JP7668147B2 - Game communication system and server system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game communication system that enables online multiplayer games.

Communication systems that realize multiplayer online games generally adopt a client-server model (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2020-162772 A

In the client-server model, the load is concentrated on the server system, causing a bottleneck in communications and causing inconvenience to the progress of the game. For this reason, depending on the content of the game and the expected number of participants, a peer-to-peer (P2P) model may be adopted. In the P2P model, the game progress control (the calculation processing of the game logic) is not performed by the server but by each client. In the P2P model, the server does not appear as the main processing unit, so the clients in the client-server model are called "nodes", etc., and will be referred to as "nodes" hereafter. In the P2P model, nodes send and receive play information such as each player's operation input information between each other, achieving synchronization and arbitration of the game progress at each node.

However, in a P2P model, the larger the overall system becomes, the more likely it is that problems will arise with communication stability and play information consistency at each node compared to a client-server model.

Depending on the game, it may be necessary to set up special nodes within a node that handle specific functions. For example, a node must take on the host function of handling exclusive processing, such as managing the acquisition of specific items on a first-come, first-served basis in an RPG (Role Playing Game). Such special nodes are forced to devote a portion of their own resources. As a result, the amount of calculation required for the player's gameplay may be strained. The amount of resources that can be used for gameplay is directly related to the quality of the gameplay. For this reason, nodes tend to avoid becoming special nodes that are forced to devote resources.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide technology that makes it possible to show gratitude to nodes that perform special functions required for realizing online multiplayer games.

A first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
The user terminal has a communication intermediation function (e.g., the terminal processing unit 200, the terminal control unit 260, and the intermediation function control unit 264 in FIG. 15, steps S174 to S176 in FIG. 21) that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting,
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creating means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1 , the server processing unit 200s, the game management unit 210, the intermediary network creating unit 214 in FIG. 9 , steps S44 and S58 in FIG. 17 , and step S66 in FIG. 18 ) for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediary communication setting transmission control means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the intermediary communication setting transmission control unit 216, the intermediary communication setting data 720 in FIG. 14, step S66, step S80 in FIG. 18) for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the intermediary network to the intermediary terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the intermediation performance evaluation unit 218 in FIG. 10, the contribution evaluation definition data 530 in FIG. 10, and step S222 in FIG. 19) for performing an evaluation based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function for each of the intermediation terminals;
The game communication system includes a reward granting means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the intermediary reward granting unit 222 in FIG. 10, the intermediary reward definition data 540 in FIG. 10, the acquired intermediary performance data 610 in FIG. 13, and step S224 in FIG. 19) that grants a reward to a user of the intermediary terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediary performance evaluation means.

The "play information" referred to here is information necessary for controlling the progress of an online game, and is information that should be notified to other user terminals in order to ensure consistency and synchronous progress of the game between user terminals. For example, this includes information on operational inputs by the user, position information of the player character, posture information of the player character, changes in the player character's ability parameter values (e.g., HP, etc.), and the results of judgments that include random elements such as obtaining an item or shooting down a character. The content is set appropriately depending on the game content.

According to the first invention, the game communication system realizes a multiplayer online game by having user terminals send and receive play information of each user. The game communication system also determines an intermediary terminal from among the user terminals and creates an intermediary network for sending and receiving play information between the intermediary terminals. A higher-level internal network is constructed within the entire communication network between user terminals. By consolidating much of the sending and receiving of play information in the intermediary network, which corresponds to this higher-level internal network, it is possible to efficiently realize communication of play information throughout the entire communication network.

The intermediary terminal is then evaluated based on its performance in the intermediation process (intermediation performance), and the user of the intermediary terminal can receive a reward in accordance with this evaluation. Since a reward can be given to the node (intermediary terminal) that has performed the special function of intermediating the communication of play information, the user can show their gratitude to the node (intermediary terminal).

The second invention is the game communication system of the first invention, in which the intermediation performance evaluation means includes at least the amount of communication data or communication time through the communication intermediation function in the intermediation performance, and performs evaluation based on the intermediation performance.

According to the second invention, the intermediary terminal can be evaluated based on the amount of communication data or the length of communication time by the communication intermediation function.

The third invention is a game communication system according to the first or second invention, in which the intermediation performance evaluation means includes at least the time period of communication via the communication intermediation function in the intermediation performance, and performs evaluation based on the intermediation performance.

The communication time period can be divided into appropriate time periods, for example, 24 hours per day. According to the third invention, the intermediary terminal can be evaluated based on the communication time period.

The fourth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to third inventions, in which the intermediation performance evaluation means relatively evaluates the intermediation performance of each of the intermediation terminals.

According to the fourth invention, a balanced and fair evaluation can be made by relatively comparing the brokerage performance of each brokerage terminal.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the server system includes a specification information acquisition means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the specification information acquisition control unit 224 in FIG. 13, the specification history data 605 in FIG. 17, and step S36 in FIG. 17) for acquiring specification information of each of the intermediary terminals;
The game communication system of any of the first to fourth inventions further includes a spec improvement bonus granting means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the spec improvement bonus granting unit 226 in FIG. 17, step S40 in FIG. 17) that detects the intermediary terminal whose specification information has been improved from before and grants a bonus to the user of the detected intermediary terminal.

"Specification information" refers to information indicating the capabilities of the hardware related to the user terminal's computational processing and communications (e.g., the CPU's operating frequency and memory bandwidth, the amount of IC memory, the communications standard and communications speed supported by the communications module, etc.) and information related to the transmission capabilities of the communications environment to which the user terminal is connected (e.g., the type of communications line, transmission capacity, transmission speed, etc.).

According to the fifth invention, it is possible to reward users who make an effort to improve the specifications of their intermediary terminals, and to provide incentives for users of intermediary terminals to improve their specifications. The higher the specifications of a user terminal, the better the intermediation functions will be. By having a user terminal with high specifications become an intermediary terminal, the benefits that can be enjoyed by the system as a whole will be greater.

The sixth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, in which the server system further comprises a communication record acquisition means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the communication record acquisition control unit 228, the acquired intermediation record data 610 in FIG. 13, step S220 in FIG. 19) for acquiring the communication record of each of the user terminals, and the intermediation network creation means determines the intermediation terminal based on the communication record.

"Communication performance" may include various data related to communication. For example, the identification information of the sender and destination (e.g., IP address), the date and time of communication, the amount of communication data, the communication rate, the success or failure of communication, etc., and includes data that can tell the communication quality and communication speed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether the intermediary terminal was functioning properly at that time based on the communication history of each user terminal. Therefore, it becomes possible to determine an appropriate intermediary terminal based on the communication history.

The seventh invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, in which the server system further comprises a user information acquisition means (e.g., the user information acquisition unit 213 in FIG. 9, the friend list 609 in FIG. 13, and the play history data 616) for acquiring information on the play history of playing the online game as a player and/or information on friend players for each of the users, and the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal based on the information acquired by the user information acquisition means (e.g., the friend requirements 525 and the play history requirements 529 in FIG. 11).

"Play record information" is, for example, play frequency, total number of plays, number of plays by time period, etc. "Friend player information" is the accounts of users who are registered as friends, the number of registered friends, etc.
Such information is suitable for estimating a user's aggressiveness in game play. A user who is aggressive in game play is likely to have a high-spec device as a user terminal and a high-quality communication environment. Therefore, according to the seventh aspect, by determining the intermediary terminal based on the aggressiveness of the user who uses the user terminal in game play, it is more likely that a more appropriate user terminal can be selected as the intermediary terminal.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the server system further comprises a user-specific intermediary window candidate selection and notification means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1 , the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9 , the game management unit 210, the intermediary window candidate notification control unit 230 in FIG. 7 , the intermediary communication setting data 720 in FIG. 7 , step S80 in FIG. 18 ) for selecting, for each of the user terminals, a plurality of intermediary window candidate terminals which are candidates for the intermediary window terminal that will be a window for transmitting and receiving the play information for that user terminal from the intermediary terminals determined by the intermediary network creation means, and notifying that user terminal of the selection,
This is a game communication system of any of the first to seventh inventions, in which the user terminal further comprises an intermediary window determination means (e.g., control board 1550 in FIG. 2, terminal processing unit 200 in FIG. 15, terminal control unit 260, intermediary window determination unit 272, intermediary window terminal ID 830 in FIG. 16, step S114 in FIG. 20) for determining an intermediary window terminal from the intermediary window candidate terminals notified by the server system, and a play information sending and receiving means (e.g., control board 1550 in FIG. 2, terminal processing unit 200 in FIG. 15, terminal control unit 260, play information sending and receiving control unit 274, play information 832 in FIG. 16, step S120 in FIG. 20) for sending and receiving the play information via the intermediary window terminal.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the server system provides the user terminal with information on candidate intermediary terminals. The user terminal can then determine which intermediary terminal to actually request intermediation from among the candidate intermediary terminals, and can send and receive play information.

The ninth aspect of the present invention is a game communication system according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in which the intermediary window determination means switches the intermediary window terminal based on the communication status of the play information transmission/reception means (e.g., steps S120 to S128 in FIG. 20).

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the user terminal is able to dynamically switch between intermediary terminals based on the communication status with the intermediary terminal.

The tenth aspect of the present invention is a game communication system according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in which the intermediary window determination means periodically switches the intermediary window terminal.

According to the tenth invention, it is possible to improve robustness against communication conditions such as a sudden communication failure of the intermediary terminal that serves as the intermediary window.

The eleventh invention is a game communication system according to the eighth invention, in which the intermediary window determination means switches the intermediary window terminal based on the content of the play information to be transmitted.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the intermediary window terminal can be switched depending on the content of the play information to be transmitted. For example, when transmitting play information whose content satisfies a given important condition, it becomes possible to switch and select a plurality of different intermediary window terminals so as to transmit the information redundantly.

A twelfth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the eighth to eleventh inventions, in which the server system further includes a survey information acquisition means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the survey information acquisition control unit 232, the survey compilation data 742 in FIG. 14, and step S212 in FIG. 19) for acquiring survey information related to the intermediary window terminal of the user terminal from the user terminal, and the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal based on the survey information.

According to the twelfth invention, the server system can determine the intermediary terminal based on survey information about the intermediary window terminal that the user felt during the game.

A thirteenth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to twelfth inventions, in which the online games include a first type game and a second type game (e.g., content data 510 and game type setting 514 in FIG. 10), the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal for each of the first type game and the second type game and creates the intermediary network (e.g., intermediary terminal selection definition data 520 in FIG. 11 and step S44 in FIG. 17), and the intermediary communication setting transmission control means transmits the intermediary communication setting based on the corresponding intermediary network to each of the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game.

According to the thirteenth invention, the game communication system can determine intermediary terminals and set up separate intermediary networks for the first type game and the second type game separately.

The 14th invention is a game communication system according to the 13th invention, in which the server system further comprises an intermediary terminal ranking means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the intermediary terminal ranking unit 220, the intermediary terminal ranking data 746 in FIG. 10, and step S226 in FIG. 19) for ranking the intermediary terminals based on the evaluation results of the intermediary performance evaluation means, and the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game in the future based on the rankings of the intermediary terminals.

According to the fourteenth invention, the game communication system determines an intermediary terminal for each of the first type game and the second type game separately and sets up an intermediary network, and at that time, the intermediary terminal can be determined based on the rank of the evaluation of the intermediation performance.

The fifteenth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to fourteenth inventions, in which the server system further includes a status information acquisition means (e.g., the control board 1150 in FIG. 1, the server processing unit 200s in FIG. 9, the game management unit 210, the status information acquisition control unit 234, the sign-in management data 542 in FIG. 10, the participating user registration data 707 in FIG. 14, steps S12 and S16 in FIG. 17) for acquiring status information of the user terminal including whether or not the user terminal is executing the online game, and the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal based on the status information.

