JP6105876B2 - Content providing system, client device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content providing system, a client device, a control method, and a program, and more particularly to a content service provided via a network.

  Client devices such as personal computers (PCs) that can be connected to a network have become widespread. With the spread of such devices, the network population on the Internet is increasing. In recent years, various services using the Internet have been developed for network users, and entertainment services such as games are also provided.

  Services for network users include so-called online game services such as MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). For example, the user can enjoy the content provision of such an online game service by starting a browsing application on the client device and connecting to the service providing server.

  Some online game services require advertisement display for content provision. There are various modes in the advertisement display method, but all are based on the condition that the advertisement is forcibly displayed. Patent Document 1 discloses a service providing method in which provision is temporarily interrupted during provision of interactive content and content provision is resumed after forcibly displaying an advertisement.

Special table 2010-509873

  However, in general, the advertisement display has a lot of information unrelated to the provided content, and has been bothersome for the content user. In particular, the advertisement content does not reflect the gender or taste of the user at all, and in some cases, an advertisement that causes discomfort to the user may be displayed. In addition, when displaying the advertisement after temporarily stopping the use of the game content as in Patent Document 1, the interruption of the use of the content due to irrelevant information may reduce the interest of the content use user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in a content service provided via a network, a content providing system, a client device, a control method, and a content providing system for displaying a suitable advertisement with a high degree of user freedom. The purpose is to provide a program.

In order to achieve the above object, the content providing system of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.
A content providing system for providing content accompanied by an advertisement display to a client device, and displaying the content on a display unit according to an operation input made on the client device among a plurality of advertisements displayed in a list on the display unit of the client device. A selection means for selecting an advertisement, a reproduction means for reproducing the advertisement selected by the selection means, and displaying on the display means; and after the display of the selected advertisement by the reproduction means is completed, the selected advertisement is preset. available time of the content was, a control means for displaying on the display unit screen according to content and, the plurality of advertisements, Ri Do different time to be available content by reproducing, multiple ad The amount of time that the content can be used by playing a pre-determined advertisement that is related to the content is multiple And wherein the shorter than the time made available to content by reproducing the predetermined advertisements unless have relevance to the content of the tell.

  With this configuration, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform a suitable advertisement display with a high degree of user freedom in a content service provided via a network.

The figure which showed the system configuration | structure of the game system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which showed the function structure of the game server 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which showed the function structure of the client apparatus 200 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which illustrated the content utilization process performed in the client apparatus 200 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Example of a screen displayed when content is used in the client device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, one embodiment described below is a game system including a client device used by a user as an example of a content providing system and a game server that provides game content to the client device via a network. Next, an example to which the present invention is applied will be described. However, the present invention can be applied to any system capable of providing a content service between a plurality of devices via a network.

《Game system configuration》
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the game server 100 and the client device 200 are connected to each other via a network 300 so that they can communicate with each other. Specifically, a browsing application (hereinafter referred to as a browser) is started in the client device 200 and the game server 100 is accessed, whereby the game server 100 and the client device 200 are connected.

  In the present embodiment, the client device 200 can receive content related to the game content service provided by the game server 100 by connecting to the game server 100. The game content related to the game content service can be used by the user by executing the corresponding processing in the client device 200 using necessary data received from the game server 100 by the function of the browser activated on the client device 200. You may be in a state. In addition, the game content is made available to the user by executing the corresponding processing in the game server 100 and providing the screen displayed in the browser obtained as a result of the processing in a streaming distribution format. Also good. In the following description, it is assumed that the game content is made available to the user by being executed on the client device 200. However, when executed on the game server 100, the main body that performs each operation is changed as appropriate. By doing so, it can be easily imagined that it can be realized as well.

<Configuration of game server 100>
Here, the functional configuration of the game server 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The server CPU 101 controls the operation of each block that the game server 100 has. Specifically, the server CPU 101 controls the operation of each block by reading out the operation program for each block stored in the server ROM 102 and developing it in the server RAM 103 for execution.

