JP2014083340A - Information processing device, information processing method, program, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device, information processing method, program, and information processing system capable of allowing a user to have a feeling as if the user is participating in a real-time event him/herself.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: presentation means 52 for presenting a problem related to a specific situation and multiple options related to the problem to a user with referring to a storage device at timing when the specific situation occurs in a real-time event when the event is to be performed in real-time; reception means 53 for receiving the selection result of the user with respect to one of the multiple presented options; determination means 54 for determining the type of the user on the basis of the received selection result; and notification means 55 for notifying the user of information related to the determined type.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing information processing with a communication terminal connectable to a network in conjunction with a real-time event.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system is known in which, for example, a result of a baseball game is won or lost in advance by a user, and points are given to a user who is predicted after the game is over. For example, Patent Literature 1 accepts prediction data corresponding to a user's prediction content for an event such as a win or loss of a professional baseball game result from the user's terminal device, and registers the received prediction data in association with the user. An information processing apparatus for a network game is disclosed in which a predetermined point is given to a user when predicted data and result data that is an event that has actually occurred satisfy a predetermined condition. .

JP 2003-000954 A

  In general, various attempts have been made to attract viewers' attention to events such as professional baseball or its broadcast program. In particular, it draws viewers' attention to events provided over a relatively long period of time, such as sports programs provided in real time by television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, or Internet broadcasting. There is a demand for a new mechanism for raising The known system described above can also be considered as one of the attempts to attract viewers' attention to the event, but this system is attractive as if a user is participating in a real-time event. It is not structured. In the known system described above, for example, if only the result of winning or losing a baseball game is known, the user can know whether or not points will be awarded, so he / she cannot feel as if he / she is participating in the baseball game itself. Because.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described viewpoints, and an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and information that allow a user to feel as if they are participating in a real-time event. An object is to provide a processing system.

  The information processing apparatus disclosed below may be any information processing apparatus that can establish a connection with each of a large number or unspecified number of communication terminals of users via communication. Such an information processing apparatus may be, for example, one or a plurality of servers arranged on a network, or a large computer apparatus. In addition, the user and the communication terminal do not necessarily have a fixed one-to-one correspondence, and a usage mode of the communication terminal in which a plurality of users share a single communication terminal is also assumed. Therefore, this information processing apparatus may manage a user for each user identification information such as a user ID as information that can uniquely identify the user.

A first aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus.
This information processing device
Storage means (51) for associating information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in an event in the real world and information on a plurality of options regarding the situation that may occur in the event after the situation, in a storage device )When,
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. Presenting means (52) for presenting a plurality of attached options to the user;
Receiving means (53) for receiving the user's selection result for any of the plurality of options presented by the presenting means (52);
Determining means (54) for determining the type of the user based on the selection result received by the receiving means (53);
Notification means (55) for notifying the user of information relating to the type determined by the determination means (54);
Is provided.

  In this information processing apparatus, the “event” may be, for example, a game of sports such as baseball or a game such as shogi or chess, and the genre thereof is not limited. Although the “situation” in the event depends on the content of the event, it is not limited to a specific scene in the event (for example, in the case of a baseball game, 1 death in the 3rd table, etc.). In the case of this game, it also includes the time situation such as between a specific number of innings, before the start of the match, after the start of the match, etc.

By this information processing device, at the timing when a specific situation occurs in a real-time event, a problem related to the specific situation and a plurality of options for the situation that occurs after the specific situation are presented to the user, The user is configured to select any option. For example, while viewing a real-time event, the user will expect the next situation to occur when a particular situation occurs within that event. At this time, while viewing the real-time event, the user considers various situations in the event (for example, in the case of a baseball game, scenes such as 1 to 3 baseball games, manager's assignment, batter / pitcher characteristics, etc.) Since the options will be examined, the user will be more focused on the situation in the event that will occur and the user will feel as if he / she is participating in the real-time event. It becomes like this.
Further, this information processing apparatus is configured to, when a user selects any option, determine the type of the user based on the selection result and notify the user of information regarding the determined type. . In this case, for example, when a specific situation occurs in a real-time event, the user can know his / her type by selecting an option in anticipation of the next situation. Here, for example, when the real-time event is a baseball game, the type of user may be classified by active duty or past manager. In this case, the user is notified of information about his / her type, so that his / her prediction in a specific situation of a baseball game (event) (that is, judgment or assignment to a specific situation) You can find out which of the directors are similar. For this reason, it can be set as the interesting mechanism that a user can recognize an own characteristic, a tendency, etc. in various situations in a real-time event, for example.

In the information processing apparatus, the presenting means (52) associates a problem related to any one of the specific situations with the problem every time any specific situation occurs in the real-time event. The determination means (54) may determine the type of the user based on a plurality of selection results received by the reception means (53).
In this configuration, whenever any particular situation occurs in a real-time event, the user knows his or her type until multiple selection results are accepted by the user selecting one of the options. I can't. For this reason, it can be set as the mechanism which raises a user's expectation with respect to the content of own type.

In the information processing apparatus, the storage unit (51) stores the type in the storage unit in association with each of the plurality of options based on a past real-world event result, and the determination unit In (54), when the selection result is received by the receiving means (53), the type corresponding to the option as the selection result may be determined as the type of the user with reference to the storage device.
In this case, it is possible to determine a type that matches the past real-world event result, and to perform highly reliable type determination.

In the information processing apparatus, the association means (56) for associating users with each other and the users determined to be of the same type are associated with each other, or each of the users associated with each other is determined to be of the same type. In some cases, a granting means (57) for granting a privilege to at least one of the users may be provided.
For example, when a privilege is given to at least one of each user when users determined to be of the same type are associated with each other (become friends), the user obtains the privilege, Be motivated to be friends with other users of the same type as you. For example, when a privilege is given to at least one of each user when each of the users who are related to each other is determined to be the same type, It can be set as the mechanism which increases the familiarity of the user concerned with other users (companies). Thereby, according to this structure, since the exchange between users can be promoted, social property can be improved.

In the information processing apparatus, the association means (56) for associating users with each other and the users determined to be of the same type are associated with each other, or each of the users associated with each other is determined to be of the same type. In some cases, adjustment means (58) for adjusting so as to increase the closeness indicating the degree of relationship between users may be provided.
For example, when the intimacy between each user increases when the users determined to be the same type are related (becomes friends), the user is the same type as the user, Motivation to become friends with other users of that type. In addition, for example, when the intimacy between users increases when each of the related users is determined to be the same type, the exchange between the users is triggered by the increase in intimacy. It can be set as the mechanism which promotes. Thereby, social property can be improved.

In the information processing apparatus, the determination means (54) has a number or frequency of matching a situation corresponding to the selection result and a situation occurring after a situation corresponding to the problem in a past real-world event. The user type may be determined based on whether or not the threshold is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
For example, when the user type is divided into a higher group and a lower group, the number corresponding to the situation corresponding to the selection result and the situation that occurred after the situation corresponding to the problem in the past real-world event or If the frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, the user type is determined from the upper group. If the frequency is lower than the predetermined threshold, the user type is determined from the lower group. Good. Here, for example, when the event is a baseball game, the upper group includes a type corresponding to one army manager of any baseball team in the real world, and the lower group includes any baseball in the real world. A type corresponding to the team's two army managers may be included. Further, for example, when a type corresponding to a manager of any baseball team in the real world is included in the upper group, the lower group may not satisfy the conditions as a manager, for example, coach, fan, beginner, Alternatively, a type corresponding to a field horse or the like may be included. In this case, the user is required to select an option that matches the actual situation that occurred in the past real-world event, since his type is determined as any type in the higher group. . For this reason, it is possible to arouse the user's willingness to challenge or become nervous about becoming a type included in the upper group, and to make the mechanism more interesting.