"Status information" indicates the status of the user's terminal as a computer. For example, this includes whether or not the user is participating in a game, whether or not other application software is running, etc.

According to the fifteenth invention, the load status of the user terminal can be estimated based on the status information, making it possible to determine a more appropriate intermediary terminal.

A sixteenth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to fifteenth inventions, in which the bonus granting means variably determines a bonus to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on the game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal whose communication of the play information is mediated by the intermediary terminal.

In the case of a fighting game, a "game result" would be the outcome of the battle, or the margin of victory. In the case of an RPG, it would be the number of enemy characters defeated, the level of the defeated enemy characters, the items acquired, the number of NPCs befriended, the number of quests or stages cleared, etc.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the reward given to the user of the intermediary terminal can be changed based on the game results of an online game played by the user of the user terminal whose communication of play information is mediated by the intermediary terminal. For example, the better the game results, the higher the reward value can be given to the user of the intermediary terminal.

A seventeenth invention is a game communication system according to any one of the first to fifteenth inventions, in which the online game is a game in which a plurality of users participate as a team, and the intermediary network creation means determines, from among the user terminals of users on the same team, the intermediary terminal that will mediate the communication of the play information related to the users on the same team.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, an intermediary terminal that mediates the communication of play information related to a team can be selected from among the user terminals of the same team participating in a team-participation online game. Since the intermediary terminal has the function of dedicating itself to its own team members, the user of the intermediary terminal feels more convinced of the dedication.

The eighteenth invention is a game communication system according to the seventeenth invention, in which the bonus granting means variably determines a bonus to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on the game results of the online game of the same team in which the intermediary terminal mediated the communication of the play information.

According to the eighteenth invention, the rewards given to the user of the intermediary terminal change based on the game results of the team including the user of the intermediary terminal. Therefore, it is expected that the satisfaction level of the user of the intermediary terminal that mediated the communication will be high.

The nineteenth invention is a game communication system that includes a server system and a user terminal of each user that can communicate with the server system, and that realizes a multiplayer online game by each user terminal sending and receiving play information of each user, the user terminal having a communication intermediation function that mediates the communication of the play information sent and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting, the server system having an intermediation network creation means that determines an intermediation terminal that will mediate the communication of the play information from among the user terminals and creates an intermediation network between the intermediation terminals, an intermediation communication setting transmission control means that transmits the intermediation communication setting based on the intermediation network to the intermediation terminal, and a reward granting means that determines a reward to be granted to the user of the intermediary terminal based on the game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal whose communication of the play information is mediated by the intermediary terminal, and grants the reward to the user of the intermediary terminal.

According to the 19th aspect, a game communication system can be realized that exhibits the same effects as the 16th aspect.

The twentieth invention is a server system for a game communication system that includes a server system and a user terminal of each user that can communicate with the server system, and that realizes a multiplayer online game by each user terminal sending and receiving play information of each user, and the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that mediates the communication of the play information sent and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting, and includes an intermediary network creation means that determines an intermediary terminal that mediates the communication of the play information from among the user terminals and creates an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals, an intermediary communication setting transmission control means that transmits the intermediary communication setting based on the intermediary network to the intermediary terminal, an intermediary performance evaluation means that evaluates each of the intermediary terminals based on the intermediary performance using the communication intermediation function, and a reward granting means that grants a reward to the user of the intermediary terminal according to the evaluation result of the intermediary performance evaluation means.

According to the twentieth aspect, a server system can be realized that exhibits the same effects as the first aspect.

The twenty-first invention is a server system for a game communication system that includes a server system and a user terminal of each user that can communicate with the server system, and that realizes a multiplayer online game by each user terminal sending and receiving play information of each user, and the user terminal has a communication mediation function that mediates the communication of the play information sent and received by the user terminal based on a given mediation communication setting, and includes mediation network creation means that determines an mediation terminal that mediates the communication of the play information from among the user terminals and creates an mediation network between the mediation terminals, mediation communication setting transmission control means that transmits the mediation communication setting based on the mediation network to the mediation terminal, and a reward granting means that determines a reward to be granted to the user of the mediation terminal based on the game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal whose communication of the play information is mediated by the mediation terminal, and grants the reward to the user of the mediation terminal.

According to the twenty-first aspect, a server system can be realized that exhibits the same effects as the nineteenth aspect.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a game communication system. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration example of a user terminal. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a network configuration when a multiplayer online game is executed. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining suitability ranking as an intermediate node. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of play information communication result data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of brokerage performance data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of intermediary communication setting data. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the granting of a benefit to a user of a user terminal that is set as an intermediary node. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server system. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing examples of programs and data stored in a server storage unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of intermediate terminal selection definition data. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of contribution evaluation definition data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of user management data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of play management data. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a user terminal. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of play data. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing executed by the user terminals of participating users and the server system in relation to the execution of one online game. 18 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 17 . 19 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 18 . 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process flow relating to game progress control of a user terminal. 21 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 20 .

The following describes examples of embodiments of the present invention, but it goes without saying that the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a game communication system.
The game communication system 1000 is a system for realizing a multiplayer online game, comprising a server system 1100 and user terminals 1500 of each user capable of communicating with the server system 1100. In Fig. 1, six user terminals 1500 are depicted, but in actual system operation, many more user terminals 1500 can participate in the game communication system 1000.

In the game communication system 1000, the server system 1100 and the user terminals 1500 are connected via the network 9 so that they can communicate data with each other, and the user terminals 1500 are also connected to each other via the network 9 so that they can communicate data with each other.

The network 9 refers to a communication path that allows data communication. In other words, the network 9 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) such as a dedicated line (dedicated cable) for direct connection or Ethernet (registered trademark), as well as a communication network such as a telephone communication network, a cable network, or the Internet, and the communication method can be either wired or wireless.

A user uses the user terminal 1500 to access the server system 1100 or a specific website managed by the server system 1100, and becomes a registered user, i.e., a member, after going through a specific user registration procedure. Then, by going through a specific sign-in procedure using a unique user account set up during registration, the user's user terminal 1500 is incorporated into the game communication system 1000, and the system goes online. In addition, a user can withdraw from the system and take the system offline by going through a specific sign-out procedure.

The server system 1100 is a computer system having, for example, a main unit 1101, a keyboard 1106, a touch panel 1108, and storage 1140, and a control board 1150 mounted on the main unit 1101.

The control board 1150 is equipped with various microprocessors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1151, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), various IC memories 1152 such as a VRAM, RAM, and ROM, and a communication device 1153. Note that a part or all of the control board 1150 may be realized by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a SoC (System on a Chip).

The server system 1100 realizes (1) a user management function that manages information related to user registration, etc., (2) a matching function that invites participants for a multiplayer online game, and (3) a member service provision function that provides member services other than online games (for example, posting and viewing gameplay videos, providing chat spaces, online shopping for items to be used in the game, etc.) by having the control board 1150 perform calculations based on predetermined programs and data.

Although server system 1100 is depicted as if it were a single server device, it may be realized by a configuration of multiple devices. For example, server system 1100 may be configured to include multiple blade servers each sharing a function, connected to each other via an internal bus so that data communication is possible. Furthermore, the location of the hardware constituting server system 1100 does not matter. It may be configured such that multiple independent servers installed in remote locations communicate data via network 9, and function as server system 1100 as a whole.

The user terminal 1500 is a computer system that is used by a user who has completed the registration procedure to utilize the game communication system 1000 of this embodiment, and is an electronic device that can access the server system 1100 and other user terminals 1500 via the network 9.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of the user terminal 1500. As shown in FIG.
The user terminal 1500 includes a directional input key 1502, a button switch 1504, a touch panel 1506 that functions as an image display device and a touch position input device, an internal battery 1509, a speaker 1510, a microphone 1512, a camera 1520, a control board 1550, and a memory card reader 1542 that can read and write data from a memory card 1540 that is a computer-readable storage medium. In addition, a power button, a volume control button, and the like that are not shown are provided. In addition, an IC card reader that can read and write data contactlessly from an IC card type credit card or prepaid card that can be used to pay for the use of the game communication system 1000 may be provided.

The control board 1550 is equipped with (1) a CPU 1551 and various microprocessors such as a GPU and a DSP, (2) various IC memories 1552 such as a VRAM, a RAM, and a ROM, (3) a wireless communication module 1553 for wireless communication with a mobile phone base station or a wireless LAN base station connected to the network 9, and (4) an interface circuit 1557.

The interface circuit 1557 includes (1) a driver circuit for the touch panel 1506, (2) a circuit for receiving signals from the directional input keys 1502 and the button switches 1504, (3) an output amplifier circuit for outputting audio signals to the speaker 1510, (4) an input signal generation circuit for generating an audio signal collected by the microphone 1512, (5) a circuit for inputting image data of an image captured by the camera 1520, and (6) a signal input/output circuit for the memory card reader 1542.

These elements mounted on the control board 1550 are electrically connected via a bus circuit or the like, and are connected so that data can be read and written and signals can be sent and received. A part or all of the control board 1550 may be configured using an ASIC, FPGA, or SoC. The control board 1550 stores programs and various data for realizing the functions of a user terminal in the IC memory 1552.

In this embodiment, the user terminal 1500 is configured to download programs and various setting data from the server system 1100, but it may also be configured to read them from a storage medium such as a memory card 1540 obtained separately.

The user terminal 1500 shown in FIG. 2 is a device known as a smartphone, but may be a computer such as a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or smart glasses, a portable game device, a tablet computer, or a personal computer. When multiple electronic devices are communicatively connected to perform one function, such as a combination of a smartphone and a smart watch communicatively connected to the smartphone, these multiple electronic devices can be considered as one user terminal 1500.

Returning to FIG. 1, the server system 1100 provides various services to registered users and invites them to participate in various types of multiplayer online games at given times. By accepting this invitation, users can participate in their preferred online game and enjoy multiplayer. Thus, the status of the user terminal 1500 is at least one of a state in which the user is participating in an online game and a state in which the user is not participating.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a network configuration when a multiplayer online game is executed in the game communication system 1000. As shown in FIG.
The communication within the game communication system 1000 mainly includes two network forms. That is, a client-server model type network form for signing in to the game communication system 1000 and providing member services, and a P2P type network form mainly involving the user terminals 1500 of participating users and for the progress of an online game. In the latter P2P type network form, a play network 10 is formed to realize a multi-play online game. In the following, each user terminal 1500 is referred to as a "node." Since the users of the user terminals 1500 are also players of the online game, each node can be said to be a player node 12.

The play network 10 has multiple node groups 14, each of which is made up of multiple player nodes 12. Each node group 14 has at least one intermediary node 16. Information about the player nodes 12 that make up the node group 14 and information indicating the intermediary nodes 16 in the node group 14 are provided separately to each node by the server system 1100 at the start of the game and are stored in each node.

The intermediary node 16 is a user terminal 1500 that performs a communication intermediation function to mediate communication between nodes, i.e., an "intermediary terminal." An intermediary node 16 is selected from the player nodes 12 for each node group 14. Depending on the situation, an intermediary node 16 may be selected from the user terminals 1500 of users who are not participating in the game. Then, a plurality of intermediary nodes 16 forms an intermediary network 11. When focusing on the game participation/non-participation status of the user terminal 1500, it can be said that the intermediary node 16 is determined based on the status of the user terminal 1500.

Specifically, the server system 1100 ranks the user terminals 1500 (player nodes 12) of participating users for their suitability as intermediary nodes. The higher the suitability ranking, the higher the terminal that is estimated to have high specifications capable of performing the communication intermediation function and to be in a good communication environment (wide communication bandwidth, stable communication speed, and fast communication speed). Then, the intermediary node 16 is selected from the user terminals 1500 constituting each node group 14, in order of the terminal with the highest suitability ranking as an intermediary node.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the suitability ranking of the intermediate nodes 16. In FIG.
The information associated with each of the user terminals 1500 of the participating users includes spec information 800, play information/communication record data 840, intermediation record data 860, questionnaire information 894, and intermediary terminal ranking data 746. In addition, there are a friend list 609 and play record data 616 associated with each of the participating users who use the user terminals 1500. These are stored in the user terminals 1500 of the participating users or in the server system 1100.

