JP7804229B2 - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

Currently, games that use location information are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses technology that can improve the strategic nature of games that use location information from player devices.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-181216

In games that use location information, each device participating in the game needs to continually acquire location information using GPS or other means. However, for devices with low battery levels, continuing to acquire location information can lead to the device running out of battery, making it difficult to participate in the game. Similar issues can arise not only in games, but in any process that uses location information.

The present invention therefore aims to provide technology that can reduce the power consumption of a device when processing location information.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that executes processing using location information, and includes a management unit that manages a group including multiple users, and a processing unit that executes processing for the group using location information acquired by a portion of user terminals selected from among the user terminals used by each of the multiple users included in the group.

This invention provides technology that can reduce the power consumption of a device when processing location information.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a game. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a server and a terminal. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of a server. 10 shows an example of a user management DB and a doctor management DB. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of a terminal. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed by the game system. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a map screen display.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in each drawing, parts with the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations. In the following explanation, this embodiment will be described assuming that it is applied to a game that uses location information, but it is not intended that the application of this embodiment be limited to games. This embodiment can be applied to any process that uses location information, such as SNS, messengers, group chats, and displaying locations on a map.

<System Configuration>
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a game system 1 according to this embodiment. The game system 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes a server 10 and one or more terminals 20. The server 10 and the terminals 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N such as the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN, or mobile communication. The server 10 and the terminals 20 may also be referred to as information processing devices.

Server 10 may be configured from one or more physical servers, or may be configured using a virtual server running on a hypervisor, or may be configured using a cloud server.

The terminal 20 (user terminal) is a terminal used by a user, and the user can play a game by operating the terminal 20. The terminal 20 may be, for example, a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. In the following description, the user's location refers to the location of the terminal 20 used by the user.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a game provided by the server 10. The server 10 uses location information to provide a game in which multiple users can form groups to play. The game provided by the server 10 may be any type of game. For example, it may be a game in which users who are currently in close proximity form groups to fight monsters together, or a game in which the group clears an event that occurs at a specific location. Figure 2 shows an image of a game in which user U03 forms a group with users U01 and U02 who are near user U03, and battles a boss character.

In this embodiment, when the server 10 executes a group process (such as a battle against the boss character described above), it executes the process using location information acquired by some of the terminals 20 (hereinafter referred to as "location notification terminals") selected from the terminals 20 of multiple users included in the group. As a result, terminals 20 other than the selected some of the terminals 20 do not need to acquire location information and notify the server 10, making it possible to reduce the power consumption of the terminals 20.

<Hardware configuration>
3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server 10 and the terminal 20. The server 10 and the terminal 20 include a processor 11 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), a memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and/or an SSD (Solid State Drive).
The computer includes a storage device 12 such as a memory device (RAM) or a state drive (SD), a communication interface (IF) 13 for wired or wireless communication, an input device 14 for accepting input operations, and an output device 15 for outputting information. The input device 14 is, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, and/or a microphone. The output device 15 is, for example, a display and/or a speaker.

<Function block configuration>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional block configuration of the server 10. The server 10 includes a storage unit 100, a management unit 101, a selection unit 102, an output unit 103, and a game processing unit 104. The storage unit 100 can be realized using a storage device 12 provided in the server 10. The management unit 101, the selection unit 102, the output unit 103, and the game processing unit 104 can be realized by the processor 11 of the server 10 executing a program stored in the storage device 12. The program can be stored in a storage medium. The storage medium storing the program may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory storage medium is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a storage medium such as a USB memory or a CD-ROM.

The memory unit 100 stores a user management DB 100a that manages various information related to users, and a group management DB 100b that manages various information related to groups.

Figure 5A shows an example of the user management DB 100a, and Figure 5B shows an example of the group management DB 100b. The "User ID" in the user management DB 100a stores an identifier for uniquely identifying a user within the server 10. The "Nickname" stores the nickname entered by the user when registering the user. The "Location Information" stores the location information notified from the terminal 20 used by the user.

The "Group ID" in the group management DB 100b stores an identifier that uniquely identifies a group within the server 10. The "Participating Users" stores the user IDs of users included in the group. The "Host User" stores the user ID of the user who solicited participants to join the group. The "Location Information Notification User" stores the user ID of the user who uses the location notification terminal. Multiple user IDs may be stored in the "Location Information Notification User".

