JPWO2013161720A1 - Communication device, program, communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The game control device according to the present invention provides, for each user, information providing means for providing information on a plurality of objects as options to the user, and information on an operation for selecting any one of the plurality of objects. A second user among the users based on the number of times or percentage of selection of the same object as the first user when acquiring the acquisition means and the information related to the object selected by the first user Extraction means for extracting the first user and association means for relating the first user and the second user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing transmission / reception and sharing of data among a plurality of users.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a communication service capable of transmitting / receiving and sharing data (for example, text data such as comments and messages, image data, audio data, etc.) between a plurality of users. In recent years, a social networking service (SNS) by a specific service provider is known as an example of the communication service described above. In this SNS, a so-called social game that is executed by a game application created based on an operating environment such as an API (Application Programming Interface) that operates on a web browser is widely used. It can be said that the social game is a kind of online game that is played while communicating among an unspecified number of users. If a user can connect to the Internet and has a communication terminal equipped with a web browser, the user can enjoy a social game regardless of time and place.

  One of the features of the above-described social game is that it has a richer communication function for interacting with users than conventional online games. In social games, for example, in addition to the execution of a game that cooperates between mutually related users (companies), information exchange by communicating with the companion such as greetings and communication with the companion, on the game with the companion Item presents or item exchanges are taking place. As an example of such a social game, a digital card game (Dragon Collection (registered trademark)) described in Non-Patent Document 1 below is known.

App STYLE Vol.5 (East Press, Inc.), pages 7-8

  In a conventional communication service, for example, when a user is associated with another user (becomes a friend) in a social game, a candidate for a friend is randomly extracted from the other users and introduced to the user. Both candidates come to be related as friends by responding to the application from. However, in the conventional communication service, since the fellow candidates are extracted at random, it has been difficult for the user to find the commonality with the fellow candidates. For this reason, even if users were related as friends, it was difficult to build a close relationship between users.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described viewpoints, and an object thereof is to provide a communication device, a communication method, a program, a recording medium, and a communication system that can establish a close relationship between users. .

A first aspect of the present invention is a communication device.
The communication device
Information providing means for providing information on a plurality of objects as options to the user;
Obtaining means for obtaining information on an operation for selecting any object from the plurality of objects for each user;
An extracting means for extracting a second user from among the users based on the number of times or the ratio of selecting the same object as the first user when information on the object selected by the first user is acquired; ,
Association means for associating the first user with the second user;
Is provided.

Here, the “object” may be anything as long as it is a selection target. For example, when the communication device is configured to be able to execute a game, it includes characters and items on the game. A character is, for example, a virtual person or creature on a game, or a monster, and includes those displayed on a card or the like. The item may be, for example, a thing that the user can hold on the game, a thing that the user needs to collect on the game, or an advantage that the user has on the game. What may acquire an effect may be used.
Further, the “information regarding a plurality of objects” may be provided directly to the user from the communication device, or may be provided to the user via an external device that can access the communication device.
Furthermore, “based on the number of times or ratio” includes based on at least one of the number of times and the ratio, and includes, for example, based on the number of times and the ratio.

  In this communication device, when the first user selects one of a plurality of objects, the first user is related to the second user extracted according to the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user ( Become a friend). For this reason, the first user has a common sense that the same object has been selected, so that the second user has an affinity. Thereby, since a 1st user can be motivated so that the degree of relationship with a 2nd user may be raised, the exchange between users can be accelerated | stimulated and by extension, the close relationship between users can be constructed | assembled. .

The communication device further includes execution means for executing a game, and the information providing means provides the user with information on the plurality of objects when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the execution of the game by the user. May be.
Here, the “predetermined condition” may be, for example, that the user has won (cleared) a part on the game, or the user has won a battle against a predetermined number of other users or characters. It may be. In addition, the “predetermined condition” may be, for example, that the user has acquired a predetermined number of specific items, or that the progress of the game or the skill level of the user has reached a predetermined threshold or more. It may be.
In this case, the first user selects one object from a plurality of objects when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game, so that the first user selects the same object as the first user according to the number of times or the ratio. It becomes possible to associate (become a friend) with the extracted second user. For this reason, since the 1st user can become a 2nd user and a friend during execution of a game, it is not necessary to perform processing for searching for the 2nd user separately from execution of a game. Thereby, a highly convenient mechanism for the user can be realized.

In the above communication device, when the information relating to the object selected by the first user is acquired a plurality of times, the extraction means has a number of times that the same object as that of the first user is continuously selected is a predetermined value or more. A user may be extracted as the second user.
In this case, since the 1st user can relate (become a friend) with the 2nd user who selected the same object continuously, as the frequency | count that the same object was selected continuously increases, It is possible to adopt a mechanism that increases the familiarity with the user.

In the communication apparatus, the extraction unit is configured based on the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user within a predetermined period based on acquisition of information on the object selected by the first user. A second user may be extracted.
Here, “within a predetermined period based on the acquisition of information related to the object selected by the first user” means, for example, the time when the information related to the object selected by the first user is acquired as the reference time In this case, it may be within a predetermined period before the reference time, may be within a predetermined period after the reference time, or may be within a predetermined period including before and after the reference time.
In this case, for example, the first user can be related (become a friend) to the second user who selected the same object at approximately the same time zone, so that the same is selected in addition to selecting the same object. It can be set as the mechanism which makes the 1st user produce the familiarity to the 2nd user by having selected the object in the time zone.

In the communication apparatus, the information providing unit may determine the content of providing information regarding the plurality of objects of the (N + 1) th time based on a selection result of the Nth (N is a natural number) by the user.
According to this communication apparatus, for example, information on a plurality of objects respectively associated with the object selected for the Nth time can be provided as information on the N + 1th plurality of objects. Thereby, for example, another user who is closer in taste to the first user can be extracted as the second user.

In the communication apparatus, the plurality of objects may include an object related to the user's preference.
In this case, users who have selected the same object can have a sense of familiarity by having the same taste. For this reason, it is possible to motivate each user so that the degree of relationship with the partner who has become a friend becomes higher when the same object is selected.

In the communication device, when the first user and the second user are associated with each other, a privilege is given to at least one of the first user and the second user. You may provide a provision means.
Here, the “privilege” may be any special right, treatment, benefit, or the like given to at least one of the first user and the second user. For example, the communication device plays a game. When configured to be executable, it may be a point or item on the game or an advantageous effect on the game.
The advantageous effect on the game may be, for example, increasing the parameter of the item held by the user on the game, and improving the ability of the character held by the user on the game without using the item. It may be that the user can obtain a special item. Further, the advantageous effect on the game may be that the setting is adjusted so that the progress of the game is facilitated, for example, the consumption of points on the game to be consumed according to the user's operation or the like. It may be reduced more than usual, the point may be available, or the progress rate of the game according to the user's operation or the like may be increased more than usual. Further, the advantageous effect on the game may be that the setting on the game is adjusted so that the game can be indirectly advantageous, for example, an event that allows the user to acquire a special item is generated. It may be possible to increase the probability that the parameter of the item will increase significantly.
According to this communication device, the first user is motivated to become a friend with the second user in order to obtain a privilege. For this reason, since the exchange between users can be promoted, the social property of the communication service can be enhanced.

In the communication device, in associating the first user with the second user, at least one of the first user and the second user with respect to the first user and the second user. You may provide a notification means to notify the information regarding the same object which the said 2nd user selected.
According to this communication apparatus, the first user or the second user can confirm the same object selected by the first user and the second user when being associated with each other. Thereby, since the first user or the second user can generate a sense of familiarity with the related party, communication between users can be activated.

A second aspect of the present invention is a communication method.
The communication method is
Running the game, and
Providing the user with information about a plurality of objects as options during execution of the game by the user;
Obtaining information on an operation for selecting any object from the plurality of objects for each user;
When the information about the object selected by the first user is acquired, the privilege on the game according to the number or the ratio of the second user who selects the same object as the first user is given to the first user. A step of granting to
Is provided.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to a computer.
The ability to provide users with information about multiple objects to choose from,
A function of acquiring information on an operation for selecting any object from the plurality of objects for each user and storing the information in a storage device;
When acquiring information about the object selected by the first user, the second user is extracted from the users based on the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user, and A function of acquiring information about the second user from the storage device, and a function of associating the first user with the second user,
It is a program for realizing.

