Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

This information processing device comprises: a virtual space control unit that displays an avatar representing a first user or a second user, different from the first user, in a virtual space on a first user terminal used by the first user; and a determination unit that determines whether the number of avatars present in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store present in the virtual space and in which an avatar corresponding to the first user is present, exceeds a prescribed threshold. When the determination unit has determined that the number of the avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the prescribed threshold, the virtual space control unit hides an avatar which corresponds to the second user and which is at least a part of a plurality of the avatars present in the target virtual store, and displays information to indicate the number of the avatars present in the target virtual store.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and program

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-096781, filed on June 13, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a technique for presenting a virtual space in which a plurality of avatars exist to a user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-106297

[0004] However, as the number of avatars in a virtual space increases, the processing load on the server managing the virtual space increases, which can lead to instability in the process of presenting the virtual space to users. While reducing the server's processing load is one solution, reducing the server's processing load can reduce the amount of information presented to users in the virtual space, potentially resulting in a decline in presentation quality. Therefore, there is a need to strike a balance between the server's processing load and the presentation quality for users.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and an example of an object thereof is to achieve a balance between the processing load on the server and the quality of presentation to the user.

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a virtual space control unit that displays, on a first user terminal used by a first user, an avatar representing the first user or a second user different from the first user in a virtual space, and a judgment unit that determines whether the number of avatars present in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store present in the virtual space and in which an avatar corresponding to the first user is present, exceeds a predetermined threshold.When the judgment unit determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the predetermined threshold, the virtual space control unit hides at least some of the avatars corresponding to the second user among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store, and displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store.

[0007] The virtual space control unit may further display information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second users who are waiting to enter the target virtual store outside the target virtual store. The virtual space control unit may further display information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second users who are present in a virtual passage adjacent to the target virtual store.

[0008] The virtual store may include multiple sections, and the virtual space control unit may display information indicating the number of avatars present in each section included in the multiple sections of the target virtual store.

[0009] The virtual space control unit may display information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store, dividing them into avatars that have purchased products sold by the target virtual store and avatars that have not purchased the products.

[0010] The virtual space control unit may display the avatars that have purchased the products sold by the target virtual store in different ways from the avatars that have not purchased the products. The virtual space control unit may display information indicating the number of avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past.

[0011] The virtual store may be associated with other related virtual stores, and the virtual space control unit may further display information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second user that are present in the other virtual stores that are associated with the target virtual store.

[0012] The virtual store may be associated with an other-space virtual store existing in another virtual space controlled by another virtual space platform different from the virtual space platform that controls the virtual space in which the virtual store exists, and the virtual space control unit may further display information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second user existing in the other-space virtual store associated with the target virtual store.

[0013] The virtual store may be associated with a real store existing in real space, the information processing device may further have an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the number of users present in the real store, and the virtual space control unit may further display information indicating the number of users present in the real store associated with the target virtual store.

[0014] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of: displaying, on a first user terminal used by a first user, an avatar representing the first user or a second user different from the first user in a virtual space; and determining whether the number of avatars present in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store present in the virtual space and in which an avatar corresponding to the first user is present, exceeds a predetermined threshold.If, in the step of displaying the avatars, it is determined that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the predetermined threshold, at least some of the avatars corresponding to the second user among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store are hidden, and information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store is displayed.

[0015] A program according to a third aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to function as a virtual space control unit that displays, on a first user terminal used by a first user, an avatar representing the first user or a second user different from the first user in a virtual space, and a judgment unit that determines whether the number of avatars present in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store present in the virtual space and in which an avatar corresponding to the first user is present, exceeds a predetermined threshold; when the judgment unit determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the predetermined threshold, the virtual space control unit hides at least some of the avatars corresponding to the second user among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store, and displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, for example, it is possible to achieve an effect of achieving a balance between the processing load on the server and the quality of presentation to the user.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic representation of a virtual image. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information processing device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of information related to avatars. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of information related to virtual facilities. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic representation of a virtual image. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of an information processing device.

[0018] [Overview of Information Processing System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system used to present a virtual space to a user. The virtual space contains multiple avatars and multiple virtual facilities. An avatar is a three-dimensional model of a person or the like that represents a user in the virtual space. A virtual facility is a facility that exists in the virtual space, and includes, for example, a virtual store, a virtual passageway, etc. A virtual facility corresponds to, for example, a real store that exists in the real space. The information processing system S includes an information processing device 1 and multiple user terminals 2.

