JP2007115117A - Content providing server and content viewing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain presence and to make conversations to be actively performed by making each of users mutually share an impression or the like received by each of the users. <P>SOLUTION: A content providing server to be disclosed is connected to a plurality of user terminals through a network in order to request desired content by operation of each user to view the content. The content providing server displays a virtual meeting room 31 in which respective characters 21 to 23 selected by each of the users in a display part of the plurality of the user terminals and also displays the desired content in content display areas 32a to 32c in the meeting room 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a content providing server that provides a plurality of users with contents such as moving images, still images, sounds, and documents, and a plurality of user terminals for accessing the content providing server and accessing the content providing server to view the contents. Is related to the content viewing system.

  Recently, along with the dramatic improvement of communication technology related to the Internet and other networks, content such as video, still images, and sound is transmitted from the content providing server to multiple user terminals via the network, apart from television broadcasting using radio waves. Is provided. For example, some conventional live streaming broadcasting apparatuses perform a live broadcast by synthesizing a plurality of camera video data to create composite video data and then outputting the composite video data to a network for viewing. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, this technique is referred to as a first conventional example.

  Recently, an avatar control system (server) for controlling an avatar to operate naturally in communication between a plurality of users using an avatar has been proposed. Here, an avatar is a communication tool such as a chat, and refers to a character that appears on the screen of a display unit that constitutes a user terminal as a substitute for a user who operates the user terminal. Some avatar control systems of this type include text information receiving means, avatar position information receiving means, action reaction range setting means, dialogue partner determining means, and text information transmitting means.

  The text information receiving means receives text information transmitted from one user. The avatar position information receiving means receives avatar position information transmitted from each of a plurality of users including one user. The action reaction range setting means sets the action reaction range for each avatar based on the avatar position information received by the avatar position information receiving means. The conversation partner determination unit determines another user who is a conversation partner of one user based on the motion response range of the avatar set by the motion response range setting unit. The text information transmitting means transmits the text information received by the text information receiving means to another user determined as a conversation partner by the conversation partner determination means (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Hereinafter, this technique is referred to as a second conventional example.

JP-A-2005-51703 (Claim 1, Claim 17, [0072] to [0182], FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-250859 (Claim 1, [0024] to [0067], FIG. 1)

  In the first conventional example described above, each user only views the live broadcast separately and independently, and cannot know how other users are viewing. For this reason, even though many users are viewing the same live broadcast, the impressions received by each user cannot be shared with each other, and a sense of reality cannot be obtained. In the second conventional example described above, it is possible to communicate on a topic that is common to each other. However, since it is necessary for each user to provide the topic exclusively, in some cases, there is a case where the conversation does not come off much. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a content providing server and a content viewing system that can solve the above-described problems.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a content providing server according to the invention described in claim 1 is connected via a network to a plurality of user terminals for requesting and viewing desired content by the operation of each user, The display unit of a plurality of user terminals displays a three-dimensional virtual space in which each avatar selected by each user is present, and displays the desired content in the three-dimensional virtual space. .

The invention according to claim 2 relates to the content providing server according to claim 1, and when the corresponding avatar performs a predetermined operation by the user's operation, the display unit of the corresponding user terminal The display of the desired content is started in a three-dimensional virtual space.
The invention according to claim 3 relates to the content providing server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information related to other content is included in a certain content, and the user terminal corresponding to the user When calling of the other content based on the information is instructed by an operation, the other content is displayed in the three-dimensional virtual space together with the certain content.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content viewing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, and a plurality of users for requesting and viewing desired content by the operation of each user. The terminal is connected via a network.

  According to the present invention, impressions received by users can be shared with each other, a sense of reality can be obtained, and conversation can be actively performed.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a content viewing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The content viewing system in this example is schematically configured from a network 1, a content providing server 2, and a plurality of user terminals 3.
The network 1 includes, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet. The network 1 is wired or wirelessly connected to the content providing server 2 and the plurality of user terminals 3 by, for example, a twisted pair cable, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, or the like.