The management unit 101 creates and manages groups that include multiple users. For example, the management unit 101 manages groups by storing users who join the group in the group management DB 100b and deleting users who leave the group from the group management DB 100b. Furthermore, when a location notification terminal is selected by the selection unit 102, the management unit 101 stores the user ID of the user who uses the location notification terminal in the "location information notification user" field in the group management DB 100b.

The selection unit 102 selects a location notification terminal from among the terminals 20 of multiple users included in the same group in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The selection unit 102 may select a location notification terminal itself, or may select a location notification terminal in cooperation with the terminal 20 by receiving a notification from the terminal 20 of the result of the selection of the location notification terminal.

The output unit 103 outputs information for displaying various screens related to the game on the screen of the terminal 20. The output unit 103 also outputs information for displaying an image on the screen of the terminal 20 in which the positions of each user included in the group are superimposed on a map.

The game processing unit 104 performs various processes related to the execution of the game that should be performed on the server 10 side. The game processing unit 104 also performs group processing (predetermined processing) using location information acquired by a subset of user terminals selected from the user terminals used by each user included in the group.

Furthermore, when multiple users have not formed a group, the game processing unit 104 may execute group processing using location information acquired by each of the terminals 20 used by the multiple users. Furthermore, when multiple users have formed a group, the game processing unit 104 may execute group processing using location information acquired by the terminals 20 of some of the users in the group. Furthermore, even after multiple users have formed a group, the game processing unit 104 may execute group processing using location information acquired by the terminals 20 of each of the grouped users if a predetermined condition is met (such as when a specific event is activated).

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example functional block configuration of the terminal 20. The terminal 20 includes a game processing unit 201, a selection unit 202, and a position acquisition unit 203. The game processing unit 201, the selection unit 202, and the position acquisition unit 203 can be realized by the processor 11 of the terminal 20 executing a program stored in the storage device 12. The program can also be stored on a storage medium. The storage medium storing the program may be a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium. There are no particular limitations on the non-transitory storage medium, and it may be, for example, a storage medium such as a USB memory or a CD-ROM.

The game processing unit 201 performs various processes related to game execution that should be executed on the terminal 20 side. The game processing unit 201 also transmits location information indicating the current location of the terminal 20 acquired by the location acquisition unit 203 to the server 10.

The selection unit 202 selects a location notification terminal from among the terminals 20 of multiple users included in the group. The selection unit 202 may also select a location notification terminal by accepting, from a user, a designation of the user to whom location information is to be notified. Furthermore, if the selection of the location notification terminal is performed on the server 10 side, the selection unit 202 does not need to be implemented in the terminal 20.

The location acquisition unit 203 acquires the current location of the terminal 20 using GPS or other means.

<Processing procedure>
Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the game system 1. In Fig. 7, the terminals 20 used by the user U01, the user U02, and the user U03 are referred to as terminal 20-1, terminal 20-2, and terminal 20-3, respectively.

The following describes the series of processes that take place after users U01, U02, and U03, among the multiple users participating in the game, form a group, select a location notification terminal from among these users' devices 20, and then notify the server 10 of their location information.

In steps S100 to S102, terminals 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3 measure their current locations using GPS or the like, and transmit information indicating their current locations to server 10 at predetermined intervals or other timings.

In step S103, a group is created among multiple users participating in the game. A group may be created when users who are within a predetermined range centered on the user who invited participants to join the group (hereinafter referred to as the "host user") agree to join the group. In other words, the management unit 101 of the server 10 may create a group that includes users other than the host user and the host user when the locations of users other than the host user are within a predetermined range from the host user's location.

A specific example will be explained using Figure 2. In the example of Figure 2, users U01 and U02 are located within a predetermined range (within a circle surrounded by a dotted line) centered on user U03. In this situation, the game processing unit 201 of terminal 20-3 notifies the server 10 that it has received an instruction from user U03 via a screen operation to solicit participation in a group. The management unit 101 of the server 10 identifies users located within the predetermined range centered on user U03 by searching the "location information" in the user management DB 100a. The management unit 101 also displays a screen on the screen of the identified user U01's terminal 20-1 and user U02's terminal 20-2, which accepts a selection of whether or not to accept participation in the group. When the game processing unit 201 of terminal 20-1 and terminal 20-2 accepts a selection of whether or not to accept participation in the group from users U01 and U02, the game processing unit 201 of terminal 20-1 and terminal 20-2 transmits a message to the server 10 indicating that they accept participation in the group. The management unit 101 of the server 10 stores the user ID of a user who has agreed to participate in the group in the "participating user" field in the group management DB. Note that if a user who exists within a predetermined range centered on the host user and who has been designated by the host user has agreed to participate in the group, the management unit 101 may create a group that includes the host user and the user who has agreed to participate in the group. Return to Figure 7 for further explanation.