[0019] The information processing device 1 is a device, such as a server, that manages a virtual space platform that controls the virtual space. The information processing device 1 stores information about avatars (e.g., information indicating the location of the avatar in the virtual space and the appearance of the avatar) and information about virtual facilities (e.g., information indicating the location of the virtual facility in the virtual space and the appearance of the virtual facility).

[0020] The user terminal 2 is a terminal used by a user, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. A dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as a "dedicated app") for displaying a virtual space is installed on the user terminal 2.

[0021] For example, suppose that a certain user (hereinafter referred to as a "first user") performs an operation to launch a dedicated app on the first user terminal, which is the user terminal 2 used by the first user. The first user is, for example, a customer using the virtual facility or an administrator of the virtual facility (e.g., a clerk of a virtual store).

[0022] In this case, the information processing device 1 renders a virtual image showing a virtual space based on various information such as information about the first avatar, information about multiple second avatars, and information about the virtual facility, and displays the rendered virtual image on the user terminal 2. The first avatar is an avatar corresponding to the first user. The second avatar is an avatar corresponding to a second user who is different from the first user.

[0023] Here, the greater the number of avatars present in the virtual space, the greater the processing load on the information processing device 1 for rendering the virtual image, which may result in unstable display of the virtual image on the user terminal 2. Therefore, when the number of avatars is large, the information processing device 1 presents to the first user a virtual image including information indicating the number of second avatars, while omitting the second avatars.

[0024] 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a virtual image. Space V shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the state inside a virtual store that exists in the virtual space. Space V includes a target avatar T, which is a first avatar, an avatar other than the target avatar (a second avatar), shelves provided in the virtual store, and article objects such as merchandise. Image G1 is a virtual image rendered based on information indicating space V, with the eye position of the target avatar T as the virtual viewpoint, and illustrates a virtual image in which the second avatar existing in space V is not omitted.

[0025] Image G2 is a virtual image rendered based on information indicating space V with the eye position of target avatar T as a virtual viewpoint, and is a diagram showing a virtual image in which some of the second avatars present in space V are omitted. In this case, the information processing device 1 displays information indicating the number of second avatars present in space V (information object I indicating the number of second avatars present in the virtual space shown in FIG. 2 ) in image G2.

[0026] In this way, when there are a large number of avatars in the virtual store, the information processing system S can reduce the processing load on the information processing device 1 by omitting second avatars in the virtual store. Furthermore, when second avatars in the virtual store are omitted, the information processing system S can present information indicating the number of second avatars in the virtual store, allowing the first user to understand how many second avatars are in the virtual store. As a result, the information processing system S can achieve a balance between the processing load on the information processing device 1 and the quality of presentation to the user. The configuration of the information processing device 1 will be described below.

[0027] [Configuration of Information Processing Device 1] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the information processing device 1. In Figure 3, arrows indicate main data flows, and data flows other than those shown in Figure 3 may also exist. In Figure 3, each block indicates a functional configuration rather than a hardware (device) configuration. Therefore, the blocks shown in Figure 3 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0028] The information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. The information processing device 1 may be configured by connecting two or more physically separated devices via a wired or wireless connection. The information processing device 1 may also be configured by a cloud, which is a collection of computer resources.

[0029] The communication unit 11 has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal 2 via the network. The communication unit 11 notifies the control unit 13 of data received from the user terminal 2 via the network. The communication unit 11 also transmits data output from the control unit 13 to the user terminal 2 via the network.

[0030] The storage unit 12 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 12 may be provided outside the information processing device 1, in which case data may be exchanged between the storage unit 12 and the control unit 13 via a network. The storage unit 12 stores in advance programs to be executed by the control unit 13.

[0031] The storage unit 12 stores information about avatars and information about virtual facilities. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information about avatars. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the information about avatars is information in which a user's ID, avatar position, avatar orientation, appearance information, behavior history, and purchase history are associated with each other.

