WO2013069185A1 - Server device, program, reward-granting method, and reward-granting system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a server device, program, reward-granting method, and reward-granting system that can draw a user's attention to contents delivered to the user. The server device is connected to a communications terminal operated by the user through a network. The server device stores multiple events, which can occur in contents delivered to a user, and rewards corresponding to the events. When one of the events occurs in the contents, the server device, for example, puts the event details and reward details in a state that can be transmitted to the communications terminal and when a transmission request is received, communicates same to the communications terminal. When a reward request is received from the communications terminal, the server device determines the reward that corresponds to the occurring event and is to be granted to the user. When so doing, the period for receiving a reward request is set to be from the time the event occurs until completion of content delivery, at the latest.

Description

Server device, program, privilege grant method, privilege grant system

The present invention relates to a technique for giving a privilege to a user who operates a communication terminal connectable to a network.

Conventionally, for example, a system is known in which a user predicts the outcome of a baseball game, for example, in advance, and points are given to the user who is predicted after the match. For example, Patent Literature 1 accepts prediction data corresponding to a user's prediction content for an event such as a win or loss of a professional baseball game result from the user's terminal device, and registers the received prediction data in association with the user. In addition, a network game server device is disclosed in which a predetermined point is given to a user when expected data and result data that is an event that has actually occurred satisfy a predetermined condition.

JP 2003-000954 A

By the way, in general, various attempts have been made to attract viewers' attention to contents such as professional baseball or its broadcast program. In particular, it is designed to attract viewers' attention to content provided over a relatively long period of time, such as sports programs provided in real time by television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, or Internet broadcasting. There is a demand for a new mechanism for raising The above-described known system can also be considered as one of attempts to attract the viewer's attention to the content. However, in this system, the viewer's attention is always continuously attracted to the content. It is not possible. In the above-described known system, for example, the user can know whether or not points are awarded if only the results of winning or losing the baseball game are known, so that the motivation for continuously watching the baseball game from the beginning to the end is provided. This is because it must not.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described viewpoints, and provides a server device, a program, a privilege granting method, and a privilege granting system that can continuously attract the user's attention to the content provided to the user. The purpose is to do.

The server apparatus disclosed below may be any information processing apparatus that can establish a connection with each of a large number or a large number of users' communication terminals via communication. Such a server device may be, for example, one or a plurality of servers arranged on a network, or a large computer device. In addition, the user and the communication terminal do not necessarily have a fixed one-to-one correspondence, and a usage mode of the communication terminal in which a plurality of users share a single communication terminal is also assumed. Therefore, this server apparatus may manage a user for each user identification information such as a user ID as information that can uniquely identify the user.

The server device according to the first aspect is as follows.
[First viewpoint]
A server device connected via a network to a communication terminal operated by a user,
Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
A privilege granting means for determining that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is granted to a user when a privilege request from a communication terminal is received;
A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest;
A server device comprising:

In this server device, when an event occurs in the content provided to the user in real time, a privilege corresponding to the event is notified to the user's communication terminal. Then, for example, a privilege request for granting a privilege is made from the communication terminal to the server device in response to a predetermined operation on the user's communication terminal. Here, the period for receiving the privilege request is limited from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest. Since the period for receiving the privilege request is limited, the user is motivated to keep an eye on the content being performed in real time so as not to miss an event that may occur in the content.
There may be one event.

The server device according to the second aspect is as follows.
[Second viewpoint]
The timing setting means is characterized in that the period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the first event is limited to the timing of the occurrence of the second event following the first event,
The server apparatus described in the 1st viewpoint.

According to this server device, when content that can generate a plurality of events is provided to the user, the time limit for obtaining a privilege for a certain event is limited until the next event occurs. Therefore, in order to obtain a lot of benefits, the user is required to perform an operation for promptly requesting benefits after an event occurs, and motivates them to keep an eye on content. It can be further increased.

The server device according to the third aspect is as follows.
[Third viewpoint]
The timing setting means may limit a period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of an event to a predetermined time from the occurrence timing of the event, or after the occurrence of the event and to a timing of the break of the content. Features
The server apparatus described in the 1st viewpoint.

In this server device, the period for receiving the privilege request can be appropriately set according to the nature of the content provided to the user. For example, if the event does not occur frequently due to the nature of the content, the first event is more limited than the time limit for obtaining the benefit for the first event before the second event occurs. In some cases, it may be appropriate to limit the time to a predetermined time.

The server device according to the fourth aspect is as follows.
[Fourth aspect]
The timing of notifying the communication terminal by the privilege notification means is different for each user or for each group consisting of a plurality of users.
The server device according to any one of the first to third aspects.

According to this server device, since the timing of the transmission process when notifying one or both of the event content and the privilege content to a large number of users is distributed particularly for a large number of users, the load is reduced. It is reduced. Moreover, since the timing which receives a privilege request | requirement from the communication terminal of many users who request | require grant of a privilege after notification is distributed, the load of the process accompanying grant of a privilege is also reduced.

The server device according to the fifth aspect is as follows.
[Fifth aspect]
The order of the timing of notifying the communication terminal by the privilege notification means is changed randomly or in order for each event occurrence, in units of users or in groups of a plurality of users.
The server apparatus described in the 4th viewpoint.

According to this server apparatus, when the timing of notifying the communication terminal by the privilege notification means is different for each user or for each group consisting of a plurality of users, the timing ahead is fixed for each user or each group. Is avoided. In other words, since the transmission timing changes for each user every time an event occurs, only a specific user or a specific group of users does not always delay the notification timing. Therefore, the fairness among users is not impaired while reducing the processing load.

The server device according to the sixth aspect is as follows.
[Sixth aspect]
It is characterized by comprising a notification means for notifying the communication terminal of the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event before the provision of the content is started,
The server device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

According to this server device, since the user can know the benefits that can be obtained in the content before the provision of the content is started, the user can be given an opportunity to view the content.

The server device according to the seventh aspect is as follows.
[Seventh aspect]
The privilege granting means transmits a privilege determined to be granted to a user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content to a communication terminal after the provision of the content,
The server device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

According to this server device, since the privilege transmission process is performed after the provision of the content, it is possible to avoid overlapping with the processing timing of the privilege notification unit and the privilege grant unit performed when the content is provided. . Therefore, the processing load of the server device is reduced.

The server device according to the eighth aspect is as follows.
[Eighth aspect]
The privilege granting means transmits the privilege determined to be given to the user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content in a batch in association with the content, to the communication terminal.
The server apparatus described in any one of 7th viewpoints.

According to this server device, since the privilege determined to be given to the user in response to an event occurring in the content is transmitted to the communication terminal in a batch in association with the content after the provision of the content, The user can easily recognize the privilege obtained by viewing the content.

The program according to the ninth aspect is as follows.
[Ninth viewpoint]
A program for giving a privilege to a user who operates a communication terminal connectable to a network,
A storage function for storing, in a storage device, an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event;
When the event occurs in the content, a privilege notification function that notifies the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received, a privilege granting function for deciding to grant a privilege corresponding to the generated event to the user;
A timing setting function for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest,
A program to realize

The privilege grant method according to the tenth aspect is as follows.
[Tenth aspect]
A privilege granting method to a user performed between a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected via a network,
The server device stores an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
The server device, when the event occurs in the content, notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
The communication terminal makes a privilege request to the server device in response to a predetermined operation;
When the server device receives the privilege request, the step of determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the generated event;
Including
The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest.
Benefit granting method.

