JP7776562B2 - Program, device, and system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program, device, and system.

Patent Document 1 describes a technology that aims to make it easier for players to select game media to be exchanged. Patent Document 2 describes a technology that aims to involve players in the card creation process. Patent Document 3 describes a lottery system that aims to reduce the burden on campaign organizers while promoting products.
(Prior art document)
(Patent Documents)
(Patent Document 1) JP 2014-188366 A (Patent Document 2) JP 2017-131321 A (Patent Document 3) JP 2005-070937 A

A first aspect of the present invention provides a program. The program causes a computer to function as a registration unit that registers multiple character contents in association with first user identification information, which is identification information of a first user, and as a release unit that releases the association between the first user identification information and at least one of the multiple character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information. The multiple character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content, and the release unit can release the association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information, among the multiple character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, but cannot release the association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, the apparatus including: a registration unit that registers a plurality of character contents in association with first user identification information that is identification information of a first user;
and a release unit that releases an association between the first user identification information and at least one of a plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information. The plurality of character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content, and the release unit is capable of releasing the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, but is unable to release the association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a system. The system includes the above-described device and a user terminal usable by the user. The presentation control unit executes control to present, to the user via the user terminal, character elements associated with character content registered in association with the identification information or character content registered in association with the identification information.

Note that the above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention. Subcombinations of these features may also constitute inventions.

1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a system 5 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a user terminal 20. 10 shows an example of character content information stored in the device 10. 10 shows an example of character content registration information stored in the device 10. 10 shows an example of product information stored in the device 10. 1 shows an example of payment information stored by the device 10. 8A and 8B show an example of a character content list screen 800 displayed on the user terminal 20. 9A and 9B show an example of a serial code input screen 900 displayed on the user terminal 20. 10 shows an example of a character content list screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20. 11A and 11B show an example of a first shopping screen 1100 displayed on the user terminal 20. 12A and 12B show an example of a second shopping screen 1200 displayed on the user terminal 20. 13A and 13B show an example of a third shopping screen 1300 displayed on the user terminal 20. 14A and 14B show an example of a lottery result screen 1400 displayed on the user terminal 20. 15A and 15B show an example of a character content screen 1500 displayed on the user terminal 20. 16A and 16B show an example of a deregistration screen 1600 displayed on the user terminal 20. 17A and 17B show an example of a character content screen 1700 displayed on the user terminal 20. 18A and 18B show an example of a transfer screen 1800 displayed on the user terminal 20. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 10. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a device 12 according to a second embodiment. 10 shows an example of the data structure of character element information stored in the device 12. 10 shows an example of a data structure of selected character element information stored in the device 12. 24A and 24B show an example of a character element selection screen 2400 displayed on the user terminal 20. 25A and 25B show an example of a character content list screen 2500 displayed on the user terminal 20. 26A and 26B show an example of a second shopping screen 2600 displayed on the user terminal 20. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a device 13 according to a third embodiment. 28A and 28B show an example of a character content list screen 2800 displayed on the user terminal 20. 29A and 29B show an example of a second shopping screen 2900 displayed on the user terminal 20. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 13. 10A and 10B show an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. 32A and 32B show an example of a lottery result screen 3200 displayed on the user terminal 20. 33A and 33B show an example of a second shopping screen 3300 displayed on the user terminal 20. 34 shows an example of a lottery result screen 3400 displayed on the user terminal 20. 35A and 35B show an example of a lottery result screen 3500 displayed on the user terminal 20. 10A and 10B show an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. 10A and 10B show an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the device 13. 10A and 10B show an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. 10A and 10B show an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. 10A and 10B show an example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. An example of a computer 2000 is shown.

The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

(First embodiment)
1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a system 5 according to the first embodiment. The system 5 includes an apparatus 10 and a user terminal 20.

The device 10 and the user terminal 20 can communicate with each other via a communication network 90. The communication network 90 may be a data transmission path. The communication network 90 may be a wired communication transmission path, a wireless communication transmission path, or a combination thereof. The communication network 90 may include the Internet, a dedicated line network, a wireless communication network, a telephone line network, various cable networks, or a combination thereof. The communication network 90 may also include a P2P network such as an ad hoc network.

The communication method in the wireless communication network may be a mobile communication method or a wireless data communication method. Examples of mobile communication methods include 3G, LTE, 4G, and 5G. Examples of wireless data communication methods include wireless PAN, wireless LAN, wireless MAN, and wireless WAN. The communication method in the wireless communication network may also be any of various short-range wireless communication methods.

The user terminal 20 is an electronic device used by the user 30. The user terminal 20 may be, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA (registered trademark), a tablet, a personal computer, a wearable computer, etc.

The device 10 manages character content that can be assigned to the user 30. Multiple character elements are associated with the character content.

In this embodiment, the character element represents a virtual person character, such as a virtual idol, but is not limited to this. The character element may represent a real person character, a living creature character including an animal, or a character of various devices such as a robot or a ship. In addition, the character element may represent characters of various concepts such as emotions, nature, and nations. In this embodiment, the character content is digital content. The character content is presented to the user 30 in the form of a virtual card including an image of the virtual idol.

Device 10 manages character content using a serial code. The serial code is an example of content identification information that identifies the character content.

In response to an instruction from user 30, user terminal 20 communicates with device 10 and requests device 10 to assign character content to user 30. In response to the request from user terminal 20, device 10 determines the character content to assign to user 30. Device 10 registers the serial code of the character content determined as the character content to assign to user 30 in association with user identification information, which is the user identification information of user 30.

The user terminal 20 receives from the device 10 character content identified by a serial code registered by the device 10 in association with the user identification information of the user 30, and presents the character content to the user 30 by displaying the received character content.

The device 10 manages character content that is granted to the user 30 on the condition that the user 30 pays a fee, and promotional character content that is granted to the user 30 without the user 30 paying a fee. Character content that is granted to the user 30 on the condition that the user 30 pays a fee is an example of a first type of character content. Promotional character content that is granted to the user 30 without the user 30 paying a fee is an example of a second type of character content.

Methods by which user 30 acquires the first type of character content include an individual designation method in which user 30 designates the specific character content to be granted to user 30, and a lottery method in which device 10 determines by lottery the character content to be granted to user 30 from among multiple first type character contents.

The serial code for the second type of character content is provided to multiple users by, for example, printing it on the face of a promotional card and distributing the promotional card to an unspecified number of people. The serial code for the second type of character content may be distributed to multiple users 30 via a website or the like. When a user 30 inputs the serial code for the second type of character content into a user terminal 20, the device 10 registers the serial code received from the user terminal 20 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

In response to an instruction received from the user 30 via the user terminal 20, the device 10 can cancel the association between the serial code of the first type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30. The serial code of the character content whose association with the user 30 has been canceled can be re-registered in association with the user identification information of another user 30 in response to an instruction from the user 30. This allows the user 30 to freely cancel the registration of character content that was registered to the user 30 by paying a fee.

On the other hand, the device 10 cannot cancel the association between the serial code of the second type of character content and the user identification information of the user 30. This allows the promotional character content to remain registered with the user 30.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 10. The device 10 includes a processing unit 100, a memory unit 190, and a communication unit 192.

The device 10 is realized by a computer. The processing unit 100 is realized by an arithmetic processing device including a processor. The processing unit 100 executes various calculations executed by the device 10 and controls the memory unit 190 and communication unit 192. The processing unit 100 includes a lottery execution unit 110, a first registration unit 121, a cancellation unit 130, a presentation control unit 140, a determination unit 150, and a selection control unit 160.

The communication unit 192 is primarily responsible for communication with the user terminal 20 via the communication network 90. The storage unit 190 is implemented using volatile and non-volatile storage media. The storage unit 190 stores programs for causing the computer to function as the device 10, as well as data necessary for the processing unit 100's calculations.

The functions of the processing unit 100 are explained below.

The first registration unit 121 registers multiple character contents in association with first user identification information, which is the user identification information of the first user. The release unit 130 releases the association between at least one character content among the multiple character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information. In the first embodiment, the first user is any one user 30, and the second user is another user 30.

The multiple character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content. Of the multiple character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the first user identification information, the release unit 130 can release the association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information, but cannot release the association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information.

The presentation control unit 140 performs control to present to the first user multiple character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the first user identification information. For example, when a first type of character content is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the first user identification information, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present at least the first type of character content to the first user, and when the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is released by the release unit 130, the presentation control unit 140 does not perform control to present the first type of character content to the first user.

The first registration unit 121 is capable of registering the first type of character content, the association of which with the first user identification information has been released by the release unit 130, in association with the second user identification information, which is the user identification information of the second user. After registering the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, the first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on the condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content has been released by the release unit 130.

After registering the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, the first registration unit 121 may register the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is released by the release unit 130 and the second user is notified that the first type of character content should be registered.

The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine, from among the plurality of character contents, a first type of character content as the character content to be granted to the first user. On the other hand, the lottery execution unit 110 does not determine, from among the plurality of character contents, a second type of character content as the character content to be granted to the first user.

The determination unit 150 determines whether the first user has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 has determined that the first user has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. The first type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user on the condition that the first user has completed the procedure to pay the fee. On the other hand, the second type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user without the condition that the first user has completed the procedure to pay the fee.

When the lottery execution unit 110 determines a first type of character content as the character content to be granted to the first user, the first registration unit 121 registers the first type of character content determined by the lottery execution unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the first user in association with the first user identification information, without requiring any operation by the first user 30.

The first type of character content is identified by first content identification information. The second type of character content is identified by second content identification information. The first registration unit 121 registers the first content identification information and the second content identification information in association with the first user identification information, thereby registering the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information. The release unit 130 can release the association between the first content identification information and the first user identification information, but cannot release the association between the second content identification information and the first user identification information.

After registering the first content identification information in association with the first user identification information, the first registration unit 121 can register the first content identification information in association with the second user identification information, which is the user identification information of a second user, on the condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first content identification information has been canceled by the cancellation unit 130. The first registration unit 121 can perform the process of registering the first content identification information in association with the user identification information of any user 30 multiple times, on the condition that the first content identification information is not registered in association with the user identification information of any user 30. Even if the second content identification information is not registered in association with the user identification information of any user 30, the first registration unit 121 can perform the process of registering the second content identification information in association with the user identification information of any user 30 only once. The cancellation unit 130 can perform the process of canceling the association between the user identification information of any user 30 and the first content identification information multiple times.

When the first registration unit 121 has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present the first type of character content and the second type of character content to the first user in list format. When the first registration unit 121 has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information, the presentation control unit 140 also performs control to distinguish between and present the first type of character content and the second type of character content.

The release unit 130 may be able to execute the process of releasing the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content only during a predetermined first period. The first registration unit 121 may be able to execute the process of registering the first type of character content, the association between which has been released by the release unit 130 and the first user identification information, in association with the second user identification information only during a predetermined second period.

The presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present multiple types of character content lottery modes to the user 30. The selection control unit 160 may execute control to have the user 30 select a specific type from the multiple types. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery in accordance with the specific type selected by the user 30. The multiple types may include a type in which one character content is granted to the user 30 and a type in which multiple character contents are granted to the user 30. The presentation control unit 140 may execute control to have the user 30 select the number of times to execute the lottery.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 includes a processing unit 200, a memory unit 290, a communication unit 292, a display unit 294, and an operation input unit 296.

The user terminal 20 is realized by a computer. The processing unit 200 is realized by an arithmetic processing device including a processor. The processing unit 200 executes various calculations executed on the user terminal 20 and controls the memory unit 290, communication unit 292, display unit 294, and operation input unit 296. The processing executed by the user terminal 20 described in this embodiment is realized by the processing unit 200 taking the lead in controlling each unit.

The communication unit 292 is primarily responsible for communication with the device 10 via the communication network 90. The storage unit 290 is realized by a volatile storage medium. The storage unit 290 stores programs for causing the computer to function as the user terminal 20, as well as data necessary for the processing unit 200's calculations.

The display unit 294 displays an image based on the image information generated by the processing unit 200. The display unit 294 may be configured to include a display device such as a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), or a head-mounted display.

The operation input unit 296 acquires operations performed by the user 30 on the user terminal 20. The operation input unit 296 outputs an operation signal based on the acquired operation to the processing unit 200. The operation input unit 296 is realized by, for example, a touchpad, button, joystick, trackball, acceleration sensor, angular velocity sensor, etc.

Figure 4 shows an example of character content information stored by device 10. The character content information has content identification information, character element identification information, type information, and content data as data items, and these data items correspond to one another. The character content information is stored in storage unit 190.

The content identification information is the identification information for the character content. The content identification information is the serial code mentioned above.

