Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, an information processing device 10 comprises: a display control unit 30 that, in a virtual space VS in which an object of a store (one example of a facility) capable of arranging products (one example of an article) obtainable by a user, and product objects P (example of article objects) are arranged, in response to receiving, from a first user (one example of a user), an operation of selecting at least one store or object (product object P or store object) related to at least one product arranged in the store object, displays exclusive content SI of the store; an association control unit 40 that associates, with an avatar A1 of the virtual space VS of the first user, an associated object RL (one example of an exclusive object) corresponding to operation content received from the first user in the exclusive content SI; and a provision unit 50 that provides the user with the virtual space VS including the associated object RL associated with the avatar A1.

Description

Information Processing Apparatus and Information Processing Method

[0001] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism in which a user who is a passenger can purchase a product object sold by a crew character in a virtual space simulating the inside of a vehicle.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-121496

[0004] By the way, in a system in which a user can acquire (purchase a product) an item in a virtual space as described above, for example, the user may be guided to an existing e-commerce site (E-commerce site: EC site) using a URL installed in the virtual space. If the acquisition experience of the item on the site is not reflected in the virtual space, there is a possibility that the user may feel that the acquisition experience of the item has been executed in an environment independent of the virtual space. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that effectively allows the user to experience the acquisition of an item in the virtual space.

[0005] An aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method capable of effectively allowing a user to experience the acquisition of an item in a virtual space.

[0006] The information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a display control unit that displays dedicated content of the facility in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one facility object or at least one item object arranged by the facility object in a virtual space where the object of the facility where the user can acquire the item and the object of the item are arranged, a correlation control unit that correlates a dedicated object corresponding to the operation content received from the user in the dedicated content with the avatar in the user's virtual space, and a provision unit that provides the user with a virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus capable of effectively allowing a user to experience the acquisition of an item in a virtual space.

[0008] This figure shows an example of a system configuration including an information processing device according to one embodiment. This block diagram shows an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device according to one embodiment. This figure shows an example of user information. This figure schematically shows an example of a virtual space before a user purchases a product. This figure schematically shows an example of dedicated content. This figure schematically shows an example of a virtual space after a user purchases a product. This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the information processing device. This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device.

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including an information processing device 10 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the information processing device 10 is configured to communicate with a plurality of user terminals 20 used by each of a plurality of users via a network NW. The network NW is any communication network, such as the Internet.

[0011] The information processing device 10 provides at least one user terminal 20 with a virtual space where facility objects and item objects are placed, where items that can be acquired by the user can be placed. "Acquirable" includes states in which the user can borrow, receive free of charge, purchase, etc. "Facility" includes stores, movie theaters, community centers, libraries, etc. "Object" refers to an object that is visible to the user in the virtual space.

[0012] The information processing device 10 of this embodiment provides a virtual space to multiple user terminals 20 in which objects of stores (an example of facilities) where products (an example of articles) that users can purchase are sold, and product objects are arranged. The information processing device 10 provides a virtual space in which multiple products are sold to multiple users. The virtual space is, for example, a department store space that includes at least one virtual store (virtual shop) that mimics a real-world store. That is, the virtual space is a virtual space in which objects of products that users can purchase (hereinafter referred to as product objects) and store objects (hereinafter referred to as store objects) are arranged. Such a virtual space is composed of, for example, a metaverse space (3D space). That is, the virtual space may be a metaverse EC.

[0013] However, the virtual space is not limited to the forms described above; it may also be the indoor space of a virtual store, or the outdoor space of a virtual store (for example, a virtual city containing at least one virtual store). Furthermore, the virtual space may be a two-dimensional space represented in a planar manner, for example. Various objects and virtual objects such as avatars of users utilizing the virtual space are placed within the virtual space. Virtual objects may sometimes be simply referred to as objects.

[0014] In this embodiment, the goods include not only articles having a physical form, but also services that do not have a physical form (for example, the right to participate in a predetermined event). Furthermore, the goods may be virtual items usable in a store in a virtual space, or services enjoyed by the user within the virtual space, or real items delivered to the user in the real world, or services enjoyed by the user in the real world. In the latter case, when the user performs the process of purchasing a certain product within the virtual space, the information processing device 10 may perform the process of delivering the product to the user's pre-registered address.

[0015] The information processing device 10 (for example, the providing unit 50 described later) provides the user's user terminal 20 with a virtual space image showing the scenery of the virtual space as seen from the user's virtual viewpoint located within the virtual space. The user's virtual viewpoint may be, for example, a first-person viewpoint (the viewpoint of an avatar) corresponding to the user. The user terminal 20 can allow the user to experience the virtual space by displaying the virtual space image on the display provided by the user terminal 20. Note that the virtual space image displayed on the user terminal 20 is not limited to a first-person viewpoint image as described above, but may also be, for example, a third-person viewpoint image seen from a location other than the avatar's viewpoint.