A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method.
This information processing method
Storing information in a storage device in association with information on a problem relating to a situation that can occur in a real-world event, and information on a plurality of options regarding a situation that can occur in the event after the situation;
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. Presenting a plurality of attached options to the user;
Receiving the user's selection result for any of the presented options;
Determining the type of the user based on an accepted selection result;
Notifying the user of information about the determined type;
Is provided.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to a computer.
A function of associating and storing information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in an event in the real world and information on a plurality of options regarding the situation that may occur in the event after the situation in the storage device;
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. The ability to present the user with multiple options
A function of accepting the user's selection result for any of the plurality of presented options;
A function of determining the type of the user based on the received selection result, and a function of notifying the user of information regarding the determined type;
It is a program for realizing.

  The computer may be a network server, a large computer, or the like, for example. Further, this program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including a communication terminal (10) and a server (20) accessed from the communication terminal (10).
This information processing system
Storage means (51) for associating information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in an event in the real world and information on a plurality of options regarding the situation that may occur in the event after the situation, in a storage device ),
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. Presenting means (52) for presenting a plurality of attached options to the user,
Accepting means (53) for accepting the user's selection result for any of the plurality of options presented by the presenting means (52);
A determination unit (54) for determining the type of the user based on the selection result received by the reception unit (53);
Notification means (55) for notifying the user of information relating to the type determined by the determination means (54);
Either one of the communication terminal (10) and the server (20) includes these means.

  In the above, in order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the reference numerals described in the drawings are appropriately described in parentheses, but the information processing apparatus and the like according to the present invention are thereby limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is not a thing.

  According to the information processing apparatus, the information processing method, the program, and the information processing system of the present invention, the user can feel as if he / she is participating in a real-time event.

The figure which shows the basic composition of the information processing system of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the external appearance of the communication terminal of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication terminal of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the main server of 1st Embodiment. The figure which matches and shows the example of a series of web page displayed on a user's communication terminal, and the display timing with the baseball game which advances in real time. The figure which shows the example of the web page displayed on a user's communication terminal. The figure which matches and shows the example of a series of web page displayed on a user's communication terminal, and the display timing with the baseball game which advances in real time. The block diagram which shows the structure of the database server of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of a problem database. The figure which shows the structural example of an answer database. The figure which shows the structural example of a type database. The figure which shows the example of the screen for input displayed on a main server when running the game management program. The figure which shows the example of the screen for input displayed on a main server when running the game management program. The functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows an example of the frequency | count of selection of the choice corresponding to each of several types in 2nd Embodiment. The functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. The functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus of 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of closeness data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(1) First Embodiment (1-1) Configuration of Information Processing System FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this information processing system includes communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... That can be connected to a communication network NW (network) such as the Internet, and a main server 20 connected to the communication network NW. And the database server 30. Each of the communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is a terminal operated by an individual user, for example, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, a television having a bidirectional communication function. A communication terminal such as a John receiver (including a so-called multi-function smart TV). In the following description, when referring to the communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,.
In this information processing system, the main server 20 is configured to be able to communicate with the communication terminal 10 that is a client, and provides a gaming service to the communication terminal 10. On the main server 20, an application operable on a web browser is installed. The database server 30 stores various information, which will be described later, for executing a breaking news service and a game, which will be described later, and is connected to the main server 20 by, for example, a wire for reading and writing such information.
The communication terminal 10 includes a web browser capable of displaying a web page provided by the main server 20, and the user receives a web service from the main server 20 by operating the web page on the communication terminal 10.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, an authentication server for authenticating the user of each communication terminal 10 may be provided separately from the main server 20. Further, when a plurality of main servers 20 are provided in order to accept access from many communication terminals 10, a load balancer for adjusting a load between the plurality of main servers 20 may be provided. The main server 20 may be configured as a single server device, but may be configured as a plurality of server devices with distributed functions.

(1-2) Configuration of Communication Terminal The communication terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the communication terminal 10, and FIG. 2A illustrates a button input type communication terminal such as a foldable mobile terminal (mobile phone), for example. ) Exemplifies a communication terminal of a touch panel input method such as a smartphone. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the communication terminal 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an image processing unit 14, an instruction input unit 15, a display unit 16, A communication interface unit 17 as a signal transmission / reception unit is provided, and a bus 18 for transmitting a control signal or a data signal between the units is provided.

The CPU 11 loads the web browser in the ROM 12 into the RAM 13 and executes it. And CPU11 is based on the appropriate designation | designated of URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input to a user by the instruction | indication input part 15 grade | etc., Data for displaying a web page from the main server 20 via the communication interface part 17, That is, data of an object such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document and an image associated with the document (hereinafter collectively referred to as “HTML data” as appropriate) is acquired via the communication interface unit 17. Interpret the HTML data. The communication terminal 10 may be mounted with various plug-ins for extending the browser function of the web browser. An example of such a plug-in is a flash player by Adobe Systems (USA). Alternatively, the HTML data in this embodiment may be in the HTML5 format having a moving image and audio playback function.
In acquiring the HTML data, the CPU 11 sends an access request message including a user ID (user identification information) registered in advance or a user ID input via the instruction input unit 15 via the communication interface unit 17. The main server 20 is notified.

  The web browser communicates with the main server 20 according to HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). The web browser interprets the HTML data acquired from the main server 20 and displays the web page on the display unit 16 via the image processing unit 14. Further, when the user selects a hyperlink or menu on the web page by operating the instruction input unit 15, the web browser sends an HTTP request including the selection result to the main server for updating the web page. 20 to send.

  The image processing unit 14 displays a web page on the display unit 16 based on display image data provided from the CPU 11 as an analysis result of HTML data. The display unit 16 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cristal Display) monitor including thin film transistors arranged in a pixel unit in a matrix, and drives the thin film transistors based on the display image data to display the image of the web page on the display screen 16a. To display.

  When the communication terminal 10 is a button input type communication terminal (FIG. 2A), the instruction input unit 15 includes a plurality of instruction input buttons such as a direction instruction button and a decision button for accepting a user operation input. The button group 15 b includes a button group 15 a and a plurality of instruction input buttons such as a numeric keypad, and includes an interface circuit for recognizing a pressing (operation) input of each button and outputting it to the CPU 11. For example, the direction instruction button is provided to instruct the CPU 11 to scroll and display the web page displayed on the display unit 16. The determination button instructs the CPU 11 that the user selects one hyperlink or menu that is actively displayed (for example, highlighted) when, for example, a plurality of hyperlinks or menus are displayed on a web page. To be provided. When the communication terminal 10 is configured by a small portable terminal, these buttons are provided on the front surface of the communication terminal 10 so that the user can easily operate (click) with the thumb while holding the communication terminal 10 with one hand. It is preferable to arrange | position. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the button group 15b is arranged below the button group 15a, and a plurality of instruction inputs in which “0” to “9”, “*”, and “#” (numeric keys) are written. Includes buttons.

  When the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input type communication terminal (FIG. 2B), the instruction input unit 15 mainly accepts touch panel type input by touching the display screen 16a with a fingertip or a pen. The touch panel input method may be a known method such as a capacitance method. As shown in FIG. 2B, the button group 15a may be provided even when the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input method.

  For example, when the communication terminal 10 is a portable terminal, the menu selection operation on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 is selected by pressing the direction instruction button and selecting by pressing the enter button. This is done by confirming the selected menu. Further, for example, when the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input method, the selection operation is performed by instructing (touch operation) a menu position on the display screen 16a on which the web page is displayed with a finger or a pen.

(1-3) Configuration of Main Server The configuration of the main server 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
The main server 20 provides a web service to the communication terminal 10 that is a client. As shown in FIG. 4, the main server 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a database (DB) access unit 24, a communication interface unit 25, an input unit 26, and a display unit 27. Alternatively, a bus 28 for transmitting data signals is provided. In addition, the main server 20 can take the same structure as a general-purpose web server regarding hardware.

