JP4657631B2 - Information providing system, method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  In order to provide useful information to users in real time by fusing an individual communication form using a network such as the Internet and a global distribution form such as digital broadcast (Digital Broadcast). Information provision technology.

  Digital broadcasting using wired, artificial satellites, and terrestrial waves is widespread. In digital broadcasting, in addition to a form that distributes program information to a large number of unspecified people (hereinafter “normal distribution”), content (contents) such as paid movies and games is distributed to specific people. (Hereinafter “content distribution”).

  In the case of normal distribution, the broadcast side includes a broadcast station (hereinafter, “host station”) that broadcasts program information. The user side is equipped with an antenna, a digital receiver, a display device, and a sound generator, receives the program information distributed from the host station with the antenna, and reproduces predetermined images and sounds with the digital receiver based on the received information To do. The image is displayed on the display device, and the sound is generated from the sound generation device.

In the case of content distribution, the distribution side includes a server station that manages users to be distributed in addition to the host station. On the user side, in addition to an antenna, a digital receiver, a display device, and a sound generator, an STB (Set Top Box) that can be connected to a network such as the Internet is provided. In the present specification, these devices provided on the user side are referred to as “terminals”. The server station and the terminal are adapted to send and receive information via the network.
When a user orders content to a server station via a terminal and a network, the server station authenticates the ordered user, and the user receives the encrypted or scrambled content and key information used for restoring the content. Send to the terminal. In addition, it instructs the host station that performs digital broadcasting to distribute the ordered content (encrypted or scrambled).
The host station distributes the content ordered according to an instruction from the server station.
The terminal receives the distributed content and restores it using the key information transmitted from the server station. Of the restored content, the image is displayed on the display device, and the sound is pronounced from the sound producing device.
With this procedure, the user can enjoy paid content.

  In conventional content distribution, digital broadcasting from the host station is used only for distribution of encrypted or scrambled content, and the network connecting the server station and the terminal is used only for ordering content and sending / receiving key information. It's being used. As described above, the roles of the digital broadcasting resource and the network resource are determined, and the organic uses that are mutually related in real time are not made. Therefore, these resources cannot be used effectively.

  A main object of the present invention is to provide an information providing technique capable of efficiently providing multifaceted information to a user by effectively using resources for distributing digital information.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a first apparatus capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals, and information to all terminals that are communicable with the first apparatus. An information providing system including a second device that performs transmission is provided.
Part of the provision target information is transmitted from one of the first device and the second device to all terminals that are in a communicable state. The remaining part of the provision target information is sent from the other of the first device and the second device. In this way, the provision target information is reproduced on each terminal in real time.
The terminal and the first device are connected via a network. The first device may be configured to send individual information in response to a request from any terminal. In this case, the second device is configured to provide, in real time, all the terminals with common information including a network operating status that changes as needed according to the load of the first device. With this configuration, the user can know the operating status of the network from the second device before attempting to access the first device through the terminal, and the network load due to unnecessary access to the first device. Can be prevented.

When there are a plurality of first devices, the second device simultaneously transmits to the terminals all the operating status information indicating the operating status of the network, which changes at any time according to the load of each first device, in real time. When a load on a part or all of the plurality of first devices exceeds a predetermined value, the information to be transmitted by the first device is transmitted on behalf of the first device. Thereby, even if the user has a heavy network load and cannot access the first device, the user can know desired information by the second device. That is, in this information providing system, desired information can be provided to the user while preventing an increase in network load.
At least one of the first devices includes means for generating load information indicating the load status of the own device that changes at any time according to access from a plurality of terminals, and the generated load information is transmitted to the second device in real time. Means for delivering. The second device generates the operation status information based on the load information received from any one of the first devices.

The present invention also provides an information providing system for providing information via a logical space that can be referred to by a terminal. The information providing system includes a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to a network and a second device capable of simultaneously transmitting information of the same content to the plurality of terminals. And have.
A plurality of terminals and the first device can form a common logical space. The first device detects a change request of the logical space by at least one terminal by individual communication, and changes the logical space based on the detected situation. The second device provides the status of the logical space after the change in the first device to the plurality of terminals in real time.
When a plurality of first devices are used, a logical space accessible to a plurality of terminals is distributed and formed in each of the first devices in association with each other. The second device is configured to provide, in real time, the status of all logical spaces after the change to the plurality of terminals when the status of the logical space changes in any of the first devices. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide advanced information while reducing the load (load when operating the logical space) of each first device. In addition, since the second device can also know the status of the other first devices that are not being accessed, the user can simultaneously obtain information on the entire logical space while obtaining information from the logical space.
At least one of the plurality of terminals forms a logical space having the same configuration as the logical space formed in the first device accessed by the own device in the own device, and means for changing the status of the formed logical space; Means for sending information representing the change state in real time to the first device accessed by the own device when the state of the logical space in the own device changes.

