Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

An information processing device (1) comprises: an acquisition unit (11) that acquires distributor information for forming an avatar of a distributor in a metaverse space; a provision unit (12) that provides, to an organizer who distributes an event in the metaverse space, a distributor operation screen (SC2) on which the organizer operates the avatar of the distributor, the distributor operation screen (SC2) being different from a user operation screen (SC1) on which the organizer operates an avatar of the organizer for a user participating in the event in the metaverse space; and an avatar control unit 13 that, when a user is specified via the distributor operation screen (SC2), causes the avatar of the distributor to execute an action with respect to the avatar of the specified user, or applies an effect to make the avatar of the specified user distinguishable from avatars of other users.

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】 In recent years, a virtual space called the metaverse has been rapidly developing, and many users are conducting various activities within this virtual space. In particular, live broadcasts by famous people have attracted a great deal of attention and are being used in a wide range of fields such as entertainment, education, and business. 【0003】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-65288 【0004】 However, the current live broadcasts on the metaverse mainly involve simple video distribution or simply replacing a famous person with an avatar for distribution. For this reason, there is no significant difference from normal video distribution, and there is a problem that the characteristics of the metaverse are not fully utilized. 【0005】 An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method capable of giving users a sense of unity with a distributor who conducts a live broadcast on the metaverse. 【0006】 An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires distributor information for forming an avatar of a distributor in a metaverse space, a distributor operation screen on which a host who distributes an event in the metaverse space operates the avatar of the distributor, and a user operation screen that is different from the user operation screen on which a user who participates in the event in the metaverse space operates their own avatar, and provides the host with an operation screen that is different from the user operation screen on which a user who participates in the event in the metaverse space operates their own avatar, and an avatar control unit that causes an action on the avatar of a designated user to be executed on the avatar of the distributor or that makes the avatar of the designated user distinguishable from the avatars of other users by an effect when the user is designated via the distributor operation screen. 【0007】 According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to give users a sense of unity with a distributor who conducts a live broadcast on the metaverse. 【0008】Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system including an information processing device according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a metaverse space distributed from the information processing device of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user operation screen provided from the information processing device of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a distributor operation screen provided from the information processing device of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a metaverse space distributed from the information processing device of Figure 1. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow of the information processing device according to the embodiment. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer used in the information processing device according to the embodiment. 【0009】 The embodiments described herein will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted. Furthermore, the embodiments described herein in the following description are specific examples of the disclosure and are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise stated to limit the disclosure. 【0010】 Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system including an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the information processing device 1 is configured to communicate via a network with a plurality of user terminals 5 used by each of a plurality of users. The network is any communication network, such as a mobile communication network or the Internet. 【0011】 Information processing device 1 provides a virtual space or virtual world (metaverse space) to users who can connect via the network. Information processing device 1 allows users who can connect via the network to freely move around the metaverse space and interact with other users through avatars (broadcaster, user 1, user 2, Tama, Inuinu), as shown in Figure 3. Information processing device 1 can also distribute events via the metaverse space. In the following explanation, we will use as an example a case in which the broadcaster's avatar is live-streaming an event on a stage, and four avatars, user 1, user 2, Tama, and Inuinu, are present around the stage. 【0012】 The information processing device 1 shown in Figure 1 distributes events that can be participated in via the internet. Examples of such events include public radio broadcasts, talk shows, and concerts. In such events, events held in real space are captured by cameras 3, etc., and the broadcasters are converted into avatars, which then perform the events in the metaverse space. 【0013】 User terminal 5 is a terminal that can participate in events via the metaverse space. User terminal 5 can take any form, such as a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, feature phone, server device, or game device. 【0014】 Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the information processing device 1 is configured to include an acquisition unit 11, a provision unit 12, and an avatar control unit 13. 