JP2013061717A - Game-linked type energy use management system and user participation type game program for use in system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game-linked type energy use management system sustaining consciousness of energy saving just like playing a game and connecting it to energy saving action, and a user participation type game program for use in the system.SOLUTION: The game-linked type energy use management system includes an energy use performance management unit that receives, via a network, and manages use performance information related to energy use that is transmitted from a use performance information generating unit provided in an energy use system installed at each user's house. The game-linked type energy use management system calculates an energy use evaluation value of each user on the basis of the use performance information, when a game application selected by the user is executed, calculates an added value that is advantageous to execute the game according to the energy use evaluation value, and incorporates the added value as a game condition when executing the game application.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game-linked energy utilization management system and a user participation type game program used in this system.

  In recent years, attempts have been made to visualize energy usage status and enhance user energy-saving behavior for the purpose of raising energy-saving awareness for users who consume energy using energy-using devices. For example, in Patent Document 1, measurement data (daily energy consumption data) indicating the daily energy consumption of the target energy consumer is recorded in the storage means by the energy consumption measuring means, and the target energy consumer's Data on the temperature related to the energy consumption area or the temperature of the area that can be referred to as the temperature is recorded in the storage means 2 and specified information for specifying the data creation target date (hereinafter referred to as “data creation target date specifying information”) ), The energy consumption data and the temperature data related to the data creation target date specified by the information can be extracted from the storage means and read out as the target energy consumption data and the target temperature data, respectively. A support system is described. Further, in this energy saving action support system, the visual data generating means separately reads the standard energy consumption temperature sensitivity data from the storage means 2 to create a standard temperature sensitivity curve, and reads it from the storage means on the same graph as this curve. The target temperature sensitivity point specified by the output target energy consumption data and the target temperature data is plotted to generate visual data. That is, with this technology, a user as an energy consumer is expected to practice effective energy saving behavior by being able to recognize in detail his own energy consumption tendency based on visual data.

  However, it has been found that it is difficult for the user to continue to be aware of energy conservation by simply visualizing the energy usage state, and for example, it is necessary to take measures that save energy in a game-like manner, that is, playfulness. It was.

  In the field of game programs, user-participation games are known in which the effects of real-world events are reflected in characters. For example, in the game program according to Patent Document 2, event information of a player who has a topic in the real world determines the ability of the target player character so that a real event in the real world is reflected in the ability of the target player character. In such a game, the ability of a character in the game is only used for the real-world character's talent corresponding to the character and the event content generated for that character.

JP 2008-225826 A (paragraph number [0041-0089], FIG. 2, FIG. 8) JP 2010-99294 A (paragraph number [0043-0157], FIG. 1 and FIG. 2)

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a game-linked energy utilization management system that maintains energy-saving consciousness in a game sense and links to energy-saving behavior, and a user-participation-type game program used in this system. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the game-linked energy usage management system according to the present invention is a usage history information related to energy usage provided from a usage history information generator provided in an energy usage system installed in each user's house. An energy utilization result management unit that receives and manages the information via the network, an evaluation value calculation unit that calculates an energy utilization evaluation value of each user based on the utilization result information, and at the time of execution of the game application selected by the user An added value calculation unit for calculating an added value useful for the execution of a game according to the energy utilization evaluation value; and the game application that is formatted so that the added value is incorporated as a game condition when the game application is executed. Format part.

  In this configuration, usage record information indicating the status of energy use such as water, gas, electricity, etc. at each user's home is created by the usage record information generation unit and centrally managed by the energy usage record management unit of the server side system through the network. . If this network is a home LAN or the like, this energy utilization system is a system closed to one user's house. However, if this network is a WAN, such as the Internet, that connects a number of user house use result information generation units and server side energy use result management units, this energy use system is a wide area user management system that covers the entire region. Become. The energy utilization is evaluated based on the energy utilization record for each user managed by the energy utilization record management unit, and the degree of energy saving consciousness is calculated. In this system, this energy utilization evaluation value can be further converted into an added value useful for the performance of the game at the time of execution of the game application. This added value is given to the game application in a format that can be handled by the game application as game conditions such as items and resources that can be used when the game application is executed by the user. Therefore, if the user uses energy in consideration of energy saving, the game conditions are set so that the game can be additionally provided with items and resources that are advantageous for the progress of the game. The user will try to save energy in the real world so as to be advantageous in the game.