[0032] The avatar position is information indicating the position of the avatar in the virtual space. The avatar position is indicated by, for example, position coordinates in the virtual space, information indicating the virtual facility where the avatar is located (e.g., the ID of the virtual facility, etc.), etc. The avatar orientation is information indicating the orientation of the avatar in the virtual space. The appearance information is information indicating the appearance of the avatar. The behavior history is a history of the avatar's behavior in the virtual space. The behavior history is, for example, information in which the avatar position is associated with the acquisition date and time when the avatar position was acquired for each predetermined period (e.g., every second, every minute, etc.). The purchase history is a history of the avatar's purchases of products at a virtual store. The purchase history is, for example, information in which information indicative of products purchased by the avatar (e.g., the product name, the product ID, etc.) is associated with information indicative of the virtual store where the avatar purchased the products (e.g., the name of the virtual store, the virtual store ID, etc.), and the purchase date and time when the avatar purchased the products at the virtual store.

[0033] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of information about a virtual facility. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the information about the virtual facility is information in which the virtual facility ID, facility area, capacity, facility section (section ID, section area), layout information, IDs of related other virtual facilities, IDs of related real facilities, and IDs of related other-space virtual facilities are associated with each other.

[0034] The facility range is information indicating the range within the virtual space in which the virtual facility exists. The capacity is the upper limit of the number of avatars that can enter the virtual facility. For example, if the virtual space platform is designed not to allow multiple avatars to be displayed overlapping in the same position, the number of avatars that can enter the virtual facility is limited, and a capacity is set. The facility section is a section set within the virtual facility. The related other virtual facility is another virtual facility related to the virtual facility, for example, a facility affiliated with the virtual facility. The related real facility is a real facility associated with the virtual facility. The related other-space virtual facility is an other-space virtual store that exists in another virtual space controlled by a virtual space platform different from the virtual space platform managed by the information processing device 1, and is an other-space virtual store associated with the virtual store that exists in the virtual space controlled by the virtual space platform. For example, the real facility corresponding to the virtual store and the real facility corresponding to the other-space virtual store associated with the virtual store are the same facility.

[0035] 3 , the control unit 13 includes an acquisition unit 131, a virtual space control unit 132, a determination unit 133, and a purchase management unit 134. The control unit 13 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and functions as the acquisition unit 131, the virtual space control unit 132, the determination unit 133, and the purchase management unit 134 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0036] The acquisition unit 131 acquires various information from the outside. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires information for rendering a virtual image, such as a user ID and operation information for the user to operate an avatar, from the user terminal 2.

[0037] The virtual space control unit 132 displays avatars in the virtual space for the first user terminal. The avatars include at least a second avatar. The avatars may further include a first avatar, or may not include the first avatar. Specifically, the virtual space control unit 132 causes a virtual image including the avatars to be displayed on the first user terminal.

[0038] For example, first, the virtual space control unit 132 specifies a rendering range in which to render a virtual image based on the position of the first avatar in the virtual space specified by the operation information acquired by the acquisition unit 131. The position of the first avatar in the virtual space is, for example, an initial position or a position to which the first avatar has moved. The rendering range is, for example, a virtual facility including the position of the first avatar, or a range up to a predetermined distance from the position of the first avatar in the virtual space.

[0039] The virtual space control unit 132 references information about the avatars and identifies an avatar present in the rendering area. The virtual space control unit 132 renders a virtual image showing the virtual space as viewed from a predetermined virtual viewpoint based on information about the first avatar, including the ID of the first user, information about the identified second avatar, and information about the virtual facility present in the rendering area. The predetermined virtual viewpoint may be the position of the eyes of the first avatar, or a position that includes the first avatar but is distant from the first avatar. The virtual space control unit 132 then transmits the rendered virtual image to the first user terminal, thereby displaying the virtual image on the first user terminal.

[0040] The virtual space control unit 132 may display information objects in addition to avatars. The information objects are objects for displaying information such as the name of the virtual facility where the first avatar is located, for example.

[0041] The virtual space control unit 132 controls the display of the second avatar depending on the number of avatars present in the target virtual store. The target virtual store is a virtual store present in the virtual space where the first avatar is present (a virtual store in the rendering range). Specifically, the information processing device 1 controls the display of the second avatar depending on the number of avatars present in the target virtual store by executing the following two steps.

