Reward distribution program, computer, reward distribution system, and reward distribution method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a reward, which flexibly reflects a contribution of a constituent member that cannot be visualized by a predetermined reward reference, to a constituent member of a DAO. [Solution] This reward distribution program causes a computer to realize: a token imparting function for imparting a token to a user on the basis of a prescribed token imparting condition; a token transfer function for transferring the token to another user on the basis of a user operation; and a reward imparting function for imparting, to the user, a reward that is based on the amount or types of tokens possessed by the user.

Description

Reward distribution program, computer, reward distribution system, and reward distribution method

[0001] At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a reward distribution program, a computer, a reward distribution system, and a reward distribution method.

[0002] A new organizational form that utilizes blockchain is the Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). Unlike traditional centralized organizations, DAOs are run by participants cooperating with each other.

[0003] DAOs are often run by smart contracts, which allow for flexible organizational structures by defining organizational rules.

[0004] Patent Literature 1 describes that a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) is an organization that is represented by rules defined in a computer program, such as a smart contract, and is controlled by shareholders. It also describes that the records and program rules of the DAO may be stored and updated in a blockchain.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-177422

[0006] Rewards are a means of encouraging DAO members (hereinafter sometimes referred to as users) to take actions that are deemed valuable in the DAO.

[0007] Rewards given to DAO members are often based on predetermined reward criteria. If the criteria are managed on-chain, they are implemented as smart contracts. If they are managed off-chain, they are implemented as rules in a program, for example.

[0008] However, the compensation standards do not necessarily provide a completely accurate visualization of the degree of contribution of the constituent members. Even if the constituent members, who are all human, can understand that a certain member's contribution is extremely significant, if the content of that contribution does not match the compensation standards described above, the contribution cannot be properly evaluated, and the constituent members of the DAO will not be able to receive compensation commensurate with their actual contribution.

[0009] An object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to solve the above problem and provide a reward distribution program, computer, reward distribution system, and reward distribution method that can provide DAO members with rewards that flexibly reflect the contributions of the members that cannot be visualized using predetermined reward standards.

[0010] In a non-limiting aspect, a reward distribution program according to an embodiment of the present invention enables a computer to implement a token granting function that grants tokens to users based on predetermined token granting conditions, a token transfer function that transfers the tokens to other users based on user operations, and a reward granting function that grants rewards to users based on the amount or type of tokens held by the users.

[0011] In a non-limiting aspect, a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a processor and a memory, and the processor executes a token granting process for granting tokens to a user based on predetermined token granting conditions, a token transfer process for transferring the tokens to another user based on a user operation, and a reward granting process for granting a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

[0012] In a non-limiting aspect, a reward distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a reward distribution system comprising a communication network, a server, and a user terminal, and includes: a token granting means for granting tokens to a user based on predetermined token granting conditions; a token transfer means for transferring the tokens to another user based on a user operation; and a reward granting means for granting a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

[0013] In a non-limiting aspect, a reward distribution method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a reward distribution method implemented by a computer having a processor and a memory, and includes a token granting process for granting tokens to a user based on predetermined token granting conditions, a token transfer process for transferring the tokens to another user based on a user operation, and a reward granting process for granting a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

[0014] Each embodiment of the present application addresses one or more of the deficiencies.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reward distribution system corresponding to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a backend corresponding to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of a reward distribution system corresponding to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the number of tokens held by each user corresponding to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the various components in the examples of the embodiments described below can be combined as appropriate to the extent that no inconsistencies or the like arise. Furthermore, content described as an example of one embodiment may be omitted in other embodiments. Furthermore, the content of operations and processes unrelated to the characteristic parts of each embodiment may be omitted. Furthermore, the order of various processes constituting the various flows and sequences described below may be in any order to the extent that no inconsistencies or the like arise in the processing content.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reward distribution system 100 corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. The reward distribution system 100 includes a server 10 and a user terminal 20 used by users of the reward distribution system 100. User terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C are each an example of a user terminal 20. The configuration of the reward distribution system 100 is not limited to this. For example, the reward distribution system 100 may be configured so that multiple users use a single user terminal. The reward distribution system 100 may also include multiple servers. The user terminal 20 may perform the functions of the server 10.