In step S104, the selection unit 102 of the server 10 selects a location notification terminal from among the multiple users included in the group. The selection unit 102 also notifies the selected location notification terminal that it has been selected as a location notification terminal.

Here, the selected location notification terminals may include a predetermined number of terminals 20, selected in descending order of battery life from the terminals 20 used by each of the multiple users. The predetermined number is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, "1" or "2."

The location notification terminal may also include a terminal 20 used by each of multiple users whose remaining battery power is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. For example, if, among terminals 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3, only terminal 20-1 has a remaining battery power equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the selection unit 102 selects terminal 20-1 as the location notification terminal.

The location notification terminal may also include the host user's terminal 20.

The selection of a location notification terminal may also be repeated at predetermined time intervals. For example, when selecting a terminal 20 with a remaining battery level equal to or greater than a predetermined level as a location notification terminal, the selection unit 102 of the server 10 may have each terminal 20 report its remaining battery level at predetermined time intervals, and update the location notification terminal based on the reported remaining battery levels. This allows the location notification terminal to be switched, making it possible to average out the remaining battery levels of each terminal 20 in the group.

Furthermore, when the selection of a location notification terminal is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals, the selection unit 102 may change the length of the predetermined time depending on the remaining battery power of the location notification terminal. For example, if a location notification terminal is a terminal 20 with a slightly higher remaining battery power than other terminals 20 in the group, the predetermined time may be longer than if the location notification terminal is a terminal 20 with a significantly higher remaining battery power than other terminals 20 in the group. Because the frequency of the location notification terminal selection process is reduced, the power consumption of the terminals 20 and the server 10 can be reduced.

In step S105, the game processing unit 104 of the server 10 and the game processing units 201 of terminals 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3 cooperate to begin processing related to the group game. Note that in the processing procedure of step S104, it is assumed that terminal 20-2 has been selected as the location notification terminal.

In step S106, while the group is playing the game, the location acquisition unit 203 of terminal 20-2 measures the current location using GPS or the like, and transmits information indicating the current location to the server 10 at predetermined intervals or other timings.

In steps S107 and S108, if it is necessary to share the current location within the group, the game processing unit 104 of the server 10 may notify terminals 20-1 and 20-3 of the current location notified by terminal 20-2. Note that the processing procedures of steps S107 and S108 may be performed directly between terminals 20 without going through the server 10. For example, when creating a group, a connection using short-range communication may be established between terminals 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3. Furthermore, terminal 20-2 may notify terminals 20-1 and 20-3 of the acquired current location using this connection.

The game processing unit 104 of the server 10 uses the location information notified from terminal 20-2 in the processing procedure of step S107 to perform processing related to the group game.

Here, in a game played in a group, the game processing unit 104 may regard the current location notified by the location notification terminal as the current location of each terminal 20 included in the group (hereinafter referred to as the "group location"). In other words, the current location of each terminal 20 included in the group may be the same. In this case, if multiple terminals 20 are selected as location notification terminals, the game processing unit 104 may regard the center point of the multiple current locations notified by each location notification terminal as the group location. The location of the center point can be calculated, for example, by dividing the sum of the latitude and longitude values notified by each location notification terminal by the number of location notification terminals.

Furthermore, when there is one location notification terminal, the game processing unit 104 may store the location information of each terminal 20 at the time the group was created, and may consider each terminal to have moved in the same direction and distance as the location notification terminal. In other words, as the location notification terminal moves, each terminal 20 in the group may move in parallel while maintaining the positional relationship they had at the time the group was created.

During game execution, the output unit 103 of the server 10 may display a map indicating the current location of each terminal 20 on the screen of each terminal 20. For example, if multiple users have not formed a group, the output unit 103 may determine the location of each of the multiple users to be displayed on the map based on location information acquired by each of the multiple terminals 20. Figure 8 shows an example of a map display. The left side of Figure 8 is an example of a map display before groups are formed. As shown on the left side of Figure 8, before groups are formed, icons indicating the locations of users U01 to U03 are displayed at the current locations of terminals 20-1 to 20-3. Furthermore, if multiple users have formed a group, the output unit 103 may determine the location of each of the multiple users based on location information acquired by a location acquisition terminal. The right side of Figure 8 is an example of a map display when, after groups are formed, the current locations notified by the location notification terminal are considered to be the group's location. After forming a group, icons showing the locations of users U01 to U03 are displayed superimposed on the current location of terminal 20-2. Return to Figure 7 for further explanation.