  The computer may be a network server, a large computer, or the like, for example. Further, this program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM. That is, a fourth aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium in which the program is recorded.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a communication system including a communication terminal and a server accessed from the communication terminal,
Information providing means for providing information on a plurality of objects as options to the user;
An acquisition unit that acquires, for each user, information related to an operation of selecting any one of the plurality of objects;
An extracting means for extracting a second user from the user based on the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user when information on the object selected by the first user is acquired;
Association means for associating the first user with the second user;
Any one of the communication terminal and the server is provided with each means.

  The communication terminal may be, for example, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, a television receiver having a bidirectional communication function, a game device with a communication function, or the like.

The figure which shows the basic composition of the communication system of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the external appearance of the communication terminal of embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of the external appearance of the communication terminal of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication terminal of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication server of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the database server of embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the user database contained in a database server. The figure which shows the data structural example of questionnaire data. The figure which shows the data structural example of answer data. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of the communication terminal which displays a top page. The figure which illustrates the web page displayed in a user's communication terminal. The figure which illustrates a series of web pages displayed in a user's communication terminal. The figure which illustrates a series of web pages displayed in a user's communication terminal. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function to play main roles with the communication apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the main processes of the communication apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the main processes of the communication apparatus of embodiment. The sequence chart which shows an example of the main processes of the communication apparatus of embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example of the reply data in a modification. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function to play main roles with the communication apparatus of a modification. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function to play main roles with the communication apparatus of a modification. The figure which illustrates the web page displayed on a user's communication terminal in a modification. The figure which illustrates the web page displayed on a user's communication terminal in a modification. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of each function in each of a communication terminal and a communication server. The figure which shows the other structural example of each function in each of a communication terminal and a communication server.

  The present invention is related to the patent application of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-100433 filed with the Japan Patent Office on April 25, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(1) Configuration of Communication System FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this communication system includes communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... That can be connected to a communication network NW (network) such as the Internet, a communication server 20 connected to the communication network NW, The database server 30 is configured. Each of the communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is a terminal operated by an individual user, for example, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, a television having a bidirectional communication function. A communication terminal such as a John receiver (including a so-called multi-function smart TV). In the following description, when referring to the communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,.
In the communication system of the present embodiment, the communication server 20 is configured to be able to communicate with the communication terminal 10 that is a client. In the present embodiment, a case where the communication server 20 provides a gaming service to the communication terminal 10 will be described as an example.
The communication server 20 is mounted with an application operable on a web browser as a game application. The database server 30 stores various information to be described later in executing the game, and is connected to the communication server 20 in a wired or wireless manner for reading and writing the information. Note that the communication server 20 and the database server 30 may be connected via a communication network NW.
The communication terminal 10 includes a web browser that can display a web page provided by the communication server 20, and the user operates the web page on the communication terminal 10 to execute a game.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, an authentication server for authenticating the user of each communication terminal 10 may be provided separately from the communication server 20. Further, when a plurality of communication servers 20 are provided to accept access from many communication terminals 10, a load balancer for adjusting the load between the plurality of communication servers 20 may be provided. The communication server 20 may be configured as a single server device, but may be configured as a plurality of server devices having distributed functions.

(2) Configuration of Communication Terminal The communication terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3.
2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating an example of the appearance of the communication terminal 10. FIG. 2A illustrates a button input type communication terminal such as a foldable mobile terminal (mobile phone). FIG. 2B illustrates a communication terminal of a touch panel input method such as a smartphone. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the communication terminal 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an image processing unit 14, an instruction input unit 15, a display unit 16, A communication interface unit 17 is provided, and a bus 18 for transmitting control signals or data signals between the units is provided.

The CPU 11 loads the web browser in the ROM 12 into the RAM 13 and executes it. And CPU11 is based on the appropriate designation | designated of URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input to a user by the instruction | indication input part 15 grade | etc., Data for displaying a web page from the communication server 20 via the communication interface part 17, That is, data of an object such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document and an image associated with the document (hereinafter collectively referred to as “HTML data” as appropriate) is acquired via the communication interface unit 17. Interpret the HTML data. The communication terminal 10 may be mounted with various plug-ins for extending the browser function of the web browser.
In acquiring the HTML data, the CPU 11 sends an access request message including a user ID (user identification information) registered in advance or a user ID input via the instruction input unit 15 via the communication interface unit 17. The communication server 20 is notified.

  The web browser displays the web page provided from the communication server 20 on the display unit 16 based on the acquired HTML data via the image processing unit 14. When the user selects a hyperlink or menu on the web page by operating the instruction input unit 15, the web browser transmits new HTML data for displaying the web page according to the selection. (That is, update of the web page) is requested to the communication server 20.

  The image processing unit 14 displays a web page on the display unit 16 based on display image data provided from the CPU 11 as an analysis result of HTML data. The display unit 16 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cristal Display) monitor including thin film transistors arranged in a pixel unit in a matrix, and drives the thin film transistors based on the display image data to display the image of the web page on the display screen 16a. To display.

  When the communication terminal 10 is a button input type communication terminal (shown in FIG. 2A), the instruction input unit 15 includes a plurality of instruction input buttons such as a direction instruction button and a decision button for accepting a user operation input. A button group 15b including a group 15a and a plurality of instruction input buttons such as a numeric keypad is provided, and an interface circuit for recognizing a pressing (operation) input of each button and outputting it to the CPU 11 is included. For example, the direction instruction button is provided to instruct the CPU 11 to scroll and display the web page displayed on the display unit 16. The determination button instructs the CPU 11 that the user selects one hyperlink or menu that is actively displayed (for example, highlighted) when, for example, a plurality of hyperlinks or menus are displayed on a web page. To be provided. When the communication terminal 10 is configured by a small portable terminal, these buttons are provided on the front surface of the communication terminal 10 so that the user can easily operate (click) with the thumb while holding the communication terminal 10 with one hand. It is preferable to arrange | position. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the button group 15b is arranged below the button group 15a and includes a plurality of instruction input buttons on which “0” to “9”, “*”, and “#” (tenkeys) are written. .

  When the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input type communication terminal (shown in FIG. 2B), the instruction input unit 15 receives touch panel type input mainly by touching the display screen 16a with a fingertip or a pen. The touch panel input method may be a known method such as a capacitance method. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the button group 15a may be provided even when the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input method.

  For example, when the communication terminal 10 is a portable terminal, the menu selection operation on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 is selected by pressing the direction instruction button and selecting by pressing the enter button. This is done by confirming the selected menu. Further, for example, when the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input method, the selection operation is performed by instructing (touch operation) a menu position on the display screen 16a on which the web page is displayed with a finger or a pen.

(3) Configuration of Communication Server The configuration of the communication server 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
The communication server 20 manages a game website including a plurality of hierarchical web pages, for example, and provides a game web service to the communication terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication server 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a database (DB) access unit 24, and a communication interface unit 25. A bus 26 is provided. Note that the communication server 20 can have the same configuration as a general-purpose web server in terms of hardware.

The ROM 22 stores an application program that provides a service for displaying an object such as an HTML document or an image (displaying a web page) to the web browser of the communication terminal 10 that is a client. The ROM 22 stores various data referred to by the CPU 21 in addition to the application program.
The CPU 21 loads the game program in the ROM 22 to the RAM 23 and executes it, and performs various processes via the communication interface unit 25.

For example, the CPU 21 transmits HTML data to the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface unit 25. In addition, when the communication server 20 performs the authentication process of the user of the communication terminal 10, the CPU 21 performs the authentication process.
The CPU 21 performs processing according to the hyperlink or menu selected by the user on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10. The processing includes, for example, transmission of new HTML data, arithmetic processing or data processing in the communication server 20, and the like.
The database access unit 24 is an interface when the CPU 21 reads / writes data from / to the database server 30.

(4) Configuration of Database Server The database server 30 (storage device) can be realized by a general-purpose storage such as a large-capacity hard disk device or a device such as a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks). Each database in the database server 30 is configured to be able to read and write data from the CPU 21 via the database access unit 24 of the communication server 20.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the database server 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the database server 30 includes a user database 31 and a game database 32.