[0016] In this embodiment, a user can purchase goods sold in a store within a virtual space. When a user purchases goods in a store within a virtual space, dedicated content, including the store's existing e-commerce site, is displayed when the user performs a predetermined operation. Details will be described later. For example, when a user performs an operation to purchase goods in the dedicated content, a payment process is executed based on the payment method (e.g., credit card information) that has been registered in advance for that user. Such a payment process may be executed by the information processing device 10, or it may be executed by a payment processing server, which is an external device different from the information processing device 10.

[0017] The user terminal 20 is a terminal device used to allow the user to experience the virtual space provided by the information processing device 10. Examples of user terminals 20 include desktop PCs, laptop PCs, smartphones, tablet devices, and wearable devices (e.g., head-mounted displays, smart glasses, etc.). The user terminal 20 is equipped with a display for displaying dedicated content and the virtual space (virtual space image) provided by the information processing device 10 (display control unit 30 and provision unit 50 described later). The user terminal 20 is also equipped with an interface that enables the user to move their avatar in the virtual space (e.g., movement and selection actions in the virtual space) and perform selection operations in the dedicated content (e.g., browsing, selecting, and purchasing products). An example of such an interface is a dedicated controller.

[0018] In this embodiment, a user utilizing the virtual space is a user who can log in to the virtual space provided by the information processing device 10 and operate their own avatar. For example, a user who has completed user registration (account registration) to use the service using the virtual space provided by the information processing device 10 can use the virtual space. The virtual space is shared by multiple users. That is, users who are logged into the virtual space can communicate with each other within the common virtual space through their own avatars.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the information processing device 10 comprises a display control unit 30, a related control unit 40, and a provisioning unit 50. The information processing device 10 may further comprise a dedicated content server 35 and a virtual space information server 55. In Figure 2, user terminal 20A is a user terminal 20 of a first user, which is an example of a user. User terminal 20B is a user terminal 20 of a second user, which is an example of a user different from the first user.

[0020] The virtual space information server 55 stores various data handled by the information processing device 10. In this embodiment, the virtual space information server 55 stores virtual space information for generating the virtual space (for example, a background image of the virtual space, drawing information for rendering various objects placed in the virtual space (including each user's avatar), and placement information indicating the positions of various objects within the virtual space). In the example shown in Figure 2, the virtual space information server 55 is built into the information processing device 10, but it may be located externally and be able to communicate with the information processing device 10.

[0021] Furthermore, the virtual space information server 55 may store various data such as user information for each user using the virtual space and market information for products and stores placed in the virtual space. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of user information. In the example shown in Figure 3, the user information may include a user ID for identifying users who can use the virtual space, user attributes such as age and gender corresponding to the user ID, the amount of money available in the virtual space, a login status indicating whether the user is using the virtual space (logged in) or offline, and location information indicating the location of the logged-in user (the user's avatar) in the virtual space. Items such as age and gender included in the user information are entered by the user, for example, when registering as a user. The amount of money, login status, and location information included in the user information may be automatically stored and updated in the virtual space information server 55, for example, when the user's (avatar's) actions in the virtual space are monitored by the information processing device 10 (e.g., the provisioning unit 50).

[0022] Location information indicating the position of a logged-in user's avatar may, for example, be information indicating a store located near the avatar (e.g., a store ID). Location information may also be represented by location coordinates indicating a specific location within the virtual space (e.g., coordinates in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system if the virtual space is a three-dimensional space). Alternatively, if the virtual space is formed by multiple sections (areas), location information may be information indicating the section in which the avatar is located (e.g., a section ID).

[0023] Market information includes images and text of stores and products placed in the virtual space, URLs of dedicated content associated with the stores and products, etc. The images referred to here may be three-dimensional images or two-dimensional images that can be displayed in the virtual space.

[0024] The dedicated content server 35 stores various data handled by the information processing device 10. In this embodiment, the dedicated content server 35 stores content information for generating dedicated content (for example, the URL of an e-commerce site, images, text, links, banners, etc.). In the example shown in Figure 2, the dedicated content server 35 is built into the information processing device 10, but it may be located externally and be able to communicate with the information processing device 10.

[0025] Furthermore, the dedicated content server 35 may store various data such as product information for products handled by the administrator (store) who manages the dedicated content. Product information includes images and text of products placed within the dedicated content, URLs of web pages related to product details, URLs of web pages related to product payment, etc. The images here may be two-dimensional images that can be displayed within the dedicated content.

[0026] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a virtual space before a user purchases a product. As shown in Figure 4, the provisioning unit 50 provides the virtual space VS. The provisioning unit 50 provides the virtual space VS to the user terminal 20 by obtaining information about the virtual space VS from the virtual space information server 55. More specifically, the provisioning unit 50 transmits information about the virtual space VS to the user terminal 20 so that a virtual space image VI corresponding to each user's virtual viewpoint is displayed on the user terminal 20 of each user who is logged into the virtual space VS. The provisioning unit 50 provides each user's user terminal 20A, 20B with a virtual space image VI (an image of the virtual space VS as seen from each user's virtual viewpoint) showing the virtual space VS with product objects P placed in store objects SA, SB, SC, SD which represent virtual stores. In store object SA, product objects P1, P2, and P3 are placed as product objects P. In store object SB, product objects P4 and P5 are placed as product objects P. In the virtual space VS, for example, the avatar A1 of the first user who is logged in and the avatar A2 of the second user are displayed. Other functions of the provisioning unit 50 will be described later.