The first device is a dedicated information providing device capable of performing individual communication with a plurality of terminals and communication with the second device, and the second device is between the first device and the second device. May be configured by a dedicated information providing device capable of performing individual communication and simultaneous transmission to a plurality of terminals, each being read and executed by a computer having a communication function You may comprise by cooperation with a computer program.
The computer program here forms functions necessary for operating as a corresponding information providing apparatus on a computer.

The present invention also proposes a plurality of forms of information providing methods performed through a network.
The method of the first mode distributes a part of the provision target information to be provided to a plurality of terminals connected to the network to a first device that can individually communicate with each of the plurality of terminals, Each terminal is provided by distributing the remaining information to be provided to a second device that broadcasts information to a plurality of terminals and sending the information distributed to the first device and the second device at the same time. The method is characterized in that the provision target information is reproduced in real time. This method enables organic use of broadcasting and networks.

  The method of the second mode distributes the individual information to be provided to the requesting terminal out of a plurality of terminals connected to the network to the first device that can individually communicate with the terminal. The first device distributes information indicating the load status of the first device or the network to a second device that broadcasts information to the plurality of terminals, and sends the information distributed to the second device. In this method, the load status of the first device or the network when the terminal that is scheduled to access the first device is accessed is presented prior to the transmission of the information distributed to the first device. By this method, the load situation is known in advance, so that unnecessary access is not attempted from the terminal.

  The method of the third form forms a common logical space for a plurality of terminals connected to a network and the first device capable of individually communicating with each of these terminals, and from any one of the terminals When the status of the logical space changes according to the access status of the mobile phone, the status of the changed logical space is simultaneously broadcast to all terminals in real time. Common information can be visually provided by appearing, changing or deleting objects in the logical space.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to effectively use broadcasting and network resources, and the user can obtain desired information more efficiently than before.

Embodiments of an information providing system to which the present invention is applied will be described below.
The information providing system of this embodiment can provide information for many users. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of server stations 2 as an example of an information providing apparatus as a first apparatus. And a host station 3 which is an example of an information providing device which is a second device, are connected via a network, and each server station 2 and a terminal 1 operated by a user are connected via a network 4 Is done. From the host station 3, digital broadcasting is performed through the satellite BC.
As the networks 4 and 5, the Internet can be used. Even when communication with the server station 2 becomes difficult because a plurality of terminals 1 start communication at the same time, communication between the server station 2 and the host station 3 needs to be ensured. It is desirable that the networks 4 and 5 are not the Internet but are independent networks.
The server station 2, the host station 3, and the terminal 1 are each configured as follows.

<Server station>
The server station 2 transmits / receives individual information to / from the terminal 1 and requests the host station 3 to transmit common information that is common to all the terminals 1. Information is provided with the terminal 1 via a virtual reality space, which is an example of a logical space, as necessary.

The server station used as described above is realized by a computer having a central processing unit (CPU), a communication mechanism, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a storage device. The CPU configures a functional block and a data file for realizing processing operations to be described later executed by the server station 2 by reading and executing predetermined computer programs and data.
The computer program or the like is stored in a storage device readable by the CPU or distributed through a network. The communication mechanism is a known mechanism for transmitting / receiving information to / from the terminal 1 or the host station 3 via the networks 4 and 5. In particular, it includes a portion for transmitting / receiving information to / from the terminal 1 and a portion for transmitting / receiving information to / from the host station 3, and each portion independently transmits / receives information. The RAM temporarily stores data generated during various processes. In addition, information from the terminal 1 and the host station 3 sent via the communication mechanism is temporarily stored. The ROM records basic computer programs and data necessary for the operation of the server station 2. The storage device is a so-called hard disk device in which a magnetic storage medium is built, and stores an operating system, application programs, large-capacity data, and the like.