The type of game that is executed and controlled by the communication server 20 according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited. However, for convenience of explanation of the embodiment, a female warrior card (hereinafter, as appropriate) will be described as an example of the game of the present embodiment. , Simply referred to as a “warrior card”) (hereinafter referred to simply as “game” or “game of the present embodiment” as appropriate). This game includes the following processes to be executed by the user.
・ Quest processing:
This is a process for obtaining a warrior card by searching a plurality of areas (parts) set in the game in order to create a team of at least one warrior card. In this game, a certain amount of physical strength points (described later) are consumed by executing the quest process.
・ Battle processing:
This is a process of performing a battle (match) with another user's team. The battle process will not be described in detail here. For example, depending on the magnitude of a parameter indicating the ability of the warrior card used by the user in the battle (for example, a value indicating attack power or defense power) Configured to be determined. For example, a user who uses a warrior card with a large parameter value for a battle is more likely to win against another user who uses a warrior card with a smaller parameter value for a battle. Good. In this case, the larger the value of the parameter of the warrior card possessed by the user, the more the game can be advanced over other users.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the user database 31 applied in the game of the present embodiment. In this example, the user database 31 stores, for each user ID (user identification information), information on each item of user name, display image, skill level, physical strength point, number of warriors, fellow user ID, and possessed card data. Including. Information included in the user database 31 can be sequentially updated by the communication server 20.

In the following description, data for each user ID included in the user database 31 is collectively referred to as user data. The data of each item constituting the user data is as follows.
-User name It is a user name displayed on the communication terminal 10 at the time of execution of a game in order to specify a user. The user name is text having a predetermined length or less designated in advance by the user. The user name is a name that identifies the user on the network environment (or game community) provided by the communication server 20.
Display image This is a display image displayed on the communication terminal 10 when the game is executed in order to identify the user. The display image is an avatar image selected in advance by the user, for example.
Skill level This data indicates the skill level of the user on the game. For example, it is a level value in a range from Lv1 (level 1) to Lv100 (level 100). For example, the skill level may be sequentially increased by continuously executing the quest process.
-Physical strength point It is a point required in performing the quest process in the game of this embodiment. The physical strength point is a value that decreases by, for example, a certain amount by performing a search in the quest process, and recovers (increases) each time a predetermined time elapses.
-Number of warriors This is the number of warrior cards that the user has in the game. The maximum number of warriors (for example, 60) is defined in advance.
・ Friend's user ID
It is data of a user ID of a fellow user.
-Data of possessed card Each warrior card possessed by the user includes, for example, data such as an image of a warrior character and a parameter indicating a warrior character's ability (for example, a value indicating an attack power and a defense power). The data of the warrior card may include “rare degree”. Here, the “rare degree” is a value indicating the degree of rarity value of the warrior card, and the higher the value is, the lower the probability of appearing in the game is set. In the game of the present embodiment, the rarity is expressed in five stages of 1 to 5, and the rarity of the warrior card corresponding to the warrior character or the popular warrior character with outstanding abilities is set high. Has been.

Returning to FIG. 5, the game database 32 stores and updates information related to the progress of the game executed by the communication server 20 based on the access from the communication server 20. Information relating to the progress of the game may include various information depending on the nature of the game. Taking the case of the game of the present embodiment as an example, the information related to the progress of the game includes information indicating the progress status of the quest process, information about a battle result with another user, and the like.
Further, as will be described later, in the game of the present embodiment, a question-and-answer questionnaire is performed at least once during the execution of the game. Therefore, in the game database 32, questionnaire data in which data indicating a plurality of question items in a questionnaire and a plurality of answer items (options) for each question item are respectively described, and a result of answering the question is stored as a user ID ( Answer data which is data described for each user) is stored. Examples of questionnaire data and answer data are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively.

An example of the questionnaire data is shown in FIG. The questionnaire data is data that is loaded and stored in, for example, the RAM 23 when the questionnaire is executed on the game. The questionnaire data includes a question ID, a question item corresponding to the question ID, a plurality of (three in the example in the figure) answer IDs corresponding to the question ID, and an answer item (object) corresponding to the answer ID. The answer items of the questionnaire data illustrated in FIG. 7 are composed of text data such as “red” and “dog”. For example, image data such as characters (for example, warrior cards) and items, voice data, and the like. It may be configured.
The contents of the question item and the answer item may be arbitrarily set, but the plurality of answer items may include an answer item related to the user's preference. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, an answer item for a question that asks the user's preference, such as a user's favorite color or animal, may be included. In this case, users who have selected the same answer item in the questionnaire may have an affinity for each other by having the same taste. For this reason, for example, each user can be motivated so that users may relate to each other (become friends). In addition, for example, when users are automatically associated with each other by selecting the same answer item, the degree of relationship with the partner who has become a friend is increased when the same answer item is selected. As such, each user can be motivated. Thereby, since the exchange between users can be promoted, social property can be improved.
In addition, the question item and the answer item include, for example, contents for asking the user's attributes (for example, the user's gender, birthplace, age, address, special skill, etc.), the alternative quiz problem and the answer to the problem, etc. May be included.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the answer data includes the question ID included in the questionnaire data illustrated in FIG. 7 and the answer ID of the answer item selected by the user for the question item of the question ID for each user ID. It is data associated with. Note that NULL data is described in the answer item corresponding to the question ID of the question item that has not yet been answered by the user in the questionnaire. In the example of FIG. 8, it is shown that the user with the user ID “000001” has not yet answered the question with the question ID “Q002”.

(5) Game of this embodiment Hereinafter, the content of the game of this embodiment is demonstrated, referring FIGS. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a top page displayed on the communication terminal 10 in the game of the present embodiment. FIGS. 10-12 is a figure which shows the example of a series of web pages displayed on the communication terminal 10 when a quest process is performed. Hereinafter, a case where the user who executes the game is “KNM” (hereinafter referred to as user: KNM) will be described as an example.
In the following description, menus, marks and the like displayed on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 are arranged at desired positions on the web page, and are menus visually recognized on the communication terminal 10. The position on the display screen of the mark and the like can be changed by scrolling the web page by the user's direction instruction button or touch panel operation.

The top page of the game of this embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 is configured by a web page corresponding to each user ID. The example of FIG. 9 includes a user data display area, a warrior image display area, and a menu display area.
The user data display area is an area where skill level, physical strength points, the number of warriors, and data of each item (see FIG. 6) included in the user data of the target user ID are displayed. In FIG. 9, “40/60” is described as an example of the number of warriors, but this is 40 warrior cards held by the user, and the maximum number of warrior cards that can be held is 60. Indicates that
The warrior image display area is an area in which an image of a warrior card specified in advance by the user among a plurality of warrior cards included in the user data of the target user ID is displayed.
The menu display area displays the menus m1 and m2 in which the texts “Quest” and “Battle” are written as a basic menu corresponding to a plurality of functions (quest processing, battle processing) provided in the game of the present embodiment. It is an area to be done.
When the menu m1 or m2 is selected on the top page, the game is started.

When the menu m1 is selected and operated on the top page of FIG. 9, the quest process is executed. In this case, the web page is updated as shown in step S1 of FIG. On the web page in step S1, a search rate gauge indicating the degree of progress of an area to be searched (area 9 in the example of FIG. 10) and a menu labeled “search” for executing search processing m10 and the like are included.
In the quest process, when the menu m10 is selected, a warrior card is searched for an area to be searched, triggered by this operation. At this time, every time the menu m10 is selected and searched, the value of “search rate” (%) increases at a constant or random increase amount. When the search rate reaches 100%, the search for the target area is completed, and the search for the next area (here, area 10) is started. As described above, this game is configured such that a predetermined amount (for example, 5 points) of physical strength points is reduced per search, and when the value of the physical strength points is less than the predetermined amount, The search process cannot be executed. In this case, the user needs to wait until the value of the physical fitness point recovers (increases). Note that the web page shown in step S1 may be configured such that the value of the physical fitness point required for one search is displayed.

  When the search rate of the target area reaches 100%, the web page is updated as shown in step S2 of FIG. 11 in order to conduct a questionnaire on the game. The web page shown in step S2 includes a question item in the questionnaire (“What is your favorite animal in the example in the figure”) and a plurality of answer items (“dog” in the example in the figure, “cat” in the example in the figure). ”,“ Monkey ”) and the like. Each of the plurality of answer items is associated with menus m11, m12, and m13 each labeled “select”.

