JP7644938B2 - Information processing system, information processing method, and information processing program - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

A technology is known in which a ticket ID (Identification) that identifies a ticket in response to a ticket purchase application from a user terminal is associated with a user ID and registered in a database, and in response to an inquiry from a server that includes a user ID and a content ID, the database is referenced, and, provided that a ticket ID and user ID that correspond to the content ID are present, a message is sent to the server indicating that content can be provided to that user ID.

JP 2011-154419 A

With the conventional technology described above, it is difficult to safely grant travel authority information to a specific content providing location, such as a ticket, and to exercise the travel authority with a simple configuration.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention aims to realize the granting of transfer authority information and the exercise of transfer authority in a relatively simple and relatively safe manner.

In one aspect, a space rendering processor that renders a virtual space;
a medium rendering processing unit that renders each moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with each user;
a transfer authority processing unit that associates predetermined transfer authority information with a first transfer medium;
a determination processing unit that determines whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined moving authority information is associated with the one moving medium,
An information processing system is provided, in which the transfer authority processing unit includes a first transfer authority processing unit that associates the specified transfer authority information with the first transfer medium based on a first input from a first user, and a second transfer authority processing unit that generates first authentication information based on a second input from the first user and reassociates the specified transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user.

In one aspect, the present invention makes it possible to grant transfer authority information and exercise transfer authority in a relatively simple and safe manner.

1 is a block diagram of a virtual reality generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An explanatory diagram of an example of virtual reality that can be generated by the virtual reality generation system. An explanatory diagram of another example of virtual reality that can be generated by the virtual reality generation system. An explanatory diagram of yet another example of virtual reality that can be generated by the virtual reality generation system. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an image of a user avatar located in a virtual space. FIG. 13 is an example of a functional block diagram of a server device related to a ticket transfer function. FIG. 13 is an example of a functional block diagram of a terminal device (transferee terminal device) related to a ticket transfer function. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of data in a user database. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of data in an avatar database. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of data in a ticket information storage unit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of data in a space state storage unit. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of an operation related to a ticket transfer function. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen in one scene. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen in another scene. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen in yet another scene. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen in yet another scene. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen in yet another scene. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen in yet another scene.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

(Overview of the virtual reality generation system)
An overview of a virtual reality generation system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the virtual reality generation system 1 according to the present embodiment. The virtual reality generation system 1 includes a server device 10 and one or more terminal devices 20. For simplicity, three terminal devices 20 are illustrated in Fig. 1, but the number of terminal devices 20 may be two or more.

The server device 10 is an information processing device such as a server managed by an operator that provides one or more virtual realities. The terminal device 20 is an information processing device used by a user, such as a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet terminal, PC (Personal Computer), head-mounted display, or game device. Multiple terminal devices 20 can be connected to the server device 10 via the network 3, typically in a different manner for each user.

The terminal device 20 is capable of executing a virtual reality application according to this embodiment. The virtual reality application may be received by the terminal device 20 from the server device 10 or a predetermined application distribution server via the network 3, or may be stored in advance in a storage device provided in the terminal device 20 or a storage medium such as a memory card readable by the terminal device 20. The server device 10 and the terminal device 20 are connected to each other via the network 3 so as to be able to communicate with each other. For example, the server device 10 and the terminal device 20 cooperate to execute various processes related to virtual reality.

The network 3 may include a wireless communication network, the Internet, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a wired network, or any combination of these.

Here, an overview of virtual reality according to this embodiment will be described. Virtual reality according to this embodiment is a virtual reality for any reality, such as education, travel, role-playing, simulation, and entertainment such as games and concerts, and virtual reality media such as avatars are used in conjunction with the execution of the virtual reality. For example, virtual reality according to this embodiment is realized by a three-dimensional virtual space, various virtual reality media that appear within the virtual space, and various contents provided within the virtual space.

The virtual reality medium is electronic data used in virtual reality, and includes any medium, such as cards, items, points, in-service currency (or in-virtual reality currency), tickets, characters, avatars, parameters, etc. The virtual reality medium may also be virtual reality-related information, such as level information, status information, virtual reality parameter information (such as stamina and attack power), or ability information (skills, abilities, spells, jobs, etc.). The virtual reality medium is electronic data that can be acquired, owned, used, managed, exchanged, synthesized, enhanced, sold, discarded, or donated by a user in virtual reality, but the manner of use of the virtual reality medium is not limited to those explicitly stated in this specification.

In this embodiment, users include general users and staff users (an example of a third user). General users are users who are not involved in the operation of the virtual reality generation system 1, and staff users are users who are involved in the operation of the virtual reality generation system 1. Staff users have a role (agent function) of supporting general users within the virtual reality. Staff users include, for example, users known as game masters. In the following, unless otherwise specified, users refer to both general users and staff users.

The users may further include guest users. The guest users may be artists, influencers, etc. who operate guest avatars that function as content (content provided by the server device 10) described below. Note that some of the staff users may be guest users, and the attributes of each user may not be clear.

The types and number of contents (contents provided in virtual reality) provided by the server device 10 are arbitrary, but in this embodiment, as an example, the contents provided by the server device 10 may include digital content such as various types of video. The video may be real-time video or non-real-time video. The video may also be video based on real images or video based on CG (Computer Graphics). The video may be video for providing information. In this case, the video may be related to an information providing service in a specific genre (information providing service related to travel, housing, food, fashion, health, beauty, etc.), a broadcasting service by a specific user (for example, YouTube (registered trademark)), etc.

In addition, in this embodiment, as an example, the content provided by the server device 10 may include guidance, advice, etc. from staff users, which will be described later. For example, content provided in virtual reality related to dance lessons may include guidance, advice, etc. from a dance teacher. In this case, the dance teacher becomes a staff user, and the students become general users, and the students can receive individual guidance from the teacher in the virtual reality.

In another embodiment, the content provided by the server device 10 may be various performances, talk shows, meetings, gatherings, etc., by one or more staff users or guest users via their respective staff avatars m2 and guest avatars.

The manner in which content is provided in virtual reality is arbitrary. For example, if the content is a video, the content may be provided by rendering the video on the display of a display device (virtual reality medium) in the virtual space. The display device in the virtual space may take any form, and may be a screen installed in the virtual space, a large-screen display installed in the virtual space, a display of a mobile device in the virtual space, etc.

(Configuration of the server device)
The configuration of the server device 10 will be specifically described. The server device 10 is composed of a server computer. The server device 10 may be realized by a plurality of server computers working together. For example, the server device 10 may be realized by a server computer that provides various contents, a server computer that realizes various authentication servers, and the like working together. The server device 10 may also include a Web server. In this case, some of the functions of the terminal device 20 described later may be realized by a browser processing an HTML document received from the Web server and various programs (Javascript) associated therewith.

The server device 10 includes a server communication unit 11, a server storage unit 12, and a server control unit 13.

The server communication unit 11 includes an interface that communicates with an external device wirelessly or wiredly to send and receive information. The server communication unit 11 may include, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication module or a wired LAN communication module. The server communication unit 11 can send and receive information to and from the terminal device 20 via the network 3.

The server storage unit 12 is, for example, a storage device, and stores various information and programs necessary for various processes related to virtual reality. For example, the server storage unit 12 stores a virtual reality application.

The server storage unit 12 also stores data for rendering virtual spaces, such as images of indoor spaces such as buildings and outdoor spaces. Note that multiple types of data for rendering virtual spaces may be prepared for each virtual space and used separately.

The server storage unit 12 also stores various images (texture images) for projection (texture mapping) onto various objects placed in the three-dimensional virtual space.

For example, the server storage unit 12 stores drawing information of a user avatar m1 as a virtual reality medium associated with each user. The user avatar m1 is drawn in the virtual space based on the drawing information of the user avatar m1.

The server storage unit 12 also stores drawing information of the staff avatar m2 as a virtual reality medium associated with each staff user. The staff avatar m2 is drawn in the virtual space based on the drawing information of the staff avatar m2.

The server storage unit 12 also stores drawing information related to various objects different from the user avatar m1 and staff avatar m2, such as buildings, walls, trees, or NPCs (Non Player Characters). Various objects in the virtual space are drawn based on this drawing information.

Hereinafter, an object corresponding to any virtual reality medium (e.g., a building, wall, tree, or NPC, etc.) different from the user avatar m1 or staff avatar m2 and drawn in the virtual space is also referred to as a second object m3. Note that in this embodiment, the second object may include an object that is fixed in the virtual space, an object that is movable in the virtual space, etc. The second object may also include an object that is always placed in the virtual space, or an object that is placed only when a certain condition is satisfied, etc.

The server control unit 13 may include a dedicated microprocessor or a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that realizes a specific function by loading a specific program, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. For example, the server control unit 13 cooperates with the terminal device 20 to execute a virtual reality application in response to a user operation on the display unit 23 of the terminal device 20. The server control unit 13 also executes various processes related to virtual reality.

For example, the server control unit 13 draws the user avatar m1, staff avatar m2, etc. along with the virtual space (image) and displays them on the display unit 23. The server control unit 13 also moves the user avatar m1 and staff avatar m2 within the virtual space in response to a specific user operation. Specific details of the processing by the server control unit 13 will be described later.

(Configuration of terminal device)
The following describes the configuration of the terminal device 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal device 20 includes a terminal communication unit 21, a terminal storage unit 22, a display unit 23, an input unit 24, and a terminal control unit 25.

The terminal communication unit 21 includes an interface that communicates with an external device wirelessly or wiredly to send and receive information. The terminal communication unit 21 may include a wireless communication module, a wireless LAN communication module, or a wired LAN communication module that supports mobile communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) (registered trademark), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), the fifth generation mobile communication system, and UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband). The terminal communication unit 21 is capable of sending and receiving information to and from the server device 10 via the network 3.

The terminal storage unit 22 includes, for example, a primary storage device and a secondary storage device. For example, the terminal storage unit 22 may include a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like. The terminal storage unit 22 stores various information and programs used in the virtual reality processing received from the server device 10. The information and programs used in the virtual reality processing may be acquired from an external device via the terminal communication unit 21. For example, a virtual reality application program may be acquired from a predetermined application distribution server. Hereinafter, the application program is also simply referred to as an application. Also, for example, some or all of the above-mentioned information about the user and information about other users' virtual reality media may be acquired from the server device 10.

The display unit 23 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The display unit 23 is capable of displaying a variety of images. The display unit 23 is configured, for example, with a touch panel, and functions as an interface that detects a variety of user operations. The display unit 23 may be in the form of a head-mounted display.