An example of a functional configuration formed by the CPU is shown in FIG. As illustrated, the server station 2 includes a communication control unit 210 and a main control unit 211, a user information storage unit D1, a history information storage unit D2, a component etc. storage unit D3, a global information storage unit D4, and an individual information storage unit. It has various data files of a part D5 and another site (site: server station or other Web server, the same shall apply hereinafter) information storage part D6.
The main control unit 211 includes a user management unit 212, a load analysis unit 213, a virtual reality space generation unit 214, a provision information management unit 215, and a site management unit 216, each as an execution format module that is activated during required processing. Yes.

  The communication control unit 210 transmits / receives information to / from the host station 3, the terminal 1, and other sites. When individual information is transmitted / received to / from the terminal 1, instruction information from the terminal 1 as a communication partner is received, and information serving as a response to the instruction information is received from the terminal 1 that has received the instruction. Reply to

  The user management unit 212 authenticates the user at the time of access based on the user's personal information and password stored in the user information storage unit D1, and sends an encryption key to the terminal 1 if necessary. It realizes the function that a server station in the conventional digital broadcasting has done. The load analysis unit 213 determines the current load of the local station based on the number of accesses from the terminal 1 to the local station, the past analysis result recorded in the history information storage unit D2, and the same type of processing content addressed to the terminal 1. Analyze (estimate) the situation.

  The virtual reality space generation unit 214 can be shared with each terminal 1 by a background image or object image expressed by components of the virtual reality space recorded in the component storage unit D3, for example, component data or material data. A virtual reality space is generated in a predetermined area such as an external storage device or auxiliary storage device that can be read by the CPU. The virtual reality space is a world space formed virtually, such as a normal Internet homepage or a network game using the Internet. The virtual reality space can provide common information to the user through the terminal 1.

  The provided information management unit 215 specifies individual information provided to the terminal 1 and global information provided via the host station 3 according to an instruction from the terminal 1. The global information is, for example, the load status indicating the congestion status of the own station, the congestion status of the network 4 to the own station, or the change status of the virtual reality space when an instruction from the terminal 1 is reflected in the virtual reality space. Usually, the information is stored in the global information storage unit D4. The individual information is information addressed to the individual user stored in the individual information storage unit D5. The individual information may be acquired from an external system every time it is distributed.

  The site management unit 216 manages information performed with other sites related to information provision. Specifically, the identification information of the other site and the information received from the site are stored in the other site information storage unit D6, and this is appropriately provided in response to a request from the terminal 1.

<Host station>
The host station 3 distributes contents and various information received from the server station 2 to each terminal 1 by digital broadcasting. The digital broadcasting is based on the satellite BC in the present embodiment, but may take other forms as long as it can send information to an unspecified number of terminals 1 at once, such as terrestrial or wired. Information to be distributed is provided from each server station 2 in real time.

  The host station 3 is a kind of computer having a CPU, a communication mechanism, a RAM, a ROM, and a digital broadcasting mechanism. The CPU forms a function for operating as the host station 3 by reading and executing computer programs and data stored in the ROM. The communication mechanism transmits / receives information to / from a plurality of server stations 2 and other sites via the network 5. The RAM temporarily stores data generated during various processes. The ROM records basic computer programs and data necessary for the operation of the host station 3. In addition to normal content, the digital broadcasting mechanism distributes information distributed to each terminal 1 as common information using the satellite BC.

  An example of the functional configuration of the host station 3 is shown in FIG. The host station 3 includes a site usage status storage unit D11, site information storage, in addition to an execution format module that is read at startup, such as the communication control unit 310, the broadcast control unit 311, the site management unit 312, and the provision information management unit 313 It has data files such as a part D12, a map information storage part D13, and a part etc. storage part D14.

The communication control unit 310 sends the information received from each server station 2 to the site management unit 312. If necessary, individual information is transmitted to and received from each server station 2, and the same information is simultaneously transmitted to each server station 2 at the same time.
The broadcast control unit 311 controls digital broadcasting performed via the satellite BC, that is, simultaneous transmission of the same information addressed to all the terminals 1.

  The site management unit 312 appropriately stores and manages the identification information of each server station 2 in the site information storage unit D12, monitors or analyzes the load information sent from each server station 2, and outputs the result for each server station. It is stored and managed in the site usage status storage unit D11. Normally, the load information is notified from each server station 2, but can be analyzed autonomously. The site management unit 312 also manages a reference value determined for each site. When the load on a certain server station 2 is equal to or higher than the reference value for the site, the server station 2 is in a congested state. The server station 2 is instructed to send necessary information to act on behalf of the information provided from the server station 2 to the terminal 1.