Character element identification information is identification information of a character element associated with character content. For example, character element identification information is identification information of a virtual idol.

The type information indicates the type of character content. The type information indicates whether the character content is a first type of character content or a second type of character content. In Figure 4, character content associated with type information "1" is a first type of character content. In Figure 4, character content associated with type information "2" is a second type of character content.

The content data indicates image data of the character content. The content data may be the image data of the character content itself. If the image data of the character content itself is stored separately from the character content information, the content data may be any information for identifying the image data of the character content.

Figure 5 shows an example of character content registration information stored by device 10. The character content registration information has the following data items: user identification information, content identification information, registration date and time information, release date and time information, and a transfer flag, and these data items correspond to each other. The character content information is stored in the storage unit 190.

The user identification information is the user identification information of the user 30. The user identification information is assigned to each user 30 by the device 10.

The content identification information is the identification information of character content currently or previously registered for each user 30.

The registration date and time information indicates the date and time when the character content was registered to user 30. The deregistration date and time information indicates the date and time when the registration of the character content to user 30 was deregistered. In other words, the deregistration date and time information indicates the date and time when the association between user 30's user identification information and the character content's identification information was deregistered. In Figure 5, character content associated with "-" as the deregistration date and time information indicates that the association between user 30's user identification information and the character content's identification information has not been deregistered, and character content associated with anything other than "-" as the deregistration date and time information indicates that the association between user 30's user identification information and the character content's identification information has been deregistered.

The transferred flag indicates whether the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the character content identification information has been released, and the character content has been re-registered to another user 30. In Figure 5, character content for which "true" is associated as the transferred flag is character content for which the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the character content identification information has been released, and the character content has been re-registered to another user 30. Character content for which "false" is associated as the transferred flag is character content for which the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the character content identification information has been released, and the character content has not been re-registered to another user 30.

Note that content identification information is unique identification information. Character content with the same content (sometimes referred to as the same character content) is assigned a mutually unique content identification information. This allows the same character content to be registered to the same user, and also allows the same character content to be registered to multiple users. Here, whether or not the character content is the same may be determined based on the content identification information. For example, content identification information assigned to the same character content may be generated so that a specific substring of the string indicating the content identification information matches.

Figure 6 shows an example of product information stored by device 10. The product information has the following data items: product ID, content identification information, unit price information, and selection control information, and these data items correspond to each other. The product information is stored in memory unit 190.

The product ID is identification information for the product. The content identification information is a set of one or more content identification information that can be assigned to the user 30. In the case of a product in which the character content assigned to the user 30 is determined by lottery, the content identification information is a list of multiple content identification information.

The unit price information indicates the price per character content that the user 30 must pay. The selection control information is information used to control the product selection by the user 30. The selection control information includes image information, description information, and quantity information for the products presented to the user 30. The quantity information indicates the number of times the user 30 can select a number to hold a lottery.

Figure 7 shows an example of payment information stored by device 10. The payment information includes the following data items: product ID, user identification information, price information, quantity information, payment method, transaction date and time, and added content identification information, and these data items are associated with each other. The payment information is stored in memory unit 190.

The product ID is the identification information of the product to be traded. The user identification information is the user identification information of the user 30 who has completed the payment procedure.

The price information indicates the price for user 30 to acquire character content. The price information includes information indicating the price when the character content to be granted to user 30 is determined by lottery. The price information includes information indicating the price when the character content to be granted to user 30 is determined by individual designation.

Quantity information indicates the quantity to be traded. If the character content to be granted to user 30 is selected by lottery, quantity information indicates the number of character content to be selected by lottery.

The payment method indicates the payment method used by the user 30. Examples of payment methods include credit card payment, electronic money payment, convenience store payment, bank transfer, etc.

The transaction date and time indicates the date and time when the user 30 completed the payment procedure. For example, if the payment method is credit card payment, the transaction date and time may be the date and time when authorization for the credit card payment was obtained. If the payment method is electronic money payment or convenience store payment, the transaction date and time may be the date and time when notification that payment has been made using the respective payment method is received from the payment institution. If the payment method is bank transfer, the transaction date and time may be the date and time when the deposit is confirmed.

The granted content identification information indicates the content identification information of the character content granted to the user 30 by lottery. The granted content identification information is generated based on the lottery results by the lottery execution unit 110 and is set in the payment information.

Figure 8 schematically shows an example of a character content list screen 800 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 800 includes objects 810, 820, and 830, each of which corresponds to a character content. The objects 810, 820, and 830 shown in Figure 8 are assumed to be objects corresponding to a first type of character content.

The character content list screen 800 includes objects 892, 894, 896, and 898. Object 892 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a My Page screen for displaying user information and configuring user settings. Object 894 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a character content list screen. Object 896 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a serial code input screen. Object 898 is an object for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to display a shopping screen.

When the user 30 presses object 894, the user terminal 20 sends a digital album display request to the device 10. The digital album display request includes the user identification information of the user 30. When the device 10 receives the digital album display request from the user terminal 20, it causes the character content list screen 800 shown in FIG. 8 to be displayed on the user terminal 20. Here, it is assumed that the content identification information of the character content corresponding to objects 810, 820, and 830 is registered in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

When the device 10 receives a digital album display request from the user terminal 20 to the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 references the character content registration information and acquires content identification information with release date and time information "-" from among the content identification information registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30. The presentation control unit 140 references the character content information and acquires the content data and type information associated with the acquired content identification information, and acquires image data of objects 810, 820, and 830 based on the acquired content data. The presentation control unit 140 transmits the acquired content identification information, image data, and type information to the user terminal 20 as a digital album display response. The user terminal 20 generates a character content list screen 800 based on the image data, etc. included in the display response received from the device 10, and displays it on the display unit 294.

In this way, the presentation control unit 140 controls the presentation to the user 30 of multiple character contents that have been registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. When a first type of character content has been registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 controls the presentation of at least the first type of character content to the user 30, and when the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the first type of character content has been released, the presentation control unit 140 does not control the presentation of the first type of character content to the user 30.

Figure 9 shows a schematic example of a serial code input screen 900 displayed on the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the serial code input screen 900 when the user 30 presses the object 896.

The serial code input screen 900 includes an object 910 for inputting a serial code. When a serial code is input into the object 910 and an operation to press the object 920 is performed, the user terminal 20 transmits a content registration request to the device 10. The content registration request includes the input serial code and the user identification information of the user 30.

When the device 10 receives a content registration request sent from the user terminal 20, the first registration unit 121 references the character content information to identify content identification information that matches the serial code included in the received content registration request, and acquires the content data associated with the identified content identification information. The first registration unit 121 registers the identified content identification information in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

Once registration is complete, the presentation control unit 140 performs processing similar to that described in relation to Figure 8, causing the user terminal 20 to display a character content list screen.

As a result, user 30 can acquire promotional character content (corresponding to the second type of character content) by entering the serial code printed on the promotional card into the serial code input screen. In this way, the second type of character content is character content that is granted to user 30 without the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure.

The first registration unit 121 can register content identification information of the second type of character content in association with the user identification information of multiple users 30. However, even if the content identification information of the second type of character content is not registered in association with the user identification information of any user 30, the process of registering content identification information of the second type of character content in association with the user identification information of one user 30 is limited to one time.

Figure 10 shows a schematic example of a character content list screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 1000 includes an object 1010 in addition to the objects shown on the character content list screen 800. The object 1010 is an object corresponding to a second type of character content.

When displaying the character content list screen, the data sent from the device 10 to the user terminal 20 includes type information corresponding to each character content. Based on the type information, the user terminal 20 displays the object 1010 corresponding to the second type of character content in a different manner from the objects 810, 820, and 830 corresponding to the first type of character content. This makes it possible to distinguish between character content purchased by the user 30 and promotional character content.

In this way, when the first registration unit 121 has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to present the first type of character content and the second type of character content to the first user in list format. In this case, the presentation control unit 140 can distinguish between the first type of character content and the second type of character content when presenting them.

Next, with reference to Figures 11 to 14, we will explain the process for granting character content to user 30 by lottery. Unless otherwise specified, the character content explained with reference to Figures 11 to 14 is assumed to be a first type of character content. As described above, the first type of character content is character content that is granted to a first user on the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure.

Figure 11 shows a schematic example of a first shopping screen 1100 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 1100 is displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to the user 30 pressing the object 898.

When the user 30 presses the object 898, the user terminal 20 sends a request to display a shopping screen to the device 10. When the device 10 receives a request to display a shopping screen from the user terminal 20, the selection control unit 160 references the product information and acquires the product ID, content identification information, unit price information, and selection control information. The presentation control unit 140 sends display response information including the information acquired by the selection control unit 220 to the user terminal 20.

The user terminal 20 generates objects 1110 and 1120 based on the display response information received from the device 10 and displays them on the display unit 294. Both objects 1110 and 1120 represent products for which character content to be granted to the user 30 is determined by lottery.

Object 1110 represents a product that allows a user 30 to select one character content item from among 10 types of character content in units of one. Object 1120 represents a product that allows a user 30 to select five character content items from among 20 types of character content in units of five.

Note that objects 1110 and 1120 function as objects that present user 30 with options to select from multiple types of lottery modes for character content. By selecting object 1110, user 30 can select a first type of lottery mode that will grant one character content to user 30. By selecting object 1120, user 30 can select a second type of lottery mode that will grant multiple character contents to user 30.

Figure 12 shows a schematic example of a second shopping screen 1200 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 1200 in Figure 12 is a screen that is displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to the user 30 pressing the object 1110 on the shopping screen 1100 in Figure 11.

When the user 30 presses the object 1110, the user terminal 20 sends a product detail information request to the device 10. The product detail information request includes a product ID. When the device 10 receives the product detail information request, the presentation control unit 140 references the product information to identify the content identification information and unit price information associated with the product ID included in the product detail information request, and references the character content information to identify the content data associated with the identified content identification information. The presentation control unit 140 sends a product detail information response to the user terminal 20 that includes thumbnail images of each character content generated from the identified content data. The user terminal 20 displays the shopping screen 1200 based on the product detail information response received from the device 10.

The shopping screen 1200 includes an object 1210 showing a thumbnail image of the character content to be selected by lottery, an object 1220 for selecting the quantity of the character content to be selected by lottery, and an object 1230 for the user 30 to add the product as an item to be purchased.

Object 1220 functions as an object that presents user 30 with an option to select from multiple types of lottery modes for character content. When a quantity of 1 is selected in object 1220, a first type of lottery mode is selected in which one character content is granted to user 30. When a quantity of 2 or more is selected in object 1220, a second type of lottery mode is selected in which multiple character contents are granted to user 30.

When user 30 selects a quantity in object 1220, object 1230 is enabled, allowing user 30 to manipulate object 1230.

Figure 13 shows a schematic example of a third shopping screen 1300 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 1300 in Figure 13 is a screen that is displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to the user 30 pressing the object 1230 on the shopping screen 1200 in Figure 12.

The shopping screen 1300 includes an object 1310 showing information about the product to be purchased by the user 30, an object 1320 for selecting the payment method, and an object 1330 for accepting a purchase instruction from the user 30.

When the user 30 presses object 1330 on the shopping screen 1300, the user terminal 20 sends a purchase execution request indicating the product ID, quantity, and payment method to the device 10. Upon receiving the purchase request, the device 10 performs processing for the user 30 to pay the price. Specifically, the device 10 registers a new record in the payment information described in relation to FIG. 7 based on the received purchase request.

If the payment method is credit card payment, the device 10 performs authorization with the payment institution, waits for the result of authorization approval, and then registers a new record in the payment information. If the payment method is electronic money or convenience store payment, the device 10 registers a new record in the payment information and then updates the processing date and time of the payment information when it receives notification from the payment institution that the payment has been made. If the payment method is bank transfer, the device 10 registers a new record in the payment information and then updates the processing date and time of the payment information when it confirms the deposit.

The determination unit 150 determines whether the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery. Specifically, the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery when date and time information is set as the procedure date and time in the payment information. The lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedure to pay the fee for the lottery.

If credit card payment is specified as the payment method and authorization is approved, the lottery execution unit 110 will execute a lottery following the registration of a new record in the payment information. The lottery execution unit 110 references the product information to identify multiple character contents associated with the product ID, and determines the probability (sometimes referred to as the "selection probability") that each of the multiple identified character contents will be selected as character content to be granted to the user 30. In this embodiment, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the same selection probability for all character content. Based on the determined selection probability, the lottery execution unit 110 determines the number of character contents specified by the quantity in the payment information from among the multiple character contents identified from the product ID as character content to be granted to the user 30.

