JP2002064631A - Method for managing user information in on-line game - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To selectively connect a user with a suited play level of a plurality of on-line game servers in network system and carefully charge in response to the play level and the use. SOLUTION: An outgoing ID receiving section 2 for receiving and detecting a telephone number connected is set and a user information (connection data and playing data) related to the telephone number is stored to check the play level and select the on-line game server to be connected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network system including a digital exchange for connecting a communication game server and a user, and more particularly to a user information management method for enabling a service using user information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional communication game network system. In FIG. 1, a digital exchange 101 constituting a network system 100 includes a communication path system device 102 having a role of connecting, exchanging, and transmitting communication information transmitted by a telephone or a telephone network, and a central control device for controlling the entire exchange. 103 and the like.

[0003] A plurality of contract lines 1
Subscriber circuits 104, 105, and 106 for accommodating 15, 116, and 117 respectively, a local line circuit 107 for connecting to a public network 125, a time-division switch 108, and a guidance circuit (not shown) for providing service guidance. ), Etc., and various circuits are connected according to various connection purposes.

A representative number GN is set for each of the plurality of contracted lines in order to specify each of the plurality of contracted lines. At this time, the subscriber is made to recognize each of the plurality of contracted lines as one group. Is registered and set as the representative number GN corresponding to each group.

[0005] The representative number GN is also a number for specifying a game server, and is hereinafter referred to as a game server number.

In the communication game server 110, communication ports for the number of lines determined according to the processing capacity of the server PC 110a installed therein are set. Etc. are connected. The line connection device 110b connected to the server personal computer 110a is connected to the subscriber's circuit 104 of the digital exchange 101 via a multiple contract line 115.

The communication game servers 111 and 112 have the same configuration as the communication game server 110. The server personal computers 111a and 112a of each server include line connection devices 111b and 112b and a plurality of contract lines 116 and 1 respectively.
17, the subscriber circuit 10 of the digital exchange 101
5,106.

On the other hand, the subscriber's user personal computer 120,
Reference numerals 121 and 122 denote modems 120a and 121, respectively.
a and 122a, and is connected to a public network 125.

In the network configured as described above, a game server number (representative number of a plurality of contracted lines) G
When dialing by specifying N, the digital exchange 101
Searches for a free line among the lines registered with the designated game server number GN, and connects (logs on) to the free line. The connected communication game server provides services such as various communication games to the logged-on user.

[0010]

In the conventional network system as described above, since the user can connect to a desired communication game server regardless of his or her own play level (good or bad), the service side is required. However, the user could not grasp the user's play level information, and could not provide services such as allocating users of similar play levels to play a game.

[0011] Further, since telephone charges and connection charges are uniform for all users, flexible services such as changing charges according to the user's play level cannot be provided. Also, if each game server offers one communication game (such as multiplayer simultaneous play), if you try to assign a logon server for each user's play level, you must log on to the server once. A reconnection procedure had to be taken, adding extra billing and a significant amount of time before the user started the signal game.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for managing user information in a communication game, comprising the steps of: connecting a user to a plurality of communication game servers via a telephone line via a digital exchange; Checking connection data including a server connection log with each of the communication game servers and user information including play data including a game play time and a score, and connecting the telephone from the user to the communication game server. Connecting to the communication game server selected based on the selection data set in advance corresponding to the telephone number of the telephone, further updating the user information after the communication game is terminated and the connection line is disconnected. And referred to at the time of the next connection between the telephone and the communication game server based on the updated user information. Including the step of storing to determine the serial selection data. Further, the charge may be calculated based on the user information.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a network system of a communication game for implementing the individual user management method of the present invention.

The network system 10 of the present invention is structurally different from the conventional network system 100 shown in FIG. 4 in that when a user connects, a telephone number of a connection destination is received and detected. The point that the calling ID reception detecting unit 2 is provided in the digital exchange 1 and each of the communication game servers 110, 111, and 112 are connected by the data bus 5, and each of the communication game servers and the main server (not shown) play data or A game server network 6 capable of sharing connection data as a database is formed, and a main server and a central control device 4 of the digital exchange 1 are also connected by a data bus 5 so that play data and connection data can be shared as a database. is there.