The provided information management unit 313 selects and integrates global information transmitted from each server station 2, prepares useful information to be provided to each user, and transmits this to the broadcast control unit 311. Useful information is, for example, information representing the load of each server station 2 and the load status of the network 4, and is provided by being mapped to predetermined map information stored in the map information storage unit D13. The map information includes a traffic jam map (RealTime traffic jam map) that visually represents the degree of congestion for each site that changes in real time. In addition, information on busy sites and popular sites is provided in a menu format.
Such useful information is common information for commonly reporting to each user, and is generated based on information sent from each server station 2. When providing useful information in the form of a virtual reality space, a virtual reality space is formed using a background image or an object image based on component data, material data, etc. stored in the component storage unit D14.

<Terminal>
As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal 1 includes a receiving device 101 that receives a digital broadcast distributed from the host station 3 and an information processing device 110. The information processing apparatus 110 individually transmits / receives information to / from the server station 2 via the network 4 and displays an image obtained from the information received by the receiving apparatus 101 and information from the server station on the display device. To display. An entertainment device or a home terminal can be used as the information processing device 110 as long as it has a communication mechanism with the Internet and an interface with the receiving device 101.

  The receiving device 101 includes an antenna ANT, a receiving unit 102 including a tuner for selecting a broadcast channel, and an interface unit 103 interposed between the receiving unit 102 and the information processing device 110.

The receiving unit 102 receives information on the channel set by the tuner by an external operation by the antenna ANT. The received information is decoded and sent to the interface unit 103. In the present embodiment, information distributed by air transmission using the antenna ANT is received. However, in the case of cable broadcasting such as CATV, information sent via an optical fiber or the like is captured instead of the antenna ANT. Also good.
The interface unit 103 includes an interface for sending information decoded by the receiving unit 102 to the information processing apparatus 110. As the interface, a high-speed interface such as USB (universal serial bus) or IEEE1394 is used. Such a high-speed interface is convenient for transmitting a large amount of information such as image information.

The information processing apparatus 110 is as follows.
The information processing apparatus 110 has a main bus B1 and a sub bus B2. These buses B1 and B2 are connected to or disconnected from each other via a bus interface INT. The main bus B1 includes a first vector processing unit (VPU (vector processing unit 0), hereinafter referred to as “first VPU”) 20 that is tightly coupled to the CPU core, and a second vector processing unit (VPU1, hereinafter referred to as “single”). “Second VPU”) 21, main CPU 10 composed of GIF (graphical synthesizer interface) 30 functioning as an arbitrator of the first VPU 20 and second VPU 21, main memory 11 composed of RAM, and main DMAC (direct memory access) A controller 12 and an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) decoder (MDEC) 13 are connected, and further, a drawing processing means (graphical synthesizer, hereinafter referred to as “GS”) 31 is connected via the GIF 30. The GS 31 is connected to a CRTC (CRT controller) 33 that generates a video output signal.

  When the information processing apparatus 110 is activated, the main CPU 10 reads the activation program from the ROM 17 on the sub-bus B2 via the bus interface INT and executes the activation program to operate the operating system. In addition, the media drive 60 is controlled, and application programs and data are read from the media 61 loaded in the media drive 60 and stored in the main memory 11. Furthermore, geometry processing is performed in cooperation with the first VPU 20 on various data read from the media, for example, three-dimensional object data (coordinate values of polygon vertices (representative points)) composed of a plurality of basic figures (polygons). I do.

The first VPU 20 has a plurality of arithmetic elements that calculate floating-point real numbers, and performs floating-point arithmetic in parallel by these arithmetic elements. That is, the main CPU 10 and the first VPU 20 perform arithmetic processing that requires fine operations in units of polygons in the geometry processing. Then, a display list is generated that contains the polygon definition information such as the vertex coordinate sequence and shading mode information obtained by this calculation process.
Similar to the first VPU 20, the second VPU 21 performs floating point calculations in parallel. An image that can be generated by the operation of the operation device 81 and the operation of the matrix, for example, can be generated by processing such as perspective transformation, parallel light source calculation, and two-dimensional curved surface generation for a simple object such as a building or a car. A display list is generated which contains simple two-dimensional polygon definition information.
The display list generated by the first VPU 20 and the second VPU 21 is transferred to the GS 31 via the GIF 30.