The spec information 800 includes specification information 802 indicating the capabilities of the hardware related to the computational processing and communications of the user terminal 1500 (e.g., the CPU operating frequency, memory bandwidth, memory capacity, communications standards and communications speeds supported by the communications module, etc.), and transmission capability information 804 of the communications environment to which the user terminal is connected (e.g., type of communications line, transmission capacity, transmission speed, classification based on NAT (Network Address Translation) type, etc., and may also include other information related to communications line quality as appropriate).

The play information communication record data 840 is created and recorded each time play information is transmitted as a player node 12. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the play information communication record data 840 includes a play ID 841 that is uniquely determined for each game play, a source user terminal ID 842 that identifies the user terminal 1500 that is the transmitting player node 12, a user account 844, and communication history data 850 that is created each time play information is transmitted.

The communication history data 850 includes a communication date and time 851 when the play information was communicated, an intermediary window terminal ID 852 indicating the intermediary node 16 to which the play information was sent, a communication data volume 853, a communication time length 854, and an error number 855. The initial value of the error number 855 is a value indicating "no error", but if the communication is not successful (if not received by the intermediary node 16), a specified error number is stored. Of course, other data than these can also be included as appropriate.

The intermediation performance data 860 is information indicating the performance of the terminal as an intermediary node 16 (intermediary terminal) in past game play and is created and recorded each time communication intermediation is performed. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the intermediation performance data 860 includes a play ID 861, an intermediary terminal ID 862 indicating the user terminal 1500 that is the intermediary node 16, a user account 863, intermediation history data 870 that is created each time play information is transmitted and mediated to another intermediary node, a cumulative communication intermediation data volume 880, a cumulative communication intermediation time length 882, and a communication intermediation time zone distribution 884. Of course, other data than these may also be included as appropriate.

The intermediation history data 870 includes, for example, a communication date and time 871 when the intermediation communication of the play information was performed, a source terminal ID 873 indicating the player node 12 that transmitted the play information, a destination ID 875 indicating the destination, a communication data volume 877, and a communication time length 879. Of course, other data than these may also be included as appropriate.

The cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 is the cumulative value of the communication data volume 877 of all the mediation history data 870 .
The cumulative communication intermediation time length 882 is the cumulative value of the communication time lengths 879 of all the intermediation history data 870 .
The communication mediation time zone distribution 884 is statistical data showing the distribution of when communication mediation was performed within a plurality of time zones divided into 24 hours in a day.
These three pieces of data are obtained each time new intermediation history data 870 is added, or as pre-processing when intermediation performance data 860 is submitted to the server system 1100 after the end of a game, and are used to evaluate the effectiveness and stability of the user terminal 1500 as an intermediary node 16.

Returning to FIG. 4, the survey information 894 includes survey results to learn users' satisfaction with the communication quality while playing an online game. For example, it includes the results of a 5-point rating of satisfaction.

The intermediary terminal ranking data 746 is ranking data of user terminals 1500 that have functioned as intermediary terminals (intermediary nodes 16) in the past, created and managed by the server system 1100. The intermediary terminal ranking data 746 stores, for example, a ranking order (or rank), a user account of the user terminal 1500, and an accumulation of evaluation results that evaluate the contribution of the communication intermediation, in association with each other. The accumulation of evaluation results that evaluate the contribution of the communication intermediation is, for example, the sum of contribution evaluation points.

The friend list 609 and play history data 616 are managed by the server system 1100 for each user. The friend list 609 is a list of accounts of other users who are considered to be friends of the user. The user can freely add or remove users from the friend list by performing a specified registration management operation. The play history data 616 includes appropriate data that can be used as a basis for estimating the user's enthusiasm regarding game play, such as the user's login frequency, total number of plays, and number of plays by time period. The play history data 616 is automatically updated when the user logs in.

The specification information 800 is submitted to the server system 1100 when participating in a game.
The play information communication record data 840 and the intermediation record data 860 are submitted to the server system 1100 after the game ends and are stored as part of the user registration information so as to be able to be referenced at any time. The survey information 894 is submitted to the server system 1100 as a response to a survey conducted on the user terminal 1500 after the game ends.

The server system 1100 ranks the suitability of the user terminal 1500 as an intermediary node based on the spec information 800, play information/communication record data 840, intermediary record data 860, survey information 894, intermediary terminal ranking data 746, friend list 609, and play record data 616. In other words, the server system 1100 ranks the user terminal 1500 as an intermediary node so that the higher the specs that can handle the communication intermediation function and the better the communication environment (wide communication bandwidth, stable communication speed, and fast communication speed) the higher the terminal will be. Incidentally, the numbers in italics written inside the user terminal 1500 in FIG. 4 indicate the suitability ranking.

The specification information 800, brokerage performance data 860, and brokerage terminal ranking data 746 are data that directly affect the suitability ranking.

The play information communication record data 840 and the questionnaire information 894 are data that indirectly affect the suitability ranking. For example, the communication data volume 853, communication time length 854, and error number 855 of the play information communication record data 840 are data that estimate the effectiveness and stability of the user terminal 1500 indicated by the intermediary window terminal ID 852 as an intermediary node 16 when viewed from the sender of the play information. The same applies to the questionnaire information 894.

Specifically, the suitability ranking is determined by first selecting, from among the user terminals 1500 of all participating players, terminals that have the minimum required specifications depending on the type of game being played, and then determining the user terminals 1500 to be ranked.

For example, in FPS (First Person Shooter) games and fighting games, the amount and frequency of play information transmitted and received is large, and transmission delays jeopardize the consistency of the gameplay itself. However, in quiz games, puzzle games, text-based RPGs, and the like, the amount and frequency of play information transmitted and received is small, and the impact of transmission delays on gameplay is relatively low. Therefore, for the former types of games, high-spec terminals that satisfy the given high-performance conditions based on the specification information 800 are selected from the user terminals 1500 of all participating players and become the user terminals 1500 to be ranked. Low-spec terminals that do not satisfy the high-performance conditions cannot fulfill the role of the intermediary node 16, and are therefore considered to be excluded from the suitability order judgment in the first place. User terminals 1500 that are excluded from the judgment are not ranked as "non-candidates" or "predetermined lowest rank" and are not ranked as described below.

The ranking of the user terminals 1500 to be ranked is determined by adding up the evaluation points. For example, evaluation stages (evaluation ranks, so to speak) are prepared for each item of the specification information 802 and transmission capacity information 804 of the spec information 800, which are divided based on a predetermined evaluation criterion, and evaluation points are set for each evaluation stage. In this case, the higher the capacity, the higher the evaluation points. Then, for each item, the evaluation points for the corresponding evaluation stage are added as points for the user terminal 1500 to be ranked.

In addition, evaluation stages are prepared based on a predetermined evaluation criterion for the proportion of communication history data 850 in play information communication performance data 840 in which error number 855 is set, and evaluation points are set for each evaluation stage. In this case, the lower the proportion of communication history data 850 in which error number 855 is set, the higher the evaluation point. Then, the evaluation point of the evaluation stage corresponding to the proportion of communication history data 850 in which error number 855 is set, which is issued using the user terminal 1500 to be ranked as an intermediary window terminal, is added to the score of that user terminal 1500.

In addition, for the cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 and cumulative communication mediation time length 882 of the mediation performance data 860, evaluation stages (e.g., evaluation ranks) are prepared based on predetermined evaluation criteria, and evaluation points are set for each evaluation stage. In this case, the higher the ability, the higher the evaluation points. Then, for each item, the evaluation points for the corresponding evaluation stage are added as points for the user terminal 1500 that is the subject of the ranking.

A relative evaluation is also performed for the cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 and the cumulative communication mediation time length 882. That is, the proportion of the cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 of the user terminal 1500 to the total cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 of the user terminal 1500 to be ranked is calculated, and evaluation points proportional to the size of that proportion are added to the score of the user terminal 1500 to be ranked. The same is true for the cumulative communication mediation time length 882.

For the communication mediation time period distribution 884, the 24 hours of a day are divided into time periods according to the general congestion state of the network 9, and evaluation points are set for each time period that have a positive relationship with the degree of congestion. Then, according to the communication mediation time period distribution 884 of the user terminal 1500 to be ranked, the evaluation points for the corresponding time period are added to the score of the user terminal 1500.

In addition, the higher the evaluation of communication quality in the results of a questionnaire completed by each user terminal 1500 after the game ends, the higher the evaluation points will be added to the score of the user terminal 1500 that served as the intermediary window terminal.

In addition, the higher the ranking of the intermediary terminal ranking data 746, the higher the evaluation points are added to the score of the user terminal 1500 being ranked.

The friend list 609 and play record data 616 are suitable information for estimating a user's enthusiasm for gameplay. Users who are highly active in gameplay are more likely to have high-spec equipment for the user terminal 1500 and to have a high-quality communication environment. Therefore, the more people registered in the friend list 609, the higher the evaluation points are added to the user terminal 1500. Also, the more frequently the user logs in and the more times they play in total, the higher the evaluation points are added to the user terminal 1500. Regarding the number of plays by time period, the more times the user plays in the time period that corresponds to the time when the suitability ranking is performed, the higher the evaluation points are added to the user terminal 1500.

Then, the user terminals 1500 of all participating users are sorted in descending order of the total evaluation points acquired by each user, and the suitability ranking is set in ascending order.
In addition, the suitability ranking may be determined by omitting one or more of the specification information 800, play information/communication record data 840, intermediary record data 860, survey information 894, intermediary terminal ranking data 746, friend list 609, and play record data 616.

Returning to FIG. 3, if the online game is a team competition format with teams whose members are decided in advance, the node groups 14 are each considered to be each team. If the online game is a team competition format with teams arbitrarily set at the discretion of the server system 1100, the server system 1100 divides the player nodes 12 into groups so that the distribution of suitability rankings is as equal as possible among the node groups 14, and each group is considered to be one node group 14. If the online game is an individual competition (if there is no concept of teams), the server system 1100 also divides the player nodes 12 into groups.

The server system 1100 creates information about the user terminals 1500 that make up each node group 14 and information indicating the intermediary nodes 16 in each node group 14 as intermediary communication setting data 720 as shown in FIG. 7 and distributes it to the user terminals 1500 of the participating users.

The intermediary communication setting data 720 includes a unique node group ID 721, which is identification information for the node group, and intermediary window terminal candidate data 722. If the online game is in a team battle format where pre-prepared events are played, the node group ID 721 corresponds to the names of the participating teams.

The intermediary window terminal candidate data 722 is data indicating candidates for intermediary window terminals (terminals that serve as a window for distributing play information via the intermediary network 11) that serve as a window for sending and receiving play information for each of the user terminals 1500 in the node group 14. This data exists for each node group 14. In other words, it is intermediary terminal candidate data indicating candidates for intermediary terminals (intermediary nodes 16) when viewed from the nodes belonging to the node group 14.

The intermediary window terminal candidate data 722 stores an in-group suitability ranking 723, a candidate user terminal ID 724, and access information 725 for accessing the terminal via the network 9 in association with each other. The in-group suitability ranking 723 indicates the suitability ranking (originally the overall suitability ranking) set for the user terminal 1500 constituting the node group 14. The access information 725 is information for communicating with the user terminal 1500, such as an IP address, port number, and password.