[0018] The server 10 and the user terminal 20 are examples of computers. The server 10 and the user terminal 20 are each communicatively connected to a communication network 30 such as the Internet. The connection between the communication network 30 and the server 10 and the connection between the communication network 30 and the user terminal 20 may be a wired connection or a wireless connection. For example, the user terminal 20 may connect to the communication network 30 by performing data communication with a base station managed by a telecommunications carrier via a wireless communication line.

[0019] The reward distribution system 100 includes a server 10 and a user terminal 20, thereby realizing various functions for executing various processes in response to user operations.

[0020] The server 10 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, and a storage device 13. The processor 11 is, for example, a central processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs various calculations and control. If the server 10 includes a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), some of the calculations and control may be performed by the GPU. The server 10 uses the data read into the memory 12 to execute various information processing operations using the processor 11, and stores the obtained processing results in the storage device 13 as necessary.

[0021] The storage device 13 functions as a storage medium for storing various types of information. The configuration of the storage device 13 is not particularly limited, but may be configured to store all of the various types of information necessary for the control performed by the reward distribution system 100, from the viewpoint of reducing the processing load on the user terminal 20. Examples of such a configuration include an HDD and an SSD. However, the storage device that stores the various types of information only needs to have a storage area accessible by the server 10, and may be configured to have a dedicated storage area outside the server 10, for example.

[0022] The user terminal 20 is managed by a user. Examples of the user terminal 20 include a mobile phone terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, a tablet, a stationary game device, a portable game device, etc. The user terminal 20 may also be VR goggles, AR glasses, smart glasses, AR contacts, or other wearable devices that can be operated by the user.

[0023] The user terminal 20 is connected to the communication network 30 and includes hardware and software for executing various processes by communicating with the server 10. Each of the multiple user terminals 20 may be configured to be able to communicate directly with each other (peer-to-peer communication) without going through the server 10.

[0024] The user terminal 20 may have a built-in display device. The display device may also be connected to the user terminal 20 wirelessly or via a wire. Note that the display device is an extremely common configuration and is therefore not shown here. The display device is an example of an output device. When a user performs various information processing using the user terminal 20, a screen required for the information processing (information processing screen) is displayed as an image by the display device, and the user recognizes this image. The information processing screen is displayed, for example, on a display, which is an example of a display device provided in the user terminal, or on a display, which is an example of a display device connected to the user terminal.

[0025] The user terminal 20 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, and a storage device 23. The processor 21 is, for example, a central processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs various calculations and control. Furthermore, if the user terminal 20 includes a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), some of the various calculations and control may be performed by the GPU. The user terminal 20 uses the data read into the memory 22 to execute various information processing operations with the processor 21, and stores the obtained processing results in the storage device 23 as necessary. The storage device 23 functions as a storage medium for storing various information.

[0026] The user terminal 20 may have a built-in input device. The input device may also be connected to the user terminal 20 wirelessly or via a wire. The input device accepts operational input from a user. In response to the operational input from the user, a processor provided in the server 10 or a processor provided in the user terminal 20 executes various control processes. Examples of input devices include a touch panel screen provided on a smartphone, tablet, etc., a keyboard, a mouse, a gamepad, a joystick, and other controllers.

[0027] Additionally, the user terminal 20 may be equipped with other output devices such as a speaker, etc. The other output devices output sounds, vibrations, and various other types of information to the user.

[0028] In this embodiment, the communication network 30 includes a blockchain network 60. The blockchain network 60 is constructed by a plurality of nodes such as computers. As examples of the plurality of nodes, FIG. 1 shows nodes 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, each of which is a computer. These are merely examples, and the number of nodes does not have to be four. Note that the blockchain network 60 may be constructed as a network separate from the illustrated communication network 30.

[0029] A plurality of nodes 6a to 6d are typically interconnected in a peer-to-peer manner to construct a blockchain network 60. A distributed ledger is stored in a storage device provided in each node. The server 10 or the user terminal 20 may be communicatively connected to the blockchain network 60. The server 10 or the user terminal 20 may function as a node included in the blockchain network 60.

[0030] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a backend corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. The backend 4 is implemented in a device included in the reward distribution system 100. The device may be, for example, the server 10 or the user terminal 20 described above.