For example, when the menu m11 is selected and operated on the web page in step S2 (in the example shown in the figure, “dog” is selected from among a plurality of answer items), the web page is updated as shown in step S3 in FIG. The In the example of the web page shown in step S3, other users who have selected the same answer item as the user: KNM more than a predetermined number of times (X times in the example in the figure) in a plurality of questionnaires answered by the user: KNM (hereinafter referred to as “ A text indicating the number of “mate candidates”) is displayed.
Here, in the game of the present embodiment, a user who is executing the game (user: KNM) applies to his / her friend candidate to become his / her friend, and is associated with the friend candidate (becomes a friend). ) Is configured to be able to. For this reason, the menu m14 described as “Find a fellow candidate” is displayed on the web page in step S3.

Here, when the user: KNM selects and operates the menu m14, as shown in step S4 of FIG. 12, the web page is updated to display a list of fellow candidates. The web page shown in step S4 is provided with a display area for displaying the user names and display images of the fellow candidates in a selectable manner for each fellow candidate. In this case, the user: KNM has a commonality that the same answer item has been selected, and thus a sense of familiarity can be generated for each fellow candidate.
User: KNM arbitrarily selects a user (a friend application destination user) who wants to be a friend among the displayed friend candidates. Here, a case where the user of the fellow application destination is “ABC” (hereinafter referred to as user: ABC) will be described as an example.

When the user: KNM selects a display area corresponding to the user: ABC on the web page shown in step S4, the web page shown in step S5 of FIG. 12 is displayed on the communication terminal 10 of the user: ABC. Here, the timing at which the web page shown in step S5 is displayed on the communication terminal 10 is substantially the same as the timing at which the user: KNM selects the user: ABC, for example, when the user: ABC is executing the game. If the user: ABC does not execute the game, the timing at which the user: ABC has started executing the game (for example, the timing when the user: ABC accessed from the communication terminal 10) is used. May be.
In the web page shown in step S5, in order to select whether to receive a friend request, a display image of the friend application source user (user: KNM), a message indicating that the friend application from the user has arrived, and Menus m15, m16, and the like. The user: ABC selects whether or not to receive a fellow application from the user: KNM.
When the user: KNM selects the user: ABC on the web page shown in step S4, the search may be made for the next area (here, area 10). In this case, it is updated to a web page configured in the same manner as the web page shown in step S1 of FIG.

When the user: ABC selects the menu m15 on the web page shown in step S5 (receives a friend application), the web page shown in step S6 in FIG. 12 is displayed on the communication terminal 10 of the user: KNM. . The web page shown in step S6 includes a message indicating that the user: KNM has become a friend with the user: ABC.
On the other hand, when the user: ABC selects the menu m15 on the web page shown in step S5 (that is, receives a friend application), the web page shown in step S7 in FIG. 12 is displayed on the communication terminal 10 of the user: ABC. Is displayed. The web page shown in step S7 includes a message indicating that the user: ABC has become a friend with the user: KNM.

(6) Overview of Each Function in Communication Device Next, each process in the communication device that realizes the game of this embodiment described above will be described.
In the present embodiment, the communication server 20 and the database server 30 constitute a communication device. Below, the function implement | achieved with the communication apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 13 for the case where the digital card game using the warrior card mentioned above is applied as an example. FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions that play a major role in the communication apparatus of the present embodiment.
In the functional block diagram of FIG. 13, the information providing means 53, the obtaining means 54, the extracting means 55, and the associating means 56 correspond to the main configuration of the present invention. Other means are not necessarily indispensable structures, but they are structures for making the present invention more preferable.

The registration unit 51 has a function of recognizing a user request based on an appropriate operation input to the communication terminal 10 on a web page provided to the communication terminal 10, for example, and performing a registration process (user registration).
Note that the registration means 51 is not an essential component of the present invention, but is a component for making the present invention more preferable.

The function of the registration means 51 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. The CPU 21 of the communication server 20 receives a registration request message from the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface unit 25. The registration request message is automatically generated by a predetermined operation on the communication terminal 10 on the web page provided from the communication server 20 (for example, a selection operation of a predetermined menu or a text input such as a user ID or password specified by the user). Web pages may be configured to be generated automatically. The registration request message may include information for identifying the communication terminal 10 as the transmission source (for example, individual identification information of a terminal such as a UID (Unique Identifier), an IP address, a mail address, etc.), or If the user has already used another game by the same service provider, the user ID may be included.
When the CPU 21 receives the registration request message and the registration request message does not include the user ID, the CPU 21 issues a new user ID and performs registration processing of the user ID, and then the registration processing is completed. Is sent to the communication terminal 10. When the CPU 21 receives the registration request message and the registration request message includes a user ID, the CPU 21 performs registration processing of the user ID, and then transmits a registration completion message indicating that the registration processing is completed to the communication terminal. 10 to send.
When the registration is completed, the CPU 21 generates user data corresponding to the user ID and stores it in the user database 31. When the registration is completed, the user can execute the game of the present embodiment.

The game execution means (execution means) 52 has a function of executing a game. For example, the game execution means 52 receives an HTTP request in response to a user's selection operation on the web page with respect to the communication terminal 10, and HTML data (that is, HTTP data for sequentially updating the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10. By transmitting (response), the game of this embodiment is executed by the web service.
Note that the game execution means 52 is not an essential component for the present invention, but is a component for making the present invention more preferable.

The game execution means 52 may have a function of executing an authentication process at the time of user login when the user executes the game of the present embodiment.
This function is realized as follows. When receiving the HTTP request from the communication terminal 10 of each user, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 acquires the individual identification information or the user ID and password from the HTTP request, and acquires the individual identification information or the user ID and password. For example, the authentication process is performed by collating with data recorded in the user database 31.

  The game execution means 52 performs a quest process and a battle process, respectively, according to a user's selection operation for any of the menus m1 to m2 displayed on the communication terminal 10. Preferably, when each process is executed, each process is executed hierarchically so that a new web page including a plurality of subdivided menus is displayed.

The function in which the game execution means 52 performs a quest process is implement | achieved as follows.
When the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 recognizes that the menu m1 has been selected and operated on the top page of FIG. 9, the CPU 21 generates HTML data for displaying the web page shown in step S1 of FIG. Send to. When the CPU 21 recognizes that the menu m10 to be searched is selected, the CPU 21 accesses the user database 31 and updates (decreases) the value of the physical strength point of the target user ID. In the quest process, the physical strength points required for one search may be different for each area to be searched. That is, the amount of physical strength points that are reduced (consumed) in one search may be different for each area to be searched. For example, each time the skill level of the user increases, the amount of physical strength points consumed may be increased.

  In the quest process, when the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 recognizes the selection operation for the menu m10, the warrior card is randomly drawn from a plurality of warrior cards provided in advance for the quest process and appears with a random probability. Let When the warrior card appears (excavated), the CPU 21 accesses the user database 31 and adds the data of the new warrior card that appears to the data of the target user ID. Is increased by one. When the selection operation for the menu m10 by the user is repeatedly performed and the area search rate reaches 100% in step S1 of FIG. 10, the search for the area to be searched (in this case, area 1) is terminated, and the search target Move to the next area (in this case, area 2).

  In the quest process, the health points decrease each time the selection operation is performed on the menu m10. Therefore, when the top page is displayed immediately after the quest process is executed, the health points displayed on the top page are The quest process will be displayed in a reduced amount. The physical strength points are recovered (increased) by one point each time a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) elapses.

The information providing unit 53 has a function of providing information regarding a plurality of answer items (objects) as options to the user.
Here, the timing at which the information regarding the plurality of answer items is provided may be set at random, may be set with a predetermined regularity (for example, a predetermined time), or may be a predetermined game It may be set when the condition is satisfied.
Here, the “object” may be anything as long as it is a selection target. For example, when the communication device is configured to be able to execute a game, it includes characters and items on the game. A character is, for example, a virtual person or creature on a game, or a monster, and includes those displayed on a card or the like (for example, a warrior card). The item may be, for example, a thing that the user can hold on the game, a thing that the user needs to collect on the game, or an advantage that the user has on the game. What may acquire an effect may be used.

In addition, the information providing unit 53 displays information on a plurality of answer items (objects) when a predetermined condition is satisfied during execution of the game by the user (when the search rate reaches 100% in the present embodiment). You may provide the function provided to the said user.
Here, the “predetermined condition” may be, for example, that the user has conquered (cleared) a predetermined area (part) on the game, or the user is in contact with a predetermined number of other users or characters. You may have won the match. In addition, the “predetermined condition” may be, for example, that the user has acquired a predetermined number of specific items, or that the progress of the game or the skill level of the user has reached a predetermined threshold or more. It may be.
In this case, when the user satisfies a predetermined condition in the game, the user selects one of the plurality of answer items, and extracts according to the number of times or the ratio of selecting the same answer item as the user. It becomes possible to be related (become a friend) with the selected friend candidate. For this reason, since the user can become a fellow candidate and a friend during the execution of the game, it is not necessary to perform a process for searching for a fellow candidate separately from the execution of the game. Thereby, a highly convenient mechanism for the user can be realized.

