JP2009020583A - Information processing system and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow free communication between users without being limited by the provider of an online game or its game server. <P>SOLUTION: A information processing system and method include: information terminals 41a to 41c connected to a communication network 3; a process recording part 412 installed in the information terminal 41 for recording the history of a process whose processing is executed on an operating system 416; an information collection server 1 installed on the communication network 3, and equipped with an application table data 11a for storing the attributes of a process and the classifications of an application which executes the process by associating them with each other; and an application specification part 101 for acquiring the history of the process from the process recording part 412 at the information collection server 1 side, and for collating the application table data 11a based on the acquired process history, and for specifying the application executed on the information terminal 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method capable of collecting information on the usage status of applications such as online game software used by each user and communicating between users using the application.

In recent years, in online games, good friends can collaborate in the same online game to achieve one purpose and exchange messages for enjoyment. On the other hand, with the spread of online games, users are increasingly playing while switching between multiple online games.

In this online game, there is a service in which a plurality of users can participate in one game, and a call using characters or voice, that is, chatting is possible between users (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-223893 A

  However, since the chat data transmission / reception is performed via the chat server of the online game service provider, the chat can only be performed between users belonging to the same service provider or the game server group. Therefore, the chat service on the conventional online game is limited to users who play a common online game.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems, and is not limited to online game providers or game servers in providing community services such as chat among online game users. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system and an information processing method capable of enabling communication between free users.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention executes application software on an operating system in an information terminal connected to a communication network, records a history of processes executed on the operating system, and performs communication. In the information collection server installed on the network, the process attributes and the types of applications that execute the processes are associated with each other and stored in table data. On the information collection server side, the process history is recorded from the process recording means. Based on the acquired process history, application table data is collated to identify an application being executed on the information terminal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to specify application software such as an online game being executed by the user on the information collection server side based on the history of processes executed in the information terminal on the user side. Various services can be provided by using the information of the identified application.

  In the above invention, in the application table data, folder information relating to a storage location of predetermined data set for each application is stored and held in association with each application, and the folder information is referred to according to the specified application. It is preferable to further include a data acquisition step of acquiring predetermined data from the storage location of the referenced data.

  In this case, the storage location of data unique to the application being executed on the user side, for example, image data obtained by photographing an online game scene, is stored and retained on the information collection server side. Data generated as the application is executed can be collected and managed on the information collection server side without the user being aware of it.

  In the above invention, through the user interface executed on the information terminal, in response to a user operation of the information terminal, the input of message data including at least one of a character string, sound, or image is received, and the information collection server side The message data input through the user interface is acquired, and the message data acquired in the message acquisition step is preferably disclosed on the identified application and the communication network.

  In this case, application software such as online games being executed by the user and messages such as characters and voices entered by the user can be made public on the communication network, and communication such as chat can be conducted through the topic of the application software. Can be formed.

  In the above invention, in the application table data, folder information relating to a storage location of predetermined data set for each application is stored and held in association with each application, and the folder information is referred to according to the specified application. Then, predetermined data is acquired from the storage location of the referenced data, and at least one of a character string, sound, or image is obtained according to a user operation of the information terminal through a user interface executed on the information terminal. In response to the input of the message data including the message data, the information collection server side acquires the message data input through the user interface, and the acquired message data is disclosed to the application, the predetermined data, and the communication network. It may further include a public step.

  In this case, application software such as online games being executed by the user and messages such as characters and voices entered by the user can be made public on the communication network, and communication such as chat can be conducted through the topic of the application software. Can be formed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily know which game a user's friend or other user is executing. That is, the user can know which game the user's friend or other user is running without playing an online game similar to the online game that his friend is running. It is possible to eliminate obstacles when enjoying online games.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing system in an online game will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. The “module” used in the description refers to a functional unit that is configured by hardware such as an apparatus or a device, software having the function, or a combination thereof, and achieves a predetermined operation. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, information terminals 41 a to 41 c connected to a communication network 3 such as the Internet, game servers 21 to 23 that provide online game services through the communication network 3, online authentication in addition to user authentication and chat services, An information collection server 1 that collects and distributes information on games is configured.