[0027] The display control unit 30 displays the dedicated content of a facility in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one facility or an object relating to at least one item located in an object of that facility in the virtual space. The display control unit 30 provides the dedicated content to the user terminal 20 by obtaining information about the dedicated content from the dedicated content server 35. In this embodiment, the display control unit 30 displays the dedicated content SI (see Figure 5) of a store in a virtual space where store objects that can sell products that the user can purchase and product objects P representing those products are located, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one store object SA, SB, SC, SD or at least one product object P sold by the store object SA, SB, SC, SD (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a selection operation). After displaying the dedicated content SI, the display control unit 30 or the provision unit 50 displays the virtual space VS in response to receiving an operation from the user to end viewing of the dedicated content SI.

[0028] The dedicated content SI of this embodiment includes, for example, at least a portion of a website outside the virtual space. Here, the portion of the website may be, for example, a web page, and may include text or images of some of the products among the product group introduced by a store on a certain web page. The web page is, for example, the store's e-commerce site. The dedicated content SI may be displayed as a pop-up on the virtual space VS.

[0029] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of dedicated content. The dedicated content SI shown in Figure 5 is displayed by the display control unit 30. In the virtual space VS, when a user (or an avatar A1 (A2) operated by the user) performs a selection operation such as clicking or tapping on any of the store objects SA, SB, SC, or SD, or on a product object P placed in any of the store objects SA, SB, SC, or SD, a web page containing the dedicated content SI is displayed.

[0030] The store objects SA, SB, SC, SD, and product object P that users select are linked to, for example, a URL that redirects to an e-commerce site displaying dedicated content SI. The redirection URL includes, as optional parameters, a user identifier (such as a user ID) and source information (in this case, information that identifies the virtual space VS). This allows for synchronization between the virtual space VS and the web page displaying the dedicated content SI, and enables the unique identification of users and usage times for both the virtual space VS and the web page.

[0031] The dedicated content SI may be different images for each store object SA, SB, SC, SD. The display control unit 30 displays the dedicated content SI corresponding to each of the store objects SA, SB, SC, SD, and product object P, based on conditions set in advance by the store manager. When avatar A1 (A2) selects store object SA, the display control unit 30 displays dedicated content SI including a list PK of product images SP1, SP2, SP3 corresponding to product objects P1, P2, P3 provided by store object SA, as shown in the example in Figure 5. If avatar A1 (A2) selects a specific product object P1 of store object SA, the display control unit 30 may, for example, display dedicated content SI including a product image SP1 corresponding to product object P1 provided by store object SA. Furthermore, even if avatar A1 (A2) selects a specific product object P1 of the store object SA, the display control unit 30 may display dedicated content SI including a list PK of product images SP1, SP2, SP3 corresponding to the product objects P1, P2, P3 provided by the store object SA, as shown in the example in Figure 5.

[0032] The dedicated content SI has a tracking pixel TP. The tracking pixel TP is a 1x1 pixel transparent image. The tracking pixel TP contains information indicating that the user has reached a web page displaying the dedicated content SI. The tracking pixel TP contains information that identifies each web page, including the web page displaying the product list PK (overview web page), the web page displaying detailed information for each product indicated by product objects P1, P2, and P3, where the purchase procedure for each product indicated by product objects P1, P2, and P3 can be performed (detail web page), and the web page indicating that the purchase procedure for each product indicated by product objects P1, P2, and P3 has been completed (payment web page). The tracking pixel TP includes, for example, the URL of each web page.

[0033] The related control unit 40 is a functional unit that registers content corresponding to the operations received from the user in the dedicated content SI. For example, when the related control unit 40 receives an operation from the first user to select at least one product (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the target product) as a purchase candidate on the overview web page showing the dedicated content SI, it registers the target product as a purchase candidate for the first user. For example, when the related control unit 40 receives a user operation to select a product image (or string indicating a product) displayed in the dedicated content SI, it executes a process to select the product corresponding to the product image as a purchase candidate (for example, the process of adding to the shopping cart in the dedicated content SI). Furthermore, when the related control unit 40 receives a purchase confirmation operation performed by the user on the detailed web page included in the dedicated content SI, it confirms the purchase of the product placed in the user's virtual shopping cart and displays the payment web page.

[0034] The association control unit 40 is a functional unit that associates dedicated objects corresponding to the operations received from the user in the dedicated content SI with the user's virtual space avatar A1 (A2). In this embodiment, for example, when the dedicated content SI receives a purchase operation from the first user, the association control unit 40 associates the related object RL (see Figure 6, described later) relating to the product purchased by the first user as a dedicated object with avatar A1.

[0035] The association control unit 40 identifies the user's actions in the dedicated content SI based on the tracking pixel TP. For example, the association control unit 40 identifies that the user's actions were to purchase a product based on the tracking pixel TP provided on the payment web page displayed after the user has confirmed their purchase on the detailed web page. In response to the operation to purchase a product, the association control unit 40 associates the associated object RL related to that product with avatar A1.

