of the products (described below) using the web browser. Note that instead of a general-purpose web browser, a dedicated application program for executing various processes related to the e-commerce service may be used.

[0029] The operation unit 24 has at least one of input devices such as a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch panel, and receives an input operation from a user on the input device and outputs the operation information to the CPU 21.

[0030] The display unit 25 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and performs various displays on the display device in accordance with a display control signal from the CPU 21. The display unit 25 of the terminal device 20 used by the user U corresponds to a presentation unit belonging to the user U.

[0031] The communication unit 26 performs a communication operation in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The communication unit 26 transmits and receives data to and from the server 10 via the communication network N through this communication operation.

[0032] <Operation of information processing system> Next, the operation of the information processing system 1 will be described, focusing on the operation related to customizing the design of an article. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which three users U1 to U3 jointly customize and purchase the design of a wristwatch, which is a product. In the following, any one of users U1 to U3 will be referred to as user U.

[0033] Each user U can log in to the e-commerce service by launching a web browser on the terminal device 20 that he or she uses, accessing the website of the e-commerce service, and entering predetermined authentication information. The specific procedure for the login process is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a procedure in which the server 10 receives the user ID and password of the user U entered on the terminal device 20, and if the received password matches a password that is associated with the user ID and registered in advance as authentication data, the server 10 starts a login session.

[0034] When user U wishes to jointly design and purchase a watch with another user U, the user U causes a design screen used to generate design data for the watch design to be displayed on the display unit 25 of the terminal device 20 using a web browser. In more detail, while accessing the website of an e-commerce service using the web browser, user U performs an operation to call up the design screen, and a display request for the design screen is sent from the terminal device 20 to the server 10. Upon receiving the display request, the server 10 generates screen configuration data that constitutes the design screen and sends it to the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 displays the design screen on the display unit 25 in accordance with the received screen configuration data.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the design screen 30. As shown in FIG. The design screen 30 includes a user information display area 31, a design display area 32, component design areas 33 to 35, a save progress button 36, and a confirm design button 37. Drop-down lists 331, 332, 341, 342, and 351 to 353 provided in the component design areas 33 to 35 are operation target elements that are the target of user operation. When a user operation is performed on an operation target element on the design screen 30 (for example, a touch operation on the touch panel or an operation of clicking the mouse with the mouse cursor over the element), a processing request corresponding to the user operation is transmitted from the terminal device 20 to the server 10. The server 10 executes processing corresponding to the processing request, stores the processing results in the storage unit 13, transmits image configuration data of the design screen 30 reflecting the processing results to the terminal device 20, and updates the display content of the design screen 30 on the display unit 25.

[0036] The user information display area 31 displays an editing user (here, user U1) who is editing a design using the design screen 30, and other collaborative design users (here, users U2 and U3) who will be participating in the collaborative design. The collaborative design users are set, for example, by performing an operation to invite the other users U2 and U3 who will be participating in the collaborative design prior to the display of the design screen 30. Alternatively, the design screen 30 may be provided with an operation target element for inviting the other users U2 and U3 who will be participating in the collaborative design, so that the other users U2 and U3 can be invited on the design screen 30. The design screen 30 is also displayed on the terminal device 20 used by the invited collaborative design user. On the design screen 30 on the terminal device 20 used by user U2, the editing user is displayed as "User U2," and the collaborative design users are displayed as "User U1, User U3." On the design screen 30 on the terminal device 20 used by user U3, the editing user is displayed as "User U3," and the collaborative design users are displayed as "User U1, User U2."

[0037] The design display area 32 displays the current design of the wristwatch 40 (image of the wristwatch 40) that the user U1, who is the editing user, has customized by operating the component design areas 33-35.

[0038] The component design areas 33-35 are areas where the design settings for the components of the wristwatch 40 are displayed, and where input operations for changing the component designs are accepted. The wristwatch 40 of this embodiment has three components whose designs are changeable. These three components are the watch face 41, the bezel 42, and the band 43. The component design areas 33-35 correspond to the watch face 41, the bezel 42, and the band 43, respectively. However, this is merely an example, and the design of any component that makes up the wristwatch 40 may be changeable, or the design of two or less or four or more components may be changeable. In these cases, a component design area may be provided for each component whose design is changeable.

[0039] The watch face 41 is the part of the wristwatch 40 that displays information such as the time, and includes a digital display in the case of a digital wristwatch 40, and includes hands and a dial in the case of an analog wristwatch 40. The bezel 42 is a frame-shaped member that surrounds the watch face 41. The band 43 is a belt-shaped member that is wrapped around the wrist when worn.

[0040] In this embodiment, each of the components whose designs can be changed includes multiple design elements. Furthermore, each of the drop-down lists 331, 332, 341, 342, and 351-353 provided in the component design areas 33-35 corresponds to one design element of the corresponding component. By selecting from the drop-down list, multiple candidates representing the settings (design contents) of the design element can be displayed. Selecting one of the candidates changes the settings of the design element to the selected candidate.

[0041] The watch face 41 includes design elements such as a "display type" and a "background color." The "display type" is a design element that specifies the combination of the display format (analog or digital) and the basic design type for each display format. In the case of a digital format, the basic design includes the shape of the digital display, the font of the digital display, and the design of the background area surrounding the digital display. In the case of an analog format, the basic design includes the number and shape of the hands and the design of the dial. The "background color" is a design element that specifies the color of the background area of ​​the digital display or the dial. The drop-down lists 331 and 332 in the component design area 33 correspond to the "display type" and the "background color," respectively. The design of the watch face 41 is determined by the combination of the settings in the drop-down lists 331 and 332. In this embodiment, combinations of display format and basic design types are provided as design elements for the watch face 41. However, the basic design elements (such as the shape of the digital display, the shape of the hands, and the design of the dial) may also be set separately as independent design elements.

[0042] The bezel 42 includes "shape" and "bezel color" as design elements. "Shape" is a design element that specifies the combination of the shape of the bezel 42 and the design of decorations, etc. "Bezel color" is a design element that specifies the color of the bezel 42. Drop-down lists 341 and 342 in the component design area 34 correspond to "shape" and "bezel color," respectively. The design of the bezel 42 is determined by combining the settings in the drop-down lists 341 and 342.

[0043] The band 43 includes "shape," "material," and "band color" as design elements. "Shape" is a design element that specifies the combination of the shape of the band 43 and the design of decorations, etc. "Material" is a design element that specifies the material of the band 43. "Band color" is a design element that specifies the color of the band 43. Drop-down lists 351 to 353 in the component design area 35 correspond to "shape," "material," and "band color," respectively. The design of the band 43 is determined by combining the settings in the drop-down lists 351 to 353.

[0044] When the design elements are changed by operating drop-down lists 331, 332, 341, 342, 351 to 353, the design of the parts is changed, and the design of wristwatch 40 is changed accordingly. The change in the design of wristwatch 40 is reflected in design display area 32.

[0045] When design decision button 37 is selected, the design of wristwatch 40 at the time of selection is identified as the completed design, and design data DD (see FIG. 5) relating to the completed design is stored in user design data 132. The design data DD relating to the completed design is used to generate integrated design data relating to the integrated design of the entire wristwatch.