  There are a stand-alone type and a network type as a form of the computer game. In the stand-alone type, when a game application is installed on the game execution machine, the game application can continue to be used until it is uninstalled. In the network type, when a game is played, a game application is downloaded and executed through the network. The present invention is applicable to both game forms. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a game management unit is provided that sends the game application to the user's game execution machine via a network based on a user's request, and the game application includes the formatted added value. It is sent to the user's game execution machine. In this configuration, when a user plays a game, the server of the system is accessed, and an added value as a game condition of the game is downloaded to a game execution machine (a personal computer, a smartphone, etc.) together with the game application. In another embodiment, the game application is installed on a user's game execution machine, and the formatted added value is downloaded to the game execution machine when the game application is executed. In this configuration, when a user plays a game, the system server is accessed at the time of initial setting of the game execution, and only the added value as the game condition of the game is downloaded. In any case, added values in the form of bonus items, bonus points, etc. are set as game conditions when executed on the game execution machine, so users who have high energy use evaluation values by energetically executing energy saving Can play games under favorable conditions.

  In particular, when this game is a participatory game and competes with many other users, it can be maintained in a state where the user's awareness of energy saving is high as the game progresses. Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game application is a participatory game, and the added value is a resource (a user avatar (a character serving as a user's alternation)) that is advantageous for performing the game ( Bonus points, privilege items, etc.).

  The energy use evaluation value of each user can be obtained in various forms. For example, in a system in which this server-side energy utilization performance management unit is connected to many user homes, it may be calculated based on deviation values between users having similar family configurations and room configurations, You may calculate based on the energy-saving interest degree by the frequency | count of access to the chart which visualized the energy consumption tendency as shown in patent document 1. FIG. However, considering that energy consumption is highly dependent on individual circumstances, it is important to set an energy saving target for each user to achieve this target. For this reason, in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the energy utilization evaluation value is an achievement rate with respect to the energy saving target value.

  The user participation type game program used in the above-described game-linked energy utilization management system is also an object of the present invention. Such a game program of the present invention is a user participatory game program for performing game progress using the amount of game resources given to a user's avatar, and includes a game progress management function for managing game progress, and a user home A data acquisition function for acquiring an additional game resource amount allocated to the user from the energy use evaluation value calculated based on the use result information of the energy use system installed in the network and a game rule And a game condition setting function for adding the additional game resource amount to the basic game resource amount. This game program is configured to be influenced by an event related to energy saving occurring in the real world. Specifically, based on the energy utilization evaluation value calculated based on the utilization result information of the energy utilization system installed in the user's home, an additional game resource amount that the user's avatar works favorably for performing the game, For example, bonus points and privilege items are acquired. That is, this game program increases the various resources that help the user's avatar in the game because the user's (game executor) 's daily energy-saving consciousness increases, It can lead to energy saving behavior.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic principle of a game-linked energy utilization management system according to the present invention. It is a functional block diagram in one embodiment of a game interlocking type energy use management system by the present invention. It is a time chart figure which shows the flow of control in the game interlocking type energy utilization management system of FIG. It is a schematic diagram illustrating the calculation process of the additional game resource amount in the user participatory game program according to the present invention.