The privilege grant method according to the eleventh aspect is as follows.
[Eleventh viewpoint]
A privilege granting method for a user using a communication terminal,
Storing an event that may occur in content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, notifying the communication terminal of the event content that occurred and either or both of the privilege content corresponding to the event;
The communication terminal makes a privilege request to the server device in response to a predetermined operation;
Determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the event that occurred when the privilege request is received;
Including
The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest.
Benefit granting method.

The privilege grant system according to the twelfth aspect is as follows.
[Twelfth aspect]
A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
The server device
Storage means for storing an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event;
When the event occurs in the content, privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
A privilege granting means for determining that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is granted to a user when a privilege request from a communication terminal is received;
A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest;
A privilege granting system.

The privilege grant system according to the thirteenth aspect is as follows.
[13th viewpoint]
A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
Storage means for storing an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event;
When the event occurs in the content, privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
A privilege granting means for determining that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is granted to a user when a privilege request from a communication terminal is received;
A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest;
A privilege granting system.

The server device according to the fourteenth aspect is as follows.
[Fourteenth aspect]
A server device connected to a communication terminal via communication,
Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, transmission enabling means for making a transmission ready state in which either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal;
In a transmittable state, when a transmission request from a communication terminal is accepted, a privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content and the privilege content;
When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified, a privilege grant is determined to grant a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred to the user. Means,
A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
A server device comprising:

In this server device, when an event occurs in the content provided to the user, the event content and privilege content are placed in a transmittable state without being automatically notified to the user's communication terminal. For example, the notification is made when a transmission request from the communication terminal is received by a predetermined operation or the like of the user's communication terminal. Therefore, unless the user recognizes that an event has occurred in the content and performs a predetermined operation, the communication terminal is not notified of the event content and / or the benefit content. That is, the user cannot recognize an event that occurs in the content unless the content is continuously viewed. In addition, in order for a privilege to be granted to a user, it is required to perform a predetermined operation or the like for making a privilege request addressed to a server device from a communication terminal, for example, while receiving the above notification. The period for receiving the privilege request is limited from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest. Therefore, in order for the user to obtain a privilege, it is required that the content is continuously viewed and the occurrence timing of the event is reliably recognized. Therefore, the user is motivated to keep an eye on the content so as not to miss an event that may occur in the content.
There may be one event.

The server device according to the fifteenth aspect is as follows.
[Fifteenth aspect]
The timing setting means is characterized in that the period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the first event is limited to the timing of the occurrence of the second event following the first event,
The server apparatus described in the 14th viewpoint.

According to this server device, when content that can generate a plurality of events is provided to the user, the time limit for obtaining a privilege for a certain event is limited until the next event occurs. Therefore, in order to obtain a lot of benefits, the user is required to perform an operation for promptly requesting benefits after an event occurs, and motivates them to keep an eye on content. It can be further increased.

The server device according to the sixteenth aspect is as follows.
[16th viewpoint]
The timing setting means may limit a period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of an event to a predetermined time from the occurrence timing of the event, or after the occurrence of the event and to a timing of the break of the content. Features
The server apparatus described in the 14th viewpoint.

In this server device, the period for receiving the privilege request can be appropriately set according to the nature of the content provided to the user. For example, if the event does not occur frequently due to the nature of the content, the first event is more limited than the time limit for obtaining the benefit for the first event before the second event occurs. It may be more appropriate to limit to a predetermined time.

The server device according to the seventeenth aspect is as follows.
[17th viewpoint]
The transmission enabling means is characterized in that the timing for making the transmission ready state is made different for each user or for each group consisting of a plurality of users.
The server device according to any one of the fourteenth to sixteenth aspects.

According to this server device, since the timing of the transmission process when notifying one or both of the event content and the privilege content to a large number of users is distributed particularly for a large number of users, the load is reduced. It is reduced. Moreover, since the timing which receives a privilege request | requirement from the communication terminal of many users who request | require grant of a privilege after notification is distributed, the load of the process accompanying grant of a privilege is also reduced.

The server device according to the eighteenth aspect is as follows.
[Eighteenth aspect]
The order of the timing for enabling the transmission is changed in units of users or in units of groups of a plurality of users, randomly or in sequence for each event occurrence,
The server apparatus described in the seventeenth aspect.

According to this server apparatus, when the timing for enabling transmission is made different for each user or for each group consisting of a plurality of users, it is avoided that the timing is fixed for each user or group. Is done. In other words, every time an event occurs, the timing for enabling transmission is changed for each user, so that the timing for enabling transmission only to a specific user or a specific group of users is always delayed. There is no. Therefore, the fairness among users is not impaired while reducing the processing load.

The server device according to the nineteenth aspect is as follows.
[19th viewpoint]
It is characterized by comprising a notification means for notifying the communication terminal of the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event before the provision of the content is started,
The server device according to any one of the fourteenth to eighteenth aspects.

According to this server device, since the user can know the benefits that can be obtained in the content before the provision of the content is started, the user can be given an opportunity to view the content.

The server device according to the twentieth aspect is as follows.
[20th viewpoint]
The privilege granting means transmits a privilege determined to be granted to a user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content to a communication terminal after the provision of the content,
The server device according to any one of the fourteenth to nineteenth aspects.

According to this server device, since the privilege transmission process is performed after the provision of the content, it is possible to avoid overlapping with the processing timing of the privilege notification unit and the privilege grant unit performed when the content is provided. . Therefore, the processing load of the server device is reduced.

The server device according to the twenty-first aspect is as follows.
[21st viewpoint]
The privilege granting means transmits the privilege determined to be given to the user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content in a batch in association with the content, to the communication terminal.
The server device described in the twentieth aspect.

According to this server device, since the privilege determined to be given to the user in response to an event occurring in the content is transmitted to the communication terminal in a batch in association with the content after the provision of the content, The user can easily recognize the privilege obtained by viewing the content.

The program according to the twenty-second aspect is as follows.
[22nd viewpoint]
A program for giving a privilege to a user who operates a communication terminal connectable to a network,
A storage function for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, a transmission enabling function for making a transmission ready state in which either or both of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal;
In a transmittable state, when a transmission request from a communication terminal is accepted, a privilege notification function that notifies the communication terminal of either or both of the event content and the privilege content;
When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified, a privilege grant is determined to grant a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred to the user. Function and
A timing setting function for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
A program to realize

The privilege grant method according to the twenty-third aspect is as follows.
[23rd viewpoint]
A privilege granting method to a user performed between a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected via a network,
The server device storing an event that can occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
The server device, when the event occurs in the content, a step of making the transmission possible state in which both or any one of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal; ,
A step in which the communication terminal makes a transmission request to the server device according to a predetermined operation;
In a transmittable state, when the transmission request is accepted, a step of notifying a communication terminal of either or both of the event content and privilege content;
The communication terminal makes a privilege request to the server device in response to a predetermined operation in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified;
When the server device receives the privilege request, the step of determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the generated event;
Including
The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest,
Benefit granting method.