  It is assumed that the content providing server 2 is installed, for example, at the center of an operating organization that operates this content viewing system. As shown in FIG. 2, the content providing server 2 is configured by an information processing apparatus such as a computer having a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, a communication control unit 14, a storage unit 15, and the like. Yes. The control unit 11 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and the like, and executes content provision processing and other processing based on various programs such as a content provision program stored in the storage unit 15. To control. That is, for example, when the content providing program is read from the storage unit 15, it is read by the control unit 11 and controls the operation of the control unit 11. When the content providing program is activated, the control unit 11 executes content providing processing under the control of the content providing program. The content providing process provides various types of content such as moving images, still images, sounds, and documents to the user terminal 3 that has accessed the content providing server 2, and each of a plurality of users who are simultaneously viewing the same content. This is a process for supporting a chat or the like via a character (avatar) as a substitute.

  The operation unit 12 includes a keyboard including character keys, enter keys, function keys, and the like, a pointing device such as a mouse, a touch pad, or a pen device. The display unit 13 includes a CRT display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescence (EL) display, or a plasma display panel (PDP). The communication control unit 14 includes a modem, a router, and the like, and is used when the control unit 11 performs data communication with the user terminal 3 via the network 1.

  The storage unit 15 is equipped with a semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, or a flash memory, an FD drive to which an FD (flexible disk) is mounted, an HD drive to which an HD (hard disk) is mounted, and an MO (magneto-optical) disk. MO disk drive or CD (compact disk) -ROM, CD-R (Recordable), CD-RW (Rewritable), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) -ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc. CD / DVD drive. Various contents are stored in the storage unit 15 in advance or sequentially updated, and the content providing program is installed (installed) in advance as one of application programs.

  The content includes a moving image file, a still image file, an audio file, a document file, and the like. The moving image file is distributed as streaming data. Furthermore, explanations are given to each still image file and each moving image file as necessary. In this specification, the term “image file” includes not only an image file composed only of image data but also an image file composed of image data and acoustic data corresponding to the image data. That is, the moving image file includes a moving image file composed of moving image data, sound data recorded at the time of shooting the moving image data, sound effect data and commentary sound data provided after shooting. On the other hand, even a still image file includes a still image file composed of still image data and sound effect data and commentary audio data added to the still image data. A document file includes not only a document file composed of only character data but also a document file composed of character data and image data. Further, in the case of live streaming in which either or both of a raw image and / or sound are encoded in real time and streamed as it is, although not shown, the content providing server 2 captures the raw image. A camera or a microphone for collecting live sound is directly connected, or an electric signal from either or both of the camera and the microphone is supplied via a cable or wireless. .

  The user terminal 3 shown in FIG. 1 is installed, for example, at each user's home, work place, Internet cafe, or other stopover. Like the content providing server 2, the user terminal 3 is configured by an information processing apparatus such as a computer having a control unit, an operation unit, a display unit, a communication control unit, and a storage unit. Processing to be executed and programs and data stored in the storage unit are different. That is, the control unit executes content viewing processing and other processes based on various programs such as a browser stored in the storage unit, and controls each unit of the user terminal 3. The content viewing process is a process performed for accessing the content providing server 2 so that a user who is a user of the user terminal 3 views various contents and enjoys chatting with other users via an avatar. is there.

  Next, the operation of the content viewing system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. As a premise, it is assumed that an operating organization that operates the content viewing system is “abc Inc. (ABC Inc.)”. In addition, each user has already registered as a member in order to use the content viewing service provided by the content viewing system. Furthermore, it is assumed that there are three users (two men and one woman) appearing in the following description, and the user IDs are “keiji”, “hiroshi”, and “marina”, respectively.

  Each user operates the operation unit of the user terminal 3 that is already in an operable state or is turned on by turning on the power supply, and instructs activation of the browser. After the browser is started, the user operates the operation unit, and the URL address “http://www.abc” of the homepage operated and managed by the operating organization “abc Inc. (ABC Inc.)” of the content viewing system is operated. ".jp /" is entered to instruct access to the content providing server 2.