[0042] As a first step, the determination unit 133 determines whether the number of avatars present in the target virtual store is large. Specifically, the determination unit 133 determines whether the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds a store threshold. The store threshold may be a threshold defined by the virtual space platform, or may be a threshold defined for each virtual store. For example, if the store threshold is a threshold defined for each virtual store, the determination unit 133 obtains the store threshold corresponding to the target store and determines whether the number of avatars identified by the virtual space control unit 132 exceeds the obtained store threshold.

[0043] In a second step, the virtual space control unit 132 controls the display of the second avatars according to the determination result by the determination unit 133. Specifically, if the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store does not exceed the store threshold, the virtual space control unit 132 displays all second avatars present in the target virtual store.

[0044] On the other hand, when the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the store threshold, the virtual space control unit 132 hides at least some of the second avatars among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store. For example, the virtual space control unit 132 displays, of the multiple second avatars present in the target virtual store, a number of second avatars equal to the store threshold and hides the remaining second avatars.

[0045] When hiding some of the second avatars in the target virtual store, the virtual space control unit 132 may randomly select the second avatars to be hidden, or may select second avatars to be displayed in order of proximity to the first avatar. Furthermore, the virtual space control unit 132 may select, from among the multiple second avatars in the target virtual store, a second avatar corresponding to a second user with attributes at least similar to those of the first user (e.g., a second user of the same gender as the first user, a second user of the same age or generation as the first user, etc.). Furthermore, the virtual space control unit 132 may select, from among the multiple second avatars in the target virtual store, a second avatar corresponding to a second user with whom the first user has previously conversed in the virtual space managed by the virtual space platform. The virtual space control unit 132 may select only the relevant second avatars (a second avatar corresponding to a second user with attributes at least similar to those of the first user, or a second avatar corresponding to a second user with whom the first user has previously conversed in the virtual space managed by the virtual space platform), or may prioritize the selection of the relevant second avatars. The virtual space control unit 132 may hide all second avatars present in the target virtual store.

[0046] When the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the store threshold, the virtual space control unit 132 displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store. For example, the virtual space control unit 132 displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store in an information object.

[0047] The virtual space control unit 132 may display the information object in a manner corresponding to the number of hidden second avatars. For example, the display manner of the information object may be predetermined, such as displaying the information object in blue when the number of hidden second avatars is one to five, displaying the information object in yellow when the number of hidden second avatars is six to ten, or displaying the information object in red when the number of hidden second avatars is ten or more. In this case, the virtual space control unit 132 displays the information object in a manner corresponding to the number of hidden second avatars.

[0048] If the target virtual store includes multiple sections, the virtual space control unit 132 may display information indicating the number of second avatars according to the sections included in the target virtual store. Specifically, the virtual space control unit 132 displays information indicating the number of avatars present in each section included in the target virtual store.

[0049] For example, the virtual space control unit 132 first references information about the target virtual store and information about avatars, identifies the avatars present in each section included in the target virtual store, and then displays information indicating the number of identified avatars for each section included in the target virtual store.

[0050] For example, the dedicated app may be configured to switch the virtual viewpoint between a predetermined first viewpoint mode and a second viewpoint mode in which the user can move freely, and when the first user switches the virtual viewpoint to the second viewpoint mode, the virtual space control unit 132 may display information indicating the number of avatars for each section included in the target virtual store. In this case, the virtual space control unit 132 may display the boundary lines of each section in the target virtual store.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a virtual image. Image G3 in FIG. 6 is a virtual image displaying a target virtual store in second viewpoint mode. Lines L indicate the boundaries of each section. The target virtual store shown in image G3 has six sections, and each section displays a pop-up indicating the number of avatars present in the section. In this way, the information processing device 1 presents the number of avatars for each section included in the target virtual store, allowing the user to understand where and how many avatars are present. Note that the virtual space control unit 132 may also display information indicating the number of second avatars present in a target section, which is a section in which a first avatar is present, among multiple sections included in the target virtual store.

[0052] The virtual space control unit 132 may control the display of the second avatar for each section included in the target virtual store. Specifically, the determination unit 133 determines, for each section included in the target virtual store, whether the number of avatars present in that section exceeds a section threshold. The section threshold may be a threshold determined by the virtual space platform, a threshold determined for each virtual store, or a threshold determined for each virtual store and section.