The privilege grant method according to the twenty-fourth aspect is as follows.
[24th viewpoint]
A privilege granting method for a user using a communication terminal,
Storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, the step of making a displayable state in which the communication terminal can display both or any one of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
In a displayable state, when a display request corresponding to a predetermined operation is received, a step in which a communication terminal displays both or any one of the event content and the privilege content;
Receiving a privilege request according to a predetermined operation in a state where at least one of the event content and the privilege content is displayed;
Determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the event that occurred when the privilege request is received;
Including
The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the displayable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest,
Benefit granting method.

The privilege grant system according to the twenty-fifth aspect is as follows.
[25th viewpoint]
A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
The server device
Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, transmission enabling means for making a transmission ready state in which either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal;
In a transmittable state, when a transmission request from a communication terminal is accepted, a privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content and the privilege content;
When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified, a privilege grant is determined to grant a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred to the user. Means,
A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
A privilege granting system.

The privilege grant system according to the twenty-sixth aspect is as follows.
[26th viewpoint]
A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
When the event occurs in the content, display enabling means for making the displayable state in which the communication terminal can display both or any one of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
In a display enabled state, when a display request according to a predetermined operation is received, a display means for displaying a communication terminal on both or any one of the event content and the privilege content;
When a privilege request is received according to a predetermined operation in a state where at least one of the event content and the privilege content is displayed, it is determined that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is to be given to the user. Privilege granting means;
Timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the displayable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
A privilege granting system.

The computer is, for example, a network server or a large computer. The game program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM.

The figure which shows the basic composition of the game system of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication terminal of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the main server of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the main menu screen of the digital card game which was displayed on the communication terminal of embodiment and the content breaking news service was integrated. The figure which shows an example of the screen of the web page of professional baseball bulletin displayed on the communication terminal of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the screen of the web page of professional baseball bulletin displayed on the communication terminal 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 the database server of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the input screen for performing the record input of the event corresponding to one team of a game displayed on the main server of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the input screen for performing the record input of the event displayed on the main server of embodiment and corresponding to the other team of a game. The figure which shows an example of a structure of event data. The figure which is displayed on the main server of embodiment and shows an example of the input screen in the management of a game. The figure which shows the structural example of the game management database contained in the database server of embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the privilege management database contained in the database server of embodiment. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function which plays a main role with the server apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows the main process of the server apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows the transmission enabling process of the server apparatus of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the preferable example of a setting of the timing of a transmission possible state. The flowchart which shows the privilege provision process of the server apparatus of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the privilege provision process in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the screen of the web page of professional baseball bulletin displayed on the communication terminal of embodiment. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function which plays a main role with the server apparatus which concerns on the modification of embodiment. The flowchart which shows the main process of the server apparatus which concerns on the modification of embodiment. The flowchart which shows the privilege notification process of the server apparatus which concerns on the modification of embodiment.

The present invention was filed with Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-245972 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-245993 filed with the Japan Patent Office on November 9, 2011, and with the Japan Patent Office on April 25, 2012. All of the contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-1000018.

(1) Configuration of Benefit Granting System FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a privilege granting system (hereinafter simply referred to as “system”) according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this system includes communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... That can be connected to a communication network NW (network) such as the Internet, a main server 20 connected to the communication network NW, and a database. The 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 this system, at least an application operable on a web browser is mounted on the main server 20.
The communication terminal 10 as a client includes a web browser capable of displaying a web page provided by the main server 20. The user requests the main server 20 to perform a predetermined service (processing) by performing a predetermined operation on the communication terminal 10 while the web page is displayed. In addition to user information, the database server 30 stores various types of information to be described later for executing predetermined processing, and is connected to the main server 20 by, for example, a wire for reading and writing such information. .

Although not shown in FIG. 1, an authentication server for authenticating the user of each communication terminal 10 may be provided separately from the main server 20. Further, when a plurality of main servers 20 are provided to accept access from many communication terminals 10, a load balancer for adjusting the load among the plurality of main servers 20 may be provided. The main 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 configuration of the communication terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, 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 operation input unit 15, a display unit 16, A wireless communication interface unit 17 serving as a signal transmission / reception unit is provided, and a bus 18 for transmitting a control signal or a data signal between the units is provided.

The CPU 11 loads the web browser in the ROM 12 into the RAM 13 and executes it. The CPU 11 then displays data for displaying a web page from the main server 20 via the wireless communication interface unit 17 based on appropriate designation of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input to the user by the operation input unit 15 or the like. 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 wireless communication interface unit 17. The HTML data is interpreted. The communication terminal 10 may be mounted with various plug-ins for extending the browser function of the web browser.
In acquiring 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 operation input unit 15 via the wireless communication interface unit 17. To the main server 20.

The web browser analyzes or interprets the acquired HTML data, and displays the web page provided from the main server 20 on the display unit 16 via the image processing unit 14. When the user selects a hyperlink or menu on the web page by the operation of the operation input unit 15, the web browser transmits new HTML data for displaying the web page according to the selection. Is requested to the main server 20.
Note that the web browser may operate to use a game such as a social game. The social game is, for example, a game executed by a game application created based on an operating environment such as an API (Application Programming Interface) that operates on a web browser in a social networking service (SNS) by a specific service provider. It is.
The CPU 11 transmits a request message to the main server 20 by accepting a predetermined operation by the operation input unit 15 in a state where the web page is displayed based on the HTML data transmitted from the main server 20. In the present embodiment, the request message includes, for example, a screen update request message for making a screen update request (transmission request), a privilege request message for making a privilege request, and the like.

The image processing unit 14 displays a web page on the display unit 16 based on the display image data given from the CPU 11 as the analysis result of the HTML data. The display unit 16 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid-Cristal-Display) monitor including thin film transistors arranged in units of pixels in a matrix, and displays an image of a web page by driving the thin film transistors based on display image data.

The operation input unit 15 may include a plurality of buttons for accepting a user's operation input and an interface circuit for recognizing the pressing input of each button and outputting it to the CPU 11, but in FIG. Examples of buttons are shown. 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.
The input method of the operation input unit 15 is not limited to the button pressing input method, and may be a touch panel method that accepts an input operation by touching the LCD panel or the like with a fingertip or a pen, for example.

(3) Configuration of Main Server The configuration of the main server 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
The main server 20 manages a website composed of a plurality of web pages having a hierarchical structure, for example, and provides a web service to the communication terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the main server 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a database (DB) access unit 24, a wireless communication interface unit 25, an input unit 26, and a display unit 27. A bus 28 is provided for transmitting signals or data signals. In addition, the main server 20 can take the same structure as a general purpose web server regarding hardware.