  The GIF 30 performs arbitration so as not to collide when the display lists generated by the first VPU 20 and the second VPU 21 are transferred to the GS 31. The GS 31 holds a drawing context, reads the corresponding drawing context based on the identification information of the image context included in the display list notified from the GIF 30, performs rendering processing using the drawing context, and stores the polygon in the frame memory 32. Draw. Since the frame memory 32 can also be used as a texture memory, a pixel image on the frame memory can be pasted on a polygon to be drawn as a texture.

  The main DMAC 12 performs DMA transfer control for each circuit connected to the main bus B1, and performs DMA transfer control for each circuit connected to the sub-bus B2 according to the state of the bus interface INT. . The MDEC 13 operates in parallel with the main CPU 10 and decompresses data compressed by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method or the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method.

The sub-bus B2 reads out the sound data stored in the sound memory 41, the sub-CPU 14 constituted by a microprocessor, the sub-memory 15 constituted by the RAM, the sub-DMAC 16 and the ROM 17 storing programs such as the operating system. An audio processing device (SPU (sound processing unit)) 40 for outputting as audio output, a communication control unit (ATM) 50 for transmitting / receiving information to / from the server station 2 via the network 4, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc. A media drive for loading media and an input unit 70 are connected.
The input unit 70 is an interface having the same standard as the interface unit 103 of the receiving apparatus 101, and information received by the receiving apparatus 101 is input.

Next, an example of an operation mode by the information providing system of this embodiment will be described.
(First operation mode)
First, an example in which congestion of the server station 2 and the network 4 that occurs when the terminal 1 accesses a single server station 2 at a time, such as electronic commerce and content distribution, will be described.
FIG. 5 shows an outline of the operation mode in this case. Here, among the plurality of terminals 1, the individual information to be provided to the terminal that has issued the information provision request is distributed to the server station 2 that can be individually communicated with the terminal 1, and to the host station 3. An example of presenting a situation when accessing the terminal 1 that is scheduled to be accessed by distributing common information representing the load situation of the server station 2 or the network 4 and sending common information before sending individual information is shown. ing.
The individual information includes order information at the time of electronic commerce, authentication information, and menu information for digital broadcasting. Examples of the information representing the load information include a real-time traffic jam map, a crowded site menu, a popular site menu, and the like. Of course, these pieces of information are examples.

FIG. 7 is an operation procedure diagram of the server station 2 and the host station 3 in this case.
The server station 2 counts the number of accesses every time there is an access from the terminal 1 (steps S101 and S102). The count number is handled as load information indicating the load status in the server station 2. The load information is sent to the host station 3 via the transmission / reception unit 202 (step S103).

The host station 3 receives the load information sent from the server station 2 (step S104), and compares it with the reference value of the load situation set in advance by the information analysis unit 311. When the number of accesses indicated by the load information is larger than the reference value, it is determined that the server station 2 is in a congestion state. When the number of accesses indicated by the load information is smaller than the reference value, the server station 2 determines that there is no congestion and proceeds to step S109 (step S105: No).
When the host station 3 is in a congested state, the host station 3 requests the relevant server station 2 for necessary information in order to provide the information to be supplied from the server station 2 to the terminal device 1 (Step S105: Yes, S106).
When there is a request for information provided on behalf of the host station 3, the server station 2 transmits the requested information and other necessary information to the host station 3 (step S107). Such information provided on behalf of the agency is, for example, the top page of an Internet homepage.

The host station 3 creates common information for broadcasting from the load information for each server station 2 acquired in this way and information for proxy provision (step S109). The created common information is simultaneously distributed to all the terminals 1 in real time (step S110). The user receives the common information broadcast from the host station 3 through the terminal 1 and displays it.
By adopting such an operation mode, it is possible to know the congestion status of each server station 2 before attempting to access the server station 2, and to give up access to the server station 2 in a congested state in advance. it can. Thereby, congestion is avoided and an efficient communication mode with less waste is realized. Since the information from the server station 2 is included in the common information distributed from the host station 3, the user can obtain desired information without accessing the server station 2.

