JP2015080552A - Communication system, information processing device, control method of communication system, and program of information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance interest of a user participation type game.SOLUTION: A communication system comprises: an information processing device which executes a game program and transmits suggestion information inviting a user to give an instruction concerning game progress by an electronic mail or voice communication; and a communication terminal which receives the suggestion information, presents the suggestion information to the user, and transmits the instruction input by the user to the information processing device. Thus, the communication system can enhance interest of a user participation type game.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, an information processing apparatus, a communication system control method, and an information processing apparatus program including an information processing apparatus that executes a game program and a communication terminal that performs data communication between the information processing apparatus.

  Communication techniques for performing data communication between various devices via a public communication network such as the Internet have become widespread. For example, information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and so-called tablet computers, and information processing apparatuses and mobile phones with a mail function exchange electronic mails and voice calls via a public communication network.

  In addition, a technique for executing a user-participation-type game program using such a communication technique is provided (for example, Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3). In an example of such a technique, a game program is executed by the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus transmits an e-mail to the user's mobile phone as the game progresses. Further, according to the progress of the game, the user calls a provider of audio information related to the progress of the game and acquires desired information.

"Steins; Gate" 5pb, [searched September 20, 2013], Internet <URL: http: //5pb.jp/games/smapho/app_steinsgate.html> “ITunes Preview” Apple Inc. [Search September 20, 2013], Internet <https://itunes.apple.com/app/steins-gate/id454136236> "THE IDOLM @ STER" NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., [Search September 20, 2013], Internet <http://www.idolmaster.jp/imas/archive/mobile/mail.htm>

  The present inventors have intensively studied to arrive at the present invention in order to further enhance the interest of the user participation type game using the communication technology as described above. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system or the like that can further enhance the interest of a user participation type game.

  One aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is that a game program is executed, suggestion information prompting the user to give instructions regarding the progress of the game according to the progress of the game, either or both of e-mail and voice call. A communication system comprising: an information processing device that transmits in a form; and a communication terminal that receives the suggestion information, presents the suggestion information to the user, and transmits the instruction input by the user to the information processing device. is there.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing unit that executes a game program and outputs suggestion information that prompts a user to give an instruction regarding the progress of the game in accordance with the progress of the game; And a communication unit that transmits the instruction to the user's communication terminal, receives the instruction from the communication terminal, and inputs the instruction to the information processing unit.

  The present invention can be realized as a method, a program, and a storage medium recording the program substantially corresponding to the above aspects, and it should be understood that these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Note that each step of the method or program uses an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU or a DSP as necessary in data processing, and the input data, processed / generated data, etc. are stored in an HDD, memory, etc. Is stored in the storage device.

  For example, according to still another aspect of the present invention, an information processing device executes a game program, and suggests suggestion information in the form of an e-mail or a voice call that prompts a user for an instruction regarding the progress of the game according to the progress of the game A communication system comprising: a step of transmitting; and the communication terminal receives the suggestion information, presents the suggestion information to the user, and transmits the instruction input by the user to the information processing apparatus. This is a control method.

  Still another aspect of the present invention includes a step of progressing a game, a step of transmitting suggestion information prompting the user to give an instruction regarding the progress of the game to the communication terminal of the user in the form of an e-mail or a voice call, and the communication terminal Receiving the instruction from the information processing apparatus.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the user participation type game.

It is a block diagram of the communication system with which the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the aspect in which a user participates in progress of a game. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the communication system in this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the detailed example of a procedure of the suggestion information transmission method call by an information processing part. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the communication system in this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the detailed example of a procedure of the suggestion information transmission method call by an information processing part. It is a table | surface which shows the example of the method of the communication part which an information processing part calls.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system to which the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is applied. The communication system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10 and a communication terminal 18. The communication system 1 further includes a public communication network 11, a mail server 12, a telephone server 13, and a base station 14. The information processing apparatus 10, the mail server 12, the telephone server 13, and the base station 14 are connected to the public communication network 11 by wire or wireless, and perform data communication with each other via the public communication network 11. Each of the information processing apparatus 10, the mail server 12, and the telephone server 13 is a personal computer, for example. The public communication network 11 is, for example, the Internet. The communication terminal 18 includes a wireless communication function, a display function for various information, an input function for receiving user input, an e-mail transmission / reception function, and / or a voice call function, and includes a control circuit for each function, such as a smartphone. Mobile phone. The communication terminal 18 and the base station 14 perform wireless communication with each other.

  The information processing apparatus 10 transmits e-mail and voice call data packets to the base station 14 via the public communication network 11 via the mail server 12 and the telephone server 13. The mail server 12 manages the destination host name and IP address and controls the delivery of electronic mail. The mail server 12 includes an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server, a POP (Post Office Protocol) server, and the like. The telephone server 13 manages the telephone number and IP address of the destination of the call in association with each other, and performs priority control of voice calls, bandwidth guarantee for ensuring voice quality, and the like. The base station 14 wirelessly transmits an email or voice call to the communication terminal 18. Further, the base station 14 wirelessly receives an e-mail or a voice call from the communication terminal 18 and transmits a data packet of the e-mail or the voice call to the information processing apparatus 10 via the mail server 12 or the telephone server 13. In this way, the information processing apparatus 10 and the communication terminal 18 transmit and receive electronic mails and voice calls.

  The information processing apparatus 10 includes an information processing unit 100 and a communication unit 102. Communication unit 102 further includes a storage unit 104. The information processing unit 100 and the communication unit 102 each store a program that defines functions corresponding thereto, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the information processing apparatus 10 that executes each program, and a program and data for executing the program Consists of devices. The information processing apparatus 10 includes an input device 106 and a display device 108. The input device 106 includes a keyboard that accepts input from the user 19, a touch panel, peripheral devices including a mouse and a stylus pen, and the like. The display device 108 is, for example, a liquid crystal display that displays image information generated or processed by the information processing unit 100.

  The information processing unit 100 executes the game program and advances the game according to the input of the user 19. The information processing unit 100 causes the display device 108 to display an image corresponding to the progress of the game. Further, the information processing unit 100 instructs the communication unit 102 to communicate with the communication terminal 18 as the game progresses. In response to the command from the information processing unit 100, the communication unit 102 transmits suggestion information to the communication terminal 18 by e-mail or voice call. The suggestion information is information that prompts the user 19 to input an instruction regarding the progress of the game. In addition, the communication unit 102 receives an instruction regarding the progress of the game by the user from the communication terminal 18 by e-mail or voice call. The communication unit 102 temporarily stores the received electronic mail in the storage unit 104. The communication unit 102 includes, for example, a mail application and a call application. The storage unit 104 is a database that temporarily stores log data and the like that can be accessed by the communication unit 102 at any time.

  When receiving the suggestion information, the communication terminal 18 presents the suggestion information to the user 19. For example, the communication terminal 18 displays or outputs the suggestion information. When the suggestion information is transmitted as an electronic mail, the communication terminal 18 displays the suggestion information. Instead, or in addition to this, when the suggestion information is transmitted as a voice call, the communication terminal 18 outputs the suggestion information by voice. When the user 19 inputs an instruction for the game in response to the suggestion information, the communication terminal 18 transmits the input instruction to the information processing apparatus 10. The instruction is input by key input or voice input using a touch panel or a push button.

  With the configuration as described above, the user 19 can receive the suggestion information through the communication terminal 18 or input an instruction according to the suggestion information, and can interactively follow the progress of the game performed by the information processing apparatus 10. Can participate.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mode in which the user participates in the progress of the game in the present embodiment. 2A shows a display example 20 on the display device 108 of the information processing apparatus 10 and presentation examples 22 and 26 on the communication terminal 18.

  Display example 20 is a scene in progress of the game. For example, in the case of an adventure game, an example of a scene in which the character 24 appearing in the game selects any of the items A to C is shown. Here, the items A to C are weapons used by the character 24 in the progress of the game. In this scene, the character 24 transmits an e-mail or makes a call to the user 19 with his / her mobile phone 21. At this time, suggestion information for prompting selection of the items A to C is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 10 to the communication terminal 18 by e-mail or voice call. Then, the communication terminal 18 displays a display 24 of “Which weapon should I get?” Or output a voice 26 “Which weapon should I get?” To do.

  In response to the suggestion information, the user 19 returns an instruction for designating any one of “A”, “B”, and “C” corresponding to the items A to C through the communication terminal 18. For example, when the suggestion information is transmitted by e-mail, the user 19 creates and returns an e-mail specifying any one of “A”, “B”, and “C” by the communication terminal 18. In addition, the location (URL) of the site of the game server device for returning an instruction to the suggestion information is attached, and the user 19 accesses the site via the communication terminal 18, and "A", "B" , “C” may be selected. Or you may embed the script for a user to select any item AC and to reply automatically in an email. When the suggestion information is transmitted by voice call, a tone signal by a key (touch panel or push button) indicating any one of “A”, “B”, and “C” may be returned.

  In the information processing apparatus 10, when the communication unit 102 receives an instruction, the information processing unit 100 executes a game program according to the instruction and displays the result on the display device 108. For example, when the item A is selected, a scene in which the character 24 obtains the item A is displayed as in the display example 20 ′ in FIG. 2B, and the game is continued.

  Note that this is only an example, and various scene settings and options are possible depending on the type of game. For example, in an adventure game, the character consults on the course such as “Which way to choose A, B, or C”, or “A: bold here, B: cautious but aggressive, C: modest, Suggestion information for consulting a strategy such as “which policy should be used” may be transmitted from the information processing apparatus 10 to the communication terminal 18. In the case of a love game or the like, it may be suggestion information for consulting selection such as “which type A, B, or C is a favorite type”. In such various variations, the number and contents of options (not only selection from equivalent options but also approval or non-approval selection) can be arbitrarily set. Then, by inputting the instruction selected by the user 19 to the communication terminal 18, the instruction is transmitted from the communication terminal 18 to the information processing apparatus 10. In response to the instruction, the information processing unit 102 advances the game, and a scene corresponding to the progress is displayed on the display device 108.

  Returning to FIG. 1, in the modification of the present embodiment, a fixed telephone 17 may be used instead of or in addition to the voice call function of the communication terminal 18. The telephone 17 is connected to the telephone network 16. The telephone network 16 is connected to the public communication network 11 via the exchange 15. Thereby, the suggestion information from the information processing apparatus 10 is transmitted as a packet of IP data through the public communication network 11, converted into a voice signal by the exchange 15, and sent to the telephone set 17 through the telephone network 16. The user 19 listens to the suggestion information on the telephone 17 and can input an instruction using an input unit such as a push button of the telephone 17 or the communication terminal 18. The input instruction is transmitted through the telephone network 16 and converted into an IP data packet by the exchange 15 and sent to the information processing apparatus 10 as a data packet.

  In FIG. 1, the information processing unit 100 has been described as the operation of the CPU in the stand-alone information processing apparatus 10, but the information processing unit 100 is connected to the information processing apparatus 10 via the public communication network 11. Or an operation based on cooperation between the server apparatus and the information processing apparatus 10. In that case, the information processing apparatus 10 and the server apparatus correspond to the “information processing apparatus” in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the communication system in the present embodiment. This sequence diagram shows an operation sequence of the information processing unit 100, the communication unit 102, the mail server 12, and the communication terminal 18 when the suggestion information is transmitted by electronic mail.

  The information processing unit 100 executes the game program (S302) and calls the suggestion information transmission method of the communication unit 102 according to the progress of the game (S304). Then, the communication unit 102 creates an e-mail transmission command indicating suggestion information (S306), and transmits an e-mail transmission command to the mail server 12 (S308). In response to the e-mail transmission command, the mail server 12 transmits an e-mail including suggestion information to the communication terminal 18 (S310).

  The communication terminal 18 displays and outputs the suggestion information (S312), receives an instruction from the user 19 (S314), and transmits an instruction to the information processing apparatus 10 to the mail server 12 (S316). Then, in response to the mail reception command (S317) from the communication unit 102, the mail server 12 transmits the received instruction to the communication unit 102 (S318). When receiving the e-mail including the instruction, the communication unit 102 temporarily stores the e-mail in the storage unit 104 (S320). Then, for example, in response to a request from the information processing unit 100, the communication unit 102 reads an instruction included in the stored electronic mail from the storage unit 104 (S322), and inputs the instruction to the information processing unit 100 (S324). . Then, the information processing unit 100 executes the game program according to the instruction (S326).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure example of the suggestion information transmission method call by the information processing unit 100 in step S304 of FIG. The procedure of FIG. 4 corresponds to the procedure for calling a method for mail transmission.

  The information processing unit 100 acquires a host name and an IP address corresponding to the e-mail destination, and connects to the communication unit 102 (S402). The host name and IP address are acquired from the mail server 12 by the communication unit 102 and given to the information processing unit 100.

  The information processing unit 100 sends the number of characters of the source address and destination address to the communication unit 102 (S404), and sends the source address and destination address (S406). Then, the information processing unit 100 confirms with the communication unit 102 whether or not retransmission of data is necessary (S408). The information processing unit 100 performs steps S404 to S408 until the communication unit 102 confirms that the number of characters of the destination address sent in step S404 matches the number of characters of the destination address sent in step S406 (No in S410). If the match is confirmed (Yes in S410), the process proceeds to step S412.

  Next, the information processing unit 100 sends the number of characters of the mail title to the communication unit 102 (S412) and sends the mail title (S414). Then, the information processing unit 100 confirms with the communication unit 102 whether or not retransmission of data is necessary (S416). The information processing unit 100 performs steps S412 to S416 until the communication unit 102 confirms that the number of characters of the mail title sent in step S412 matches the number of characters of the mail title sent in step S416 (No in S418). If the match is confirmed (Yes in S418), the process proceeds to step S420.

  Next, the information processing unit 100 sends the number of characters in the body of the email to the communication unit 102 (S420) and sends the body of the email (S422). Then, the information processing unit 100 confirms with the communication unit 102 whether or not retransmission of data is necessary (S424). The information processing unit 100 executes steps S420 to S424 until the communication unit 102 confirms that the number of characters in the text sent in step S420 matches the number of characters in the text sent in step S422 (No in S426). If a match is confirmed (Yes in S426), the process proceeds to step S428.

  Next, the information processing unit 100 disconnects the connection with the communication unit 102 (S428), releases resources (S430), and returns to the processing of the game program (S432).

  When the suggestion information transmission method is called by the procedure of FIG. 4, the communication unit 102 executes step S306 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the communication system in the present embodiment. This sequence diagram shows an operation sequence of the information processing unit 100, the communication unit 102, the mail server 12, and the communication terminal 18 when the suggestion information is transmitted by voice call.

  The information processing unit 100 executes the game program (S502), and calls the suggestion information transmission method of the communication unit 102 according to the progress of the game (S504). Then, the communication unit 102 creates a call command for a voice call indicating suggestion information (S506), and transmits the call command to the telephone server 13 (S508). In response to the call command indicating the suggestion information, the telephone server 13 transmits the suggestion information voice call to the communication terminal 18 (S510).

  The communication terminal 18 outputs the suggestion information by voice (S512), receives an instruction input from the user 19 (S514), and transmits an instruction to the information processing apparatus 10 to the telephone server 13 (S516). Then, the telephone server 13 relays the instruction and transmits it to the communication unit 102 (S518). The communication unit 102 relays the instruction and inputs the instruction to the information processing unit 100 (S524). Then, the information processing unit 100 executes the game program according to the instruction (S526).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure example of calling the suggestion information transmission method by the information processing unit 100 in step S504 of FIG. The procedure of FIG. 6 corresponds to the procedure for calling a method for voice call.

  The information processing unit 100 acquires the host name and IP address corresponding to the destination of the voice call and connects to the communication unit 102 (S602). The host name and IP address are acquired from the telephone server 13 by the communication unit 102 and given to the information processing unit 100.

  The information processing unit 100 sends the number of characters of the call command to the communication unit 102 (S604) and sends the call command (S606). Then, the information processing unit 100 confirms with the communication unit 102 whether or not retransmission of data is necessary (S608). The information processing unit 100 performs steps S604 to S608 until the communication unit 102 confirms that the number of characters of the call command sent in step S604 matches the number of characters of the call command sent in step S606 (No in S610). If a match is confirmed repeatedly (Yes in S610), the process proceeds to step S612.

  The information processing unit 100 disconnects the connection with the communication unit 102 (S612), releases resources (S614), and returns to the processing of the game program (S616).

  Whether the suggestion information is transmitted by e-mail or by voice call may be appropriately set by the user 19. For example, the user 19 can set the information processing apparatus 10 in advance before or after the game starts. Alternatively, for each game scene, the user 19 may select and set either e-mail or voice call.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the method of the communication unit 102 called by the information processing unit 100. In the table of FIG. 7, the method name and the processing content are shown in association with each other.

  For example, the SendMail method is a method that is called when an e-mail is transmitted from the game. The SendMail method is called in step S304 in FIG. 3, and the detailed procedure is the method shown in FIG.

  The SendMailWithFile method is a method that is called when an email with an attached file is transmitted from the game. By using this method, an email attached with the voice data of the suggestion information may be transmitted from the information processing apparatus 10 to the communication terminal 18, and the communication terminal 18 may reproduce the voice of the suggestion information.

  Furthermore, the ReceiveMail method is a method that is called when an e-mail is received at an arbitrary timing during the game. Further, the ReadMail method is a method that is called when the latest mail at a predetermined address is read from the storage unit 104 in the communication unit 102. For example, the information processing unit 100 may call the ReadMail method in order to cause the communication unit 102 to execute step S322 of FIG.

  Further, the Mecab method is a method that morphologically analyzes the mail body and returns whether the body is positive, negative, or unknown for a specified verb.

  The Phone method is a method that is called when an operation on a telephone (call transmission, incoming call monitoring, voice file replacement, etc.) is performed. The Phone method is called in step S504 in FIG. 5, and the detailed procedure is the method shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the user 19 selects one of the options shown in the suggestion information, and an example in which an instruction including the selected content is transmitted by e-mail or transmitted via the site is shown. As another example, the information processing unit 100 may be configured to perform a semantic analysis of a character string, so that an instruction may be received by a free text electronic mail. Further, the information processing apparatus 10 may be configured to receive an instruction by a voice call from the user 19 by configuring the information processing unit 100 to perform voice recognition.

  According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide the user with a sense that the user 19 participates in a game executed by the information processing apparatus 10 using the communication terminal 18 and talks with a character in the game. Therefore, the interest of the user participatory game can be enhanced.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, the communication terminal 18 that the user 19 already has, that is, an information processing apparatus such as another personal computer different from the information processing apparatus 10, a communication apparatus such as another mobile phone or a smartphone, A communication terminal that transmits and receives e-mails and voice calls can be used, and a communication system that enhances the interest of a user-participation type game can be configured without requiring a special additional configuration.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and a plurality of means, steps, etc. can be combined or divided into one. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing apparatus 11 Public communication network 12 Mail server 13 Telephone server 14 Base station 18 Communication terminal 100 Information processing part 102 Communication part

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus that executes a game program and transmits suggestion information that prompts the user to give instructions regarding the progress of the game in the form of an e-mail or a voice call;
A communication terminal that receives the suggestion information, presents the suggestion information to the user, and transmits the instruction input by the user to the information processing device;
A communication system comprising: In claim 1,
The game includes a scene in which a character asks the user for the instruction.
Communications system. In claim 1 or 2,
The communication terminal communicates with another communication terminal or other communication device different from the information processing device in the form of either or both of e-mail and voice call,
Communications system. An information processing unit that executes a game program and outputs suggestion information that prompts the user to give instructions regarding the progress of the game;
A communication unit that transmits the suggestion information to the communication terminal of the user in the form of an e-mail or a voice call, receives the instruction from the communication terminal, and inputs the instruction to the information processing unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: In claim 4,
The game includes a scene in which a character asks the user for the instruction.
Information processing device. A step of executing a game program in the information processing apparatus and transmitting suggestion information prompting the user to instruct the user about the progress of the game in the form of an e-mail or a voice call;
Receiving the suggestion information at a communication terminal, presenting the suggestion information to the user, and transmitting the instruction input by the user to the information processing apparatus;
A control method for a communication system, including: Steps to advance the game,
Sending suggestion information prompting the user for instructions regarding the progress of the game in the form of an email or voice call to the user's communication terminal;
Receiving the instruction from the communication terminal;
For causing an information processing apparatus to execute the program.

Images