  Accordingly, the control unit of the user terminal 3 accesses the content providing server 2 and starts executing the content viewing process. In this case, for example, the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 13 constituting the user terminal 3. Therefore, the user operates the operation unit of the user terminal 3 and inputs the user ID to log in. Each user can select one of seven types of characters as an avatar when logging in, as shown in FIG. In this case, the user with the user ID “keiji” selects the leftmost character 21 shown in FIG. 3, and the user with the user ID “hiroshi” selects the third character 22 from the right shown in FIG. It is assumed that the user with the ID “marina” has selected the third character 23 from the left shown in FIG.

  When the login is performed, for example, a display screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit constituting each user terminal 3. In the example of FIG. 4, in the virtual meeting room (three-dimensional virtual space) 31, the wall surface 32 is provided with three content display areas 32 a to 32 c. In addition, a long table 33 and five chairs 34 to 38 are installed in the approximate center of the room. The character 21 sits on the chair 36, the character 22 stands near the chairs 36 and 37, and the character 23 sits on the chair 34. Sit down. The corresponding user IDs “keiji”, “hiroshi”, and “marina” are shown in the vicinity of the characters 21 to 23, and these are used as common names of the self and the other party when speaking in the chat described later. The

  In the example of FIG. 4, each user views a maximum of three contents displayed in the three content display areas 32 a to 32 c at the same time. In FIG. 4, the characters 21 and 23 are sitting on the chairs 36 and 34, respectively, whereas the character 22 is not sitting on any of the other empty chairs 35, 37, and 38. The character 21 and the user and the character 23 and the user are viewing the maximum three contents displayed in the three content display areas 32a to 32c at the same time, but the character 22 and the user still have the above three contents. Indicates that you are not watching.

  It is recognized by the following process that each user operates a mouse constituting the operation unit to cause each corresponding character to sit on the chair. That is, when a user operates a mouse constituting the operation unit of the user terminal 3 used by the user and drags and drops the corresponding character on any chair, the control unit of the user terminal 3 Change the status code of the chair while seated. As a result, the control unit 11 of the content providing server recognizes that the character is sitting on the chair based on the status code changed while sitting.

  In FIG. 4, a status display area 41, a speech input area 42, a user ID display area 43, and command buttons 44 to 51 are provided below the virtual meeting room 31. In the status display area 41, the current status (in the example of FIG. 4, the user terminal 3 is connected to the content providing server 2), the content of each user's remarks, and the like are displayed. In the comment input area 42, a text box 42a and a command button 42b are provided. After each user inputs his / her comment content into the text box 42a, the user operates the command button 42b, and the content of the comment content. It is configured to be able to instruct transmission to the providing server 2.

  The user ID display area 43 displays the ID of the user (in this case, “keiji”). The command buttons 44 to 50 are used when each user expresses his / her feelings while viewing the content, or when he / she answers questions or quizzes that are given to the user visiting the meeting room 31. Operated. The command button 51 is for instructing logoff.

  Here, FIG. 5 shows an example of content displayed in the content display area 32a. The example of FIG. 5 shows a home page of “abc Inc. (ABC Inc.)” which is an operating organization. This home page is, for example, a Web page linked to the content displayed in the content display area 32b. That is, when the mouse cursor is moved to the link information of the content displayed in the content display area 32b and then double-clicked, the homepage of “abc Inc. (ABC Inc.)” is displayed in the content display area 32a. . Similarly, the linked web page of the content displayed in the content display area 32a is displayed in the other content display area 31a or 31c, and the linked web page of the content displayed in the content display area 32c is It is displayed in the other content display area 31a or 31b.

  Thus, the Web page linked to the content displayed in a certain content display area is displayed in the other content display area for the following reason. That is, when displaying content in a certain content display area, for example, (1) Introducing a Web site in the content, (2) Conducting a questionnaire on the content, etc. (3) Quiz We may ask for answers and solicit gifts and donations. In this case, (1) display the web page of the site in another content display area, (2) display the questionnaire input screen, (3) application items such as a quiz response input screen and gifts and donations The input screen is displayed.