The first registration unit 121 registers the content identification information of the character content determined by the lottery execution unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30. In this way, when the lottery execution unit determines a first type of character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content determined by the lottery execution unit 110 as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in association with the user identification information of the user 30, without requiring any user operation by the user 30.

Figure 14 shows a schematic example of a lottery result screen 1400 displayed on the user terminal 20. As described above, if the payment method is credit card payment, when the user 30 presses object 1330 in Figure 13, authorization is performed on the device 10, and if the authorization is approved, the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery.

When the lottery is executed, the presentation control unit 140 references the granted content identification information in the payment information to identify the content identification information of the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110. The presentation control unit 140 references the character content information to identify the content data associated with the identified content identification information, and generates an image of the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 based on the identified content data. The presentation control unit 140 transmits the generated image to the user terminal 20 as lottery result information.

When the user terminal 20 receives the lottery result information from the device 10, it generates a lottery result screen 1400 based on the lottery result information and displays it on the display unit 294. The lottery result screen 1400 includes an object 1410 that shows a list of character content that will be granted to the user 30.

As described in relation to Figures 11 to 14, the lottery execution unit 110 can execute a lottery to determine a first type of character content from among the multiple character contents as the character content to be granted to user 30, and does not determine a second type of character content from among the multiple character contents as the character content to be granted to user 30.

The process for canceling the registration of the first type of character content will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16.

Figure 15 shows a schematic example of a character content screen 1500 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content screen 1500 is a screen for displaying specific character content selected by the user 30.

For example, when the user terminal 20 is displaying the character content list screen 1000 and the user 30 performs an operation to select an object 830, the user terminal 20 generates a character content screen 1500 that primarily displays the character content corresponding to the object 830, and displays it on the display unit 294.

The character content screen 1500 includes an object 1510 indicating the character content selected by the user 30, and an object 1520 for receiving an instruction to cancel the registration of that character content. When the user 30 presses the object 1520, the user terminal 20 displays a deregistration screen for canceling the registration of the character content selected by the user 30.

Figure 16 shows a schematic example of a deregistration screen 1600 displayed on the user terminal 20. The deregistration screen 1600 includes an object 1610 indicating the content identification information of the character content selected by the user 30, an object 1620 for accepting an instruction to deregister, and an object 1630 indicating the content identification information of the character content that has been deregistered.

When the user 30 presses the object 1520 on the character content screen 1500 in FIG. 15, the user terminal 20 sends an unregistration information request to the device 10. The unregistration information request includes the user identification information of the user 30. Upon receiving the unregistration information request, the device 10 references the character content registration information to identify the content identification information of the character content that the user 30 has already unregistered, and sends an unregistration information response including the identified content identification information to the user terminal 20.

When the user terminal 20 receives the deregistration information response sent from the device 10, it generates a deregistration screen 1600 including the object 1630 based on the received deregistration information response and displays it on the display unit 294. This makes it possible to present to the user 30 the identification information of character content that the user 30 previously deregistered.

When the user 30 presses the object 1620, the user terminal 20 sends a deregistration request to the device 10, which includes the content identification information of the character content to be deregistered and the user identification information of the user 30.

When the device 10 receives a deregistration request sent from the user terminal 20, the cancellation unit 130 updates the character content registration information based on the received deregistration request. Specifically, the cancellation unit 130 sets the cancellation date and time to the cancellation date and time information associated with the content identification information included in the deregistration request, among the multiple character contents registered in the character content registration information in association with the user identification information of the user 30, and sets the transferred flag associated with the content identification information to false. As a result, the cancellation unit 130 cancels the association between the content identification information included in the deregistration request and the user identification information of the user 30.

In this way, the cancellation unit 130 can cancel the registration of the first type of character content and the user 30. Note that the cancellation unit 130 references the character content information to identify the type information associated with the content identification information included in the deregistration request, and discards the deregistration request if the identified type information is "2," i.e., if the character content identified by the content identification information included in the deregistration request is the second type of character content.

Figure 17 shows a schematic example of a character content screen 1700 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content screen 1700 is a screen for displaying a specific second type of character content selected by the user 30.

For example, when the user terminal 20 is displaying the character content list screen 1000 and the user 30 performs an operation to select the object 1010, the user terminal 20 generates a character content screen 1700 that primarily displays the second type of character content corresponding to the object 1010, and displays it on the display unit 294.

The character content screen 1700 includes an object 1710 indicating the second type of character content selected by the user 30, and an object 1720. Unlike the object 1520 in FIG. 15, the object 1720 is an object for which manipulation by the user 30 is disabled. Even if the user 30 presses the object 1720, the user terminal 20 does not transition to a deregistration screen for deregistering the character content selected by the user 30.

As described above, the first registration unit 121 registers multiple character contents in association with the user identification information of user 30. The release unit 130 releases the association between at least one of the multiple character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of user 30 and the first user identification information. The release unit 130 can release the association between a first type of character content and the first user identification information of the multiple character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of user 30, but cannot release the association between a second type of character content and the user identification information of user 30. Specifically, the release unit 130 can release the association between the content identification information of the first type of character content and the user identification information of user 30, but cannot release the association between the content identification information of the second type of character content and the user identification information of user 30.

Figure 18 shows a schematic example of a transfer screen 1800 displayed on the user terminal 20. The transfer screen 1800 is a screen for transferring deregistered character content to another user 30. Note that the character content described in relation to Figure 18 is assumed to be the first type of character content.

The transfer screen 1800 is displayed via My Page, which is accessed by selecting object 892. For example, when the user terminal 20 receives an instruction from the user 30 to display the transfer screen on My Page, it sends a transfer screen display request to the device 10. The transfer screen display request includes the user identification information of the user 30.

When the device 10 receives a transfer screen display request, it references the character content registration information, identifies the content identification information and transfer completion flag of the character content for which a date and time is set in the release date and time information, and sends a transfer screen display response including the identified content identification information and transfer completion flag to the user terminal 20.

When the user terminal 20 receives the transfer screen display response, it displays the transfer screen 1800 on the display unit 294 based on the received transfer screen display response. The transfer screen 1800 includes an object 1810 that displays a list of content identification information for deregistered character content, and an object 1820 for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to transfer the character content to another user 30.

The user terminal 20 displays the object 1820 near the content identification information whose transferred flag is false (specifically, "4444-ABCD" in Figure 18), and does not display the object 1820 near the content identification information whose transferred flag is true. This allows the user terminal 20 to accept an instruction from the user 30 to transfer character content only for character content that has been deregistered and has not been transferred to another user 30.

When the user 30 presses the object 1820, the user terminal 20 prompts the user 30 to select another user 30 to whom the object 1820 will be transferred. For example, the user 30 may be prompted to select another user 30 to whom the object 1820 will be transferred from a list of other users 30 who have been pre-registered as friends.

The device 10 acquires the user identification information of the other user 30 selected on the user terminal 20, and when the other user 30 accesses the device 10 through the user terminal 20 of the other user 30, notifies the other user 30 of the content identification information to be transferred, thereby notifying the other user 30 that they should register the character content to be transferred from the user 30.

When the other user 30 enters the content identification information notified through the device 10 via the serial code input screen 900 of FIG. 9, the first registration unit 121 can register the character content transferred from the user 30.

The release unit 130 can execute the process of canceling the association between the user identification information of any user 30 and the content identification information of the first type of character content multiple times, and the first registration unit 121 can execute the process of registering the first type of character content to another user 30 multiple times, provided that the content identification information of the first type of character content is not registered in association with the user identification information of any user 30. This allows any user 30 to register and cancel the same character content multiple times.

In this way, the first registration unit 121 can register the first type of character content, whose association with the user identification information of user 30 has been released by the release unit 130, in association with the user identification information of another user 30. Specifically, after registering the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of user 30, the first registration unit 121 can register the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of another user 30, on the condition that the association between the user identification information of user 30 and the first type of character content has been released by the release unit 130. More specifically, the first registration unit 121 registers the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of the user 30, and then registers the first type of character content in association with the user identification information of the other user 30, on the condition that the association between the user identification information of the user 30 and the first type of character content has been released by the release unit 130 and the other user 30 has been notified that the first type of character content should be registered.

The content identification information to be transferred may be notified to the other user 30 via an SNS application. For example, the user terminal 20 may cooperate with an SNS application installed on the user terminal 20 to allow the other user 30 to select, via the SNS application, from a list of other users 30 pre-registered in the SNS application, the other user 30 to whom the character content will be transferred. The user terminal 20 may notify the other user 30 via the SNS application that they should register the character content to be transferred from the user 30, by sending a message including URI information to be accessed to register the content identification information to be transferred and the serial code.

Alternatively, the user terminal 20 may select the other user 30 to whom the character content will be transferred by having the user 30 input the telephone number and/or email address of the other user 30 to whom the character content will be transferred. The user terminal 20 may notify the other user 30 to register the character content to be transferred from the user 30 by sending a message containing the content identification information and URI information of the content to be transferred to the other user 30 via short message and/or email.

The process by the release unit 130 to release the association between the user identification information of user 30 and the first type of character content may be executable only during a predetermined first period. The first period may be a predetermined campaign period during which deregistration is permitted. The process by the first registration unit 121 to register the first type of character content, the association of which has been released by the release unit 130 from the user identification information of user 30, in association with the user identification information of another user 30 may be executable only during a predetermined second period. The second period may be a predetermined campaign period during which deregistration is permitted. The first period and the second period may be different periods that do not overlap.

Figure 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by device 10. The flowchart in Figure 19 is initiated (i) when device 10 receives a request from user terminal 20 to register character content using a serial code, (ii) when device 10 receives a purchase execution request and determines that payment procedures have been completed by user 30, or (iii) when device 10 receives an instruction from user terminal 20 to deregister character content.

In step S2002, the device 10 determines which process to execute: serial code registration, lottery, or character content deregistration.

(i) When the device 10 receives a request from the user terminal 20 to register character content using a serial code, in step S2010, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content identified by the serial code in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

(ii) After the device 10 receives a purchase execution request, if it is determined that the user 30 has completed the payment procedure, the lottery execution unit 110 determines to hold a lottery.

In step S2004, the lottery execution unit 110 determines the selection probability of the character content. In the first embodiment, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the selection probability of each character content to be uniform.

In step S2006, the lottery execution unit 110 draws for character content using the lottery probability determined in step S2004. In step S2008, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content granted to the user 30 in the character content registration information based on the results of the lottery execution in step S2006.

(iii) If an instruction to deregister character content is received from the user terminal 20, in step 2012, the deregistration unit 130 deregisters the character content associated with the user identification information of the user 30 by the first registration unit 121.

Second Embodiment
Next, a system according to a second embodiment will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions of operations similar to those described in relation to the first embodiment will be omitted. In the second embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

The system in the second embodiment includes device 12 instead of device 10 included in system 5 in the first embodiment. When determining the character content to be assigned to user 30 by lottery, device 12 executes the lottery in accordance with specific character elements pre-selected by user 30. For example, device 12 executes the lottery by increasing the probability that character content associated with specific character elements pre-selected by user 30 will be drawn. This makes it possible to execute a lottery that is highly satisfying for user 30.

Figure 20 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 12 in the second embodiment. The device 12 includes a processing unit 102, a storage unit 190, and a communication unit 192. The processing unit 102 is a component corresponding to the processing unit 100 of the device 10 in the first embodiment.

In addition to the components of the processing unit 100 in the first embodiment, the processing unit 102 further includes a second registration unit 122. The functions of the processing unit 102 are described below.

The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine the character content to be assigned to the user 30 from among a plurality of character contents each associated with a character element. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be assigned to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

The presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to the user 30 character elements associated with character content registered in association with the identification information or character content registered in association with the identification information. The second registration unit 122 registers, in association with the identification information, character elements selected by the user 30 or character elements associated with character content selected by the user 30 from among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140. The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery based on the character elements registered in association with the identification information by the second registration unit 122.

The second registration unit 122 may register, as a first type character element, a character element selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with character content selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the identification information. The second registration unit 122 may register, as a second type character element, a character element not selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with character content not selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the identification information. The lottery running unit 110 may run a lottery in accordance with the first type character elements.

The lottery execution unit 110 may determine the probability that character content will be granted to the user 30 based on the character elements of the first type, and conduct a lottery based on the determined probability.

When there is a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine a high probability that character content associated with the character element of the first type will be granted to the user 30.

The second registration unit 122 may limit the number of first-type character elements registered in association with identification information to a predetermined number or less.

The lottery execution unit 110 may vary the manner of the lottery depending on whether a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with identification information exists or whether a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with identification information does not exist.

When there is a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery without relatively changing the probability that multiple character contents associated with the character element of the second type will be granted to the user 30.