  The communication network 3 is a distributed type constructed by connecting various communication lines (public lines such as telephone lines, ISDN lines, and ADSL lines, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks) using the communication protocol TCP / IP. This is an IP network. This IP network includes LANs such as intranets (intra-company networks) and home networks based on 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX.

  The game servers 21 to 23 execute a program such as an online game and transmit information such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) file, an image file, and a music file in a document system such as the WWW (World Wide Web). It is a computer or software having its function, stores information such as HTML documents and images, and transmits such information through the communication network 3 in response to a request from client software such as a Web browser.

  The information terminals 41a to 41c are arithmetic processing devices having communication functions used by the users 4a to 4c, respectively. The information terminals 41a to 41c can be realized by general-purpose computers such as personal computers or dedicated devices specialized in functions. It can be realized by a computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a mobile phone or the like.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the information terminals 41 a to 41 c execute an OS 416 on the CPU 401, and start up browser software and the like in addition to the online game application 414 and the chat application 415 on the OS 416. Can be executed.

  The information terminals 41 a to 41 c are connected to a communication I / F 410 that transmits and receives data to and from the communication network 3 and an operation device keyboard 407 a for inputting an operation signal based on a user operation and a mouse 407 b. An I / F 405 and an output I / F 404 to which a display device such as a display 406 is connected are provided. Further, the information terminals 41a to 41c are provided with a storage device such as a hard disk or a memory device, and a process history 402 and an image folder 403 are recorded and held in the storage device.

  On the OS 416, a process recording unit 412 is executed, and processes processed on the OS 416 and when each application software is executed are recorded. Here, the process means a processing unit of a program that executes processing upon receiving an allocation of a memory area or the like from the OS, and includes a processing unit such as a task or a thread according to the type of OS or the type of application software. .

  The occurrence of this process is monitored by the process recording unit 412 and is recorded in the storage device as a process history 402 together with the process name (program name), time, occupied memory amount, etc. periodically or every time an event occurs. The recorded process history is extracted by the process extraction unit 408 periodically or in response to a request from the information collection server 1 and transmitted to the information collection server 1 through the communication I / F 410.

  On the OS 416, a screen shot imaging unit 413 is configured. The screen shot imaging unit 413 is configured by an application such as screen shot shooting software, for example, and captures a screen displayed on the display 406 in response to a user operation, and is a screen that is a hard copy (image data) of the display screen. A shot is taken and automatically stored in the image folder 403. The stored data is transmitted through the data acquisition unit 409 to the screen shot acquisition unit 102 on the information collection server 1 side.

  The information collection server 1 includes a database 11, stores and manages personal information and authentication information of each user, sends and receives messages between users, and provides a Web page unique to each user through a Web server function (my page). Page) to form a so-called social network and provide a community between users.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the information collection server 1 includes an authentication unit 104, an application identification unit 101, a screen shot acquisition unit 102, a message acquisition unit 103, a Web data disclosure unit 107, a communication I / F105, and data necessary for each information processing is stored in the database 11.

  The database stores application table data 11a in which information about application software is stored, and a user database 11b in which user personal information / authentication information is stored.

  The application table data 11a is table data that stores and holds the attribute of the process executed on the user side and the type of application that executes the process, and is set for each application in the present embodiment. Information (such as a local address on the information terminal) related to a folder storing predetermined data (such as image data obtained by photographing an online game scene) is stored and held in association with each application.

  The authentication unit 104 is a computer that verifies the legitimacy of an accessor or software having the function thereof. For example, the authentication unit 104 acquires authentication information (a combination of a user name and a password) stored from the user database 11b, Check whether the accessor has the right and whether the accessor is the person himself / herself. By confirming the accessor by such authentication processing, it is possible to identify the user and provide different services for each user, such as a user-specific Web page and message transmission / reception.