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

For example, the CPU 21 transmits HTML data to the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25. When the main server 20 performs an authentication process for 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 via the wireless communication interface unit 25. The processing includes, for example, transmission of new HTML data or arithmetic processing or data processing in the main server 20.
The database access unit 24 is an interface when the CPU 21 reads / writes data from / to the database server 30. For example, the CPU 21 writes data input from the input unit 26 to the database server 30 via the database access unit 24.
The input unit 26 includes an input device such as a keyboard and / or a mouse, and an interface circuit for causing the main server 20 to recognize data input by the input device. The display unit 27 is for displaying the execution result (output result) of the program executed by the CPU 21 and may include, for example, the LCD monitor described above.

(3-1) Service Provided by Main Server The main server 20 according to the present embodiment provides the content related to the content performed in real time in response to a screen update request (described later) from the user communication terminal 10. Then, it is transmitted in a format that can be displayed on the communication terminal 10. Hereinafter, a service in which the main server 20 transmits content details performed in real time is referred to as a “breaking news service”. Hereinafter, the content provided by the breaking news service is a professional baseball game (hereinafter referred to as “baseball” where appropriate) held in real time (match between home team and away team), or a broadcast program of the game. An example will be described.
The breaking news service described above may be a single service provided by the main server 20, but may be incorporated as one service of a social game, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the content of the game and the content of the content subject to the breaking news service are related to each other. For example, in such a preferable example, the main server 20 functions as a server that provides a digital card game (social game) gaming service for baseball, and a baseball game breaking news service is incorporated into the gaming service. .

In order to provide the breaking news service, the main server 20 records the content of the content that is being performed in real time at least every time an event occurs, whereby a screen update request is made from the user communication terminal 10. The content of the content at the time when the latest event occurs can be transmitted to the communication terminal 10.
In the present embodiment, the breaking news service not only transmits the contents of the content being performed in real time in response to the screen update request, but also gives a privilege to the user when a certain condition is satisfied Also do. The form of this privilege grant is as follows. A plurality of events that can occur in the content and a privilege corresponding to each event are associated in advance with the content that is the target of the breaking news service. Then, every time an event occurs in the content being performed in real time, the main server 20 sends the event details and privilege details actually generated in the content to the communication terminal 10 together with the basic information of the latest content. And ready to send in a displayable format. The main server 20 transmits data placed in a transmittable state to the communication terminal 10 in response to a screen update request (transmission request) from the user's communication terminal 10. After the event content and the privilege content are transmitted to the communication terminal 10, the user performs a predetermined operation on the communication terminal 10, and the privilege request is made to the main server 20. The period for accepting is limited.

An example of a preferred usage form of the breaking news service for obtaining many benefits for the user is to watch a television broadcast, a radio broadcast or an Internet broadcast of the content being performed in real time, and further to watch in a stadium (ballpark). Thus, the occurrence of an event in the content is recognized, and a predetermined operation is performed on the communication terminal 10 each time the event occurs, thereby obtaining a privilege according to the occurrence of the event. In particular, when the period during which a predetermined operation on the communication terminal 10 for obtaining a privilege is valid depends on the occurrence timing of the next event in the content or the specific timing of the content, the user misses the privilege. Since it is necessary to recognize the timing of events in the content so as not to occur, it is motivated to continuously watch the content or watch the game continuously.

When the breaking news service is incorporated as a service of a social game, it is preferable that the benefits obtained by the breaking news service are points that can be used in the social game of the incorporation destination. Thereby, for the user, since the points obtained by the breaking news service can be immediately used in the social game, the linkage between the breaking news service and the social game is enhanced. In the following description, as examples of benefits obtained by the breaking news service, an ale point (Ale P; described later) and a lottery ticket (described later) that can be used in a social game are cited.

FIG. 4 shows a main menu screen in the communication terminal 10 of a baseball digital card game in which a professional baseball breaking news service is incorporated as an example of a social game realized by the main server 20. For example, FIG. 4 is a display screen of the communication terminal 10 immediately after a user who has already been registered in this game logs in. In the screen shown in FIG. 4, a menu m0 displaying the text “Pro Baseball Bulletin” and a menu displaying the text “Scout”, “Order”, “Strengthening”, “Lottery”, “Game” Group m10.

Each menu in the menu group m10 is a menu for executing the function of a baseball digital card game. In this embodiment, there is no intention to limit the function of the game itself, and the content of the game is not particularly limited. Therefore, although the function of each game will not be described in detail here, a brief description is as follows. “Scout” is a function of searching for a player card in order to build up his own team in a baseball digital card game. “Strengthen” is a function that combines two player cards to level up one of the player cards. “Order” is a function for changing the order of the teams. The “match” is a function for making a team of another user battle with his own team. “Lottery” is a function that makes it possible to obtain a player card by lottery.

In a lottery in a baseball digital card game, a player card can be drawn in exchange for a predetermined amount of ale points or lottery tickets. In this embodiment, an example of the privilege obtained by the breaking news service is an ale point (Ale P) or a lottery ticket. By obtaining as many of these benefits as possible, the user can make lots of lotteries and obtain a lot of player cards, so that he can get many opportunities to improve his team's level. become.

FIG. 5 is a screen of the professional baseball bulletin web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 when the “professional baseball bulletin” menu is selected on the screen shown in FIG. This web page shows a state before the game between team P and team Q, which is a professional baseball game, is started, and shows a page that prompts the user to select a support team. One of the team P and the team Q is preset as a home team and the other as an away team. In the screen example shown in FIG. 5, for example, a display area 101 indicating the contents of a baseball game being performed in real time and menus m11 and m12 for selecting a support team are displayed. In the state where the screen of FIG. 5 is displayed, either the menu m11 or m12 can be selected by pressing the direction instruction button of the operation input unit 15, and one of the menus is selected. By pressing the enter button in the state, the support team corresponding to the selected menu is determined for each user.

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen of a professional baseball bulletin web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 during a match after the support team is selected and operated. As shown in FIG. 6, the professional baseball bulletin screen is given to the user when, for example, the display area 101 showing the contents of the baseball game being played in real time and the screen shown in FIG. 6 are displayed. The display area 102 in which the privilege content determined to be described is described, and the display area 103 in which the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event content are described. The display area 101 includes a menu m1 on which “update” text is displayed. The screen update request message is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the main server 20 by performing an operation of selecting the menu m1. The display area 103 includes a menu m2 on which the text “Receive” is displayed. By performing an operation of selecting the menu m2, a privilege request message is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the main server 20. In the state in which the screen of FIG. 6 is displayed, either the menu m1 or m2 can be selected by pressing the direction instruction button of the operation input unit 15, and one of the menus can be selected. The selected menu is confirmed by depressing the enter button in the pressed state.
In the display area 103 of FIG. 6, an example is shown in which both the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event content are displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this. Either the event content or the privilege content corresponding to the event content may be displayed.

In the following description, an action means a single operation that causes one or more predefined events at a certain timing in the content. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, when three events such as “first strike”, “hit”, and “1 score” corresponding to the action that a batter hit a hit occur in the display area 103, each event An example is shown in which the content and the privilege content (Ale P) corresponding to the event are displayed.