Before describing a specific embodiment of a game-linked energy utilization management system according to the present invention, its basic principle will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG.
In FIG. 1, it is divided into a user side, that is, a client side, and an energy supply management side, that is, a server side. On the client side, energy use in the user's house is shown. Examples of energy use in general households include gas, electricity, and water (the use of water is also included in the energy use here because much energy is consumed in the water supply). Suppose that at least one energy utilization record of energy such as gas, electricity, and water is managed. In this energy utilization record management, energy utilization for each date and time is converted into data together with environmental conditions such as temperature, and sent to the server side as utilization record information through the network. On the server side, a usage record database is installed to store usage record information sent from each user's home so that it can be extracted. A user ID (shown as UID in the figure) is linked to the use record information as identification information for identifying the user, and the energy use record for each date and time can be extracted from the use record database. Furthermore, a user group that satisfies a specific condition, for example, a similar user group such as a family structure or a room structure, can be extracted, and a statistical value such as an average value of the user group can be calculated. Therefore, the energy use evaluation can be performed for each user. For example, the energy use evaluation value is calculated in the form of an energy saving deviation value or the like.

  Furthermore, this server can calculate the added value as a privilege or a reward for the user based on the energy utilization evaluation value calculated for each user, and can allocate it to each user. This added value is like, for example, a product purchase point, and gives the user a reasonable feeling. In the present invention, this added value is configured as a game condition so that it can be used in the performance of the game. That is, this added value is converted into a game point such as a bonus point or bonus character as a privilege in the game.

  When a user executes a game linked to this energy usage management system on a game machine owned by the user, the above-mentioned game points are sent to the user's game machine through the network and used in the form of bonus points or bonus characters. And can perform the game preferentially.

Next, an embodiment of a game-linked energy utilization management system that functions on the basic principle described above will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
In this embodiment, the user's home is provided with an energy utilization result management unit 1 that collectively manages at least one energy utilization result of energy such as gas, electricity, and water. This energy utilization result management unit 1 has a communication function, and is linked to a game-linked type constructed in a management server system of a customer service central center managed by a gas supply company via a communication line such as the Internet. The energy management system 2 can be connected. The energy usage record management unit 1 aggregates the gas and electricity consumed by the gas equipment and electrical equipment, generates usage record information, and sends it to the energy management system 2.

The energy management system 2 includes a usage record database 20, an input / output unit 21, a user management unit 22, a user-specific energy usage management unit 23, a game management unit 24, and a display information creation unit 25.
The utilization record database 20 stores the utilization record information related to energy utilization sent from the energy utilization record management unit 1 installed in the user's house so that it can be extracted according to search conditions such as by user, by date, and by energy. To do. The input / output unit 21 has a function of exchanging data with a client through a network. In this embodiment, the input / output unit 21 also has a function of a WEB server, and various types of data through a WEB browser of the client based on various Internet protocols. Transmission / reception is possible. The user management unit 22 includes a login management unit 22a that performs identification of each user using a user ID and a password, and particularly manages login through a GUI for a user who accesses through a WEB page. The login management unit 22a also manages the number of logins by the user. The user-specific energy use management unit 23 performs statistical processing of the user-specific energy use results and the results evaluation processing using the use result information stored in a state linked to the use result database 20 by the user ID. In particular, in order to calculate the energy usage evaluation value of each user based on the usage record information, the evaluation value calculation unit 23a is provided. The calculated energy use evaluation value of each user is linked by the user ID and stored in the use result database 20. Thereby, the energy utilization management part 23 classified by user can provide the utilization performance information and energy utilization evaluation value of each user immediately according to a request | requirement. One of the energy use evaluation values is an achievement rate with respect to the energy saving target value in each user's house. The energy saving target value can be set by the user by accessing the corresponding WEB page of the energy management system 2 by the user, but may be set on the energy management system 2 side.

  The game management unit 24 includes an added value calculation unit 24a and a format unit 24b in order to add or update data such as game conditions to a game application that can be linked to the energy management system 2. The added value calculation unit 24a calculates an added value useful for the execution of the game according to the energy use evaluation value when the game application selected by the user is executed. The formatting unit 24b formats the added value calculated by the added value calculating unit 24a so as to be incorporated as a game condition when the game application is executed, and gives it to the game application. For example, the calculated added value is converted into a game added value (game resource or game character). Furthermore, since there are a plurality of types of game execution machines 4 that execute game applications, such as personal computers and smartphones, the format unit 24b also has a function of converting game conditions so as to adapt to a format corresponding to each game platform.