The Web data generation unit 106 is a module that generates a unique Web page as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 for the user authenticated by the authentication unit 104, and is executed on the server side such as CGI or ASP. HTML data is generated by the program to be transmitted, transmitted to the browser software on the user side through the Web data disclosure unit 107, and displayed. Further, the Web data generation unit 106 associates the message data acquired by the message acquisition unit 103 with the application specified by the application specification unit 101 and the screenshot image acquired by the screen shot data acquisition unit 102, thereby generating Web data. It has a function to be disclosed to the public unit 107.
The Web data generation unit 106 crawls on the Internet 3, collects and classifies information distributed and arranged on the Internet 3, and relates to an online game executed by the user specified by the application specifying unit 101. The web data publishing unit 107 can present the aggregated articles on a web page in association with the online game being executed by the user.

  The application specifying unit 101 acquires the process history 402 recorded by the process recording unit 412 through the communication I / F 105, collates the application table data 11a based on the acquired process history, and stores the information on the information terminals 41a to 41c. This module identifies the application running on

  The screen shot acquisition unit 102 refers to the folder information in the application table data 11a according to the application specified by the application specifying unit 101, and stores the referenced data (image folders in the user side information terminals 41a to 41c). 403) is a module for acquiring predetermined data (here, a screen shot image obtained by hard copying an online game screen).

  The message acquisition unit 103 acquires message data input in response to a user operation on the information terminals 41a to 41c side, associates the message with an application identified as being executed on the user side, and displays it on a Web page. It is a module to be released.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the Web page according to the present embodiment includes a profile field 505 that displays a user's profile and an avatar image, and a game display field 506 that displays an online game specified by the application specifying unit 101. , A user list 504 that displays a list of users who are friends with the user, a screen shot display unit 503 that publishes recently taken screen shots, a message unit 501 that displays the user's recent messages, It is composed of history columns 502a to 502d which are tag pages for displaying the history.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the history column 502a is a list (“tweet list”) in which the user's own messages on the page are displayed in chronological order, and the history column 502b is the name of the online game in which the user has participated. The history column 502c is a list (“friend list”) that displays messages input by friends along with user names in chronological order (“friend list”) that is displayed in chronological order. Also in the history column 502c, along with the friend's “tweet” (message), the title of the online game in which the friend participates (or participated at the time when the message was uploaded) is displayed. The records in these lists are linked to each detail page and can be selected by clicking. Ri, it is possible to drill down display.

  The history column 502d is an image list in which the screenshot images acquired by the above-described screenshot acquisition unit 102 are displayed as thumbnails. Clicking an arbitrary thumbnail displays the screenshot in another window 507 that pops up. It can be enlarged.

(Information processing method)
The information processing method of the present invention can be implemented by operating the information processing system having the above configuration. 8 to 11 are flowcharts showing the operation of the information processing system according to this embodiment.

(1) Disclosure of playing game FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for releasing a playing game.

  As shown in the figure, in step S101, the process recording unit 412 (client) resident in the user terminals 41a to 41c monitors and records the process occurrence, and automatically records the recorded process history 402 as a server. Notify On the other hand, in steps S102 and S103, the user posts short message data to the information collection server 1 through the chat application 415 (client) or the Web page 5 through browser software (“tweet function”).

  The information collection server 1 publishes the message data through the web data publishing unit 107 on each user's chat application 415 (client) or web page. The user can check the information of the registered friends collectively on My Page, and can send and receive messages for a specific user from the chat application 415 or My Page ("whisper function") ).

(2) Invite friends You can invite friends to the community using this system. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a friend is invited.

  First, in step S201 or S202, when the user inputs an instruction “invite a friend” to the server from the client or the Web, the instruction is transmitted to the information collection server 1 (S203).