  The server ROM 102 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, for example, and stores parameters necessary for the operation of each block in addition to the operation program for each block of the game server 100. The server RAM 103 is a volatile memory, and is used not only as a development area for the operation program of each block but also as a storage area for storing intermediate data output in the operation of each block.

  The content recording unit 104 stores data (content data) related to game content provided by the game server 100 of the present embodiment. The content data includes various data such as a game program and graphic data that are necessary for executing the processing corresponding to the game content. In this embodiment, the content data stored in the content recording unit 104 is transmitted to the client device 200 via the server communication unit 106 described later when the client device 200 connected via the network 300 uses the service. The

  The advertisement information recording unit 105 stores information (advertisement information) related to advertisements displayed during execution of the game content provided by the game server 100 of the present embodiment. The advertisement information may be, for example, image data or moving image data itself corresponding to an advertisement, or information specifying advertisement data held in an external server.

  In the game content provided by the game server 100 of the present embodiment, the time that the user can use the game content (usable time) is set on the condition that an advertisement is displayed. The initial value of the available time is 0, and the user can increase the available time by selecting and displaying an advertisement to be displayed at the start of service use. The increase amount of available time is set for each selectable advertisement, and the user can select an advertisement after understanding the increase amount by notification. Note that the increase amount may be set in consideration of, for example, the relevance to the game content to be used and the fashion. The available time decreases according to the game content execution time. When the available time reaches 0, the game content is paused, and the user can increase the available time by displaying the advertisement again, and can resume the paused game content.

  The server communication unit 106 is a communication interface that the game server 100 has. The server communication unit 106 can exchange data with the client device 200 via the network 300 according to a predetermined protocol.

<Configuration of Client Device 200>
Next, the functional configuration of the client device 200 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The CPU 201 controls the operation of each block included in the client device 200. Specifically, the CPU 201 controls the operation of each block by reading out the operation program of each block recorded in the ROM 202 or the recording medium 204 and developing it in the RAM 203 and executing it.

  The ROM 202 is, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and stores an operation program for each block of the client device 200, parameters necessary for the operation of each block, and the like. The RAM 203 is a volatile memory, and is used not only as a development area for the operation program of each block, but also as a storage area for storing intermediate data output in the operation of each block. In the client device 200 of the present embodiment, content data necessary for executing processing corresponding to the game content provided by the game server 100 is received via the communication unit 206 described later, and then stored in the RAM 203.

  The recording medium 204 is a recording device that is detachably attached to the client device 200 such as an HDD. In the present embodiment, the recording medium 204 stores at least a program related to the browser. When using a game content service provided by the game server 100, the user activates a browser and connects to the game server 100.

  The operation input unit 205 is a user interface included in the client device 200 such as a game pad, a mouse, or a keyboard. The operation input unit 205 analyzes the operation input made by the user to the corresponding device, and transmits a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the CPU 201.

  The communication unit 206 is a communication interface that the client device 200 has. The communication unit 206 can perform data transmission / reception with the game server 100 via the network 300 according to a predetermined protocol.

  The display unit 207 is a display device connected to the client device 200. The display unit 207 displays screen data generated by a GPU (not shown). In the present embodiment, the display unit 207 displays screen data related to game content executed in the browser.

《Content usage processing》
With regard to the content use processing of the client device 200 of this embodiment having such a configuration, specific processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The processing corresponding to the flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 reading a game program related to the game content provided by the game server 100 that can be executed, for example, on the browser, developing the program on the RAM 203, and using the browser function. can do. Note that this content use processing is described as being started when a game content to be used is selected by connecting to the game server 100 in a browser activated in the client device 200, for example.

  In step S <b> 401, the CPU 201 accepts selection of an acquisition method for the available time of game content to be provided. The available time of the game content provided by the game server 100 of the present embodiment can be acquired by displaying an advertisement or charging. In the following description, it is assumed that the user can acquire an available time equivalent to the case where one advertisement is displayed by billing. However, content usage by billing is not limited to this, and unlimited usage up to a predetermined sequence of content may be permitted. If the CPU 201 determines that the available time acquisition method selected by the user is advertisement display, the CPU 201 moves the process to S402, and if it determines that it is billing, moves the process to S404.