Each user terminal 1500 basically sets the first ranked intermediary node 16 in the group suitability ranking 723 as the intermediary node 16 at the start of the online game. If communication with that intermediary node 16 fails for some reason, the second ranked intermediary node 16 is switched to become the new intermediary node 16. Thereafter, by switching the intermediary window terminal in the same manner, an intermediary node 16 is always secured.

In other words, the intermediary communication setting data 720 created for each node group 14 is data for determining the intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) that will mediate the communication of play information, and can be said to be setting data for the intermediary network between these intermediary terminals.

The multiplayer online game of this embodiment is executed in a P2P network format, so game progress control, or so-called game logic, is performed by each player node 12.

That is, each player node 12 arranges various background objects in a three-dimensional virtual space to form a game space, and arranges character objects of player characters for each player. Then, when a player node 12 detects an operation input at its own node (own machine), it controls the movement of the player character associated with the user of its own machine based on the operation input, and transmits the operation input information to other nodes (other player nodes 12) as play information. In FIG. 3, an example of the transmission of play information is indicated by a thin dashed arrow. The play information is transmitted from the player node 12 that is the transmission source to the intermediate node 16 of the node group 14 to which the node belongs.

When an intermediary node 16 receives play information from a player node 12 in a node group 14 to which the intermediary node 16 belongs (own node group), the intermediary node 16 distributes the play information to each player node 12 in the own node group, and also distributes the play information to intermediary nodes 16 in other node groups 14 via the intermediary network 11. Then, when an intermediary node 16 receives play information from another intermediary node 16, it distributes the play information to the player nodes 12 in the own node group.

The player node 12 receives play information transmitted from another node, and if the play information includes operational input information, the player node 12 controls the movement of the player character of the user of that other node based on the information.

Similarly, parameter values such as HP for each player character are determined by the node itself for the player character of the user of the node, and the result is transmitted to other nodes as play information. When similar play information is received from other nodes, the parameter values of the player character associated with the player of that other node are changed.

In addition, when a change occurs in an exclusive element, such as when a player character is defeated, an enemy NPC is defeated, or a first-come-first-served limited item is acquired, each player node 12 transmits the content of the change along with the date and time of the change to other nodes as play information. When similar play information is received from other nodes, it is reflected in the game space managed by the own node.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the granting of a privilege to a user of a user terminal 1500 that is set as an intermediary node 16. In FIG.
When play of the online game is completed, the server system 1100 evaluates the contribution of each intermediary node 16 to communication intermediation in the entire game from the submitted intermediation performance data 860, and grants a benefit according to the evaluation result to the user of the user terminal 1500 designated as the intermediary node 16.

The contribution is evaluated using one or both of absolute and relative evaluation, and expressed as contribution evaluation points. For example, the data volume indicated by the cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 is compared with a predetermined evaluation criteria condition to determine an absolute evaluation, and the contribution evaluation points preset for that absolute evaluation are used as the score for the user terminal 1500. A relative evaluation is also determined by comparing the data volume indicated by the cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 between all mediation nodes 16, and the contribution evaluation points preset for that relative evaluation are added to the score for the user terminal 1500.

Basically, it is preferable that the absolute evaluation be given to a node with a larger amount of data indicated by the cumulative communication mediation data amount 880, and that the absolute evaluation be given to a node with a larger amount of data, by comparing the amounts of data indicated by the cumulative communication mediation data amount 880 between the mediation nodes 16.

The cumulative communication mediation time length 882 may also be taken into account in the evaluation of the contribution. For example, the greater the cumulative communication mediation time length 882, the higher the contribution may be evaluated, and a contribution evaluation point that is preset according to the evaluation result may be added to the score of the user terminal 1500. For example, the cumulative communication mediation data volume 880 may be divided by the cumulative communication mediation time length 882 for each mediation node 16 to calculate the respective communication mediation speeds. Then, the communication mediation speeds may be compared between the mediation nodes 16, and the mediation node 16 with a higher speed may be given a higher evaluation than the others, and a contribution evaluation point that is preset according to the evaluation result may be added to the score of the user terminal 1500.

The friend list 609 and play history data 616 may also be taken into account in the evaluation of the degree of contribution. For example, the more people registered in the friend list 609, the higher the contribution evaluation points may be added. For example, the better the performance indicated by the play history data 616, the higher the contribution evaluation points may be added. For example, the communication dates and times in the intermediation history data 870 may be statistically processed by time period, and if the most frequent time period in the statistical results differs from the most recent intermediation communication date and time 871 (in other words, if the person agreed to intermediate during a different time period than usual), additional points may be added.

Then, the total value of the contribution evaluation points is regarded as the contribution evaluation result, and a reward 20 (20a, 20b, 20c) is determined in accordance with the preset reward awarding conditions, and this reward is awarded to the user of the user terminal 1500 that is the intermediate node 16 to be evaluated.

The contents of the benefit 20 can be set as appropriate, but it is preferable that the higher the total value of the contribution evaluation points (the higher the contribution evaluation result), the more valuable the content is to the user. For example, it is preferable to include game items 21 that can be used in online games as the benefit 20, and the higher the total value of the contribution evaluation points, the rarer the item or the more powerful the item is. Also, for example, if the benefit 20 includes service points 23 that can be paid as a fee for using the membership service provided by the game communication system 1000 or the right to use bonus services, it is preferable to increase the amount of points awarded and the number of types of service rights provided, the higher the total value of the contribution evaluation points.

In the explanation so far, the game communication system 1000 selects an intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) from among the user terminals 1500 and creates an intermediary network 11 for sending and receiving play information between the intermediary terminals. A higher-level internal network is constructed within the entire communication network between the user terminals 1500. By consolidating part of the sending and receiving of play information in the intermediary network 11, which corresponds to this higher-level internal network, it is possible to efficiently communicate play information across the entire communication network.

However, a user terminal 1500 functioning as an intermediary node 16 also functions as a player node 12. A user terminal 1500 functioning as an intermediary node 16 will have to offer up its own resources to contribute to the overall system, as the amount of calculations required will be greater than that of a simple player node 12 that does not function as an intermediary node 16. In a sense, this will force the user to make sacrifices.

However, since the user terminal 1500 that functions as the intermediary node 16 is selected preferentially from a user terminal 1500 with relatively high specifications based on suitability ranking, the computational load is smaller than when a user terminal 1500 with relatively low specifications becomes the intermediary node 16. In addition, after the game ends, the user of the user terminal 1500 that acted as the intermediary node 16 is given a special reward as a token of appreciation for their overall contribution, so that the user does not feel sacrificed.

Next, the functional configuration will be described.
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server system 1100.
The server system 1100 includes an operation input unit 100s, a server processing unit 200s, a sound output unit 390s, an image display unit 392s, a communication unit 394s, and a server storage unit 500s.

The operation input unit 100s is a means for inputting various operations for managing the server. This corresponds to the keyboard 1106 in FIG. 1.

The server processing unit 200s is realized by electronic components such as processors that are arithmetic circuits, such as a CPU, GPU, ASIC, FPGA, etc., as well as IC memory, and controls the input and output of data between each functional unit, including the operation input unit 100s and the server storage unit 500s. It performs various types of arithmetic processing based on predetermined programs and data, operation input signals from the operation input unit 100s, data received from the user terminal 1500, etc., and performs integrated control of the operation of the server system 1100.

The server processing unit 200s includes a user management unit 202, a member service providing unit 204, a game management unit 210, a timing unit 280s, a sound generation unit 290s, an image generation unit 292s, and a communication control unit 294s. Of course, other functional units may also be included as appropriate.

The user management unit 202 handles processes related to user registration procedures and manages the storage of various information linked to user accounts. Specifically, the user management unit 202 (1) assigns unique user accounts to registered users, (2) manages the storage of personal information for each user account, (3) manages sign-in/sign-out, (4) manages the storage of save data related to online games, (5) manages game items and points used as payment for membership services, and (6) manages friend lists.

The member service providing unit 204 controls the provision of member services other than online games (for example, posting and viewing gameplay videos, providing chat spaces, online shopping for items to be used in games, etc.).

The game management unit 210 performs various controls to play a given online game on the user terminal 1500. Specifically, the game management unit 210 includes a matching unit 212, a user information acquisition unit 213, an intermediary network creation unit 214, an intermediary communication setting transmission control unit 216, an intermediary performance evaluation unit 218, an intermediary terminal ranking unit 220, an intermediary privilege granting unit 222, a specification information acquisition control unit 224, a specification improvement privilege granting unit 226, a communication performance acquisition control unit 228, an intermediary window candidate notification control unit 230, a questionnaire information acquisition control unit 232, and a status information acquisition control unit 234.

The matching unit 212 invites participants to participate in a multiplayer online game and performs the so-called matching process.

The user information acquisition unit 213 controls the acquisition of information about the playing history of online games played by each user as a player and/or information about friend players.

The intermediary network creation unit 214 determines an intermediary terminal that will act as a node (intermediary node 16) that mediates the communication of play information from among the user terminals 1500 of users participating in the multiplayer online game, and creates an intermediary network 11 between these intermediary terminals.

Specifically, the intermediary network creation unit 214 narrows down the user terminals 1500 of all participating users based on the type of online game (e.g., whether it is a first type game or a second type game) to the user terminals 1500 with the specifications required for that type of game as targets for suitability ranking. Then, it performs suitability ranking on the user terminals 1500 to be ranked (see FIG. 4). In other words, the intermediary network creation unit 214 determines the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game and creates the intermediary network based on the type of online game (first type game, second type game).

When ranking the suitability, the intermediary network creation unit 214 organizes the node groups 14 so that one team is one node group 14 in a team-participation game, and determines an intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) that will mediate communication of play information related to users of the same team from among the user terminals 1500 of the users of the same team.

The intermediary network creation unit 214 also determines the intermediary terminal by taking into account either or both of the play information communication record data 840 and the survey information 894 relating to the user terminals 1500 to be ranked (see FIG. 4). Therefore, it can be said that the intermediary network creation unit 214 determines the intermediary terminal based on the communication record and survey results relating to the communication of play information of each user terminal 1500. In addition, since the intermediary network creation unit 214 determines the intermediary terminal from among the user terminals 1500 participating in the game, it can also be said that the intermediary terminal is determined based on the status information of participation/non-participation in the game.

The intermediary communication setting transmission control unit 216 transmits the intermediary communication setting based on the intermediary network 11 (intermediary communication setting data 720 in FIG. 7) to the intermediary terminal.

The intermediation performance evaluation unit 218 performs an evaluation based on the intermediation performance data 860 from the communication intermediation function for each intermediation terminal (intermediation node 16) (see FIG. 7). Specifically, the intermediation performance evaluation unit 218 includes at least one of the communication data volume, communication time, and communication time zone from the communication intermediation function in the intermediation performance, and performs an evaluation based on the intermediation performance. In addition, the intermediation terminal is determined based on the questionnaire information. When evaluating the intermediation performance, the intermediation performance evaluation unit 218 relatively evaluates the intermediation performance of each intermediation terminal.

The evaluation may be a points-based system. For example, the larger the amount of communication data and the longer the communication time, the greater the contribution because more resources were used for the overall contribution, and evaluation points proportional to the amount of communication data and the length of communication time are added to the intermediate node 16 to be evaluated. In addition, evaluation points according to the degree of communication congestion are set in advance for the communication time period, and evaluation points for a predetermined number of time periods with the most communication are added to the intermediate node 16 to be evaluated. Relatively, evaluation points are added for each intermediate node 16 according to the proportion of the communication data volume of the intermediate node 16 to the total amount of communication data mediated by all intermediate nodes 16, or the intermediate nodes 16 are sorted in descending order of communication data volume, and predetermined evaluation points are added to the top predetermined number of intermediate nodes 16. The same applies to communication time.

The intermediary terminal ranking unit 220 ranks the intermediary terminals based on the evaluation results of the intermediary performance evaluation unit 218. The ranking corresponds to a ranking of suitability as an intermediary node 16.