(4) Database Server The database server 30 can be realized by a general-purpose storage such as a large-capacity hard disk device or a device such as RAID (Redundant Arrays 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 main server 20.
FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the database server 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the database server 30 includes a user database 31, a game record database 32, a game management database 33, and a privilege management database 34. In FIG. 7, illustration of a database (for example, a database for recording a result of a battle with another user) necessary for executing the digital card game (social game) is omitted.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the user database 31. In this example, the user database 31 includes user data for each user ID (user identification information). The user data of a specific user ID includes the latest access time, the owned ale point (owned ale P), the item held by the user (owned item), and other game data. Data included in the user database 31 can be updated sequentially by the main server 20. The possessed item is an item that can be used in, for example, a baseball digital card game. The other game data includes, for example, data of ability values (ability parameters) for each player card that is referred to when competing with another user's team in a baseball digital card game.

The game recording method and the game record database 32 will be described with reference to FIGS. The game record database 32 sequentially inputs events generated by an operator who is watching a baseball game (content) in real time while the CPU 21 of the main server 20 is executing a content recording program. It is updated by inputting via FIG. 9 is an example of an input screen for recording and inputting an event corresponding to one team (home team) of the game, which is displayed on the display unit 27 by executing the content recording program. FIG. 10 is an example of an input screen for recording and inputting an event corresponding to the other team (away team) displayed on the display unit 27 by the execution of the content recording program. FIG. 11 is data (hereinafter referred to as “event data”) including a plurality of event contents corresponding to actions that may occur in a baseball game and privilege contents corresponding to each event. This data is, for example, data stored in the RAM 23 when the content recording program is loaded, and is referred to when the content recording program is executed.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the input screen for recording the game includes display areas 201 to 204. The display area 201 is an area for displaying information for specifying a game or team to be recorded. The display area 202 is an area where the current (latest) Action ID (described later) during the game is displayed. The display area 203 is an input area where an operator inputs an event that has occurred for a specific Action ID (checks the corresponding event). The display area 204 is an area in which event contents and privilege contents corresponding to the events are displayed for each Action ID according to an operator input.

In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, “Action ID” is a number for uniquely identifying an action that has caused one or more events in the game. Action ID is a number that increases in ascending order every time an action occurs during a match. In the example shown in FIG. 9, Action ID: 4 is the current or latest Action ID. In the example shown in FIG. 9, Action ID: 4 corresponds to a case where an action called a reverse three-run home run occurs due to a certain hit during the game, and this results in three “home run”, “reverse”, and “three scores”. It is shown that events have occurred. For example, when an attack is being performed, a new Action ID is not always generated at every bat, but the Action ID can be updated in units of bat.
In the example of FIG. 9, the Action ID when an action occurs next is “5”, and an event corresponding to a new action is awaiting input by the operator in the display area 203.

When recording a game, the operator designates the current inning and the front or back in the display area 203 while viewing a television broadcast of the target game, for example, and records an event caused by the action during the game. Check and press the “Additional confirmation” menu. Then, by executing the content recording program, in the display area 204, as a corresponding Action ID, a record of one or a plurality of events and a privilege corresponding to each event are automatically written with reference to the event data. It has become. Here, the action ID, inning (front / back), record (corresponding to the event), and privilege data displayed in the display area 204 are sequentially recorded in the game record database 32 as the game progresses. It will follow.
In the case of the other team (away team) shown in FIG. 10, the operator's input form and data recording method are the same as those shown in FIG. 9, but when the home team is attacking, the away team Will become defensive, so the action during the match and the event corresponding to it will be different. Therefore, it is preferable that the operator who performs the record input of the home team and the operator who performs the record input of the away team are different persons.

With reference to FIG.12 and FIG.13, the management method of a game and the game management database 33 are demonstrated. In the game management method of the present embodiment, an operator who is watching a baseball game in real time in a state where the CPU 21 of the main server 20 is executing a content recording program allows the basic information (inning, front and back, An input for updating the latest Action ID in response to the occurrence of a new action in the game or the like is performed via the input unit 26. The game management database 33 is sequentially updated according to the input operation by the operator.
As shown in FIG. 12, the input screen for game management includes display areas 301 and 302. A display area 301 is an area in which basic information about the game is input. The display area 302 is an area in which the latest Action ID during the match is input for each battle team. In the display area 302, the latest action ID of the home team is displayed in the item “Home Action ID”, and the latest Action ID of the away team is displayed in the item “Away Action ID”. In the items of “Home Action ID update time” and “Away Action ID update time”, the latest update time of each Action ID is displayed.

The operator updated the inning, the front and back, the score, and each Action ID according to the situation of the game while watching the baseball game in real time. The data is confirmed. Thereby, the confirmed input data is sequentially written in the game management database 33.
FIG. 13 is an example showing the configuration of the game management database 33. As shown in FIG. 13, in the game management database 33, Action ID and its update time, inning, front and back, and score (home team score, away team score) data are accumulated every time the Action ID is updated. In the match management database 33, the home action
It includes home team data in which data is accumulated each time the ID is updated, and away team data in which data is accumulated each time the away Action ID is updated.

As described above, in the breaking news service provided by the main server 20, when an event occurs in a baseball game (content), a privilege is given to the user on the condition that a predetermined operation is performed on the communication terminal 10. It is a mechanism that is granted. Therefore, in the privilege management database 34, information indicating whether or not a privilege corresponding to an event of each Action ID has been granted is recorded for each user ID.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the privilege management database 34. As shown in FIG. 14, in the privilege management database 34, privilege grant information (“Not yet” or “Done” indicating whether or not a privilege corresponding to the user ID, the support team, the Action ID, and the Action ID has been granted. ")It is included. In this embodiment, since the privilege corresponding to the event is given to the user in units of Action IDs, the privilege management database 34 manages whether or not the privilege has been given for each Action ID. As shown in FIG. 5, the data of the user support team is determined by receiving user input from the communication terminal 10 at the start of the breaking news service, and is recorded in the privilege management database 34. May be.

(5) Overview of Functions in Server Device In this embodiment, the main server 20 and the database server 30 constitute a server device. Below, the function implement | achieved with the server apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 15, taking the case where the content provided to a user is a baseball game as an example. FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions that play a major role in the server device of the present embodiment. In the functional block diagram of FIG. 15, the registration means 51, the game recording means 53, the game management means 54, and the notification means 59 are not essential in the present invention, but are preferable in implementing the present invention. . For example, the game record database 32 and the game management database 33 may be sequentially acquired from an external device via a network.

For example, 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 and performing a registration process. The function of the registration means 51 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. The CPU 21 of the main server 20 receives a registration request message from the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25. The registration request message is automatically generated by a predetermined operation (for example, a predetermined menu selection operation, text input, etc.) on the communication terminal 10 on the web page provided from the main server 20. May be configured. The registration request message may include information (for example, IP address, e-mail address, etc.) for specifying the communication terminal 10 as the transmission source, or the user has already played another game by the same service provider. If used, 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 registration is completed, the CPU 21 stores user data for a new user ID in which predetermined default data is described in the user database 31.

The memory | storage means 52 is provided with the function which memorize | stores in the memory | storage device the content of the some event which may generate | occur | produce in the content (in this embodiment, a professional baseball game) provided to a user, and the privilege content corresponding to each event. . The function of the storage means 52 is realized by causing the CPU 21 of the main server 20 to store event data (see FIG. 11) in the RAM 23 as a storage device. As described above, the event data is data including a plurality of event contents that may occur in a baseball game and privilege contents corresponding to each event. Note that the CPU 21 may acquire event data from an external storage device connected to the network and store the event data in the internal storage device, or may store the event data in the external storage device. Further, in the event data of FIG. 11, a plurality of types of events and benefits corresponding thereto are described, but this is only an example, and there is only one type of event (for example, only a home run, only a third strike, or a takeout). It may be an event of only three strikes.

The game recording unit 53 records an event corresponding to the action and a privilege corresponding to the event in the game record database 32 every time an action occurs in the game based on an input by an operator who views the baseball game. It has a function to do. The function of the game recording means 53 is implement | achieved as follows. The CPU 21 of the main server 20 executes the above-described content recording program and displays an input screen (see FIGS. 9 and 10) for accepting an input by the operator on the display unit 27. When the CPU 21 accepts an operator input corresponding to the occurrence of an action during a match, the CPU 21 issues a new Action ID, and from the event data in the RAM 23, the event data includes one or more events corresponding to the generated action and each event. Read the corresponding benefits. The CPU 21 displays the read event and privilege on the input screen so as to be visible to the operator, and writes (records) it in the game record database 32 via the database access unit 24.

The game management means 54 adds basic Action information (inning, front and back, score, etc.) and a new Action ID according to the occurrence of a new action in the game based on the input by the operator who views the baseball game. And a function of recording in the game management database 33. The function of the game management means 54 is implement | achieved as follows. The CPU 21 of the main server 20 executes the above-described content recording program and displays an input screen (see FIG. 12) for accepting an input by the operator on the display unit 27. When the CPU 21 accepts the input of the Action ID of the operator according to the occurrence of the action during the match, the CPU 21 displays the Action ID and its update time on the input screen so that the operator can visually recognize the action ID, and via the database access unit 24. Is written (recorded) in the game management database 33.

When an action that causes any event occurs in a baseball game (content), the transmission enabling means 55 indicates both or either of the event content that has occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event. Is provided with a function to make a state where transmission is possible (referred to as “transmission enabled state”). In the present embodiment, the content of the event that has occurred and the benefit content corresponding to the event or both are transmitted by transmitting HTML data for displaying the web page of the baseball bulletin (see FIG. 6). . Therefore, the function of the transmission enabling means 55 is to generate HTML data corresponding to the action when the action that causes any event occurs in the baseball game, and to make the HTML data transmittable. Equivalent to putting.

The function of the transmission enabling means 55 is realized as follows. First, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 refers to the game management database 33 to read inning, front / back, score, home action ID, and away action ID data. The read data is the basis of data for configuring the display area 101 in FIG. Next, the CPU 21 reads an event corresponding to the read Action ID and a privilege corresponding to the event from the game record database 32. The data read from the game record database 32 is the basis of data for configuring the display area 103 of FIG. Further, the CPU 21 refers to the privilege management database 34 and reads out all privileges granted to the target user ID. CPU21 adds the privilege read from privilege management database 34 (for example, if it is Yale P, accumulates), and produces | generates the data for comprising the display area 102 of FIG. And CPU21 produces | generates the HTML data for displaying the web page of the professional baseball bulletin shown in FIG. HTML data is generated every time a new action occurs during a match. That is, it is generated every time the Action ID is updated.
Note that the transmission enabling means 55 may appropriately set the timing at which the HTML data can be transmitted to the communication terminal 10 (hereinafter referred to as “transmittable timing”) after the HTML data is created. For example, the transmission possible timing may be set at the same time for all users, or may be different for each user.

Note that the HTML data addressed to the communication terminal 10 is not limited to the case where both the event content and the privilege content are included, and may include either one of them. For example, when information indicating the correspondence relationship between the event content and the privilege content is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 in advance, for example, before the start of the game, one of the event content and the privilege content is included in the HTML data. If included, the display area 103 can be configured on the communication terminal 10 side.

The display screen update unit 56 transmits the HTML data to the communication terminal 10 when receiving a screen update request (transmission request) from the communication terminal 10 after the transmission timing of the HTML data corresponding to the new action. It has a function to do. The function of the display screen update unit 55 is realized as follows. When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 receives the screen update request message from the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25, the HTML data generated by the transmission enabling means 55 is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25. Send to Upon receiving the HTML data, the communication terminal 10 can interpret the HTML data and display the professional baseball bulletin web page shown in FIG.
Note that, for example, the user may switch from a screen provided by the breaking news service to another screen (for example, a game screen) during a game and use the breaking news service again after a while. In such a case, a screen update request may be made by an operation of resuming use of the breaking news service.
The display screen update unit 56 of the present embodiment, in a transmittable state, receives event contents and / or privilege contents in the form of HTML data when receiving a transmission request from the communication terminal 10. The function of the privilege notification means to notify is included.

The privilege granting unit 57 has a function of determining that a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred is given to the user when a privilege request from the communication terminal 10 is received. The privilege request from the communication terminal 10 is made when an operation for selecting a reception menu is performed in a state where a professional baseball bulletin web page is displayed on the communication terminal 10. The function of the privilege provision means 57 is implement | achieved as follows. When the CPU 21 of the main server 20 receives the privilege request message from the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25, the CPU 21 accesses the game management database 33 and reads the latest Action ID of the corresponding user's support team. The CPU 21 accesses the privilege management database 34 and records the privilege grant information of the read Action ID as “completed”.

The timing setting unit 58 has a function of setting a period for receiving a privilege request between the timing when an action occurs or the transmission possible timing corresponding to the action until the game (that is, the provision of content) ends at the latest. Prepare. The timing setting by the timing setting means 58 may be performed in advance before the start of the game as the content. In this case, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 only needs to set, for example, the RAM 23 or the like as a parameter regarding the timing regarding whether or not to receive a privilege request from the communication terminal 10 according to the activation of the main server 20.
Note that the timing setting unit 58 may change the period for receiving the privilege request while the game as the content is being played. In this case, for example, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 receives an input of a period designation by an operator, and changes a parameter regarding timing regarding whether or not to receive a privilege request from the communication terminal 10 from an initial value. Good.

Preferably, the timing setting means 58 sets a period for receiving a privilege request according to the occurrence of a certain event (first event) until the timing of occurrence of the next event (second event following the first event). Limited to. This period is limited to the next event, that is, the next action. In this case, when a screen update request is made after the first event, the content of the first event and the privilege content are notified, but the period for receiving the privilege request for the privilege is until the timing of the occurrence of the second event. It is limited to.
The timing setting means 58 limits the period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the event to a predetermined time from the occurrence timing of the event, or after the occurrence of the event and until the timing of the match (content) Also good. Here, the predetermined time can be set as appropriate according to the nature of the content (in this embodiment, a baseball game). The timing of the game break may be, for example, the timing when the inning including the event that has occurred ends.

The notification means 59 has a function of notifying the communication terminal 10 of each event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event before the game (that is, content provision) is started. The function of the notification means 59 is realized by the CPU 21 of the main server 20 transmitting HTML data for displaying the contents of the event data (see FIG. 11) to the communication terminal 10 before the start time of the game. . Note that the function of the notification means 59 is not necessarily essential, but is a preferable function in that the user's attention to the content can be raised by notifying the user of the contents of the privilege in advance. That is, it is possible to give the user an opportunity to view the content in advance.

(6) Processing Example of Server Device According to this Embodiment Next, a preferable processing example performed by the server device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the server device of this embodiment. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the transmission enabling process of the server device of this embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a preferable setting example of the timing of the transmittable state. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the privilege grant processing of the server device of the present embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the privilege grant processing in FIG. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of a professional baseball bulletin web page related to the processing of the server device of the embodiment. Note that the transmission enabling process shown in FIG. 17 is mainly an example of a specific process executed by the transmission enabling unit 55. The privilege grant process shown in FIG. 19 is an example of a specific process executed mainly by the privilege grant unit 57 and the timing setting unit 58.

The preferred user usage mode of the privilege grant system of the present embodiment is as follows. The user is watching a broadcast program of a professional baseball game being performed in real time, for example, by television broadcasting. That is, a content called a broadcast program of a professional baseball game is provided to the user. The user receives a bulletin service of a professional baseball game being broadcast from the server device via the communication terminal 10 such as a mobile communication terminal. As described above, the breaking news service is configured such that the user can obtain a privilege by performing a timely operation linked to the occurrence of an event in the content with respect to the communication terminal 10. In a preferred example, a professional baseball game breaking service is incorporated into a baseball social game. In that case, the privilege obtained by the user through the breaking news service is preferably a privilege that can be used in the social game.

Referring to FIG. 16, first, in order to receive the breaking news service, for example, in the display state shown in FIG. 4, the user performs an operation of selecting the professional baseball breaking menu m0. When the selection operation is recognized (step S2: YES), the main server 20 transmits HTML data on which the web page shown in FIG. 5 is displayed to the communication terminal 10, and the target game and the support team in the game Is received (step S4). A screen for accepting a game selection input is not shown. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the screen of the professional baseball bulletin web page is displayed on the communication terminal 10 by the HTML data transmitted from the main server 20 to the communication terminal 10.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the user is configured to select and input a support team in step S <b> 4, but it goes without saying that the support team is not necessarily selected depending on the content.

If any action occurs during the game (step S6: YES), the main server 20 performs a transmission enabling process (step S8). In this transmission enabling process, HTML data for displaying a new professional baseball bulletin web page reflecting the latest game situation (that is, reflecting the contents of the latest Action ID) can be generated and transmitted. State. If any action occurs during the match, an event corresponding to the generated action has occurred. Therefore, the generated HTML data includes the event contents corresponding to the latest action and the benefits corresponding to the event. Content.

When the user performs an operation of selecting the update menu m1 on the professional baseball bulletin web page in FIG. 6, a screen update request message is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the main server 20. When the main server 20 receives the screen update request message and recognizes the screen update request (step S10: YES), the HTML data for displaying the professional baseball bulletin web page reflecting the latest action ID content Is transmitted (step S12).
Here, for example, when the communication terminal 10 of the user receives and displays HTML data corresponding to Action ID: 4, if no action occurs during the game after the reception, the update menu m1 is displayed again. Even if the selection operation is performed, HTML data corresponding to Action ID: 4 is received again, so that the display screen of the web page of the communication terminal 10 does not change. When a new action occurs during a match and the update data m1 is selected and operated by the user after HTML data corresponding to Action ID: 5 is generated and placed in a transmittable state in the main server 20, the action ID is selected. : 5 is transmitted, and the display screen of the communication terminal 10 is thereby updated to display the web page corresponding to the new action.

6, when the user performs an operation of selecting the reception menu m2 on the professional baseball bulletin web page in FIG. 6, a privilege request message is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the main server 20. When the main server 20 recognizes the privilege request by receiving the privilege request message (step S20: YES), the main server 20 performs a privilege grant process (step S22). In this privilege granting process, basically, a privilege corresponding to the event corresponding to the latest Action ID is given to the user. A process example of the privilege granting process will be described later. In the process example, basically, the period during which a privilege is given to the user by the selection operation of the receiving menu m2 is the timing at which the next action occurs (or the next action The transmission timing of HTML data due to the occurrence of Therefore, the user must keep track of the broadcast program of the game, because it is necessary for the user to grasp the timing at which each action during the game has occurred in order to obtain many benefits. Will be motivated.

Although not shown in FIG. 16, the privilege granted to the user is addressed to the user's communication terminal 10 immediately after the privilege granting process so that it can be used, for example, in a social game in which a breaking news service is incorporated. You may send it. Sending the privilege given to the user sequentially to the user's communication terminal 10 during the game increases the processing load of the main server 20, so the privilege given to the user is the target of the game subject to the breaking news service. After the end (for example, on the next day of the game, etc.), it may be sent together with the result of the game or divided and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of the user. In the latter case, the main server 20 performs a privilege counting process after the game is over (step S30: YES) (step S40). In the privilege totaling process, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 refers to the privilege management database 34 and reads all privileges that have been granted for the target user ID. CPU21 adds the privilege read from privilege management database 34 (for example, if it is Yale P, it accumulates).

The main processing of the server device according to the embodiment has been described above. In the breaking news service realized in this main process, HTML data including event contents and privilege contents corresponding to a new action during a game can be transmitted without being automatically transmitted to the communication terminal 10 of the user. Placed in. In order to be actually transmitted, the user needs to select an update menu. Therefore, in order for a user to obtain a privilege triggered by an action during a match, it is necessary to view the broadcast program of the match and grasp the timing of the action. Further, after the web page including the event corresponding to the action and the content of the privilege is displayed, for example, the receiving menu selection operation is required within a limited period until the next action occurs. Therefore, as described above, in order to obtain a lot of privileges, the user needs to grasp the timing of each action during the game, and the user inevitably has more about the individual play that occurs during the game. Interest will increase, and it will be motivated to watch the broadcast program of the game continuously. That is, in this privilege grant system, it contributes to raising the audience rating of the broadcast program of the target game. In addition, according to the above bulletin service, the user determines his / her support team in advance, and a privilege according to the activity of the team is given. Therefore, the user provides the bulletin service to the team. It will support with a stronger feeling than if it is not used, and in that respect it will be motivated to continuously watch the broadcast program of the game.