  In response to this instruction, the information collection server 1 issues an admission password to the invited user (4c in this case), temporarily registers it in the database 11, and sends an invitation email to the invited user. (With membership password) is transmitted (S204). The user who has received this invitation email accesses the login page on the web by viewing the invitation email, and downloads client software (including the chat application 415, the process recording unit 412, and the online game application 414) to his computer. And register as a member using the received membership password (S205).

(3) Friend registration In addition, friends can be registered ("friend registration"). FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a friend is registered as a friend.

  First, the user 4a inputs an instruction to “register a friend user as a friend” on the client or the Web (S301 or S302), and this instruction is transmitted to the information collection server 1 (S303).

  The information collection server 1 displays “friend registration request ant” on the client of the friend user (4b in this case) or on the Web My Page (S304). The friend user 4b sees this display and permits friend registration on the client or on the Web My Page (S305). In response to this consent, the fact that the users 4a and 4b are in a friend relationship is registered in the user database 11b, and thereafter, the friend user is displayed as “friend” on his / her own page.

(4) Screen Shot Function Furthermore, as described above, the screen shot can be released together with the message and online game specification. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when a screen shot is disclosed.

  The user takes a screen shot of the game being played using the client function (screen shot imaging unit 413) (S401). The captured screen shot is automatically stored in the image folder 403 set for each application and uploaded to the information collection server 1 periodically or in response to a request from the screen shot 102 on the information collection server 1 side. And stored (S402).

  The saved screen shot is displayed on the client of the user registered as a friend, My Page, etc. together with the application specified by the application specifying unit 101 and the user message (“tweet”) acquired by the message acquiring unit 103. (S403).

(Action / Effect)
According to this embodiment, application software such as an online game that is being executed by the user on the information collection server 1 side based on the process history 402 accumulated in the information terminals 41a to 41c on the user side. Various services can be provided by using the information of the identified application. For example, it is possible to collect information about user preferences beyond the online game service provider, and to use the information for marketing. As a result, for example, since the service provider can grasp which online game the user is currently executing, the history of the online game executed by the user when providing game information and advertisement to the user. Based on the information, only information and advertisements relevant to the user can be provided to the user. Thereby, an advertisement suitable for the user's taste can be presented, and the advertising effect can be improved. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, based on each user's online game execution log | history, it can be statisticalized and analyzed, and this can be provided to the company which needs the tendency information of an online game. That is, according to the present invention, even companies other than the game maker can obtain statistical information on how many online games are currently being executed, and based on this information, other companies Can see what online games are popular and what games they can make to sell.

  In addition, since information can be collected beyond the service provider, it is possible to measure the distribution of online game usage according to the communication capability and conditions of the network. For example, to collect the correlation between the communication environment and usage frequency, such as the game to be used when the network is normal and the game that the user moves to when a specific server or communication line is interrupted. Can do.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the “tweet” function can publish messages such as characters and voices input by the user in association with application software such as online games being executed by the user on the communication network. Through software topics, communication such as chat can be formed. As a result, the user can easily know which game the user's friend or other user is running, and can solve the obstacles when enjoying a plurality of online games.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the information collecting server 1 automatically or based on a user operation is used to acquire data unique to the online game being executed on the user side, for example, image data obtained by shooting a game scene, by the screen shot function. Can be uploaded to. At this time, since the storage location of the screen shot data is stored and held on the information collection server 1 side, uploading can be easily performed without the user being aware of the storage location of the data.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the information terminal which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the information collection server which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of the web page (my page) which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of the web page (my page) which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of the web page (my page) which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of the web page (my page) which concerns on embodiment. In embodiment, it is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence in the case of releasing the game in play. In embodiment, it is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence in the case of inviting a friend. In embodiment, it is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence in the case of registering a friend as a friend. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence in the case of releasing the screenshot which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information collection server 3 ... Communication network 4a-4c ... User 5 ... Web page 11 ... Database 11a ... Application table data 11b ... User database 21-23 ... Game server 41a-41c ... Information terminal 101 ... Application specific | specification part 102 ... Screen Shot acquisition unit 103 ... Message acquisition unit 104 ... Authentication unit 106 ... Web data generation unit 107 ... Web data disclosure unit 401 ... CPU
402 ... Process history 403 ... Image folder 406 ... Display 407a ... Operation device keyboard 407b ... Mouse 408 ... Process extraction unit 409 ... Data acquisition unit 412 ... Process recording unit 413 ... Screen shot imaging unit 414 ... Online game application 415 ... Chat application 416 ... Operating system 501 ... Message part 502a to 502d ... History field 503 ... Screen shot display part 504 ... User list 505 ... Profile field 506 ... Game display field 507 ... Another window