The intermediary reward granting unit 222 grants a reward to the user of the user terminal that functioned as the intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) according to the evaluation result of the intermediary performance evaluation unit 218. Specifically, the intermediary reward granting unit 222 variably determines the reward to be granted to the user of the intermediary terminal based on the game results of an online game played by the user of the user terminal 1500 whose communication of play information was mediated by the intermediary terminal. For example, the intermediary reward granting unit 222 variably determines the reward to be granted to the user of the intermediary terminal based on the game results (team performance) of an online game played by the same node group 14 (e.g., the same team) whose communication of play information was mediated by the intermediary terminal.

The spec information acquisition control unit 224 controls the acquisition of spec information 800 for each intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16).

The spec improvement bonus granting unit 226 detects intermediary terminals whose spec information has been improved from the previous information, and controls the granting of bonuses to users of the detected intermediary terminals.

The communication history acquisition control unit 228 controls the acquisition of communication history for each user terminal 1500 in an online game.

The intermediary window candidate notification control unit 230 selects, for each user terminal 1500, from among the intermediary terminals determined by the intermediary network creation unit 214, multiple intermediary window candidate terminals that are candidates for the intermediary window terminal that will be the window for sending and receiving play information for that user terminal 1500, and notifies that user terminal 1500. Specifically, this is realized by distributing the intermediary communication setting data 720.

The survey information acquisition control unit 232 controls the acquisition of survey information 894 related to the intermediary window terminal of the user terminal 1500 from the user terminal 1500 (see Figure 4).

The status information acquisition control unit 234 acquires status information of the user terminal 1500, including whether or not the user terminal 1500 is playing an online game.

The timing unit 280s uses the system clock to measure the current date and time, time limit, etc.

The sound generation unit 290s is realized by executing an IC or software that generates or decodes audio data, and generates or decodes audio data such as operation sounds, sound effects, background music, and voice calls related to the system management of the server system 1100 and the provision of member services. Then, audio signals related to system management are output to the sound output unit 390s.

The sound output unit 390s emits an audio signal. In the example of FIG. 1, this corresponds to a speaker (not shown) provided on the main device or touch panel 1108.

The image generation unit 292s generates an image to be displayed on the image display unit 392s and outputs the image signal. This corresponds to part of the function of generating screens related to system management of the server system 1100 and various screens related to member services (or data for displaying them on the user terminal 1500).

The image display unit 392s is realized by a device that displays images, such as a flat panel display, a head-mounted display, or a projector. In the example of FIG. 1, this corresponds to the touch panel 1108.

The communication control unit 294s executes data processing related to data communication and realizes data exchange with external devices via the communication unit 394s.

The communication unit 394s connects to the network 9 to realize communication. For example, it is realized by a wireless communication device, a modem, a TA (terminal adapter), a jack for a wired communication cable, a control circuit, etc. In the example of FIG. 1, it corresponds to the communication device 1153.

The server storage unit 500s stores programs and various data for implementing various functions that allow the server processing unit 200s to comprehensively control the server system 1100. It is also used as a working area for the server processing unit 200s, and temporarily stores the results of calculations that the server processing unit 200s executes according to various programs. This function is implemented, for example, by IC memory such as RAM or ROM, magnetic disks such as hard disks, optical disks such as CD-ROMs or DVDs, online storage, and the like. In the example of FIG. 1, this corresponds to storage media such as the IC memory 1152 and hard disk mounted on the main unit 1101, and the storage 1140.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of programs and data stored in the server storage unit 500s.
The server storage unit 500s in this embodiment stores a server program 501, a distribution terminal program 503, content data 510, intermediary terminal selection definition data 520, contribution evaluation definition data 530, intermediary benefit definition data 540, sign-in management data 542 that manages user terminals 1500 participating in the game communication system 1000, user management data 600, play management data 700, intermediary terminal ranking data 746, and a current date and time 900. The server storage unit 500s also stores other programs and data (for example, timers, counters, various flags, etc.) as appropriate.

The server program 501 is a program that is read and executed by the server processing unit 200s to realize the functions of the user management unit 202, the member service providing unit 204, and the game management unit 210.

The distribution terminal program 503 is the original program that is provided to and executed by the user terminal 1500.

Content data 510 is prepared for each game title of a multiplayer online game, and stores various data related to that game. For example, content data 510 includes game title 512, game type setting 514, and game initial setting data 516 that stores initial settings and initial data for setting up a game space in a virtual three-dimensional space and controlling the progress of the game. Of course, data other than these may also be included as appropriate.

The game type setting 514 is set to either a first type game (a game that requires high specifications) or a second type game (a game that requires only low specifications) depending on the specifications of the hardware and communication environment required for the intermediary node 16 of the online game. Of course, the game types are not limited to two types, and may be three or more types.

The intermediary terminal selection definition data 520 is data that defines the specifications required for an intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16), and specifies the requirements for selecting user terminals 1500 for which suitability rankings are to be set from among the user terminals 1500 of participating users of an online game. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the intermediary terminal selection definition data 520 includes an applicable game type 522 indicating the type of game to which the definition data applies, game mode requirements 524, friend requirements 525, terminal specification requirements 526, communication environment specification requirements 528, and play history requirements 529.

Game mode requirement 524 specifies the type of play mode for the online game. For example, play mode, practice mode, etc. can be specified.

Friend requirements 525 are conditions that must be met for the friend registration status of a user who uses the user terminal 1500. Specifically, they are described as a range of the number of friends.

The terminal specification requirements 526 indicate the conditions that must be satisfied for the specifications of the hardware related to the computing power and communication capabilities of the user terminal 1500. The requirements are compared with the specification information 802 of the specification information 800 (see FIG. 4).

The communication environment specification requirements 528 indicate the conditions that must be satisfied by the specifications of the data transmission path to the network 9 to which the user terminal 1500 is connected. The requirements are compared with the transmission capacity information 804 of the specification information 800 (see FIG. 4).

The play history requirements 529 are conditions that must be met for the play history of a user who uses the user terminal 1500. For example, one or more of the range of values indicating play frequency, the range of total number of plays, the range of number of plays by time period, etc. are described by combining them with AND or OR.

Depending on the game content and the expected number of participants, one or more of the friend requirements 525, device specification requirements 526, communication environment specification requirements 528, and play history requirements 529 may be omitted as appropriate. Alternatively, these requirements may be set to essentially "unlimited" or "no limit."

Returning to FIG. 10, the contribution evaluation definition data 530 stores various data that defines the evaluation of the degree of contribution made by the user terminal 1500 by functioning as an intermediary node 16. The contribution evaluation definition data 530 is prepared for each type of contribution evaluation, and includes, for example, a contribution evaluation result 531 and application requirements 532 that must be satisfied to obtain the evaluation result, as shown in FIG. 12.

The contribution evaluation result 531 is a numerical value of the contribution evaluation points. The higher the points, the higher the evaluation. Of course, other evaluation expression formats, such as a five-point scale, may also be used.

The application requirement 532 is written by combining one or more sub-conditions with AND or OR. Examples of sub-conditions include a cumulative communication data volume condition 533 regarding the volume of data mediated by communication, a cumulative communication mediation time condition 534 regarding the length of time required for communication mediation, a communication speed condition 535 for communication mediation, a communication ratio condition 536 regarding the ratio of the cumulative communication data volume condition 533 of the user terminal 1500 to be evaluated to the total amount of data mediated by communication, a game result condition 537 regarding play results, a friend condition 538 regarding friend registration, and a play record condition 539 regarding play results. Of course, data other than these can also be included as appropriate.

The game result condition 537 is described by combining one or more of the game results of the online game as a whole, the game results of the node group 14 (or team, group) to which the user terminal 1500 to be evaluated belongs, and the game results of the individual user terminal 1500 to be evaluated.

In other words, in the contribution evaluation data 530, the application requirements 532 indicate the situation in which contribution evaluation points based on each sub-condition are added, and the contribution evaluation result 531 indicates the total value of the contribution evaluation points.

Of course, the sub-conditions of the application requirement 532 can be other than the above, and one or more of them can be omitted, or a setting can be made that essentially has "no conditions."

Returning to FIG. 10, the intermediation benefit definition data 540 is prepared for each content of benefit 20 (see FIG. 8), and stores the requirements for the communication intermediation contribution evaluation that must be satisfied in order for the benefit to be granted, the requirements for the game result, and data indicating the content of the benefit to be granted in association with each other.

The contribution evaluation requirements are described as a range of total contribution evaluation points.
The requirements for the game result are described as one or more of the game result for each user, the game result for a group of nodes 14 (team), and the game result for the game as a whole (for example, in the case of a raid format, whether the enemy was defeated, how much damage was sustained, etc.).

User management data 600 is prepared for each registered user, and various information associated with that user is stored. As shown in FIG. 13, for example, one user management data 600 includes a unique user account 601, a user terminal ID 603, specification history data 605, owned service points 607, a friend list 609, acquired intermediation performance data 610, acquired play information communication performance data 612, game save data 614, and play performance data 616. Of course, data other than these may also be included as appropriate.

The spec history data 605 stores the spec information 800 acquired from the user terminal 1500 of the user in question in association with the acquisition date and time.
The owned service points 607 indicates the owned balance of service points that can be consumed as payment for member services.
The acquired brokerage performance data 610 is brokerage performance data 860 acquired from the user terminal 1500 of the user.
The acquired play information communication record data 612 is play information communication record data 840 acquired from the user terminal 1500 of the user.
The game save data 614 is prepared for each game title, and stores various data including information on game items owned by the user.

When the user of the user terminal 1500 that functions as the intermediary node 16 receives a bonus as a token of appreciation, if the bonus is a game item, information about the game item is added to the game save data 614, and if the bonus is service points, the held service points 607 are updated by adding the service points.

Returning to FIG. 10, the play management data 700 is created for each online game, and stores various data relating to the execution of that game.
14, one play management data 700 includes a unique play ID 701, a title of the game to be played 703, a play date and time 705, participating user registration data 707, player-specific initial setting data 709, intermediary terminal candidate selection data 710, node group setting data 718, intermediary communication setting data 720 (see FIG. 7), game result compilation data 740, questionnaire compilation data 742, and intermediary performance evaluation data 744. Of course, data other than these may also be included as appropriate.

The participating user registration data 707 stores the participating user's user terminal 1500 in association with the user account of the participating user. The user terminal 1500 registered in the registration data is in a signed-in state and participating in the game.

Therefore, the status of a user terminal 1500 that is registered in the sign-in management data 542 but not registered in the participating user registration data 707 will be "not participating in the game." The status of a user terminal 1500 that is registered in the sign-in management data 542 and also registered in the participating user registration data 707 will be "participating in the game" (see FIG. 1). In other words, the sign-in management data 542 and the participating user registration data 707 correspond to "status information" that indicates whether or not the user terminal 1500 is participating in the game.

The player-specific initial setting data 709 is prepared for each participating user, i.e., player, and stores the initial setting data related to that player (e.g., information on the type of player character, equipment, etc.). This data is distributed to the participating user's user terminal 1500 before the game starts, and is used to display each player character in the game space managed by each user, and to control the progress of the game.

The intermediary terminal candidate selection data 710 stores the intermediary terminal candidate user terminal IDs, which indicate the targets of suitability ranking as intermediary terminals (intermediary nodes 16) among the participating users' user terminals 1500, in association with their suitability rankings (overall suitability rankings). In addition, data calculated and temporarily stored during the suitability ranking process may be included as appropriate.

The node group setting data 718 is created for each node group 14, and includes a unique node group ID and a constituent user terminal ID list indicating the user terminals 1500 included in the node group. Of course, other data may also be included as appropriate. In team participation online games, the node group setting data 718 functions as team setting data.