If there is no character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with the identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery without relatively changing the probability that multiple character contents associated with character elements of the second type will be granted to the user 30.

Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery in accordance with the attribute assigned to the first type character element. Specifically, when there is a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with identification information as a first type character element, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine a high probability that character content associated with a character element that has been assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the first type character element will be assigned to the user 30, and execute a lottery based on the determined probability.

When there is a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine to be low the probability that character content associated with a character element that has been assigned an attribute different from the attribute assigned to the character element of the first type will be assigned to the user 30, and may execute a lottery based on the determined probability.

Based on instructions from the user 30, the second registration unit 122 may re-register a character element that has been registered as a first type character element in association with identification information as a second type character element in association with identification information.

The presentation control unit 140 may further execute control to present to the user 30 that a lottery will be held based on the character element of the first type when a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the identification information as a character element of the first type exists.

The presentation control unit 140 may further execute control to distinguish between the first type of character elements and the second type of character elements and present them to the user 30.

The presentation control unit 140 may further execute control to present multiple types of lottery modes for character content to the user 30. The selection control unit 160 may execute control to have the user 30 select a specific type from the multiple types. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery in accordance with the specific type selected by the user 30. The multiple types may include a type that grants one character content to the user 30 and a type that grants multiple character contents to the user 30.

The selection control unit 160 may execute control to allow the user 30 to select the number of times to run the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery further depending on the number of times selected by the user 30.

The determination unit 150 determines whether the user 30 has completed the procedures to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedures to pay the fee for the lottery.

Figure 21 shows an example of the data structure of character element information stored by device 12. Character element information has character element identification information, name information, and attribute information as data items, and these data items correspond to each other. Character element information is stored in memory unit 190.

Character element identification information is identification information for the character element. Name information indicates the name associated with the character element. In this embodiment, the name information is the name of the virtual idol.

Attribute information indicates attributes assigned to character elements. Figure 21 shows "summer" and "winter" as examples of attributes. For example, if an idol named "A-ko" and an idol named "B-mi" are set to like summer, and an idol named "C-na" is set to like winter, then the attribute information for the idol named "A-ko" and the idol named "B-mi" will be set to "summer," and the attribute information for the idol named "C-na" will be set to "winter."

Figure 22 shows an example of the data structure of selected character element information stored by the device 12. The selected character element information has user identification information, character element identification information, and a selection flag as data items, and these data items correspond to one another. The selected character element information is stored in the memory unit 190.

User identification information is the user identification information of user 30. Character element identification information is the identification information of the character element.

The selection flag indicates whether the user 30 selected a character element as a first type character element. A character element with a selection flag set to true indicates that the character element was selected by the user 30 as a first type character element. A character element with a selection flag set to false indicates that the character element was selected by the user 30 as a second type character element.

As an example, the first type of character element is a character element selected by the user 30 as their favorite (so-called "favorite") character element, and the second type of character element is a character element selected by the user 30 as a character element that is not their favorite.

Figure 23 shows a schematic example of a character element selection screen 2400 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character element selection screen 2400 is displayed via My Page, which is accessed by selecting object 892. For example, when the user terminal 20 receives an instruction from the user 30 to select a favorite character element on My Page, it sends a character element selection screen request to the device 12. The character element selection screen request includes the user identification information of the user 30.

When the device 12 receives a character element selection screen request, the presentation control unit 140 references the character content registration information to identify the content identification information of the character content registered in association with the user identification information included in the character element selection screen request. The presentation control unit 140 further references the character content information to identify the character element identification information of the character element associated with the identified content identification information. The presentation control unit 140 further references the character element information to obtain name information associated with the identified character element identification information.

The presentation control unit 140 further acquires an image of the character element corresponding to the identified character element identification information. For example, the presentation control unit 140 references the character content information and acquires an image of each character element based on the content data associated with each character element identification information. The image of the character element may be an image of a character element extracted from the character content, or may be an image of the character content itself.

The presentation control unit 140 further references the selected character element information and acquires the character element identification information and selection flag associated with the user identification information included in the character element selection screen request. The presentation control unit 140 transmits a character element selection screen response to the user terminal 20, which includes the acquired character element identification information and name information, an image of each character element, and the character element identification information and selection flag.

When the user terminal 20 receives the character element selection screen response, it displays the character element selection screen 2400 on the display unit 294 based on the received character element selection screen response. The character element selection screen 2400 includes an object 2410 showing a list of character elements and an object 2420 for receiving an instruction from the user 30 to select a character element.

When the user 30 presses the image of a specific character element, the user terminal 20 highlights the selected character element. In the example of Figure 23, the character element named "A-ko" is selected. The user 30 can select multiple character elements up to a predetermined number. The predetermined number may be less than the total number of character elements.

When the user 30 presses the object 2420 while a specific character element is selected, the user terminal 20 sends a character element selection request to the device 12, the request including the identification information of the selected character element and the user identification information of the user 30.

When the device 12 receives a character element selection request sent from the user terminal 20, the second registration unit 122 updates the selection flag of the selected character element information based on the received character element selection request.

In this way, the presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to the user 30 character elements associated with character content registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 or character content registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30. The second registration unit 122 registers, from among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, character elements selected by the user 30 or character elements associated with the character content selected by the user 30, in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

As described in relation to FIG. 23 , the second registration unit 122 registers, as a first type character element, a character element selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with character content selected by the user, among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the user identification information of the user 30. Furthermore, the second registration unit 122 registers, as a second type character element, a character element not selected by the user 30 or a character element associated with character content not selected by the user 30, among the character elements or character content presented to the user 30 by the presentation control unit 140, in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

Figure 24 schematically shows an example of a character content list screen 2500 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 2500 is a screen corresponding to the character content list screen 800 in Figure 8. Specifically, the character content list screen 2500 is a character content list screen that is displayed when a first type of character element has been selected by the user 30.

When the device 12 receives a digital album display request from the user terminal 20, the presentation control unit 140 references the selected character element information and identifies the character element identification information of the character element selected by the user 30 as a character element of the first type. The presentation control unit 140 includes the identified character element identification information in a digital album display response and transmits it to the user terminal 20.

The user terminal 20 generates an object 2510 based on the character element information included in the received digital album display response and displays it on the display unit 294. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the object 2510 representing the character content associated with the character element named "A-ko" is displayed more emphasized than the other objects 820 and 830. In this way, the presentation control unit 140 executes control to distinguish between the first type of character elements and the second type of character elements and present them to the user 30. This allows the user 30 to easily recognize the character content of their favorite character element.

Figure 25 shows a schematic example of a second shopping screen 2600 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 2600 includes an object 2610 in addition to the objects included in the shopping screen 1200 of Figure 12.

The object 2610 is generated based on the product detail information response sent from the device 12. When the device 12 receives a product detail information request from the user terminal 20, the presentation control unit 140 references the character element information and the selected character element information to identify the name information of the character element selected by the user 30 as the first type of character element. The presentation control unit 140 includes the identified name information in the product detail information response and sends it to the user terminal 20.

The user terminal 20 generates object 2610 based on the name information included in the product detail information response. Object 2610 indicates that the probability of selecting character content related to the first type of character element is increased. Object 2610 is an example of an object indicating that a lottery will be held based on the first type of character element.

In this way, when there is a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a character element of the first type in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to the user 30 that a lottery will be held based on the character element of the first type.

Next, we will explain a specific example of the lottery-related processing performed by the lottery execution unit 110 in the second embodiment.

(Selection probability when the first type of character element is not present)
If there is no character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first-type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the lottery is executed without relatively changing the probabilities that multiple character contents associated with the second-type character element will be granted to the user 30. In other words, as described with reference to FIG. 13 and the like, the lottery execution unit 110 selects character elements to be granted to the user 30 with the same selection probability. As an example, when determining character content to be granted to the user 30 from 10 types of character content, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the probability that each character content will be selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30 to 10% for each character content. Here, the same selection probability that is set when there is no character element registered as a first-type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30 is referred to as the "standard probability."

(Selection probability when the first type of character element is present)
A case will be described in which a character element exists that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30. In this case, the lottery execution unit 110 determines a high probability that the character content associated with the first type character element will be granted to the user 30. In contrast, the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery without relatively changing the probabilities that the multiple character contents associated with the second type character element will be granted to the user 30.

As an example, as shown in Figure 25, we will explain the case where character content to be assigned to user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content. In the example of Figure 25, there are three character contents associated with the character element named "A-ko," three character contents associated with the character element named "B-mi," and four character contents associated with the character element named "C-na." In this case, the selection probability of the three character contents associated with the character element named "A-ko" is set to K1 times the reference probability (where K1 is a value greater than 1), and the selection probability of character content associated with other character elements is set to a relatively uniform value. For example, K1 may be 1.5. For example, the selection probability of each of the three character contents associated with the character element named "A-ko" is set to 15% and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with other character elements is set to 55/7%.

(Selection probability based on attributes)
When a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first-type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30 exists, the lottery execution unit 110 may conduct a lottery based on the attributes. For example, when a character element that has been registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first-type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30 exists, the lottery execution unit 110 determines a high probability that character content associated with a character element that has been assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the first-type character element will be granted to the user 30. Furthermore, the lottery execution unit 110 determines a low probability that character content associated with a character element that has been assigned a different attribute from the attribute assigned to the first-type character element will be granted to the user 30, and conducts a lottery based on the determined probabilities.

As an example, as shown in Figure 25, we will explain the case where character content to be assigned to user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content. The attribute information assigned to the character element named "A-ko" and the character element named "B-mi" is both "summer," and the attribute information assigned to the character element named "C-na" is "winter." Therefore, the selection probability of six character contents associated with "summer" is set to K2 times the base probability (where K2 is a value greater than 1), and the selection probability of character contents associated with other character elements is set to a relatively uniform value. For example, K2 may be 1.3. For example, the selection probability of each of the six character contents associated with the character elements named "A-ko" or "B-mi" is set to 13%, and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with other character elements is set to 22/4% (i.e., (100 - 13 x 6)/4%).

(Selection probability based on both character elements and attributes of the first type)
If there is a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 as a first-type character element in association with the user identification information of the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may conduct a lottery based on the first-type character element and its attributes. For example, the selection probability of a character content item for a character element named "A-ko" may be K1 x K2 times the base probability, and the selection probability of a character content item for another character element (such as a "B-mi" character element) that matches the character element named "A-ko" only in its attributes may be K2 times the base probability. For example, the selection probability of each of three character contents associated with the character element named "A-ko" may be 10 x K1 x K2 [%], the selection probability of each of three character contents associated with the character element named "B-mi" may be 10 x K2 [%], and the selection probability of each of character contents associated with the other four character elements may be (100 - 10 x K1 x K2 x 3 - 10 x K2 x 3)/4 [%].

In this way, the lottery running unit 110 determines the probability that character content will be granted to the user 30 based on the character element of the first type, and runs the lottery based on the determined probability. As described above, by increasing the probability of selecting character content associated with the character element of the first type, the user 30 can obtain character content associated with their favorite character element with a higher probability.

In addition, instead of increasing the selection probability associated with the first type of character element, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the selection probability associated with the first type of character element is decreased. In this case, the first type of character element selected by user 30 does not necessarily have to be the character element that user 30 prefers.

Furthermore, the lottery execution unit 110 "executing a lottery in accordance with the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" includes various concepts other than changing the selection probability of each character content. For example, "executing a lottery in accordance with the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" may include differentiating the lottery format between a case where a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 as a first type character element exists and a case where a character element registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 as a first type character element exists. As an example, "executing a lottery in accordance with the character elements registered by the second registration unit 122 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" may include allowing the user 30 to participate in a time-limited lottery associated with the first type character element.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, a lottery can be held based on specific character elements pre-selected by the user 30. This allows a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to the user 30.

(Third embodiment)
A system according to the third embodiment will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, the same components as those in the second embodiment will be assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions of the operations described in relation to the second embodiment will be omitted. In the third embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

The system in the third embodiment includes device 13 instead of device 12 in the second embodiment. When determining the character content to be granted to user 30 by lottery, device 13 changes the probability that user 30 will be granted the same character content as character content already registered, depending on the price paid by user 30. As an example, device 13 may lower the probability that user 30 will be granted the same character content as character content already registered, the higher the price paid by user 30. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides high satisfaction to user 30.

Figure 26 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device 13 in the third embodiment. The device 13 includes a processing unit 103, a storage unit 190, and a communication unit 192. The processing unit 103 is a component corresponding to the processing unit 102 of the device 12 in the second embodiment.

In addition to the components of the processing unit 100 in the first embodiment, the processing unit 103 further includes an acquisition unit 170. The functions of the processing unit 103 are described below.