[0036] The related object RL contains information about the store that sells the product. The related object RL may include store name (trade name), motif, logo, etc. as store information. The related object RL may also contain information about the product. The related object RL may include information indicating the product's content, such as product name, appearance, shape, motif, etc.

[0037] The association control unit 40 receives, for example, display setting information for an associated object RL (an example of a dedicated object) from the user, and associates the associated object RL with an avatar based on the display setting information, with its appearance controlled. The display setting information is input by the user at the user terminal 20. The display setting information includes, for example, information on whether or not it is acceptable to display information about products purchased by the user in an appearance (mode) that other users can recognize, and information on whether or not it is acceptable to display information about the store where the user purchased the products in an appearance (mode) that other users can recognize.

[0038] If the display setting information includes, for example, information that the user wishes to display information about the product they purchased in a way that other users can recognize, and also information about the store where the user purchased the product in a way that other users can recognize, the association control unit 40 associates an association object RL having an appearance that includes information about the product and the store with the avatar based on the display setting information. In this case, the association control unit 40 associates a bag displaying the product name and store name with the avatar as the association object RL.

[0039] If the display setting information includes, for example, information that the user does not wish to display information about the products they have purchased in a way that other users can recognize, but wishes to display information about the store where the products were purchased in a way that other users can recognize, the association control unit 40 associates the avatar with an association object RL that excludes information about the products and includes information about the store, based on the display setting information. In this case, the association control unit 40 associates the avatar with an association object RL that does not include information about the purchased products but displays the store name (logo) (see Figure 6).

[0040] If the display setting information includes, for example, information that the user wishes to display information about the products they have purchased in a way that other users can recognize, and does not wish to display information about the store where the user purchased the products in a way that other users can recognize, the related control unit 40 associates with the avatar a related object RL that excludes the store information and includes the product information, based on the display setting information. In this case, the related control unit 40 associates with the avatar a related object RL that does not include information about the store where the products were purchased and displays the product name.

[0041] If the display setting information includes, for example, information that the user does not wish to display information about the product they purchased in a way that other users can recognize, and also does not wish to display information about the store where the product was purchased in a way that other users can recognize, the association control unit 40 associates an association object RL with the avatar, based on the display setting information, which has an appearance that does not include information about the store or the product. In this case, the association control unit 40 associates an association object RL with the avatar, for example, a plain bag that does not include information about the store where the product was purchased or the product, or a bag that displays the name of the virtual space VS.

[0042] The provisioning unit 50 provides the user with a virtual space VS that includes an associated object RL (an example of a dedicated object) linked to avatar A1. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a virtual space after a user has purchased a product.

[0043] In this embodiment, the providing unit 50 provides the first user with a virtual space VS including the associated object RL associated with the avatar, and also provides it to a second user who is different from the first user. For example, the providing unit 50 provides each user's user terminal 20A, 20B with a virtual space image VI (an image of the virtual space VS as seen from each user's virtual viewpoint) showing the virtual space VS in which the associated object RL has been placed in association with avatar A1 by the association control unit 40 described above. In this embodiment, the providing unit 50 associates the associated object RL related to the product object P1 associated with the first user's avatar A1 by the association control unit 40 with avatar A1, which is the first user's avatar, in a manner that is visible to the second user, who is a different user from the first user. That is, a second user using user terminal 20B can see the associated object RL placed in association with avatar A1 if avatar A1 is included in the second user's virtual viewpoint.

[0044] In the example of FIG. 6, as a result of the first user operating the avatar A1 and performing an operation to purchase the product corresponding to the product object P1 arranged in the store object SA (the product indicated by the product image SP1) in the dedicated content SI, the processing of the related control unit 40 described above causes a bag with the logo of the store related to the store object SA selling the product to be arranged in association with the avatar A1 as the related object RL.

[0045] In addition, when the same number or the same ratio of product objects P as the actual sales number (for example, the stock number) or ratio are displayed on the product shelf of the store object SA in the virtual space VS, the display control unit 30 may move the product object P actually purchased by the first user in association with the avatar A1. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, the product object P of the product originally arranged in the store object SA may be associated with the avatar A1 as the related object RL. On the other hand, when only one product object per type of product is displayed on the product shelf of the store object SA in the virtual space VS (that is, when the actual product sales number (ratio) and the number (ratio) of product objects in the virtual space VS are not linked), etc., the display control unit 30 may generate a new product object P as the related object RL separately from the product object P of the product originally arranged in the store object SA.

[0046] The related control unit 40 associates a shopping cart object indicating the virtual shopping cart of the avatar A1 in the virtual space VS with the avatar A1, and the providing unit 50 may arrange the shopping cart object for the avatar A1. Then, the providing unit 50 may store the product object P indicating the target product selected to be purchased in the dedicated content SI by the first user in the shopping cart object.