The game result summary data 740 is data summarizing the game results obtained from the participating users' user terminals 1500, and stores the playing results of each participating user, the playing results for each node group 14, and the playing results overall.

The survey summary data 742 is the result of tallying up the response information to a survey in which the participating users answered their satisfaction with communication quality (e.g., a five-point scale) on their user terminals 1500. The tallying is performed by adding up the responses from the user terminals 1500 of the node group to which each user terminal 1500 that functioned as an intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) belongs.

The intermediation performance evaluation data 744 stores data on the evaluation results (e.g., the cumulative contribution evaluation points) of the communication intermediation contribution of each user terminal 1500 that acted as an intermediary node 16, data on the evaluation process, etc.

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the user terminal 1500.
The user terminal 1500 includes an operation input unit 100 , a device processing unit 200 , a sound output unit 390 , an image display unit 392 , a communication unit 394 , and a terminal storage unit 500 .

The operation input unit 100 outputs operation input signals corresponding to various operation inputs made by the player to the device processing unit 200. For example, this can be realized by a push switch, joystick, touch pad, track ball, acceleration sensor, gyro, CCD module, etc. Examples of this include the directional input keys 1502, button switches 1504, and touch panel 1506 in Figure 2.

The device processing unit 200 is realized by electronic components such as a microprocessor such as a CPU or GPU, and an IC memory, and controls the input and output of data between each functional unit including the operation input unit 100 and the terminal storage unit 500. It controls the operation of the user terminal 1500 by executing various arithmetic processing based on predetermined programs and data, operation input signals from the operation input unit 100, and various data received from the server system 1100. This corresponds to the control board 1550 in Figure 2.

In this embodiment, the device processing unit 200 has a device control unit 260, a timing unit 280, a sound generation unit 290, an image generation unit 292, and a communication control unit 294.

The terminal control unit 260 performs various controls for participating in the game communication system 1000 and playing online games. Specifically, it includes a sign-in control unit 262, an intermediary function control unit 264, and a play function control unit 270.

The sign-in control unit 262 accesses the server system 1100 and performs various procedures for signing in.

The intermediary function control unit 264 performs control to mediate the communication of play information sent and received by the user terminals 1500 of participating users based on given setting data (node group setting data 718, intermediary communication setting data 720; see FIG. 14). In other words, it performs various controls to realize the function as an intermediary node 16.

The play function control unit 270 performs control for participating in a multiplayer online game and operating the player's character to play. In other words, it performs various controls to realize the functions of the player node 12. The play function control unit 270 includes an intermediary window determination unit 272, a play information transmission/reception control unit 274, and a game progress control unit 276.

The intermediary window determination unit 272 determines the intermediary window terminal from among the intermediary window candidate terminals notified by the server system 1100. Then, the intermediary window terminal is switched based on the communication situation. Specifically, the intermediary window determination unit 272 obtains the intermediary communication setting data 720 (see FIG. 7) from the server system 1100, and the user terminal 1500 with the highest in-group suitability ranking 723 in the intermediary window terminal candidate data 722 is set as the initial intermediary window terminal. If the initial intermediary window terminal is in communication trouble (a situation where communication is not possible, including a situation where communication is not possible due to the user's intentional communication disconnection, the communication speed is below a specified value, the frequency of communication errors exceeds a standard, etc.), the user terminal 1500 with the second in-group suitability ranking 723 is set as the next intermediary window terminal. Furthermore, if the intermediary window terminal is in communication trouble, an attempt is made to access the intermediary window terminal higher than that, and if that fails, the third one is set as the intermediary window terminal. This is repeated based on the in-group suitability ranking 723, and one of the same node groups 14 is always set as the intermediary window terminal. If all user terminals 1500 belonging to the same node group 14 are experiencing communication problems, except for the user terminal 1500 itself, the intermediary window terminal is selected from the user terminals 1500 belonging to the other node groups 14.

The play information transmission/reception control unit 274 controls the transmission and reception of play information via the intermediary window terminal.

The game progress control unit 276 controls the game progress of the online game, and also controls the generation of game images to display the game screen. That is, it sets up a game space by arranging background objects in a virtual three-dimensional space, arranges player characters for each participating user in the game space, and controls the movements of each character based on play information received from the participating user's user terminal 1500. In addition, exclusive game progress decisions are shared between the user terminals 1500 through the play information, and progress adjustment processing is performed as needed, thereby realizing a consistent game progress that does not result in different game progress for each user terminal 1500.

The timing unit 280 uses the system clock to measure the current date and time, time limits, etc.

The sound generation unit 290 is realized by, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processor such as a voice synthesis IC, an audio codec capable of playing audio files, etc., and generates sound signals for music, sound effects, and various operation sounds, and outputs them to the sound output unit 390.

The sound output unit 390 is realized by a device that outputs (emits) sound based on the sound signal input from the sound generation unit 290. This corresponds to the speaker 1510 in FIG. 2.

The image generation unit 292 generates a game space image by rendering the state within the game space based on the processing results (results of control of the game space) of the game progress control unit 276. It also synthesizes various information displays with the game space image to generate a game screen. It then outputs image signals to display them on the image display unit 392. In the example of Figure 2, this corresponds to the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and graphics controller mounted on the control board 1550.

The image display unit 392 is realized by a device that displays images, such as a flat panel display, a head-mounted display, or a projector. In the example of FIG. 2, this corresponds to the touch panel 1506.

The communication control unit 294 executes data processing related to data communication and realizes data exchange with external devices via the communication unit 394.

The communication unit 394 connects to the network 9 to realize communication. For example, this is realized by a wireless communication device, a modem, a TA (terminal adapter), a jack for a wired communication cable, a control circuit, etc. In the example of FIG. 2, this corresponds to the wireless communication module 1553.

The device storage unit 500 stores programs for causing the device processing unit 200 to realize given functions, various data, etc. It is also used as a working area for the device processing unit 200, and temporarily stores the results of calculations executed by the device processing unit 200 according to various programs, input data input from the operation input unit 100, etc. These functions are realized, for example, by IC memory such as RAM or ROM, magnetic disks such as hard disks, optical disks such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, etc. In the example of Figure 2, this corresponds to the IC memory 1552 and memory card 1540 mounted on the control board 1550. A configuration using online storage is also possible.

Specifically, the device storage unit 500 stores a terminal program 502 (application program) for causing the device processing unit 200 to function as the device control unit 260, specification information 800 (see FIG. 4), play data 810, and the current date and time 900. Of course, data other than these can also be stored as appropriate.

The play data 810 is created each time the user terminal 1500 participates in an online game, and stores various data necessary for running the game.

As shown in FIG. 16, for example, the play data 810 includes a unique play ID 811 notified by the server system 1100 at the time of registration, the title of the game to be played 812, the play date and time 814, game initial setting data 516t (a copy of the game initial setting data 516; see FIG. 10), player-specific initial setting data 709t (a copy of the player-specific initial setting data 709; see FIG. 14), and node group setting data 718t (a copy of the node group setting data 718; see FIG. 14). ), intermediary communication setting data 720t (a copy of intermediary communication setting data 720; see FIG. 7 and FIG. 14), intermediary window terminal ID 830, play information 832, other player play information 834 (received play information 832 of other user terminals 1500), game progress control data 836, play information communication record data 840 (see FIG. 5), intermediary record data 860 (see FIG. 6), communication failure terminal information 890, game result data 892, and questionnaire information 894. Of course, data other than these may also be included as appropriate.

The communication malfunction terminal information 890 is information for providing the server system 1100 with identification information of an intermediary window terminal that satisfies a given communication malfunction certification condition, and distributing it to other user terminals 1500. The communication malfunction terminal information 890 includes, for example, the communication malfunction date and time, a terminal ID, and a malfunction code indicating the type of communication malfunction certification. In the example of FIG. 16, there is only one communication malfunction terminal information 890, but when an online game is actually started, multiple pieces of communication malfunction terminal information may be stored, including not only information created by the user's own device, but also information generated by other user terminals 1500 and distributed via the server system 1100, depending on the state of the communication environment at the time.

Next, the operation of the game communication system 1000 will be described.
17 to 19 are flow charts for explaining the flow of processing executed by user terminals 1500 of participating users and server system 1100 in relation to the execution of one online game.

As shown in FIG. 17, the user terminal 1500 first accesses the server system 1100 and executes a sign-in process (step S10). The server system 1100 registers the signed-in user terminal 1500 in the sign-in management data 542 (step S12). Accordingly, the play history data 616 is also updated.

The server system 1100 creates and initializes new play management data 700 for soliciting participation in the new online game (step S14; see FIG. 14), and solicits participation users within a specified period of time (step S16). The solicitation of participation users is announced, for example, on the home page of the game communication system 1000, and can be checked at any time on the user terminal 1500. When a selection input for a game to participate in is detected on the user terminal 1500, the user terminal 1500 makes a participation request to the server system 1100 (step S18).

When the online game participation period is closed, the server system 1100 registers the user of the user terminal 1500 who requested participation in the participating user registration data 707 (see FIG. 14) and executes loop A for each participating user (steps S30 to S42). In loop A, the server system 1100 accepts the settings of the player character (step S32). In response, the user terminal 1500 displays a player character setting operation input screen and transmits the results of the setting operation input to the server system 1100. The server system 1100 receives this and creates player-specific initial setting data 709 (see FIG. 14).

Next, the server system 1100 executes a process to obtain a request to submit the spec information 800 from the user terminal 1500 (step S36). In response, the user terminal 1500 submits the spec information 800 to the server system 1100 (step S38).

The spec information 800 submitted from the user terminal 1500 is saved as new spec history data 605 in the user management data 600 (see FIG. 13) of the user of the user terminal 1500. To obtain the transmission capacity information 804 of the spec information 800, a so-called communication line quality check (check of line type, transmission capacity, transmission speed, and NAT type) is performed between the server system 1100 and the user terminal 1500, and the result may be used as the transmission capacity information 804.

Next, if the content of the currently acquired spec information 800 satisfies a given improvement certification condition (e.g., the difference in CPU processing power has improved beyond a reference value, the communication line speed has improved beyond a specified reference value, etc.) based on the content of the past spec information 800 shown in the previous spec history data 605, the server system 1100 grants a spec improvement bonus to the user of the user terminal 1500 (step S40).

The specification improvement benefit can be set as appropriate, but it is preferable to award game items that can be used in online games, service points that can be consumed to use member services other than online games provided by the game communication system 1000, etc. In addition, it is preferable to set the value of the benefit to be higher the greater the improvement.

When loop A has been completed for all participating users, the server system 1100 then selects from among the user terminals 1500 of all participating users a user terminal 1500 that matches the intermediary terminal selection definition data 520 (see FIG. 11) applied to the online game, and sets this as a candidate intermediary terminal (step S44).

Then, the server system 1100 performs suitability ranking on the intermediary terminal candidates (see FIG. 4) and saves the result as intermediary terminal candidate selection data 710 (see FIG. 14) (step S46). The suitability ranking set at this time is an overall ranking of the participating users' user terminals 1500, and is therefore an "overall suitability ranking."

Then, the server system 1100 sends a predetermined notification regarding the intermediary terminal and the benefits to the user terminal 1500 that is the candidate for the intermediary terminal (step S48). In response, the user terminal 1500 displays the notification (step S50).

The contents of the notification include at least: (1) that the user terminal 1500 may use part of its resources for communication mediation during play; and (2) that if the user continues to participate in the game without taking the system offline until the end of the game, a bonus will be given according to the performance of communication mediation. The contents of (2) have the effect of preventing users from intentionally disconnecting communication and leaving the game because they find themselves in a disadvantageous situation, or from leaving the game because their player character dies during the game and they can only see the game space as a ghost.

Next, the server system 1100 organizes the node group 14 and saves the result as node group setting data 718 (see FIG. 14) (step S58). In the case of a team participation format, the node group setting data 718 is created at the participation recruitment stage in step S14.