Since other configurations are common to the network system 100 shown in FIG. 4, detailed description of common portions is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a table showing user information (connection data, play data) when a user requests connection to a communication game server in the network system 10.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of different connection processes performed according to the contents of the digital exchange 1 when the digital exchange 1 performs a connection request to the server by the user based on the connection conditions shown in the table of FIG. The flow of the connection process is shown.

The connection data referred to here is information when the user connects to the communication game server, and includes a server connection log (a file in which connection information including a telephone number is recorded) and a connection log when playing the communication game. Records of the user who played the game, line failure information (abnormal termination during play), and the like are applicable. These pieces of information are information that cannot be confirmed by the user.

Further, the play data referred to here is a result when the user plays each communication game, and corresponds to information (score, play time, etc.) in the game. These pieces of information are information that can be confirmed by the user.

A user corresponding to item 1 in the table of FIG. 2, that is, a user whose user information (connection data, play data) is not registered in the database to connect to the game server for the first time, is connected to the communication game server by the public line. When the server is requested to connect by designating a server representative number for connecting to the game server network 6 (step 1), the digital exchange 1 checks whether the telephone number used by the user is registered as connection data. Is checked (step 2).

In this case, since the user information is not registered, the user is once connected to each communication game server and the main server having a common database with the central control device, and the telephone number requested for connection and the current connection are connected. The situation is registered in the database as connection data (step 9). Then, a state of requesting a connection is set by the user or automatically again by specifying the server representative number from the public line (step 10). In this case, the server side may bear the call charge by making a line connection from the server side.

Then, the process proceeds to step 2 again. At this stage, since the connection data including the telephone number is newly registered, the process proceeds to step 3. In step 3, it is determined whether there is play data corresponding to the connection data, but there is no play data yet. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step 8, where the digital exchange 1 is connected to a predetermined communication game server.

In this case, since the user connects for the first time, it may be set to connect to a communication game server for beginners, or may be configured to select a communication game server to be connected irregularly (at random). May be.

The end of the communication game started by this connection is checked (step 5). When the end of the game is detected, the process goes to step 6 to disconnect the communication line.

After disconnecting the communication line, the contents of the connection data including the telephone number in the database are updated in order to newly add the current connection status, and the game results such as the current game time and score are recorded in the play data. Register as a new. Then, based on these pieces of user information, the user's play level (good or bad) is determined, an optimal communication game server suitable for the level is selected, and the selected data is simultaneously stored (step 7). . This selection data is, as performed in step 4 described later,
It is used when the user requests the next connection.

Further, in the next step 8, a usage fee is calculated from the user information based on the connection time and the number of times of connection with each communication game server, and stored as the user's billing information.

Next, the user corresponding to item 2 in the table of FIG. 2, that is, a user who has previously connected to the communication game server and played a communication game, but this time uses a telephone with a different telephone number Requesting a connection by designating a server representative number for connecting to a game server network 6 which is a network of communication game servers via a public line (step 1), the digital exchange 1 transmits the telephone It is checked whether the telephone number is registered as connection data (step 2). In this case, since the connection data including the telephone number of the connection destination is not registered, the process proceeds to step 9 and thereafter, the same connection processing as that of the user corresponding to the item 1 in the table of FIG. 2 is performed.

Next, the user corresponding to the item 3 in the table of FIG. 2, that is, the user has connected to the communication game server from the same telephone and played a communication game in the past. When the lost user requests connection by designating a server representative number for connecting to the game server network 6 which is a network of communication game servers via a public line (step 1), the digital exchange 1 sends the user It is checked whether or not the telephone number of the telephone to be used is registered as connection data (step 2).

In this case, since connection data including the telephone number of the connection destination is registered, the presence or absence of play data is further checked (step 3), and when it is confirmed that there is no play data, step 8 is reached. In step 8, as described above, the digital exchange connects a line to a predetermined communication game server determined in advance to start a game, and when this game ends and the line is disconnected (steps 5, 6).
Step 7 is reached.