  In addition, a plurality of content display areas are provided in the same window, and the Web page linked to the content displayed in a certain content display area is displayed in another content display area for the following reason. That is, when another window is opened, the other window can be freely closed by each user or moved to another link destination. For this reason, until now, a plurality of users who have been viewing the same content displayed in a specific content display area, the information such as the content displayed in another newly opened window is displayed by other users. There is a risk of seeing something different from information such as the content being viewed. Therefore, in order to avoid such inconvenience, all users can share information and perform promotions linked to content, a plurality of content display areas are provided in the same window, and a certain content display area is provided. The web page linked to the content displayed on the screen is displayed in another content display area.

  Further, each user not only expresses his / her feelings and the like by words by inputting his / her speech contents into the text box 42a of the speech input area 42 when chatting, for example, the user terminal 3 used by himself / herself. By operating the mouse that constitutes the operation unit, the corresponding character may be caused to jump or sleep on the screen to express his / her feelings and the like more directly. On the other hand, the control unit 11 of the content providing server causes the character to leave the meeting room 31 or forcibly sleep when there is a character that is not operated even after a predetermined time has elapsed among the plurality of characters 21 to 23. You may do it.

  Thus, according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, content distribution and avatar control can be performed in the same content viewing system, so that each user is a character (avatar) that is his or her own character. The same content can be simultaneously viewed in the virtual meeting room 31 where there is. Therefore, each user can get a sense of being in the same place. In addition, each user can know how other users are viewing by chatting via a character (avatar), and can share the impressions received by each other. In this case, since the chat or the like can be performed on the content that is just being viewed, the conversation or the like is actively performed. Furthermore, each user can express his / her feelings and the like more directly using not only words but also movements of characters. Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, each user can not only view the same content at the same time but also browse related websites, answer questionnaires and apply for quizzes, etc. A sense of reality and a live feeling can be obtained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In Embodiment 1 described above, an example in which only one virtual room is provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of virtual rooms may be provided. Examples of the virtual room include a room for reporting business, a room for processing accounting work, a room for presentation, and a room for brainstorming. In this case, a specific application program may be activated when a user character who should attend the room sits on a chair. Specific application programs include, for example, a word processor program that creates a business report, a spreadsheet program that creates an accounting slip, and a presentation program that creates presentation content. With this configuration, when multiple users working in the same place at a remote location meet in a virtual room to select a specific application program required for the meeting. This saves time and effort to start up.
Further, these specific application programs may be configured to be activated only when all the characters of the users who should attend the room sit on a chair. If comprised in this way, it will become possible to give the consciousness that each user terminal 3 must be processed at the time designated by each user.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, an example is shown in which a plurality of content display areas are provided in the same window, and a Web page linked to a content displayed in a certain content display area is displayed in another content display area. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a window (hereinafter referred to as “first window”) in which a virtual room where each character (avatar) is viewing the same content is displayed, and a window (hereinafter referred to as “first” in which the same content is displayed). May be different from each other. If comprised in this way, each user can view the content displayed on the larger display area. In this case, it is configured such that each user cannot freely close the second window or move to another link destination. Moreover, the display method of the content displayed in the second window may be varied depending on the position where each character (avatar) sits. If comprised in this way, each user can obtain a more realistic feeling.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In Embodiment 1 mentioned above, although each user terminal 3 showed the example in which all are not provided with a web camera, a microphone, and a sound reproduction part, it is not limited to this, A web camera, A microphone and a sound reproduction unit may be provided. In this case, each user can give sound data and image data to the corresponding character. Specifically, each user operates the mouse that constitutes the operation unit of the user terminal 3 used by the user, moves the mouse cursor to a character to which acoustic data or image data is assigned, and then double-clicks. . As a result, the image data captured by the Web camera corresponding to the character is displayed in the specific content display area, and the sound of the user corresponding to the character is output from the sound reproduction unit.