[0046] On the other hand, if the save progress button 36 is selected before the completed design is finalized, the design of the wristwatch 40 at the time of selection is identified as the in-progress design, and variation design data VDD (see FIG. 5) relating to the in-progress design is stored in the user design data 132. The in-progress design is one aspect of the variation design of the completed design, and can be called up and displayed on the second state design screen 30 described below.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the user design data 132. As shown in FIG. Each data row of the user design data 132 in Figure 5 corresponds to one piece of design data DD relating to a completed design or one piece of variation design data VDD relating to a design in progress, etc. Each piece of design data DD and variation design data VDD includes data items for "user" and "design type" and component data PD corresponding to each of the "watch face," "bezel," and "band." The component data PD for the "watch face" includes design element data ED for "display type" and "background color." The component data PD for the "bezel" includes design element data ED for "shape" and "bezel color." The component data PD for the "band" includes design element data ED for "shape," "material," and "band color." Each data item, component data PD, and design element data ED in the actual user design data 132 may be encoded.

[0048] The data item "user" indicates the user U (user U who created the design) corresponding to the design data DD or variation design data VDD of that data row. The data item "design type" indicates the type of design corresponding to the design data DD or variation design data VDD of that data row. Here, the design type is an in-progress design or a completed design. If there are multiple in-progress designs for one user U, ordinal numbers or symbols may be assigned to distinguish between these multiple in-progress designs.

[0049] Of the "watch face" component data PD, the "display type" design element data ED represents the settings in drop-down list 331 of design screen 30 in Figure 4, and the "background color" design element data ED represents the settings in drop-down list 332. The design of watch face 41 is specified by this "watch face" component data PD.

[0050] Of the "bezel" component data PD, the "shape" design element data ED represents the setting contents in the drop-down list 341 of the design screen 30 in Figure 4, and the "bezel color" design element data ED represents the setting contents in the drop-down list 342. The design of the bezel 42 is specified by this "bezel" component data PD.

[0051] Of the "band" component data PD, the "shape" design element data ED represents the setting contents in drop-down list 351 of design screen 30 in Figure 4, the "material" design element data ED represents the setting contents in drop-down list 352, and the "band color" design element data ED represents the setting contents in drop-down list 353. The design of band 43 is specified by this "bezel" component data PD.

[0052] It should be noted that not all parts necessarily have multiple design elements, and the design of at least some parts may be determined by a single design element.

[0053] The user design data 132 illustrated in Figure 5 includes design data DD for a total of three completed designs generated based on the instructions of each of users U1 to U3, two variation design data VDD generated based on the instructions of user U1, and one variation design data VDD generated based on the instructions of user U3.

[0054] When design data DD for each of users U1 to U3 relating to a completed design is generated and stored in user design data 132, an integration process is executed to generate integrated design data IDD (see FIG. 6) relating to the integrated design of the entire wristwatch 40 based on these three pieces of design data DD. The generated integrated design data IDD is stored in user design data 132. An image of the wristwatch 40 with the integrated design is displayed on design screen 30 based on the generated integrated design data IDD. The integrated design is a design obtained by integrating the three designs of the wristwatch 40 relating to the above three pieces of design data DD. The integration process to generate the integrated design data IDD may be triggered by the generation of the three pieces of design data DD corresponding to users U1 to U3, or by an instruction to start the integration process being given by any or all of users U1 to U3. The integration process is executed by CPU 11 of server 10. The manner in which the three designs are integrated in the integration process is determined by CPU 11, regardless of an instruction from any of users U1 to U3.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for generating integrated design data IDD in the integration process. The upper part of Fig. 6 shows design data DD for three completed designs corresponding to users U1 to U3 extracted from the user design data 132. Hereinafter, the design data DD corresponding to users U1 to U3, respectively, will be referred to as design data DD1 to DD3. The lower part of Fig. 6 shows integrated design data IDD that is generated based on these three pieces of design data DD1 to DD3 and added to the user design data 132.

[0056] In the integration process, the CPU 11 executes a component design determination process for determining the design of each component. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the component design determination process is a process of extracting component data PD relating to the design of the target component from one of the three design data DD1 to DD3 corresponding to the users U1 to U3, and determining (specifying) the design of the component based on the extracted component data PD.

[0057] Specifically, in the component design determination process for watch face 41, component data PD2 is extracted from design data DD2 corresponding to user U2, and based on the component data PD2, the "display type" is determined to be "digital 5" and the "background color" is determined to be "black." In addition, in the component design determination process for bezel 42, component data PD1 is extracted from design data DD1 corresponding to user U1, and based on the component data PD1, the "shape" is determined to be "bezel shape 4" and the "bezel color" is determined to be "silver." In addition, in the component design determination process for band 43, component data PD3 is extracted from design data DD3 corresponding to user U3, and based on the component data PD3, the "shape" is determined to be "band shape 3," the "material" is determined to be "silicon," and the "band color" is determined to be "blue."

[0058] In the component design determination process for each of the three components, component data PD is extracted from different design data DDs for each of the three components. In other words, the design data DD (and the user U corresponding to the design data DD) from which component data PD is extracted differs for each component. If the number of components is greater than the number of users U, component data PD for two or more different components may be extracted from the design data DD corresponding to one user U. It is also preferable that component data PD for at least one component be extracted from the design data DD corresponding to each user U. Conversely, if the number of users U is greater than the number of components, component data PD may be extracted from multiple design data DDs corresponding to multiple users U for a given component, and the design of the given component may be determined based on the extracted multiple component data PDs. In this case, the design that is most frequently used in the multiple component data PDs may be determined. Alternatively, to increase the unexpectedness of the design, the design that is least frequently used in the multiple component data PDs may be determined.

[0059] In the integration process, once component data PD for each component is extracted by the component design determination process, the extracted component data PD is combined to generate integrated design data IDD shown in the lower part of Fig. 6. Therefore, the integrated design data IDD includes component data PD2 for the watch face 41, component data PD1 for the bezel 42, and component data PD3 for the band 43. Because the component data PD for each component is extracted from design data DD corresponding to different users U, the integrated design of the wristwatch 40 based on the generated integrated design data IDD includes some of the features of the completed design of the wristwatch 40 for each user U. In other words, the integrated design of the wristwatch 40 based on the integrated design data IDD is a design that integrates the completed designs of the wristwatches 40 for each user U.

[0060] In the example of FIG. 6, the selection of which design data DD corresponding to which user U the component data PD for each component is extracted from determines the manner of design integration. This integration manner, i.e., the selection of the design data DD from which the component data PD is extracted, is determined by CPU 11 without based on instructions from any of users U1-U3. In other words, CPU 11 associates one user U of the multiple users U with each of the multiple components of wristwatch 40 without based on instructions from any of users U (without allowing any user U to input a selection instruction), and in the component design determination process, extracts component data PD for that component from the design data DD corresponding to the user U associated with the target component. This generates an integrated design that is unexpected for users U1-U3. The user U associated with each component may be determined according to a predetermined algorithm that is not disclosed to users U, or may be determined randomly.