The input unit 24 includes an input interface including a touch panel that is provided integrally with the display unit 23. The input unit 24 can accept user input to the terminal device 20. The input unit 24 may include physical keys, or may further include any input interface including a pointing device such as a mouse. The input unit 24 may also be capable of accepting non-contact user input such as voice input or gesture input. For gesture input, a sensor (such as an image sensor, acceleration sensor, or distance sensor) for detecting the user's body movements may be used.

The terminal control unit 25 includes one or more processors. The terminal control unit 25 controls the operation of the entire terminal device 20.

The terminal control unit 25 transmits and receives information via the terminal communication unit 21. For example, the terminal control unit 25 receives various information and programs used for various processes related to virtual reality from at least one of the server device 10 and other external servers. The terminal control unit 25 stores the received information and programs in the terminal storage unit 22. For example, the terminal storage unit 22 may store a browser (internet browser) for connecting to a web server.

The terminal control unit 25 starts a virtual reality application in response to a user's operation. The terminal control unit 25 cooperates with the server device 10 to execute various processes related to virtual reality. For example, the terminal control unit 25 causes an image of a virtual space to be displayed on the display unit 23. For example, a GUI (Graphic User Interface) that detects a user operation may be displayed on the screen. The terminal control unit 25 can detect a user operation on the screen via the input unit 24. For example, the terminal control unit 25 can detect a user's tap operation, long tap operation, flick operation, swipe operation, and the like. A tap operation is an operation in which a user touches the display unit 23 with a finger and then releases the finger. The terminal control unit 25 transmits operation information to the server device 10.

(Virtual reality example)
The server control unit 13 cooperates with the terminal device 20 to display an image of the virtual space on the display unit 23 and updates the image of the virtual space in response to the progress of the virtual reality and operations by the user. In this embodiment, the server control unit 13 cooperates with the terminal device 20 to render objects placed in the three-dimensional virtual space as viewed from a virtual camera placed in the virtual space.

The drawing process described below is realized by the server control unit 13, but in other embodiments, some or all of the drawing process described below may be realized by the server control unit 13. For example, in the following description, at least a part of the image of the virtual space displayed on the terminal device 20 may be a web display displayed on the terminal device 20 based on data generated by the server device 10, and at least a part of the screen may be a native display displayed by a native application installed on the terminal device 20.

Figures 2A to 2C are diagrams illustrating some examples of virtual realities that can be generated by the virtual reality generation system 1.

Figure 2A is an explanatory diagram of virtual reality related to travel, and is a conceptual diagram showing a virtual space in a plan view. In this case, within the virtual space, a position SP1 where a ticket (in this case, an airline ticket, etc.) is purchased or received, and a position SP2 near the gate are set. Figure 2A shows user avatars m1 associated with two separate users.

Two users decide to go on a trip together in virtual reality and enter the virtual space through their respective user avatars m1. Then, the two users obtain tickets at position SP1 through their respective user avatars m1 (see arrow R1), arrive at position SP2 (see arrow R2), and then pass through the gate (see arrow R3) to board the plane (second object m3). The plane then takes off and arrives at the desired destination (see arrow R4). During this time, the two users can experience virtual reality through the display unit 23 of each of the terminal devices 20. For example, FIG. 3 shows an image G300 of the user avatar m1 located in the virtual space related to the desired destination. Such an image G300 may be displayed on the terminal device 20 of the user related to the user avatar m1. In this case, the user can move around the virtual space through the user avatar m1 (given the user name "fuj") and do sightseeing, etc.

Figure 2B is an explanatory diagram of virtual reality related to education, and is a conceptual diagram showing a virtual space in a plan view. In this case, too, a position SP1 where a ticket (in this case, an admission ticket, etc.) is purchased or received, and a position SP2 near the gate are set in the virtual space. Figure 2B shows user avatars m1 associated with two separate users.

Two users decide to receive a specific education together in virtual reality, and enter the virtual space through their respective user avatars m1. Then, the two users obtain tickets at position SP1 through their respective user avatars m1 (see arrow R11), reach position SP2 (see arrow R12), and then pass through a gate (see arrow R13) to reach the first position SP11. At the first position SP11, the specific first content is provided. Next, the two users reach the second position SP12 (see arrow R14) through their respective user avatars m1, and are provided with the specific second content, and then reach the third position SP13 (see arrow R15), and are provided with the specific third content, and so on. The learning effect of the specific second content is higher when it is provided after the specific first content is provided, and the learning effect of the specific third content is higher when it is provided after the specific second content is provided, and so on.

For example, if the education relates to a certain 3D modeling software, the first content may include an installation link image for the software, the second content may include an installation link video for an add-on, the third content may include a video for initial setup, and the fourth content may include a video for basic operations.

In the example shown in FIG. 2B, each user (e.g., a student) moves from the first position SP11 to the eighth position SP18 in sequence via the user avatar m1, and is provided with various pieces of content in sequence, allowing the user to receive a specific education in a manner that provides a high level of learning effect. Alternatively, the various pieces of content may be tasks such as quizzes, in which case, in the example shown in FIG. 2B, a game such as a backgammon game or an escape game may be provided.

Figure 2C is an explanatory diagram of virtual reality related to lessons, and is a conceptual diagram showing a virtual space in a plan view. In this case, too, a position SP1 where a ticket (in this case, an admission ticket, etc.) is purchased or received, and a position SP2 near the gate are set in the virtual space. Figure 2C shows user avatars m1 associated with two separate users.

Two users decide to take a particular lesson together in virtual reality and enter the virtual space via their respective user avatars m1. Then, the two users obtain tickets at position SP1 via their respective user avatars m1 (see arrow R21), reach position SP2 (see arrow R22), and then pass through a gate (see arrow R23) to reach position SP20. Position SP20 corresponds to each position in the free space, excluding positions SP21, SP22, SP23, etc. corresponding to each stage, in an area surrounded by a circular peripheral wall W2, for example. When the users reach the first position SP21 corresponding to the first stage via their respective user avatars m1 (see arrow R24), they are provided with the first content for the lesson at the first position SP21. Similarly, when the user reaches a second position SP22 corresponding to the second stage via the respective user avatar m1 (see arrow R25), the user is provided with second content for the lesson at the second position SP22, and when the user reaches a third position SP23 corresponding to the third stage (see arrow R26), the user is provided with third content for the lesson at the third position SP23.

For example, if the lesson is a golf lesson, the first content for the lesson may be a video for explaining how to improve the user's swing, the second content for the lesson may be a demonstration of a sample swing by a staff user who is a professional golfer, and the third content for the lesson may be advice by the staff user who is a professional golfer on the demonstration of the user's swing. The demonstration of the sample swing by the staff user is realized by the staff avatar m2, and the demonstration of the user's swing is realized by the user avatar m1. For example, when the staff user actually performs a swing movement, that movement is reflected directly in the movement of the staff avatar m2 based on the data of that movement (e.g., gesture input data). The advice by the staff user may be realized by chat or the like. In this way, each user can receive various lessons from a teacher (in this case, a professional golfer) in virtual reality, for example, at home, together with a friend, at a sufficient and necessary progress and depth.

In this way, in this embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 2A to 2C, in virtual reality, a user can receive useful content at a specified location via user avatar m1 at the timing and in the viewing format required by each user.

In virtual reality, just as in the real world, a mechanism may be required that allows only users who meet certain conditions to receive content. For example, in the real world, a person may obtain a ticket by paying a fee for a piece of content in order to reach a location where the content can be received (e.g., experiencing an attraction at an amusement park). In this case, for example, if a parent and child are traveling together, the parent will also purchase a ticket for the child and enter the location (e.g., inside a facility) where the content can be received together with the child.

In the case of virtual reality, just as in the real world, when multiple users wish to receive content in virtual reality together, it would be convenient if one user could obtain travel authority, such as a ticket, for all of the users who accompanied them and enter a location (such as a facility) where they can receive the content together.

However, in virtual reality, unlike in reality, the multiple users you plan to accompany you may not be nearby in real life, and physical contact is often not possible.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the virtual reality generation system 1 realizes a mechanism or function (hereinafter referred to as the "ticket transfer function") that enables transfer of movement authority information representing such movement authority between users in virtual reality safely and with reduced operational load. The details of this ticket transfer function are described below.

In the following, the server device 10 associated with the ticket transfer function realizes an example of an information processing system, but as described later, each element of a specific terminal device 20 (see FIG. 1) may realize an example of an information processing system, or multiple terminal devices 20 may cooperate to realize an example of an information processing system. Also, the server device 10 and one or more terminal devices 20 may cooperate to realize an example of an information processing system.

(Ticket transfer feature details)
Fig. 4 is an example of a functional block diagram of the server device 10 related to the ticket transfer function. Fig. 5 is an example of a functional block diagram of the terminal device 20 (transferee terminal device 20) related to the ticket transfer function. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of data in the user database 140. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of data in the avatar database 142. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of data in the ticket information storage unit 144. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of data in the space state storage unit 146. In Figs. 6 to 9, "***" indicates a state in which some information is stored, "-" indicates a state in which no information is stored, and "..." indicates a similar repetition.

As shown in FIG. 4, the server device 10 includes a user database 140, an avatar database 142, a ticket information storage unit 144, a spatial state storage unit 146, a spatial drawing processing unit 150, a user avatar processing unit 152, a staff avatar processing unit 154, a terminal image generation unit 158 (an example of a medium drawing processing unit), a content processing unit 159, a dialogue processing unit 160, a first movement authority processing unit 162, a second movement authority processing unit 164, a judgment processing unit 166, a spatial information generation unit 168, and a parameter update unit 170. Note that some or all of the functions of the server device 10 described below may be realized by the terminal device 20 as appropriate. Also, the division of the user database 140 from the spatial state storage unit 146 and the division of the spatial drawing processing unit 150 from the parameter update unit 170 are for the convenience of explanation, and some functional units may realize the functions of other functional units. For example, the functions of the spatial rendering processing unit 150, the user avatar processing unit 152, the terminal image generating unit 158, the content processing unit 159, the dialogue processing unit 160, and the spatial information generating unit 168 may be realized by the terminal device 20. Also, for example, some or all of the data in the user database 140 may be integrated with the data in the avatar database 142, or may be stored in a separate database.

The user database 140 to the spatial state storage unit 146 can be realized by the server storage unit 12 shown in FIG. 1, and the spatial rendering processing unit 150 to the parameter update unit 170 can be realized by the server control unit 13 shown in FIG. 1. Also, a part of the spatial rendering processing unit 150 to the parameter update unit 170 (functional units that communicate with the terminal device 20) can be realized by the server communication unit 11 together with the server control unit 13 shown in FIG. 1.

User information is stored in the user database 140. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the user information includes user information 600 relating to general users and staff information 602 relating to staff users.