The function of the information provision means 53 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. Here, a case where it is determined that a predetermined condition in the area is satisfied when the search rate of the area to be executed by the user: KNM reaches 100% will be described as an example.
When the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 recognizes that the search rate has reached 100% by selecting the menu m10 on the web page shown in step S1 of FIG. 10, the web page of step S2 of FIG. HTML data for display is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of the user: KNM. Here, the CPU 21 accesses the game database 32 and extracts question items and data of a plurality of answer items corresponding to the question items from the questionnaire data. And CPU21 produces | generates HTML data so that the extracted data may be included in the web page of step S2. Here, the question items extracted from the questionnaire data and the plurality of answer items corresponding to the question items may be determined based on a predetermined order (for example, ascending order or descending order of question IDs) or randomly. It may be determined.

The acquisition unit 54 has a function of acquiring, for each user, information related to an operation for selecting one of the answer items (objects) from a plurality of answer items (objects).
Here, the “operation for selecting any answer” may be, for example, an operation directly performed on the communication device, or an operation performed on an external device accessible to the communication device. There may be.
The function of the acquisition means 54 is implement | achieved as follows, for example.
The CPU 21 of the communication server 20 receives a reply message from the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface unit 25 when any of the menus m11, m12, and m13 is selected on the web page shown in step S2 of FIG. To do. The reply message may include information indicating the menu selected from the menus m11, m12, and m13. Further, the web page shown in step S2 may be configured such that an answer message is automatically generated by a selection operation of any of the menus m11, m12, and m13. When receiving the reply message, the CPU 21 extracts information indicating the selected menu from the reply message. Then, the CPU 21 associates the answer ID of the answer item corresponding to the selected menu with the user ID of the user who performed the selection operation of any of the menus m11, m12, and m13 in the answer data (see FIG. 8). Record. For example, when the web page shown in step S2 of FIG. 11 is displayed on the communication terminal 10 of the user whose user ID is “000001”, the user selects the menu m11 (that is, “dog” as an answer item). Is selected), among the items corresponding to the user ID of the user in the answer data, the question ID corresponding to the question item (here, “Q002”) includes the answer ID corresponding to the answer item (here Then, “A002-1”) is recorded.

When the extraction unit 55 acquires information on the answer item (object) selected by the user (first user), the extracting unit 55 selects the same answer item as that user or the number of times the user has selected the answer item (object). The function which extracts a fellow candidate (2nd user) from is provided.
Here, “based on the number of times or the ratio” includes based on at least one of the number of times and the ratio, and includes, for example, based on the number of times and the ratio.
The function of the extraction means 55 is implement | achieved as follows, for example.
The CPU 21 of the communication server 20 accesses the game database 32 and refers to the answer data. Then, the number of times the CPU 21 has selected the same answer item as the user who performed the selection operation of any of the menus m11, m12, and m13 (that is, the number of question IDs associated with the same answer ID as the user) is predetermined. Other users having a value (for example, 2) or more are extracted as fellow candidates. Referring to the example of FIG. 8, for example, a user with a user ID “000001” selects an answer item corresponding to an answer ID “A002-1” for a question with a question ID “Q002”. When the predetermined value is “2”, the user with the user ID “000003” can be extracted as a friend candidate of the user with the user ID “000001”. In addition, when extracting a fellow candidate based only on the number of times that the same answer item as the user is selected, the number of other users whose answer items equal to or more than the predetermined number of users as the number of questions increases ( In other words, the number of fellow candidates) may be increased, but in order to suppress this, it may be configured to extract the fellow candidates together with the ratio of selecting the same answer item.
Moreover, CPU21 may extract the other user whose ratio which selected the same answer item as the user who performed selection operation is more than a predetermined value (for example, 25%) as a friend candidate. Here, the denominator of the ratio of selecting the same answer item as the user who performed the selection operation, for example, is recorded in the response data in association with the user's answer item number (that is, the user ID of the user who performed the selection operation). Or the number of answer items of other users (that is, the number of answer IDs recorded in the answer data in association with the user IDs of the other users). Alternatively, it may be the number of all question items in the answer data.
Further, the CPU 21 records the extracted friend candidate user ID in the RAM 23. And CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page shown to FIG.11 S3, and transmits the produced | generated HTML data to the communication terminal 10 of the user who performed selection operation.

The association means 56 has a function of associating a user (first user) with a fellow candidate (second user). Specifically, the association unit 56 registers the user ID in association with another user ID, triggered by an application based on the user ID. That is, the associating unit 56 registers a user corresponding to another user ID as a “mate” with an application based on the user ID as a trigger. In addition, in the following description, it is synonymous that a user ID has a friendship relationship and a corresponding user has a friendship relationship.
The association means 56 can be realized as follows. Here, a case where a user: KNM (first user) and a user: ABC extracted as a fellow candidate are related will be described as an example. In the web page shown in step S3 of FIG. 11, when the user: KNM selects the menu m14, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 generates HTML data for displaying the web page shown in step S4 of FIG. : Transmit to the communication terminal 10 of KNM. In addition, in generating the HTML data for the web page shown in step S <b> 4, the CPU 21 acquires a user name and a display image corresponding to the user ID of the fellow candidate recorded in the RAM 23 from the user database 31.
When the user: KNM selects the display area of the user: ABC on the web page in step S4, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 sends a friend application message specifying the user ID (or user name) of the user: ABC to the user: Accept from the KNM communication terminal 10. Transmission of this friend application message is preset as a function of a web page provided to each communication terminal 10 of the user.
When the CPU 21 accepts the friend application message, the CPU 21 accesses the communication terminal 10 corresponding to the user ID at the timing when there is access based on the user ID (here, user: ABC user ID) included in the friend application message. A web page for requesting whether or not to accept (approve) a friend application based on another user ID (here, user: KNM user ID) (web page shown in step S5 in FIG. 12) HTML data for displaying is transmitted. If the menu m15 is selected and operated in the web page shown in step S5 in FIG. 12 and an approval message for approving the fellow application is returned, the CPU 21 registers both as fellow users. Specifically, the CPU 21 writes the data in the location (see FIG. 6) of “friend user ID” of the user data of the corresponding two user IDs in the user database 31.
And CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page shown to FIG.12 S6, and transmits to the communication terminal 10 addressed to user: KNM. Moreover, CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page shown to FIG.12 S7, and transmits to the communication terminal 10 addressed to user: ABC.
Note that the conditions for associating users are not limited to the format that requires application and approval as described above, but the user who performs the same stage or area on the game or the user who has performed the battle, You may register as a user who is related within, that is, as a friend. Alternatively, users who transmit a predetermined number of greeting messages may be automatically registered as friends, and if there is a mode on the game in which a battle is performed between users, the user who has performed the battle a predetermined number of times or more You may automatically register each other as a friend.
Further, instead of directly associating users with each other, the users in the group may be associated with each other by associating each user with the same group (guild or the like). For example, when the user A can apply for the specific user B in the user associated with the predetermined group and obtain the approval of the specific user B, the predetermined group and Associate user A. In this way, by applying and approving specific users within a given group, whether or not they are directly applying and approving belonging to a given group The users may be related to each other.
In this embodiment, although the example which implement | achieves by registering data in the user database 31 by registering the friendship relationship between users was shown, it is not restricted to this example. The data regarding the friendship may be written in an external storage device on the network accessible from the game server 20.

(7) Flow of Main Processing of Communication Device of This Embodiment Next, an example of the flow of main processing performed by the communication device of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 14 is a flowchart when the quest process in one area is performed in the game of this embodiment.

First, when recognizing that the menu m1 for instructing execution of the quest process is selected on the top page shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 displays HTML for displaying the web page shown in step S1 of FIG. Data is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 (step S100). When it is recognized that the menu m10 ("search") has been selected (step S110: YES), the CPU 21 updates the search rate and the fitness point (step S120), and the search rate reaches 100%. In this case (step S130: YES), a questionnaire process is performed (step S140). The questionnaire process will be described later. If the search rate has not reached 100% (step S130: NO), the process proceeds to step S100.
Further, when the CPU 21 determines to give a warrior card with a predetermined or random probability from among a plurality of warrior cards prepared in advance for a quest, the CPU 21 gives the user a warrior card. Processing may be performed. The process of assigning a warrior card includes, for example, a process of updating user data based on the assigned warrior card.