The ROM 22 stores a program for providing a service for displaying an object such as an HTML document or an image (web page display) to the web browser of the communication terminal 10 as a client, or a game management program (described later). . The ROM 22 stores various data referred to by the CPU 21 in addition to the program.
The CPU 21 loads the program in the ROM 22 to the RAM 23 and executes it, and performs various processes via the communication interface unit 25.

For example, the CPU 21 performs communication according to HTTP with the web browser of the main server 20 via the communication interface unit 25. For example, the CPU 21 performs predetermined data processing or the like based on an HTTP request received from the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface unit 25 (for example, including a user hyperlink or menu selection result on a web page). , Perform arithmetic processing, and return an HTTP response including the processing result to the web browser of the main server 20. The HTTP response includes HTML data for updating the web page. When the main server 20 performs an authentication process for the user of the communication terminal 10, the CPU 21 performs the authentication process.
The database access unit 24 is an interface when the CPU 21 reads / writes data from / to the database server 30.
The input unit 26 includes an input device such as a keyboard and / or a mouse, and an interface circuit for causing the main server 20 to recognize data input by the input device. The display unit 27 is for displaying the execution result (output result) of the program executed by the CPU 21 and may include, for example, the LCD monitor described above.

(1-4) Service Provided by Main Server The main server 20 according to the present embodiment sends content related to an event being performed in real time to the communication terminal 10 in accordance with an HTTP request from the user communication terminal 10. And send it in a displayable format. In the following, an example of a case where a real-time event is a professional baseball game (hereinafter abbreviated as “baseball” as appropriate) or a broadcast program of the game explain. In the present embodiment, an HTTP request is automatically transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the main server 20 every predetermined time (for example, at intervals of 5 to 10 seconds) (that is, without a user operation), thereby causing a match. An HTTP response including HTML data including real-time information relating to the baseball game including the progress (score etc.) is returned to the communication terminal 10. Hereinafter, a web service in which information about a baseball game is sequentially updated and provided to the communication terminal 10 is referred to as a “breaking news service”.

  The breaking news service described above may be a single service provided by the main server 20, but may be incorporated as one service of a social game, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the content of the game and the content of the event targeted for the breaking news service are related to each other. For example, in such a preferable example, the main server 20 also functions as a server that provides a gaming service for a digital card game (social game) for baseball.

  In this embodiment, the breaking news service not only transmits the contents of the baseball game (event) being performed in real time in response to the HTTP request, but also issues the problem in a timely manner to the user according to the situation of the game. Also ask questions. That is, the breaking news service includes transmitting information on a problem and a plurality of options for the problem to the user's communication terminal 10 in a state where any option can be selected (determined) by the user. The question is, for example, the situation of the game at the time of the question, and the situation that occurs in the game after that situation. Any one of the options from a predetermined number (for example, 3 to 4) of options is selected by the user. Is configured to be selected (determined). When a question is given, an answer reception period for the question is set. The answer acceptance period is a period during which the option selected by the user can be accepted as the user's answer. For example, any one of the answer options to the question from the time when the question is given (question time) to the predetermined time. It is a period until it occurs in a baseball game.

For example, in the case of a baseball game between team P and team Q, an example of the problem is as follows.
・ Timing of questions: “Between front and back innings”
・ Situation of the game at the time of the question: “One back, tie, no out, no runner”
・ Problem: “Honda will attack the back side of Team Q. What measures would you take?”
・ Answer options: “A: Bang, B: Safety bunt, C: Other”

  In other words, the contents of the questions relate to the situation of the actual baseball game (event) that is progressing in real time. For example, from the standpoint of the team manager, the user thinks about the manager's assignment from the current situation. It has become a problem to let. For this reason, the user can feel as if he / she is participating in an actual baseball game.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a series of web pages displayed on a user's communication terminal by the breaking news service and display timing thereof in association with a baseball game progressing in real time. In this example, the answer acceptance period is generally set to a period between the front and back of a specific inning. In FIG. 5, the web page P <b> 1 shows an example in which a question (in this case, “second question”) is given in the breaking news service, and includes display areas 101 and 102.
Although the web page when the question is not asked is not shown, the web page may include at least a display area 102 for displaying a score, and may display more detailed information about the game. Provision of such a bulletin service is started by transmitting an HTTP request designating the URL of the bulletin service from the user communication terminal 10 to the main server 20.
In the display area 101 shown on the web page P1, the above-described problem and options AC for the problem are displayed. In the display area 102, the score of the current match between the team P and the team Q is displayed.

In the example of FIG. 5, the question time is the time when the attack of the team P in the one-time table is completed. As will be described later, the question time is determined by an operator of the main server 20 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “operator”), and an appropriate question and answer options are determined from a problem database described later based on the game situation at that time. Selected by the operator.
In the example of FIG. 5, the answer acceptance period is set to a period before the pitcher throws the first ball to the first batter behind the first time. The web page P1 in FIG. 5 is then updated as indicated by P2 within the answer acceptance period. In addition to the display areas 101 and 102, a message that prompts the user to answer (“Answer is being accepted!”) Is displayed on the web page P2.

  When the user performs a selection operation on one of the options A to C (in this case, option B) during the answer reception period, the web page is updated as shown in P3. In addition to the display area 101, the web page P3 displays information related to the type of user determined based on the selected option. Thereby, the user can know his / her type by selecting an option in anticipation of the situation that will occur next from the situation of the current game, for example. Here, in the present embodiment, a case where the user type is classified according to the current role of the baseball team or the past manager (in the example of the figure, “S team B manager”) is shown as an example. The manager corresponding to the type of user, for example, the frequency or frequency of taking the same choice (result) as the option selected by the user when the same situation as when the problem was raised occurred during a past baseball game. There are many directors. In this case, the user is notified of information about his / her type so that his / her expectation in a specific situation of a baseball game (that is, judgment or assignment for a specific situation) You can see which directors are similar. For this reason, it can be set as the mechanism with the interesting property that a user can recognize an own characteristic, a tendency, etc. in various situations in a real-time baseball game, for example. If the user performs a selection operation after the answer acceptance period has elapsed, the web page may be updated from the web page P2, for example, as shown at P4 in FIG. Thus, it is notified that the option determined by the user has not been accepted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a series of web pages displayed on the user's communication terminal by the breaking news service and the display timing thereof in association with a baseball game progressing in real time. In this example, the answer acceptance period is generally set between the period during which a batter and the next batter are in the bat. In FIG. 7, the web page P5 shows an example in which a question (in this case, “seventh question”) is given in the breaking news service, and the display areas 101 and 102 are similar to P1 in FIG. including.

In the example of FIG. 7, the question time is the time when the runner first encounters in the attack of team P in the fourth table. As will be described later, the question time is determined by the operator, and appropriate question and answer options are selected from the problem database described later by the operator from the situation of the game at that time.
In the example of FIG. 7, the answer acceptance period is set to a period from when the second batter in the table hits a hit to come out before the first ball is thrown to the third batter following it. . Thereafter, the web page P5 in FIG. 7 is updated as indicated by P6 within the answer acceptance period, thereby displaying a message for prompting the user to answer (in the example of the figure, “answer is being accepted!”). The When the user performs a selection operation for one of the options A to C (in this case, option C) during the answer reception period, the web page is updated as shown in P7. As a result, information on the type of user determined based on the selected option (in the example shown in the figure, “R team A manager”) is notified.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the type of the user is notified every time the user answers one question is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, the type of the user is determined based on the result of the user's response to each of a plurality of questions, and a web page (not shown) for notifying the type when the breaking news service is terminated is, for example, the communication of the user It may be displayed on the terminal 10.

