Content providing method and system

Abstract

To provide a safe content providing method, system and program that appeal to users so as not to lose a value of a content, and can achieve protection of the content.SOLUTION: A computer of a system in which the computer provides contents has: a content storage unit 1 that stores first data for displaying a first picture content, and second data for displaying a second picture content; and a content processing unit that includes a thumbnail display unit arranging the first picture content in a front plane of the second picture content, displaying a thumbnail picture content 6 having at least a part of the second picture content covered and hidden by the first picture content to users, and a content providing unit selling the first data and second data in a set to the user, and, when the set is purchased by the user, causing the first data and second data to be downloaded to a terminal of the user, or to be installed in a system the user designates.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a content providing method and system. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, the "metaverse," a three-dimensional virtual space on the Internet, is attracting attention.

[0003] Within the Metaverse, users can control an avatar (their alter ego) and enjoy life in another world, interacting with other users, defeating enemies, and collecting items online.

[0004] The reason this metaverse is attracting attention is that by combining it with blockchain technology, the digital data used within the metaverse can be given asset properties, thereby increasing security and convenience.

[0005] In other words, building a metaverse using blockchain makes it possible to create assets within the metaverse. In other words, by using NFT technology to add information about the creator or owner to assets such as art or in-game items, assets within the metaverse can be made unique.

[0006] This allows NFTs to turn digital content within the metaverse into assets and circulate them online. In fact, NFTs are already being bought and sold around the world, with OpenSea (registered trademark), the largest NFT marketplace, recording a total transaction value of over 350 billion yen as of August 2021.

[0007] In such an NFT marketplace, those who wish to trade can display the content they own and assign a price to the NFT related to that content, or put it up for sale through an auction system. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Incidentally, in the case of NFT marketplaces like the one mentioned above, the content itself is displayed on the user interface for sale, but depending on the type of content, it may be possible to freely view or download it on that interface, which could lower its value and make it difficult to sell. Therefore, some kind of protection method must be provided for such content, such as adding a watermark, reducing the resolution, or only showing a portion of it.

[0009] However, this method could result in the content looking unattractive and not attracting user interest, which could lower the value of the content and hinder the circulation of NFTs.

[0010] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a safe content providing method that can appeal to users so as not to lose the value of the content, and also protect the content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, according to a main aspect of the present invention, the following invention is provided.

[0012] (1) A method by which a computer provides content, storing, by a computer, first data for displaying the first video content and second data for displaying the second video content; a step of displaying to a user, by a computer, a composite video content in which the first video content is placed in front of the second video content and at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content; a step of selling the first data and the second data as a set to a user by a computer; a step of downloading the first data and the second data to a terminal of the user or installing the first data and the second data in a system designated by the user when the set is purchased by the user by a computer; A method characterized by:

[0013] (2) In the method described in (1) above, the first video content is an avatar; The second video content is video content related to the avatar. A method characterized by:

[0014] (3) In the method described in (1) above, The step of displaying the composite video content to a user by a computer includes: reading the first data and the second data in a pseudo three-dimensional space constructed by a three-dimensional CAD system; a step of placing the three-dimensional object based on the first data and the three-dimensional object based on the second data in close proximity by a computer; a step of outputting a composite video content in which at least a part of the second video content is obscured by the first video content by projecting and outputting the two objects by a computer from a viewpoint in which the three-dimensional object based on the first data obscures a part of the three-dimensional object based on the second data; A method comprising:

[0015] (4) A system that provides content; A computer stores first data for displaying the first video content and second data for displaying the second video content; a computer means for placing the first video content in front of the second video content and displaying to a user a composite video content in which at least a part of the second video content is obscured by the first video content; a means for selling the first data and the second data as a set to a user, the means being a computer; a computer means for downloading the first data and the second data to a terminal of the user or installing the first data and the second data in a system designated by the user when the set is purchased by the user; A system characterized by:

[0016] (5) In the system described in (4) above, the first video content is an avatar; The second video content is video content related to the avatar. A system characterized by:

[0017] (6) In the system described in (4), The means for the computer to display the composite video content to the user includes the steps of: reading the first data and the second data in a pseudo three-dimensional space constructed by a three-dimensional CAD system; a step of placing the three-dimensional object based on the first data and the three-dimensional object based on the second data in close proximity by a computer; a step of outputting a composite video content in which at least a part of the second video content is obscured by the first video content by projecting and outputting the two objects by a computer from a viewpoint in which the three-dimensional object based on the first data obscures a part of the three-dimensional object based on the second data; A system characterized by executing the above.