In the user information 600, each user ID is associated with a user name, authentication information, a user avatar ID, position/orientation information, etc. The user name is a name registered by the general user himself/herself and is arbitrary. The authentication information is information for indicating that the general user is a legitimate general user, and may include, for example, a password, an email address, a date of birth, a secret phrase, biometric information, etc. The user avatar ID is an ID for identifying the user avatar. The position/orientation information includes position information and orientation information of the user avatar m1. The orientation information may be information representing the facial orientation of the user avatar m1. Note that the position/orientation information, etc. is information that may change dynamically in response to an operation input from a general user. In addition to the position/orientation information, information representing the movement of the limbs, etc. of the user avatar m1 and information representing the facial expression, etc. may be included.

In the staff information 602, each staff ID is associated with a staff name, authentication information, a staff avatar ID, position/orientation information, staff points, etc. The staff name is a name registered by the staff user himself/herself and is arbitrary. The authentication information is information for indicating that the staff user is a legitimate staff user, and may include, for example, a password, an email address, a date of birth, a password, biometric information, etc. The staff avatar ID is an ID for identifying the staff avatar. The position/orientation information includes position information and orientation information of the staff avatar m2. The orientation information may be information representing the facial orientation of the staff avatar m2. Note that the position/orientation information, etc. is information that can change dynamically in response to an operational input from the staff user. In addition to the position/orientation information, information representing the movement of the limbs, etc. of the staff avatar m2 and information representing the facial expression, etc. may be included.

Staff points may be a parameter that increases each time a role of a staff avatar in virtual reality (a job as a staff member) is fulfilled. In other words, staff points may be a parameter that represents the degree of work of a staff user in virtual reality. For example, the staff points for a staff user may be increased each time the staff user assists a general user in virtual reality via the corresponding staff avatar m2. Alternatively, the staff points for a staff user may be increased according to the time that the staff user is in a state in which he or she is able to assist a general user in virtual reality (i.e., in an active state) via the corresponding staff avatar m2.

Avatar database 142 stores avatar information related to user avatar m1 and staff avatar m2. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the avatar information includes user avatar information 700 related to general users and staff avatar information 702 related to staff users.

In the user avatar information 700, the face, hairstyle, clothes, etc. are associated with each user avatar ID. The information related to the appearance such as the face, hairstyle, clothes, etc. is a parameter that characterizes the user avatar, and is set by a general user. For example, the information related to the appearance such as the face, hairstyle, clothes, etc. of the avatar may be assigned an ID for each type. In addition, for the face, a part ID is prepared for each type such as face shape, eyes, mouth, nose, etc., and the information related to the face may be managed as a combination of IDs of each part that constitutes the face. In this case, the information related to the appearance such as the face, hairstyle, clothes, etc. can function as avatar drawing information. In other words, it becomes possible to draw each user avatar m1 not only on the server device 10 but also on the terminal device 20 side based on each ID related to the appearance linked to each user avatar ID.

In the staff avatar information 702, the face, hairstyle, clothes, etc. are associated with each staff avatar ID. Appearance information such as face, hairstyle, clothes, etc. are parameters that characterize the staff avatar, and are set by the staff user. Appearance information such as face, hairstyle, etc. may be managed as a combination of IDs of each part, as in the case of the user avatar information 700, and can function as avatar drawing information. Note that the staff avatar m2 may have a common feature that makes it easy to distinguish it from the user avatar m1. For example, each staff avatar m2 may be easily distinguished from the user avatar m1 by wearing a common outfit (uniform).

In this embodiment, basically, one user ID is associated with one general user, and one user ID is associated with a user avatar ID. Therefore, a state in which a certain piece of information is associated with one general user, a state in which the information is associated with the one user ID, and a state in which the information is associated with the user avatar ID associated with the one user ID are synonymous with each other. This also applies to staff users. Therefore, for example, unlike the example shown in FIG. 6, the position/orientation information of the user avatar m1 may be stored in association with the user avatar ID related to the user avatar m1, and similarly, the position/orientation information of the staff avatar m2 may be stored in association with the staff avatar ID related to the staff avatar m2. In the following, for the sake of explanation, the general user and the user avatar m1 associated with the general user are in a mutually interchangeable relationship, and the staff user and the staff avatar m2 associated with the staff user are in a mutually interchangeable relationship.

The ticket information storage unit 144 stores ticket information related to the ticket. A ticket is a virtual reality medium that represents the movement authority for the user avatar m1 to move to a specified position in the virtual space. In this embodiment, as an example, the ticket is in a form that can be torn in response to a tearing operation input from a staff user. Note that in a modified example, instead of tearing the ticket, a mark or other indication indicating "used" may be given.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the ticket information corresponds to a ticket ID, a specified location, an owner ID, purchase information, authentication information for transfer, authentication information for ticket tearing, transfer information, a validity flag, a ticket-taker ID, ticket-taker information, etc.

The ticket ID is a unique ID assigned to each ticket.

The predetermined position represents a position in the virtual space where the user can be located based on the movement authority related to the ticket. The predetermined position includes a position where the user can receive the provision of specific content. The predetermined position may be defined by the coordinate value of a single point, but typically may be defined by multiple coordinate values forming a grouped area or space portion. The predetermined position may also be a position on a plane or a position in space (i.e., a position represented by a three-dimensional coordinate system including a height direction). The predetermined position may typically be set for each specific content according to the provision position and attributes of the specific content. For example, in the example shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the predetermined position is a position in the virtual space that can be entered through each gate. The predetermined position may be specified by a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator). In this case, a general user or the like can move the user avatar m1 or the like to the predetermined position by accessing the specific URL. In this case, a general user can access the specific URL and receive the provision of specific content on the browser of the terminal device 20.

The ticket information shown in FIG. 8 is suitable when multiple types of predetermined positions are prepared, such as a predetermined position inside the gate as shown in FIG. 2A, or a predetermined position inside the gate as shown in FIG. 2B. When there is only one type of predetermined position, the predetermined position in the ticket information may be omitted.

The owner ID corresponds to the user ID of the general user who currently owns the ticket. Since tickets are transferable as described above, the owner ID may change later.

The purchase information indicates the purchaser ID, purchase date and time, purchase method, seller ID, etc. The purchaser ID is a user ID associated with the user who made the purchase input. The seller ID is the staff ID of the staff user who sold the ticket. Note that if the ticket is not sold face-to-face by a staff user in the virtual space (for example, if it is purchased in advance), the seller ID may be omitted.

The authentication information for transfer is the authentication information required for transfer, and is different for each ticket ID.

The ticket-tear authentication information is authentication information for authenticating that the ticket is legitimate, and is different for each ticket ID. The ticket-tear authentication information may be in any form, but in this embodiment, as an example, it is a four-digit code consisting of numbers and/or symbols. The ticket-tear authentication information may also be in the form of a unique identifier that is issued in advance. The ticket-tear authentication information may also be set by the user who purchased the ticket.

The transfer information indicates whether or not one or more transfers have occurred, and may further indicate the date and time of the transfer. In FIG. 8, "-" indicates that no transfer has occurred.

The validity flag is flag information that indicates the validity of the ticket. In this embodiment, as an example, when the validity flag is "1", it indicates that the ticket is valid, and when the validity flag is "0", it indicates that the ticket is invalid. The state in which the ticket is valid corresponds to a state in which the user avatar m1 associated with the ticket can move to a specific position associated with the ticket (and accordingly, a state in which specific content can be provided at the specific position).

The validity of a ticket may be set for each attribute of the ticket. For example, a ticket with a certain attribute may be invalidated when it is torn (or immediately thereafter, when it reaches a specified location). A ticket with another attribute may be invalidated when a specified time has passed since it was torn. A ticket with another attribute may be invalidated when it leaves the specified location after being torn. Alternatively, a mechanism that allows re-entry using the same ticket may be further implemented. In this case, the validity of the ticket may be maintained until a specified time has passed since it was torn. Alternatively, the validity of the ticket may be invalidated when movement (entry) to the specified location a specified number of times or more is detected.

The ticket-taker ID is a staff avatar ID associated with the staff user who tore the ticket. In this embodiment, a ticket may be torn without the direct involvement of a staff user. In this case, the ticket-taker ID may store information indicating that the ticket was torn automatically.

The ticket-tying information indicates whether or not the ticket has been torn, and may also indicate the date and time of torn. In FIG. 8, "-" indicates that the ticket has not been torn.

The space state storage unit 146 stores space state information on the state within a space portion related to a specific position in the virtual space. In the following, the space portion related to a specific position in the virtual space is defined as a room, and can be described by a URL for general users. Users accessing the same room are managed as a session linked to the same room. An avatar entering a space portion related to a room may be expressed as entering the room. There is a limit to the number of users who can access one room simultaneously from the perspective of processing power, but a process may be implemented to replicate rooms with the same design and distribute the load. Entry to a room may also be managed by access rights, and a process may be implemented to confirm possession of a valid ticket or require consumption.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the space state information includes user state information 900 relating to general users and staff state information 902 relating to staff users.

In the user state information 900, the entering user is associated with a ticket ID, provided content information, etc. The entering user is a general user associated with a user avatar m1 located at a predetermined position, and the information of the entering user may be any information that can identify the general user (user ID, user avatar ID, etc.). The entering user is a general user associated with a user avatar m1 located at a predetermined position, and the position information of the user avatar m1 corresponds to a predetermined position (one of the multiple coordinate values when defined by multiple coordinate values). In other words, if the position information of a user avatar m1 does not correspond to a predetermined position, the general user associated with the user avatar m1 is excluded from the entering users. The ticket ID of the user state information 900 represents a ticket ID associated with the ticket used by the entering user when entering the room. The provided content information may include information on whether or not a specific content has been provided, or information on whether or not a specific content has been provided. Furthermore, for a virtual space in which multiple specific contents may be provided, the provided content information may include history information indicating which specific contents have been provided, and information on whether or not the specific contents have been provided. The user state information 900 may also include other information such as "Validated_At" (the date and time when the ticket was confirmed to be valid) and "Expire_on" (the date and time when the ticket expires).

The staff status information 902 includes information about the active staff. An active staff member is a staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 located at a specific position, and the information about the active staff member may be any information that can identify the staff user (such as a staff ID or a staff avatar ID).

The space rendering processing unit 150 renders the virtual space based on the rendering information of the virtual space. The rendering information of the virtual space is generated in advance, but may be updated later or dynamically. Each position in the virtual space may be defined by a spatial coordinate system. The method of rendering the virtual space is arbitrary, but may be realized, for example, by mapping field objects and background objects onto an appropriate plane or curved surface.

The user avatar processing unit 152 executes various processes related to the user avatar m1. The user avatar processing unit 152 includes an operation input acquisition unit 1521 and a user action processing unit 1522.

The operation input acquisition unit 1521 acquires operation input information by a general user. Note that the operation input information by a general user is generated via the input unit 24 of the terminal device 20 described above.