  The display information creation unit 25 converts the energy usage results for each user calculated by the energy usage management unit for each user 23 into a display form that is easy for the user to understand by performing visualization such as graphing, and gives it to the user.

  The game execution machine 4 in this embodiment has a monitor 5 that displays a game screen, and a game application 41 that is linked to the energy management system 2 is already installed. It may replace with this and the form downloaded from the energy management system 2 may be employ | adopted whenever a user runs a game. The game execution machine 4 includes an application execution unit 40 for executing the installed game application 41 and a game condition setting unit 42 as in the case of a general game execution machine. The application execution unit 40 is an environment for executing a game application 41, that is, a game program. If the game execution machine 4 is a personal computer, the OS incorporated in the personal computer substantially performs its function. The function for managing the game progress is included in the game program main body (game application 41), and the game condition setting unit 42 includes a data acquisition function and a game condition setting function. The data acquisition function is an additional game resource amount allocated to the user from the energy use evaluation value calculated based on the use result information by the energy use result management unit 1 of the energy use system installed in each user's house. It is a function to acquire via network The game condition setting function adds the additional game resource amount to the basic game resource amount determined by the game rules defined by the game program.

The flow of control in the game-linked energy utilization management system configured as described above will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG.
Periodically or in response to a request from the user management unit 22, the usage record management unit 1 attached to the fuel cell cogeneration system installed in each user's house serves as a client, using a user ID as a user management server A certain energy management system 2 is accessed, and login control by the user management unit 22 is performed (# 21). When the login is completed, usage record information indicating the usage status of the energy utilization device such as gas or electricity is transmitted from the utilization record management unit 1 to the user-specific energy utilization management unit 23 (# 22). The user-specific energy usage management unit 23 stores the received usage history information in the usage history database 20 so that it can be managed for each user (# 23).

  When the user wants to check the usage status of the energy utilization device at home, the user accesses the energy management system 2 with a personal computer, a smartphone or the like, and requests the display information creation unit 25 to display the energy utilization result (# 31). The display information creation unit 25 sets a search condition, requests the usage record database 20 for the corresponding track record data (# 32), and extracts the use track record information of the user (# 33). The display information creation unit 25 performs necessary data visualization processing using the extracted usage record information, and transmits the display information to the user (# 34). Thereby, the utilization result information of the user is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer or smartphone in an appropriate visualization display form (# 35).

  The evaluation value calculation unit 23a of the energy management system 2 accesses the usage record database 20 regularly, for example, on a monthly basis (# 41), and receives a monthly basis for a user group that satisfies predetermined conditions such as the family structure and the number of rooms. Usage result information is extracted (# 42). The extracted usage record information is subjected to statistical processing, an evaluation value for each user is calculated from the viewpoint of energy saving, and the evaluation value is stored in the usage record database 20 (# 43). Note that this evaluation value may be added to the display information at the time of requesting display of the energy utilization record.

  When a user plays a game linked to the energy management system 2 in the game execution machine 4, the game execution machine 4 first accesses the energy management system 2 and requests a game download (# 52). The management unit 24 transmits the game application to the game execution machine 4 (# 53). If a game application has been installed in the game execution machine 4 in advance, steps # 52 and # 53 are omitted.

  When a game application is executed by the application execution unit 40, first, a game condition is requested from the energy management system 2 (# 54). When the game condition request is received, the added value calculation unit 24a requests the usage record database 20 to extract the evaluation value given to the user's home using the user ID of the user (# 55). The evaluation value extracted from the usage record database 20 is transferred to the added value calculation unit in order to be converted into a game evaluation value for the game (# 56). Further, the game evaluation value is converted into bonus points such as the number of resource points used for the game being executed on the game execution machine 4 by the formatting unit 24b (# 57), and the game condition is set together with the basic number of resource points. Is transmitted to the game execution machine 4 (# 58). The game conditions sent to the game execution machine 4 are set by the game condition setting unit 42, and the game starts (# 60). When the game is over, if game conditions such as resource points at the end are carried over to the next game, the game conditions are uploaded to the game management unit 24 of the energy management system 2 (# 61).