[0031] The backend 4 includes a token granting unit 401, a token transfer unit 402, and a reward granting unit 403. A processor included in a device that implements the backend 4 refers to a reward distribution program stored in a storage device and executes the program to functionally realize the token granting unit 401, the token transfer unit 402, and the reward granting unit 403.

[0032] The token granting unit 401 has a function of granting tokens to users based on predetermined token granting conditions. The token transfer unit 402 has a function of transferring tokens to other users based on user operations. The reward granting unit 403 has a function of granting rewards to users based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

[0033] The token typically refers to a non-fungible token (NFT), but may also be any other type of token that can be linked to an object.

[0034] The token granting condition means a condition for granting tokens to members (users) of the DAO. The token granting condition may be, for example, a condition for granting tokens over time, such as granting one token per month. The token granting condition may be a condition based on user attribute information, such as granting a different type of token when five of a certain token are held. The user attribute information may be information other than the number of held tokens.

[0035] The token granting condition may be based on the user's contribution to the DAO to which the user belongs. For example, if a project is ongoing in the DAO to which the user belongs, an example of a token granting condition is that the user is granted an amount of tokens according to the amount of time the user has participated in the project. The token granting condition is not limited to the amount of time the user has participated in the project. For example, for a project ongoing in the DAO, tokens may be granted on the condition that the user uploads an electronic file that is a work product, or on other conditions.

[0036] A user operation refers to an operation performed by a user on the front-end side. For example, if a user terminal 20 that is a smartphone is used as the front-end, an operation such as a user inputting information into a touch panel of the user terminal 20 corresponds to the user operation referred to here. A typical example is an operation such as a user tapping a token transfer button in an SNS service accessible from the user terminal 20.

[0037] Token transfer refers to transferring a token from one address to another. In information processing services using blockchain, users generally have wallets to manage their tokens. Token transfer corresponds to transferring management of the token from User A's wallet to User B's wallet.

[0038] The wallet may be installed on the user terminal 20. The wallet may also be provided as a web service accessible over the Internet. The wallet may also be stored on a storage medium (e.g., a USB memory) connectable to a device such as the user terminal 20. Wallets for managing tokens are a conventional technology, and therefore will not be described in detail here.

[0039] A token held by a user means a token that is linked to that user. If a user holds a wallet as described above, the tokens managed in that wallet are the tokens held by the user.

[0040] The content of the reward is not particularly limited. For example, the reward may be a tangible item such as a product, or a reward related to some kind of right, such as a participation ticket to participate in an exclusive event. The reward may also be data such as NFT or points. The reward may be the currency of the DAO to which the user belongs. The currency of the DAO means the currency issued within the DAO.

[0041] "Giving a reward" refers to a process on the reward distribution system 100 for granting the reward to the user. For example, if the reward is a tangible object such as a product, this process may involve sending a shipping instruction message to a server managed by a shipping company to ship the tangible object to the user's address. If the reward is an NFT or the like, this process may involve accessing a smart contract to send the NFT to the user's wallet.

[0042] A reward based on the amount of tokens refers to a reward that is determined according to the amount of tokens held by one or more users, such as if you hold 10 tokens you will receive 1 reward, if you hold 100 tokens you will receive 12 rewards, etc.

[0043] Rewards based on the type of token refer to rewards determined according to the type of token, such as if you hold token A you will receive one reward, and if you hold token B you will receive three rewards.

[0044] If no transfer based on the token transfer unit 402 has occurred for a certain period of time, the reward granting unit 403 may grant a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

[0045] The reward granting unit 403 may grant a reward to a user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user when a predetermined event in the DAO is completed. A predetermined event in the DAO means, for example, a live event in which at least some of the members of the DAO participate, a project in the DAO, etc. For example, when a project in the DAO is completed, the reward granting unit 403 grants a reward to the user.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a reward distribution system corresponding to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0047] The token granting unit 401 grants a token to a user based on predetermined token granting conditions (St101).

[0048] In this example, it is assumed that the predetermined token granting condition is that a user uploads an activity record in the DAO to the server 10. For example, a user who is a member of the DAO operates the user terminal 20 to input his or her own activity record information in the DAO and transmits it to the server 10. The server 10 acquires the activity record information from the user terminal 20. The acquired activity record information is stored in a storage device accessible from the server 10. The activity record information may also be stored in a blockchain. The token granting unit 401 of the server 10 that acquires the activity record information determines whether the token granting condition is met. If the token granting condition is met, the token granting unit 401 grants a token to the user.