Moving on to FIG. 18, once the suitability ranking has been completed, the server system 1100 executes loop B for each node group 14 to create intermediary communication setting data 720 (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 14) (steps S60 to S68).

Specifically, in loop B, the server system 1100 first determines whether the user terminal 1500 that constitutes the node group 14 to be processed is included among the intermediate terminal candidates that have been ranked by suitability (step S62).

If the answer is negative (NO in step S62), this means that there are no user terminals 1500 in the node group 14 being processed that could be candidates for the intermediary window terminal, so a new candidate intermediary terminal is selected from the user terminals 1500 of non-participating users (step S64).

Specifically, the server system 1100 selects a predetermined number (e.g., about 1 to 3) of user terminals 1500 of users who are not participating in the online game in order of the top ranking of the intermediary terminal ranking data 746 (see FIG. 10), and if they satisfy the intermediary terminal selection definition data 520 that is suitable for the online game, they are designated as new intermediary terminal candidates.

Then, the intermediary communication setting data 720 is created in which the terminal IDs of the newly selected intermediary terminal candidates are set as the candidate user terminal IDs 724, starting from the first one in the in-group suitability ranking 723 of the intermediary communication setting data 720 related to the node group 14 being processed (step S66), and loop B is terminated (step S68).

If the judgment in step S62 is positive (YES in step S62), the server system 1100 creates the intermediary communication setting data 720 (see Figures 7 and 14) for the node group 14 being processed (step S66) and ends loop B (step S68).

Specifically, in step S66, the server system 1100 reads out the overall suitability ranking of each user terminal 1500 constituting the node group 14 to be processed from the intermediary terminal candidate selection data 710 (see FIG. 14). Then, it sorts the overall suitability ranking in ascending order, sets each user terminal 1500 in order from the top of the in-group suitability ranking 723 to the candidate user terminal ID 724, and sets each access information 725.

When loop B has been executed for all node groups 14, the server system 1100 distributes the node group setting data 718 and the intermediary communication setting data 720 for all node groups 14 to the user terminals 1500 of the participating users (step S80), and distributes the game initial setting data 516 and all player-specific initial setting data 709 (step S82).

In response to these broadcasts, the participating user's user terminal 1500 stores the node group setting data 718t and the intermediary communication setting data 720t in the play data 810 (step S84), and stores the game initial setting data 516t and the player-specific initial setting data 709t (step S86).

Then, when the server system 1100 transmits a simultaneous notification of the start of the game to the user terminals 1500 of all participating users (step S88), each user terminal 1500 starts controlling the game progress (step S90). In other words, game play begins.

20 and 21 are flowcharts for explaining the flow of processing related to game progress control by the user terminal 1500.
After starting game progress control, if the user performs game operation input on the user's own device, or if the game progresses exclusively (YES in step S110), the user terminal 1500 updates the play information 832 with that information (step S112).

When an exclusive game progresses, it is something that requires consistency with the state of the game space that is being controlled in parallel on another user terminal 1500, that is, something that is subject to adjustment of the game progress in the game logic. Specifically, in the case of an RPG, this would include the results of combat between an enemy character and the player character, which includes random elements, changes to ability parameter values such as the player character's HP, the defeat or emergence of an enemy character, the appearance or acquisition of a specific item, etc.

Next, the user terminal 1500 determines the intermediary window terminal to which the updated play information 832 is to be sent (step S114). Specifically, by referring to the intermediary communication setting data 720t of the node group 14 to which the user terminal 1500 belongs (see FIG. 7), the user terminal 1500 with the candidate user terminal ID 724 having the highest in-group suitability ranking 723 is determined to be the intermediary window terminal at that time. This is indicated by the intermediary window terminal ID 830 (see FIG. 16). However, the user terminal 1500 indicated by the communication failure terminal information 890 is excluded from the candidates for the intermediary window terminal. Note that if the play information 832 includes information for when the game progresses exclusively, multiple intermediary window terminals may be determined to ensure redundant transmission of important information.

Next, the user terminal 1500 determines whether or not it is a mediation gateway terminal in its own node group (step S116).
If the in-group suitability ranking 723 of the own node group is the highest at that time (meaning the highest ranking excluding the communication failure terminal indicated by the communication failure terminal information 890) in the intermediation communication setting data 720t of the own node group, the own node is determined to be an intermediation window terminal. In other words, it is determined that the own node is in a condition to function as the intermediation node 16 of the own node group.

If the user terminal 1500 determines that it is not an intermediary terminal (NO in step S116), it transmits play information 832 to the intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) (step S120). At this time, the header of the transmitted data includes the terminal ID of the user terminal 1500 that sent the data, and the play information 832 is stored in the data body. The user terminal 1500 then updates the play information communication record data 840 relating to the communication (step S122).

The communication environment is constantly changing even while playing an online game. Also, participating users may voluntarily disconnect the communication connection of the user terminal 1500. Therefore, the transmission of play information 832 may not necessarily be successful.

If the transmission of the play information 832 fails (NO in step S124), the user terminal 1500 creates new communication failure terminal information 890 and transmits it to the server system 1100 (step S126). Then, the user terminal 1500 reselects another intermediary window terminal from its own node group (step S128) and returns to step S120 to start over from transmission.

If it is determined in step S116 that the user terminal is an intermediary window terminal (YES in step S116), the user terminal 1500 distributes the play information 832 to other user terminals 1500 in the node group and updates the play information communication history data 840 (step S140).

Furthermore, the user terminal 1500 refers to the intermediary communication setting data 720t (see FIG. 7) for each other node group, determines the intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) in that node group (step S142), transmits the play information 832 to the intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) (step S144), and updates the intermediary performance data 860 (step S146).

Moving on to FIG. 21, when the user terminal 1500 receives the play information 832 (YES in step S160), it reflects the received play information 832 as other player play information 834 in the game progress control (step S162).

Next, the user terminal 1500 determines whether the user terminal 1500 itself is an intermediary terminal in the node group. If the user terminal 1500 itself is an intermediary terminal in the node group (YES in step S164), the user terminal 1500 distributes the received play information 832 to other user terminals 1500 in the node group, and updates the play information communication record data 840 (step S170).

Next, the affiliation of the user terminal 1500 that is the sender of the play information 832 received in step S160 is determined (step S172).
Then, if the user terminal 1500 that is the sender belongs to the own node group (own node group in step S172), the user terminal 1500 refers to the intermediary communication setting data 720t (see FIG. 7) for each other node group, determines an intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) in that node group (step S174), transmits the play information 832 to that terminal (step S176), and updates the intermediary performance data 860 (step S178).

Returning to FIG. 20, when the game ends (YES in step S180), the process moves to the flowchart in FIG. 19, where the user terminal 1500 connects to the server system 1100 for communication and transmits the game result data 892 to the server system 1100 (step S200).

The server system 1100 aggregates the results to generate game result aggregate data 740 (see FIG. 14) and notifies each user terminal 1500 (step S204). The user terminal 1500 receives the notification and displays the game results (step S206).

Next, the user terminal 1500 displays a questionnaire about the communication quality in the current online game, and transmits the answers to the server system 1100 as questionnaire information 894 (step S210). The server system 1100 receives this and creates the questionnaire compilation data 742 (see FIG. 14) (step S212).

Next, the user terminal 1500 transmits the play information communication record data 840 to the server system 1100 (step S214). The server system 1100 receives this data and stores it as acquired play information communication record data 612 in the user management data 600 of the user of the user terminal 1500 that transmitted the data (step S216).

Next, the user terminal 1500 transmits the brokerage performance data 860 to the server system 1100 (step S218). The server system 1100 receives this data and stores it as acquired brokerage performance data 610 in the user management data 600 (see FIG. 13) of the user of the user terminal 1500 that transmitted the data (step S220).

Then, the server system 1100 evaluates the contribution related to the communication mediation according to the contribution evaluation definition data 530 (see FIG. 12) for each user terminal 1500 that has transmitted the acquired mediation performance data 610, based on the respective acquired mediation performance data 610 and the game results related to the user terminal 1500 in the game result summary data 740. In other words, an evaluation of the mediation performance is performed (step S222; see FIG. 8).

Next, the server system 1100 grants a benefit to the user of the user terminal 1500 that sent the acquired brokerage performance data 610 in accordance with the brokerage benefit definition data 540 (see FIG. 10) (step S224).

If the user terminal 1500 to which the bonus is to be awarded corresponds to the communication failure terminal information 890, the bonus may be reduced (or no bonus may be awarded). In this case, if the reason for the communication failure is a failure due to communication environment factors, it is preferable to notify the user of this fact, or if the function as the intermediary node 16 could not be maintained until the end of play, to notify the user of this fact.

Next, the server system 1100 updates the ranking of the user terminal 1500 that sent the acquired brokerage performance data 610 based on the evaluation result of the current brokerage performance, and updates the brokerage terminal ranking data 746 (step S226).

As described above, this embodiment provides a technique for expressing gratitude to nodes that perform special functions required to realize a multiplayer online game.

In other words, the game communication system 1000 realizes a multiplayer online game by having the user terminals 1500 send and receive play information 832 of each user. The game communication system 1000 also selects an intermediary terminal (intermediary node 16) from among the user terminals 1500 and creates an intermediary network for sending and receiving play information between the intermediary terminals. A higher-level internal network is constructed within the entire communication network between the user terminals 1500. By consolidating much of the sending and receiving of play information in the intermediary network, which corresponds to this higher-level internal network, it is possible to efficiently communicate play information across the entire communication network.

The user terminal 1500 that functions as an intermediary terminal is evaluated based on its performance in the intermediation (intermediation performance), and the user who uses the user terminal can receive a reward according to this evaluation. Since a reward can be given to the node (intermediary terminal) that has performed the special function of intermediating the communication of play information, it is possible to show gratitude to the node (intermediary terminal).

[Modifications]
An example of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above, but the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described forms, and components can be added, omitted, or modified as appropriate.

(Variation 1)
For example, in the above embodiment, it was explained that the intermediary window terminal of the player node 12 (user terminal 1500 of the participating user) is basically determined and maintained at the start of play based on the suitability ranking within the node group 14, and that in the event of a communication failure, the intermediary window terminal is switched based on the communication conditions, but the setting of the intermediary window terminal is not limited to this method.

For example, in step S114 (see FIG. 20), the intermediary window terminal may be forcibly switched at a predetermined period in accordance with the in-group suitability ranking 723 of the intermediary window terminal candidate data 722 (see FIG. 7). This configuration can increase robustness to a situation in which the intermediary window terminal suddenly withdraws or experiences communication problems.

The intermediary window terminal may also be switched based on the content of the play information 832 to be transmitted. For example, when transmitting play information whose content satisfies a given important condition, multiple intermediary window terminals are selected and asked to mediate the transmission of the play information in the same way, ensuring redundancy. On the other hand, when transmitting play information whose content does not satisfy the important condition (has low importance), fewer intermediary terminals (for example, one intermediary terminal) may be selected.

For example, if the play information to be transmitted satisfies the important condition, only user terminals 1500 whose in-group suitability ranking 723 is within a predetermined high rank may be selected as intermediary window terminals, and if the important condition is not satisfied, user terminals 1500 that are not within the predetermined high rank may be selected.

(Variation 2)
In the above embodiment, an example of participation/non-participation in a game is shown as an example of the status of the user terminal 1500, but the information on the status is not limited to this. For example, information such as the number of application software running on the user terminal 1500 and the free memory capacity may be included. In this case, in loop A (see FIG. 17), a step of transmitting such information from the user terminal 1500 to the server system 1100 and a step of storing the information received by the server system 1100 for each user terminal 1500 may be added.

Then, when setting the overall suitability ranking in step S46, the ranking is set so that the fewer the number of running application software, the higher the ranking, and the larger the free memory capacity, the higher the ranking.