  In this embodiment, the case where the user type is classified according to the current role of the baseball team or the past manager is described as an example, but how the user type is classified is arbitrarily set. May be. For example, the type of user may be classified according to personality (for example, aggressive type, careful type, etc.), or, for example, when a breaking news service is incorporated as a social game service, the character of the game It may be classified separately.

(1-5) Database Server The database server 30 (storage device; see FIG. 1) can be realized by a general-purpose storage such as a large-capacity hard disk device or a device in the form of RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks). Each database in the database server 30 is configured to be able to read and write data from the CPU 21 via the database access unit 24 of the main server 20.
FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the database server 30. As shown in FIG. 8, the database server 30 includes a user database 31, a game record database 32, and a question management database 33.
When the main server 20 also provides a digital card game gaming service for baseball, the user database 31 includes user data for each user ID (user identification information). The user data of a specific user ID may include, for example, information for specifying the communication terminal 10 (for example, individual identification information of a terminal such as a UID (Unique Identifier), a mail address, etc.) as authentication information. The user data also includes various points that the user has in the game, items that can be used in the game, or parameters (for example, the capabilities of the object) of objects (for example, cards and characters) that the user has in the game. Game data such as other user (companion) user IDs associated with the user. Data included in the user database 31 can be updated sequentially by the main server 20.

  In the game record database 32, score data is recorded for each baseball game. For example, after the end of each game, the final data of the game score stored in the RAM 23 of the main server 20 is transferred to the game record database 32.

The question management database 33 includes a problem database, an answer database, and a type database. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a problem database. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an answer database. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a type database.
The problem database is a database that is read out by the CPU 21 based on the operation of the operator when a question is given in a baseball game, and a problem related to a situation that may occur in an actual baseball game (real world event). Information and information on a plurality of options regarding situations that may occur in a baseball game after the situation are described in association with each other. In the example of the problem database shown in FIG. 9, each problem is managed by an identification number (QID), and for each QID, a game situation, a problem related to the situation, and a plurality of options for the problem are associated with each other. It has been described.

  The answer database is a database in which answers (any option) received from each user with respect to a question presented in a baseball game are described. In the example of the answer database shown in FIG. 10, options (A, B, C, etc.) associated with the user ID are recorded for each problem (QID: 3, 8, 14,...).

  The type database is data in which each of a plurality of options corresponding to the question that has been given is associated and recorded for each type of user. In the example of the type database shown in FIG. 11, a QID (see FIG. 9) for identifying the content of the problem for each current or past director corresponding to the user type and any of a plurality of options corresponding to the problem These options are associated with each other. Here, the manager corresponding to the type of the user and any one of the plurality of options may be associated with each other based on the result of an actual baseball game performed in the past, for example. The results of past baseball games may be, for example, information in which the results of all professional baseball games performed within the past predetermined period (for example, 10 years) starting from the current time are recorded in a scorebook format. . In addition, the option corresponding to the manager may be determined by the number of times the manager has taken when the same situation as the problem has occurred during a past baseball game or the frequency of the manager. Referring to the example of FIG. 11, for example, in a situation where the QID is “8” (that is, a situation where there is no one runner, no tie, no runners, etc.), the R team A manager is prone to “smash” When the number or frequency of taking “safety bunt” or “others” is more than the number or frequency of taking the “safety bunt” or “others”, the A team manager of R team has “8” as an option corresponding to the situation with a QID of “8”. The option “A. Bang” is associated.

(1-6) Game Recording Method and Questioning Method Hereinafter, a game recording method and a questioning method will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. 12 and 13 are diagrams illustrating examples of input screens by an operator displayed on the display unit 27 of the main server 20 when the CPU 21 of the main server 20 is executing a game management program. FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen for inputting game information such as a score (hereinafter referred to as “game recording screen”). FIG. 13 shows an example of an input screen (hereinafter referred to as “question screen”) when the operator makes questions at an appropriate timing before or after the game or in the middle of the game.
The game management program is a program executed by the CPU 21 to accept input of information based on a baseball game progressing in real time by the operation of an operator when providing a breaking news service on the web. For example, the operator views the television broadcast of a baseball game being performed in real time, or performs an input to the game recording screen and the questioning screen while watching the game at the stadium. By executing the game management program, predetermined processing described later is performed based on information input to the game recording screen and the questioning screen.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the game recording screen is a display area 201 for appropriately setting data that changes with the progress of the game, and an operation target when setting the data in the display area 201 is confirmed. A menu 202 (“edit confirmation”). Each item in the display area 201 has a pull-down menu format, and any menu can be selected from a plurality of menus for each item. Items to be changed during the match are inning, front and back, home score (home team score), and away score (away team score). For example, when changing the home score, a corresponding pull-down menu is operated to select any number from 0 to 20, for example. When the menu 202 (“edit confirmation”) is selected, the game information is updated with the contents set in the display area 201. When receiving an HTTP request from the user communication terminal 10 after the update, the main server 20 generates HTML data based on the updated game information. As a result, the score on the web page displayed on the user communication terminal 10 (for example, the display area 102 of P1 in FIG. 5) is updated.

As shown in FIG. 13, the questioning screen is divided into a region for editing a question (“question editing”) and a region for performing a question (“question”). In the problem database (see FIG. 9), questions about situations that may occur in a baseball game held in real time and options for answering them are recorded. A situation can also arise. Therefore, when watching a television broadcast of a baseball game being played in real time or watching a game at a stadium, when the operator has come up with an appropriate problem that is not recorded in the problem database but under real circumstances, You can create problems yourself. The input area when the operator creates a problem is a problem editing area.
In this question editing area, a text box 301 for accepting a text input of a question, a text box 302 for accepting a text input of a game situation, and a text input of each option for a question are accepted. And a menu 304 ("Register") for registering the created problem and each option for the problem in the problem database. When the menu 304 is selected and operated with the text boxes 301, 302, and 303 already input, the CPU 21 issues a new QID that does not overlap with the QID already registered in the problem database, and corresponds to the issued QID. In addition, the problem, the situation, and each option entered in the text boxes 301, 302, and 303 are written in the problem database.

In FIG. 13, in the area for giving questions, a menu 305 for displaying a list of registered QIDs, a display area 306 for selecting QIDs to be given questions, and setting input for the questions are given. And a display area 307 for performing.
By selecting a menu 305 (“QID list display”), the screen shifts to a screen (not shown) on which the contents of the problem database exemplified in FIG. 9 are displayed. By looking at this screen, the operator can recognize the QID of the problem to be asked.
When the QID to be set is determined, the operator operates the pull-down menu 306a in the display area 306 to determine the number of the QID to be set, and then selects and operates the menu 306b (“Select”). As a result, the number of the selected (determined) QID is added to the end of the list in the display area 307. In the display area 307, a deletion menu 307a, a question instruction menu 307b, a reception end menu 307c, and valid / invalid information 307d indicating whether or not the QID is valid are provided in association with each QID. In the list of the display area 307, the deletion menu 307a, the questioning instruction menu 3067, or the reception end menu 307c can be selected only for the valid QID. An invalid QID is a QID for which a question has already been given and the answer acceptance period has ended. Since the QID is added to the list in the display area 307 in order, the latest QID, that is, the valid QID is usually the last on the list.