[0061] The above algorithm may, for example, associate a user U with a certain part so that a design with a trendy (popular) color, shape, material, etc. is given priority as the design of the part. Conversely, if a user U has selected an unusual (low selection rate, different from the trend, or unpopular) design for a certain part, the part may be preferentially associated with the user U who selected the unusual design so that the integrated design is more unexpected. Furthermore, when two or more users U have the same design for a certain part, the users U may be associated with the part so as to adopt the design selected by the most users U. Conversely, when two or more users U have the same design for a certain part, the users U may be associated with the part so as not to adopt the same design, so as to increase the sense of surprise in the design. Furthermore, a user U may be associated with a certain part so that the design of the part that has a surplus in stock is preferentially adopted as the design of the part. Furthermore, a user U who is presumed to have a strong emotional attachment to a certain part may be preferentially associated with that part. Specifically, the number of times each user U selected a certain part (the number of times the user selected the drop-down list in the part design area 33-35) until the design was completed may be acquired, and the user U associated with the part may be determined based on the number of selections. For example, the user U who selected the part the most may be associated with the part. Alternatively, the user U associated with the part may be determined so that the design of the user U with the most recorded variation design data VDD relating to designs in progress that include the part may be adopted among the designs of each user U for the part. Furthermore, the user U with the largest value obtained by adding the number of selections and the number of recordings of variation design data VDD with a predetermined weighting may be associated with the part. Furthermore, the number of recordings of variation design data VDD may be weighted more heavily than the number of selections.

[0062] As described above, when one user U out of multiple users U is associated with each of multiple components, each user U may be notified (presented) in advance (usually before each user U starts designing) of the components associated with that user U. In other words, CPU 11 may select, as selected components, components to be designed by each of the multiple users U from the multiple components included in wristwatch 40, without based on instructions from each of the multiple users U, and present the selected selected components on display unit 25, which serves as a presentation unit, belonging to each of the multiple corresponding users. Here, the selected components may be selected differently for each user U. For example, the above notification may be made by displaying a predetermined notification sign in the component design area corresponding to the component associated with that user U, among component design areas 33-35 on design screen 30, or by highlighting the component associated with user U more than other components. This notification allows user U to know in advance which components in the integrated design will reflect his or her own design. In this case, instead of the entire wristwatch 40, only the parts associated with the user U may be extracted and displayed in the design display area 32. Furthermore, when each user U is notified of the associated parts in advance in this way, the design data DD does not need to include part data PD relating to all parts, as long as it includes at least the part data PD for the part associated with the user U. Therefore, the design data DD may include, for example, part data PD for a single part.

[0063] 7, in the integration process, multiple (here, three) integrated design data IDD relating to multiple integrated designs with different integration modes may be generated at once based on three design data DD1 to DD3. The three integrated design data IDD are obtained by extracting part data PD relating to the same part from different design data DD (i.e., design data DD corresponding to different users U).

[0064] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of a method for generating integrated design data IDD in the integration process. In the component design determination process in the example shown in Figure 6, component data PD was extracted as a group from design data DD to determine the component design. Instead, in the component design determination process in the example shown in Figure 8, each of the multiple design element data ED included in component data PD for one component is extracted from one of two or more different design data DDs. That is, each of the multiple design element data ED is extracted from different design data DDs. The multiple design elements associated with the extracted multiple design element data ED are then integrated to determine the component design. According to this component design determination process and integration process, the designs of each user U can be integrated using the component design elements as a unit.

[0065] 8, for example, for the "display type" design element of the multiple design elements of watch face 41, design element data ED1 is extracted from design data DD2 corresponding to user U2, and for the "background color" design element, design element data ED2 is extracted from design data DD3 corresponding to user U3. Therefore, the "display type" of watch face 41 is determined to be "digital 5" based on the design element data ED1, and the "background color" of watch face 41 is determined to be "gray" based on the design element data ED2.

[0066] Furthermore, for the "shape" design element of the multiple design elements of bezel 42, design element data ED3 is extracted from design data DD3 corresponding to user U3, and for the "bezel color" design element, design element data ED4 is extracted from design data DD1 corresponding to user U1. Thus, the "shape" of bezel 42 is determined to be "bezel shape 2" based on the design element data ED3, and the "bezel color" of bezel 42 is determined to be "silver" based on the design element data ED4.

[0067] Furthermore, for the "shape" design element of the multiple design elements of band 43, design element data ED5 is extracted from design data DD2 corresponding to user U2, for the "material" design element, design element data ED6 is extracted from design data DD1 corresponding to user U1, and for the "band color" design element, design element data ED7 is extracted from design data DD3 corresponding to user U3. Thus, the "shape" of band 43 is determined to be "band shape 5" based on the design element data ED5, the "material" of band 43 is determined to be "metal 1" based on the design element data ED6, and the "band color" of band 43 is determined to be "blue" based on the design element data ED7.

[0068] In the integration process, once the design element data ED for each component is extracted by the component design determination process and the component design is determined, the extracted design element data ED is combined to generate integrated design data IDD shown in the lower part of FIG. 8. Therefore, the integrated design data IDD includes the design element data ED1-ED7 extracted as described above. Because the design element data ED1-ED7 are extracted from the integrated design data IDD1-IDD3 corresponding to users U1-U3, the integrated design of wristwatch 40 related to the generated integrated design data IDD includes some of the features of the completed design of wristwatch 40 for each user U. In other words, the integrated design of wristwatch 40 related to the integrated design data IDD is a design that combines the completed designs of wristwatch 40 for each user U.

[0069] In the example of FIG. 8, the selection of which design data DD corresponding to which user U each piece of design element data ED is extracted determines the manner of design integration. This integration manner, i.e., the selection of the design data DD from which the design element data ED is extracted, is determined by CPU 11 without based on instructions from any of users U1-U3, as in the cases of FIGS. 6 and 7. In other words, CPU 11 associates one user U of multiple users U with each of the multiple design elements of wristwatch 40 without based on instructions from any of users U, and in the component design determination process, extracts design element data ED related to the design element from the design data DD corresponding to the user U associated with the target design element. From another perspective, CPU 11 associates two or more users U with each component without based on instructions from any of users U, and in the component design determination process, extracts design element data ED related to each design element of the component from the design data DD corresponding to one of the two or more users U associated with the component. This results in an integrated design that is unexpected for users U1-U3. The user U to be associated with each design element of each part may be determined according to a predetermined algorithm that is not disclosed to the user U, or may be determined randomly.

[0070] The algorithm for associating each part with the user U can be the same as the algorithm for associating the part with the user U in the case of FIG. Furthermore, the algorithm for associating users U with each of the multiple design elements of each part can be based on the same perspective as the algorithm for associating users U with parts. For example, users U may be associated with each design element so that design elements such as trendy (popular) colors, shapes, or materials are adopted with higher priority. Conversely, if a user U selects an unusual design element (one with a low selection rate, that is unfashionable, or that is unpopular), users U who selected the unusual design element may be associated with the design element with higher priority so that the integrated design becomes more unexpected. Furthermore, when two or more users U have the same design element for a certain part, the user U may be associated with the design element so as to adopt the design element selected by the most users U. Conversely, when two or more users U have the same design for a certain design element, the user U may be associated with the design element so as not to adopt the same design element in order to enhance the unexpectedness of the design.

[0071] As described above, when one user U out of multiple users U is associated with each of multiple design elements, each user U may be notified (presented) in advance (usually before each user U starts designing) of the design elements with which that user U is associated. This notification allows user U to know in advance the design elements in which his or her design will be reflected in the integrated design. Alternatively, each user U may be notified of the parts with which the user U is associated, and the design elements with which the user U is associated may be kept secret from the user U.

[0072] Note that if the number of design elements in a single part is greater than the number of users U, design element data ED relating to two or more different design elements of a single part may be extracted from design data DD corresponding to one user U. Conversely, if the number of users U is greater than the number of design elements, design element data ED may be extracted for a given design element from multiple design data DD corresponding to multiple users U, and the given design element may be determined based on the extracted multiple design element data ED. In this case, the design element that is used in the most design element data ED among the multiple design element data ED may be determined. Alternatively, to increase the sense of surprise in the design, the design element that is used least frequently among the multiple design element data ED may be determined.