The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine the character content to be granted to the user 30 from among multiple character contents each associated with a character element. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. The acquisition unit 170 acquires the amount of payment made by the user 30 for the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit 110. The lottery execution unit 110 changes the probability that the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be granted to the user 30, depending on the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170, and executes the lottery based on the changed probability.

The memory unit 190 stores information indicating the amount of payment by the user 30 for the lottery held by the lottery holding unit 110, in association with the identification information. The acquisition unit 170 may acquire the payment amount indicated by the information stored by the memory unit 190 in association with the identification information as the amount of payment by the user 30 for the lottery held by the lottery holding unit 110.

The lottery execution unit 110 may reduce the probability that the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be granted to the user 30, depending on the amount of payment acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

The lottery execution unit 110 may decrease the probability that the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be granted to the user 30, the higher the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The lottery execution unit 110 may reduce the probability that character content associated with a character element assigned the same attribute as an attribute assigned to a character element associated with character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be assigned to the user 30, depending on the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

The lottery execution unit 110 may, the higher the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170, reduce the probability that character content associated with a character element that has been assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to a character element associated with character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the same character content multiple times in association with the identification information. The lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that the same character content as the character content will be granted to the user 30 in accordance with the number of identical character contents registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering multiple character contents associated with character elements assigned the same attribute in association with identification information. The lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that character content associated with a character element assigned the same attribute as the attribute will be assigned to the user 30 in accordance with the number of character contents associated with character elements assigned the same attribute, among the character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.

The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery so as not to grant to the user 30 character content that is the same as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery so as not to assign to the user 30 character content associated with a character element that has been assigned the same attribute as an attribute assigned to a character element associated with character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

The presentation control unit 140 performs control to present to the user 30 the character content that is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.
The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the same multiple character contents in association with the identification information in a redundant manner. The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to distinguish between redundantly registered character contents and non-redundantly registered character contents among the character contents registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 and presented accordingly.

The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 character content that has been registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with identification information. The first registration unit 121 may be capable of registering the same multiple pieces of character content in association with identification information in duplicate. The presentation control unit 140 may also perform control to present the number of character contents that have been registered in duplicate, out of the character content that has been registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with identification information.

The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 that the probability of the user 30 being granted the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be changed depending on the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170.

The presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 that the probability of the user 30 being granted the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 will be changed, depending on the status of the multiple character contents registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

The character content may include first character content (first type of character content) that is granted to user 30 on the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure, and second character content (second type of character content) that is granted to user 30 without the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure. The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that user 30 will be granted character content that is the same as the first character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the payment amount acquired by the acquisition unit 170, and may execute a lottery based on the changed probability.

The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery without changing the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the second character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121.

The method by which the user 30 pays the price for the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit 110 may include a first method and a second method. The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the amount paid by the user 30 using the first method, and execute the lottery based on the changed probability.

The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the cumulative amount of payment made by the user 30, and may execute the lottery based on the changed probability.

The lottery execution unit 110 may change the probability that the user 30 will be granted the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121, depending on the cumulative amount of payment made by the user 30 within a predetermined period of time, and may execute the lottery based on the changed probability.

Figure 27 shows a schematic example of a character content list screen 2800 displayed on the user terminal 20. The character content list screen 2800 shows a state in which four character contents have been registered for the user 30 as shown in the character content list screen 1000, and three additional character contents have been registered for the user 30 as a result of the lottery described in relation to Figures 11 to 14.

The character content list screen 2800 includes objects 2810, 2820, and 2830 in addition to the objects shown on the character content list screen 1000. Objects 2810 and 2820 are two character contents that have been newly registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of user 30, based on the lottery results shown in FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 14, the remaining character content selected by lottery is the same character content as object 830 already registered for user 30. In this case, the character content is displayed in the same position as shown on the character content list screen 2800.

Specifically, in the device 13, the presentation control unit 140 references the character content registration information, and if multiple pieces of content identification information indicating the same character content are registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30, includes information indicating the number of duplicately registered character contents in the display response sent to the user terminal 20 in response to the digital album display request. This causes the user terminal 20 to display the character content list screen 2800 including the object 2830. This allows the user 30 to distinguish between duplicately registered character content and non-duplicate character content.

In this way, the presentation control unit 140 performs control to distinguish between duplicately registered character content and non-duplicately registered character content among the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 and to present the character content. Specifically, the presentation control unit 14 performs control to further present the number of duplicately registered character content among the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

Figure 28 shows a schematic example of a second shopping screen 2900 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 2900 includes an object 2910 in addition to the objects included in the shopping screen 2600 of Figure 25.

Object 2910 is generated based on a product detail information response sent from device 13. When device 13 receives a product detail information request from user terminal 20, acquisition unit 170 references the payment information and acquires price information associated with user 30's user identification information. When the cumulative amount of price payments indicated by the price information exceeds a predetermined amount, presentation control unit 140 generates probability change information indicating that the selection probability of granting the user the same character content as the character content registered in association with user 30 will be changed, and transmits the generated probability change information to the user terminal 20 in addition to the product detail information response.

When the product detail information response includes probability change information, the user terminal 20 generates an object 2910. This allows the user 30 to know that the probability of selecting the same character content as the character content they already own will change. This can therefore increase the user 30's motivation to purchase the product.

The presentation control unit 140 may generate probability change information indicating that the selection probability will be changed if the cumulative amount of payment by the user 30 within a predetermined period of time exceeds a predetermined amount. The predetermined period may be the period from a timing a predetermined time before the present to the present.

The presentation control unit 140 may also generate probability change information indicating that the selection probability will be changed depending on the registration status of multiple character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30. For example, if the number of identical character contents registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30 exceeds a predetermined number, the presentation control unit 140 may generate probability change information indicating that the selection probability will be changed regardless of the cumulative amount of payment by the user 30, or even if the amount of payment by the user 30 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

The "price payment amount" by user 30 may be the amount paid using a predetermined first payment method. The first payment method may be, but is not limited to, credit card payment or electronic money payment, and may be another payment method.

Specific examples of lottery-related processing performed by the lottery execution unit 110 in the third embodiment are described below.

(Probability of selection when cumulative payment amount is less than or equal to a predetermined amount)
If the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the lottery is executed without changing the selection probability. That is, as described in relation to FIG. 13 etc., the lottery execution unit 110 selects a character element to be granted to the user 30 with the same selection probability. As an example, when determining character content to be granted to the user 30 from 10 types of character content, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the probability that each character content will be selected as the character content to be granted to the user 30 to be 10% for each character content. Here, the selection probability when the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30 is less than a predetermined amount is referred to as the "standard probability."

(Probability of selection when cumulative payment amount exceeds a predetermined amount)
If the cumulative amount of payments by user 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, lottery execution unit 110 reduces the probability of selecting character content registered in correspondence with user identification information of user 30 below a reference probability.

As an example, we will explain the case where character content to be assigned to user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content, as shown in Figure 28.

As shown in FIG. 27, it is assumed that two character contents indicated by object 830 have already been registered for user 30. As shown in FIG. 28, the character contents subject to the lottery include one character content indicated by object 830.

In this case, the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability of the character content indicated by object 830 by a predetermined value. The lottery execution unit 110 multiplies the reference probability by L1 (where L1 is a value greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1), and makes the selection probabilities of character content associated with other character elements relatively uniform. For example, L1 may be 0.5. For example, the selection probability of the character content indicated by object 830 is set to 5% and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with other character elements is set to 95/9%.

The lottery running unit 110 may lower the selection probability depending on the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30. For example, the lottery running unit 110 may lower the selection probability the higher the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30.

The lottery running unit 110 may also reduce the probability of selecting a character content in accordance with the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of user 30. For example, the more identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of user 30, the more the lottery running unit 110 may reduce the probability of selecting that character content. For example, the more identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of user 30, the smaller L1 may be made.

(Selection probability based on attributes)
When the cumulative amount of payments by user 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, lottery execution unit 110 reduces the probability of selecting character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to the character element associated with the character content registered in correspondence with the user identification information of user 30 is assigned below a reference probability.

As an example, we will explain the case where character content to be assigned to user 30 is determined from 10 types of character content, as shown in Figure 28.

For the purpose of easy understanding, it is assumed here that only the character content indicated by object 810 in Figure 27 is registered for user 30. As shown in Figure 28, the character content subject to the lottery includes six character contents associated with character elements (character element named "A-ko" or character element named "B-mi") to which the attribute "summer" has been assigned, which has been assigned to the character element associated with object 810 (character element named "A-ko").

In this case, the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability of those six character contents by a predetermined value. The lottery execution unit 110 multiplies the base probability by L2 (where L2 is a value greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1), and makes the selection probability of character contents associated with other character elements relatively uniform. For example, L2 may be 0.8. For example, the selection probability of those six character contents is set to 8%, and the selection probability of each of the character contents associated with other character elements is set to 13%.

The lottery running unit 110 may further reduce the selection probability of character content associated with a character element to which an attribute has been assigned, depending on the number of character contents associated with character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned that are registered in association with the user identification information of user 30. For example, the more character contents associated with character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned that are registered in association with the user identification information of user 30, the more the lottery running unit 110 may reduce the selection probability of character content associated with a character element to which the attribute has been assigned. For example, the more character contents associated with character elements to which the same attribute has been assigned that are registered in association with the user identification information of user 30, the smaller L2 may be made.

The lottery running unit 110 may also reduce the probability of selection based on attributes depending on the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30. For example, the lottery running unit 110 may reduce the probability of selection based on attributes the higher the cumulative amount of payments made by the user 30.

Furthermore, the lottery running unit 110 may reduce the selection probability of character content associated with a character element that has been assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with the character content, depending on the number of identical character contents registered in association with the user identification information of user 30. For example, the more identical character content is registered in association with the user identification information of user 30, the more the lottery running unit 110 may reduce the selection probability.

(Selection probability based on both character content and attributes)
If the cumulative amount paid by user 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, the lottery execution unit 110 may conduct a lottery based on both the character content registered in correspondence with user identification information of user 30 and the attributes assigned to the character elements associated with the content.

For example, as described above, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the selection probability of character content registered in association with the user identification information of user 30 to L1 x L2 times the base probability. Furthermore, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the selection probability of character content associated with a character element that has been assigned the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with the character content in question to L2 times the base probability. Furthermore, the lottery execution unit 110 sets the selection probabilities of other character content to be relatively uniform.

(Selection probability further based on the first type of character element)
The lottery execution unit 110 may further determine the selection probability based on the first type of character element described in relation to the second embodiment. For example, for character content associated with the first type of character element, the selection probability may be further multiplied by K1. Furthermore, for character content assigned the same attribute as that assigned to the first type of character element, the selection probability may be further multiplied by K2. This allows the selection probability to be determined taking into account the first type of character element selected by the user 30. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the user 30 will be assigned only character content with character elements that the user 30 does not want.

The above describes a specific example of the lottery-related processing executed by the lottery execution unit 110, but as mentioned above, the "cumulative payment amount" may be the cumulative amount of payment made by the user 30 within a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period may be the period from a timing a predetermined time before the present to the present.

Furthermore, as described above, the "amount of payment" by user 30 may be the amount of payment using a predetermined first method. The first method may be, but is not limited to, credit card payment or electronic money payment, and may be another payment method.

Figure 29 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by device 13. The flowchart in Figure 29 starts when device 13 receives a purchase execution request and determines that user 30 has completed the payment procedure.

In step S3002, the acquisition unit 170 references the payment information and acquires the price paid by the user 30. In step S3004, the lottery execution unit 110 determines the selection probability of each object to be selected in the lottery, based on the price acquired in step S3002.

In step S3006, the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery based on the selection probability determined in step S3006. In step S3008, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content granted to the user 30 based on the result of the lottery execution in step S3006 in the character content registration information.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the probability that the same character content as that already registered in association with the user identification information of the user 30 will be granted can be determined according to the price paid by the user 30. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to the user 30.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a system according to a fourth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the third embodiment will be assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions of the operations described in relation to the third embodiment will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

The following provides a brief explanation of the differences between the functions of device 13 in the fourth embodiment and those of device 13 in the third embodiment.

As a first technique, when the device 13 determines the character content to be granted to the user 30 by lottery, if the same character content has been determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times in succession, the device 13 reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to the user 30 when a new lottery is held.

This reduces the likelihood that the same character content will be awarded to user 30 multiple times in succession, allowing for a lottery that is highly satisfying for user 30.

As a second technique, when the device 13 determines the character content to be granted to the user 30 by lottery, if the device 13 determines character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times in succession, the device 13 reduces the probability that the character content associated with the same character element will be granted to the user 30 when a new lottery is held.