【0015】 Each functional block of the information processing device 1 referred to herein is assumed to function within the information processing device 1, but is not limited to this. For example, some of the functional blocks of the information processing device 1 may function in a computer device different from the information processing device 1, within a computer device connected to the information processing device 1 via a network, while appropriately sending and receiving information with the information processing device 1. Furthermore, the functional blocks in the information processing device 1 do not have to be configured as shown in Figure 2, some functional blocks of the information processing device 1 may be omitted, multiple functional blocks may be integrated into one functional block, or one functional block may be decomposed into multiple functional blocks. 【0016】 The following describes each function of the information processing device 1 shown in Figure 2. 【0017】The acquisition unit 11 acquires broadcaster information for forming the broadcaster's avatar in the metaverse space. Examples of broadcaster information include information about pre-registered avatars, and information about the broadcaster's age, gender, appearance, hobbies, and preferences, consisting of text information. The acquisition unit 11 may form the broadcaster's avatar based on the information about pre-registered avatars, or it may form the broadcaster's avatar based on information about the broadcaster's age, gender, appearance, hobbies, and preferences, consisting of text information. The broadcaster information for forming the broadcaster's avatar may be acquired, for example, from a storage unit (not shown) that is stored in advance when broadcasting an event. 【0018】 Furthermore, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information about events that the broadcaster broadcasts in the metaverse space. The acquisition unit 11 acquires information that the broadcaster will live broadcast in the metaverse space by, for example, representing the image information captured by the camera 3 (see Figure 1) in 3D (for example, scanning and projecting the broadcaster with a 3D camera). 【0019】 Similarly, the acquisition unit 11 acquires user information for forming the user's avatar in the metaverse space. Examples of user information include information about pre-registered avatars, and information about the broadcaster's age, gender, appearance, hobbies, and preferences, consisting of text information. The acquisition unit 11 may form the user's avatar based on the information about pre-registered avatars, or it may form the user's avatar based on information about the broadcaster's age, gender, appearance, hobbies, and preferences, consisting of text information. Broadcaster information for forming the user's avatar may be acquired, for example, from a storage unit (not shown) that is stored in advance when broadcasting an event. 【0020】The provisioning unit 12 provides the user with a user operation screen SC1 for operating a user avatar that can move around in the metaverse space, as shown in Figure 4. The user operation screen SC1 has a space display unit A1 that displays the metaverse space and a chat screen display unit A2. The space display unit A1 displays the metaverse space. More specifically, the space display unit A1 may display the metaverse space from an overhead perspective, including the user's own avatar, around a stage or the surrounding area where an event is being streamed, or it may display the metaverse space from the perspective of the user's avatar located on the stage or the surrounding area. 【0021】 The chat screen display section A2 is formed as part of the user operation screen SC1. The chat screen display section A2 is the part that provides the function for avatars existing in the metaverse space to chat with each other. In the chat screen display section A2, a chat display field is formed for each avatar that has chatted among the avatars existing in the metaverse space. In the chat screen display section A2, the display field for one's own avatar becomes an input field where chat messages can be entered. 【0022】 The service provider 12 displays a user list screen A3 in the metaverse space instead of the chat screen display unit A2 in a part of the user operation screen SC1 described above. The user list screen A3 may display a list of all avatars that exist in the metaverse space, or it may search for and display a list of avatars located within a predetermined range from the stage (or the broadcaster's avatar). The service provider 12 displays the chat screen display unit A2 and the user list screen A3 in a switchable manner. 【0023】The provisioning unit 12 provides the event organizer with a streamer operation screen SC2, as shown in Figure 5, which allows the event streamer to operate their avatar in the metaverse space. The organizer includes the event streamer themselves. The provisioning unit 12 provides the organizer with an operation screen different from the user operation screen SC1 (see Figure 4), which allows users participating in the event in the metaverse space to operate their own avatars. Specifically, while the user operation screen SC1 is configured so that the chat screen display unit A2 and the user list screen A3 can be switched between each other, the streamer operation screen SC2 displays both the chat screen display unit A2 and the user list screen A3 on a single screen. 【0024】 The service provider 12 may also display a list of users corresponding to avatars facing the streamer's avatar in the metaverse space as a user list screen A3 on a part of the streamer operation screen SC2. In this case, for example, as shown in Figure 6, "User 1" and "User 2" are displayed as users corresponding to avatars facing the streamer's avatar, while "Tama" and "Inuinu," which correspond to avatars not facing the streamer's avatar, are not displayed in the user list. 