[0018] (7) installed in a computer storage means, the steps of: storing, by a computer, first data for displaying the first video content and second data for displaying the second video content; a step of displaying to a user, by a computer, a composite video content in which the first video content is placed in front of the second video content and at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content; a step of selling the first data and the second data as a set to a user by a computer; a step of downloading the first data and the second data to a terminal of the user or installing the first data and the second data in a system designated by the user when the set is purchased by the user by a computer; A computer software program characterized by executing the above.

[0019] (8) In the computer software program described in (7) above, the first video content is an avatar; The second video content is video content related to the avatar. A computer software program characterized by:

[0020] (9) In the computer software program described in (7) above, The step of displaying the composite video content to a user by a computer includes: reading the first data and the second data in a pseudo three-dimensional space constructed by a three-dimensional CAD system; a step of placing the three-dimensional object based on the first data and the three-dimensional object based on the second data in close proximity by a computer; a step of outputting a composite video content in which at least a part of the second video content is obscured by the first video content by projecting and outputting the two objects by a computer from a viewpoint in which the three-dimensional object based on the first data obscures a part of the three-dimensional object based on the second data; A computer software program comprising:

[0021] Furthermore, other features and significant effects of the present invention will be understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the embodiments and drawings described in the following section on best modes for carrying out the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a composite thumbnail video. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] In this embodiment, a user purchases two types of content (first and second content) on the NFT marketplace and downloads or uploads them to the user's computer or a server on the Internet for use.

[0026] (First and second contents) In this embodiment, the first of the two types of content is an avatar. An avatar is an alter ego in a virtual space that a user can control by installing it in the metaverse. By using this avatar, users can enjoy life in the virtual world, such as interacting with other users, defeating enemies, and collecting items.

[0027] This first content can be acquired by purchasing an NFT associated with the first content on the aforementioned NFT marketplace. Here, an NFT is a digital asset that guarantees unique information about the creator and owner of the avatar, and ownership of the avatar can be bought and sold through this NFT.

[0028] In this embodiment, the avatar is the first content, and in order to add value to this first content, second content is prepared as other content related to this avatar, and these are combined and sold on the NFT marketplace.

[0029] For example, if the avatar is a singer, the second content may be a promotional video for a song sung by the singer, and is typically two-dimensional content. In this embodiment, this second content is also converted into an NFT and can be traded separately from the NFT of the avatar.

[0030] Users who purchase the first and second content items above can use the avatar as their own avatar within the metaverse, and the two-dimensional content as assets they own separately from the metaverse.

[0031] A specific system configuration that makes this possible will be described below.

[0032] (composition) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] This system includes a content storage unit 1 and a content processing unit 2 in addition to a CPU and memory (not shown).

[0034] The content storage unit 1 stores the first content data 3, the second content data 4, a content description 5, and thumbnail images and videos 6 as a single combo content 7, which are associated with each other using a relational database, tags, etc.

[0035] As described above, in this embodiment, the first content 3 is an avatar, and its data is computer-executable digital information (3D shape data, 3D CAD data) for displaying the avatar in the metaverse. Also, in this embodiment, the second content 4 is a promotional video (PV) related to the avatar, which is video information.

[0036] The content information 5 also stores information relating to the first and second contents 3.4, such as text and image information relating to the structure and usage of these contents.

[0037] Furthermore, the thumbnail image / video 6 is an image or video obtained by combining the first content 3 and the second content 4. Fig. 2 shows an example of the thumbnail image / video 6 generated in this embodiment.

[0038] In other words, in this invention, a composite image or video is provided as a thumbnail image / video 6, in which video content representing the first content 3 is placed in front of video content representing the second content 4.

[0039] If this thumbnail 6 is a video, for example, it will be a video in which an avatar, which is the first content 3, rotates while a video, which is the second content 4, is played back.

[0040] The content processing unit 2 also includes a thumbnail image / video generation unit 9 that combines the first and second contents 3, 4 as described above to generate a thumbnail image / video 6, a thumbnail display unit 10 that displays the thumbnail image / video 6 on a user interface, and a content providing unit 11 that provides the first and second contents 3, 4 to the user.

[0041] The thumbnail image and video generation unit 9 is configured as a 3D CAD capable of processing the 3D data, reads the first and second contents 3, 4 into memory, arranges the first content 3 in front of the second content 4 in a three-dimensional and proximate manner, and writes it out as an image or video from a specific viewpoint. Specifically, the thumbnail image and video generation unit 9 projects the second content 4 from a viewpoint where at least a part of the second content 4 is hidden by the first content 3, and writes it out as 2D video data.