Games using location information may include games that can be played when the location information of each user included in the group falls within a predetermined range (hereinafter referred to as "location-restricted games"). In this case, the game processing unit 104 may allow the group or each terminal 20 included in the group to play the location-restricted game when the location information acquired by the location notification terminal falls within the predetermined range. This allows each user included in the group to play the location-restricted game as long as the location notification terminal is within the predetermined range.

In addition, even after a location notification terminal has been selected, the game processing unit 104 may exceptionally cause the terminals 20 of each user included in the group to acquire their current location, and if the location information acquired by each terminal 20 is within the specified range, permit the group or each terminal 20 included in the group to play a location-limited game. For example, if the game processing unit 104 confirms that a location notification terminal is present within the specified range, it instructs terminals 20 included in the group other than the location notification terminal to notify their location information. Furthermore, the terminal 20 that receives this instruction acquires its current location and notifies the server 10. As a result, since each user's terminal 20 must be present within the specified range in order for them to play the location-limited game, the determination to start the location-limited game can be made more rigorous.

The management unit 101 may instruct terminals 20 other than the location notification terminals included in the group to notify their current locations after a predetermined time has elapsed since the group was created. If the location information acquired from each terminal 20 included in the group in response to this instruction does not fall within a predetermined range from the group's location, the management unit 101 may exclude from the group the users of terminals 20 whose location information does not fall within the predetermined range.

<Summary>
According to the embodiment described above, among the terminals 20 of multiple users included in a group, some of the terminals 20 are caused to acquire location information, and the acquired location information is shared within the group. This makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the terminals in processes that use the location information.

The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The flowcharts, sequences, elements included in the embodiments, as well as their arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, etc., are not limited to those illustrated and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined.

<Additional Notes>
<Appendix 1>
An information processing device that executes a process using location information,
an administration unit that manages a group including a plurality of users;
a processing unit that executes processing to be performed by the group using location information acquired by some user terminals selected from user terminals used by each of the plurality of users included in the group;
An information processing device having the above.

According to Appendix 1, when performing group processing using location information, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the device.

<Appendix 2>
The processing unit
If the plurality of users are not in the group, a predetermined process is executed using location information acquired by each of the user terminals used by the plurality of users;
When the plurality of users form the group, the location information acquired by the some of the user terminals is used to execute a process to be performed by the group.
2. The information processing device according to claim 1.

According to Appendix 2, when group processing is performed using location information after forming a group, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the devices.

<Appendix 3>
the part of user terminals includes a predetermined number of user terminals, in descending order of remaining battery power, among the user terminals used by each of the plurality of users;
3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

Appendix 3 makes it possible to reduce power consumption on devices with low battery levels.

<Appendix 4>
the some user terminals include user terminals used by the plurality of users, each of which has a remaining battery charge equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.
3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

Appendix 4 makes it possible to reduce power consumption on devices with low battery levels.

<Appendix 5>
The selection of the part of user terminals is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals.
5. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Appendix 5 makes it possible to average out the battery consumption of each terminal 20.

<Appendix 6>
the part of user terminals includes, among user terminals used by each of the plurality of users, a user terminal of a host user who has invited users to join the group;
3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

According to Appendix 6, it is possible to reduce battery consumption on each terminal 20 other than the terminal 20 of the user who proposed forming a group.

<Appendix 7>
the management unit creates the group when a location of a user other than the host user is within a predetermined range from the location of the host user.
7. The information processing device according to claim 6.

Appendix 7 makes it possible for users who are in close proximity to each other to form groups.

<Appendix 8>
When location information acquired from each of the user terminals used by the plurality of users is not within a predetermined range from the location of the group after a predetermined time has elapsed, the management unit excludes from the group users of user terminals whose location information is not within the predetermined range.
8. The information processing device according to any one of appendices 1 to 7.

According to Appendix 8, users who move away from the area where it is possible to form a group will be excluded from the group, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the location information of each device within the group.

<Appendix 9>
the processing unit executes processing related to the game to be played by the group using the location information acquired by the some of the user terminals.
9. The information processing device according to any one of appendices 1 to 8.