[0053] If the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in a section does not exceed the section threshold, the virtual space control unit 132 displays all second avatars present in the section. On the other hand, if the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in a section exceeds the section threshold, the virtual space control unit 132 hides at least some of the second avatars among the multiple avatars present in the section. In this case, the virtual space control unit 132 may display information indicating the number of avatars present in a section, among the multiple sections included in the target virtual store, in which the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0054] The virtual space control unit 132 may display information indicating avatars that have purchased products sold by the target virtual store and avatars that have not purchased products sold by the target virtual store. Specifically, the virtual space control unit 132 displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store, dividing the avatars into those that have purchased products sold by the target virtual store and those that have not purchased products sold by the target virtual store.

[0055] For example, the purchase management unit 134 first manages commercial transactions between virtual stores and avatars in the virtual space. When an avatar purchases an item at a virtual store, the purchase history of the purchase at the virtual store is added to information about the avatar. The virtual space control unit 132 then references the purchase history included in the information about the avatar and displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store, dividing the avatars into those that have purchased an item sold by the target virtual store within a predetermined period (e.g., within one hour, within one day, etc.) and those that have not purchased an item sold by the target virtual store within the predetermined period. In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to understand how many avatars present in the target virtual store have purchased items.

[0056] The virtual space control unit 132 may display avatars that have purchased products sold by the target virtual store in different ways from avatars that have not purchased products. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a virtual image. Image G4 shown in FIG. 7 is a virtual image displaying the target virtual store. Image G4 displays three second avatars (avatars A1, A2, and A3). Avatar A1 is a second avatar that has purchased a product sold by the target virtual store within a predetermined period, while avatars A2 and A3 are second avatars that have not purchased a product sold by the target virtual store within the predetermined period. As shown in image G4, the virtual space control unit 132 displays avatar A1, avatars A2, and A3 in different ways.

[0057] The virtual space control unit 132 may also associate a purchase object (e.g., a bag displaying the name or logo of the target virtual store) indicating that a product sold by the target virtual store was purchased within a predetermined period with the avatar that purchased the product sold by the target virtual store and display it. In this way, the information processing device 1 displays avatars that have purchased products sold by the target virtual store in different ways from avatars that have not purchased the products, allowing the first user to understand which second avatar purchased the product.

[0058] The virtual space control unit 132 may display avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past in different ways from avatars that have not visited the target virtual store in the past. Specifically, the virtual space control unit 132 first references the behavioral history included in the information about the avatars and identifies avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past from among the avatars present in the target virtual store. Then, the virtual space control unit 132 displays the identified avatars (avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past) in different ways from other avatars (avatars that have not visited the target virtual store in the past). In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to recognize second avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past.

[0059] The virtual space control unit 132 displays information indicating the number of avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past. For example, the virtual space control unit 132 references the behavioral history included in the information about the avatars, identifies avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past, and displays information indicating the number of identified avatars.

[0060] For example, the virtual space control unit 132 displays information indicating the total number of avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past. The virtual space control unit 132 may also display information indicating the number of avatars that visited the target virtual store a predetermined period of time ago (e.g., one week ago, one month ago, etc.). The virtual space control unit 132 may also display information indicating a statistical value (e.g., an average value, etc.) of the number of avatars that visited the target virtual store on the same past day of the week as the current day of the week. In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to understand how many avatars have visited the target virtual store in the past.

[0061] The virtual space control unit 132 may further display various information together with the information indicating the number of second avatars present in the target virtual store. For example, the virtual space control unit 132 may further display information indicating the number of second avatars present outside the target virtual store. Specifically, the virtual space control unit 132 may further display information indicating the number of second avatars present in a virtual passage adjacent to the target virtual store.

[0062] For example, the virtual space control unit 132 first references information about the virtual facility and identifies a virtual passage adjacent to the target virtual store. The virtual space control unit 132 then references information about second avatars and identifies second avatars present in the identified virtual passage. The virtual space control unit 132 then further displays information indicating the number of identified second avatars. In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to understand how many second avatars are present in the target virtual store relative to the number of second avatars present in the virtual passage adjacent to the target virtual store.