(Variation 3)
In the above embodiment, the function of adjusting the exclusive elements is exemplified as being performed by each user terminal 1500, but the function may be assigned to a specific user terminal 1500 (specific node) among the user terminals 1500 of the participating users. In other words, a configuration in which a "node in charge of adjustment" is separately set is also possible.

The coordination node is set to one of the user terminals 1500 that are included in a predetermined number of top rankings, using the overall suitability ranking used to set the intermediary node 16. After the game ends, a bonus may be given to the user of the user terminal 1500 that has been designated as the coordination node, as a token of appreciation for providing resources related to the coordination process.

Description of the Reference Numerals 10...Play network 11...Intermediary network 12...Player node 14...Node group 16...Intermediary node 20...Benefit 200...Terminal processing unit 200s...Server processing unit 210...Game management unit 212...Matching unit 214...Intermediary network creation unit 216...Intermediary communication setting transmission control unit 218...Intermediary performance evaluation unit 220...Intermediary terminal ranking unit 222...Intermediary benefit granting unit 224...Specification information acquisition control unit 226...Specification improvement benefit granting unit 228...Communication performance acquisition control unit 230...Intermediary window candidate notification control unit 232...Survey information acquisition control unit 234...Status information acquisition control unit 260...Terminal control unit 264...Intermediary function control unit 270...Play function control unit 272...Intermediary window determination unit 274...Play information transmission/reception control unit 276...Game progress control unit 501...Server program 502...Terminal program 514...Game type setting 516: Game initial setting data 520: Intermediary terminal selection definition data 530: Contribution evaluation definition data 540: Intermediary privilege definition data 542: Sign-in management data 600: User management data 605: Specification history data 610: Acquired intermediary performance data 612: Acquired play information communication performance data 700: Play management data 707: Participating user registration data 709: Player-specific initial setting data 710: Intermediary terminal candidate selection data 718: Node group setting data 720: Intermediary communication setting data 722: Intermediary window terminal candidate data 723: Suitability ranking within group 740: Game result compilation data 742: Questionnaire compilation data 744: Intermediary performance evaluation data 746: Intermediary terminal ranking data 800: Specification information 810: Play data 832: Play information 836: Game progress control data 840: Play information communication performance data 860: Intermediary performance data 880: cumulative communication mediation data volume 882: cumulative communication mediation time length 884: communication mediation time zone distribution 890: communication malfunction terminal information 892: game result data 894: questionnaire information 1000: game communication system 1100: server system 1500: user terminal

Claims (33)

A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
A specification information acquisition means for acquiring specification information of each of the intermediate terminals;
a specification improvement benefit granting means for detecting the intermediate terminal whose specification information has been improved from the previous specification information and granting a benefit to a user of the detected intermediate terminal;
Equipped with
Game communication system. the intermediation performance evaluation means includes at least a communication data volume or a communication time period through the communication intermediation function in the intermediation performance, and performs evaluation based on the intermediation performance.
The game communication system of claim 1 . the intermediation performance evaluation means includes at least a time period of communication through the communication intermediation function in the intermediation performance, and performs evaluation based on the intermediation performance;
3. The game communication system according to claim 1 or 2. the brokerage performance evaluation means relatively evaluates the brokerage performance of each of the brokerage terminals;
A game communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The server system further includes a communication history acquisition means for acquiring a communication history of each of the user terminals,
The intermediate network creation means determines the intermediate terminal based on the communication record.
A game communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
A user information acquisition means for acquiring, for each of the users, information on a playing record of playing the online game as a player and/or information on friend players;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the information acquired by the user information acquiring means, and for creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
Equipped with
Game communication system. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
the server system comprises : an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals ; an intermediary communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the intermediary network to the intermediary terminal ; an intermediary performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediary terminals based on an intermediary performance of the communication intermediation function ; and a benefit granting means for granting a benefit to a user of the intermediary terminal in accordance with an evaluation result of the intermediary performance evaluation means ;
Furthermore,
the server system comprises: a user-specific intermediary window candidate selection notifying means for selecting, for each of the user terminals, a plurality of intermediary window candidate terminals which are candidates for an intermediary window terminal that will be a window for transmitting and receiving the play information for the user terminal from among the intermediary terminals determined by the intermediary network creation means, and notifying the user terminal of the selection;
The user terminal comprises an intermediary window determination means for determining an intermediary window terminal from the intermediary window candidate terminals notified by the server system, and a play information sending and receiving means for sending and receiving the play information via the intermediary window terminal.
Game communication system. the intermediation window determination means switches the intermediation window terminal based on a communication status of the play information transmission/reception means;
The gaming communication system of claim 7 . the intermediation window determination means periodically switches the intermediation window terminal;
The gaming communication system of claim 7 . the intermediation window determination means switches the intermediation window terminal based on the content of the play information to be transmitted;
The gaming communication system of claim 7 . The server system further includes a survey information acquisition means for acquiring survey information related to the intermediary window terminal of the user terminal from the user terminal,
the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal based on the questionnaire information;
A game communication system according to any one of claims 7 to 10 . A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
The online games are classified into a first type game and a second type game, which differ in the specifications of the user terminal required for the game;
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that mediates communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the type of the first type game and the second type game, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediary communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the corresponding intermediary network to each of the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game ;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
Equipped with
Game communication system. The server system further comprises an intermediary terminal ranking means for ranking the intermediary terminals based on the evaluation result of the intermediary performance evaluation means,
the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game in the future based on the ranking of the intermediary terminals.
The gaming communication system of claim 12 . A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
Equipped with
the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal from among the user terminals, regardless of whether the user terminal belongs to a user who is not participating in the online game.
Game communication system. the server system further comprises a status information acquisition means for acquiring status information of the user terminal including whether or not the user terminal is executing the online game;
the intermediate network creation means determines the intermediate terminal based on the status information;
15. The gaming communication system of claim 14 . the reward granting means variably determines a reward to be granted to the user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal through which communication of the play information is mediated by the intermediary terminal;
A game communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 15. The online game is a game in which a plurality of users participate as a team,
the intermediary network creation means determines, from among the user terminals of the users of the same team, the intermediary terminal that mediates communication of the play information related to the users of the same team;
A game communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 15. the benefit granting means variably determines a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game of the same team for which the intermediary terminal has mediated communication of the play information;
20. The gaming communication system of claim 17. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
A specification information acquisition means for acquiring specification information of each of the intermediate terminals;
a specification improvement benefit granting means for detecting the intermediate terminal whose specification information has been improved from the previous specification information and granting a benefit to a user of the detected intermediate terminal;
Equipped with
Game communication system. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
A user information acquisition means for acquiring, for each of the users, information on a playing record of playing the online game as a player and/or information on friend players;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the information acquired by the user information acquiring means, and for creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
Equipped with
Game communication system. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
the server system comprises : an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals ; an intermediary communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the intermediary network to the intermediary terminal ; and a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal whose communication of the play information is mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal ,
Furthermore,
the server system comprises: a user-specific intermediary window candidate selection notifying means for selecting, for each of the user terminals, a plurality of intermediary window candidate terminals which are candidates for an intermediary window terminal that will be a window for transmitting and receiving the play information for the user terminal from among the intermediary terminals determined by the intermediary network creation means, and notifying the user terminal of the selection;
The user terminal comprises an intermediary window determination means for determining an intermediary window terminal from the intermediary window candidate terminals notified by the server system, and a play information sending and receiving means for sending and receiving the play information via the intermediary window terminal.
Game communication system. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
The online games are classified into a first type game and a second type game, which differ in the specifications of the user terminal required for the game;
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creation means for determining an intermediary terminal that mediates communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the type of the first type game and the second type game, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediary communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the corresponding intermediary network to each of the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game ;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
Equipped with
Game communication system. A game communication system comprising a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user to realize a multiplayer online game,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
The server system includes:
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
Equipped with
the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal from among the user terminals, regardless of whether the user terminal belongs to a user who is not participating in the online game.
Game communication system. A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
A specification information acquisition means for acquiring specification information of each of the intermediate terminals;
a specification improvement benefit granting means for detecting the intermediate terminal whose specification information has been improved from the previous specification information and granting a benefit to a user of the detected intermediate terminal;
A server system comprising: A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
A user information acquisition means for acquiring, for each of the users, information on a playing record of playing the online game as a player and/or information on friend players;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the information acquired by the user information acquiring means, and for creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
A server system comprising: A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
Equipped with
Furthermore,
a user-specific intermediary window candidate selection and notification means for selecting, for each of the user terminals, from the intermediary terminals determined by the intermediary network creation means, a plurality of intermediary window candidate terminals which are candidates for the intermediary window terminal that will be a window for transmitting and receiving the play information for that user terminal, and notifying those user terminals;
the user terminal comprises an intermediary window determination means for determining an intermediary window terminal from the intermediary window candidate terminals notified by the server system, and a play information sending and receiving means for sending and receiving the play information via the intermediary window terminal;
Server system. A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
The online games are classified into a first type game and a second type game, which differ in the specifications of the user terminal required for the game;
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that mediates communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the type of the first type game and the second type game, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediary communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the corresponding intermediary network to each of the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game ;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
A server system comprising: A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
an intermediation performance evaluation means for evaluating each of the intermediation terminals based on the intermediation performance of the communication intermediation function;
a reward provision means for providing a reward to a user of the intermediation terminal in accordance with the evaluation result of the intermediation performance evaluation means;
Equipped with
the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal from among the user terminals, regardless of whether the user terminal belongs to a user who is not participating in the online game.
Server system. A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
A specification information acquisition means for acquiring specification information of each of the intermediate terminals;
a specification improvement benefit granting means for detecting the intermediate terminal whose specification information has been improved from the previous specification information and granting a benefit to a user of the detected intermediate terminal;
A server system comprising: A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
A user information acquisition means for acquiring, for each of the users, information on a playing record of playing the online game as a player and/or information on friend players;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the information acquired by the user information acquiring means, and for creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
A server system comprising: A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
Equipped with
Furthermore,
a user-specific intermediary window candidate selection and notification means for selecting, for each of the user terminals, from the intermediary terminals determined by the intermediary network creation means, a plurality of intermediary window candidate terminals which are candidates for the intermediary window terminal that will be a window for transmitting and receiving the play information for that user terminal, and notifying those user terminals;
the user terminal comprises an intermediary window determination means for determining an intermediary window terminal from the intermediary window candidate terminals notified by the server system, and a play information sending and receiving means for sending and receiving the play information via the intermediary window terminal;
Server system. A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
The online games are classified into a first type game and a second type game, which differ in the specifications of the user terminal required for the game;
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that mediates communication of the play information from among the user terminals based on the type of the first type game and the second type game, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediary communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediary communication setting based on the corresponding intermediary network to each of the intermediary terminals for the first type game and the second type game ;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
A server system comprising: A game communication system including a server system and a user terminal of each user capable of communicating with the server system, the server system realizing a multiplayer online game by each user terminal transmitting and receiving play information of each user,
the user terminal has a communication intermediation function that intermediates communication of the play information transmitted and received by the user terminal based on a given intermediation communication setting;
an intermediary network creating means for determining an intermediary terminal that will mediate communication of the play information from among the user terminals, and creating an intermediary network between the intermediary terminals;
an intermediate communication setting transmission control means for transmitting the intermediate communication setting based on the intermediate network to the intermediate terminal;
a benefit granting means for determining a benefit to be granted to a user of the intermediary terminal based on a game result of the online game played by the user of the user terminal, the communication of the play information being mediated by the intermediary terminal, and granting the benefit to the user of the intermediary terminal;
Equipped with
the intermediary network creation means determines the intermediary terminal from among the user terminals, regardless of whether the user terminal belongs to a user who is not participating in the online game.
Server system.

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