[0049] The token transfer unit 402 transfers the token to another user based on a user operation (St102).

[0050] Here, reference is also made to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the number of tokens held by each user, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] At a certain point in time, three members of the DAO, User A, User B, and User C, are each granted 150 tokens based on the token granting conditions described above and hold 150 tokens.

[0052] Each user can issue an instruction to transfer tokens to another user by operating the user terminal 20. The user interface for issuing an instruction to transfer tokens is a conventional technique, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. For example, a user selects an icon of a transfer destination displayed on the touch panel of the user terminal 20, which is a smartphone, enters the number of tokens, and taps the "Transfer" button.

[0053] The transfer instruction input by the user is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the server 10. The token transfer unit 402 of the server 10 that has received the transfer instruction transfers the token to another user based on the user operation described above (step St102).

[0054] As a result of the above transfer instruction, 50 tokens were transferred from user A to user B. Also, 20 tokens were transferred from user B to user C. As a result of these transfer processes, user A now has 100 tokens, user B has 180 tokens, and user C has 170 tokens.

[0055] Then, at a predetermined timing, the reward granting unit 403 functions. That is, the reward granting unit 403 grants a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user (St103). Note that in this example, the predetermined timing is the end of the project in the DAO, and the reward is the currency within the DAO, which is an NFT.

[0056] As a result, User A will receive the DAO internal currency as a reward for the 100 tokens he holds at this point. User B will receive the DAO internal currency as a reward for the 180 tokens he holds at this point. User C will receive the DAO internal currency as a reward for the 170 tokens he holds at this point.

[0057] Based on the DAO's predetermined token granting conditions, each user is granted 150 tokens. However, these granting conditions do not necessarily fully and accurately visualize the degree of each member's contribution within the DAO. The reward distribution program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure allows each member to transfer tokens to another member who is deemed to have contributed to the DAO. Therefore, each member's contribution within the DAO can be visualized in a manner that satisfies each member. Furthermore, rewards can be distributed to each member according to the visualized contributions.

[0058] In other words, at least one embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to provide DAO members with rewards that flexibly reflect the contributions of the members that cannot be visualized using predetermined reward standards.

[0059] As described above, each embodiment of the present application solves one or more deficiencies. Note that the effects of each embodiment are non-limiting effects or examples of effects.

[0060] In each of the above-described embodiments, the user terminal 20 and the server 10 execute the above-described various processes in accordance with various control programs (e.g., reward distribution programs) stored in their own storage devices. Furthermore, other computers, not limited to the user terminal 20 and the server 10, may execute the above-described various processes in accordance with various control programs (e.g., reward distribution programs) stored in their own storage devices.

[0061] Furthermore, the configuration of the reward distribution system 100 is not limited to the configuration described as an example of the embodiment above. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a server executes some or all of the processes described as processes executed by a user terminal, or a configuration may be adopted in which a user terminal executes some or all of the processes described as processes executed by a server. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which the user terminal is equipped with some or all of the memory unit (memory device) equipped in the server. In other words, a configuration may be adopted in which the user terminal or the server in the reward distribution system 100 is equipped with some or all of the functions equipped in the other.

[0062] Furthermore, the program may be configured to cause a part or all of the functions described as examples of each of the above-mentioned embodiments to be realized by a single device that does not include a communication network.

[0063] [Additional Notes] The above-described embodiments have been described so that at least the following inventions can be implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the inventions pertain.

[0064] [1] A reward distribution program that enables a computer to realize a token granting function that grants tokens to users based on predetermined token granting conditions, a token transfer function that transfers the tokens to other users based on user operations, and a reward granting function that grants rewards to the users based on the amount or type of tokens they hold.

[0065] According to the above-mentioned reward distribution program, it is possible to provide rewards to the constituent members of the DAO that flexibly reflect the contributions of the constituent members that cannot be visualized by a predetermined reward standard.

[0066] [2] The reward distribution program according to [1], wherein the token granting condition is based on the user's contribution to the DAO to which the user belongs. This not only allows the user's contribution to the DAO to be granted in the form of tokens, but also allows the tokens to be transferred between users. Therefore, the contributions of the constituent members can be adjusted in two stages, granting and transferring, and appropriate rewards can be provided to the constituent members of the DAO.