[0063] The virtual space control unit 132 may further display information indicating the number of second avatars waiting to enter the target virtual store outside the target virtual store. First, a process for an avatar to wait to enter the virtual store will be described. In a case where a virtual store has a capacity limit, when an avatar enters the virtual store, the determination unit 133 first determines whether the number of other avatars present in the virtual store is less than the capacity limit for the virtual store. If the determination unit 133 determines that the number of other avatars present in the virtual store is less than the capacity limit for the virtual store, the virtual space control unit 132 permits the avatar to enter the virtual store. On the other hand, if the determination unit 133 determines that the number of other avatars present in the virtual store is not less than the capacity limit for the virtual store, the virtual space control unit 132 does not permit the avatar to enter the virtual store.

[0064] In this case, the virtual space control unit 132 requests the avatar that has not been permitted to enter the virtual store to respond as to whether or not it will wait to enter the store, and if the avatar responds that it will wait to enter the store, it executes a process for the avatar to wait to enter the virtual store by having the avatar stand in a line outside the virtual store to enter the virtual store.

[0065] The virtual space control unit 132 displays, on the first user terminal, information indicating the number of second avatars that have responded that they are waiting to enter the target virtual store. In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to know how many second avatars are waiting to enter the store.

[0066] The virtual space control unit 132 may further display information indicating the number of second avatars present in affiliated stores of the target virtual store. Specifically, the virtual space control unit 132 further displays information indicating the number of second avatars present in other virtual stores associated with the target virtual store.

[0067] For example, the virtual space control unit 132 first refers to information about the virtual facility and identifies other related virtual facilities associated with the target virtual store. The virtual space control unit 132 then refers to information about the identified other related virtual facility and information about the avatar and identifies the number of second avatars present in the identified other related virtual facility. The virtual space control unit 132 then further displays information indicating the number of identified second avatars. In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to understand how many second avatars are present in stores affiliated with the target virtual store.

[0068] The virtual space control unit 132 may further display information indicating the number of second avatars present in an other space virtual store of another virtual space platform that corresponds to the target virtual store of the virtual space platform.

[0069] Specifically, the acquisition unit 131 first identifies a related other-space virtual store associated with the target virtual store by referring to information about the virtual facility, and then acquires information indicating the number of second avatars present in the identified related other-space virtual store from a server (not shown) that manages another virtual space platform. The virtual space control unit 132 then further displays information indicating the number of second avatars present in the related other-space virtual store acquired by the acquisition unit 131. In this manner, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to grasp the number of second avatars present in specific virtual stores (the target virtual store and the related other-space virtual store) present in each virtual space.

[0070] The virtual space control unit 132 may further display information indicating the number of users present in the real store of the target virtual store. For example, the real store is equipped with equipment for identifying the number of users, such as a camera or an infrared sensor.

[0071] In this case, the acquisition unit 131 first identifies an associated real store associated with the target virtual store by referring to information about the target virtual store, and acquires information indicating the number of users present at the associated real store from the identified associated real store. The virtual space control unit 132 then further displays information indicating the number of users present at the associated real store associated with the target virtual store. When the acquisition unit 131 acquires an image captured by a camera installed in the associated real store, the virtual space control unit 132 analyzes the image to identify the number of users present at the associated real store and displays information indicating the identified number of users. In this way, the information processing device 1 allows the first user to understand how many users are present at the real store corresponding to the target virtual store.

[0072] [Processing of Information Processing Device 1] Next, a description will be given of the processing flow of information processing device 1. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of information processing device 1. This flowchart starts when acquisition unit 131 acquires operation information for a first user to perform an operation to cause a first avatar to enter a virtual store (S1).

[0073] The virtual space control unit 132 specifies a rendering range in which to render a virtual image based on the position of the first avatar in the virtual space specified by the operation information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 (S2). The virtual space control unit 132 specifies the number of avatars present in the rendering range by referring to information about the second avatar (S3). The determination unit 133 determines whether the number of avatars present in the target virtual store, which is the rendering range, exceeds a store threshold (S4).

[0074] If the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store does not exceed the store threshold (YES in S4), the virtual space control unit 132 displays all second avatars present in the target virtual store (S5). On the other hand, if the determination unit 133 determines that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the store threshold (NO in S4), the virtual space control unit 132 hides at least some of the second avatars among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store (S6).

[0075] <Modification> In the above, an example has been described in which the information processing device 1 hides at least some of the second avatars among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store when the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds a predetermined threshold, but this is not limited to this. For example, the information processing device 1 may allow a certain avatar to enter the virtual store when the number of other avatars present in the virtual store that the avatar is attempting to enter is less than the facility threshold. In this way, the information processing device 1 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which an increase in the number of avatars increases the processing load of the information processing device 1, causing the process for presenting the virtual space to the user to become unstable.