(Second operation mode)
Next, an example in which information is provided to a user via a virtual reality space will be described. Here, an Internet game is assumed.
The information appearing in the virtual reality space includes behavior restriction information for restricting the operation of each object image in addition to information such as the position of the object image.
The virtual reality space may be one shared by the plurality of terminals 1 and the server station 2, but here, a partial space that forms one virtual reality space in association with each other is constructed here. And Thus, when constructing one virtual reality space as a whole, each virtual reality space is referred to as a “partial space”. As an example of the partial space, there is a game space composed of a plurality of stages that advance to another stage by clearing one stage. In this case, one stage is formed in each partial space, and one game space is constructed by relating these stages.
From the viewpoint of reducing processing and reducing the information flowing through the network, in this example, the terminal 1 and each server station 2 have basic part data, material data, etc. constituting a partial space in common. The virtual reality space is also calculated in parallel. The component data and material data of the terminal 1 are distributed by individual transmission / reception with the server station 2, distribution by broadcasting from the host station 3, or recording on a medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The It is assumed that part data, material data, and the like are also provided in the host station 3.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of processing according to this operation mode.
In the server station 2, the proximity interaction between the subspaces of users (excluding users who are only on the sidelines) who access the subspace managed by the local station in the subspace, component data, material data, etc. 3 is calculated based on the corresponding data sent from 3 and responds to the user. At the same time, the spatial status data as the calculation result is uplinked to the host station 3. “Calculation of proximity interaction” means calculating the positional relationship between the user and other object images and the situation change when a certain object image moves.
The host station 3 integrates the uplink of the partial space from each server station 2 and broadcasts it as data representing a common virtual reality space.

The terminal 1 calculates the virtual reality space using the component data and the material data in the same manner as the server station 2 based on the response from the server station 2 and the broadcast situation data. The proximity interaction with low latency calculates a response based on the response from the server station 2 and responds to the server station 2. The movement restriction between the partial spaces is calculated based on data broadcast from the host station 3 as a remote action. The user can look into the virtual reality space without accessing the server station 2 with only the broadcast data. In addition, movement between subspaces is smoothly restricted by calculating the status of the destination server station (partial space) and remote action based on the broadcast data, and avoids congestion due to unnecessary concentration. Will be able to.
The number of users who actually perform proximity interaction must be limited in the subspace, and it is more difficult to limit the inflow from remote at once than the calculation of proximity interaction. Thus, using broadcast data makes it easier.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of procedures performed by the terminal 1, the server station 2, and the host station 3 in the above operation mode.
First, a partial space is constructed (formed) in each of the plurality of server stations 2, and configuration information of each partial space and data representing the situation are transmitted to the host station 3 (steps S201 and S202). The host station 3 integrates the configuration information received from all the server stations 2 to generate integrated configuration information, and distributes the information to all the terminals 1 simultaneously (steps S203 and S204).
The terminal 1 extracts information on the server station 2 to be accessed from the received integrated configuration information. Based on this, a virtual reality space is constructed (formed) in the own device (steps S205 and S206). This virtual reality space has the same configuration as the partial space in the server station 2 to be accessed.
The user performs operations such as the appearance, movement, and disappearance of the object image within a range until it is restricted by the predetermined behavior restriction information with respect to the virtual reality space in the own device (step S207). Processing corresponding to this operation is executed in the terminal 1. The change in the situation of the virtual reality space formed in the terminal 1 due to the operation is sent to the server station 2 in real time as behavior data (step S208).

The server station 2 analyzes the behavior data sent from each terminal 1 and reflects the result in the contents of the virtual reality space. The fluctuations in the virtual reality space that occur in each terminal 1 follow the behavior restriction information. Therefore, even if this is reflected in the virtual reality space in the server station 2, there is no contradiction between the fluctuations.
In addition, an operation directly performed on the virtual reality space in the server station 2 from the terminal 1 is allowed, thereby changing the status of the virtual reality space in the server station 2 (step S209). , S210). Thus, the change in the situation of the virtual reality space in the server station 2 caused by the behavior data or by the direct operation is transmitted to the host station 3 in real time as the change information indicating the situation of the virtual reality space after the change. (Step S211).

  When receiving the variation information from each server station 2, the host station 3 integrates the variation information to create integrated variation information. The integrated variation information is distributed to all terminals 1 in real time. Further, it is also supplied to each server station 2 in real time (steps S212 and S213). The integrated variation information includes the variation information of the virtual reality space in each server station 2, the behavior restriction information that changes in accordance with the variation of the virtual reality space, the load status information of each server station 2, and the like. In addition, when a single virtual reality space is formed by a plurality of server stations 2, information on global fluctuation status generated by the fluctuation status of each partial virtual reality space may be included.