[0073] Furthermore, it is not necessary to integrate all parts by design element. For example, some parts may be integrated by design element data ED as shown in Fig. 8, and the remaining parts may be integrated by part data PD as shown in Fig. 6.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 4, until the initial integration process is complete, the design screen 30 displayed on each user U's terminal device 20 is in a state (hereinafter referred to as the "first state") in which information related to the design data DD corresponding to other users cannot be displayed. For example, the design screen 30 displayed on user U1's terminal device 20 does not display information related to the design data DD corresponding to users U2 and U3. Here, the information related to the design data DD includes not only the overall design of the wristwatch 40 (e.g., the image of the wristwatch 40 displayed in the design display area 32) but also information related to the design of the components (e.g., the settings of the design elements in the component design areas 33-35). Thus, until the initial integration process is complete, each user U will complete their own design without knowing the designs of the other users U, unless they actively try to look at the design screens of the other users. This makes it possible to make the integrated design created by the integration process more surprising for each user.

[0075] When the first integration process is completed, the design screen 30 switches to a state (hereinafter referred to as "second state") in which information related to the design data DD corresponding to other users can be displayed.

[0076] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the design screen 30 in the second state. In the second state of the design screen 30, in addition to the design display area 32, a reference design display area 38 is provided for displaying various reference designs for watches 50, including the completed designs of other users U. The reference design display area 38 has a drop-down list 381 for selecting the reference design to display. By making a selection from the drop-down list 381, displayable reference design candidates can be displayed, and when one of the candidates is selected, the selected reference design is displayed in the reference design display area 38. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the completed design of user U2 is selected and displayed.

[0077] The selectable reference designs are not limited to the completed designs of other users U, but may also include integrated designs related to the integrated design data IDD generated by the integration process and variation designs (e.g., in-progress designs) of the user U or other users U. Furthermore, the design screen 30 may be provided with an operation element (such as an operation button) for incorporating a portion (a component or a design element of a component) of the reference design displayed in the reference design display area 38 into the user U's current design in the design display area 32. This allows, for example, a user U to display their own in-progress design in the reference design display area 38 and incorporate a portion of the in-progress design into their current design in the design display area 32. When integrated design data IDD is generated in the integration process, an image of a wristwatch 40 with an integrated design based on the integrated design data IDD may automatically be displayed in the reference design display area 38. Furthermore, when the design screen 30 in the second state is displayed while each user U is designing, the current design content of the other user U may be displayed in the reference design display area 38. In this case, each time another user U changes the design of a part, this may be reflected in the image of the wristwatch 50 in the reference design display area 38. Also, the design process (transition) resulting from changes to the design of the part by another user U may be displayed in the reference design display area 38.

[0078] 9 may be displayed before the initial integration process is completed (for example, when the display of the design screen 30 begins). In this case, each user U can know the designs of other users U before the integrated design is generated, but because the mode of integration in the integration process is determined by the CPU 11, an integrated design that is unexpected for each user U may be created. Alternatively, the design screen 30 may be maintained in the first state even after the first integration process is completed. Furthermore, switching between the first state and the second state may occur at various times, not just when the initial integration process is completed. For example, the state may be transitioned from the first state to the second state when consent is obtained from all users U participating in the collaborative design. Furthermore, the state may be transitioned from the second state to the first state when at least one user U issues an instruction to switch to the first state in order to keep their design confidential from other users U.

[0079] When the design decision button 37 is selected on the design screen 30 in Figure 9, the design of the wristwatch 40 at the time of selection is identified as the new completed design, and the design data DD for the completed design is stored in the user design data 132. Furthermore, the design type of the design data DD for the existing completed design stored in the user design data 132 at this time is rewritten, and it becomes variation design data VDD for a past completed design. In other words, a past completed design is one aspect of a variation design. A past completed design may be displayed as a reference design in the reference design display area 38.

[0080] In this way, after the initial integration process is completed, changes to the design data DD for the completed designs are accepted on the design screen 30. If at least some of the design data DD for the completed designs of users U1 to U3 are changed, the integration process is executed again based on the changed design data DD, and integrated design data IDD is generated. Furthermore, an image of the wristwatch 40 with the integrated design is displayed on the design screen 30 based on the generated integrated design data IDD. Alternatively, the integration process may be executed when the design data DD for the completed designs of all users U is changed.

[0081] <Control procedure for collaborative design processing> Next, a collaborative design process executed by the CPU 11 of the server 10 to realize the operation of the information processing system 1 described above will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the collaborative design process. When the collaborative design process is started, the CPU 11 executes user authentication processing based on authentication information received from the terminal device 20 used by each user U (step S101). When the user U is authenticated in the user authentication processing, the CPU 11 starts a login session for the user U in the e-commerce service.

[0082] The CPU 11 determines whether a request for execution of a collaborative design of an item (here, a wristwatch 40) has been made from the terminal device 20 of any user U, specifying another logged-in user U as the collaborative design user (step S102). If it is determined that a request for execution of a collaborative design has not been made ("NO" in step S102), the CPU 11 executes step S102 again.

[0083] If it is determined that a request for execution of the collaborative design has been made (“YES” in step S102), the CPU 11 causes the display unit 25 of each user U's terminal device 20 to display the design screen 30 in the first state (step S103).

[0084] CPU 11 associates each component of wristwatch 40 with one of users U, stores the results in storage unit 13, and notifies each user U of the results (step S104). That is, CPU 11 notifies each user U of the component with which that user U is associated. Note that if the corresponding component is not to be notified to user U, the notification process in step S104 may be omitted. In this case, the association of components with users U may be performed at any timing up to the start of step S302 of the component design process (step S107, FIG. 12) described below.

[0085] The CPU 11 executes a user design process (step S105). FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control procedure for the user design process. The user-designed process is executed for each of the users U1 to U3. At least a part of the user-designed process for different users U may be executed in parallel.

[0086] When the user design process is called, the CPU 11 accepts an input operation of design instructions from the user U on the design screen 30 (step S201). Here, if the design screen 30 is in the first state, the CPU 11 accepts an input operation for each of the drop-down lists in the component design areas 33 to 35 shown in Fig. 4. Also, as will be described later, if the user design process is called by branching to "NO" in step S110 of Fig. 10 and the design screen 30 is in the second state, the CPU 11 accepts an input operation for each of the drop-down lists in the component design areas 33 to 35 and the drop-down list 381 in the reference design display area 38 shown in Fig. 9.

[0087] The CPU 11 determines whether or not an operation to select the save progress button 36 has been performed (step S202). If it determines that an operation to select the save progress button 36 has been performed ("YES" in step S202), the CPU 11 identifies the design of the wristwatch 40 at that time as the design of the progress, and stores variation design data VDD related to the design of the progress in the user design data 132 (step S203).

[0088] When step S203 is completed, or when it is determined in step S202 that the operation to select the progress save button 36 has not been performed ("NO" in step S202), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation to select the design decision button 37 has been performed (step S204). When it is determined that the operation to select the design decision button 37 has not been performed ("NO" in step S204), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S201.

[0089] If it is determined that an operation to select the design decision button 37 has been performed ("YES" in step S204), the CPU 11 identifies the design of the wristwatch 40 at that time as the completed design, and stores the design data DD relating to the completed design in the user design data 132. When step S205 ends, the CPU 11 ends the user design process and returns the process to the collaborative design process.