In subsequent steps 7 and 8, the above-mentioned FIG.
A connection process similar to that of the user corresponding to item 1 in the table is performed. That is, in order to newly add the current connection status, the content of the connection data including the telephone number in the database is updated, and the game result such as the current game time and score is newly registered as play data.

Then, based on the user information, the user's play level (good or inferior stage) is determined, and an optimal communication game server suitable for the level is selected.
This selection data is saved at the same time. This selection data
As will be described later in step 4, it is used when there is a next connection request from the same user (step 7).

Further, in the next step 8, a usage fee is calculated from the user information based on the connection time and the number of times of connection with each communication game server, and stored as the user's billing information.

Next, the user corresponding to the item 4 in the table of FIG. 2, that is, the user has previously connected to the communication game server from the same telephone and played the communication game, and the server side has the play data at that time. When the stored user requests connection by designating a server representative number for connecting to a game server network 6 which is a network of communication game servers via a public line (step 1), the digital exchange 1 sends the user It is checked whether or not the telephone number of the telephone to be used is registered as connection data (step 2).

In this case, since the communication data including the telephone number has been registered, it is next checked whether or not there is play data (step 3).

In step 4, after the previous connection of the user is completed, the selection is made in step 7 and the communication game server selection data stored in the central control unit 4, that is, the optimum communication level for the play level of the currently connected user. Connect to the specified communication game server based on the data specifying the game server.

The end of the communication game started by this connection is checked (step 5). When the end of the game is detected, the process goes to step 6 where the communication line is disconnected.

After disconnecting the communication line, the contents of the connection data including the telephone number in the database are updated to newly add the current connection status, and the game results such as the current game time and the score are newly added. The content of the play data in the database is also updated for addition. Then, based on these pieces of user information, the user's play level (good or bad) is determined, an optimal communication game server suitable for the level is selected, and the selected data is simultaneously stored (step 7). .

Further, in the next step 8, a usage fee is calculated from the user information based on the connection time and the number of times of connection with each communication game server, and the charge information of the user is updated and stored. .

In the above embodiment, the number of communication game servers and the number of users have been described as three for simplicity, but the number is not limited to three.

[0039]

According to the method of the present invention, since the user information (connection data and play data) is managed as a database, it is possible to immediately connect to a communication game server that supplies a game optimal for the user's play level.
In addition, this makes it possible to provide a service in which users of similar play levels compete with each other in a game.

Further, since the billing can be calculated based on the user information, a detailed fee system can be formed according to various conditions such as the user's play level, the connected communication game server, the use time and the number of uses. .

Furthermore, since the connection status of the user can be grasped, it is possible to take measures such as connecting the line from the server side and providing a telephone charge for the telephone line according to the status at the time of the first connection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a network system of a communication game for implementing a user individual management method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a table showing processing contents of different connection processing performed according to the contents of user information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a connection process performed by the digital exchange.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional communication game network system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 digital exchange, 2 ID reception detector, 3
Game server network, 4 central control units,
5 data bus, 6 game server network, 10 network system, 102 communication line device, 104, 105, 106 subscriber circuit, 1
07 office line circuit, 108 time division switch, 11
0,111,112 Communication game server, 115,
116,117 Multiple contract lines, 120,121,1
22 user personal computers, 125 public networks.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of connecting a user and a plurality of communication game servers via a telephone line via a digital exchange, comprising: connection data including a server connection log between a telephone used by the user and each of the communication game servers. Checking user information including play data including a game play time and a score; and, when connecting the telephone from the user to the communication game server, corresponding to a telephone number of the telephone in advance. Connecting to the communication game server selected based on the set selection data; and, after the communication game is terminated and the connection line is disconnected, updating the user information, based on the updated user information, Determining and storing the selection data to be referred to at the time of the next connection between the telephone and the communication game server And a user information management method in a communication game. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a charge based on the user information.