The QID once added to the list in the display area 307 can be deleted from the list in the display area 307 by selecting the delete menu 307a before the questioning instruction menu 307b is selected. For example, in the example of FIG. 13, QID: 14 is currently valid, but before the questioning instruction menu 307b is selected, the QID: 14 is deleted and a new QID is added to the list instead. It is possible. In the display area 307, when the questioning instruction menu 307b corresponding to the valid QID is selected, the main server 20 has a problem corresponding to the selected QID when an HTTP request is received thereafter. The HTML data including the option is transmitted to the user communication terminal 10.
When the answer acceptance period ends after a predetermined time from the questioning time, the operator does nothing. When the answer acceptance period ends at the time when a predetermined situation occurs after the question is given or until one of the options for the problem occurs, the operator must Watching television broadcasts or watching at the stadium, taking into account changes in real-time conditions, deciding the appropriate timing to end the answer acceptance period, and ending acceptance for the valid QID The menu 307c is selected and operated. Accordingly, when an HTTP request including an option as an answer is received thereafter, the answer is not accepted.

(1-7) Overview of Functions in Information Processing Device In this embodiment, the main server 20 and the database server 30 constitute an information processing device. Below, the function implement | achieved with the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 14 for the case where the bulletin service provided to a user is a baseball game as an example. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions that play a main role in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

The storage means 51 includes information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in a baseball game (real world event), and information on a plurality of options regarding the situation that may occur in the baseball game after the situation. Are associated with each other and stored in the database server 30 (storage device). The situation that can occur in a baseball game is not particularly limited, and it may be a specific scene during the game (for example, 1 table full of 3 deaths), or a break during the game (for example, It may be a timely situation such as during a specific number of innings, during pitcher changes, before the start of the game, after the start of the game, or the like.
In order to realize the function of the storage means 51, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 uniquely identifies the text data of the problem input by the operator before or during the game and the text data of a plurality of options corresponding to the problem. In association with the QID, it is written in the problem database (see FIG. 9) in the question management database 33.

Further, the storage means 51 has a function of causing the database server 30 (storage device) to store the type in association with each of a plurality of options based on the results of past baseball games (real world events). Also good. In this case, the type suitable for the result of the past baseball game can be determined, and the type determination with high reliability can be performed.
In order to realize the function of the storage means 51 in this case, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 associates a plurality of QIDs with options corresponding to each of the QIDs for each director corresponding to the user type, Write in the type database (see FIG. 11) in the question management database 33. The CPU 21 may refer to the results of past baseball games and determine the options corresponding to each QID for each manager corresponding to the user type. May be.

The presenting means 52 refers to the problem database at a timing when a specific situation occurs in the real-time baseball game when the baseball game (the same kind of event) is performed in real time, and the specific situation And a function for presenting the user with a plurality of options associated with the problem.
The function of the presentation means 52 is implement | achieved as follows. When a specific situation occurs in a real-time baseball game, the operator selects one of the QIDs recorded in the problem database and adds it to the list in the display area 307 on the questioning screen in FIG. Then, the selection instruction menu 307b is selected and operated. When the operator confirms that the specific situation that occurred in the real-time baseball game does not exist in the problem database created in advance by operating the menu m305 or the like, an area for problem editing Create a new problem by entering text in and register it in the problem database. Then, the operator selects the QID corresponding to the new problem, adds it to the list in the display area 307, and selects and operates the question instruction menu menu 307b. When recognizing that the questioning instruction menu 307b is selected, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 responds to the selected problem and the problem when receiving an HTTP request from the user communication terminal 10 thereafter. HTML data including options is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of the user. In this case, a web page including the problem and options corresponding to the problem is displayed on the communication terminal 10 of the user. As a result, the problem and options corresponding to the problem are presented to the user.

The accepting unit 53 has a function of accepting a user's selection result for any one of a plurality of options presented by the presenting unit 52.
Here, the period for accepting the selection result (answer acceptance period) can be arbitrarily set. For example, any of the options up to a predetermined time or presented to the user is a real-time baseball game (event It may be a period until it occurs in). In addition, the “predetermined time” is not limited to a time after a predetermined time after a specific situation occurs in a real-time baseball game, for example, and a situation that occurs after a specific situation in a real-time baseball game May occur. For example, when the time when a specific situation occurs is T0, and the time when any situation among the options presented to the user occurs in the real-time baseball game is T1, between T0 and T1 The time at which a predetermined situation in the real-time baseball game occurs may be used. In other words, before the situation of any option occurs, the acceptance of the answer of the option may be terminated when a predetermined situation occurs. For example, when the 9th table attack ends (T0), the content of the question is “9th back, team P manager should put in a trump card, Noda?” When T1 is the time when the 9th reverse ends, the end time of the answer acceptance period may be the time when the 9th reverse starts (time between T0 and T1).

  The function of the accepting unit 53 is realized as follows. The CPU 21 of the main server 20 operates within the period from when the questioning instruction menu 307b corresponding to the valid QID is selected by the operator to when the reception end menu 307c is selected, that is, within the answer reception period. When an HTTP request including one of the options as the answer to the problem is acquired from the communication terminal 10, the option is written in the response database in association with the user ID and the QID. The writing process to the answer database corresponds to accepting the user's selection result (option).

The determination unit 54 has a function of determining the user type based on the selection result received by the reception unit 53. Further, when the selection unit 54 receives the selection result by the reception unit 53, the determination unit 54 has a function of referring to the database server 30 (storage device) and determining the type corresponding to the option as the selection result as the user type. Also good.
The function of the determination means 54 is implement | achieved as follows. When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 obtains an HTTP request including one of the options as an answer to the problem from the user's communication terminal 10, the CPU 21 accesses the type database and uses the same options as the options included in the HTTP request. The director associated with is extracted. The director's extraction process corresponds to determining the user type. When there are a plurality of directors associated with the same option as the option included in the HTTP request, the CPU 21 may determine each director as a user type.

In addition, the determination unit 54 is configured such that the number or frequency of the situation corresponding to the selection result and the situation occurring after the situation corresponding to the problem in the past baseball game (real world event) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The type of user may be determined based on whether or not there is.
For example, when the user type is divided into a higher group and a lower group, the number or frequency of the situation corresponding to the selection result and the situation that occurred after the situation corresponding to the problem in the past baseball game is If it is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the user type may be determined from the upper group, and if it is less than the predetermined threshold, the user type may be determined from the lower group. Here, for example, the upper group includes a type corresponding to one army manager of any baseball team in the real world, and the lower group corresponds to a second army manager of any baseball team in the real world. A type to be included may be included. Further, for example, when a type corresponding to a manager of any baseball team in the real world is included in the upper group, the lower group may not satisfy the conditions for the manager, for example, a coach, a fan, a beginner, or A type corresponding to a field horse or the like may be included. In this case, since the user's type is determined as any type in the upper group, the user is required to select an option that matches the situation that actually occurred in the past baseball game. For this reason, it is possible to arouse the user's willingness to challenge or become nervous about becoming a type included in the upper group, and to make the mechanism more interesting.

The function of the determination means 54 in this case is implement | achieved as follows, for example. Here, the upper group includes a type corresponding to one of the directors, and the lower group includes a preset type (for example, “fan” or “beginner”). Will be described as an example. Here, a case where the predetermined threshold is 1 will be described as an example. When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 obtains an HTTP request including one of the options as the answer to the problem, the CPU 21 accesses the type database to select the option (situation corresponding to the selection result) included in the HTTP request, the type The number of matches with the option corresponding to the QID of the problem (situation that occurred after the situation corresponding to the problem in the past baseball game) among the plurality of options associated with (director) for each type (for each manager) ). For example, when the option included in the HTTP request is the same as the option associated with the director, the number of matches (or match frequency (ratio)) is 1. Then, the CPU 21 determines a director whose number of matches (or match frequency) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (here, 1) as the user type. As a result, the user type is determined from the upper group.
On the other hand, the CPU 21 determines the type (for example, “fan” or “beginner”) included in the lower group as the user type when there is no director whose number of matches (or match frequency) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. .