  In step S402, the CPU 201 displays a list of selectable advertisements on the display unit 207, and accepts selection of advertisements to be reproduced. The selectable advertisement information is read from the advertisement information recording unit 105 by the server CPU 101 and included in the advertisement information provided to the client device 200 via the server communication unit 106, for example. The CPU 201 refers to the advertisement information stored in the RAM 203, causes the GPU (not shown) to generate a list of selectable advertisements, and displays the list on the display unit 207.

  Note that the available time that can be acquired by displaying an advertisement in the game content service of the present embodiment varies depending on the selected advertisement. The information on the available time that can be acquired is only required to be included in the advertisement information in association with each advertisement. For example, as shown in FIG. Time 502 is assumed to be displayed. At this time, for example, advertisements related to similar game contents and advertisements for game information sites, etc., have a short usable time (for example, 10 minutes), and are advertised by service providers and intentionally advertised by game providers. For advertisements related to game content, the available time that can be acquired may be set long (for example, 25 minutes) or the like. In the game content service of the present embodiment, by allowing the user to select a desired advertisement in this way, it is possible to display an advertisement that respects the user's intention, and therefore it is difficult to cut off the user's interest.

  When the CPU 201 detects from the control signal from the operation input unit 205 that the user has selected an advertisement to be reproduced, the CPU 201 moves the process to S403 and reproduces the corresponding advertisement. After the reproduction of the advertisement is completed, the CPU 201 moves the process to S405.

  On the other hand, if acquisition of available time by billing is selected in S401, the CPU 201 performs normal billing processing in S404, and moves the processing to S405 without displaying an advertisement.

  In step S <b> 405, the CPU 201 increases the information on the available time stored in the RAM 203, for example. At the start of use of the content, the value of the available time is 0, and the CPU 201 increases the value of the available time by the time corresponding to the advertisement or billing selected in S402. Note that the available time information may be clearly indicated to the user even while the game content is being used, as indicated by reference numeral 503 in FIG. The available time decreases according to the usage time of the game content to be provided.

  In step S <b> 406, the CPU 201 executes normal game processing related to the game content and performs screen display related to the game content.

  In S407, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the available time has reached 0, that is, whether or not the continuous execution time of the game process has reached the increased available time increased in S405. If the CPU 201 determines that the available time has reached 0, the process proceeds to S408. If the CPU 201 determines that the available time has not reached 0, the process proceeds to S406.

  In step S408, the CPU 201 temporarily stops the game progress in the game process started in step S406.

  In step S409, the CPU 201 accepts selection of a method for acquiring available time of game content to be provided in the same manner as in step S401.

  If the CPU 201 determines that the selected method for obtaining available time is advertisement display, the CPU 201 completes the process of selecting an advertisement in S410, reproducing the advertisement in S411, and increasing the available time in S413. Then, the game process is resumed from the paused game progress state. If the CPU 201 determines that the selected method for obtaining the available time is billing, after completing the billing process in S412 and the process for increasing the available time in S413, the process returns to S406 and pauses. The game processing is resumed from the progressed game progress. If the game progress that has been paused is a situation where a user operation cannot be performed after restarting the game, such as during an operation input, the progress may be returned to the sequence in which the process requiring the operation input starts. To resume.

  In the game content service of this embodiment, advertisement display can be performed according to the user's intention. For this reason, if an increase in available time is not requested by the user in S409 and there is a termination instruction, the CPU 201 may complete the content usage process.

  As described above, the content use processing according to the present embodiment enables the content use user to use the content without displaying the advertisement for a predetermined time by displaying the desired advertisement or charging. Moreover, in the advertisement display, since the advertisement can be selected according to either the content content or the content available time, it is possible to avoid a situation where the user's interest is cut by forcibly displaying an irrelevant advertisement. Can do. Furthermore, when the content usage is paused and a further available time is acquired, the content usage can be terminated without displaying an advertisement. In other words, even for users who are bothered about displaying an advertisement, it is possible to use game content that does not display an advertisement for a predetermined time by only displaying the advertisement at least once at the start.