Next, an example of a flow of main processing performed by the communication apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 15 is a flowchart when conducting a questionnaire process in the game of the present embodiment.
When the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 recognizes that the search rate has reached 100% in step S130 of the flow of FIG. 14, it generates HTML data for displaying the web page of step S2 of FIG. To the communication terminal 10 (step S200). Here, the CPU 21 accesses the game database 32 and extracts question items and data of a plurality of answer items corresponding to the question items from the questionnaire data. And CPU21 produces | generates HTML data so that the extracted data may be included in the web page of step S2.
Next, when any of the menus m11, m12, and m13 is selected on the web page shown in step S2 of FIG. 11 (step S210: YES), the CPU 21 communicates with the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface unit 25. Receive an answer message from. Then, the CPU 21 extracts information indicating the selected menu from the answer message, and selects the answer ID of the answer item corresponding to the selected menu from the user who performed the selection operation of any of the menus m11, m12, and m13. The response data (see FIG. 8) is recorded in association with the user ID (step S220).
Moreover, CPU21 extracts a fellow candidate from other users based on the frequency | count or ratio which selected the same answer item as the user who performed any selection operation of menu m11, m12, m13 (step S230). . And CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page shown to FIG.11 S3, and transmits to the communication terminal 10 of the user who performed selection operation (step S240).
Next, when the selection operation of the menu m14 is performed on the web page shown in step S3 of FIG. 11 (step S250: YES), the CPU 21 performs a friend application process described later (step S260). In addition, CPU21 may complete | finish a questionnaire process, when predetermined time passes, without selecting operation of menu m14 (step S250: NO).

Next, an example of a sequence of main processes performed by the communication device of this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. The sequence chart of FIG. 16 is a sequence chart when performing fellow application processing. Here, a case where a user: KNM (first user) and a user: ABC extracted as a fellow candidate are related will be described as an example.
In the web page shown in step S3 of FIG. 11, when the user: KNM selects the menu m14, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 generates HTML data for displaying the web page shown in step S4 of FIG. : Transmit to the communication terminal 10 of KNM (step S300).
When the user: KNM selects the display area of the user: ABC on the web page in step S4, the CPU 11 of the communication terminal 10 of the user: KNM transmits a friend application message to the communication server 20 (step S310). On the other hand, when the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 receives the friend application message, the communication terminal 10 corresponding to the user ID is accessed at the timing when there is an access based on the user ID (user: user ID of ABC) included in the friend application message. A web page for requesting to return whether or not to accept (approve) a friend application based on another user ID (user: KNM user ID) (web page shown in step S5 in FIG. 12) Is transmitted (step S320).

When the user: ABC selects and operates the menu m15 in the web page shown in step S5 of FIG. 12, the CPU 11 of the communication terminal 10 of the user: ABC transmits an approval message for approving the fellow application to the communication server 20 (step S330). When receiving the approval message, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 registers both the user: KNM and the user: ABC as friends. Specifically, the CPU 21 writes data in the “mate” portion (see FIG. 6) of the user data of the corresponding two user IDs in the user database 31 (step S340).
And CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page shown to FIG.12 S6, and transmits to the communication terminal 10 addressed to user: KNM (step S350). Further, the CPU 21 generates HTML data for displaying the web page shown in step S7 of FIG. 12, and transmits the HTML data to the communication terminal 10 of the user: ABC (step S360).

  As described above, according to the communication device of the embodiment, when the user selects any one of the plurality of answer items, the friend candidates extracted according to the number of times or the ratio of selecting the same answer item as the user, Be related (become friends). For this reason, since the user has the commonality that the same answer item is selected, the friend candidate has a sense of familiarity. Thereby, since a user can be motivated so that the degree of relation with a fellow candidate may be raised, the exchange between users can be promoted and by extension, the close relationship between users can be built.

In the present embodiment, the condition for presenting options is a predetermined condition that is satisfied by advancing the game in a game that proceeds based on a user's operation, but is not limited thereto. It suffices if options are presented to the user during the execution of the game, and the conditions for presenting the options may not be set based on whether or not the conditions regarding the progress of the game by the user are satisfied. For example, each time the user logs in a predetermined number of times, the answer item by the user may be accepted by presenting the question item and a plurality of answer items corresponding to the question item on the top page. That is, it is not necessary to execute the quest as a condition for presenting options to the user.
In particular, in the social game or online game described in this embodiment, a large number of users participate in the game, and the timing of accessing the game, the frequency with which the user executes the game, and the progress rate of the game are between users. Therefore, the timing for presenting the same question item and a plurality of answer items (options) corresponding to the question item is different for each user. Therefore, the content of the answer data corresponding to the question item at the time when the same question item is presented differs for each user.
For example, when the same question item is presented to the user every time the user logs in, the question item is presented to the user U1 who has logged in at the timing T1, and the same question item is presented to the user U2 who has logged in to T2 later than T1. Even in the case where the answer is made, the answer data for the question item (see FIG. 8) is updated with the answer of the other user between the timings T1 and T2, so that the processing for the user U1 and the user U2 has the same options. Even if it exists, the content of the answer data which CPU21 refers will differ.
Moreover, when presenting options according to the user's operation as in the present embodiment, the timing for presenting the options differs for each user according to the progress of the user's game. Therefore, the option A when the user U1 selects the option A at the time when the user U1 selects the option A for the same question item, and the option U when the user U2 whose progress of the game is delayed from the user U1 selects the option A are selected. The selected user will be different. More specifically, when the user U1 selects the option A, the user who selects the option A before the time when the user U1 selects the option A becomes a fellow candidate, and thus the user whose game progress is slower than the user U1. U2 is not a candidate for the user U1. On the other hand, since the user U1 has already selected the same option as the user U2 when the user U2 selects the option A, the game progresses faster than the user U2 and the user who has selected the same option A A user including U1 becomes a friend candidate of the user U2.
That is, in this embodiment, a user whose game progress is earlier than the user, that is, a user who knows the game situation ahead can be presented to the user as a friend candidate. Therefore, for example, it is possible to activate communication such as making an inquiry about a game to another user (a user who has advanced the game earlier) with whom the user has become a friend.

  Unlike the present embodiment, when it is assumed that other users' information is provided to the user by referring to the fixed answer data, for example, a period common to each user for presenting the question item has elapsed. After that, when referring to the response data recorded after the lapse of the period and providing information on other users based on the selection result of each user, information on the user who selected the same option However, users with various degrees of progress are included, and there is a possibility that communication between users is not necessarily activated.

  Note that, as in the present embodiment, for example, the user U1 (first user) may acquire the information of the user who selected the option A on the basis of the time when the option A is selected. Information on the user who selected the option A may be acquired based on the point of time when the option A is presented as one of the options.

(8) Modified Example In the above-described embodiment, the case where a battle using a plurality of cards is performed has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, various objects such as a user's avatar image may be used instead of the card. Moreover, the card | curd and object in a battle may not be plural, and a single card | curd and an object may be sufficient. Alternatively, a battle may be performed without using an object such as a card.
Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described.

(8-1) Modification 1
In the above embodiment, when the extraction unit 55 acquires information about the answer item (object) selected by the user (first user) a plurality of times, the number of times that the same answer item as the user is selected is obtained. Other users having a predetermined value or more may be extracted as fellow candidates (second users).
In this case, since the user can relate (become a friend) with the same candidate who has continuously selected the same answer item, the closer the same answer item is selected, the more familiarity with the friend candidate. It can be a mechanism that increases.

  The function of the extraction means 55 in this modification is implement | achieved as follows. The CPU 21 of the communication server 20 refers to the answer data in the process of step S230 of the flow of FIG. 15, and selects another user who has continuously selected the same answer item as the user a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) as a fellow candidate. Extract. In this case, the contents of questions provided to each user may be set in advance in a predetermined order (such as ascending order or descending order of question IDs).