[0090] 10, when the user design process (step S105) is completed, the CPU 11 acquires design data DD relating to the completed designs of each user U participating in the collaborative design (step S106). The CPU 11 also executes a part design process (step S107).

[0091] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the component design process. When the component design process starts, the CPU 11 selects one component (in this embodiment, either the watch face 41, the bezel 42, or the band 43) (step S301). The CPU 11 references the user U associated with each component in step S104 of the collaborative design process in FIG. 10, and extracts component data PD related to the component from the design data DD of the user U associated with the selected component (step S302). By extracting this component data PD, the design of the selected component is determined to be the design specified by the extracted component data PD. The process of step S302 corresponds to the "component design determination process."

[0092] The CPU 11 determines whether the designs of all parts have been decided (step S303). If it is determined that the design of any part has not been decided ("NO" in step S303), the CPU 11 selects the next part (step S304) and returns the process to step S302. If it is determined that the designs of all parts have been decided ("YES" in step S303), the CPU 11 ends the part design process and returns the process to the collaborative design process.

[0093] 10, when the component design process (step S107) is completed, CPU 11 executes integration process to generate integrated design data IDD and stores it in user design data 132. CPU 11 also displays the integrated design of wristwatch 40 on display unit 25 of each terminal device 20 (for example, on design screen 30) based on the generated integrated design data IDD (step S108). In the integration process, CPU 11 combines component data PD extracted for each component in the component design process to generate integrated design data IDD.

[0094] The CPU 11 determines whether the integrated design related to the generated integrated design data IDD has been decided as the design of the wristwatch 40 to be purchased (step S109). For example, the CPU 11 determines that the integrated design has been decided as the design of the wristwatch 40 to be purchased when any of the users U performs an operation to select a purchase decision button (not shown) on the design screen 30. Alternatively, the CPU 11 may determine that the integrated design has been decided as the design of the wristwatch 40 to be purchased when all of the users U perform an operation to select the purchase decision button. Furthermore, for example, the CPU 11 may determine that the integrated design has not been decided as the design of the wristwatch 40 to be purchased when any of the users U performs an operation to select a redesign button (not shown) on the design screen 30.

[0095] If it is determined that the integrated design has not been decided as the design of the wristwatch 40 to be purchased ("NO" in step S109), the CPU 11 determines whether the design screen 30 is in the first state (step S110). If it is determined that the design screen 30 is in the first state ("YES" in step S110), the CPU 11 switches the design screen 30 displayed on each terminal device 20 to the second state shown in FIG. 9 (step S111). If step S111 is completed, or if it is determined in step S110 that the design screen 30 is not in the first state (is in the second state) ("NO" in step S110), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S105. Thereafter, each user U designs their wristwatch 40 again, and once the completed design is confirmed, an integration process is performed to generate integrated design data IDD. Note that the process may return to step S104 from step S110 or S111 to change the user's association with each component.

[0096] If it is determined in step S109 that the integrated design has been decided as the design of the wristwatch 40 to be purchased ("YES" in step S109), the CPU 11 ends the collaborative design process.

[0097] In the component design process described using Fig. 12, component data PD is extracted as a group from one design data DD to determine the design of one component, as in Fig. 6. Alternatively, when multiple design element data ED of a component are extracted from different design data DDs, as in Fig. 8, the component design process shown in Fig. 13 is executed. When the component design process shown in Fig. 13 is executed, step S104 of the collaborative design process in Fig. 10 is omitted.

[0098] 13 begins, CPU 11 associates one user U with each design element of each part of wristwatch 40, stores the association in storage unit 13, and notifies each user U of the association results (step S401). That is, CPU 11 notifies each user of the part (or design element) with which that user is associated. Note that if the corresponding part (and design element) is not to be notified to user U, the notification process in step S401 may be omitted.

[0099] The CPU 11 selects one part (step S402), and selects one design element from the plurality of design elements of the part (step S403). The CPU 11 also extracts design element data ED related to the selected design element from the design data DD of the user U associated with the design element (step S404). The selected design element is determined by the extracted design element data ED.

[0100] The CPU 11 determines whether all design elements related to the selected part have been determined and the design of the part has been determined (step S405). If it is determined that any design element has not been determined and the design of the part has not been determined ("NO" in step S405), the CPU 11 selects the next design element (step S406) and returns the process to step S404.

[0101] When all design elements have been determined and it is determined that the design of the part has been decided ("YES" in step S405), CPU 11 determines whether the designs of all parts have been decided (step S407). When it is determined that the design of any part has not been decided ("NO" in step S407), CPU 11 selects the next part (step S408) and returns the process to step S403. When it is determined that the designs of all parts have been decided ("YES" in step S407), CPU 11 ends the part design process and returns the process to the collaborative design process. Among the above, the processes of steps S403 to S406 correspond to the "component design determination process."

[0102] <Effects> As described above, the server 10 as an information processing device according to this embodiment includes a CPU 11 as a processing unit. The CPU 11 acquires multiple pieces of design data DD relating to the partial or entire design of a wristwatch 40 as an item, each piece of design data DD generated based on a corresponding instruction from one of multiple users U. The CPU 11 then executes an integration process to generate integrated design data IDD relating to the overall integrated design of the wristwatch 40, integrating the multiple designs from the multiple design data DD, based on the acquired multiple pieces of design data DD. The integration process determines the integration pattern without relying on the instructions of each of the multiple users U. This allows the designs of each user U represented by the design data DD to be integrated in a manner unintended by each user U. This makes it easy to create designs that are unexpected and fresh for each user U while partially incorporating each user U's design preferences. In other words, it increases the likelihood of incorporating an overall design that was not intended by the user U. Furthermore, when multiple users U customize a design, it reduces the effort required for consultations to complete a design that incorporates each user U's preferences.

[0103] Furthermore, wristwatch 40 as an article has multiple parts (watch face 41, bezel 42, and band 43), and each of the multiple design data DD includes part data PD related to the design of at least one of the multiple parts, and CPU 11 executes a part design determination process to determine the design of a certain part in the integration process, and in the part design determination process, without being based on the instructions of each of the multiple users U, extracts part data PD related to the design of the certain part from one of the multiple design data DD, and determines the design of the certain part based on the extracted part data PD, and in the integration process, determines the design of each of the multiple parts by the part design determination process, and generates integrated design data IDD related to an integrated design that integrates the designs of each of the multiple parts that have been determined. This allows the completed designs of each user U to be integrated on a part-by-part basis.

[0104] Furthermore, when generation of a plurality of design data DD is started, the CPU 11 associates one of the plurality of users U with each of the plurality of parts without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users U, and in the part design determination process, extracts part data PD relating to a certain part from the design data DD corresponding to the user U associated with the certain part. In this way, the process of associating the users U with parts makes it possible to determine the integration aspect of the completed design of each user U.

[0105] Furthermore, the wristwatch 40 as an article has multiple parts (watch face 41, bezel 42, and band 43), each of the multiple design data DD includes part data PD related to the design of at least one of the multiple parts, and at least some of the multiple part data PD includes multiple design element data ED related to multiple design elements of the part, and CPU 11 executes a part design determination process to determine the design of a certain part in the integration process, and in the part design determination process, each of the multiple design element data ED included in the part data PD related to the certain part is extracted from one of two or more different design data DDs without being based on instructions from each of the multiple users U, and the multiple design elements related to the extracted multiple design element data ED are integrated to determine the design of the certain part, and in the integration process, the design of at least one of the multiple parts is determined by the part design determination process, and integrated design data IDD related to an integrated design including the design of the at least one part determined. This allows the designs of each user U to be integrated based on the design elements of the parts.