The notification unit 55 has a function of notifying the user of information regarding the type determined by the determination unit 54. Here, the “type information” may be, for example, text data, audio data, or image data.
The function of the notification means 55 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 determines the type of the user, a message for notifying the determined type (information on the type; in the example in the figure, “You are the“ S Team B Director ”type!)” Etc. The included HTML data is generated and transmitted to the user communication terminal 10. Thereby, the user is notified of information related to the user type.

(1-8) Processing example of information processing apparatus of this embodiment Next, a preferable processing example performed by the information processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing of the main server 20 in response to HTTP requests sequentially transmitted from the user communication terminal 10 to the main server 20.

The preferred user usage mode of the information processing system of the present embodiment is as follows.
The user receives a bulletin service for a baseball game being performed in real time from the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment via his / her communication terminal 10. As described above, the breaking news service is a web service that is provided to the communication terminal 10 by sequentially updating information on the baseball game. In this breaking news service, a problem is given to the user according to the situation, and an answer to the problem is selected from a plurality of options. At this time, the user examines the situation of the baseball game received by the breaking news service, and further grasps the situation of the game more in detail by watching the television broadcast etc. being performed on the same game at the same time. You can also.

  In the bulletin service, an HTTP request is automatically transmitted from the communication terminal 10 of each user to the main server 20 every predetermined time (for example, at intervals of 5 to 10 seconds) (that is, without user operation).

When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 receives the HTTP request from the user (step S10: YES), if the breaking news service has not ended (step S20: NO), the answer reception period for the problem corresponding to any QID It is judged whether it is in (step S30). Here, the CPU 21 selects that the questioning instruction menu corresponding to the currently valid QID is selected, and if the acceptance end menu is not selected, it is within the answer reception period for the problem corresponding to the QID. to decide. When the reception end menu corresponding to the currently valid QID is selected and operated, the CPU 21 determines that it is not within the answer reception period for the problem.
When the CPU 21 determines that it is not within the answer acceptance period (step S30: NO), the real-time game is based on the latest game information input by the operator (input information on the game recording screen in FIG. 12). HTML data including the score information (HTML data (match) in FIG. 15) is generated (step S40) and transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10 (step S90).

When the CPU 21 determines that it is within the question answer acceptance period (step S30: YES), it determines whether or not the question answer (option) is included in the HTML data received in step S10 (step S50). When the answer to the problem is not included in the HTTP request received in step S10 (step S50: NO), the CPU 21 determines the HTML data (HTML data (problem) in FIG. 15) including the problem and a plurality of options of the answer. ) Is generated (step S60) and transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10 (step S90). In including a question and a plurality of options of the answer in the HTML data, the CPU 21 reads out the text corresponding to the valid QID and a plurality of options of the answer from the problem database. When receiving the HTML data (problem), the user communication terminal 10 displays a web page, for example, as shown at P1 in FIG.
When the CPU 21 repeatedly generates HTML data (problem) within the same answer acceptance period, the CPU 21 may include a message indicating that the answer is accepted in the HTML data (problem). In this case, when receiving the HTML data (problem), the user communication terminal 10 displays a web page, for example, as shown at P2 in FIG.

CPU21 performs an answer reception process (step S80), when the answer of a problem is contained in the HTTP request received by step S10 (step S50: YES). The contents of the answer acceptance process will be specifically described. First, the CPU 21 associates an answer (option) for the problem (problem corresponding to the target QID) included in the HTTP request received in step S10 with the user ID. And write it to the answer database. Next, the CPU 21 determines the user type by accessing the type database and extracting a director associated with the same option as the answer (option) included in the HTTP request.
After executing the answer acceptance process, the CPU 21 generates HTML data (HTML data (type notification) in FIG. 15) including a message for notifying the determined type (step S80), and transmits it to the user communication terminal 10. (Step S90). When receiving the HTML data (type notification), the user communication terminal 10 displays a web page, for example, as shown at P3 in FIG.

As described above, at the timing when a specific situation occurs in a real-time baseball game (event) by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the problem related to the specific situation occurs after the specific situation. A plurality of options for the situation to be presented to the user, and the user is configured to select one of the options. For example, while watching a baseball game that is progressing in real time, when a specific situation occurs in the game, the user expects the next situation to occur. At this time, while watching the baseball game that is progressing in real time, the user considers, for example, various situations in the game (for example, scenes such as 3 baseballs per death, manager's position, batter / pitcher characteristics, etc.) The user will be more focused on the situation of the subsequent game and the user will feel as if he / she is participating in a baseball game proceeding in real time. Will be able to.
Further, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that when a user selects any option, the type of the user is determined based on the selection result, and information regarding the determined type is notified to the user. Has been. In this case, when a specific situation occurs during a baseball game, the user can know his / her type by selecting an option in anticipation of the next situation. Here, the type of user may be classified according to, for example, active duty or past director. In this case, the user is notified of information about his / her type so that his / her expectation in a specific situation of a baseball game (that is, judgment or assignment for a specific situation) You can see which directors are similar. For this reason, it can be set as the interesting mechanism that a user can recognize an own characteristic, a tendency, etc. in various situations during a game, for example.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the information processing system according to the second embodiment, the configurations of the communication terminal 10, the main server 20, and the database server 30 may be the same as the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, respectively. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, a problem is presented to the user while the breaking news service is provided to the user, and an option determined by the user is accepted as an answer to the problem.
The information processing apparatus according to this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the user type is determined based on a plurality of selection results (options) for each of a plurality of problems.

Each time a specific situation occurs in a real-time baseball game (event), the presenting means 52 includes a problem related to the specific situation and a plurality of options associated with the problem. Is provided to the user.
The function of the presentation means 52 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 recognizes that the questioning instruction menu 307b has been selected, when the HTTP request is received from the user communication terminal 10 thereafter, the selected problem and the problem are dealt with. HTML data including options is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of the user. At this time, whenever the operator selects and operates the questioning instruction menu 307b for a problem related to the situation every time any particular situation occurs during the game, the user's communication terminal 10 is identified by the user. Each time a situation occurs, a web page including a problem and options corresponding to the problem is displayed.

The determination unit 54 has a function of determining the user type based on a plurality of selection results received by the reception unit 53. With this configuration, each time one of the specific situations occurs in a real-time baseball game (event), the user selects his / her choice until multiple selection results are accepted. I can't know the type. For this reason, it can be set as the mechanism which raises a user's expectation with respect to the content of own type.
In addition, the determination unit 54 is configured such that the number or frequency of the situation corresponding to the selection result and the situation occurring after the situation corresponding to the problem in the past baseball game (real world event) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The user type may be determined based on whether or not there is.

The function of the determination means 54 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. For example, when the breaking news service ends, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 refers to the answer database and extracts all answer results (options) for each of a plurality of users. Next, the CPU 21 accesses the type database, and for each type (director) included in the type database, the number of matches between the corresponding option and the answer result (option) of each question of the user (that is, the selection result) The number of matches between the corresponding situation and the situation that occurred after the situation corresponding to the problem in the past baseball game). Then, the CPU 21 determines, as the user type, a director whose number of matches is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold and whose number of matches is the maximum.
Here, an example of the processing of the CPU 21 in determining the user type will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the number of matches between each of the options of the plurality of directors and the user's answer result is shown as shown in FIG. 16A, the CPU 21 extracts a director whose number of matches is a predetermined threshold (for example, 6) or more. To do. In the example of FIG. 16A, “C manager of T team” and “D manager of U team” are extracted. Next, the CPU 21 determines, as the user type, the manager having the maximum number of matches (in the example of the figure, “U team D director”).
Further, for example, when the number of matches between each of the options of the plurality of directors and the user's answer result is shown as in FIG. 16B, since there is no director whose match number is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the CPU 21 For example, the user type may be determined using a second threshold value (for example, 5) that is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value. Specifically, when there is a manager whose number of matches is equal to or greater than the second threshold (in the example shown in the figure, “E Team Manager E”), the type of user included in the lower group is the type of user. (For example, “fan”).
Furthermore, for example, when the number of matches between each of the options of the plurality of directors and the user's answer result is shown as in FIG. 16C, there is no director whose match number is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, so the CPU 21 The user type may be determined as a type included in the lower group (for example, “beginner”).