[0047] When the target product is a product worn on the body of the user or the avatar, the association control unit 40 may associate the product object P with the avatar A1 in a manner that the product object P is worn on the corresponding part of the body of the avatar A1. For example, the target product is a hat worn on the head (which may be a real hat or a virtual hat for wearing on the avatar in the virtual space). In this case, the product object P may be worn on the head of the avatar A1. <从这里开始,你提供的原始文本中,

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[0048] The association control unit 40 may acquire information regarding the popularity of the target product and determine the display mode of the product object P arranged in association with the avatar A1 based on the popularity of the target product. The association control unit 40 may acquire information regarding the inventory of the target product and determine the display mode of the product object P arranged in association with the avatar A1 based on the inventory of the target product. The association control unit 40 may acquire information regarding the state of the second user who views the product object P associated with the avatar A1 and determine the display mode of the product object P for the second user arranged in association with the avatar A1 based on the state of the second user. In other words, the association control unit 40 may vary the display mode of the product object P for each second user who views the product object P. The state of the second user includes the amount of money the second user has. The state of the second user may be display setting information set by the second user. The display setting information here includes, for example, information regarding whether to acquire information regarding products purchased by another user (the first user) and information regarding the store where another user (the first user) purchased the products, respectively.

[0049] Next, referring to FIG. 7, an example of an information processing method, which is a processing method of the information processing apparatus 10, will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the information processing apparatus.

[0050] In step S1, the providing unit 50 provides the virtual space VS to the user terminal 二十. For example, in response to receiving a login signal from the user terminal 二十 to the virtual space VS, the providing unit 50 transmits a virtual space image VI indicating the virtual space VS to the user terminal 二十.

[0051] In step S2, the user terminal 20 displays a virtual space image VI provided by the provisioning unit 50. The user can perform an operation to move their avatar within the virtual space VS using the user terminal 20. The provisioning unit 50 receives user input operation signals from the user terminal 20. In response to the user inputting an operation to move the avatar within the virtual space VS, the provisioning unit 50 transmits a virtual space image VI corresponding to the avatar's position to the user terminal 20.

[0052] In step S3, the user terminal 20 receives an operation by the user to select a product object P (or store object) in the virtual space VS. In the example of step S3 shown in Figure 7, the user terminal 20A receives an operation by the first user to select a product object P in the virtual space VS. The display control unit 30 receives an input operation signal from the user terminal 20A. The display control unit 30 receives an operation from the user to select a product object PA (an example of a product object P).

[0053] In step S4, the display control unit 30 provides the user terminal 20 with store-specific content SI corresponding to the store object SA located on the product object PA.

[0054] In step S5, the user terminal 20A displays the dedicated content SI provided by the display control unit 30. That is, the display control unit 30 displays the dedicated content SI on the user terminal 20 in response to receiving an operation from the user to select an object related to a product (product object P or store object). The display control unit 30 also provides the user terminal 20A with a web page of the dedicated content SI, such as a product or store overview page, a product details page, or a product purchase page, in response to the input operation of the user terminal 20A.

[0055] In step S6, the user terminal 20A receives an operation from the first user to purchase a product within the dedicated content SI.

[0056] In step S7, the related control unit 40 associates the related object RL, which corresponds to the purchased product received from the user in the dedicated content SI (according to the user's purchase operation), with the avatar A1 in the first user's virtual space VS.

[0057] In step S8, the providing unit 50 provides the user terminal 20 with a virtual space VS in which the related object RL is associated with avatar A1. The providing unit 50 transmits a virtual space image VI showing the virtual space VS in a manner visible to other users to the user terminals 20A and 20B. The information provision method shown in Figure 7 is terminated when step S8 is completed. Note that after step S8, the processes from step S2 onwards may be executed to repeat the information provision method. Thus, the information provision method includes, for example, at least steps S4, S5, S7, and S8.

[0058] Next, the effects and advantages of the information processing device 10 and information provision method according to this embodiment will be described in comparison with conventional technology. Conventionally, if the experience of acquiring goods on an existing e-commerce site (EC site) guided from a virtual space is not reflected in the virtual space, the user may feel that the acquisition experience was carried out in an environment independent of the virtual space. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that makes the user feel more at ease with the experience of acquiring goods within the virtual space.

[0059] The information processing device 10 described above includes a display control unit 30 that displays dedicated content SI for a store in a virtual space VS where store objects (an example of a facility) and product objects P (an example of an object of an item) are placed, in response to receiving an operation from a first user (an example of a user) to select at least one store or at least one product object (product object P or store object) placed in the store object; an association control unit 40 that associates an associated object RL (an example of a dedicated object) corresponding to the operation received from the first user in the dedicated content SI with the first user's avatar A1 in the virtual space VS; and a provision unit 50 that provides the user with the virtual space VS including the associated object RL associated with avatar A1.

[0060] Furthermore, the information processing method includes, in a virtual space VS where objects of stores (an example of facilities) where products (an example of items) that can be acquired by the user can be placed, and product objects P (an example of object of items) are placed, the following steps are taken: S4, S5 to display dedicated content SI for a store in response to receiving an operation from a first user (an example of a user) to select at least one store or at least one product object (product object P or store object) placed in the store object; S7 to associate an associated object RL (an example of a dedicated object) corresponding to the operation received from the first user in the dedicated content SI with the avatar A1 of the first user in the virtual space VS; and S8 to provide the user with the virtual space VS including the associated object RL associated with avatar A1.