[0106] Furthermore, when generation of the plurality of design data DD is started, the CPU 11 associates two or more users U of the plurality of users U with the certain part, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users U, and in the part design determination process, extracts design element data ED related to the certain part from the design data DD corresponding to each of the two or more users associated with the certain part. In this way, the process of associating the users U with the part makes it possible to determine the integration aspect of the completed design of each user U.

[0107] Furthermore, the CPU 11 causes the display units 25 serving as presentation units belonging to each of the multiple users U to present the parts associated with the user U. This allows the user U to know in advance the parts in the integrated design that reflect his or her own design.

[0108] Furthermore, server 10, as an information processing device according to this embodiment, includes CPU 11 as a processing unit. CPU 11 selects, from among multiple components included in wristwatch 40 as an item, components to be designed by each of multiple users U as selected components, without relying on the instructions of each of the multiple users U, so that the selected components are different for each user. The selected selected components are displayed on display unit 25, as a presentation unit, belonging to each of the multiple corresponding users U. Multiple design data DD relating to the designs of the multiple selected components generated based on the instructions of the multiple users U are acquired. Based on the multiple design data DD, integrated design data IDD relating to an integrated design of the entire wristwatch 40 that integrates the designs of the multiple selected components is generated. In this manner, the selected components assigned to each user are designed by each user without relying on the instructions of each user U. By integrating the designs of these selected components, an integrated design is created that is integrated in a manner not intended by each user U. This makes it easy to create designs that are unexpected and fresh for each user U while partially incorporating the design intentions of each user U.

[0109] Furthermore, the CPU 11 displays the design screen 30 used by each of the multiple users U to generate design data DD on the display unit 25 of the terminal device 20 used by each of the multiple users U, but does not display information related to the design data DD corresponding to other users U on the design screen 30 used by each of the multiple users U. This allows each user U to create their own completed design to be used in the integrated design without knowing the designs of the other users U. This allows each user U's completed design to be a highly independent design with little mutual influence between users. Therefore, the integrated design obtained by integrating these completed designs can be more surprising to each user.

[0110] The CPU 11 also displays the design screen 30 used by each of the multiple users U to generate design data DD on the display unit 25 of the terminal device 20 used by each of the multiple users U, and can switch the state of the design screen 30 used by each of the multiple users U between a first state in which information related to the design data DD corresponding to other users U among the multiple users U cannot be displayed, and a second state in which information related to the design data DD corresponding to other users U among the multiple users U can be displayed. Using the design screen 30 in the first state, each user U can create their own design to be used in the integrated design without knowing the designs of the other users U. This makes the integrated design more unexpected for each user. Furthermore, using the design screen 30 in the second state, each user U can create their own design while referring to the designs of the other users U. This allows each user U to create their own design while predicting, to some extent, the range of integrated designs that can be created by the integration process.

[0111] Furthermore, the CPU 11 keeps the design screen 30 in the first state until the initial integration process for the wristwatch 40 as an item is completed, and then switches the design screen 30 from the first state to the second state after the initial integration process is completed. As a result, each user U creates their own completed design to be used in the integrated design without knowing the designs of other users U until the initial integration process is completed. This makes it possible to make the initial integrated design more surprising for each user. After the initial integration process is completed, each user U can refine their own completed design while referring to the designs of other users U on the design screen 30 in the second state. This allows each user U to create their own completed design while predicting, to some extent, the range of integrated designs that can be created by the integration process. By performing the integration process again based on the completed design obtained in this way, an integrated design that is surprising for each user and closer to the desired design can be obtained.

[0112] Furthermore, the CPU 11 displays information related to the variation designs of the design related to the design data DD as information related to the design data DD on the design screen 30 in the second state. This allows each user U to obtain information related to various variation designs, such as a design in progress, a completed design in the past, or a recommended design prepared in advance.

[0113] The variation design data VDD is data relating to an intermediate design generated in the process of generating the design data DD, allowing the user U to create the next completed design by referring to at least a part of the intermediate design.

[0114] Furthermore, after generating the integrated design data IDD, the CPU 11 accepts changes to at least some of the design data DD, and when at least some of the design data DD is changed, executes the integration process again based on the changed design data DD. This makes it possible to easily create multiple different integrated designs by performing the integration process multiple times.

[0115] Furthermore, in the integration process, the CPU 11 generates multiple integrated design data IDDs relating to multiple integrated designs with different integration aspects. This allows multiple integrated designs to be created from one combination of multiple design data DDs, thereby reducing the number of design attempts by each user U and creating a large number of unexpected integrated designs. This also eliminates the need to re-draft designs.

[0116] The product to be designed may also be a wristwatch 40. This makes it possible to easily create a design for the wristwatch 40 that is unexpected for each user U.

[0117] Furthermore, the information processing method according to this embodiment acquires a plurality of design data DD relating to the design of part or all of a wristwatch 40 as an item, each of which is generated based on a corresponding instruction from one of a plurality of users U, and executes an integration process to generate integrated design data IDD relating to an integrated design of the entire wristwatch 40 that integrates the designs relating to the plurality of design data DD based on the acquired plurality of design data DD, and determines the manner of integration in the integration process without being based on the instructions of the plurality of users U. As a result, the designs of each user U represented by the design data DD are integrated in a manner unintended by each user U. Therefore, it is possible to easily create a design that is unexpected and fresh for each user U while partially incorporating the design intentions of each user U.

[0118] Furthermore, the information processing method according to this embodiment selects, without relying on the instructions of each of the users U, from among the components included in the wristwatch 40 as an item, components to be designed by each of the multiple users U as selected components, with the selected components being different for each user. The selected selected components are presented on the display unit 25 serving as a presentation unit belonging to each of the multiple corresponding users. Multiple design data DD relating to the designs of the multiple selected components generated based on the instructions of the multiple users U are acquired. Based on the multiple design data DD, an integration process is performed to generate integrated design data IDD relating to an integrated design of the entire wristwatch 40 that integrates the designs of the multiple selected components. In this way, the selected components assigned to each user U are designed by each user without relying on the instructions of each user U, and by integrating the designs of these selected components, an integrated design is created that is integrated in a manner not intended by each user U. This makes it easy to create designs that are unexpected and fresh for each user U while partially incorporating the design intentions of each user U.

[0119] Furthermore, the program 131 according to this embodiment causes the CPU 11, which functions as a computer of the server 10 acting as an information processing device, to acquire a plurality of design data DD relating to the design of part or all of a given item, such as a wristwatch 40, each of which is generated based on a corresponding instruction from one of a plurality of users U; to execute an integration process that generates integrated design data IDD relating to an integrated design of the entire wristwatch 40, integrating the designs relating to the plurality of design data DD, based on the acquired plurality of design data DD; and to determine the manner of integration in the integration process without being based on the instructions of each of the plurality of users U. As a result, the designs of each user U represented by the design data DD are integrated in a manner unintended by each user U. This makes it easy to create designs that are unexpected and fresh for each user U, while partially incorporating the design intentions of each user U.