This reduces the likelihood that user 30 will be given character content associated with the same character element multiple times in a row, making it possible to hold a lottery that is highly satisfying for user 30.

The operation of each part of the processing unit 103 of the device 13 in the fourth embodiment will be explained.

The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine character content to be granted to user 30 from among multiple character contents each associated with a character element. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of user 30. When (i) the same character content has been determined as character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element has been determined as character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the lottery execution unit 110 (iii) reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to user 30, or (iv) reduces the probability that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to user 30, when executing a new lottery.

The lottery execution unit 110 may lower the probability of success the next time a new lottery is executed if (i) the same character content is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively.

The predetermined number of times may be two.

If the lottery execution unit 110 (i) determines the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, or (ii) determines character content associated with the same character element as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, (iii) the same character content is not granted to the user 30, or (iv) a new lottery may be executed so that the character content associated with the same character element is not granted to the user 30.

Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. If the lottery execution unit 110 has consecutively determined character content associated with character elements assigned the same attribute as character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery execution unit 110 may further reduce the probability that character content associated with character elements assigned the same attribute will be assigned to user 30 when a new lottery is executed. If the lottery execution unit 110 has consecutively determined character content associated with character elements assigned the same attribute as character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a new lottery so that character content associated with character elements assigned the same attribute will not be assigned to user 30 when a new lottery is executed.

The selection control unit 160 executes control to allow the user 30 to select a specific type from multiple types related to the lottery mode of character content. The multiple types include a first type that grants one character content to the user 30 and a second type that grants multiple character contents to the user 30. The lottery execution unit 110 further executes a lottery according to the type selected by the user 30.

Furthermore, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the first type of lottery multiple times, if (i) more than a predetermined number of the same character content is determined as character content to be granted to the user 30, or (ii) more than a predetermined number of character content associated with the same character element is determined as character content to be granted to the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery again for the same character content or character content associated with the same character element.

Furthermore, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the first type of lottery multiple times, if (i) all of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 is the same character content, or (ii) all of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 is associated with the same character element, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery again for all of the character content.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a second type of lottery, (i) when more than a predetermined number of identical character contents are determined as character contents to be granted to the user 30, or (ii) when more than a predetermined number of character contents associated with the same character element are determined as character contents to be granted to the user 30, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery again for the same character content or character content associated with the same character element.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a second type of lottery, it may further execute a lottery again for all of the character content when (i) all of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 is the same character content, or (ii) all of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 is associated with the same character element.

The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery again for some of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by executing the lottery, if the character content satisfies predetermined conditions.

The lottery running unit 110 may run a lottery again for the character content selected by the user 30 from among the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by running the lottery.

When the lottery is to be held again, the presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 that the lottery will be held again.

The presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present to the user 30 the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 through a lottery drawn by the lottery execution unit 110.

When (i) the same character content is determined as character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element is determined as character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present to user 30 that the same character content has been registered a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or that character content associated with the same character element has been registered a predetermined number of times or more consecutively.

The determination unit 150 determines whether the user 30 has completed the procedures to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 determines that the user 30 has completed the procedures to pay the fee for the lottery.

The character content may include first character content that is granted to user 30 on the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure, and second character content that is granted to user 30 without the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure. When (i) the same first character content has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, or (ii) first character content associated with the same character element has been consecutively determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, the lottery running unit 110 may, when executing a new lottery, (iii) reduce the probability that the same first character content will be granted to user 30, or (iv) reduce the probability that first character content associated with the same character element will be granted to user 30.

Figure 30 shows a schematic example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. Figure 30 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the first method described above.

Figure 30 shows a situation in which character content 3110 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the first lottery (lottery 1) based on an arbitrary timing, and character content 3120 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when the subsequent second lottery (lottery 2) is executed. Here, character content 3120 is the same character content as character content 3110.

In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent third lottery (lottery 3), it reduces the selection probability that the same character content as character content 3110 will be selected as the character content to be granted to user 30. This reduces the possibility that the same character content will be granted to user 30 multiple times in succession.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a subsequent fourth lottery (lottery 4), it may also reduce the selection probability that the same character content as character content 3110 will be selected as the character content to be granted to user 30. The number of times that the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times greater than or equal to one.

Furthermore, when the same character content is determined as character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the selection probability of the same character content based on the number of times the same character content is determined as character content to be granted to user 30 in succession. For example, the more times the same character content is determined as character content to be granted to user 30 in succession, the lower the selection probability of the same character content may be.

Furthermore, when the same character content is determined as character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the selection probability of the same character content according to the character element associated with the same character content. For example, when the character element associated with the same character content is a character element of the first type described above, the lottery execution unit 110 may reduce the decrease in the selection probability of the same character content compared to when the character element associated with the same character content is a character element of the second type described above. This can reduce the possibility that a specific character element selected by user 30 will continue not to be granted to user 30.

Furthermore, when the same character content is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the lottery running unit 110 may determine the selection probability of the same character content according to the amount of payment by user 30. For example, the lottery running unit 110 may decrease the selection probability of the same character content as the amount of payment by user 30 increases.

Figure 31 shows a schematic example of a lottery result screen 3200 displayed on the user terminal 20. The lottery result screen 3200 is an example of a lottery result screen when character content 3120 is determined to be the character content to be granted to the user 30 in lottery 2 of Figure 30.

The lottery result screen 3200 includes an object 3210 and an object 3220 that show a list of character content determined as character content to be granted to the same card user 30.

The object 3220 is generated based on control information transmitted from the device 13. Specifically, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery, the presentation control unit 140 references the granted content identification information in the payment information and the registration date and time information in the registration information to determine whether the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 executing the lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively. If the presentation control unit 140 determines that the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 executing the lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively, the presentation control unit 140 transmits to the user terminal 20 an image of the character content 3120 granted by the lottery execution unit 110 executing the lottery, as well as control information indicating that the same character content has been granted to the user 30 consecutively.

As a result, the user terminal 20 displays the object 3220 on the display unit 294 based on the control information received from the device 13. The object 3220 is an example of a message indicating that the same character content has been selected a predetermined number of times or more in succession. Therefore, the user 30 can know in advance that the selection probability will change at the next lottery.

In this way, when the same character content is determined as the character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the presentation control unit 140 executes control to present to user 30 that the same character content has been determined a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

Figure 32 shows a schematic example of a second shopping screen 3300 displayed on the user terminal 20. The shopping screen 3300 includes an object 3310 in addition to the objects included in the shopping screen 2600 of Figure 25.

The object 3310 is generated based on the product detail information response transmitted from the device 13. When the device 13 receives a product detail information request from the user terminal 20, the presentation control unit 140 references the granted content identification information in the payment information and the registration date and time information in the registration information to determine whether the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 through a lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively. If the presentation control unit 140 determines that the same character content as the character content to be granted to the user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 through a lottery has been granted to the user 30 consecutively, the presentation control unit 140 includes message information indicating that the same character content has been granted consecutively in the product detail information response and transmits this message information to the user terminal 20.

The user terminal 20 generates an object 3310 based on the message information included in the product detail information response. The object 3310 is another example of a message indicating that the same character content has been selected a predetermined number of times or more in succession. This allows the user 30 to know in advance that the selection probability will change.

Figure 33 shows a schematic example of a lottery result screen 3400 displayed on the user terminal 20. Unlike the example shown in Figure 30, the lottery result screen 3400 is an example of a lottery result screen when the same character content as character content 3120 is determined to be the character content to be granted to user 30 in lottery 3.

The lottery result screen 3400 includes an object 3410 and an object 3420 that show a list of character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30.

The object 3420 is generated based on control information transmitted from the device 13. For example, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery, the presentation control unit 140 references the granted content identification information in the payment information and the registration date and time information in the registration information to identify the character content granted to the user 30 in the predetermined number of most recently executed lotteries. If the number of identical character contents among the identified character contents exceeds the predetermined number, or if all of the character contents are the same character content, the presentation control unit 140 transmits control information to the user terminal 20 that includes a message indicating that the lottery can be executed again.

As a result, the user terminal 20 displays the object 3420 on the display unit 294 based on the control information received from the device 13. The object 3420 is an example of an object indicating that the lottery will be held again.

The above describes a case where a lottery is conducted using a first type of lottery mode in which one character content is awarded to user 30. Next, we will describe a case where a lottery is conducted using a second type of lottery mode in which multiple character contents are awarded to user 30.

Figure 34 shows a schematic example of a lottery result screen 3500 displayed on the user terminal 20. The lottery result screen 3500 shows a case where at least some of the character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30 is the same character content.

The lottery result screen 3500 includes an object 3510 and an object 3520 that show a list of character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30.

The object 3520 is generated based on control information transmitted from the device 13. For example, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the lottery, the presentation control unit 140 identifies the character content granted to the user 30 by referencing the granted content identification information in the payment information. If the number of identical character contents among the identified character contents exceeds a predetermined number, or if all of the character contents are the same character content, the presentation control unit 140 transmits control information to the user terminal 20 that includes a message indicating that the lottery can be executed again.

As a result, the user terminal 20 displays the object 3520 on the display unit 294 based on the control information received from the device 13. The object 3520 is an example of an object indicating that the lottery will be held again.

In addition, on the lottery result screen 3500, the user 30 may be able to select the character content for which the lottery will be re-run. For example, of the objects 3530, 3540, and 3550 representing the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by lottery, the character content represented by the object on which the user 30 has performed a predetermined operation (for example, a long press operation) may be the target for which the lottery will be re-run.

The user terminal 20 transmits to the device 13 the content identification information of the character content indicated by the object on which the user 30 has performed a predetermined operation. When the device 13 receives the content identification information, the lottery running unit 110 may cancel the assignment of the content identification information and re-run the lottery for the character content selected by the user 30. In this way, the lottery running unit 110 can re-run the lottery for the character content selected by the user 30 from the character content determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 by running the lottery. Note that the re-run lottery may apply to all character content.

As shown in FIG. 34, a situation in which multiple character contents to be granted to user 30 are determined by a lottery conducted by lottery execution unit 110 can occur at least when the quantity is set to 2 or more on lottery result screen 3400 shown in FIG. 32, for example.

Figure 35 shows a schematic example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. Figure 35 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the second technique described above.

Figure 35 shows a situation in which character content 3610 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the first lottery (lottery 1) based on an arbitrary timing, and character content 3620 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when the subsequent second lottery (lottery 2) is executed. Here, character content 3620 is character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3110.

In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent third lottery (lottery 3), it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3610 will be selected as character content to be granted to user 30. This reduces the possibility that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to user 30 multiple times in succession.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a subsequent fourth lottery (lottery 4), it may also reduce the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3610 will be selected as the character content to be assigned to user 30. The number of times that the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times greater than or equal to one.

When applying the second method, the same processing as that described in relation to Figures 31 to 34 can be performed.

Figure 36 shows a schematic example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. Figure 36 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the third method.

Figure 36 shows a situation in which character content 3710 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the first lottery (lottery 1) based on an arbitrary timing, and character content 3720 is determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 when the subsequent second lottery (lottery 2) is executed. Here, character content 3720 is character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute (e.g., "summer") is assigned as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710.

In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent third lottery (lottery 3), it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710 is selected as character content to be assigned to user 30. This reduces the possibility that character content associated with character elements to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to user 30 multiple times in succession.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a subsequent fourth lottery (lottery 4), it may also reduce the selection probability that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710 is assigned will be selected as character content to be assigned to user 30. The number of times that the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times greater than or equal to one.

Furthermore, when applying the third method, processing similar to that described in relation to Figures 31 to 34 can be performed.

The lottery execution unit 110 can determine the selection probability by combining two or more of the first, second, and third methods. As an example, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account the first and second methods, may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account the first and third methods, may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account both the second and third methods, or may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account the first, second, and third methods.

Figure 37 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by device 13. The flowchart in Figure 37 starts when device 13 receives a purchase execution request and determines that the user 30 has completed the payment procedure.

In step S3802, the lottery running unit 110 determines whether to lower the probability of selecting character content. For example, the lottery running unit 110 determines whether to lower the probability of selecting character content according to at least one of the first method, second method, and third method, as described in relation to Figures 30, 35, and 36, etc.

If the lottery execution unit 110 determines in step S3802 that the selection probability of character content should be changed, then in step S3804 it lowers the selection probability of the character content whose selection probability is to be lowered, and proceeds to step S3806. If the lottery execution unit 110 determines in step S3802 that the selection probability of character content should not be changed, then it proceeds to step S3806 without executing step S3804.