The user motion processing unit 1522 determines the position and orientation of the user avatar m1 in the virtual space based on the operation input information acquired by the operation input acquisition unit 1521. The position/orientation information of the user avatar m1 determined by the user motion processing unit 1522 may be stored, for example, in association with a user ID (see FIG. 6). The user motion processing unit 1522 may also determine various movements of the hands, face, and the like of the user avatar m1 based on the operation input information. In this case, such movement information may also be stored together with the position/orientation information of the user avatar m1.

As described above, the functions of the user motion processing unit 1522 can be realized by the terminal device 20 instead of the server device 10. For example, movement in the virtual space can be realized in a manner in which acceleration and collisions are expressed. In this case, each user can jump and move the user avatar m1 by pointing (indicating) a position, but the determination of restrictions on walls and movement can be realized by the terminal control unit 25 (user motion processing unit 1522). In this case, the terminal control unit 25 (user motion processing unit 1522) performs a determination process based on restriction information provided in advance. Note that in this case, the position information can be shared with other users who need it via the server device 10 by real-time communication based on WebSocket or the like.

The staff avatar processing unit 154 executes various processes related to the staff avatar m2. The staff avatar processing unit 154 includes an operation input acquisition unit 1541 and a staff action processing unit 1542.

The operation input acquisition unit 1541 acquires operation input information by a staff user. Note that the operation input information by a staff user is generated via the input unit 24 of the terminal device 20 described above.

The staff movement processing unit 1542 determines the position and orientation of the staff avatar m2 in the virtual space based on the operation input information acquired by the operation input acquisition unit 1541. The position/orientation information of the staff avatar m2, which indicates the position and orientation determined by the staff movement processing unit 1542, may be stored, for example, in association with a staff ID (see FIG. 6). The staff movement processing unit 1542 may also determine various movements of the hands, face, and the like of the staff avatar m2 based on the operation input information. In this case, such movement information may also be stored together with the position/orientation information of the staff avatar m2.

The terminal image generation unit 158 draws each virtual reality medium (e.g., user avatar m1 and staff avatar m2) that can be moved within the virtual space. Specifically, the terminal image generation unit 158 generates an image to be displayed on the terminal device 20 for each user based on the avatar drawing information (see FIG. 7) and the position/orientation information of each user avatar m1 and the position/orientation information of the staff avatar m2, etc.

For example, for each user avatar m1, the terminal image generating unit 158 generates an image (hereinafter, also referred to as a "terminal image for a general user" when distinguishing from a terminal image for a staff user described later) to be displayed on the terminal device 20 of the general user associated with the user avatar m1 based on the position/orientation information of the user avatar m1. Specifically, based on the position/orientation information of the user avatar m1, the terminal image generating unit 158 generates an image of the virtual space viewed from a virtual camera at a position and orientation corresponding to the position/orientation information (an image cutting out a part of the virtual space) as a terminal image. In this case, when the virtual camera is positioned at a position and orientation corresponding to the position/orientation information, the field of view of the virtual camera substantially coincides with the field of view of the user avatar m1. However, in this case, the user avatar m1 is not reflected in the field of view from the virtual camera. Therefore, when generating a terminal image in which the user avatar m1 is reflected, the position of the virtual camera may be set behind the user avatar m1. Alternatively, the position of the virtual camera may be arbitrarily adjustable by the corresponding general user. When generating such a terminal image, the terminal image generating unit 158 may execute various processes (e.g., a process of bending a field object, etc.) to create a sense of depth. When generating a terminal image showing the user avatar m1, the user avatar m1 may be drawn in a relatively simple manner (e.g., in the form of a two-dimensional sprite) to reduce the load of the drawing process.

Similarly, for each staff avatar m2, the terminal image generation unit 158 generates an image (hereinafter also referred to as a "terminal image for staff user" when distinguishing it from the above-mentioned terminal image for general users) to be displayed on the terminal device 20 related to the staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 based on the position/orientation information of the staff avatar m2.

When another user avatar m1 or staff avatar m2 is located within the field of view of the virtual camera, the terminal image generating unit 158 generates a terminal image including the other user avatar m1 or staff avatar m2. However, in this case, in order to reduce the load of the drawing process, the other user avatar m1 or staff avatar m2 may be drawn in a relatively simple manner (for example, in the form of a two-dimensional sprite).

As described above, the function of the terminal image generating unit 158 can be realized by the terminal device 20 instead of the server device 10. In this case, for example, the terminal image generating unit 158 receives from the server device 10 the position/orientation information generated by the staff avatar processing unit 154 of the server device 10, information for identifying the avatar to be drawn (e.g., a user avatar ID or a staff avatar ID), and avatar drawing information (see FIG. 7) related to the avatar to be drawn, and draws an image of each avatar based on the received information. In this case, the terminal device 20 may store part information for drawing each part of the avatar in the device storage unit 22, and draw the appearance of each avatar based on the part information and the avatar drawing information to be drawn (ID of each part) obtained from the server device 10.

The terminal image generating unit 158 preferably draws the terminal image for the general user and the terminal image for the staff user in different modes. In this case, even if the position/orientation information of the user avatar m1 and the position/orientation information of the staff avatar m2 are completely consistent, the terminal image for the general user and the terminal image for the staff user are drawn in different modes. For example, the terminal image generating unit 158 may superimpose information that is useful for the staff user to fulfill various roles assigned to the staff user and is normally invisible (e.g., information on the valid flag of the ticket) on the terminal image for the staff user. In addition, the terminal image generating unit 158 may draw the user avatar m1 associated with the owner ID and the user avatar m1 not associated with the owner ID in different modes in the terminal image for the staff user based on the ticket information (see FIG. 8). In this case, the staff user can easily distinguish between the user avatar m1 associated with the owner ID and the user avatar m1 not associated with the owner ID.

The content processing unit 159 provides specific content to a general user for each predetermined position. The content processing unit 159 may output the specific content on the terminal device 20, for example, via a browser. Alternatively, the content processing unit 159 may output the specific content on the terminal device 20 via a virtual reality application implemented in the terminal device 20.

The dialogue processing unit 160 enables dialogue between general users via the network 3 based on input from multiple general users. Dialogue between general users may be realized in the form of a text and/or voice chat via each of their own user avatars m1. This allows dialogue between general users. The text is output to the display unit 23 of the terminal device 20. For example, the text may be output separately from an image related to the virtual space, or may be output superimposed on an image related to the virtual space. The dialogue using text output to the display unit 23 of the terminal device 20 may be realized in a form that is open to an unspecified number of users, or may be realized in a form that is open only to specific general users. The same applies to voice chat.

The dialogue processor 160 also enables dialogue between general users and staff users via the network 3 based on input from general users and input from staff users. The dialogue may be realized in the form of a text and/or voice chat via the corresponding user avatar m1 and staff avatar m2. This allows general users to receive assistance (assistance) from staff users in real time.

The first movement authority processing unit 162 generates a ticket (predetermined movement authority information) based on a purchase input (an example of a first input) from a general user, and associates the ticket with a user avatar m1 associated with the general user.

The purchase input includes various inputs for purchasing tickets. The purchase input typically involves the consumption of money or a virtual reality medium having monetary value. The virtual reality medium having monetary value may include a virtual reality medium that can be obtained by spending money. Note that the consumption of a virtual reality medium may be achieved by dissolving the association between a user ID and the virtual reality medium, reducing the amount or number of the virtual reality medium associated with the user ID, etc.

When generating a ticket, the first movement authority processing unit 162 generates a new ticket ID (see FIG. 8) and updates the data in the ticket information storage unit 144. In this case, the new ticket ID is associated with a specific location, an owner ID, etc. (see FIG. 8). In this case, the owner ID is the user ID associated with the user who made the purchase input described above.

Specifically, the first movement authority processing unit 162 includes a purchase input acquisition unit 1621, a ticket ID generation unit 1622, an authentication information notification unit 1623, and a ticket drawing unit 1624.

The purchase input acquisition unit 1621 acquires the purchase input from the general user described above from the terminal device 20 via the network 3.

A purchase input can be made by a general user associated with user avatar m1 when the user avatar m1 is located near an entrance relating to a predetermined position. The entrance relating to the predetermined position in the virtual space does not need to be clearly defined, but the position corresponding to the entrance in the virtual space may be associated with characters such as "entrance" or "gate" by drawing. For example, in the example shown in Figures 2A to 2C, position SP1 corresponding to the ticket purchase area, position SP2 corresponding to the entrance area, and their vicinity correspond to the vicinity of the entrance.

In this case, a general user who wants to purchase a ticket can bring their user avatar m1 near the entrance and enter the purchase information through dialogue with staff avatar m2, who is positioned in correspondence with position SP1.

Alternatively, the purchase input may be input in advance by a general user (before the user avatar m1 is positioned near the entrance associated with the specified position). In this case, a general user who has purchased a ticket in advance can bring his/her user avatar m1 near the entrance and activate the advance purchase input through dialogue with the staff avatar m2 positioned in association with the position SP1. Note that when a general user who has purchased a ticket in advance brings his/her user avatar m1 near the entrance (by querying the user ID and the ticket ID linked thereto), the advance purchase input may be automatically activated (i.e., without requiring further input).

As described above, the ticket ID generation unit 1622 generates a new ticket ID (see FIG. 8) based on the purchase input and updates the data in the ticket information storage unit 144. For example, when a general user who wants to purchase a ticket inputs the purchase while positioning his/her user avatar m1 near the entrance, the ticket ID generation unit 1622 immediately generates a new ticket ID. In this case, the initial value of the validity flag associated with the ticket ID may be set to "1". Also, when a general user who has previously purchased a ticket inputs the activation while positioning his/her user avatar m1 near the entrance, the ticket ID generation unit 1622 may change the value of the validity flag associated with the already generated ticket ID from "0" to "1".

The authentication information notification unit 1623 notifies the general user who purchased the ticket based on the purchase input of the ticket tearing authentication information (see FIG. 8) associated with the purchased ticket. As described above, in this embodiment, as an example, the ticket tearing authentication information is a four-digit code consisting of numbers and/or symbols. For example, the authentication information notification unit 1623 transmits the ticket tearing authentication information via the network 3 to the terminal device 20 associated with the general user who purchased the ticket. At this time, the ticket tearing authentication information may be notified by email or an automated voice message over the telephone. Alternatively, as described above, the ticket tearing authentication information may be set by the general user when making the purchase input. In this case, the authentication information notification unit 1623 may be omitted.