【0025】 The service provider unit 12 displays the action selection unit A31 when, for example, the area where the target avatar is displayed on the user list screen A3 of the broadcaster operation screen SC2 is right-clicked. Examples of actions displayed on the action selection unit A31 include the "Go in front of" action and the "Wave" action. 【0026】 The avatar control unit 13, upon receiving a user through the broadcaster operation screen SC2, either causes the broadcaster's avatar to perform an action on the avatar of the specified user, or applies an effect to the specified user's avatar so that it can be distinguished from the avatars of other users. Alternatively, the avatar control unit 13 may, upon receiving a user through the broadcaster operation screen SC2, cause the broadcaster's avatar to perform an action on the avatar of the specified user, and also apply an effect to the specified user's avatar so that it can be distinguished from the avatars of other users. 【0027】 The above actions include at least one of the following: moving the broadcaster's avatar near the designated user's avatar in the metaverse space, and waving at the designated user's avatar. Specifically, for example, when the service provider 12 detects that a right-click operation has been performed on the part labeled "User 1" in the user list screen A3 of the broadcaster operation screen SC2 shown in Figure 5, and the "Go in front of" action has been selected, it moves the broadcaster's avatar near User 1, as shown in Figure 6. 【0028】 Furthermore, for example, when the providing unit 12 detects that a right-click operation has been performed on the section labeled "User 1" in the user list screen A3 of the broadcaster operation screen SC2 shown in Figure 5, and that the "Wave" action has been selected, it causes the broadcaster's avatar to wave the hand of User 1. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, the avatar control unit 13 may, in addition to or instead of the above action, apply an effect to distinguish the designated user from other avatars by surrounding them with a line F in the metaverse space. Examples of effects include, in addition to surrounding them with a line F as described above, making the avatar glow or adding shadows. 【0029】 Next, referring mainly to Figure 7, we will describe an example of the processing performed by the information processing device 1 described above, that is, an example of avatar control when a broadcaster live streams an event in the metaverse space. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow of the information processing device according to the embodiment. 【0030】 This section describes how the information processing device 1 handles the case when a broadcaster live streams an event in the metaverse space. The information processing device 1 forms a metaverse space where participating avatars can move freely, as shown in Figure 3, for example (Step S1). 【0031】Next, the acquisition unit 11 acquires broadcaster information (step S2). The acquisition unit 11 acquires information for forming the broadcaster's avatar as described above, and information for live streaming the event. The acquisition unit 11 also acquires information indicating that the broadcaster will participate in the metaverse space as a broadcaster of the event. As a result, the provision unit 12 provides the broadcaster with a broadcaster operation screen SC2, which is specialized for broadcaster operations and will be explained later. Next, the acquisition unit 11 forms the broadcaster's avatar in the metaverse space based on the information acquired in step S2 (step S3). The operation screen of the formed avatar is provided by the provision unit 12 to the event organizer or broadcaster in step S7. 【0032】 Next, the information processing device 1 starts live streaming (step S4). The event to be live-streamed in the metaverse space may be announced in advance in the metaverse space, or it may be announced (invited) in advance to specific users. 【0033】 Next, the acquisition unit 11 acquires user information (step S5). As described above, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information for forming the user's avatar. Based on the information acquired in step S5, the acquisition unit 11 forms the user's avatar in the metaverse space (step S3). The operation screen of the formed user avatar is provided to the user who will participate in the metaverse space in the later step S7. 【0034】 Next, the provisioning unit 12 provides the broadcaster operation screen SC2 to the broadcaster and the user operation screen SC1 to the user (step S7). The provisioning unit 12 decides, for example, whether to provide the user operation screen SC1 or the broadcaster operation screen SC2 based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11. For example, the broadcaster operation screen SC2, which allows users to easily approach or wave at a specific user's avatar, is appropriately provided to the user who will become the broadcaster (organizer) based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11. 【0035】The following describes the operation when a user participating in the live stream of the event takes some action. The avatar control unit 13 receives user input from the user operation screen SC1 (step S8). Here, as shown in Figure 4, suppose user 1's avatar makes a favorable statement (chat) to the broadcaster via the user operation screen SC1. Then, the avatar control unit 13 reflects the content of the chat entered by the user to the user's avatar (step S9). Here, the chat entered via the user operation screen SC1 is displayed. 【0036】 Next, the avatar control unit 13 receives an operation from the broadcaster operation screen SC2 (step S10). This allows the broadcaster (organizer) to easily react to user 1. Specifically, in the user list screen A3 of the broadcaster operation screen SC2, as shown in Figure 5, provided by the provision unit 12, right-clicking or hovering the pointer over one of the user displays displays the action selection unit A31. The broadcaster can then select an action from the options displayed in the action selection unit A31. The avatar control unit 13 reflects the content of the reaction received from the broadcaster operation screen SC2 onto the broadcaster's avatar (step S11). 