(8-2) Modification 2
In the above embodiment, the extraction means 55 determines the number of times or the ratio of selecting the same answer item as the user within a predetermined period based on the acquisition of information on the answer item (object) selected by the user (first user). Based on this, a fellow candidate (second user) may be extracted.
Here, “within a predetermined period based on the acquisition of information on the answer item selected by the user” means, for example, when the information on the answer item selected by the user is acquired as a reference time, It may be within a predetermined period before the reference time, may be within a predetermined period after the reference time, or may be within a predetermined period including before and after the reference time.
In this case, for example, the user can be associated (become a friend) with a fellow candidate who has selected the same answer item in approximately the same time zone, so in addition to selecting the same answer item, in the same time zone It can be set as the mechanism which makes the said user produce the closeness to the friend candidate by having selected the reply item.

In the acquisition unit 54 in the present modification, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 may store the answer data illustrated in FIG. 17 in the game database 32 in advance instead of the answer data illustrated in FIG. The answer data shown in FIG. 17 includes the question ID included in the questionnaire data shown in FIG. 7, the answer ID of the answer item selected by the user for the question item of the question ID, and the answer date (answer item selection date). Is associated with each user ID. For example, when the CPU 21 recognizes that one of the menus m11, m12, and m13 has been selected in step S210 of the flow of FIG. 15, the CPU 21 acquires information related to the date and time when the selection has been recognized. Then, it may be recorded in the answer data of FIG. Note that the date and time information may be acquired using a timer built in the CPU 21 or may be transmitted from the communication terminal 10 in a state included in the answer message.
Moreover, the function of the extraction means 55 in this modification is implement | achieved as follows. When the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 obtains an answer message from the user's communication terminal 10, the answer item same as that of the user within a predetermined period (for example, within one hour) before the reference time with the time when the answer message is acquired as the reference time. Other users who have selected the number of times or the ratio is selected as a friend candidate (for example, the number of times selected is 2 or more, or the selected ratio is 20% or more). For example, in the example of FIG. 17, when a user with a user ID “000001” answers a question with a question ID “Q002”, a user with a user ID “000003” can be extracted as a candidate for the user. The user with the user ID “000005” is supposed to select the same answer item as the user with the user ID “000001”, but the date and time when the answer item is selected does not satisfy the extraction condition, so Not extracted as.

(8-3) Modification 3
In the above-described embodiment, the information providing unit 53 may determine the provision contents of information related to the N + 1th plurality of answer items (objects) based on the Nth (N is a natural number) selection result by the user.
In this case, for example, information on a plurality of answer items respectively associated with the answer items selected for the Nth time can be provided as information on the plurality of answer items for the (N + 1) th time. Thereby, for example, other users closer to the user can be extracted as fellow candidates.

  The function of the information provision means 53 in this modification is implement | achieved as follows. For example, in the questionnaire data of FIG. 7, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 may record the answer ID corresponding to the question ID provided for the Nth time and the question ID provided for the (N + 1) th time in association with each other. For example, “Do you like animals?” Is set as the question item for the N-th question, and “Yes” (answer ID is A00N-1) and “No” are the answer items for the question. When (answer ID is A00N-2) is set, the answer ID “A00N-1” is associated with the question ID corresponding to the question item “Do you like dogs?” The question ID corresponding to the question item “Do you like cars?” Is associated with the answer ID “2”. In this case, when the user selects the answer item “Yes” for the Nth question, the question item of the question provided for the N + 1th question is “Do you like dogs?”. When the user selects the answer item “No” for the Nth question, the question item of the question provided for the N + 1th question is “Do you like cars?”.

(8-4) Modification 4
FIG. 18 shows a functional block diagram of Modification 4 of the communication apparatus of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, this functional block diagram is different from that shown in FIG. 13 in that an adding means 57 is added. The granting unit 57 has a function of granting a privilege to at least one of the user and the fellow candidate when the user (first user) and the fellow candidate (second user) are associated with each other. Prepare.
Here, the “privilege” may be any special right, treatment, benefit, etc. given to at least one of the users and fellow candidates. For example, the communication device is configured so that the game can be executed. If it is, it may be a point or item on the game or an advantageous effect on the game.
Further, the advantageous effect on the game may be, for example, increasing the parameter of the item held by the user on the game, or the ability of the warrior card (character) held on the game by the user to It may be improved without using it, or the user may be able to obtain a special item. Further, the advantageous effect on the game may be that the setting is adjusted so as to facilitate the progress of the game. For example, points on the game that are consumed in accordance with the user's operation (for example, physical fitness) (Point) consumption may be reduced more than usual, the point may be available, or the progress rate of the game according to the user's operation or the like is increased more than usual. There may be. Further, the advantageous effect on the game may be that the setting on the game is adjusted so that the game can be indirectly advantageous, for example, an event that allows the user to acquire a special item is generated. It may be possible to increase the probability that the parameter of the item will increase significantly.
Furthermore, “giving a privilege to the user” may mean storing information on the privilege in a predetermined storage device (for example, the user database 31) in a state in which the information is associated with the user ID of the user. Further, the predetermined storage device may be provided in the communication server 20, for example, or may be provided in the user communication terminal 10 or the like.
Furthermore, when the privilege on a game is provided, the privilege on a game may be the privilege on the same game as the game which a user performs, and on other games different from the game which a user performs It may be a privilege. Here, different different games, for example, in the case of one game series, where the game configuration and genre are substantially the same but the game titles are different (for example, “Game A (2011 version)” and “ Game A (2012 version) ”and the like.

  In this case, in order to obtain a privilege, the user is motivated to become a friend candidate and a friend. For this reason, since the exchange between users can be promoted, the social property of the communication service can be enhanced.

The function of the provision means 57 is realizable as follows. In addition, it is assumed that the content of the privilege granted to the user is recorded in the ROM 22 in advance. When the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 recognizes that the selection operation of the menu m11 has been performed on the web page shown in step S3 of FIG. 9, a process of granting a privilege to each of the users associated with each other as friends. I do. In addition, the process which provides a privilege may be a process which associates the user ID of the user used as grant object, and the point and item provided. For example, when giving a warrior card to a user as a privilege, the CPU 21 rewrites the number of warriors in the user data of the user ID of the user to be given and the data of the possessed card (increasing the number of warriors and image of the warrior card And a process of additionally writing parameters and the like.
In addition, although the case where a privilege is granted to each of users who are related to each other as a friend is described here, the user who made the fellow application or the fellow candidate who received (approved) the fellow application You may give a privilege only to either one.

Moreover, when giving an item, a point, etc. to a user as a privilege, in the process which provides a privilege, CPU21 associates the user ID of the user used as provision object, and the point, item provided, and user database 31. You may make it memorize. For example, when a predetermined amount of physical strength points is immediately recovered (increased) as a privilege, the CPU 21 rewrites the physical strength points in the user data of the user ID of the user to be granted (adds the predetermined amount of physical strength points). Processing). Moreover, when an item, a point, etc. are provided to a user as a privilege, the frequency | count that an item, a point, etc. are provided may be 1 time, and may be multiple times.
When the privilege is to increase the ability value of the warrior card held by the user for a predetermined period (privilege grant period) after the privilege is granted, the CPU 21 determines the user ID of the user to be granted. You may perform the process which adds the capability value of the possession card | curd in user data by a predetermined ratio. In this case, since the user can increase the possibility of winning a battle with another user in the battle process within the privilege grant period, the game can be advanced more advantageously than the other users. In addition, CPU21 returns the capability value of a possession card to the original value, when a privilege provision period is complete | finished.
Furthermore, when the privilege is a privilege on another game different from the game of the present embodiment, the CPU 21 has a user ID of a user who is a privilege grant target, a message for notifying that the privilege is granted, and the like. May be transmitted to a communication system that controls the execution of another game. In this case, the communication system that controls the execution of other games may be configured similarly to the communication system of the present embodiment.

(8-5) Modification 5
FIG. 19 shows a functional block diagram of Modification 5 of the communication apparatus of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, this functional block diagram is different from that shown in FIG. 13 in that a notification means 58 is added. The notification means 58 is the same that the user and the fellow candidate have selected for at least one of the user and the fellow candidate in associating the user (first user) and the fellow candidate (second user). A function of notifying information on answer items (objects) is provided.
In this case, when the user or the fellow candidate is related to each other, the same answer item selected by the user and the fellow candidate can be confirmed. Thereby, since a closeness with respect to the other party who is related can be produced in a user or a fellow candidate, it can be set as the structure which activates communication between users.