In step S3806, the lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery. In step S3808, the first registration unit 121 registers the character content granted to the user 30 based on the results of the lottery executed in step S3806 in the character content registration information.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the same character content will be granted to a user 30 multiple times in succession. It is also possible to reduce the likelihood that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to a user 30 multiple times in succession. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to users 30.

Fifth Embodiment
Next, a system according to a fifth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fifth embodiment, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment will be assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions of the operations described in relation to the fourth embodiment will be omitted. In the fifth embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the term "character element" refers to the first type of character element described above.

The following provides a brief explanation of the differences between the functions of device 13 in the fifth embodiment and those of device 13 in the fourth embodiment. Device 13 in the fifth embodiment generally performs the process of reducing the selection probability described as the first method in the fourth embodiment when character content identical to "character content registered by first registration unit 121 in association with user identification information of user 30" is determined as character content to be assigned to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

This reduces the likelihood that the same character content that has already been registered for user 30 will be repeatedly granted. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that is highly satisfying for user 30.

Furthermore, the device 13 in the fifth embodiment generally performs the process of reducing the selection probability described as the second method in the fourth embodiment when character content associated with the same character element as "the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30" is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more in succession.

This reduces the likelihood that character content associated with the same character element as that associated with character content already registered for user 30 will be granted multiple times in succession. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that is highly satisfying for user 30.

The operation of each part of the processing unit 103 of the device 13 in the fifth embodiment will be explained.

The lottery execution unit 110 executes a lottery to determine character content to be granted to user 30 from among multiple character content items each associated with a character element. The first registration unit 121 registers the character content to be granted to user 30 determined by the lottery execution unit 110 in association with the user identification information of user 30. When (i) the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information has been determined as character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information has been determined as character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the lottery execution unit 110 (iii) reduces the probability that the same character content will be granted to user 30, or (iv) reduces the probability that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to user 30, when executing a new lottery.

The lottery execution unit 110 may lower the probability when executing a new lottery from the next time onwards if (i) the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information has been determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) the lottery execution unit 110 has determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the same character content as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.

The predetermined number of times may be two.

If (i) the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) the character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the lottery execution unit 110 may (iii) execute a new lottery so that the same character content is not granted to the user 30, or (iv) so that the character content associated with the same character element is not granted to the user 30.

Each of the multiple character elements may be assigned an attribute. Furthermore, if the lottery execution unit 110 determines, consecutively, as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more, that the character content to be assigned to the character element to which the same attribute has been assigned as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may, when executing a new lottery, reduce the probability that the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute has been assigned will be assigned to the user 30.

If the lottery execution unit 110 determines, consecutively, a predetermined number of times or more, as character content to be granted to user 30, character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as that assigned to a character element associated with character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute a new lottery so that, when a new lottery is executed, the character content associated with the character element to which the same attribute is assigned is not granted to user 30.

The selection control unit 160 executes control to allow the user 30 to select a specific type from multiple types related to the lottery mode of character content. The multiple types include a first type that grants one character content to the user 30 and a second type that grants multiple character contents to the user 30. The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery depending on the type selected by the user 30.

The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery again for the same character content or character content associated with the same character element when (i) the first registration unit 121 has determined, in a multiple number of executions of the first type of lottery, that the same character content as the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 exceeds a predetermined number as character content to be granted to the user 30, or (ii) the first registration unit 121 has determined, in a multiple number of executions of the lottery, that the same character content as the character element associated with the character content registered in association with the identification information by the first registration unit 121 exceeds a predetermined number as character content to be granted to the user 30.

The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute the lottery again for all character content when the first type of lottery has been executed multiple times and (i) all of the character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30 is the same as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information, or (ii) all of the character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30 is associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information.

Furthermore, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes a second type of lottery, (i) when the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in excess of a predetermined number, or (ii) when the first registration unit 121 determines as the character content to be granted to the user 30 in excess of a predetermined number of character contents associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information, the lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery again for the same character content or character content associated with the same character element.

The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a second type of lottery when (i) all of the character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30 is the same as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with identification information, or (ii) all of the character content determined as character content to be granted to the user 30 is associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with identification information, and the lottery execution unit 110 may execute a lottery again for all of the character content.

The lottery execution unit 110 may further execute a lottery again for some of the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by executing the lottery, if the character content satisfies predetermined conditions.

The lottery running unit 110 may run a lottery again for the character content selected by the user 30 from among the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 by running the lottery.

When the lottery is to be held again, the presentation control unit 140 may perform control to present to the user 30 that the lottery will be held again.

The presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present to the user 30 the character content determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 through a lottery drawn by the lottery execution unit 110.

When (i) the same character content as the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with the character content registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the identification information is determined as the character content to be assigned to the user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the presentation control unit 140 may execute control to present to the user 30 that the same character content has been registered a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or that character content associated with the same character element has been registered a predetermined number of times or more consecutively.

The determination unit 150 may determine whether the user 30 has completed the procedures to pay the fee for the lottery. The lottery execution unit 110 may execute the lottery on the condition that the determination unit 150 has determined that the user 30 has completed the procedures to pay the fee for the lottery.

The character content may include first character content that is granted to user 30 on the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure for the content, and second character content that is granted to user 30 without the condition that user 30 has completed the payment procedure for the content. When (i) the first character content that is the same as the character content registered by first registration unit 121 in association with identification information has been determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, or (ii) the first character content that is associated with the same character element as the character content registered by first registration unit 121 in association with identification information has been determined as the character content to be granted to user 30 a predetermined number of times or more consecutively, the lottery execution unit 110 may, when executing a new lottery, (iii) reduce the probability that the same first character content will be granted to user 30, or (iv) reduce the probability that first character content associated with the same character element will be granted to user 30.

Figure 38 shows a schematic example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. Figure 38 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the processing related to the first method described above.

In Figure 38, "Drawing 0" indicates the drawing performed by the drawing execution unit 110 before drawing (Drawing 1) shown in Figure 30 was performed. The character content 3900 determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 when the drawing execution unit 110 performed Drawing 0 is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

When lottery execution unit 110 executes lottery 1, character content 3110 is determined to be the character content to be granted to user 30, and when subsequent lottery execution unit 110 executes lottery 2, character content 3120 is determined to be the character content to be granted to user 30. Here, character content 3120 is the same character content as character content 3110 and is also the same character content as character content 3900.

In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent lottery 3, it reduces the selection probability that the same character content as character content 3110 will be selected as the character content to be granted to user 30. This reduces the possibility that the same character content will be granted to user 30 multiple times in succession.

When conducting a subsequent lottery 4, the lottery running unit 110 may also reduce the selection probability that the same character content as character content 3110 will be selected as the character content to be granted to user 30. The number of times that the lottery running unit 110 reduces the selection probability when conducting a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times greater than or equal to one.

Figure 39 shows a schematic example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. Figure 39 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the processing related to the second technique described above.

In Figure 39, "Drawing 0" indicates the drawing performed by the drawing execution unit 110 before drawing 1 shown in Figure 35 was performed. The character content 4000 determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 when the drawing execution unit 110 performed drawing 0 is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

The figure shows a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 determines character content 3610 as the character content to be granted to user 30 when lottery 1 is executed, and determines character content 3620 as the character content to be granted to user 30 when subsequent lottery 2 is executed. Here, character content 3620 is character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3110, and is character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 4000.

In this case, when the lottery running unit 110 runs the subsequent lottery 3, it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3610 will be selected as character content to be granted to user 30. This reduces the possibility that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to user 30 multiple times in succession.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a subsequent lottery 4, it may also reduce the selection probability that character content associated with the same character element as the character element associated with character content 3610 will be selected as the character content to be assigned to user 30. The number of times that the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability when executing a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times greater than or equal to one.

Figure 40 shows a schematic example of a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 changes the selection probability. Figure 40 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the processing related to the third technique.

In Figure 40, "Drawing 0" indicates the drawing performed by the drawing execution unit 110 before drawing 1 shown in Figure 36 was performed. The character content 4100 determined as the character content to be granted to the user 30 when the drawing execution unit 110 performed drawing 0 is registered by the first registration unit 121 in association with the user identification information of the user 30.

The figure shows a situation in which the lottery execution unit 110 determines character content 3710 as the character content to be granted to user 30 when lottery 1 is executed, and determines character content 3720 as the character content to be granted to user 30 when subsequent lottery 2 is executed. Here, character content 3720 is character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute (e.g., "summer") has been assigned as the character element associated with character content 3710, and is also character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute (e.g., "summer") has been assigned as the character element associated with character content 4100.

In this case, when the lottery execution unit 110 executes the subsequent lottery 3, it reduces the selection probability that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710 is selected as character content to be assigned to user 30. This reduces the possibility that character content associated with character elements to which the same attribute is assigned will be assigned to user 30 multiple times in succession.

When the lottery execution unit 110 executes a subsequent lottery 4, it may also reduce the selection probability that character content associated with a character element to which the same attribute as the attribute assigned to the character element associated with character content 3710 is assigned will be selected as the character content to be assigned to the user 30. The number of times that the lottery execution unit 110 reduces the selection probability when conducting a new lottery may be a predetermined number of times greater than or equal to one.

Incidentally, even in the fifth embodiment, the lottery execution unit 110 can determine the selection probability by combining two or more of the first, second, and third methods. As an example, the lottery execution unit 110 may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account the first and second methods, may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account the first and third methods, may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account both the second and third methods, or may determine the extent to which the selection probability will be reduced by taking into account the first, second, and third methods.

Furthermore, the processing performed by the device 13 and user terminal 20 in the fifth embodiment can be similar to the processing described in Figures 31 to 34 of the fourth embodiment.

The processing executed by the device 13 in the fifth embodiment can be the same as the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 37. For example, the processing in S3802 for determining whether to lower the selection probability can be performed by applying the processing described in relation to FIGS. 38 to 40, etc. Therefore, a description of the flowchart executed by the device 13 in the fifth embodiment will be omitted.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that the same character content will be granted to a user 30 multiple times in succession. It is also possible to reduce the likelihood that character content associated with the same character element will be granted to a user 30 multiple times in succession. This makes it possible to hold a lottery that provides a high level of satisfaction to users 30.

Figure 41 shows an example of a computer 2000 in which multiple embodiments of the present invention may be embodied, in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 2000 may cause the computer 2000 to function as system 5 or each part of the system, user terminal 20 or each part of the user terminal, or an apparatus or each part of the apparatus, such as device 10, device 12, and device 13, according to an embodiment, to perform operations associated with the system or each part of the system, or the apparatus or each part of the apparatus, and/or to perform a process or steps of the process according to an embodiment. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 2012 to cause the computer 2000 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the processing procedures and blocks of the block diagrams described herein.

The computer 2000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2012 and RAM 2014, which are interconnected by a host controller 2010. The computer 2000 also includes a ROM 2026, a flash memory 2024, a communication interface 2022, and an input/output chip 2040. The ROM 2026, the flash memory 2024, the communication interface 2022, and the input/output chip 2040 are connected to the host controller 2010 via the input/output controller 2020.

The CPU 2012 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2026 and RAM 2014, thereby controlling each unit.

The communications interface 2022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The flash memory 2024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2012 in the computer 2000. The ROM 2026 stores programs such as a boot program executed by the computer 2000 upon activation and/or programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 2000. The input/output chip 2040 may also connect various input/output units such as a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the input/output controller 2020 via input/output ports such as a serial port, parallel port, keyboard port, mouse port, monitor port, USB port, HDMI (registered trademark) port, etc.

The programs are provided via a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or memory card, or via a network. RAM 2014, ROM 2026, or flash memory 2024 are examples of computer-readable storage media. The programs are installed in flash memory 2024, RAM 2014, or ROM 2026 and executed by CPU 2012. The information processing described in these programs is read by computer 2000, resulting in cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be configured by implementing the operation or processing of information in accordance with the use of computer 2000.

For example, when communication is performed between computer 2000 and an external device, CPU 2012 executes a communication program loaded into RAM 2014 and may instruct communication interface 2022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of CPU 2012, communication interface 2022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in RAM 2014 and a recording medium such as flash memory 2024, transmits the read transmission data to the network, and writes received data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

The CPU 2012 may also cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored on a recording medium such as flash memory 2024 to be read into the RAM 2014, and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 then writes the processed data back to the recording medium.

Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 2012 may perform various types of processing on data read from RAM 2014, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search/replacement, etc., as described herein and specified by the instruction sequences of the program, and write the results back to RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 may also search for information in files, databases, etc. on the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored on the recording medium, the CPU 2012 may search for an entry that matches a condition and specifies an attribute value of the first attribute from among the multiple entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

The programs or software modules described above may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium on or near the computer 2000. Recording media such as a hard disk or RAM provided within a server system connected to a dedicated communications network or the Internet can be used as the computer-readable storage medium. The programs stored on the computer-readable storage medium may be provided to the computer 2000 via the network.