  Next, an example of a game application (game program) linked to the energy management system 2 will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. This game application has the theme that a user becomes a pioneer (avatar), cultivates a land, and grows a town, assuming that a game is played for about 10 minutes once a day. Yes. Other users can also participate and grow the town with other users' avatars. There are gas, electricity, and water as the basic energy necessary for pioneering items and raising the town. By effectively using this basic energy (represented by resource points in the game), farmland , Shops and factories will develop. Therefore, the basic energy resource points are important in carrying out the game. This resource point is affected by the user's maintenance of energy saving awareness in the real world or the actual achievement of energy saving. That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, the usage record information of each user stored in the usage record database 20 becomes an evaluation value for each user by the evaluation value conversion, and the evaluation value is a game. Converted to added value. This added value of the game becomes a bonus point of resource points through format conversion. In the example of FIG. 4, 200 bonus water points, 100 bonus gas points, and 100 bonus electrical points are given due to the energy saving behavior of the user in the real world. The bonus resource points are added to the basic value of the game (basic points: 1000 in FIG. 4) and can be used in the actual game. In addition to the energy saving behavior in the real world, this bonus resource point is given to the user by logging in to the energy management system 2 and confirming his / her usage record. Will be evaluated. As a result, it is possible to obtain a preferable result that each user maintains energy-saving consciousness like a game and comes to take actual energy-saving behavior.

  In the above-described embodiment, the energy usage record management unit 1 (client side) and the energy usage management unit 23 (server side) are connected via a network such as the Internet to construct a multi-client / server system. Instead of this, the energy usage record management unit 1 and the energy usage management unit 23 may be connected to each other via a home LAN, and this system may be installed in each user's house as a stand-alone system.

1: Energy utilization result management unit 2: Energy management system 20: Utilization result database 22: User management unit 22a: Login management unit 23: User-specific energy utilization management unit 23a: Evaluation value calculation unit 24: Game management unit 24a: Added value Calculation part 24b: Format part 25: Display information creation part 4: Game execution machine 40: Application execution part 41: Game application 42: Game condition setting part

Claims (6)

An energy utilization record management unit that receives and manages utilization record information related to energy utilization from a utilization record information generation unit provided in an energy utilization system installed in each user's house;
An evaluation value calculation unit for calculating an energy use evaluation value of each user based on the use record information;
An added value calculating unit that calculates an added value useful for the execution of the game at the time of execution of the game application selected by the user according to the energy utilization evaluation value;
A format unit that formats the added value to be incorporated as a game condition when the game application is executed, and gives the format to the game application;
A game-linked energy utilization management system consisting of   The game management part which sends the said game application to a user's game execution machine based on a user's request | requirement via a network is provided, The said game application is sent to the said user's game execution machine with the said formatted added value. The game-linked energy utilization management system described in 1.   The game-linked energy utilization management system according to claim 1, wherein the game application is installed in a user's game execution machine, and the formatted added value is downloaded to the game execution machine when the game application is executed.   4. The game-linked energy usage management system according to claim 1, wherein the energy usage evaluation value is an achievement rate with respect to an energy saving target value. 5.   5. The game-linked energy usage management system according to claim 1, wherein the game application is a participatory game, and the added value is a resource in which a user's avatar advantageously works for game execution.   A user-participation-type game program that uses a game resource amount given to a user's avatar to progress the game. The game progress management function for managing the game progress and the use results of the energy utilization system installed in the user's home A data acquisition function for acquiring an additional game resource amount allocated to the user from the energy utilization evaluation value calculated based on the information via the network, and the additional game to the basic game resource amount determined by the game rule A user participation game program that causes a computer to realize a game condition setting function for adding a resource amount.

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