  With this configuration, in a chat using only characters, it becomes possible to recognize a user corresponding to each character that is difficult to imagine in a form that is closer to reality, and each user can obtain a more realistic feeling. . Also, for example, when a user gathers in a virtual room for the first time at a group meeting or the like, each user introduces himself / herself using acoustic data and image data of about several tens of seconds to select the corresponding character. Can be imaged. Therefore, after this self-introduction, even a chat using only letters increases the sense of presence.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
In each of the above-described embodiments, examples have been shown in which the present invention is used for content appreciation and virtual meetings by business processing, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to shopping in a virtual store, for example. In this case, not only a customer character but also a clerk character may appear. With this configuration, it is visually displayed how many customers are currently visiting the virtual store and what products the customer is browsing. In addition, customers can talk with each other and between the customer and the store clerk, which helps to purchase products.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
In each of the above-described embodiments, examples have been shown in which the present invention is used for content appreciation and virtual meetings by business processing, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to so-called e-learning, for example. In this case, each user who is a student can give his / her profile to the corresponding character. Items constituting this profile include, for example, the year of employment, the department to which the employee belongs, the academic background, the qualifications possessed, the attendance history, the level in the attendance course, and the like.

  Specific processing is as follows, for example. First, each user operates the mouse that constitutes the operation unit of the user terminal 3 used by the user, moves the mouse cursor to the character selected at the time of login, and then right-clicks to apply for membership registration or e-learning. Set whether or not to allow disclosure of your profile provided at any time.

  If the instructor wants to grasp the student's profile, he or she moves the mouse cursor to the character corresponding to the student and then double-clicks it. As a result, when the character is set to allow profile disclosure, the student's profile pops up on the same window. In this way, the instructor can refer to his / her profile when grouping students according to their level, etc., grasping students' understanding, or asking questions. it can.

The embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the scope of the invention. Are also included in the present invention.
For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, after a character sits on a chair, moving the mouse cursor to the surface of the content display area and double-clicking starts display of the corresponding content in the content display area. Although an example in which content can be viewed has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this. The trigger for viewing the content may be anything. For example, the character's face may be directed to the content display area, the character's hand may be raised, or the character may be jumped.
In the first embodiment described above, an example in which a Web page linked to a content displayed in a certain content display area is displayed in another content display area is not limited to this. A thumbnail image may be displayed in the display area, and when the thumbnail image is double-clicked, a normal size image corresponding to the thumbnail image may be displayed in another content display area.
In addition, each of the above-described embodiments can divert each other's technology as long as there is no particular contradiction or problem in its purpose and configuration.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content viewing-and-listening system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content provision server which comprises the content viewing-and-listening system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed on the display part which comprises a user terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed on the display part which comprises a user terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the display displayed on a content display area.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 2 Content provision server 3 User terminal 11 Control part 12 Operation part 13 Display part 14 Communication control part 15 Memory | storage part 21-23 Character 31 Meeting room 32 Wall surface 32a-32c Content display area 33 Long table 34-38 Chair 41 Display of state etc. Area 42 Message input area 42a Text box 42b, 44 to 51 Command button 43 User ID display area

Claims (4)

Connected via a network to multiple user terminals for requesting and viewing desired content by each user's operation,
The display unit of the plurality of user terminals displays a three-dimensional virtual space in which each avatar selected by each user exists and displays the desired content in the three-dimensional virtual space. Content providing server. When the corresponding avatar performs a predetermined operation by the user's operation, the display unit of the corresponding user terminal is caused to start displaying the desired content in the three-dimensional virtual space. Item 1. A content providing server according to item 1. When information related to other content is included in a certain content, and when calling of the other content based on the information is instructed by an operation of the user terminal corresponding to the user, the other content The content providing server according to claim 1, wherein the content is displayed together with the certain content in the three-dimensional virtual space. The content providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A content viewing system, characterized in that a plurality of user terminals for requesting and viewing desired content by the operation of each user are connected via a network.