Here, the case where the user type is determined by comparing the number of matches between the director's option and the user's answer result with a predetermined threshold value has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, the user type may be determined by comparing the frequency (ratio) of the number of matches with respect to the number of answers per user and a predetermined threshold (for example, 40%).
Further, the user type may be determined using the average value of the number of matches. For example, the average value of the number of matches is obtained (in any of the cases shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C, the average value of the number of matches is 3.3 (≈20 / 6)). If the number of matches between the option and the answer result of the user is within a range of, for example, ± 2 of the average value, the user type may be determined as, for example, the “fan” type. In addition, for all types, when the number of matches between the director's choice and the user's answer result is within a range of ± 1 of the average value, for example, the user type may be determined to be a “beginner” type, for example. . Further, when there is a type in which the number of matches between the manager's option and the user's answer result is, for example, +3 or more of the average value, the type (director type) may be determined as the user type.

(3) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the information processing system of the third embodiment, the configurations of the communication terminal 10, the main server 20, and the database server 30 may be the same as the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, respectively. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, a problem is presented to the user while the breaking news service is provided to the user, and an option determined by the user is accepted as an answer to the problem.
The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an association unit 56 and a provision unit 57 are provided in the functional block diagram shown in FIG.

  The associating means 56 has a function of associating users with each other. That is, the associating unit 56 records the user ID in association with another user ID, for example, triggered by an application based on the user ID. That is, the associating unit 56 records other user IDs (that is, other users) as “mates” triggered by an application based on the user ID.

The function of the correlation means 56 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. The CPU 21 of the main server 20 sends an application message (a friend application) specifying a user ID (or a corresponding user name) that the user wants to be a friend from the communication terminal 10 of the user corresponding to a certain user ID via the communication interface unit 25. Accept. The transmission of the application message may be set in advance as a function of a web page provided to the user's communication terminal 10.
When receiving the application message, the CPU 21 determines whether or not to approve an application based on another user ID to the communication terminal 10 corresponding to the user ID at the timing when there is an access based on the user ID included in the application message. HTML data for displaying a web page requesting a reply is transmitted. If it is replied that the application is approved, the CPU 21 registers both as friends. Specifically, the CPU 21 writes data (the other party's user ID) in the user data of the corresponding two user IDs in the user database 31. In addition, CPU21 may register both as a friend by predetermined operation by a user, when approval of the user of a friend application destination is unnecessary.

  Note that the conditions for associating users are not limited to the format requiring application and approval as described above. For example, when the main server 20 also functions as a server that provides a gaming service, other users who have executed a game in cooperation with the user, such as other users who execute the same stage or area on the game, Other users who have performed battles may be registered as other users associated with the user in the game, that is, as friends. Alternatively, users who transmit a predetermined number of greeting messages may be automatically registered as friends, and if there is a mode on the game in which a battle is performed between users, the user who has performed the battle a predetermined number of times or more You may automatically register each other as a friend.

The granting unit 57 gives a privilege to at least one of the users when the users determined to be the same type are related to each other or when each of the users related to each other is determined to be the same type. It has the function to grant.
Although the content of the privilege is not particularly limited, when the breaking news service is incorporated as a service such as a social game, the privilege obtained by the granting means 57 is an object that can be used in the game (for example, a game character Or cards on which game characters are displayed), items, various points, and the like. Thereby, for the user, since the privilege obtained by the breaking news service can be used immediately in the social game, the breaking news service and the social game can be linked.

The function of the provision means 57 is implement | achieved as follows, for example.
First, an example in which a privilege is given to at least one of each user when users determined to be the same type are associated with each other will be described. When the users are associated with each other based on the function of the association unit 56, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 accesses the answer database and extracts the answer results of each user. Next, the CPU 21 accesses the type database and determines the type of each user using the answer result of each user. And when the type of each user is the same, CPU21 determines giving a privilege with respect to each user. When the CPU 21 determines to give a privilege to each user, the CPU 21 accesses the user database 31 and records the content of the privilege in association with each user. For example, when the privilege is a point that can be used on the game, the content of the privilege is recorded so as to add only a predetermined amount of points (for example, 1000 points).

Next, an example in which a privilege is given to at least one of each user when each of the users related to each other is determined to be the same type will be described. For example, when the CPU 21 of the main server 20 determines the type of the user in the process of step S70 of the flow of FIG. 15, the user 21 accesses the user database 31 and extracts the user ID of the user (friend) associated with the user. . Next, CPU21 accesses a reply database, extracts a reply result for every fellow user ID, and determines a fellow type. And CPU21 determines giving a privilege with respect to a user and a fellow, when a user's type and a fellow's type correspond. When the CPU 21 determines to give a privilege to each user, the CPU 21 accesses the user database 31 and records the content of the privilege in association with each user.
Note that the user to whom the privilege is granted may be any one of the users associated with each other.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the notification means 55 is the same for each user when the users determined to be the same type are related to each other, or when the users related to each other are determined to be the same type. A function of notifying each user of information indicating the type may be provided. In this case, each user can recognize that the newly related (becomes a friend) user or the already related user is the same type, so that the benefit is obtained. Can be easily assumed.
In this case, when the CPU 21 grants a privilege to the user based on the function of the granting unit 57, information indicating that each user associated with each other is of the same type (for example, “became a friend (or A friend (Mr. A) is a user of the same type as you. "Etc.) is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of each user. The information may be composed of text data, or may be composed of audio data or image data.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, for example, when a privilege is given to at least one of the users when the users determined to be the same type are associated (becomes friends). Is motivated to become friends with other users of the same type as themselves in order to obtain benefits. For example, when a privilege is given to at least one of each user when each of the users who are related to each other is determined to be the same type, It can be set as the mechanism which increases the familiarity of the user concerned with other users (companies). Thereby, according to this structure, since the exchange between users can be promoted, social property can be improved.

(4) Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the information processing system of the third embodiment, the configurations of the communication terminal 10, the main server 20, and the database server 30 may be the same as the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, respectively. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, a problem is presented to the user while the breaking news service is provided to the user, and an option determined by the user is accepted as an answer to the problem.
The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an association unit 56 and an adjustment unit 58 are provided in the functional block diagram shown in FIG. Note that the function and implementation example of the association means 56 are the same as those described in the third embodiment.

The adjustment means 58 is a degree of intimacy indicating the degree of relationship between users when the users determined to be the same type are related to each other, or when each of the users related to each other is determined to be the same type. It has a function to adjust so as to increase.
Here, the intimacy is a numerical value of the degree of relationship between fellow users based on a certain standard. An example of intimacy data (intimacy data) is shown in FIG. In the example of closeness data shown in FIG. 19, the frequency of transmission or reception of messages between users (communication frequency), for example items that can be used on the game, etc., in association with each user's fellow user (user ID) The number of times the present is sent or received (the number of presents) is recorded, and the familiarity value is set based on a certain standard based on the frequency and the number of presents. The greater the communication frequency and the number of presents, the higher the familiarity is set. In addition, with a certain standard, weighting may be taken into consideration for each item (in FIG. 19, communication frequency, number of presents, etc.) that is a basis for setting familiarity. For example, the closeness may be set high when the communication frequency is low but the number of presents is high. Such familiarity data is recorded in the user database 31, for example.
In addition, when the information processing apparatus provides a gaming service such as a social game, for example, the adjustment unit 58 is advantageous in that the progress of the game is more advantageous when each user cooperates to play the game as the closeness between the users increases. You may adjust so that it becomes. For example, when the user performs a battle on the game, the higher the intimacy with a friend who performs a battle in cooperation with the user, the higher the probability that the user will win the battle may be adjusted.