[0120] Furthermore, the program 131 according to this embodiment realizes the following functions: (1) selecting, from among multiple components included in the wristwatch 40 (as an item), components to be designed by each of the multiple users U as selected components, without being based on the instructions of each of the multiple users U, so that the selected components are different for each user; (2) presenting the selected selected components on the display unit 25 serving as a presentation unit belonging to each of the multiple corresponding users U; (3) acquiring multiple design data DD relating to the designs of the multiple selected components generated based on the instructions of the multiple users U; and (4) executing an integration process to generate integrated design data IDD relating to an integrated design of the entire wristwatch 40 that integrates the designs of the multiple selected components, based on the multiple design data DD. This allows each user U to design the selected components assigned to them without being based on their instructions, and by integrating the designs of these selected components, an integrated design is created that is integrated in a manner not intended by each user U. Therefore, it is easy to create designs that are unexpected and fresh for each user U, while partially incorporating the design intentions of each user U.

[0121] <Other> The description in the above embodiment is merely an example of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the program according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, although the information processing system 1 has been described as providing an e-commerce service, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information processing system 1 may generate integrated design data for items other than those subject to e-commerce transactions. For example, the information processing system 1 may simply be used for multiple users U to collaboratively design an item.

[0122] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the processing performed by the server 10 as an information processing device may be executed by any of the terminal devices 20. In this case, the terminal device 20 corresponds to the information processing device, and the CPU 21 of the terminal device 20 corresponds to the processing unit.

[0123] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a wristwatch 40 is used as an example of an article to be designed, but this is not limiting. The article to be designed may be an electronic device such as an electronic musical instrument, electronic toy, or electrical appliance, or may be an article other than an electronic device, such as clothing, shoes, accessories, or any other object. Furthermore, the article to be designed is not limited to an article having multiple components, but may also be composed of a single component. For example, when an article is composed of a single component, the design may be integrated by dividing the article into multiple regions and extracting and integrating the designs of each region from different design data DD. Furthermore, when a single component constituting an article has multiple design elements (e.g., color, pattern, material, shape, etc.), each design element may be extracted from different design data DD and integrated.

[0124] Furthermore, the design of the item by the user U may include a graphic that appears on the surface of the item, and the integrated design may be a combination of graphics included in at least one of the multiple designs by multiple users U in a manner determined by the CPU 11. The graphic may also include a picture and / or a pattern. One of the multiple design elements related to the part may be the graphic.

[0125] Furthermore, the design data DD does not necessarily have to include part data PD relating to all of the multiple parts of the product. In other words, the design data DD may be data relating to the design of the entire product (the entire product), or may be data relating to the design of only a portion of the product, such as part data PD for some of the parts. For example, if the design data DD includes only part data PD relating to some of the multiple parts, it may be assumed that a predetermined (default) design is specified for the designs of the parts other than the aforementioned portion.

[0126] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when one piece of design data DD relating to one completed design is generated for each user U, the same number of design data DD as the number of users U is integrated to create integrated design data IDD, but this is not limited to this. Design data DD relating to two or more completed designs may be generated for one user U, or all of the design data DD generated by multiple users U may be integrated to generate integrated design data IDD. In this case, the number of design data DD used to generate the integrated design data IDD may be different from the number of users.

[0127] Furthermore, the number of users who perform collaborative design is not limited to three, but may be two or four or more.

[0128] Furthermore, in the integration process, designs related to multiple design data DD may be integrated so as to increase similarity to a model design created in advance by a designer or creator. Furthermore, designs related to multiple design data DD may be integrated so as to increase affinity with themes related to seasons, climates, events, or attributes common to the collaborative design users (gender, age, etc.). For example, if the season is summer, designs of parts that are more likely to be adopted in summer may be preferentially selected and incorporated into the integrated design. In this way, by combining multiple design data DD while taking into account factors other than the design data DD, a well-balanced and coordinated design can be created.

[0129] In the above description, an example has been disclosed in which the storage units 13 and 23 are used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Other computer-readable media may be used, such as information recording media including HDDs, SSDs, flash memories, and CD-ROMs. Furthermore, a carrier wave may also be used as a medium for providing data for the program according to the present invention via a communication line.

[0130] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the detailed configurations and operations of the components of the server 10 and the terminal device 20 in the above embodiment can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0131] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. The inventions described in the claims originally attached to this application are as follows. The claim numbers described in the appendix are the same as those of the claims originally attached to this application. [Note] <Claim 1> a processing unit; The processing unit acquiring a plurality of pieces of design data relating to the design of a part or the whole of an article, each piece of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; executes an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the acquired plurality of design data; determining a manner of integration of the plurality of designs in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; Information processing device. <Claim 2> the article having a plurality of parts; each of the plurality of design data includes component data relating to a design of at least one component among the plurality of components; The processing unit In the integration process, a part design determination process is executed to determine a design of the part; In the component design determination process, the component data relating to the design of the certain component is extracted from one of the plurality of design data, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users, and a design of the certain component is determined based on the extracted component data; In the integration process, a design of each of the plurality of parts is determined by the part design determination process, and the integrated design data relating to the integrated design obtained by integrating the determined designs of each of the plurality of parts is generated. The information processing device according to claim 1. <Claim 3> The processing unit when generation of the plurality of design data is started, one of the plurality of users is associated with each of the plurality of parts without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users; In the component design determination process, the component data relating to the certain component is extracted from the design data corresponding to the user associated with the certain component. The information processing device according to claim 2. <Claim 4> the article having a plurality of parts; each of the plurality of design data includes component data relating to a design of at least one component among the plurality of components; at least a portion of the plurality of part data corresponding to the plurality of parts includes a plurality of design element data related to a plurality of design elements of the part; The processing unit In the integration process, a part design determination process is executed to determine a design of the part; In the component design determination process, each of the plurality of design element data included in the component data relating to the certain component is extracted from any one of two or more pieces of design data that are different from each other, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users, and the plurality of design elements relating to the extracted plurality of design element data are integrated to determine a design of the certain component; In the integration process, a design of at least one of the plurality of parts is determined by the part design determination process, and the integrated design data relating to the integrated design including the determined design of the at least one part is generated. The information processing device according to claim 1. <Claim 5> The processing unit when generation of the plurality of design data is started, two or more users among the plurality of users are associated with one of the certain parts without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; In the component design determination process, the design element data relating to the certain component is extracted from the design data corresponding to each of the two or more users associated with the certain component. The information processing device according to claim 4. <Claim 6> 6. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit causes a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present a part associated with the user. <Claim 7> a processing unit; The processing unit selecting, from a plurality of parts included in the article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users, such that the selected parts are different for each user; causing a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present the selected selected part; acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating the designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; Information processing device. <Claim 8> The processing unit displaying a design screen used by each of the plurality of users to generate the design data on a display unit of a terminal device used by each of the plurality of users; On the design screen used by each of the plurality of users, information related to the design data corresponding to other users among the plurality of users is not displayed. 8. The information processing device according to claim 1. <Claim 9> The processing unit displaying a design screen used by each of the plurality of users to generate the design data on a display unit of a terminal device used by each of the plurality of users; The state of the design screen used by each of the plurality of users can be switched between a first state in which information related to the design data corresponding to other users among the plurality of users cannot be displayed, and a second state in which information related to the design data corresponding to other users among the plurality of users can be displayed. 8. The information processing device according to claim 1. <Claim 10> The processing unit The design screen is kept in the first state until the first integration process for the item is completed, After the initial integration process is completed, the design screen is switched from the first state to the second state. The information processing device according to claim 9. <Claim 11> 11. The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit displays, on the design screen in the second state, information relating to a variation design of a design relating to the design data as the information relating to the design data. <Claim 12> 12. The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein the variation designs are designs in progress that are generated during the process of generating the design data. <Claim 13> The processing unit After generating the integrated design data, a change to at least some of the design data is accepted; When at least a part of the plurality of design data is changed, the integration process is executed again based on the plurality of design data after the change. 13. The information processing device according to claim 1. <Claim 14> 14. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates, in the integration process, a plurality of the integrated design data relating to a plurality of the integrated designs in which the integration modes are different from each other. <Claim 15> 15. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the article is a wristwatch. <Claim 16> An information processing method executed by a computer of an information processing device, acquiring a plurality of pieces of design data relating to the design of a part or the whole of an article, each piece of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; executes an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the acquired plurality of design data; determining a manner of integration of the plurality of designs in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; Information processing methods. <Claim 17> An information processing method executed by a computer of an information processing device, selecting, from a plurality of parts included in the article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users, such that the selected parts are different for each user; causing a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present the selected selected part; acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating the designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; Information processing methods. <Claim 18> The computer of the information processing device a function of acquiring a plurality of design data relating to a design of a part or the whole of an article, each of the plurality of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; a function of executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the plurality of acquired design data; a function of determining the manner in which the plurality of designs are integrated in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; A program to make this happen. <Claim 19> The computer of the information processing device a function of selecting, from a plurality of parts included in an article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, so that the selected parts are different for each user, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; a function of displaying the selected selected part on a display unit belonging to each of the plurality of users; a function of acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; a function of executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; A program to make this happen. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] 1. Information Processing Systems 10 Server (information processing device) 11 CPU (processing unit) 12 RAM 13 Storage section 131 Programs 132 User Design Data 14 Control section 15 Display section 16 Communications Department 17 Bus 20 Terminal equipment 21 CPU 22 RAM 23 Memory section 231 Programs 24 Control section 25 Display section 26 Communications Department 27 Bus 30 Design Screen 31 User information display area 32 Design display area 33~35 Parts Design Area 36 Save progress button 37 Design Confirmation Button 38 Reference design display area 40 Wristwatch (item) 41 Watch Faces (Parts) 42 Bezel (parts) 43 Band (parts) DD, DD1~DD3 design data ED, ED1~ED7 design element data IDD, IDD1 to IDD3 integrated design data N Communication Network PD, PD1 to PD3 parts data VDD variation design data

Claims

1. a processing unit; The processing unit acquiring a plurality of pieces of design data relating to the design of a part or the whole of an article, each piece of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; executes an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the acquired plurality of design data; determining a manner of integration of the plurality of designs in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; Information processing device.

2. the article having a plurality of parts; each of the plurality of design data includes component data relating to a design of at least one component among the plurality of components; The processing unit In the integration process, a part design determination process is executed to determine a design of the part; In the component design determination process, component data relating to a design of the certain component is extracted from one of the plurality of design data, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users, and a design of the certain component is determined based on the extracted component data; In the integration process, a design of each of the plurality of parts is determined by the part design determination process, and the integrated design data relating to the integrated design obtained by integrating the determined designs of each of the plurality of parts is generated. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The processing unit when generation of the plurality of design data is started, one of the plurality of users is associated with each of the plurality of parts without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users; In the component design determination process, the component data relating to the certain component is extracted from the design data corresponding to the user associated with the certain component. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. the article having a plurality of parts; each of the plurality of design data includes component data relating to a design of at least one component among the plurality of components; at least a portion of the plurality of part data corresponding to the plurality of parts includes a plurality of design element data related to a plurality of design elements of the part; The processing unit In the integration process, a part design determination process is executed to determine a design of the part; In the component design determination process, each of the plurality of design element data included in the component data relating to the certain component is extracted from any one of two or more pieces of design data that are different from each other, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users, and the plurality of design elements relating to the extracted plurality of design element data are integrated to determine a design of the certain component; In the integration process, a design of at least one of the plurality of parts is determined by the part design determination process, and the integrated design data relating to the integrated design including the determined design of the at least one part is generated. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The processing unit when generation of the plurality of design data is started, two or more users among the plurality of users are associated with one of the certain parts without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; In the component design determination process, the design element data relating to the certain component is extracted from the design data corresponding to each of the two or more users associated with the certain component. The information processing device according to claim 4 .

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the processing unit causes a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present a part associated with the user.

7. a processing unit; The processing unit selecting, from a plurality of parts included in the article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users, such that the selected parts are different for each user; causing a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present the selected selected part; acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating the designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; Information processing device.

8. The processing unit displaying a design screen used by each of the plurality of users to generate the design data on a display unit of a terminal device used by each of the plurality of users; On the design screen used by each of the plurality of users, information related to the design data corresponding to other users among the plurality of users is not displayed. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The processing unit displaying a design screen used by each of the plurality of users to generate the design data on a display unit of a terminal device used by each of the plurality of users; The state of the design screen used by each of the plurality of users can be switched between a first state in which information related to the design data corresponding to other users among the plurality of users cannot be displayed, and a second state in which information related to the design data corresponding to other users among the plurality of users can be displayed. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. The processing unit The design screen is kept in the first state until the initial integration process for the item is completed, After the initial integration process is completed, the design screen is switched from the first state to the second state. The information processing device according to claim 9 .

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processing unit displays, on the design screen in the second state, information relating to a variation design of a design relating to the design data as the information relating to the design data.

12. The information processing device according to claim 11 , wherein the variation designs are designs in progress that are generated during the process of generating the design data.

13. The processing unit After generating the integrated design data, a change to at least some of the design data is accepted; When at least a part of the plurality of design data is changed, the integration process is executed again based on the plurality of design data after the change. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit generates, in the integration process, a plurality of the integrated design data relating to a plurality of the integrated designs in which the integration modes are different from each other.

15. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the item is a wristwatch.

16. An information processing method executed by a computer of an information processing device, acquiring a plurality of pieces of design data relating to the design of a part or the whole of an article, each piece of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; executes an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the acquired plurality of design data; determining a manner of integration of the plurality of designs in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; Information processing methods.

17. An information processing method executed by a computer of an information processing device, selecting, from a plurality of parts included in the article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, without being based on an instruction from each of the plurality of users, such that the selected parts are different for each user; causing a presentation unit belonging to each of the plurality of users to present the selected selected part; acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating the designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; Information processing methods.

18. The computer of the information processing device a function of acquiring a plurality of design data relating to a design of a part or the whole of an article, each of the plurality of design data being generated based on an instruction from a corresponding one of a plurality of users; a function of executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire product by integrating the plurality of designs relating to the plurality of design data based on the plurality of acquired design data; a function of determining the manner in which the plurality of designs are integrated in the integration process without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; A program to make this happen.

19. The computer of the information processing device a function of selecting, from a plurality of parts included in an article, parts to be designed by each of a plurality of users as selected parts, so that the selected parts are different for each user, without being based on instructions from each of the plurality of users; a function of displaying the selected selected part on a display unit belonging to each of the plurality of users; a function of acquiring a plurality of design data relating to the designs of the plurality of selected parts generated based on instructions from the plurality of users; a function of executing an integration process for generating integrated design data relating to an integrated design of the entire article by integrating designs of the plurality of selected parts based on the plurality of design data; A program to make this happen.

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