  As described above, the content providing system of the present embodiment can perform suitable advertisement display with a high degree of user freedom in a content service provided via a network. Specifically, the content providing system selects an advertisement to be displayed on the client device in response to an operation input made on the client device among the plurality of advertisements displayed in a list. Then, after the display of the selected advertisement on the client device is completed, a screen related to the content is displayed for the time available for the content set in advance for the selected advertisement.

Claims (8)

A content providing system for providing content accompanied by an advertisement display to a client device,
A selection unit that selects an advertisement to be displayed on the display unit in response to an operation input made on the client device among a plurality of advertisements displayed in a list on the display unit of the client device;
Playback means for playing back the advertisement selected by the selection means and displaying it on the display means;
Control means for displaying a screen related to the content on the display means for the time available for the content set in advance for the selected advertisement after the display of the selected advertisement by the playback means is completed; Have
Wherein the plurality of ads, Ri Do different time to be available the content by reproducing,
The time during which the content can be used by playing an advertisement that is predetermined to have relevance with the content of the plurality of advertisements does not have relevance with the content of the plurality of advertisements. A content providing system characterized by being shorter than a time during which the content can be used by playing a predetermined advertisement .   The selection unit displays the plurality of advertisements in a list on the display unit after the display of the screen related to the content for the available time is completed, and accepts an operation input related to selection of the advertisement to be displayed again. The content providing system according to claim 1. The control means includes
When the display of the screen related to the content for the available time is completed, the progress of the content is paused,
The display of the screen related to the content is resumed from the progress of the paused content when an operation input related to the selection of the advertisement to be displayed is received again. Content provision system.   When the control means receives the operation input related to the selection of the advertisement to be displayed by the selection means again, the control means relates to the content when an instruction to finish providing the content without displaying the advertisement is given. 4. The content providing system according to claim 3, wherein the display of the screen relating to the content is terminated without restarting the display of the screen. A billing unit for setting the available time without displaying the advertisement by billing;
When the available time is set by the billing means,
The selection means does not display a list of the plurality of advertisements,
Wherein, available time period set by said charging means, content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that displaying a screen according to the content on the display unit . A client device that receives content accompanied by advertisement display from a content providing server,
A selection means for selecting an advertisement to be displayed on the display means from among a plurality of advertisements displayed in a list on the display means in response to the operation input made;
Playback means for playing back the advertisement selected by the selection means and displaying it on the display means;
Control means for displaying a screen related to the content on the display means for the time available for the content set in advance for the selected advertisement after the display of the selected advertisement by the playback means is completed; Have
Wherein the plurality of ads, Ri Do different time to be available the content by reproducing,
The time during which the content can be used by playing an advertisement that is predetermined to have relevance with the content of the plurality of advertisements does not have relevance with the content of the plurality of advertisements. A client device characterized by being shorter than a time during which the content can be used by reproducing a predetermined advertisement . A method for controlling a client device that receives content with advertisement display from a content providing server,
A selection step of selecting an advertisement to be displayed on the display means among a plurality of advertisements displayed on the display means in response to the operation input made by the selection means of the client device;
A reproduction step in which the reproduction unit of the client device reproduces the advertisement selected in the selection step and displays the advertisement on the display unit;
After the display of the selected advertisement in the reproduction means is completed, the control unit of the client device displays the screen related to the content for the time available for the content set in advance for the selected advertisement. A control step for displaying on the means,
Wherein the plurality of ads, Ri Do different time to be available the content by reproducing,
The time during which the content can be used by playing an advertisement that is predetermined to have relevance with the content of the plurality of advertisements does not have relevance with the content of the plurality of advertisements. A method of controlling a client device, characterized by being shorter than a time during which the content can be used by playing a predetermined advertisement . The program for functioning the computer of a content provision system as each means other than the display means of the content provision system of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5 .

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