【0037】 For example, when the avatar control unit 13 detects that the "move in front" option has been selected from the actions displayed in the action selection unit A31, it moves the broadcaster's avatar closer to the target user (user 1), as shown in Figure 6. This allows the broadcaster to move their avatar by selecting a reaction option, without having to perform conventional avatar movement operations. In addition, when a user is selected on the user list screen A3, the avatar control unit 13 may display the target user surrounded by a line F, as shown in Figure 6. 【0038】 Next, the effects and advantages of the information processing device 1 according to the above embodiment will be described. 【0039】According to the information processing device 1 and information processing method of the above embodiment, the organizer is provided with a broadcaster operation screen SC2 that is different from the user operation screen SC1 provided to users participating in the event. The organizer can, with a simple operation of just specifying a user on the provided broadcaster operation screen SC2, have the broadcaster's avatar perform an action directed at the specified user's avatar, or apply an effect to the specified user's avatar so that it can be distinguished from the avatars of other users. As a result, the user can feel special emotions directed only at their own avatar from the broadcaster's avatar. This can give the user a sense of unity with the broadcaster who is conducting a live broadcast on the metaverse. 【0040】 By allowing a user to be specified through the streamer's control screen, the streamer's avatar may perform actions directed at the specified user's avatar, and effects may be applied to the specified user's avatar to distinguish it from other users' avatars. This allows the user to feel an even stronger sense of special emotion directed specifically at their avatar by the streamer's avatar. 【0041】 The actions may include at least one of the following: moving the streamer's avatar closer to a designated user's avatar in the metaverse space, and waving at the designated user's avatar. This effectively conveys a special emotion from the streamer's avatar directed only towards a specific user's avatar. 【0042】 Furthermore, the avatar control unit 13 may also apply an effect to distinguish a designated user from other avatars by surrounding them with a line F in the metaverse space (see Figure 6). This effectively allows the broadcaster's avatar to convey a special emotion directed only towards the avatar of a specific user. 【0043】In addition, the providing unit 12 can display, in a part of the user operation screen, a list screen of users participating in the metaverse space and a chat screen with users in a switchable manner, and can display both a list screen of users participating in the metaverse space and a chat screen with users in a part of the distributor operation screen. In this case, it is possible to provide an environment in which it is easy for the user to convey to the distributor that they have special feelings. 【0044】 In addition, the providing unit 12 may display, in a part of the distributor operation screen SC2, a list of users corresponding to avatars located within a range of a predetermined distance from the distributor's avatar in the metaverse space. Thereby, the distributor can easily select a user to whom they should convey special feelings. 【0045】 In addition, the providing unit 12 may display, in a part of the distributor operation screen SC2, a list of users corresponding to avatars facing the direction of the distributor's avatar in the metaverse space. Thereby, the distributor can more appropriately select a user to whom they should convey special feelings. 【0046】 The device and method of the present disclosure may have the following configurations. 【0047】 [1] An acquisition unit that acquires distributor information for forming the distributor's avatar in the metaverse space; A distributor operation screen for the organizer who distributes events in the metaverse space to operate the distributor's avatar, which is different from the user operation screen for the user who operates their own avatar for users participating in the event in the metaverse space, and provides the organizer with the operation screen; An avatar control unit that causes the avatar of the distributor to execute an action on the avatar of the designated user or to effect the avatar of the designated user to be distinguishable from the avatars of other users when the user is designated via the distributor operation screen. An information processing device comprising: 【0048】[2] The information processing apparatus according to [1] above, which causes the avatar of the distributor to perform an action on the avatar of the specified user and effects the avatar of the specified user to be distinguishable from the avatars of other users, when the user is specified via the distributor operation screen. 【0049】 [3] The information processing apparatus according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the action includes at least one of an action of moving the avatar of the distributor near the avatar of the specified user and an action of making the avatar of the specified user wave in the metaverse space. 【0050】 [4] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the avatar control unit effects the specified user to be distinguishable from other avatars by surrounding the specified user with a line in the metaverse space. 【0051】 [5] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4] above, wherein the providing unit is configured to switchably display, on a part of the user operation screen, a list screen of the users participating in the metaverse space and a chat screen with the users, and display both the list screen of the users participating in the metaverse space and the chat screen with the users on a part of the distributor operation screen. 