[0061] In these cases, since objects corresponding to the user's actions in the dedicated content system are associated with the avatar in the virtual space, it becomes possible to effectively allow the user to experience the purchase of a product, which is an example of the experience of acquiring an item, within the virtual space.

[0062] Furthermore, the dedicated content SI may have tracking pixels TP, and the associated control unit 40 may identify the user's actions in the dedicated content SI based on the tracking pixels TP. In this case, by implementing tracking pixels TP corresponding to the content reflecting the user's actions in the dedicated content SI, the associated control unit 40 can appropriately recognize the user's actions toward the dedicated content SI, i.e., whether or not a product was purchased, whether or not it was viewed, etc. Therefore, the associated control unit 40 can associate an associated object RL that more appropriately reflects the user's actions toward the dedicated content SI with avatar A1.

[0063] Furthermore, in the dedicated content SI, the association control unit 40 may, upon receiving a purchase operation from the user, associate the association object RL related to the product purchased by the user with avatar A1 as a dedicated object. In this case, since the association object RL is associated with avatar A1 when the first user performs the purchase operation, the first user can more effectively experience purchasing the product.

[0064] Furthermore, the related object RL may include information about the store that sells the product. In this case, including the store information in the related object RL will make the store information strongly recognizable to at least the first user.

[0065] Furthermore, the provisioning unit 50 may provide the associated object RL (an example of a dedicated object) associated with avatar A1 and the virtual space VS including avatar A1 to a second user other than the first user, and the associated object RL may be displayed in the virtual space VS in a manner visible to the second user. In this case, it is possible to increase the desire to purchase the product and smoothly carry out advertising and promotion of the product or store to a second user who has not had a purchase experience at the time the first user has had a purchase experience, or to a second user who is unaware of the product or the store related to the product.

[0066] Furthermore, the related control unit may receive display setting information for related object RL (an example of a dedicated object) from the user (at least one of the first user and the second user), and associate the related object RL, whose appearance has been controlled based on the display setting information, with avatar A1. In this case, the first user can adjust the degree to which information about the products or stores they have purchased or viewed is exposed, thereby adjusting the degree to which information is disclosed to other users, thereby appropriately protecting their privacy. The second user can also adjust the amount of information in the virtual space VS according to the degree to which they wish to acquire information.

[0067] The dedicated content SI may include at least a portion of a website outside the virtual space VS. In this case, even if the dedicated content SI is displayed outside the virtual space VS, it is possible to make users feel less separated from the virtual space VS and enhance their sense of purchasing (acquisition) behavior within the virtual space VS.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the processing of the information processing device 10 in response to a user's purchase operation for products placed in the virtual space VS was explained, but the system is not limited to the above example. For example, the related control unit 40 may associate an advertising object with the avatar as a dedicated object when, in the dedicated content SI, the user has not yet made a purchase operation for a product, but the user has made a product viewing operation and has then made an operation to transition from the dedicated content SI to the virtual space VS. In this case, even if the first user has not purchased a product, after the first user has viewed the dedicated content SI, information about the product or store can be made aware of the product or store to at least one of the first user and the second user, thus enabling smooth advertising of the product or store.

[0069] In this case, for example, the related control unit 40 determines, based on the tracking pixel TP, whether the user viewed the product overview web page or the details web page, and whether the user viewed the product payment web page. If the related control unit 40 has obtained the tracking pixel TP for the product overview web page or the details web page, and has not obtained the tracking pixel TP for the product payment web page, it determines that the user viewed the product overview web page or the details web page, and that the user did not view the product payment web page.

[0070] After the determination, the related control unit 40 associates the advertising material object with the avatar. The advertising material object includes, for example, at least one object such as a pamphlet, leaflet, QR code, sticker, and novelty goods.

[0071] Furthermore, the association control unit 40 may determine which tracking pixel TP was acquired when the dedicated content SI is terminated by user operation. That is, when the user returns to the virtual space VS after finishing viewing the dedicated content SI, the association control unit 40 may determine whether to associate the associated object RL or the advertising material object with the user. If the association control unit 40 acquires a tracking pixel TP related to the product payment web page, it may determine that the user viewed the product payment web page and associate the associated object RL with the avatar, as in the embodiment described above.

[0072] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described an example of purchasing goods, a dedicated object corresponding to the acquisition of goods may be associated. For example, in the above embodiment, "goods" may be read as "loanable items," "purchase" as "borrow," and "payment" as "loan acceptance."

[0073] [Note] This disclosure includes the following aspects:

[0074] [1] Information processing device comprising: a display control unit that displays dedicated content for a facility in a virtual space in which objects of the facility and objects of the items are placed, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one of the facilities or at least one object relating to the items placed on the objects of the facility; an association control unit that associates a dedicated object in the dedicated content corresponding to the operation received from the user with the user's avatar in the virtual space; and a provision unit that provides the user with the virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar.