The function of the notification means 58 in this modification is implement | achieved as follows. For example, the CPU 21 of the communication server 20 generates HTML data for displaying the web page exemplified in step S8 of FIG. 20 instead of the web page exemplified in step S4 of FIG. May be transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of the user (here, user: KNM) who has performed the selection operation of step S3). The web page shown in step S8 includes text indicating the same answer items ("white" and "dog" in the example in the figure) selected by the user and the fellow candidates. In this case, when generating the HTML data for the web page in step S8, the CPU 21 acquires from the questionnaire data the answer item corresponding to the answer ID used for extracting the fellow candidates and includes the HTML data in the HTML data.
Further, for example, the CPU 21 generates HTML data for displaying the web page exemplified in step S9 in FIG. 20 instead of the web page exemplified in step S5 in FIG. : ABC) may be transmitted to the communication terminal 10. The web page shown in step S9 includes text indicating the same answer items ("white" and "dog" in the example in the figure) selected by the user and the fellow candidates, as in the web page of step S8. .

(8-6) Modification 6
In the said embodiment, when a user and a fellow candidate are related, you may provide the notification means 58 which classify | categorizes and notifies a fellow candidate based on the same answer item which the user and the fellow candidate selected. . The functional block diagram of this modification is the same as that shown in FIG. In this case, since the user can confirm the friend candidate related with self for every answer item, he can aim at the exchange according to the taste of the friend candidate.
The function of the notification means 58 in this modification is implement | achieved as follows. The CPU 21 of the communication server 20 may generate, for example, HTML data for displaying the web page shown in FIG. 21 and send it to the communication terminal 10 of the user (user: KNM in the example in the figure). The web page shown in FIG. 21 includes a display area for displaying information on fellow candidates related as peers for each answer item selected in the same way as the user. For example, in the example of FIG. 21, the user: ABC is related to the user: KNM by selecting the answer item that the favorite color is “white” and the favorite animal is “dog”. It turns out that it is a friend. Further, it is understood that the user “TMP” is a friend who is related to the user: KNM by selecting an answer item whose hobby is “game” and whose age is “20s”.
In addition, when recording the friend candidate as a friend in the user database 31, the CPU 21 associates the user ID of the friend candidate with the answer ID used for extracting the friend candidate and records it in the user database 31. Good. And when CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for the display of the web page shown in FIG. 21, the user ID and display image corresponding to a fellow user ID, and reply ID matched with the said fellow user ID, HTML data may be generated so as to be included in the web page. Further, the CPU 21 may generate HTML data so that a menu for displaying the web page shown in FIG. 21 is provided on the top page of FIG.

(8-7) Modification 7
In the said embodiment, when a user and a fellow candidate are related, the notification means 58 which classifies a fellow candidate and notifies it to a user based on the frequency | count or ratio which the user and the fellow candidate selected the same answer item. You may prepare. The functional block diagram of this modification is the same as that shown in FIG. In this case, the user can check the fellow candidates associated with the user every time the same answer item is selected or for each ratio, so that the exchange can be performed according to the degree of relation with the fellow candidates.
In this case, CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page contained for every frequency | count or ratio which the display area which displays the information of the friend candidate linked | related as a friend selected the same answer item as a user. Thus, it may be transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10. In addition, CPU21 matches the user ID of the said fellow candidate, and the frequency | count or ratio which the said fellow candidate selected the same answer item as a user, when recording a fellow candidate in the user database 31 as a friend. May be recorded. When the CPU 21 generates HTML data for displaying the web page, the CPU 21 displays the user name and display image corresponding to the fellow user ID and the number of times or the ratio associated with the fellow user ID. HTML data may be generated so as to be included in the page.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. In addition, it goes without saying that each embodiment may be variously improved and changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. The technical matters described in the above embodiment and each modification may be applied in appropriate combination.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the communication device executes a game has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any communication device. For example, a plurality of options that can be used in a communication service that allows data to be transmitted / received and shared between a plurality of users via a network (for example, text data such as comments and messages, image data, and voice data). In the case where the information related to the object is configured to be provided to the user, the configuration of the present invention can be suitably applied. In such a communication device, for example, information on a plurality of objects as options can be obtained according to the number of times of login and the number of times of communication between users by sending or receiving comments, messages, or items on the game. May be provided.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the game to be executed is a battle game using a warrior card has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to any game. For example, in games of various genres such as role-playing games, table games, puzzle games, sports games, racing games, shooting games, action games, adventure games, simulation games, etc. When the information is configured to be provided to the user, the configuration of the above embodiment can be suitably applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a social game has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even in a so-called online communication system in which a server device placed on a network and a home online game machine are connected, it goes without saying that the progress of a game by each user can be controlled as in the above-described embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, a predetermined operation input such as a selection operation of an option is performed by inputting a pressing operation of a predetermined operation button on a user's communication terminal or a touch operation on a display screen for a communication terminal having a touch panel function. Although it is an input, the operation input is not limited to this. The operation input may be an operation input by shaking a communication terminal provided with an acceleration sensor, or an operation input by gesture (gesture input). In gesture input, by performing a predetermined gesture on a communication terminal having an imaging function, the communication terminal recognizes an image of the gesture and recognizes an operation input previously associated with the gesture. In the case of a communication terminal capable of executing a voice recognition program, the operation input may be performed by inputting voice.

  In the above-described embodiment, the communication server 20 and the database server 30 on the network are configured to realize the functions of the information providing unit 53, the acquiring unit 54, the extracting unit 55, and the associating unit 56. I can't. All these means may be realized by the communication terminal 10, or at least a part of the means may be realized by the communication terminal 10. Since the communication terminal 10 and the communication server 20 can have substantially the same hardware configuration, each function can be realized by the communication terminal 10 as described in the above embodiment. For example, FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B each show an example of function sharing between the communication terminal 10, the communication server 20, and the database server 30 for each function in the functional block diagram shown in FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the database server 30 (game database 32) stores various data (for example, questionnaire data and answer data). However, the data is stored in the storage device in the communication terminal 10. Also good. In that case, the storage device may be a RAM 13 in the communication terminal 10, a mass storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) (not shown), a flash memory, or the like.

Claims (12)

Information providing means for providing information on a plurality of objects as options to the user;
Obtaining means for obtaining information on an operation for selecting any object from the plurality of objects for each user;
An extracting means for extracting a second user from among the users based on the number of times or the ratio of selecting the same object as the first user when information on the object selected by the first user is acquired; ,
Association means for associating the first user with the second user;
Communication device equipped with. An execution means for executing the game,
The information providing means provides the user with information related to the plurality of objects when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the execution of the game by the user.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. When the information relating to the object selected by the first user is acquired a plurality of times, the extracting means selects a user whose number of consecutive selections of the same object as the first user is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. It is characterized by being extracted as a user of
The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The extraction means determines the second user based on the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user within a predetermined period based on acquisition of information on the object selected by the first user. Characterized by extracting,
The communication apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3. The information providing means determines the content to be provided of the information regarding the N + 1th object based on the Nth (N is a natural number) selection result by the user.
The communication apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4. The plurality of objects include an object related to the user's preference,
The communication device according to claim 1. When the first user and the second user are related to each other, there is provided granting means for granting a privilege to at least one of the first user and the second user. It is characterized by
The communication apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-6. In associating the first user with the second user, the first user and the second user with respect to at least one of the first user and the second user. Comprising a notification means for notifying information on the same object selected by
The communication apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-7. Providing the user with information about multiple objects to choose from;
Obtaining information on an operation for selecting any object from the plurality of objects for each user;
A step of extracting a second user from among the users based on the number of times or the ratio of selecting the same object as the first user when acquiring information about the object selected by the first user;
Associating the first user with the second user;
A communication method with On the computer,
The ability to provide users with information about multiple objects to choose from,
A function of acquiring information on an operation for selecting any object from the plurality of objects for each user and storing the information in a storage device;
When acquiring information about the object selected by the first user, the second user is extracted from the users based on the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user, and A function of acquiring information about the second user from the storage device, and a function of associating the first user with the second user,
A program to realize   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 10 is recorded. A communication system including a communication terminal and a server accessed from the communication terminal,
Information providing means for providing information on a plurality of objects as options to the user;
An acquisition unit that acquires, for each user, information related to an operation of selecting any one of the plurality of objects;
An extracting means for extracting a second user from the user based on the number or ratio of selecting the same object as the first user when information on the object selected by the first user is acquired;
Association means for associating the first user with the second user;
Each of the means is provided in either the communication terminal or the server,
Communication system.

Images