Claims (8)

An information terminal connected to the communication network and executing application software on an operating system;
A process recording unit that is provided in the information terminal and records a history of processes executed on the operating system;
An information collection server that is installed on a communication network and includes application table data that associates and stores process attributes and types of applications that execute the processes;
An application that acquires the history of the process from the process recording unit on the information collection server side, collates the application table data based on the acquired process history, and identifies an application being executed on the information terminal Specific means,
An information processing system comprising: In the application table data, folder information related to the storage location of predetermined data set for each application is stored and held in association with each application,
The data acquisition means for acquiring the predetermined data from the storage location of the referenced data by referring to the folder information according to the application specified by the application specifying means. The information processing system described. A user interface that is executed on the information terminal and receives message data including at least one of a character string, sound, and an image in response to a user operation of the information terminal;
On the information collection server side, message acquisition means for acquiring message data input through the user interface;
The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: an application identified by the application identifying unit; and a message publishing unit that publishes the message data acquired by the message acquiring unit on the communication network. In the application table data, folder information related to the storage location of predetermined data set for each application is stored and held in association with each application,
A data acquisition unit that refers to the folder information according to the application specified by the application specifying unit and acquires the predetermined data from the storage location of the referenced data; the information terminal that is executed on the information terminal; A user interface that receives input of message data including at least one of a character string, sound, and image in response to a user operation;
On the information collection server side, message acquisition means for acquiring message data input through the user interface;
The message data acquired by the message acquisition unit includes an application specified by the application specifying unit, the predetermined data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and a message disclosure unit that is disclosed on the communication network. The information processing system according to claim 1. In the information terminal connected to the communication network, a process recording step of executing application software on an operating system and recording a history of processes executed on the operating system;

In the information collection server installed on the communication network, the attribute of the process and the type of application that executes the process are associated and stored in table data. An application specifying step of acquiring the history of the process, collating the application table data based on the acquired process history, and specifying an application being executed on the information terminal;
An information processing method characterized by comprising: In the application table data, folder information related to the storage location of predetermined data set for each application is stored and held in association with each application,
6. The data acquisition step of referring to the folder information according to the application specified in the application specifying step and acquiring the predetermined data from a storage location of the referenced data. The information processing method described. Through the user interface executed on the information terminal, in response to a user operation of the information terminal, receiving message data including at least one of a character string, sound, or image, A message acquisition step of acquiring message data input through the user interface;
The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising: an application specified in the application specifying step and a message publishing step for publishing the message data acquired in the message acquiring step on the communication network. In the application table data, folder information related to the storage location of predetermined data set for each application is stored and held in association with each application,
According to the application specified in the application specifying step, referring to the folder information, a data acquisition step of acquiring the predetermined data from the referenced data storage location;
Through the user interface executed on the information terminal, in response to a user operation of the information terminal, receiving message data including at least one of a character string, sound, or image, A message acquisition step of acquiring message data input through the user interface;
The message data acquired in the message acquisition step further includes the application specified in the application specification step, the predetermined data acquired in the data acquisition step, and a message release step of releasing on the communication network. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein: