JP2023143091A - Virtual item control system, virtual item control method, and virtual item control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To properly control the right of another user to operate a virtual item.SOLUTION: A virtual item control system includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: acquire information identifying a person accessing a room which is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information identifying an owner of a virtual item disposed in the room; and execute control processing to control the right of the person to operate the virtual item disposed in the room, on the basis of whether the information identifying the owner is included in the information identifying the person.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a virtual item control system, a virtual item control method, and a virtual item control program.

Patent Document 1 describes a system in which each user in a virtual reality space can receive information managed by an information object by operating a user object and accessing a desired information object. .

Patent No. 4048446

There is a mechanism that allows virtual items to be placed in a predetermined virtual reality space (room). In the conventional mechanism, even other users who are not the owners of virtual items can perform some operations on the virtual items. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism for appropriately controlling other users' operational authority for virtual items.

A virtual item control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one processor. The at least one processor acquires information that identifies an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information that identifies an owner of a virtual item placed in the room, and identifies the occupant. Based on whether or not the information identifying the owner is included in the information, control processing is executed to control the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item placed in the room.

In this aspect, the operating authority of the room occupant for the virtual item is controlled based on whether or not the owner of the virtual item is among the room occupants. For example, if the owner of a virtual item is in the room, whether or not the person entering the room can operate the virtual item, or if the owner of the virtual item is not in the room, whether the person entering the room can operate the virtual item. It becomes possible to control whether or not the Thereby, the operating authority of other users can be appropriately controlled.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately control other users' operational authority for virtual items.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of a room. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of application of the virtual item control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration related to a virtual item control system according to an embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration related to a virtual item control system according to an embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of data. Example (a) of FIG. 5 is an example of data regarding a user. Example (b) of FIG. 5 is an example of data regarding a room. Example (c) in FIG. 5 is an example of data regarding items. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the virtual item control system related to room connection. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen for arranging virtual items. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen for arranging virtual items. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the virtual item control system related to the arrangement of virtual items. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation on a virtual item by someone other than the owner. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for acquiring a virtual item. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the virtual item control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the positional relationship between a virtual item and an owner's avatar.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[System overview]
The virtual item control system according to the embodiment is a computer system that provides a virtual reality space to a user. A virtual reality space is a virtual two-dimensional or three-dimensional space represented by images displayed on a computer. A user is a person who uses the virtual item control system. Providing refers to the process of transmitting information to a user terminal via a network. A user terminal is a computer used by a user. The virtual item control system transmits virtual reality space as content to a user terminal. Content refers to human-perceivable information provided by a computer or computer system. Electronic data indicating content is called content data.

The expression format of the content is not limited, and for example, the content may be expressed as an image (for example, a photograph, a video, etc.), a document, audio, music, or a combination of any two or more of these elements. In this embodiment, content is expressed using at least images. An image showing content is called a "content image." A content image is an image that allows a person to visually recognize some information. The content image may be a moving image (video) or a still image.

In one example, the content image represents a virtual reality space in which virtual objects exist. A virtual object is an object that does not exist in the real world and is only represented on a computer system. The method of representing the virtual object is not limited. A virtual object is expressed by two-dimensional or three-dimensional computer graphics (CG) using, for example, image materials such as animation materials or live-action images. The content image is, for example, an image showing a landscape seen from a virtual camera set in a virtual reality space. A virtual camera is a virtual viewpoint (virtual viewpoint) set in a virtual reality space so as to correspond to the line of sight of a user viewing a content image. A user can experience virtual reality (VR) by viewing content images.

An overview of the room will be explained with reference to FIG. A room is a predetermined virtual reality space, and may be indoors or outdoors. Multiple rooms may exist. Each room is independent. Room R shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a room.

A user enters a room by connecting to the room via a user terminal. Hereinafter, a user who has entered a room will be referred to as a "room enterer." The virtual item control system transmits the room as content to the user terminal of the person entering the room. Those entering the room can experience virtual reality within the room. Persons entering the room are displayed as avatars within the room. An avatar is a virtual object of a person. A user operates an avatar via a user terminal.

In one example, the first user and the second user become occupants of room R by connecting to room R via their respective user terminals. The first user and the second user are displayed in room R as avatars A1 and A2, respectively. The first user can experience the virtual reality of the room R seen from the avatar A1. Similarly, the second user can experience the virtual reality of room R seen from avatar A2.

In the room R, a virtual item G1 is arranged. A virtual item is a virtual object that is visible to the avatar. For example, the virtual item G1 is a virtual object of a game machine. Virtual items have owners associated with them. For example, the first user is associated with the virtual item G1 as the owner.

The user can perform predetermined operations (for example, change the position, etc.) on the virtual item via the avatar. The virtual item control system determines whether or not the owner of a virtual item placed in the room is present in the room, and controls the operation authority of the virtual item by other users who are not the owners of the virtual item.

[System configuration]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of application of the virtual item control system 1. In this embodiment, the virtual item control system 1 includes a server 10. The server 10 is a computer that sends content to at least one user terminal 20. The server 10 is connected to at least one user terminal 20 via a communication network N. Although FIG. 2 shows two user terminals 20, the number of user terminals 20 is not limited at all. Furthermore, the server 10 is connected to a user database 30 and a content database 40 via a communication network N. The configuration of the communication network N is not limited. For example, the communication network N may include the Internet or may include an intranet.

The type and configuration of user terminal 20 are not limited. For example, the user terminal 20 may be a mobile terminal such as a high-performance mobile phone (smartphone), a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal (for example, a head mounted display (HMD), smart glasses, etc.), a laptop personal computer, or a mobile phone. Alternatively, the user terminal 20 may be a stationary terminal such as a desktop personal computer. In one example, the user terminal 20 may be a combination of a personal computer, an HMD, and a controller. A controller is, for example, an input device including at least one of a button, a trigger, a grip, a stick, a touch pad, and the like.

The user database 30 is a non-temporary storage medium or storage device that manages users of the virtual item control system 1. The content database 40 is a non-temporary storage medium or storage device that stores data necessary for generating content data. The user database 30 and the content database 40 may be provided in a computer system separate from the virtual item control system 1, or may be components of the virtual item control system 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration related to the virtual item control system 1. FIG. 3 shows a server computer 100 functioning as the server 10 and a terminal computer 200 functioning as the user terminal 20.

As an example, the server computer 100 includes a processor 101, a main storage section 102, an auxiliary storage section 103, and a communication section 104 as hardware components. Processor 101 is a computing device that executes an operating system and application programs. The main storage unit 102, which includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) as examples of processors, is a device that stores programs, calculation results, etc. cess Memory). The auxiliary storage unit 103 is generally a device capable of storing a larger amount of data than the main storage unit 102, and is configured with a nonvolatile storage medium such as a hard disk or flash memory. The auxiliary storage unit 103 stores a server program P1 and various data for causing the server computer 100 to function as the server 10. The communication unit 104 is a device that performs data communication with other computers via the communication network N, and is configured by, for example, a network card or a wireless communication module.

Each functional element of the server 10 is realized by loading a server program P1 onto the processor 101 or the main storage unit 102 and causing the processor 101 to execute the program. The server program P1 includes codes for realizing each functional element of the server 10. The processor 101 operates the communication unit 104 according to the server program P1 to read and write data in the main storage unit 102 or the auxiliary storage unit 103.

Server 10 may be configured by one or more computers. When a plurality of computers are used, these computers are connected to each other via the communication network N to logically configure one server 10.

As an example, the terminal computer 200 includes a processor 201, a main storage section 202, an auxiliary storage section 203, a communication section 204, an input interface 205, an output interface 206, and an imaging section 207 as hardware components. Processor 201 is a computing device that executes an operating system and application programs, and may be, for example, a CPU or a GPU. The main storage unit 202 is a device that stores programs, calculation results, etc., and is configured of, for example, ROM or RAM. The auxiliary storage unit 203 is generally a device capable of storing a larger amount of data than the main storage unit 202, and is configured with a nonvolatile storage medium such as a hard disk or flash memory. The auxiliary storage unit 203 stores a client program P2 and various data for causing the terminal computer 200 to function as the user terminal 20. The communication unit 204 is a device that performs data communication with other computers via the communication network N, and is configured by, for example, a network card or a wireless communication module. The input interface 205 is a device that receives data based on a user's operation or action, and includes, for example, at least one of a keyboard, an operation button, a pointing device, a touch panel, a microphone, a sensor, and a camera. The output interface 206 is a device that outputs data processed by the terminal computer 200, and includes, for example, at least one of a monitor, a touch panel, an HMD, and a speaker. The image capturing unit 207 is a device that captures images of the real world, and is, for example, a camera that captures videos or photographs. The imaging unit 207 can also function as an input interface 205.

Each functional element of the user terminal 20 is realized by loading the corresponding client program P2 into the processor 201 or the main storage unit 202 and causing the processor 201 to execute the program. The client program P2 includes codes for realizing each functional element of the user terminal 20. The processor 201 operates the communication unit 204, input interface 205, output interface 206, or imaging unit 207 according to the client program P2, and reads and writes data in the main storage unit 202 or the auxiliary storage unit 203.

At least one of the server program P1 and the client program P2 may be provided after being recorded non-temporarily on a tangible recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, at least one of these programs may be provided via the communication network N as a data signal superimposed on a carrier wave. These programs may be provided separately or together. The virtual item control program may be realized as either one of the server program P1 and the client program P2, or may be realized by both of these two programs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration related to the virtual item control system 1. As shown in FIG. The server 10 includes a connection reception section 11, a content generation section 12, an operation reception section 13, and an acquisition section 14 as functional elements. The connection reception unit 11 is a functional element that receives a connection request for a room from the user terminal 20. The content generation unit 12 is a functional element that generates and updates content data. The operation receiving unit 13 is a functional element that receives a detection result of an operation on the user terminal 20 from the user terminal 20. The acquisition unit 14 is a functional element that acquires information necessary for determining operation authority.

The user terminal 20 includes a connection request section 21, a display section 22, a detection section 23, and an authority control section 24 as functional elements. The connection request unit 21 is a functional element that transmits a connection request for a room to the server 10. The display unit 22 is a functional element that displays content data on a display device. The detection unit 23 is a functional element that transmits a detection result of an operation on the user terminal 20 to the server 10. The authority control unit 24 is a functional element that sets the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item.

The user database 30 stores, for example, a user ID that uniquely identifies a user. The user database 30 stores information that identifies persons entering the room. For example, the user database 30 stores information that identifies a person entering a room by storing a room ID that uniquely identifies a room in association with a user ID.

The content database 40 stores spatial data 41 and object data 42. The spatial data 41 is electronic data indicating a virtual reality space that constitutes the content. For example, the spatial data 41 may include information indicating coordinates, the arrangement of individual virtual objects making up the background, the position of a virtual camera, the position of a virtual light source, and the like. In one example, the spatial data 41 is electronic data indicating a room.

The object data 42 is electronic data used to define the specifications of virtual objects that make up the content. A virtual object specification refers to a convention or method for controlling a virtual object. For example, the specifications of the virtual object include at least one of the virtual object's configuration (eg, shape and dimensions), behavior, and sound. In one example, the object data 42 is electronic data representing an avatar and electronic data representing a virtual item.

Object data 42 regarding virtual items includes information that identifies the owner of the virtual item. For example, the content database 40 stores a user ID as an owner in association with an item ID that uniquely identifies a virtual item. The virtual item control system 1 may store the owner of the virtual item in the content database 40, for example, using the purchase of the virtual item as a trigger.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data used by the virtual item control system 1. Example (a) of FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data regarding a user. For example, the user database 30 stores user IDs and room IDs in association with each other. In one example, the user database 30 stores a first user's user ID "0001" and a room ID "R1" in association with each other, and also stores a second user's user ID "0002" and a room ID "R1". I remember it in association. In this case, it is shown that the first user and the second user are users of the room specified by the room ID "R1". Example (b) of FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data regarding a room. For example, the content database 40 stores various data indicating a room in association with a room ID. Example (c) of FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data regarding virtual items. For example, the content database 40 stores owners in association with item IDs. In one example, the content database 40 stores an owner "0001" in association with an item ID "1111." The owner corresponds to the user ID.

[System operation]
An example of the operation when a user enters a room will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the virtual item control system 1 as a processing flow S1.

In step S11, the connection request unit 21 of the user terminal 20 transmits a connection request for connecting to room R to the server 10. The connection reception unit 11 of the server 10 receives a connection request from the user terminal 20. When the connection reception unit 11 permits the connection between the user terminal 20 and the room R, the connection reception unit 11 stores information identifying the person entering the room in the user database 30. For example, the connection reception unit 11 stores the user ID of the user and the room ID of the room R in the user database 30 in association with each other.

In step S12, the content generation unit 12 of the server 10 generates the virtual reality space of room R as content data. The content generation unit 12 refers to the content database 40 and obtains spatial data 41 and object data 42 regarding the room R. The content generation unit 12 generates the virtual reality space of room R as content data.

In step S13, the content generation unit 12 transmits content data to the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 receives content data from the server 10.

In step S14, the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 displays the content data on the display device. The user can experience the virtual reality of room R by viewing the content data on the display device. In one example, when the first user has entered room R, the first user can experience the virtual reality of room R as seen from avatar A1 (see FIG. 1). Similarly, when the second user has entered room R, the second user can experience the virtual reality of room R as seen from avatar A2 (see FIG. 1). The content data can be updated in real time in response to various operations by persons entering the room R.

An example of an operation for placing a virtual item in a room will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Screen V1 shown in FIG. 7 and screen V2 shown in FIG. 8 are screens showing the virtual reality of room R seen from avatar A1. Screen V1 and screen V2 are displayed on the user terminal 20 of the first user corresponding to avatar A1.

On the screen V1, the arm of the avatar A1, the avatar A2 corresponding to the second user, and the menu M are displayed. Menu M is an interface for performing various operations in the virtual reality space, and accepts operations such as arranging virtual items or moving rooms, for example. In one example, menu M is an interface for arranging virtual items. Menu M is displayed as an inventory that is a list of virtual items owned by the user. For example, virtual items G1, G2, and G3 owned by the first user are displayed in the inventory. Virtual items displayed in the inventory can be removed from and stored in the inventory.

The first user can operate the avatar A1 via the user terminal 20. For example, the first user can perform operations such as moving the avatar A1, changing direction, selecting menu M, and grabbing or releasing a virtual item. In one example, the first user operates avatar A1 to select virtual item G2 displayed on menu M. The virtual item G2 is a virtual object of headphones.

Screen V2 shows the screen after virtual item G2 is selected on screen V1. The arm of avatar A1, avatar A2, and virtual item G2 are displayed on screen V2. When virtual item G2 is selected on screen V1, virtual item G2 is placed in room R. That is, the first user can take out the virtual item G2 from the menu M (inventory) via the avatar A1.

The first user can perform a predetermined operation on the placed virtual item G2 via the avatar A1. Examples of the predetermined operation include changing the position. The first user can cause the avatar A1 to perform operations such as pulling the virtual item G2, grabbing it or releasing it, moving it with it, or wearing it. By performing such an operation, the position of the virtual item G2 in the room R can be changed.

Another example of the predetermined operation is, for example, operating a gimmick. A gimmick is a device associated with a virtual item. A gimmick may not be associated with the virtual item. In one example, a gimmick of "listening to music" is associated with the virtual item G2. The first user can activate the "listen to music" gimmick of the virtual item G2 via the avatar A1. For example, the first user can activate the gimmick using the fact that the avatar A1 wears the virtual item G2 as a trigger, but the activation operation is not limited to this. In response to such an operation, the user terminal 20 may output audio from a speaker or the like.

An example of an operation for placing a virtual item in a room will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the virtual item control system 1 as a processing flow S2. In processing flow S2, the user terminal 20 is used as a first user's user terminal 20 (hereinafter referred to as "first user terminal") and a second user's user terminal 20 (hereinafter referred to as "second user terminal"). explain.

In step S21, the detection unit 23 of the first user terminal detects the operation of the avatar A1. For example, the detection unit 23 detects an operation for placing the virtual item G2 in the room R on the screen V1 (see FIG. 7).

In step S22, the detection unit 23 transmits the detection result of the operation on the first user terminal to the server 10. The detection result includes information specifying virtual item G2. The operation reception unit 13 of the server 10 acquires the detection result from the first user terminal.

In step S23, the content generation unit 12 updates the content data. For example, the content generation unit 12 updates the content data so that the virtual item G2 is placed at a predetermined coordinate in the room R. The predetermined coordinates may be determined based on the coordinates of the avatar A1, the direction of the line of sight, and the like.

In step S24, the content generation unit 12 transmits the updated content data to the first user terminal and the second user terminal. The first user terminal and the second user terminal receive content data from the server 10.

In step S25, the display unit 22 of the first user terminal and the display unit 22 of the second user terminal display the updated content data on their respective display devices. For example, the first user's display unit 22 displays screen V2 (see FIG. 8) on the display device.

An example of an operation on a virtual item by another user will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Screen V3 shown in FIG. 10 and screen V4 shown in FIG. 11 are screens showing the virtual reality of room R seen from avatar A2. Screen V3 and screen V4 are displayed on the user terminal 20 of the second user corresponding to avatar A2.

Screen V3 displays the arm of avatar A2, avatar A1 corresponding to the first user, and virtual item G2. Screen V3 shows the second user attempting to operate virtual item G2 via avatar A2. Here, the owner of the virtual item G2 is the first user.

Screen V4 shows a screen after the second user attempts to operate virtual item G2 on screen V3. Screen V4 displays the arm of avatar A2, avatar A1, virtual item G2, and user interface F for acquiring virtual item G2. The user interface F has product information F1 and selection buttons F2. The product information F1 is information indicating, for example, the dimensions, gimmick, price, etc. of the virtual item G2, but is not limited thereto. The selection button F2 is, for example, a button for selecting whether to purchase the virtual item G2.

The second user obtains the corresponding virtual item G2 by selecting "Purchase" of the selection button F2 via the avatar A2. The method of acquiring virtual items is not limited to this. In the virtual item control system 1, the owner of the newly acquired virtual item G2 is registered. For example, the virtual item control system 1 associates the item ID of the newly acquired virtual item G2 with the user ID of the second user and stores them in the content database 40.

The operation of the virtual item control system 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 12, and the virtual item control method according to this embodiment will be explained. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the virtual item control system 1 as a processing flow S3. In processing flow S3, the user terminal 20 is the second user terminal.

In step S31, the detection unit 23 of the second user terminal detects the occurrence of an operation request for a virtual item. For example, the detection unit 23 detects that the second user attempts to perform a predetermined operation on the virtual item G2 placed in the room R via the avatar A2 as the occurrence of an operation request. In one example, the detection unit 23 detects that the second user attempts to activate the gimmick of the virtual item G2.

In step S32, the detection unit 23 transmits the detection result of the operation on the second user terminal to the server 10. The detection result may include the item ID of the virtual item G2 for which the operation request has occurred. The operation reception unit 13 of the server 10 receives the detection result from the user terminal 20.

In step S33, the acquisition unit 14 of the server 10 acquires information specifying the person entering the room. For example, the acquisition unit 14 refers to the user database 30 and acquires the user ID associated with the room to which the second user terminal is connected. In one example, the user ID of the first user and the user ID of the second user who have entered room R are acquired.

In step S34, the acquisition unit 14 acquires information specifying the owner. The acquisition unit 14 refers to the content database 40 and acquires information that identifies the owner of the virtual item. For example, the acquisition unit 14 acquires the user ID of the owner associated with the item ID of the virtual item G2. In one example, the owner's user ID is the first user's user ID.

In step S35, the acquisition unit 14 transmits information identifying the person entering the room and information identifying the owner as a response to the second user terminal. The second user terminal receives the response from the server 10.

In step S36, the authority control unit 24 of the second user terminal determines the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item. For example, the authority control unit 24 determines whether information that specifies the owner is included in the information that specifies the person entering the room. In one example, it is determined that the user ID of the first user who is the owner is included in the user ID of the first user and the user ID of the second user who are entering the room.

In step S37, the authority control unit 24 executes a control process to control the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual items placed in the room. For example, the authority control unit 24 controls the operating authority of the person entering the room R with respect to the virtual item G2 placed in the room R.

Examples of control processing include setting operation authority for virtual items. The authority control unit 24 sets the virtual item G2 to one of a mode in which the operation authority is not restricted, a mode in which a part of the operation authority is restricted, and a mode in which all the operation authority is restricted. For example, when the owner is in room R, the authority control unit 24 may set a mode in which the operating authority of the person entering the virtual item G2 is not restricted. When the owner is not in the room R, the authority control unit 24 may set either a mode in which a part of the operating authority of the person entering the virtual item G2 is restricted or a mode in which the entire operating authority is restricted. good.

The authority control unit 24 may set any one of a mode in which the operation of the gimmick of the virtual item G2 is not restricted, a mode in which a part of the operation of the gimmick is restricted, or a mode in which all the operation of the gimmick is restricted. Examples of modes that restrict part of the gimmick's operation include a mode in which only part of the gimmick's operation is permitted as a trial version. Alternatively, the authority control unit 24 may set a mode in which changes in the position of the virtual item G2 are not restricted, a mode in which some changes in the position are restricted, or a mode in which all changes in the position are restricted. . Examples of modes that partially restrict position changes include a mode in which avatar A2 can hold (lift) virtual item G2, but cannot move while holding it.

The authority control unit 24 may perform control processing to control the operating authority of persons entering the room other than the owner. In one example, the authority control unit 24 may control the operation authority of a second user who is an occupant other than the first user who is the owner.

The authority control unit 24 may perform control processing to control the operation authority of the person entering the room who has issued the operation request. In one example, the authority control unit 24 may control the operation authority of the second user, who is the person entering the room who has issued the operation request for the virtual item G2.

In relation to step S37, when setting either a mode that restricts a part of the operation authority or a mode that restricts all the operation authority, the authority control unit 24 determines whether the user who has entered the room has issued the operation request. A user interface F (see FIG. 11) for acquiring the virtual item G2 for which the operation request has been issued may be displayed on the second user terminal.

The authority control unit 24 may execute the control process further based on whether or not the virtual item G2 is the owner of a related item. The related item is a virtual item different from the virtual item G2. The content database 40 may store item IDs of related items in association with the item ID of the virtual item G2. In relation to step S34, the acquisition unit 14 may further acquire information specifying the owner of a related item that is a virtual item associated with the virtual item G2 for which the operation request has occurred. In relation to step S35, the acquisition unit 14 may transmit information identifying the owner of the related item to the second user terminal. In relation to step S36, the authority control unit 24 performs control based on whether or not the information that specifies the owner of the related item includes information that specifies the person entering the room who has issued the operation request. Processing may be executed. For example, when the second user is the owner of the related item, the authority control unit 24 may set a mode in which the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item G2 is not restricted. When the second user is not the owner of the related item, the authority control unit 24 selects either a mode in which a part of the operating authority of the room enterer with respect to the virtual item G2 is restricted or a mode in which the entire operating authority is restricted. May be set.

In relation to step S36, the authority control unit 24 may determine the operation authority further based on the positional relationship between the position of the virtual item placed in the room and the position of the owner's avatar. The authority control unit 24 may determine the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item G2 when the position of the virtual item G2 or the position C of the avatar A1 changes.

With reference to FIG. 13, the positional relationship between the position of the virtual item and the position of the avatar will be explained. Based on whether or not the position C of the avatar A1 of the first user who is the owner of the virtual item G2 is within a predetermined range RA from the virtual item G2 placed in the room R, the authority control unit 24 The operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item G2 may be determined. For example, when the avatar A1 is within the predetermined range R2, a mode may be set in which the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item G2 is not restricted. When the avatar A1 is not within the predetermined range R2, the authority control unit 24 sets either a mode in which a part of the operation authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item G2 is restricted or a mode in which the entire operation authority is restricted. You may.

[effect]
As described above, the virtual item control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one processor. The at least one processor acquires information that identifies an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information that identifies an owner of a virtual item placed in the room, and identifies the occupant. Based on whether or not the information identifying the owner is included in the information, control processing is executed to control the operating authority of the person entering the room with respect to the virtual item placed in the room.

A virtual item control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is executed by a virtual item control system including at least one processor. The virtual item control method includes the steps of acquiring information for identifying an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space and information for identifying an owner of a virtual item placed in the room; and executing a control process to control the operating authority of the room occupant with respect to the virtual item placed in the room based on whether information identifying the owner is included in the information identifying the owner. .

A virtual item control program according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes information that identifies an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information that identifies an owner of a virtual item placed in the room. A control process that controls the user's operation authority for the virtual item placed in the room based on the step of acquiring and whether or not information that identifies the owner is included in the information that identifies the user. and causing the computer to perform the steps.

In this aspect, the operating authority of the room occupant for the virtual item is controlled based on whether or not the owner of the virtual item is among the room occupants. For example, if the owner of a virtual item is in the room, whether or not the person entering the room can operate the virtual item, or if the owner of the virtual item is not in the room, whether the person entering the room can operate the virtual item. It becomes possible to control whether or not the Thereby, the operating authority of other users can be appropriately controlled.

In the virtual item control system according to another aspect, the control process may be executed when a request to operate a virtual item placed in a room is made by one of the room occupants as a trigger. In this case, the control process is executed at the timing when the virtual item is operated. Since the control process is executed after the timing of the control process is appropriately determined, the calculation cost related to the control process can be suppressed.

In the virtual item control system according to another aspect, at least one processor may perform control processing on a virtual item for which a manipulation request has been made, among one or more virtual items placed in a room. . In this case, control processing is performed targeting the virtual item that the person entering the room attempted to operate. Since the control process is executed after the virtual item that is the target of the control process is appropriately determined, the calculation cost related to the control process can be suppressed.

In the virtual item control system according to another aspect, at least one processor may perform a control process to control the operating authority of a person who enters the room other than the owner. In this case, since the control process is executed after the target person of the control process is appropriately determined, the calculation cost related to the control process can be suppressed.

In the virtual item control system according to another aspect, at least one processor may perform control processing to control the operating authority of the person entering the room who has issued the operation request. In this case, since the control process is executed after the target person for the control process is determined more appropriately, the calculation cost related to the control process can be suppressed.

In the virtual item control system according to another aspect, the at least one processor further acquires information identifying the owner of a related item, which is a virtual item associated with the virtual item for which the operation request has occurred, and acquires information that identifies the owner of the related item. The control process may be executed further based on whether the information identifying the person who entered the room includes information identifying the person entering the room who issued the operation request. According to such a configuration, the control process is executed further based on whether or not the related item is owned. This allows you to flexibly set operational authority.

In a virtual item control system according to another aspect, at least one processor sets one of a mode in which operating authority is not restricted, a mode in which operating authority is partially restricted, or a mode in which all operating authority is restricted. Control processing may also be executed. In this case, operational authority can be set flexibly.

In the virtual item control system according to another aspect, when at least one processor sets either a mode that restricts a part of the operation authority or a mode that restricts all the operation authority, the operation request is generated. A user interface for acquiring the virtual item for which the operation request has been made may be displayed on the user terminal of the person entering the room. According to such a configuration, a user interface related to acquiring a virtual item is provided to a person entering the room whose operation authority is partially or completely restricted. Thereby, user convenience can be improved.

In a virtual item control system according to another aspect, at least one processor performs control processing further based on the positional relationship between the position of the virtual item placed in the room and the position of the owner's avatar. Good too. In this case, operational authority can be set flexibly.

[Modified example]
The detailed description has been made above based on the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. The present disclosure can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the user terminal 20 includes the authority control section 24, but the server 10 may also include the authority control section 24. Alternatively, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the authority control unit 24 of the user terminal 20 determines the operation authority, but the server 10 may determine the operation authority.

In the embodiment described above, the control process for controlling the operating authority of the room occupant is executed when an operation request by one of the room occupants is generated for the virtual item G2 placed in the room R. , the execution timing of the control process is not limited to this. For example, the execution timing of the control process may be when there is a change in the person entering the room (entering or leaving the room), at a predetermined time interval, or when there is a change in the arrangement of virtual items (removal from inventory or storage). Good too.

In the embodiment described above, the control process for controlling the operation authority for the virtual item G2 is executed when an operation request for the virtual item G2 placed in the room R is generated by one of the room occupants as a trigger. However, the control target of the control process is not limited to this. For example, the control target may be part or all of one or more virtual items placed in the room.

In this disclosure, the expression "at least one processor executes a first process, executes a second process, ... executes an n-th process" or an expression corresponding to this This concept includes a case where the executing entity (that is, the processor) of n processes from the first process to the nth process changes midway. That is, this expression is a concept that includes both a case in which all of the n processes are executed by the same processor, and a case in which the processors in the n processes are changed according to an arbitrary policy.

The processing steps of the method executed by at least one processor are not limited to the examples in the above embodiments. For example, some of the steps (processes) described above may be omitted, or each step may be executed in a different order. Furthermore, any two or more of the steps described above may be combined, or some of the steps may be modified or deleted. Alternatively, other steps may be performed in addition to each of the above steps.

Any part or all of the functional units described in this specification may be realized by a program. The programs mentioned in this specification may be distributed by being recorded non-temporarily on a computer-readable recording medium, or may be distributed via communication lines (including wireless communication) such as the Internet. , it may be distributed as being installed on any terminal.

Although those skilled in the art may be able to conceive of additional effects or various modifications of the present disclosure based on the above description, aspects of the present disclosure are limited to the individual embodiments described above. isn't it. Various additions, changes, and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and gist of the present disclosure derived from the content defined in the claims and equivalents thereof.

For example, a configuration described in this specification as one device (or member; the same applies hereinafter) (this includes a configuration depicted as one device in the drawings) may be realized by multiple devices. good. Alternatively, configurations described herein as multiple devices (including configurations depicted as multiple devices in the drawings) may be implemented by a single device. Alternatively, some or all of the means or functions included in a certain device (for example, a server) may be included in another device (for example, a user terminal).

Not all matters described herein are required. For example, matters described in this specification but not described in the claims can be considered as optional additional matters.

The applicant is only aware of the known techniques described in the "Prior Art Documents" section of this specification. It should also be noted that the present disclosure is not necessarily intended to solve problems in the prior art. The problem to be solved in this disclosure should be determined by considering this specification as a whole. For example, in this specification, if there is a statement that a specific configuration achieves a predetermined effect, it can also be said that the problem corresponding to the predetermined effect is solved. However, the description regarding the effect does not necessarily mean that such a specific configuration is an essential requirement.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Virtual item control system, 10... Server, 11... Connection reception unit, 12... Content generation unit, 13... Operation reception unit, 14... Acquisition unit, 20... User terminal, 21... Connection request unit, 22... Display unit, 23...Detection unit, 24...Authority control unit, P1...Server program, P2...Client program.

Claims (11)

comprising at least one processor;
the at least one processor,
Obtaining information that identifies an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information that identifies an owner of a virtual item placed in the room,
Control for controlling the operating authority of the room occupant with respect to the virtual item placed in the room based on whether or not the information specifying the owner is included in the information specifying the room occupant. execute the process,
Virtual item control system. 2. The control process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor executes the control process in response to an operation request made by one of the room occupants to a virtual item placed in the room. Virtual item control system. Virtual item control according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor executes the control process on a virtual item for which the operation request has occurred, among one or more virtual items arranged in the room. system. 4. The virtual item control system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one processor executes the control processing so as to control the operating authority of a room occupant other than the owner among the room occupants. 5. The virtual item control system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one processor executes the control processing so as to control the operation authority of the person entering the room who has issued the operation request. the at least one processor,
further acquiring information identifying the owner of a related item that is a virtual item associated with the virtual item for which the operation request has occurred;
Executing the control process further based on whether information specifying the owner of the related item includes information specifying the person entering the room who issued the operation request;
The virtual item control system according to claim 5. The at least one processor executes the control process to set any one of a mode in which the operation authority is not restricted, a mode in which the operation authority is partially restricted, or a mode in which all the operation authority is restricted. , a virtual item control system according to any one of claims 2 to 6. When the at least one processor sets either a mode that restricts a part of the operation authority or a mode that restricts all of the operation authority, a message is displayed on the user terminal of the person entering the room who has issued the operation request. 8. The virtual item control system according to claim 7, wherein the virtual item control system displays a user interface for acquiring the virtual item for which the operation request has occurred. Any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one processor executes the control process further based on a positional relationship between a position of a virtual item placed in the room and a position of the owner's avatar. The virtual item control system according to item 1. A virtual item control method executed by a virtual item control system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
obtaining information that identifies an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information that identifies an owner of a virtual item placed in the room;
Control for controlling the operating authority of the room occupant with respect to the virtual item placed in the room based on whether or not the information specifying the owner is included in the information specifying the room occupant. A method for controlling a virtual item, the method comprising: performing a process. obtaining information that identifies an occupant connected to a room that is a predetermined virtual reality space, and information that identifies an owner of a virtual item placed in the room;
Control for controlling the operating authority of the room occupant with respect to the virtual item placed in the room based on whether or not the information specifying the owner is included in the information specifying the room occupant. A virtual item control program that causes a computer to execute steps for executing a process.

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