The ticket drawing unit 1624 draws a ticket (virtual reality medium) for each ticket ID based on the purchase input. For example, the ticket drawing unit 1624 may draw a ticket in association with the hand of the user avatar m1 associated with the owner ID in a terminal image including the user avatar m1 associated with the owner ID. This allows a state in which the user avatar m1 is holding (owning) a ticket to be realized in virtual reality. Note that when multiple ticket IDs are associated with the same owner ID, the user avatar m1 associated with that owner ID may be drawn in an appearance of holding multiple tickets.

Based on the transfer input from the general user (an example of the second input), the second transfer authority processing unit 164 reassociates the ticket, to which the first transfer authority processing unit 162 has associated a user ID related to a specific general user, with a user ID related to a general user different from the general user. That is, the second transfer authority processing unit 164 changes the owner ID (see FIG. 8) associated with the ticket from the user ID related to the purchaser ID to the user ID related to the other general user to whom the ticket is to be transferred. In this way, based on the transfer input, the second transfer authority processing unit 164 reassociates the ticket, which has been associated with a specific general user (purchaser ID) by the first transfer authority processing unit 162, with a general user different from the general user (general user to whom the ticket is to be transferred). As a result, based on the transfer input, the ticket changes from a state associated with the user avatar m1 (an example of the first transfer medium) related to the general user of the transfer side to a state associated with the user avatar m1 (an example of the second transfer medium) related to the general user of the transferee side.

Specifically, the second transfer authority processing unit 164 includes a transfer input acquisition unit 1640, an authentication notification notification unit 1641, a first authentication information drawing unit 1642, a first authentication information receiving unit 1643, and a ticket information rewriting unit 1644.

The transfer input acquisition unit 1640 acquires a transfer input from the transferor general user described above from the terminal device 20 via the network 3. The transfer input includes the ticket ID related to the ticket to be transferred. Note that a general user who can make a transfer input is a general user who owns the ticket, and has a user ID related to the owner ID in the ticket information (see FIG. 8).

The transfer input can be input by a general user associated with the transferor user avatar m1 when the transferor user avatar m1 is located near the entrance of the specified position. The vicinity of the entrance of the specified position is as described above in relation to the purchase input. For example, in the example shown in Figures 2A to 2C, position SP1 corresponds to the vicinity of the entrance. Note that the vicinity of the entrance of the specified position where the transfer input can be input and the vicinity of the entrance of the specified position where the purchase input can be input are the same, but may be different.

Alternatively, the transfer input may be made available to general users along with the purchase input. This is because, for example, when a parent and child purchase tickets, it is relatively common for the parent to purchase the ticket with the intention of transferring it to the child.

In response to the transfer input, the authentication notification notification unit 1641 notifies the transferring general user to notify the receiving general user of the authentication information for tearing. This notification may be realized at the time of purchase input or at another timing. Furthermore, if this point is notified in advance to each general user when using the virtual reality generating system 1, the authentication notification notification unit 1641 may be omitted. Upon receiving such notification, the transferring general user will notify the transferring general user of the authentication information for tearing by chat, email, SMS (short message service), etc. Furthermore, if the transferring general user and the receiving general user have a relationship in which the same authentication information for tearing is used many times, such as a parent-child relationship, the notification of the authentication information for tearing itself may not be necessary. Furthermore, if the transferring general user and the receiving general user are close to each other in reality, the notification of the authentication information for tearing may be realized directly in person.

In response to the transfer input, the first authentication information drawing unit 1642 draws the first authentication information corresponding to the transfer authentication information. Specifically, the first authentication information drawing unit 1642 extracts the transfer authentication information (see FIG. 8) associated with the ticket ID of the ticket to be transferred based on the ticket ID. The first authentication information drawing unit 1642 then draws the first authentication information corresponding to the extracted transfer authentication information. The method of drawing the first authentication information is arbitrary as long as there is a one-to-one correspondence between the transfer authentication information and the drawn first authentication information, but preferably the first authentication information is drawn in a form that allows image recognition.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the first authentication information drawing unit 1642 draws the first authentication information in the form of code information such as a two-dimensional code at a position associated with the transferor's user avatar m1. For example, the first authentication information drawing unit 1642 draws the first authentication information in a terminal image including the transferor's user avatar m1 in a manner superimposed on a part of the user avatar m1. Alternatively, the first authentication information drawing unit 1642 may draw the first authentication information in association with a possession (e.g., a ticket) drawn in association with the transferor's user avatar m1. The first authentication information drawn in this manner may be image-recognized by the terminal device 20 related to another general user. For example, when the first authentication information is included in a terminal image provided to a certain terminal device 20, the first authentication information may be image-recognized in the certain terminal device 20. This image recognition process will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 5.

The code information related to the first authentication information may be a two-dimensional image code including the following information:
...(1) URL of authentication server
... (2) User ID of the transferor
... (3) Ticket ID
...(4) Current time...(5) Current virtual space URL
...(6) Current coordinates...(7) PIN (Personal Identification Number)
... (8) User ID of the recipient
In this case, (7) the PIN may be used as authentication information for tearing the ticket. In this case, the transferor user can access the URL of the authentication server and enter the PIN code to complete the second authentication decision (described later) in advance.

As described above, the function of the first authentication information drawing unit 1642 may be realized on the terminal device 20 side. In this case, for example, the terminal device 20 may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and the GPU may generate an image code related to the first authentication information.

In addition, the code information related to the first authentication information does not need to be visible to the user. Therefore, for example, the code information related to the first authentication information may include a code that changes at ultra-high speed using time information, a code with high resolution, a code whose color is difficult to see, a code that blends in with the pattern of the clothes worn by the user avatar m1, etc.

The first authentication information receiving unit 1643 receives the image recognition result of the first authentication information from the terminal device 20 via the network 3. The image recognition result of the first authentication information may include a user ID and the like associated with the terminal device 20 that sent the result.

When the first authentication information receiving unit 1643 receives the image recognition result, the ticket information rewriting unit 1644 rewrites the owner ID of the ticket information based on the image recognition result. Specifically, when the first authentication information receiving unit 1643 receives the image recognition result from the terminal device 20 associated with a certain general user, the ticket information rewriting unit 1644 identifies the transfer authentication information corresponding to the first authentication information based on the first authentication information of the image recognition result. Then, the ticket information rewriting unit 1644 associates the user ID included in the image recognition result as the owner ID associated with the ticket ID related to the identified transfer authentication information. At this time, the user ID related to the user who performed the transfer input is released from the state of being associated with the owner ID, and the fact of the transfer may be added as transfer information of the ticket information (see FIG. 8).

When the ticket information rewriting unit 1644 changes the owner ID associated with a ticket ID based on the image recognition result in this way, it may instruct the ticket drawing unit 1624 to reflect the change. In this case, the ticket drawing unit 1624 draws the ticket in association with the user avatar m1 associated with the new owner ID. For example, a general user can recognize that he or she is in possession of a ticket by checking that the ticket is drawn in association with his or her user avatar m1 in the user's terminal image displayed on his or her terminal device 20.

The judgment processing unit 166 determines whether the user avatar m1 can move to a specified position based on the ticket information and the authentication information for tearing the ticket.

Specifically, the judgment processing unit 166 includes a ticket possession judgment unit 1661, a second authentication information receiving unit 1662, a second authentication judgment unit 1663, and a movement permission judgment unit 1664.

When determining whether a certain user avatar m1 can move to a predetermined location, the ticket possession determination unit 1661 first determines whether the certain user avatar m1 has a ticket that allows the user avatar m1 to move to the predetermined location. Hereinafter, this type of determination process is also referred to as "ticket possession determination."

Ticket possession determination can be realized based on the ticket information shown in FIG. 8. In this case, it can be determined that a general user (or his/her user avatar m1) whose user ID is the owner ID possesses a ticket with a ticket ID associated with the owner ID. In addition, if a valid flag "1" is associated with the ticket ID of the ticket, it can be determined that the ticket can be moved to a specified location.

The ticket possession determination is preferably performed for the user avatar m1 located in an entrance area related to a predetermined position based on the position information of the user avatar m1 (see FIG. 6). The entrance area related to the predetermined position may be, for example, position SP2 or its vicinity in the examples shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. The entrance area related to the predetermined position is an area in which the user avatar m1 who wishes to move to a predetermined position is located, and the location of the user avatar m1 in the entrance area may be an expression of the general user's intention that the user avatar m1 wishes to move to the predetermined position. Alternatively, in addition to the location of the user avatar m1 in the entrance area, the presentation operation of the ticket, etc. may be treated as an expression of the general user's intention that the user avatar m1 wishes to move to the predetermined position.

In this embodiment, the ticket possession determination unit 1661 may determine whether or not a ticket (a ticket relating to a predetermined position) is associated with a user avatar m1 based on input from a staff user associated with a staff avatar m2 placed in an entrance area relating to a predetermined position. For example, a staff user associated with a staff avatar m2 placed in an entrance area relating to a predetermined position may perform part of the ticket possession determination and transmit the determination result to the server device 10 via the network 3. In this case, it can be determined whether or not a ticket is associated with a user avatar m1 based on input from the staff user.

The second authentication information receiving unit 1662 requests the user avatar m1 located in the entrance area related to the predetermined position to present (input) the authentication information for tearing (one example of the second authentication information). The request for the presentation of the authentication information for tearing may be accompanied by a request for the user avatar m1 to present a ticket, or may be executed only for the user avatar m1 who presented the ticket. For example, when the second authentication information receiving unit 1662 detects the user avatar m1 in the entrance area related to the predetermined position based on the position information of the user avatar m1 (see FIG. 6), it requests the terminal device 20 related to the general user of the user avatar m1 to transmit the authentication information for tearing. In this case, the terminal image for the general user related to the user avatar m1 may be accompanied by an animation in which the staff avatar m2 requests the authentication information for tearing. In response to such a request, the general user inputs the authentication information for tearing and transmits it to the server device 10. In this way, the second authentication information receiving unit 1662 receives (acquires) authentication information for ticket tearing from the user avatar m1 located in the entrance area related to the specified position.

In this embodiment, the second authentication information receiving unit 1662 may receive (acquire) authentication information for tearing from a user avatar m1 located in an entrance area related to a predetermined position, based on an input from a staff user related to a staff avatar m2 placed in the entrance area related to a predetermined position. In this case, the authentication information for tearing input by a general user may be drawn in the terminal image for the staff user in association with the user avatar m1 related to the general user who input the information. The staff user may transmit the drawn authentication information for tearing to the server device 10 together with information identifying the corresponding user avatar m1.

The second authentication assessment unit 1663 judges whether or not the authentication based on the ticket-tear authentication information has been successful. This type of assessment process is also referred to as a "second authentication assessment." In this manner, in this embodiment, when the assessment processing unit 166 determines whether or not a certain user avatar m1 can move to a predetermined position, it performs a second authentication assessment in addition to a ticket possession assessment.

The second authentication determination is realized based on the ticket tearing authentication information in the ticket information shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, the second authentication determination can be realized by determining whether the ticket tearing authentication information input by the receiving general user matches the ticket tearing authentication information related to the ticket owned by the general user's user avatar m1. In this case, if these pieces of ticket tearing authentication information match, authentication based on the ticket tearing authentication information is successful.

Here, as described above, the authentication information for tearing the ticket is notified in advance by the general user on the transferring side to the general user on the receiving side. The general user on the transferring side can set authentication information for tearing that is known only to the general user on the receiving side, or can notify the authentication information for tearing that is known only to the general user on the receiving side, so there is virtually no possibility that the authentication information for tearing will be known to other general users unintentionally. Therefore, by using such authentication information for tearing the ticket, the security of the second authentication judgment can be increased.

In this embodiment, the second authentication judgment unit 1663 may determine whether or not authentication based on the authentication information for ticket tearing has been successful based on input from a staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 placed in the entrance area associated with the predetermined position. In this case, for example, the staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 placed in the entrance area associated with the predetermined position may perform part of the second authentication judgment and transmit the judgment result to the server device 10 via the network 3. At this time, the staff user may obtain from the server device 10 the authentication information for ticket tearing that is associated with the ticket held by the user avatar m1 to be authenticated. In this case, the second authentication judgment unit 1663 can determine whether or not authentication based on the authentication information for ticket tearing has been successful based on input from the staff user.

When the ticket possession determination unit 1661 determines that a certain user avatar m1 possesses a ticket that allows the user to move to a predetermined position and the second authentication determination unit 1663 determines that authentication based on the authentication information for tearing has been successful, the movement permission determination unit 1664 permits the user avatar m1 to move to a predetermined position. On the other hand, when the ticket possession determination unit 1661 determines that a certain user avatar m1 does not possess a ticket that allows the user to move to a predetermined position or the second authentication determination unit 1663 determines that authentication based on the authentication information for tearing has not been successful, the movement permission determination unit 1664 prohibits the user avatar m1 from moving to a predetermined position.

The movement permission determination unit 1664 executes a tearing process to tear off the ticket associated with the user avatar m1 that has been permitted to move to a predetermined position. The tearing process may be accompanied by an animation in which a staff avatar m2 tears off a part of the ticket in a terminal image for general users associated with the user avatar m1 whose ticket is torn off.

In this embodiment, the movement feasibility determination unit 1664 may execute the picking process based on input (picking input, described later) from a staff user related to the staff avatar m2 placed in the entrance area related to the specified position.

When the movement possibility determination unit 1664 executes the tearing process, it updates the tearing information (see FIG. 8) associated with the ticket ID of the corresponding ticket, and sets the validity flag (see FIG. 8) associated with the ticket ID to "0". As described above, the validity flag may be set to "0" at different times depending on the attributes of the ticket. Furthermore, when the movement possibility determination unit 1664 executes the tearing process based on an input (a tearing input, described later) from a staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 placed in the entrance area associated with the specified position, it stores the corresponding staff ID (i.e., the staff ID associated with the staff user who performed the tearing input, described later) in the ticket-taker ID (see FIG. 8) associated with the ticket ID of the corresponding ticket.

The spatial information generation unit 168 generates the spatial state information described above (information representing the state of the spatial portion related to a specified position) and updates the data in the spatial state storage unit 146.

The parameter update unit 170 updates the staff points (see FIG. 6). For example, for a staff user who tears tickets, the parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points according to the number of times the ticket has been torn based on the ticket-tearer ID shown in FIG. 8. For a staff user who sells tickets, the parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points according to the number of tickets sold based on the seller ID. The parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points according to the operating status of each staff user based on the spatial state information shown in FIG. 9. For example, the parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points in a manner that gives more staff points the longer the operating time. The parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points based on the number of times the staff user has provided support to general users through chat or the like (amount of speech, number of speeches, number of attendant visits, number of complaints handled, etc.). Furthermore, when sales of goods and services are realized in virtual reality, the parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points based on the status of sales of goods and services by staff users (e.g., sales). Alternatively, the parameter update unit 170 may update the staff points based on satisfaction information for staff users that may be input by general users. Note that staff point updates may be performed as appropriate, or may be performed collectively based on log information periodically, for example.

The goods and services sold by staff users may be goods and services available in reality, or goods and services available in virtual reality. The goods and services sold by staff users may be related to content provided at a specified location, and may include, for example, items that can enhance the experience related to the content. For example, if the content is related to the above-mentioned travel, the items may be a telescope that can see far away, or food that can be given to animals. Also, if the content is related to sports or concerts, the items may be the right to take commemorative photos or have a conversation with athletes or artists.

In addition, staff points for staff users who create, maintain, manage, etc., specific content provided at a specified location may be updated in a manner that increases according to the number of general users who have received the specific content.

Figure 5 shows both function 500 realized by the terminal device 20 related to a general user and function 502 realized by the terminal device 20 related to a staff user. Of the various functions realized by the virtual reality application downloaded to the terminal device 20, Figure 5 shows only the functions related to the ticket transfer function. Note that the virtual reality application may be implemented separately as a user application that realizes function 500 and a staff application that realizes function 502, or functions 500 and 502 may be switchable within a single application by a user operation.

The terminal device 20 for a general user includes an authentication image identification unit 250, a first authentication information extraction unit 251, a first authentication information transmission unit 252, an input request unit 253, and a second authentication information transmission unit 254.

The authentication image identification unit 250 performs image processing on the terminal image transmitted from the server device 10 as described above, and identifies the image portion of the first authentication information (for example, the form of code information such as a two-dimensional code).

The authentication image identification unit 250 may perform image processing to identify the image portion of the first authentication information for each frame of the terminal image, or may perform image processing to identify the image portion of the first authentication information only for a certain period of time in response to input from a general user.

The first authentication information extraction unit 251 extracts the first authentication information by performing image recognition processing on the image portion of the first authentication information.

The first authentication information transmission unit 252 transmits the image recognition result including the first authentication information extracted by the first authentication information extraction unit 251 to the server device 10 via the network 3.

The input request unit 253 requests input of ticket tearing authentication information related to the presented ticket in response to a request from the second authentication information receiving unit 1662 of the server device 10 described above, or a request from the terminal device 20 (second authentication information request unit 263) related to a staff user described below. For example, the input request unit 253 may output a screen for inputting ticket tearing authentication information to the display unit 23.

The second authentication information transmission unit 254 transmits the ticket tearing authentication information input by the general user in response to a request from the input request unit 253 to the server device 10 via the network 3.

In this way, the general user can automatically associate the ticket with his/her own user avatar m1 by the terminal device 20 performing image recognition of the first authentication information in the terminal image. In other words, the general user can automatically associate the ticket with his/her own user avatar m1 by acquiring a terminal image including the first authentication information drawn in association with the transferring user avatar m1. Then, the receiving general user can move his/her own user avatar m1 to a predetermined position by presenting valid ticket-tear authentication information.

Here, the general user on the receiving side can obtain a terminal image including the first authentication information drawn in association with the user avatar m1 of the transferring side simply by facing his/her own user avatar m1 towards the user avatar m1 of the transferring side. Such obtaining can be easily achieved (e.g., through natural movements) because the user avatar m1 of the receiving side and the user avatar m1 of the transferring side are active in close proximity to each other. This reduces the cumbersome work (input) involved in transferring tickets and increases convenience.

The terminal device 20 related to the staff user includes a judgment result acquisition unit 260, a judgment result transmission unit 262, a second authentication information request unit 263, and a ticket tearing unit 264. Note that the judgment result acquisition unit 260, the second authentication information request unit 263, and the ticket tearing unit 264 may be realized by the server device 10 when the staff user is not present, etc.

The determination result acquisition unit 260 acquires various determination results that may be input by a staff user. For example, a staff user associated with a user avatar m1 located near the entrance of a predetermined position determines whether or not each user avatar m1 that reaches the entrance has a ticket associated with the predetermined position. For example, the staff user may determine whether or not the staff user has a ticket based on the state of the user avatar m1 in the terminal image displayed on the display unit 23 of the terminal device 20. As described above, the terminal image generation unit 158 of the server device 10 may draw the user avatar m1 associated with the owner ID and the user avatar m1 that is not associated in different forms in the terminal image for the staff user based on the ticket information (see FIG. 8). In this case, the staff user may distinguish between the user avatar m1 associated with the owner ID and the user avatar m1 that is not associated, and input the determination result via the input unit 24.

The judgment result transmission unit 262 transmits the various judgment results obtained by the judgment result acquisition unit 260 to the server device 10 via the network 3.

In response to a request input from a staff user, the second authentication information request unit 263 requests the user avatar m1 included in the terminal screen for the staff user to input authentication information for ticket tearing. The request input from the staff user may include information that can identify the user avatar m1 that is the target of the request. For example, if the terminal screen for the staff user includes multiple user avatars m1, the request input from the staff user may include information that can identify one or more user avatars m1 that are the target of the request among the multiple user avatars m1. The request to input authentication information for ticket tearing from the general user may be accompanied by a request to present a ticket. Such communication between the terminal device 20 related to the staff user and the terminal device 20 related to the general user may be realized via the server device 10 (for example, the above-mentioned second authentication information receiving unit 1662) or may be realized without the server device 10. In the latter case, the staff user may transfer the acquired authentication information for tearing to the server device 10, or may realize the function of the second authentication assessment unit 1663 and then transmit the assessment result to the server device 10.

The ticket-picking execution unit 264 acquires the ticket-picking input entered by the staff user and transmits the acquired ticket-picking input to the server device 10. The ticket-picking input may include information that can identify the ticket to be picked (or the user avatar m1 that holds the ticket).

Next, with reference to FIG. 10 onwards, an example of operation related to the above-mentioned ticket transfer function will be described. Note that the following example of operation is a relatively specific example of operation, but as mentioned above, the operation related to the above-mentioned ticket transfer function can be realized in a variety of ways.

Figure 10 is a timing chart showing an example of operation related to the ticket transfer function described above. In Figure 10, for the purpose of distinction, the terminal device 20 related to a certain general user is given the symbol "20-A", the terminal device 20 related to another general user is given the symbol "20-B", and the terminal device 20 related to a staff user is given the symbol "20-C". Here, the transfer of a ticket from one general user to another general user is described, but the same can be applied to the transfer of tickets from one general user to multiple other general users. In the following, for the sake of explanation, the general user related to the terminal device 20-A is given the user name "ami", the general user related to the terminal device 20-B is given the user name "fuj", and the two are parent and child (for example, the user name "ami" is the father and the user name "fuj" is the daughter). In addition, in the following, the general user related to the user name "ami" is referred to as the father user, and the general user related to the user name "fuj" is referred to as the daughter user.

Figures 11 to 16 are explanatory diagrams of the operation example shown in Figure 10, and show examples of terminal screens in each scene.

Here, we explain the operation in which a father user and a daughter user decide to receive specific content together in virtual reality, and move their respective user avatars m1 to predetermined positions where they can receive the specific content. The input of each user, which will be explained below, is realized via the input unit 24 of their own terminal device 20.

First, in step S10, the father user launches a virtual reality application on terminal device 20-A, and in step S11, the daughter user launches a virtual reality application on terminal device 20-B. Note that the virtual reality application may be launched at different times on each of terminal devices 20-A and 20-B, and the launch timing is arbitrary.

Next, in step S12, the father user moves his user avatar m1 in the virtual space until it reaches the vicinity of the entrance of the specified location. Similarly, in step S13, the daughter user moves her user avatar m1 in the virtual space until it reaches the vicinity of the entrance of the specified location. FIG. 11 shows a terminal image G110 for the daughter user when the daughter user's user avatar m1 is located near the entrance of the specified location. Note that in the state shown in FIG. 11, the father user's user avatar m1 is behind the daughter user's user avatar m1. As shown in FIG. 11, the daughter user's terminal image G110 shows that a staff avatar m2 associated with the staff name "cha" is arranged in association with the ticket purchase area, and a staff avatar m2 associated with the staff name "suk" is arranged in association with the entrance area.

Next, in step S14, the father user moves his user avatar m1 into the ticket purchase area (position SP1) in the virtual space and purchases tickets for himself and the daughter user. That is, with his user avatar m1 positioned within the ticket purchase area, the father user inputs or activates a purchase input to purchase tickets for himself and the daughter user.

In this case, in step S15, the server device 10 issues two new ticket IDs based on the purchase input from the father user, and updates the data in the ticket information storage unit 144 (see FIG. 8).

Next, in step S16, the father user performs a transfer input for one of the two purchased tickets.

In this case, in step S17, the server device 10 extracts the transfer authentication information (see FIG. 8) associated with the ticket ID of the ticket to be transferred based on the transfer input from the father user. The first authentication information drawing unit 1642 then draws the first authentication information corresponding to the extracted transfer authentication information in association with the user avatar m1 of the father user. FIG. 12 shows a terminal image G120 for the daughter user when the transfer input is made. Note that FIG. 12 shows the chat text "Please take the ticket" based on the input from the father user. Note that this type of chat may be generated automatically based on the transfer input.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, an image portion G121 in which the first authentication information is drawn is associated with the father user's user avatar m1 (user name "ami"). When the father user turns his user avatar m1 toward the daughter user's user avatar m1, and the daughter user turns her user avatar m1 toward the father user's user avatar m1, a terminal image G120 as shown in FIG. 12 is generated. In this case, in step S18, the daughter user's terminal device 20-B performs image recognition of the first authentication information from the image portion G121 and transmits the recognition result of the first authentication information to the server device 10. When the daughter user's terminal device 20-B has image-recognized the first authentication information from the image portion G121, it may notify the daughter user of this fact. Similarly, when the server device 10 receives the recognition result of the first authentication information from the daughter user's terminal device 20-B, the server device 10 may transmit information indicating that the daughter user's user avatar m1 is associated with the ticket ID of the ticket to be transferred to the father user's terminal device 20-A.

Next, in step S19, the father user moves his own user avatar m1 into the entrance area in the virtual space, and in step S20, the daughter user moves her own user avatar m1 into the entrance area in the virtual space. FIG. 13 shows a terminal image G130 for a staff user when the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 (user name "fuj") are located in the entrance area. The terminal image G130 is displayed on the terminal device 20-C of the staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 (staff name "suk") located in the entrance area. Note that FIG. 13 shows the chat text "Just me and my child please" based on the father user's input.

In this case, in step S21, the server device 10 performs the above-mentioned ticket possession determination for the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1. In this case, the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 possess tickets that can be moved to a predetermined position. Therefore, in FIG. 13, the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 are depicted with image portions G131 and G132 indicating that they possess tickets that can be moved to a predetermined position. Such image portions G131 and G132 are depicted only in the terminal image for the staff user. This allows the staff user to easily understand that the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 possess tickets that can be moved to a predetermined position.

Next, in step S22, the staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 (staff name "suk") confirms, for example, based on the image portions G131 and G132, that the user avatar m1 of the father user and the user avatar m1 of the daughter user have tickets that can move to a predetermined position, and then requests the user avatar m1 of the father user and the user avatar m1 of the daughter user to input the second authentication information. FIG. 14 shows a terminal image G140 for the daughter user when input of the second authentication information is requested. Note that the terminal image for the father user when input of the second authentication information is requested may be the same as the terminal image G140 for the daughter user. As shown in FIG. 14, the terminal image G140 may include the image portion G141 of the numeric keypad and chat text "Please enter the four-digit code!" based on the input of the staff user associated with the staff avatar m2 (staff name "suk"). Also, instead of the numeric keypad image portion G141, the URL of the authentication server may be displayed.

Note that it is not necessarily required to present the ticket to the staff avatar m2. Even if it is not presented, the staff user can determine the validity of each ticket by displaying information about the validity of the tickets linked to the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 on the staff terminal screen.

Next, in step S23, the father user inputs the second authentication information associated with his ticket, and in step S24, the daughter user inputs the second authentication information that has been communicated to her by the father user.

In this case, in step S25, the server device 10 performs the above-mentioned second authentication judgment on the tickets associated with the user avatars m1 of the father user and the daughter user based on the input of the second authentication information from each of the father user and the daughter user. In this case, the user avatar m1 of the father user and the user avatar m1 of the daughter user can input valid second authentication information, so the result of the above-mentioned second authentication judgment is successful authentication. FIG. 15 shows a terminal image G150 for a staff user related to the staff avatar m2 (staff name "suk") after the second authentication judgment. In FIG. 15, image portions G151 and G152 are drawn on the user avatar m1 of the father user and the user avatar m1 of the daughter user, which indicate that the user has a ticket that can be moved to a predetermined position and that the result of the second authentication judgment is successful authentication. Such image portions G151 and G152 are drawn only on the terminal image for the staff user. This allows the staff user to easily understand that the results of the second authentication judgment for the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 are successful authentication. Note that image portions G151 and G152 may be drawn on the terminal image for the staff user even after they are moved to the specified position. This allows the staff user located at the specified position to easily distinguish between user avatar m1 that has entered the room based on a valid ticket and user avatar m1 that has not.

Then, in step S26, the staff user associated with staff avatar m2 (staff name "suk") confirms, for example, based on image portions G151 and G152, that the father user's user avatar m1 and the daughter user's user avatar m1 each have tickets that can be moved to a predetermined location and that the result of the second authentication judgment is successful, and then performs the tearing input.

In this case, in step S27, the server device 10 executes the above-mentioned tearing process for the tickets held by the user avatar m1 of the father user and the user avatar m1 of the daughter user, based on the tearing input by the staff user. FIG. 16 shows a terminal image G160 for the daughter user during the above-mentioned tearing process. Note that the terminal image for the father user during the tearing process may be the same as the terminal image G160 for the daughter user. As shown in FIG. 16, the terminal image G160 may include an animation in which a part of the ticket is torn off by the hand of the staff avatar m2 (staff name "suk"). When the tearing process is executed, the image portions G151 and G152 in the terminal image for the staff user may be erased or replaced with another image portion (for example, an image portion indicating that the ticket has been torn).

Next, in step S28, the father user, after confirming that the ticket has been torn, moves his user avatar m1 to a predetermined position in the virtual space, and in step S29, the daughter user, after confirming that the ticket has been torn, moves her user avatar m1 to a predetermined position in the virtual space. The movement to the predetermined position may be realized by accessing a specific URL displayed on the terminal image or the like. Alternatively, the movement to the predetermined position may be realized by automatically accessing a specific URL following (linking) the above-mentioned ticket-towing process. This allows the father user and the daughter user to receive and enjoy specific content together at a predetermined position in the virtual space. Depending on the attributes of the specific content, other general users may also be able to receive specific content at the same time at a predetermined position in the virtual space. In this case, the father user and the daughter user can enjoy the specific content while interacting with other general users.

In this way, according to this embodiment, when multiple users wish to receive specific content at a specified location, a mechanism can be established in a simple and safe manner whereby some users can purchase and transfer tickets that enable them to travel to the specified location to other users.

In particular, according to this embodiment, when transferring, neither the transferring general user nor the receiving general user is required to perform special operations such as user login, improving convenience.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned first authentication information can be image-recognized by the terminal device 20 as described above, and therefore may also be image-recognized by the terminal device 20 associated with a general user other than the general user intended by the transferring general user. However, such unintended general users cannot know the second authentication information and therefore cannot break through the second authentication judgment. In other words, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the ticket will be used by the user avatar m1 of an unintended general user in the vicinity of the user avatar m1 associated with the transferring general user. In this way, according to this embodiment, it is possible to ensure the security of the transfer while realizing a simple transfer.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the entire process from purchasing a ticket to transferring it and moving it to a designated location can be realized within the same virtual space, allowing general users to experience virtual reality in a manner that is closer to reality. Furthermore, through the ticket-picking process and the like as described above, general users can experience virtual reality in a manner that is closer to reality.

In addition, according to this embodiment, tickets can be shared or transferred without the virtual reality generation system 1 acquiring personal information between users who are linked by real relationships such as family and friends. In addition, two-step authentication (authentication using first authentication information and authentication using second authentication information) can be realized in the virtual space. In addition, if authentication fails (unlike traditional passwords or encryption keys), there is an advantage that it is easy for users to understand each other and multiple flexible solutions can be easily found, including human response by staff or other personnel.

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and includes designs that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the staff avatar m2 is operated by a staff user (human), but may also be operated based on a program such as a Bot program.

However, in the conventional technology described above (for example, Patent Document 1 described above), it is difficult to realize a mechanism for transferring information on movement authority to a specific content providing location, such as a ticket, to another user in a simple and safe configuration. Therefore, in one aspect, it is also possible to aim to realize a mechanism for transferring information on movement authority to another user in a relatively simple and relatively safe manner. In this regard, the following supplementary note (corresponding to the scope of the claims as originally filed in the original application) is further disclosed with respect to the above disclosure.

[Appendix 1]
a space rendering processing unit that renders a virtual space;
a medium rendering processing unit that renders each moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with each user;
a first transfer authority processing unit that associates predetermined transfer authority information with a first transfer medium associated with a first user based on a first input from the first user;
a second transfer authority processing unit that, based on a second input from the first user, reassociates the predetermined transfer authority information associated with the first transfer medium by the first transfer authority processing unit with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user;
and a judgment processing unit that judges whether or not a certain moving medium can be moved to a specified position within the virtual space based on whether or not the certain moving authority information is associated with the certain moving medium.

[Appendix 2]
The second movement authority processing unit includes an authentication information drawing unit,
The information processing system described in Appendix 1, wherein the authentication information drawing unit generates first authentication information that can be image-recognized based on a second input from the first user, and draws the generated first authentication information in the virtual space in correspondence with the first moving medium.

[Appendix 3]
the medium drawing processing unit generates an image of a portion of the virtual space within a field of view corresponding to each of the moving media based on a position of each of the moving media in the virtual space, and transmits the generated image to a user terminal corresponding to each of the moving media;
The information processing system described in Appendix 2, wherein when the second transfer authority processing unit receives information from a user terminal displaying the image indicating that the first authentication information has been recognized by image processing of the image, the second transfer authority processing unit reassociates the specified transfer authority information with a transfer medium associated with the user terminal.

[Appendix 4]
The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the authentication information drawing unit draws the first authentication information at a position associated with the first moving medium.

[Appendix 5]
An information processing system described in any one of Appendices 2 to 4, wherein the judgment processing unit permits the movement of the one moving medium to the specified location when the specified movement authority information is associated with a one moving medium and authentication based on second authentication information different from the first authentication information is established.

[Appendix 6]
6. The information processing system of claim 5, wherein the second authentication information is included in an input from the second user.

[Appendix 7]
The medium drawing processing unit further draws a predetermined medium placed at an entrance to the predetermined position,
An information processing system described in any one of Appendices 1 to 6, wherein the judgment processing unit determines whether or not the specified transfer authority information is associated with the one transfer medium based on input from a third user associated with the specified medium.

[Appendix 8]
The information processing system described in Appendix 7, wherein the judgment processing unit determines that the specified transfer authority information is associated with the one transfer medium when it receives information from the third user indicating that the third user has determined that the specified transfer authority information is associated with the one transfer medium.

[Appendix 9]
The information processing system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the medium drawing processing unit draws the one moving medium in a different manner depending on whether or not the specified movement authority information is associated with the one moving medium.

[Appendix 10]
The information processing system according to any one of appendices 7 to 9, further comprising a dialogue processing unit that enables dialogue between the third user and the user associated with the one mobile medium via a communication network based on input from the third user and input from the user associated with the one mobile medium.

[Appendix 11]
The information processing system according to any one of appendices 7 to 10, further comprising a parameter update unit that updates the value of a parameter associated with the third user based on the service or product provided to the one transportation medium based on the input from the third user and the service or product in the virtual space.

[Appendix 12]
A user associated with the transportation medium located at the predetermined location can receive a predetermined service or a predetermined product;
12. The information processing system of any one of appendices 1 to 11, wherein the first input involves the consumption of money or a medium having monetary value.

[Appendix 13]
The first input is made inputtable or enabled when the first moving medium is located near an entrance related to the predetermined position;
An information processing system described in any one of appendices 1 to 12, wherein the second input is made inputtable or enabled when the first moving medium is located near an entrance related to the specified position.

[Appendix 14]
The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the specified transfer authority information is invalidated when the transfer of the one transfer medium to the specified location is realized.

[Appendix 15]
Draw a virtual space,
Drawing a moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with a user;
based on a first input from a first user, associating predetermined transfer authority information with a first transfer medium associated with the first user;
based on a second input from the first user, reassociating the predetermined transfer authority information associated with the first transfer medium with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user;
An information processing method executed by a computer, comprising determining whether or not a certain moving medium can be moved to a specified position within the virtual space based on whether or not the certain moving authority information is associated with the certain moving medium.

[Appendix 16]
Draw a virtual space,
Drawing a moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with a user;
based on a first input from a first user, associating predetermined transfer authority information with a first transfer medium associated with the first user;
based on a second input from the first user, reassociating the predetermined transfer authority information associated with the first transfer medium with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user;
An information processing program that causes a computer to execute a process of determining whether or not a certain moving medium can be moved to a specified position within the virtual space based on whether or not the certain moving authority information is associated with the certain moving medium.

1 Virtual reality generation system 10 Server device 11 Server communication unit 12 Server storage unit 13 Server control unit 20 Terminal device 140 User database 142 Avatar database 144 Ticket information storage unit 146 Space state storage unit 150 Space drawing processing unit 152 User avatar processing unit 1521 Operation input acquisition unit 1522 User movement processing unit 154 Staff avatar processing unit 1541 Operation input acquisition unit 1542 Staff movement processing unit 156 Position / orientation information identification unit 158 Terminal image generation unit 159 Content processing unit 160 Dialogue processing unit 162 First movement authority processing unit 1621 Purchase input acquisition unit 1622 Ticket ID generation unit 1623 Authentication information notification unit 1624 Ticket drawing unit 164 Second movement authority processing unit 1640 Transfer input acquisition unit 1641 Authentication notification guidance unit 1642 First authentication information drawing unit 1643 First authentication information receiving unit 1644 Ticket information rewriting unit 166 Determination processing unit 1661 Ticket possession determination unit 1662 Second authentication information receiving unit 1663 Second authentication determination unit 1664 Movement permission determination unit 168 Space information generation unit 170 Parameter update unit 250 Authentication image identification unit 251 First authentication information extraction unit 252 First authentication information transmission unit 253 Input request unit 254 Second authentication information transmission unit 260 Determination result acquisition unit 262 Determination result transmission unit 263 Second authentication information request unit 264 Ticket tearing unit

Claims (15)

a space rendering processing unit that renders a virtual space;
a medium rendering processing unit that renders each moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with each user;
a transfer authority processing unit that associates predetermined transfer authority information with a first transfer medium;
a determination processing unit that determines whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined moving authority information is associated with the one moving medium,
The transfer authority processing unit includes a first transfer authority processing unit that associates the predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium based on a first input from a first user, and a second transfer authority processing unit that generates first authentication information based on a second input from the first user and reassociates the predetermined transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user ,
The medium drawing processing unit draws the one moving medium in a different manner depending on whether the predetermined movement authority information is associated with the one moving medium . The first input is made inputtable or enabled when the first moving medium is located near an entrance related to the predetermined position;
The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the second input is made inputtable or enabled when the first moving medium is located near an entrance related to the predetermined position. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first input involves the consumption of money or a medium having monetary value. An information processing system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the judgment processing unit permits the movement of the one moving medium to the specified location when the specified movement authority information is associated with a one moving medium and authentication based on second authentication information different from the first authentication information is established. The information processing system of claim 4 , wherein the second authentication information is included in an input from the second user. The medium drawing processing unit further draws a predetermined medium placed at an entrance to the predetermined position,
An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the judgment processing unit judges whether or not the specified transfer authority information is associated with the one transfer medium based on input from a third user associated with the specified medium. The information processing system according to claim 6, further comprising an interaction processing unit that enables interaction between the third user and the user associated with the one mobile medium via a communication network based on input from the third user and input from the user associated with the one mobile medium. The information processing system of claim 6 or 7, further comprising a parameter update unit that updates the value of a parameter associated with the third user based on a service or product provided to the one transportation medium based on the input from the third user, the service or product being provided in the virtual space. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the second transfer authority processing unit draws the first authentication information at a position associated with the first transfer medium. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined transfer authority information is invalidated when the one transfer medium is transferred to the predetermined position. a space rendering processing unit that renders a virtual space;
a medium rendering processing unit that renders each moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with each user;
a transfer authority processing unit that associates predetermined transfer authority information with a first transfer medium;
a determination processing unit that determines whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined moving authority information is associated with the one moving medium,
The transfer authority processing unit includes a first transfer authority processing unit that associates the predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium based on a first input from a first user, and a second transfer authority processing unit that generates first authentication information based on a second input from the first user and reassociates the predetermined transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user ,
the medium drawing processing unit generates an image of a portion of the virtual space within a field of view corresponding to each of the moving media based on a position of each of the moving media in the virtual space, and transmits the generated image to a user terminal associated with a user corresponding to each of the moving media;
An information processing system in which, when the second transfer authority processing unit receives information from a user terminal displaying the image indicating that the first authentication information has been recognized by image processing of the image, the second transfer authority processing unit reassociates the specified transfer authority information with a transfer medium associated with a user associated with the user terminal . Draw a virtual space,
Drawing a moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with a user;
Associating predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium;
determining whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined movement authority information is associated with the one moving medium;
based on a first input from a first user, associate the predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium, and based on a second input from the first user, generate first authentication information and reassociate the predetermined transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user ;
An information processing method executed by a computer, which depicts the one moving medium in a different manner depending on whether the predetermined moving authority information is associated with the one moving medium . Draw a virtual space,
Drawing a moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with a user;
Associating predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium;
determining whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined movement authority information is associated with the one moving medium;
based on a first input from a first user, associate the predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium, and based on a second input from the first user, generate first authentication information and reassociate the predetermined transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user ;
An information processing program that causes a computer to execute a process of rendering the one moving medium in a different manner depending on whether the one moving medium is associated with the predetermined moving authority information . Draw a virtual space,
Drawing a moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with a user;
Associating predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium;
determining whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined movement authority information is associated with the one moving medium;
based on a first input from a first user, associate the predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium, and based on a second input from the first user, generate first authentication information and reassociate the predetermined transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user ;
generating an image of a portion of the virtual space within a field of view corresponding to each of the moving media based on a position of each of the moving media in the virtual space, and transmitting the generated image to a user terminal associated with a user corresponding to each of the moving media;
An information processing method executed by a computer, in which, when information indicating that the first authentication information has been recognized by image processing of a user terminal displaying the image is received, the specified transfer authority information is reassociated with a transfer medium associated with a user associated with the user terminal . Draw a virtual space,
Drawing a moving medium that is movable within the virtual space and that is associated with a user;
Associating predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium;
determining whether or not the one moving medium can be moved to a predetermined position in the virtual space based on whether or not the predetermined movement authority information is associated with the one moving medium;
based on a first input from a first user, associate the predetermined transfer authority information with the first transfer medium, and based on a second input from the first user, generate first authentication information and reassociate the predetermined transfer authority information with a second transfer medium associated with a second user different from the first user ;
generating an image of a portion of the virtual space within a field of view corresponding to each of the moving media based on a position of each of the moving media in the virtual space, and transmitting the generated image to a user terminal associated with a user corresponding to each of the moving media;
An information processing program that causes a computer to execute a process in which, when information indicating that the first authentication information has been recognized through image processing of a user terminal displaying the image is received, the specified transfer authority information is reassociated with a transfer medium associated with a user associated with the user terminal .