[0042] The composite thumbnail image / movie 6 thus output is stored in the content storage unit 1 in association with the first and second contents 3 and 4 .

[0043] The content providing unit 11 sells a user interface (sales information including a description of the content) for selling the first and second content 3 and 4 to users on the NFT marketplace, and provides the first and second content 3 and 4 by allowing users to actually download them upon receiving notification from the NFT marketplace.

[0044] The content providing unit 11 may be provided in the metaverse, in which case the first and second contents 3 and 4 may be installed directly in the metaverse.

[0045] The thumbnail display unit 10 displays the thumbnail images and videos 6 on the user interface, thereby presenting the thumbnail images and videos 6 as samples to be displayed to users on the NFT marketplace.

[0046] With this configuration, when two or more contents, such as first and second contents, are provided, a thumbnail video can be generated in which the first content is placed before the second content, which makes it possible to add value to the first content with the second content and also has the effect of preventing illegal copying of the second content by hiding part of the second content with the first content.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0048] For example, in the above embodiment, the combo content is generated using the two pieces of content, but it may be generated using three or more pieces of content. In this case, it is important that the thumbnail image / video is generated so that at least one piece of content covers another piece of content. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...Content storage section 2...Content processing section 3...First content 4...Secondary Content 5...Content information 6...Thumbnail images and videos 7. Combo Content 9...Thumbnail image and video generation section 10...Thumbnail display area 11...Content Provider

Claims

1. It is a way for computers to provide content, A step of storing, by a computer, first data for displaying a first video content and second data for displaying a second video content; a step of displaying to a user a composite video content in which the first video content is placed in front of the second video content and at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content; a step of selling the first data and the second data as a set to a user by a computer; a step of downloading the first data and the second data to a terminal of the user or installing the first data and the second data in a system designated by the user when the set is purchased by the user; wherein The step of displaying the composite video content to a user by a computer includes: reading the first data and the second data in a pseudo three-dimensional space constructed by a three-dimensional CAD system; a step of placing the three-dimensional object based on the first data and the three-dimensional object based on the second data in close proximity by a computer; a step of outputting a composite video content in which at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content by projecting and outputting the two objects by a computer from a viewpoint in which the three-dimensional object based on the first data obscures a portion of the three-dimensional object based on the second data; It has A method characterized by:

2. 10. The method of claim 1, the first video content is an avatar; The second video content is video content related to the avatar. A method characterized by:

3. It is a system that provides content, a computer storing means for storing first data for displaying a first video content and second data for displaying a second video content; a computer means for displaying to a user a composite video content in which the first video content is placed in front of the second video content and at least a part of the second video content is obscured by the first video content; a means for selling the first data and the second data as a set to a user, the means being a computer; a computer means for downloading the first data and the second data to a terminal of the user or installing the first data and the second data in a system designated by the user when the set is purchased by the user; A system that executes The means for displaying the composite video content to a user comprises the steps of: reading the first data and the second data in a pseudo three-dimensional space constructed by a three-dimensional CAD system; a step of placing the three-dimensional object based on the first data and the three-dimensional object based on the second data in close proximity by a computer; a step of outputting a composite video content in which at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content by projecting and outputting the two objects by a computer from a viewpoint in which the three-dimensional object based on the first data obscures a portion of the three-dimensional object based on the second data; It is to carry out A system characterized by:

4. 4. The system of claim 3, the first video content is an avatar; The second video content is video content related to the avatar. A system characterized by:

5. installed in a storage means of a computer, the computer comprising: A step of storing, by a computer, first data for displaying a first video content and second data for displaying a second video content; a step of displaying to a user a composite video content in which the first video content is placed in front of the second video content and at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content; a step of selling the first data and the second data as a set to a user by a computer; a step of downloading the first data and the second data to a terminal of the user or installing the first data and the second data in a system designated by the user when the set is purchased by the user; is computer software that executes The step of displaying the composite video content to a user by a computer includes: reading the first data and the second data in a pseudo three-dimensional space constructed by a three-dimensional CAD system; a step of placing the three-dimensional object based on the first data and the three-dimensional object based on the second data in close proximity by a computer; a step of outputting a composite video content in which at least a portion of the second video content is obscured by the first video content by projecting and outputting the two objects by a computer from a viewpoint in which the three-dimensional object based on the first data obscures a portion of the three-dimensional object based on the second data; It is to carry out A computer software program characterized by:

6. 6. The computer software program of claim 5, the first video content is an avatar; The second video content is video content related to the avatar. A computer software program characterized by:

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