  The terminal 1 receives the integrated variation information and reflects it in the contents of the virtual reality space in the own device (steps S214 and S215). The server station 2 receives the integrated variation information and reflects this in the contents of the virtual reality space in the own station (steps S216 and S217).

As described above, in each terminal 1, by performing various operations by forming the same virtual reality space as the accessing virtual reality space in the server station 2, the operation of the terminal 1 originally performed in the server station 2 is performed. The processing load associated with the operation is reduced.
In addition, the load on the network 4 at the time of access can be reduced.
Further, since the status of the virtual reality space in the other server station 2 can be known from the integrated variation information from the host station 3, even when the terminal 1 accesses another virtual reality space, another virtual It becomes possible to build the same world as the real space situation. Further, the terminal 1 that has not accessed any of the server stations 2 receives the integrated configuration information and the integrated variation information on the status of the virtual reality space in each server station 2, thereby creating the virtual reality space in its own device. Can be formed and enjoyed.

In the above example, the server station 2 provides individual information to the terminal device 1 and information common to the plurality of terminal devices 1 is broadcast through the host station 3. By sending a part of the provision target information from one of the server station 2 and the host station 3 and the remaining part of the provision target information from the other of the server station 2 and the host station 3 to all the terminals 1 in a communicable state, respectively. The present invention can be applied to all forms in which provision target information is reproduced in real time by each terminal 1.

The block diagram of the information provision system of this invention. The functional block diagram of a server station. The functional block diagram of a host station. The hardware block diagram of a host station. The conceptual explanatory view of the 1st operation form. The conceptual explanatory view of the 2nd operation form. Explanatory drawing in the 1st operation form. Explanatory drawing in the 2nd operation form.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal 101 Reception apparatus 110 Information processing apparatus 2 Server station 210 Communication control part 211 Main control part 212 User management part 213 Load analysis part 214 Virtual reality space generation part 215 Provision information management part 216 Site management part 3 Host station 310 Communication control Section 311 Broadcast Control Section 312 Site Management Section 313 Provided Information Management Section 4, 5 Network

Claims (11)