The function of the adjustment means 58 is implement | achieved as follows, for example.
First, an example of a case where adjustment is performed so as to increase closeness when users determined to be the same type are related to each other will be described. When the users are associated with each other based on the function of the association unit 56, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 accesses the answer database and extracts the answer results of each user. Next, the CPU 21 accesses the type database and determines the type of each user using the answer result of each user. Then, when the types of the users are the same, the CPU 21 accesses the familiarity data in the user database 31 and adds the familiarity between the users by a predetermined value (for example, 1).

  Next, an example will be described in which adjustment is made to increase intimacy when each of the related users is determined to be the same type. For example, when the CPU 21 of the main server 20 determines the type of the user in the process of step S70 of the flow of FIG. 15, the user 21 accesses the user database 31 and extracts the user ID of the user (friend) associated with the user. . Next, CPU21 accesses a reply database, extracts a reply result for every fellow user ID, and determines a fellow type. When the user type and the fellow type match, the CPU 21 accesses the closeness data in the user database 31 and adds the closeness between the users by a predetermined value (for example, 1).

Moreover, in this embodiment, the notification means 55 is the same for each user when the users determined to be the same type are related to each other, or when the users related to each other are determined to be the same type. A function of notifying each user of information indicating the type may be provided. In this case, since each user can recognize that the newly related (becomes a fellow) user or the fellow user already related is the same type, the familiarity increases. This can be easily assumed.
In this case, when the CPU 21 adjusts to increase the closeness of each user based on the function of the adjusting means 57, information indicating that each user associated with each other is the same type (for example, “becomes a friend” (Or a friend, Mr. A is a user of the same type as you), etc.) is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of each user. The information may be composed of text data, or may be composed of audio data or image data.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, for example, when the closeness between the users increases when the users determined to be the same type are related (becomes friends), It is motivated to become friends with other users of that type, triggered by the same type as itself. In addition, for example, when the intimacy between users increases when each of the related users is determined to be the same type, the exchange between the users is triggered by the increase in intimacy. It can be set as the mechanism which promotes. Thereby, social property can be improved.

  As mentioned above, although each embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to each embodiment. In addition, it goes without saying that each embodiment may be variously improved and changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. You may combine suitably the structure and the characteristic of each embodiment. For example, the providing unit 57 (FIG. 17), which is a component of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, may be included in the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the event of the present invention is a baseball game has been described as an example, but the event is not limited thereto. The event may be a game such as shogi or chess, and the genre is not limited.
The event may be provided through public or private media such as television broadcasting, radio broadcasting or Internet broadcasting, or may be watched at a predetermined venue.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the question time and the reception end time of the answer are set by the input of the operator has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. In the case of an event including a predetermined situation that can be automatically detected by the detection device, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the detection result by the detection device is automatically input to the information processing device. Is not necessary. An example of such an event is a bowling game. In bowling matches, score calculation and pitching timing are automated by the system, so it is appropriate for those skilled in the art to incorporate a signal indicating a predetermined situation in bowling into an information processing device by cooperating with such a system. It can be implemented.

  In the above-described embodiment, a predetermined operation input by the user to the communication terminal 10 is an input of a user pressing a predetermined operation button on the communication terminal 10 or a touch operation on the display screen for the communication terminal 10 having a touch panel function. However, the operation input is not limited to this. The operation input may be an operation input by shaking the communication terminal 10 provided with an acceleration sensor, or an operation input by gesture (gesture input). In gesture input, the communication terminal 10 recognizes an image of the gesture by performing a predetermined gesture on the communication terminal 10 having an imaging function, and recognizes an operation input associated with the gesture in advance. In the case of the communication terminal 10 capable of executing the voice recognition program, the operation input may be performed by inputting voice.

  In the above-described embodiment, the main server 20 and the database server 30 on the network are configured to realize the functions of the units illustrated in FIG. 14, but the configuration is not limited thereto. It is good also as a structure which implement | achieves at least one part by the communication terminal 10. FIG. For example, in order to implement the determining unit 54, the user communication terminal 10 stores the user-selected options in the RAM 13 or the like for each problem, and the options for each of a plurality of types on the type database are stored from the main server 20. By receiving and acquiring, the CPU 11 of the communication terminal 10 may determine the user type.

10: Communication terminal 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Image processing part 15 ... Instruction input part 16 ... Display part 17 ... Communication interface part 18 ... Bus 20 ... Main server 21 ... CPU
22 ... ROM
23 ... RAM
24 ... Database access unit 25 ... Communication interface unit 26 ... Input unit 27 ... Display unit 28 ... Bus 30 ... Database server 31 ... User database 32 ... Game record database 33 ... Question management database 51 ... Storage unit 52 ... Presentation unit 53 ... Reception Means 54 ... Determination means 55 ... Notification means 56 ... Association means 57 ... Giving means 58 ... Adjustment means

Claims (9)

Storage means for associating and storing in a storage device information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in a real-world event, and information on a plurality of options regarding the situation that may occur in the event after the situation;
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. Presenting means for presenting a plurality of attached options to the user;
Receiving means for receiving the user's selection result for any of the plurality of options presented by the presenting means;
Determining means for determining the type of the user based on the selection result received by the receiving means;
Notification means for notifying the user of information regarding the type determined by the determination means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: Each time the specific means occurs in the real-time event, the presenting means displays a problem related to the specific situation and a plurality of options associated with the problem. To present
The determining means determines the type of the user based on a plurality of selection results received by the receiving means.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The storage means associates the type with each of the plurality of options based on a past real-world event result, and stores the type in the storage device,
The determination unit, when receiving the selection result by the reception unit, refers to the storage device, and determines the type corresponding to the option as the selection result as the type of the user,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An association means for relating users,
A granting means for granting a privilege to at least one of each user when the users determined to be of the same type are related to each other or when each of the users related to each other is determined to be the same type; It is characterized by having
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An association means for relating users,
Adjusted to increase intimacy indicating the degree of relationship between users when users determined to be of the same type are related to each other, or when each of the users related to each other is determined to be of the same type Adjusting means for
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. Whether the number or frequency of the situation corresponding to the selection result and the situation occurring after the situation corresponding to the problem in a past real-world event is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value; And determining the type of the user based on
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. Storing information in a storage device in association with information on a problem relating to a situation that can occur in a real-world event, and information on a plurality of options regarding a situation that can occur in the event after the situation;
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. Presenting a plurality of attached options to the user;
Receiving the user's selection result for any of the presented options;
Determining the type of the user based on an accepted selection result;
Notifying the user of information about the determined type;
An information processing method comprising: On the computer,
A function of associating and storing information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in an event in the real world and information on a plurality of options regarding the situation that may occur in the event after the situation in the storage device;
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. The ability to present the user with multiple options
A function of accepting the user's selection result for any of the plurality of presented options;
A function of determining the type of the user based on the received selection result, and a function of notifying the user of information regarding the determined type;
A program to realize An information processing system including a communication terminal and a server accessed from the communication terminal,
Storage means for associating information on a problem relating to a situation that may occur in a real-world event with information on a plurality of options regarding a situation that may occur in the event after the situation, in a storage device;
When an event of the same type as the event is performed in real time, when the specific situation occurs in the real time event, the storage device is referred to and the problem related to the specific situation is dealt with. Presenting means for presenting a plurality of options to the user,
Accepting means for accepting the selection result of the user for any of the plurality of options presented by the presenting means;
Determining means for determining the type of the user based on the selection result received by the receiving means;
Notification means for notifying the user of information regarding the type determined by the determination means;
Each of the means is provided in either the communication terminal or the server,
Information processing system.

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