[0067] [3] The reward distribution program according to [1], wherein the reward is a currency of the DAO to which the user belongs. This allows users who are members of the DAO to receive appropriate rewards in the form of the DAO's currency in accordance with their contributions.

[0068] [4] The reward distribution program according to [1], wherein the reward granting function grants a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user if no transfer based on the token transfer function has occurred for a certain period of time. This allows adjustment of contributions between users to be finalized and rewards to be appropriately distributed when transfer processing between users has settled down.

[0069] [5] The reward distribution program according to [1], wherein the reward granting function grants a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user when a predetermined event in the DAO ends. This allows for adjustment of contributions among users at a convenient time, such as the end of a project, and appropriate distribution of rewards.

[0070] [6] A computer having a processor and a memory, wherein the processor executes a token granting process for granting tokens to a user based on predetermined token granting conditions; a token transfer process for transferring the tokens to another user based on a user operation; and a reward granting process for granting a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

[0071] The above computer makes it possible to provide rewards to the constituent members of a DAO that flexibly reflect the contributions of the constituent members that cannot be visualized using predetermined reward standards.

[0072] [7] A reward distribution system comprising a communication network, a server, and a user terminal, the reward distribution system including: a token granting means for granting tokens to users based on predetermined token granting conditions; a token transfer means for transferring the tokens to other users based on user operations; and a reward granting means for granting rewards to the users based on the amount or type of tokens held by the users.

[0073] According to the above-described reward distribution system, it is possible to provide rewards to the constituent members of the DAO that flexibly reflect the contributions of the constituent members that cannot be visualized by a predetermined reward standard.

[0074] [8] A reward distribution method by a computer having a processor and a memory, the reward distribution method including: a token granting process that grants tokens to users based on predetermined token granting conditions; a token transfer process that transfers the tokens to other users based on user operations; and a reward granting process that grants rewards to the users based on the amount or type of tokens held by the users.

[0075] According to the above reward distribution method, it is possible to provide rewards to the constituent members of the DAO that flexibly reflect the contributions of the constituent members that cannot be visualized using predetermined reward standards.

[0076] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is useful as a reward distribution program, computer, reward distribution system, and reward distribution method that can provide rewards to DAO members that flexibly reflect the contributions of the members that cannot be visualized using predetermined reward standards.

[0077] 10 Server 11 Processor 12 Memory 13 Storage device 20, 20A, 20B User terminal 21 Processor 22 Memory 23 Storage device 30 Communication network 60 Blockchain network 100 Reward distribution system 401 Token granting unit 402 Token transfer unit 403 Reward granting unit

Claims

1. A reward distribution program that enables a computer to realize a token granting function that grants tokens to users based on specified token granting conditions, a token transfer function that transfers the tokens to other users based on user operation, and a reward granting function that grants rewards to the users based on the amount or type of tokens held by the users.

2. The reward distribution program according to claim 1, wherein the token granting conditions are based on the user's contributions in the DAO to which the user belongs.

3. The reward distribution program of claim 1, wherein the reward is a currency in the DAO to which the user belongs.

4. The reward distribution program of claim 1, wherein the reward granting function grants the user a reward based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user if no transfer based on the token transfer function has occurred for a certain period of time.

5. The reward distribution program of claim 1, wherein the reward granting function grants a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user when a specified event in the DAO ends.

6. A computer having a processor and a memory, the processor executing a token granting process for granting a token to a user based on a predetermined token granting condition, a token transfer process for transferring the token to another user based on a user operation, and a reward granting process for granting a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

7. A reward distribution system having a communication network, a server, and a user terminal, comprising: a token granting means for granting tokens to users based on predetermined token granting conditions; a token transfer means for transferring the tokens to other users based on user operation; and a reward granting means for granting rewards to the users based on the amount or type of tokens held by the users.

8. A reward distribution method by a computer having a processor and a memory, comprising: a token granting process for granting tokens to a user based on predetermined token granting conditions; a token transfer process for transferring the tokens to another user based on a user operation; and a reward granting process for granting a reward to the user based on the amount or type of tokens held by the user.

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