[0076] [Effects of the Present Embodiment] As described above, when the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds a predetermined threshold, the information processing device 1 hides at least some of the second avatars among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store and displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store. In this way, when a large number of avatars exist in the virtual store, the information processing device 1 can reduce the processing load by omitting the second avatars present in the virtual store. Furthermore, when the information processing device 1 omits the second avatars present in the virtual store, the information processing device 1 can present information indicating the number of second avatars present in the virtual store, allowing the first user to understand how many second avatars exist in the virtual store. As a result, the information processing device 1 can achieve a balance between the processing load and the quality of presentation to the user.

[0077] Furthermore, this disclosure will contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation."

[0078] The present disclosure has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist thereof. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments.

[0079] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve an effect of achieving a balance between the processing load on the server and the quality of presentation to the user.

[0080] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Information processing device 11 Communication unit 12 Storage unit 13 Control unit 131 Acquisition unit 132 Virtual space control unit 133 Determination unit 134 Purchasing management unit 2 User terminal S Information processing system

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: a virtual space control unit that displays, on a first user terminal used by a first user, an avatar representing the first user or a second user different from the first user in a virtual space; and a judgment unit that judges whether the number of avatars existing in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store existing in the virtual space and in which the avatar corresponding to the first user exists, exceeds a predetermined threshold; wherein, when the judgment unit judges that the number of avatars existing in the target virtual store exceeds the predetermined threshold, the virtual space control unit hides at least a portion of the avatars corresponding to the second user among the multiple avatars existing in the target virtual store and displays information indicating the number of avatars existing in the target virtual store.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual space control unit further displays information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second user waiting to enter the target virtual store outside the target virtual store.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual space control unit further displays information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second user present in a virtual passage adjacent to the target virtual store.

4. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the virtual store includes a plurality of sections, and the virtual space control unit displays, for each section included in the plurality of sections of the target virtual store, information indicating the number of avatars present in that section.

5. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the virtual space control unit displays information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store, dividing the avatars into those that have purchased products sold by the target virtual store and those that have not purchased the products.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual space control unit displays the avatar that has purchased an item sold by the target virtual store in a different manner from the avatar that has not purchased the item.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual space control unit displays information indicating the number of avatars that have visited the target virtual store in the past.

8. An information processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the virtual store is associated with other related virtual stores, and the virtual space control unit further displays information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second user that are present in the other virtual stores that are associated with the target virtual store.

9. An information processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the virtual store is associated with an other space virtual store existing in another virtual space controlled by another virtual space platform different from the virtual space platform that controls the virtual space in which the virtual store exists, and the virtual space control unit further displays information indicating the number of avatars corresponding to the second user existing in the other space virtual store associated with the target virtual store.

10. An information processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the virtual store is associated with a real store existing in real space, the information processing device further has an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the number of users present in the real store, and the virtual space control unit further displays information indicating the number of users present in the real store associated with the target virtual store.

11. An information processing method executed by a computer, comprising the steps of: displaying, on a first user terminal used by a first user, an avatar representing the first user or a second user different from the first user in a virtual space; and determining whether the number of avatars present in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store present in the virtual space and in which the avatar corresponding to the first user is present, exceeds a predetermined threshold; and if it is determined in the step of displaying the avatars that the number of avatars present in the target virtual store exceeds the predetermined threshold, hiding at least a portion of the avatars corresponding to the second user among the multiple avatars present in the target virtual store, and displaying information indicating the number of avatars present in the target virtual store.

12. A program that causes a computer to function as: a virtual space control unit that displays, on a first user terminal used by a first user, an avatar representing the first user or a second user different from the first user in a virtual space; and a judgment unit that judges whether the number of avatars existing in a target virtual store, which is a virtual store existing in the virtual space and in which the avatar corresponding to the first user exists, exceeds a predetermined threshold; and when the judgment unit judges that the number of avatars existing in the target virtual store exceeds the predetermined threshold, the virtual space control unit hides at least a portion of the avatars corresponding to the second user among the multiple avatars existing in the target virtual store and displays information indicating the number of avatars existing in the target virtual store.

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