Appendix 9 makes it possible to play group games using location information.

<Appendix 10>
the game includes a location-limited game that can be executed when location information of each of a group of a plurality of users is within a predetermined range;
the processing unit permits the group to play the location-limited game when each of a plurality of pieces of location information acquired by each of the plurality of users included in the group is within the predetermined range.
10. The information processing device according to claim 9.

According to Supplementary Note 10, when the terminal 20 of each user in the group is located within a range where a location-limited game can be played, the location-limited game is permitted to be played, thereby improving the accuracy of determining whether or not a location-limited game can be played.

<Appendix 11>
the game includes a location-limited game that can be executed when location information of each of a group of a plurality of users is within a predetermined range;
the processing unit permits the group to play the location-limited game when the location information acquired by the some of the user terminals is within the predetermined range.
10. The information processing device according to claim 9.

According to Supplementary Note 11, whether or not a location-limited game can be played is determined based on whether or not some of the terminals 20 of users in a group are within a range where the location-limited game can be played. This makes it possible to determine whether or not a location-limited game can be played while reducing the power consumption of the terminals 20.

<Appendix 12>
an output unit that outputs information for displaying an image in which the positions of the plurality of users included in the group are superimposed on a map,
The output unit
If the plurality of users are not grouped, determining the location of each of the plurality of users based on location information acquired by each of the user terminals used by the plurality of users;
When the plurality of users form the group, determining the location of each of the plurality of users based on location information acquired by the some of the user terminals.
12. The information processing device according to any one of appendices 1 to 11.

According to Appendix 12, when displaying the location of each user on a map, location information obtained from the terminals 20 of some of the users in the group is used, making it possible to display the location of each user on a map while reducing the power consumption of the terminals 20.

<Appendix 13>
An information processing method performed by an information processing device that executes a process using location information,
managing a group including a plurality of users;
executing a process to be performed by the group using location information acquired by some user terminals selected from among user terminals used by each of the plurality of users included in the group;
An information processing method comprising:

According to Appendix 13, when performing group processing using location information, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of terminals.

<Appendix 14>
A computer that executes processing that uses location information
managing a group including a plurality of users;
executing a process to be performed by the group using location information acquired by some user terminals selected from among user terminals used by each of the plurality of users included in the group;
A program to execute.

According to Supplementary Note 14, when performing group processing using location information, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the terminal.

1...Game system, 10...Server, 11...Processor, 12...Storage device, 13...Communication IF, 14...Input device, 15...Output device, 20...Terminal, 100...Storage unit, 100a...User management DB, 100b...Group management DB, 101...Management unit, 102...Selection unit, 103...Output unit, 104...Game processing unit, 201...Game processing unit, 202...Selection unit, 203...Location acquisition unit

Claims (4)

one or more processors,
When multiple users who play a game form a group, an information processing device designates some of the user terminals of each of the multiple users as location notification terminals, and if the location information of the location notification terminal is within a predetermined range, allows each of the multiple users who formed the group to play a predetermined game, and after a predetermined time has passed, if there is a user terminal in the group other than the location notification terminal whose location information is not within the predetermined range, excludes that user terminal from the group . An information processing method in which, when multiple users who play a game form a group, one or more processors designate some of the user terminals of each of the multiple users as location notification terminals, and if the location information of the location notification terminal is within a predetermined range, allow each of the multiple users who formed the group to play a predetermined game, and after a predetermined time has passed, if there is a user terminal in the group other than the location notification terminal whose location information is not within the predetermined range, exclude that user terminal from the group . A program for causing a processor to function as follows: when multiple users who play a game form a group, some of the user terminals of each of the multiple users are designated as location notification terminals, and if the location information of the location notification terminal is within a predetermined range, each of the multiple users who formed the group is allowed to play a predetermined game ; and after a predetermined time has passed, if there is a user terminal in the group other than the location notification terminal whose location information is not within the predetermined range, that user terminal is excluded from the group . A server and a user terminal are included,
The server
A system in which, when multiple users who play a game form a group, some of the user terminals of each of the multiple users are designated as location notification terminals, and if the location information of the location notification terminal is within a predetermined range, each of the multiple users who formed the group is allowed to play a predetermined game, and after a predetermined time has passed, if there is a user terminal in the group other than the location notification terminal whose location information is not within the predetermined range, that user terminal is excluded from the group .