An information providing system for sharing a virtual reality space with a plurality of terminals connected via communication means,
Changes in the virtual reality space caused by the operation of one of the terminals under a certain restriction information are detected by individual communication between the terminal and the server station, and thereby occur in the virtual reality space. the variation situation have a control means for providing a broadcast communication to all of the terminal from the host station the information for representing connected to the server station at each terminal unit,
The control means associates a plurality of partial spaces with each other, analyzes behavior data sent from one of the terminals and changes the result of the virtual reality space, or directly executes the data from the terminal. The state of the virtual reality space is changed by the operation to be generated, thereby generating the information to be subjected to simultaneous communication.
Information provision system. At least one of the plurality of terminals is
Data holding means for holding space configuration data for forming a partial space having the same configuration as the partial space to be operated by the own device;
Operation accepting means for accepting an operation by an operator under the restriction information;
Terminal-side communication means for changing the status of the partial space formed based on the stored space configuration data based on the contents of the operation and transmitting information representing the changed status to the control means in real time. ,
The information providing system according to claim 1 . The control means is configured such that an object image appearing in any of the partial spaces and a change of the object image within a range until limited by the restriction information with a terminal that forms the partial space. Sharing behavior data representing changing conditions and integrating the object image and the behavior data with those for all subspaces;
The information providing system according to claim 2 . The control means selectively permits access to any partial space for each terminal.
The information providing system according to claim 3 . An information providing system for sharing a virtual reality space with a plurality of terminals connected via communication means,
While detecting the fluctuation of the virtual reality space caused by the operation of one of the terminals under certain restriction information by individual communication with the terminal, the fluctuation situation caused in the virtual reality space is thereby detected. It has a control means for providing information to be expressed in each terminal device to all terminals by simultaneous communication,
The control means is capable of simultaneously transmitting information to a plurality of server stations that are each accessed by network communication, and to all the terminals that are connected to these server stations and are communicable with any one of the server stations. Including a host station,
The virtual reality space is shared between all the terminals and any one of the plurality of server stations, and information for expressing the fluctuation state is transmitted from the host station to all the terminals simultaneously. It is configured,
Information provision system. It has terminal side communication means for communicating with an information providing system having a virtual reality space that integrates a plurality of partial spaces accessible to all terminals including its own device, and the information providing system includes certain restriction information The variation of the virtual reality space originally caused by the operation of one of the terminals is detected by individual communication between the terminal and the server station, and the variation state generated in the virtual reality space is thereby detected by each terminal. It is configured to provide information for expressing in a device to all terminals from a host station connected to the server station by simultaneous communication,
It has data holding means for holding space configuration data for forming a partial space having the same configuration as the partial space to be operated by the own device,
Having an operation accepting means for accepting an operation by an operator under certain restriction information;
The state of the partial space formed based on the stored space configuration data is changed due to the operation, and the changed state of the partial space is transmitted to the server of the information providing system in real time. Terminal-side control means for changing the status of all subspaces accessible by the own device based on the information for expressing the status change received from the server of the information providing system due to ,
A terminal that supports virtual reality space. The data holding means holds an object image that appears in the partial space in a range until it is restricted by the restriction information,
The terminal-side control means transmits behavior data representing a situation that varies due to a change in the object image based on the operation received by the operation reception means to the server of the information providing system.
The terminal according to claim 6 . A method executed by an information providing system for sharing a virtual reality space with a plurality of terminals connected via communication means,
Detecting fluctuations in the virtual reality space caused by operation of any terminal under certain restriction information by individual communication with the terminal server station;
Reflecting the content detected by the individual communication in the virtual reality space, and all the information for expressing the fluctuation state of the virtual reality space generated thereby in each terminal unit from the host station connected to the server station possess and providing the simultaneous communication of the terminal,
At the stage of providing by simultaneous communication, a plurality of subspaces are associated with each other, behavior data sent from any terminal is analyzed, and the result is changed in the virtual reality space, or from the terminal The state of the virtual reality space is fluctuated by an operation performed directly, thereby generating the information to be subjected to simultaneous communication.
Information provision method. A computer program for operating a computer as an information providing system for sharing a virtual reality space with a plurality of terminals connected via communication means,
The computer,
Changes in the virtual reality space caused by the operation of one of the terminals under certain restriction information are detected by individual communication with the terminal server station, and fluctuations caused in the virtual reality space thereby Function as control means for providing information for expressing the situation in each terminal device from the host station connected to the server station to all the terminals by simultaneous communication , and
The control means associates a plurality of partial spaces with each other, analyzes behavior data sent from one of the terminals and changes the result of the virtual reality space, or directly executes the data from the terminal. The state of the virtual reality space is changed by the operation to be generated, thereby generating the information to be subjected to simultaneous communication.
Computer program. A computer program for operating a computer having a memory as a virtual reality space compatible terminal,
The computer,
A terminal-side communication means for communicating with an information providing system having a virtual reality space in which a plurality of partial spaces accessible to all terminals including its own device are integrated. The variation of the virtual reality space originally caused by the operation of one of the terminals is detected by individual communication between the terminal and the server station, and the variation state generated in the virtual reality space is thereby detected by each terminal. A terminal-side communication means configured to provide information for expression in a device to all terminals from a host station connected to the server station by simultaneous communication;
Data holding means for holding in the memory space configuration data for forming a partial space having the same configuration as the partial space to be operated by the own device;
Operation accepting means for accepting an operation by an operator;
The state of the partial space formed based on the space configuration data held in the memory is changed due to the operation, and the changed state of the partial space is transmitted to the server of the information providing system in real time. , Terminal-side control means for changing the status of all subspaces accessible by the own device, based on the information for expressing the status change received from the server of the information providing system due to this transmission, As a computer program. An information providing system comprising a host station and a server station connected to the host station, and constructing a virtual reality space by the host station and the server station,
The virtual reality space is shared by a plurality of terminals that can be connected to the information providing system via communication means,
Changes in the virtual reality space caused by the operation of one of the terminals under a certain restriction information are detected by individual communication between the terminal and the server station, and thereby occur in the virtual reality space. the variation situation have a control means for providing a broadcast communication to all of the terminal from the host station the information for representing connected to the server station at each terminal unit,
The control means associates a plurality of partial spaces with each other, analyzes behavior data sent from one of the terminals and changes the result of the virtual reality space, or directly executes the data from the terminal. The state of the virtual reality space is changed by the operation to be generated, thereby generating the information to be subjected to simultaneous communication.
Information provision system.

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