When installed on computer 2000 and causing computer 2000 to function as device 10, device 12, or device 13, a program may be executed by the computer to act on CPU 2012 or the like to cause computer 2000 to function as each of the components of device 10, device 12, or device 13. When the information processing described in these programs is loaded into computer 2000, it functions as each of the components of device 10, device 12, or device 13, which are specific means formed by the software and the various hardware resources described above working together. These specific means then perform calculations or processing of information according to the intended use of computer 2000 in this embodiment, thereby constructing a specific device 10, device 12, or device 13 according to the intended use.

Various embodiments have been described with reference to block diagrams and the like. In the block diagrams, each block may represent (1) a stage of a process where an operation is performed or (2) a portion of an apparatus responsible for performing an operation. Particular stages and portions may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and/or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Dedicated circuitry may include digital and/or analog hardware circuitry, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and/or discrete circuits. Programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuitry including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logic operations, flip-flops, registers, memory elements such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like.

A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions for execution by an appropriate device, such that the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon constitutes at least a portion of an article of manufacture containing instructions that can be executed to provide means for performing the operations specified in a process or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

The computer-readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages.

The computer-readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, either locally or over a wide-area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc., and executed to provide means for performing the operations specified in the described process steps or block diagrams. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

The order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," or the like, and it should be noted that processes can be performed in any order, unless the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that it is necessary to perform the processes in that order.

Furthermore, some or all of the above-described embodiments may also be described as in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited to these.
[Appendix 1]
Computer,
a registration unit that registers a plurality of character contents in association with first user identification information that is identification information of the first user;
a canceling unit that cancels an association between at least one character content among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information;
It functions as
the plurality of character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content;
the canceling unit can cancel the association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, but cannot cancel the association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information;
program.
[Appendix 2]
The program causes the computer to:
a presentation control unit that performs control to present to the first user the plurality of character contents that are registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information;
It further functions as
The presentation control unit
When the first type of character content is registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, performing control to present at least the first type of character content to the first user;
When the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is canceled by the canceling unit, control for presenting the first type of character content to the first user is not performed.
10. The program according to claim 1.
[Appendix 3]
The registration unit is capable of registering the first type of character content, the association of which with the first user identification information has been released by the release unit, in association with second user identification information that is identification information of a second user.
3. The program according to claim 1 or 2.
[Appendix 4]
the registration unit is capable of registering the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, and then registering the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is canceled by the cancellation unit;
3. The program according to claim 3.
[Appendix 5]
the registration unit registers the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, and then registers the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is released by the release unit and the second user is notified that the first type of character content should be registered;
5. The program according to claim 4.
[Appendix 6]
The computer
a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine the first type of character content as the character content to be assigned to the first user from among the plurality of character contents;
6. The program according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, further functioning as
[Appendix 7]
the lottery execution unit does not determine the second type of character content from among the plurality of character contents as the character content to be granted to the first user;
6. The program according to claim 5.
[Appendix 8]
The program causes the computer to:
a determination unit that determines whether a procedure for the first user to pay a fee for the lottery has been completed;
It further functions as
the lottery execution unit executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit determines that a procedure for the first user to pay a fee for the lottery has been completed.
8. The program according to claim 6 or 7.
[Appendix 9]
the first type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user on the condition that the first user has completed a procedure for payment of a price;
The second type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user without the condition that the first user has completed a procedure for payment of a fee.
9. The program according to claim 8.
[Supplementary Note 10]
when the first type of character content is determined by the lottery executing unit as the character content to be granted to the first user, the registration unit registers the first type of character content determined by the lottery executing unit as the character content to be granted to the first user in association with the first user identification information without requiring a user operation by the first user;
10. The program of any one of appendices 6 to 9.
[Appendix 11]
the first type of character content is identified by first content identification information;
the second type of character content is identified by second content identification information,
the registration unit registers the first content identification information and the second content identification information in association with the first user identification information, thereby registering the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information;
11. The program of any one of appendices 1 to 10.
[Appendix 12]
the canceller is capable of canceling the association between the first content identification information and the first user identification information, but is unable to cancel the association between the second content identification information and the first user identification information;
12. The program according to claim 11.
[Appendix 13]
the registration unit is capable of registering the first content identification information in association with the first user identification information, and then registering the first content identification information in association with second user identification information that is identification information of a second user, on condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first content identification information is released by the release unit.
13. The program according to claim 12.
[Appendix 14]
The registration unit
A process of registering the first content identification information in association with user identification information of any user can be performed multiple times on the condition that the first content identification information is not registered in association with user identification information of any user,
Even if the second content identification information is not registered in association with the user identification information of any user, a process of registering the second content identification information in association with the user identification information of any user can be performed only once.
14. The program according to claim 13.
[Appendix 15]
the canceling unit is capable of executing a process of canceling the association between the user identification information of any one of the users and the first content identification information multiple times.
15. The program according to claim 13 or 14.
[Appendix 16]
The program causes the computer to:
a presentation control unit that performs control to present the first type of character content and the second type of character content to the first user in a list format when the first type of character content and the second type of character content are registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information;
16. The program of any one of appendices 1 to 15, further functioning as
[Appendix 17]
The program causes the computer to:
a presentation control unit that performs control to distinguish and present the first type of character content and the second type of character content when the first type of character content and the second type of character content are registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information;
17. The program of any one of appendices 1 to 16, further functioning as
[Appendix 18]
the cancellation unit is capable of executing the process of canceling the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content only during a predetermined first period;
18. The program of any one of appendices 3 to 17.
[Appendix 19]
the registration unit may execute a process of registering the first type of character content, the association of which with the first user identification information has been cancelled by the cancellation unit, in association with the second user identification information, only during a predetermined second period;
19. The program of claim 18.
[Appendix 20]
a registration unit that registers a plurality of character contents in association with first user identification information that is identification information of a first user;
a canceling unit that cancels an association between at least one character content among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information;
Equipped with
the plurality of character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content;
the canceling unit can cancel the association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, but cannot cancel the association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information;
Device.
[Appendix 21]
21. The apparatus of claim 20;
a user terminal available to the first user;
Equipped with
the release unit releases an association between at least one character content among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information in response to an instruction from the first user acquired through the user terminal;
system.

10, 12, 13 Device 20 User terminal 30 User 90 Communication network 100, 102, 103 Processing unit 110 Lottery execution unit 121 First registration unit 122 Second registration unit 130 Cancellation unit 140 Presentation control unit 150 Determination unit 160 Selection control unit 170 Acquisition unit 190 Storage unit 192 Communication unit 200 Processing unit 290 Storage unit 292 Communication unit 294 Display unit 296 Operation input unit 800 Character content list screen 810, 820, 830, 892, 894, 896, 898 Object 900 Serial code input screen 910 Object 1000 Character content list screen 1010 Object 1100 Shopping screen 1110, 1120 Object 1200 Shopping screen 1210, 1220, 1230 Object 1300 Shopping screens 1310, 1320, 1330 Object 1400 Lottery result screen 1410 Object 1500 Character content screens 1510, 1520 Object 1600 Cancellation screens 1610, 1620, 1630 Object 1700 Character content screens 1710, 1720 Object 1800 Transfer screens 1810, 1820 Object 1800 Transfer screen 2400 Character element selection screens 2410, 2420 Object 2500 Character content list screen 2510 Object 2600 Shopping screen 2610 Object 2800 Character content list screens 2810, 2820, 2830 Object 2900 Shopping screen 2910 Object 3110, 3120 Character content 3200 Lottery result screens 3210, 3220 Object 3300 Shopping screen 3310 Object 3400 Lottery result screens 3410, 3420 Object 3500 Lottery result screens 3510, 3520, 3540 Object 3610, 3620 Character content 3710, 3720 Character content 3900, 4000, 4100 Character content

Claims (20)

A program for causing a computer to:
a registration unit that registers a plurality of character contents in association with first user identification information that is identification information of a first user; and a release unit that releases an association between at least one character content among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information,
the plurality of character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content;
the release unit is capable of releasing an association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, and is unable to release an association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information;
The program causes the computer to:
When the registration unit has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in correspondence with the first user identification information, upon receiving a request to display a digital album, the program further functions as a presentation control unit that controls the presentation to the first user of a character content list screen that displays the first type of character content and the second type of character content in a list format in a distinguishable manner . The presentation control unit
When the first type of character content is registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, performing control to present at least the first type of character content to the first user;
The program of claim 1, wherein when the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is canceled by the cancellation unit, no control is performed to present the first type of character content to the first user. The program of claim 1, wherein the registration unit is capable of registering the first type of character content, whose association with the first user identification information has been cancelled by the cancellation unit, in association with second user identification information, which is identification information of a second user. The program described in claim 3, wherein the registration unit is capable of registering the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, and then registering the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on the condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is released by the release unit . The program of claim 4, wherein the registration unit registers the first type of character content in association with the first user identification information, and then registers the first type of character content in association with the second user identification information, on the condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content is canceled by the cancellation unit, the second user is notified that they should register the first type of character content, and a registration request for the first type of character content is received from the second user. The computer
The program according to claim 1 , further functioning as a lottery execution unit that executes a lottery to determine the first type of character content from among the plurality of character contents as the character content to be granted to the first user. The program according to claim 6 , wherein the lottery execution unit does not determine the second type of character content from among the plurality of character contents as the character content to be granted to the first user. The program causes the computer to:
further functioning as a determination unit that determines whether or not a procedure for the first user to pay the fee for the lottery has been completed;
The program according to claim 6 , wherein the lottery execution unit executes the lottery on the condition that the determination unit determines that the first user has completed the procedure for paying the fee for the lottery. the first type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user on the condition that the first user has completed a procedure for payment of a price;
The program according to claim 8 , wherein the second type of character content is character content that is granted to the first user without the first user having completed a payment procedure. The program described in claim 6, wherein when the lottery execution unit determines the first type of character content as the character content to be granted to the first user, the registration unit registers the first type of character content determined by the lottery execution unit as the character content to be granted to the first user in correspondence with the first user identification information without requiring user operation by the first user. the first type of character content is identified by first content identification information;
the second type of character content is identified by second content identification information,
The program of claim 1, wherein the registration unit registers the first content identification information and the second content identification information in correspondence with the first user identification information, thereby registering the first type of character content and the second type of character content in correspondence with the first user identification information. The program according to claim 11 , wherein the release unit is capable of releasing the association between the first content identification information and the first user identification information, but is unable to release the association between the second content identification information and the first user identification information. The program described in claim 12, wherein the registration unit is capable of registering the first content identification information in association with the first user identification information, and then registering the first content identification information in association with second user identification information, which is identification information of a second user, on the condition that the association between the first user identification information and the first content identification information is released by the release unit . The registration unit
A process of registering the first content identification information in association with user identification information of any user can be performed multiple times on the condition that the first content identification information is not registered in association with user identification information of any user,
The program described in claim 13, wherein even if the second content identification information is not registered in correspondence with the user identification information of any user, the process of registering the second content identification information in correspondence with the user identification information of any user can be performed only once. The program according to claim 13 , wherein the canceling unit is capable of executing the process of canceling the association between the user identification information of any one user and the first content identification information a plurality of times. The program according to claim 3 , wherein the canceling unit can execute the process of canceling the association between the first user identification information and the first type of character content only during a predetermined first period. The program described in claim 16, wherein the registration unit is capable of executing a process of registering the first type of character content, whose association with the first user identification information has been released by the release unit, in association with the second user identification information only during the first period. The program described in claim 16, wherein the registration unit can execute the process of registering the first type of character content, whose association with the first user identification information has been released by the release unit, in association with the second user identification information only during a predetermined second period different from the first period. 1. An apparatus comprising:
a registration unit that registers a plurality of character contents in association with first user identification information that is identification information of a first user;
a canceller that cancels an association between at least one character content among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information,
the plurality of character contents include a first type of character content and a second type of character content;
the release unit is capable of releasing an association between the first type of character content and the first user identification information among the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information, and is unable to release an association between the second type of character content and the first user identification information;
The device comprises:
The device further includes a presentation control unit that, when the registration unit has registered the first type of character content and the second type of character content in association with the first user identification information , controls the presentation to the first user of a character content list screen that displays the first type of character content and the second type of character content in a list format in a distinguishable manner when a request to display a digital album is received. 20. The apparatus of claim 19;
a user terminal usable by the first user;
The system wherein the release unit releases the association between at least one of the plurality of character contents registered by the registration unit in association with the first user identification information and the first user identification information in response to instructions from the first user obtained through the user terminal.