【0052】 [6] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the providing unit displays, on a part of the distributor operation screen, a list of the users corresponding to the avatars located within a range of a predetermined distance from the avatar of the distributor in the metaverse space. 【0053】 [7] The information processing apparatus according to [6] above, wherein the providing unit displays, on a part of the distributor operation screen, a list of the users corresponding to the avatars facing the direction of the avatar of the distributor in the metaverse space. 【0054】[8] An information processing method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring broadcaster information for forming a broadcaster's avatar in a metaverse space; a provision step of providing the organizer with a broadcaster operation screen for operating the broadcaster's avatar, which is different from the user operation screen for operating the avatars of users participating in the event in the metaverse space; and an avatar control step of either causing the broadcaster's avatar to perform an action on the avatar of a specified user by specifying the user via the broadcaster operation screen, or affecting the avatar of a specified user so that it can be distinguished from the avatars of other users. 【0055】 Although one embodiment has been described above, one aspect of this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. 【0056】 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 a single 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 also be realized by combining software with the single device or the multiple devices described above. 【0057】Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, decision, judgment, 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. 【0058】 For example, the information processing device 1 in one embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that processes a method for generating prompts for generating content of the present disclosure. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The above-described information processing device 1 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. 【0059】 In the following explanation, the term "device" can be replaced with "circuit," "device," "unit," etc. The hardware configuration of the information processing device 1 may include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or it may be configured without some of the devices. 【0060】 Each function in the information processing device 1 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. 【0061】The processor 1001 controls the entire computer, for example, by running the 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 acquisition unit 11, the providing unit 12, and the avatar control unit 13 described above may be implemented including the processor 1001. 【0062】 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 acquisition unit 11, the provision unit 12, and the avatar control unit 13 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and other functional blocks may be implemented similarly. The above-described processes have been explained as being executed by a single 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. 【0063】 The program executed by the processor 1001 may include: an acquisition step of acquiring broadcaster information for forming a broadcaster's avatar in the metaverse space; a provision step of providing the organizer with a broadcaster operation screen for operating the broadcaster's avatar, which is different from the user operation screen for users participating in the event in the metaverse space to operate their own avatars; and an avatar control step of either causing the broadcaster's avatar to perform an action on the avatar of a specified user by specifying the user via the broadcaster operation screen, or affecting the avatar of a specified user so that it can be distinguished from the avatars of other users. 【0064】 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 the prompt generation method according to the embodiment of this disclosure. 【0065】 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 disk, a digital multipurpose disk, a Blu-ray® disk), 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 that includes at least one of the memory 1002 and the storage 1003. For example, the above-mentioned storage unit may be implemented including the storage 1003. 【0066】The communication device 1004 is hardware (transceiver / receiver 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 a high-frequency switch, duplexer, filter, frequency synthesizer, etc., in order to implement at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the acquisition unit 11, provision unit 12, and avatar control unit 13 described above may be implemented including the communication device 1004. 【0067】 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). 【0068】 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. 【0069】 Furthermore, the information processing device 1 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. 【0070】The notification of information is not limited to the manner / embodiments described herein and may be carried out by other means. 【0071】 Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be applied to at least one of the following systems: LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (new Radio), W-CDMA®, GSM®, CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi®), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX®), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth®, and other appropriate systems, as well as next-generation systems extended based thereon. Furthermore, multiple systems may be applied in combination (for example, a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A with 5G). 