[0075] [2] The information processing apparatus according to [1] above, wherein the dedicated content has tracking pixels, and the associated control unit identifies the user's operation in the dedicated content based on the tracking pixels.

[0076] [3] The information processing apparatus according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the display control unit displays dedicated content for a store in a virtual space where store objects and product objects that the user can purchase are arranged, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one store object or at least one product object that the store object is selling.

[0077] [4] The information processing apparatus according to [3] above, wherein the related control unit, in the dedicated content, associates the related object relating to the product purchased by the user with the avatar as the dedicated object, in response to receiving a purchase operation of the product by the user.

[0078] [5] The information processing apparatus described in [4] above, wherein the related object includes information about a store that sells the product.

[0079] [6] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [3] to [6] above, wherein the related control unit associates an object of advertising materials with the avatar as the dedicated object in the dedicated content when the user has not made a purchase operation for the product and the user has made a viewing operation for the product and the user has made an operation to transition from the dedicated content to the virtual space.

[0080] [7] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6] above, wherein the providing unit provides the virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar and the avatar to a user other than the user, and the dedicated object is displayed in the virtual space in a manner visible to the other user.

[0081] [8] The information processing apparatus according to [1] to [7] above, wherein the related control unit receives display setting information for the dedicated object from the user and associates the dedicated object, whose appearance has been controlled based on the display setting information, with the avatar.

[0082] [9] The information processing apparatus according to [1] to [8] above, wherein the dedicated content includes at least a portion of a website outside the virtual space.

[0083]

[10] Information processing method comprising: displaying dedicated content for a facility in a virtual space where objects of the facility and objects of the items are placed, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one of the facilities or at least one object relating to the items placed on the objects of the facility; associating a dedicated object in the dedicated content corresponding to the operation received from the user with the user's avatar in the virtual space; and providing the user with the virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar.

[0084] [Definitions of Terms, etc.] The block diagrams used in the description of the above embodiments show functional units. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one device that is physically or logically coupled, or it may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wired, wireless, etc.). A functional block may be realized by combining the above one device or the above multiple devices with software.

[0085] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, decision, determination, calculation, calculation, processing, derivation, investigation, exploration, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, assumption, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating (mapping), and assigning. For example, a functional block (configuration part) that enables transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. In all cases, as mentioned above, the method of implementation is not particularly limited.

[0086] For example, the information processing device 10 in one embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs processing to determine whether or not there has been a change in the tastes and preferences of the present disclosure. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The above-described information processing device 10 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, memory 1002, storage 1003, communication device 1004, input device 1005, output device 1006, bus 1007, etc.

[0087] In the following explanation, the term "device" can be replaced with "circuit," "device," "unit," etc. The hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 may include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or it may be configured to omit some of the devices.

[0088] Each function in the information processing device 10 is realized by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, which allows the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication by the communication device 1004, and control at least one of data reading and writing in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0089] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer, for example, by running an operating system. The processor 1001 may be composed of a central processing unit (CPU) that includes interfaces with peripheral devices, control devices, arithmetic units, registers, etc. For example, the display control unit 30, related control unit 40, and supply unit 50 described above may be implemented by the processor 1001.

[0090] Furthermore, the processor 1001 reads programs (program code), software modules, data, etc., from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes accordingly. The program used is one that causes the computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above embodiment. For example, the display control unit 30, the related control unit 40, and the providing unit 50 may be stored in the memory 1002 and implemented by a control program that runs on the processor 1001, and other functional blocks may be implemented similarly. The above-described various processes have been explained as being executed by one processor 1001, but they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The program may also be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0091] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, cache, main memory, etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program code), software modules, etc., for carrying out a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0092] The storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: an optical disc such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disc, a digital multipurpose disc, a Blu-ray® disc), a smart card, flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy® disk, a magnetic strip, etc. The storage 1003 may also be called an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, server, or other suitable medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0093] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmitting / receiving device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as a network device, network controller, network card, communication module, etc. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include high-frequency switches, duplexers, filters, frequency synthesizers, etc., in order to implement at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the display control unit 30, related control unit 40, and providing unit 50 described above may be implemented by the communication device 1004. The communication device 1004 may be implemented with physically or logically separated transmitting and receiving units.

[0094] The input device 1005 is an input device that accepts input from an external source (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, button, sensor, etc.). The output device 1006 is an output device that outputs to an external source (e.g., a display, speaker, LED lamp, etc.). The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be configured as an integrated unit (e.g., a touch panel).

[0095] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or different buses may be configured for each device.

[0096] Furthermore, the information processing device 10 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and some or all of each functional block may be realized by such hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware components.

[0097] Information notification is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be carried out by other means. For example, information notification may be carried out by physical layer signaling (e.g., DCI (Downlink Control Information), UCI (Uplink Control Information)), upper layer signaling (e.g., RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, MAC (Medium Access Control) signaling, broadcast information (MIB (Master Information Block), SIB (System Information Block))), other signals, or combinations thereof. RRC signaling may also be called RRC messages, and may be, for example, RRC Connection Setup messages, RRC Connection Reconfiguration messages, etc.

[0098] The processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc., of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be reordered, provided they do not contradict each other. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present various step elements using exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0099] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or appended to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be transmitted to other devices.

[0100] The determination may be made by a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), by a boolean value (true or false), or by a numerical comparison (for example, a comparison with a predetermined value).

[0101] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used individually, in combination, or switched between as needed during implementation. Furthermore, notification of specific information (e.g., notification that "X is") is not limited to explicit notification, but may also be implicit (e.g., by not providing such notification).

[0102] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the intent and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Accordingly, the descriptions in the present disclosure are illustrative and not intended to be restrictive in any way.

[0103] Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, and so on, whether they are called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or by any other name.

[0104] Furthermore, software, instructions, information, etc., may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) and wireless technologies (such as infrared or microwave), then at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included in the definition of a transmission medium.

[0105] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of the various different techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0106] In addition, terms used in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of the channel and symbol may be a signal (signaling). Also, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, cell, frequency carrier, etc.

[0107] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc., described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a given value, or other corresponding information. For example, wireless resources may be indicated by an index.

[0108] The names used for the parameters described above are not restrictive in any way. Furthermore, the formulas and other expressions using these parameters may differ from those expressly disclosed in this disclosure. Various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements can be identified by any suitable name, and therefore, the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not restrictive in any way.

[0109] In this disclosure, terms such as "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," and "terminal" may be used interchangeably.

[0110] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other appropriate term.

[0111] As used in this disclosure, the terms “determining” and “determining” may encompass a wide variety of actions. “Determining” may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, or inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), or ascertaining. “Determining” may also include, for example, receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), inputting, outputting, or accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory). Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering something as having been "judged" or "decided" after resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering something as having been "judged" or "decided" after some action. Also, "judgment (decision)" can be reinterpreted as "assuming," "expecting," or "considering."

[0112] The terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variation thereof, mean any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are “connected” or “coupled” with each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, “connection” may be reinterpreted as “access.” As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be “connected” or “coupled” with each other using at least one of one or more wires, cables, and printed electrical connections, and, in some non-limiting and non-exclusive examples, electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency domain, microwave domain, and optical (both visible and invisible) domain.

[0113] In this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based solely on" unless otherwise specified. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based solely on" and "based at least on."

[0114] Any reference to elements using designations such as “first,” “second,” etc., as used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Accordingly, references to first and second elements do not imply that only two elements may be employed, or that the first element must precede the second element in any way.

[0115] Where the terms “include,” “including,” and their variations are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, as is the term “comprising.” Furthermore, the term “or” as used in this disclosure is not intended to be exclusive OR.

[0116] In this disclosure, if articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, this disclosure may include the fact that the noun following these articles is plural.

[0117] In this disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "combine" may be interpreted similarly to "different."

[0118] 10... Information processing device, 20, 20A, 20B... User terminal, 30... Display control unit, 35... Dedicated content server, 40... Related control unit, 50... Provisioning unit, 55... Virtual space information server, 1001... Processor, 1002... Memory, 1003... Storage, 1004... Communication device, 1005... Input device, 1006... Output device, 1007... Bus, A1, A2... Avatar, NW... Network, P, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5... Product object, RL... Related object (an example of a dedicated object), SA, SB, SC, SD... Store object, SI... Dedicated content, TP... Tracking pixel, VI... Virtual space image, VS... Virtual space.

Claims

1. Information processing device comprising: a display control unit that displays dedicated content for a facility in a virtual space where objects of the facility and objects of the items are placed, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one of the facilities or at least one object relating to the items placed on the objects of the facility; an association control unit that associates a dedicated object corresponding to the operation received from the user in the dedicated content with the user's avatar in the virtual space; and a provision unit that provides the user with the virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dedicated content has tracking pixels, and the associated control unit identifies the user's operation in the dedicated content based on the tracking pixels.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays exclusive content for a store in a virtual space where store objects and product objects are arranged, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one store object or at least one product object sold by the store object.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the related control unit, in the dedicated content, associates the related object relating to the product purchased by the user with the avatar as the dedicated object, in response to receiving a purchase operation of the product by the user.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the related object includes information about a store that sells the product.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the related control unit, in the dedicated content, associates an object of advertising materials with the avatar as the dedicated object, in response to the fact that the user has not made a purchase operation for the product, and the user has made a viewing operation for the product and then the user has made an operation to transition from the dedicated content to the virtual space.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit provides the virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar and the avatar to a user other than the user, and the dedicated object is displayed in the virtual space in a manner visible to the other user.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related control unit receives display setting information for the dedicated object from the user, and associates the dedicated object, whose appearance has been controlled based on the display setting information, with the avatar.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dedicated content includes at least a portion of a website outside the virtual space.

10. An information processing method comprising: displaying dedicated content for a facility in a virtual space where objects of the facility and objects of the said items are placed, in response to receiving an operation from the user to select at least one of the said facility or at least one object relating to the said item placed on an object of the said facility; associating a dedicated object corresponding to the operation received from the user in the dedicated content with the user's avatar in the virtual space; and providing the user with the virtual space including the dedicated object associated with the avatar.

Images