【0072】 The processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc., of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be reordered, provided they are consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present various step elements using exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented. 【0073】 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. 【0074】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). 【0075】 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). 【0076】 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. Therefore, the descriptions in the present disclosure are illustrative and not intended to be restrictive in any way. 【0077】 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, etc., whether they are called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or by any other name. 【0078】 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 technology (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) and wireless technology (such as infrared or microwave), then at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included in the definition of a transmission medium. 【0079】 The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of the various different technologies. 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. 【0080】 In addition, terms used in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meaning. 【0081】 The terms “system” and “network” as used in this disclosure are interchangeable. 【0082】The terms “determining” and “decision” as used in this disclosure may encompass a wide variety of actions. “Determining” may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiry (e.g., searching in tables, databases, or other data structures), ascertaining, etc. “Determining” may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), etc. “Determining” may also include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering that some action has been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be reinterpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc. 【0083】The terms “connected,” “coupled,” and any variations 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. 【0084】 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." 【0085】 Any reference to elements using the designations “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 the 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. 【0086】 Where the terms “include,” “including,” and variations thereof 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 mean exclusive OR. 【0087】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. 【0088】 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." 【0089】 1... Information processing device, 3... Camera, 5... User terminal, 11... Acquisition unit, 12... Provision unit, 13... Avatar control unit, A1... Spatial display unit, A2... Chat screen display unit, A3... User list screen, A31... Action selection unit, F... Line, SC1... User operation screen, SC2... Streamer operation screen.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring broadcaster information for forming a broadcaster's avatar in a metaverse space; a provision unit for providing the organizer with a broadcaster operation screen for operating the broadcaster's avatar, which is different from the user operation screen for users participating in the event in the metaverse space to operate their own avatars; and an avatar control unit that, when a user is specified via the broadcaster operation screen, causes the broadcaster's avatar to perform an action on the avatar of the specified user, or effects the avatar of the specified user so as to be distinguishable from the avatars of other users.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a user is specified via the broadcaster operation screen, the broadcaster's avatar is made to perform an action on the avatar of the specified user, and the avatar of the specified user is given an effect that makes it distinguishable from the avatars of other users.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the action includes at least one of the following: an action to move the broadcaster's avatar near the designated user's avatar in the metaverse space; and an action to wave to the designated user's avatar.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the avatar control unit makes the user designated in the metaverse space distinguishable from other avatars by drawing a line around them.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit displays, in part of the user operation screen, a list screen of users participating in the metaverse space and a chat screen with the users in a switchable manner, and in part of the broadcaster operation screen, both the list screen of users participating in the metaverse space and the chat screen with the users are displayed.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit displays a list of users corresponding to avatars located within a predetermined distance from the broadcaster's avatar in the metaverse space on a part of the broadcaster's operation screen.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the providing unit displays a list of users corresponding to avatars facing the direction of the broadcaster's avatar in the metaverse space on a part of the broadcaster's operation screen.

8. An information processing method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring broadcaster information for forming a broadcaster's avatar in a metaverse space; a provision step of providing the organizer with a broadcaster operation screen for operating the broadcaster's avatar, which is different from the user operation screen for users participating in the event in the metaverse space to operate their own avatars; and an avatar control step of either causing the broadcaster's avatar to perform an action on the avatar of a specified user by specifying the user via the broadcaster operation screen, or affecting the avatar of a specified user so that it can be distinguished from the avatars of other users.

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