Next, a detailed flow of the transmission enabling process will be described with reference to FIG.
In the transmission enabling process, first, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 first accesses the game management database 33 and reads data of basic game information (inning, front and back, score, etc.) (step S100). CPU21 accesses the game record database 32, and reads the data of Action ID (home Action ID or away Action ID) of the target user's support team (step S110). CPU21 determines the display content of the display area 101 (refer FIG. 6) of a web page based on the data read by step S100 and S110 (step S120). The CPU 21 refers to the privilege management database 34 and reads all privileges that have been granted for the target user ID (step S130). CPU21 adds the privilege read from privilege management database 34 (for example, if it is Yale P, adds), and determines the display content of the display area 102 (refer FIG. 6) of a web page (step S140). ). Next, the CPU 21 refers to the privilege grant information in the privilege management database 34 and determines whether or not the privilege corresponding to the latest Action ID has been granted (step S150). As a result, if the privilege has not been granted, the menu m2 is “received”, the display content of the display area 103 (see FIG. 6) of the web page is determined (step S160), and the privilege has been granted. Determines the display content of the display area 103 of the web page with the menu m2 as “received” (step S170). The CPU 21 generates HTML data based on the determined display areas 101 to 103 (step S180).

When the generation of the HTML data is completed in step S180, HTML data including the event content corresponding to the action and the privilege content corresponding to the event is transmitted in response to the occurrence of the action during the game in step S6 of FIG. It has been put in a possible state. Since the transmission enabling process after a new action has occurred is completed in a very short time, the Action ID update time and the timing at which HTML data corresponding to the updated Action ID is ready to be transmitted (transmittable) It may be considered that “timing” is substantially the same time.

Next, referring to FIG. 18, a setting example in which the transmission possible timing is changed for each user will be described as a preferable example of setting the transmission possible timing of HTML data.
In the breaking news service described above, when a new action occurs, it is assumed that an extremely large number of users select and operate the update menu all at once in order to obtain a privilege. In that case, simultaneously transmitting HTML data corresponding to the updated Action ID to the communication terminals 10 of an extremely large number of users increases the transmission load on the main server 20. In addition, after HTML data is transmitted, it is assumed that a large number of users select and operate the receiving menu all at once. The processing of the main server 20 based on the latter privilege request becomes a particularly heavy load because a large number of writing operations to the database server 30 occur in a short time. In order to reduce the load of such processing, it is preferable to change the timing at which HTML data can be transmitted in units of users or in groups of a plurality of users.
For example, FIG. 18 shows an example in which ten sets of user groups G0 to G9 having different transmittable timings are set. The transmission possible timing of each user group is shifted by 1 second with reference to the Action ID update time. The method for sorting the users into any of the 10 user groups is arbitrary. For example, when the user ID is represented by a multi-digit number, it may be sorted by the last digit of the number. For example, a user whose last digit of the user ID is “0” belongs to the user group G0, and a user whose last digit of the user ID is “9” belongs to the user group G9.

Note that if the transmission possible timing is changed for each user group, the processing load of the main server 20 is reduced, but the advance of the transmission possible timing is fixed for each user group, and the fairness among users may be impaired. There is sex. For example, when a user whose last digit of the user ID is “9” belongs to the user group G9, in the setting example shown in FIG. 18, a user who belongs to the user group G9 has a new action during the match. Even when the update menu is selected and operated immediately after recognizing this, the timing at which the action is reflected on the web page of the communication terminal 10 is often delayed compared to users belonging to other user groups. Dissatisfaction can occur in terms of responsiveness of web page updates.
From this point of view, it is more preferable to change the order of the transmittable timings in units of users or in groups of a plurality of users, at random or in sequence every time an event occurs.
The following method is conceivable when the transmission possible timing is changed randomly every time an event occurs. For example, if the user ID is represented by a multi-digit number and sorted into multiple user groups by the last digit of the number, it corresponds to the value of the last digit of the Action ID update time (the last digit of the second unit) The user group to be transmitted may be set to the earliest transmission possible timing, and the order of the subsequent transmission timing for each user group may be set in the order of the group user group numbers. For example, when the last digit of the Action ID update time is “5”, the order of the transmittable timing is G5 → G6 →... → G0 →. Since the order of transmission possible timings can be changed randomly, a random number is generated after an action occurs, and the order of transmission possible timings in units of users or groups of multiple users is determined by the value of the random number. You may decide based on.
On the other hand, when the transmittable timing is changed in order every time an event occurs, for example, the transmittable timing when the first event occurs is set in the order of G0 → G1 →. Is set in the order of G1 → G2 →. That is, every time an event occurs, a method of shifting the order of transmittable timing one by one for each user group can be considered. However, this is merely an example, and any method may be used as long as the order of transmission possible timings is shifted in units of users or in units of user groups according to a predefined order.
Although FIG. 18 shows an example in which the transmission possible timing is different for each of the 10 user groups, it is needless to say that the number of user groups may be set arbitrarily.

Next, with reference to FIG.19 and FIG.20, the detailed flow of a privilege provision process is demonstrated.
As described above, preferably, the period during which the privilege is given to the user by the selection operation of the receiving menu m2 is the timing at which the next action occurs (or the timing at which HTML data can be transmitted due to the next action). Limited. However, although the update menu is selected and operated after the first action occurs in the game, and the web page reflecting the first action is displayed, the next second action is performed before the receiving menu is selected and operated. It is assumed that it will occur. This can occur when the time period between consecutive actions is short. In this case, even if the user performs a selection operation on the receiving menu, the privilege corresponding to the first action cannot be granted because it has expired, but this may not be preferable in terms of service to the user. Therefore, the processing example shown in FIG. 19 is configured such that, in the above-described situation, the user is given a privilege corresponding to the first action even after the second action has occurred. That is, a remedy measure is obtained so that a privilege corresponding to the previous action is obtained.

In the privilege granting process shown in FIG. 19, first, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 accesses the game management database 33 and reads out the action ID of the user's support team and information on the update time (step S200). The CPU 21 determines the latest screen update request timing (T; time determined as YES in step S10), the current (that is, latest) Action ID update time (t _N ) read in step S200, and one immediately before it. The timings before and after the Action ID update time (t _N-1 ) are compared (step S210). As a result, in the case of T> t _N (step S220: YES), that is, if the most recent screen update request timing is later than the latest of Action ID update time (approximately equal to the transmission available timing corresponding to the latest Action ID) The web page displayed on the user's communication terminal 10 reflects the latest action. In this case, it is determined to give a privilege corresponding to the event of the current Action ID (step S230).

The case of t _N−1 <T <t _N (step S260: YES) is the case of the timing shown in FIG. That is, the latest screen update request timing is between the previous Action ID update time and the current Action ID update time. An example of the display screen when selecting the receiving menu in this case is shown in P1 of FIG. At this time, it is considered that the user desires to receive a privilege corresponding to the event of the previous Action ID, and the user decides to give the privilege (step S270). When T <t _N−1 (step S260: NO), it is considered that the user desires to receive a privilege corresponding to two or more previous Action ID events. In this case, a privilege is not given as an expiration date.
When the CPU 21 determines to grant a privilege, the CPU 21 accesses the privilege management database 34 and records the privilege grant information of the Action ID that is a privilege grant target as “completed”. That is, the CPU 21 updates the privilege management database 34 (steps S240 and S280).
Finally, the CPU 21 generates and transmits new HTML data for updating the web page regardless of the comparison result in step S210 (steps S250, S290, S300).

For example, in step S250, HTML data for changing the text display of the menu m2 in the display area 103 in FIG. 6 from “Received” to “Received” is generated and transmitted. As a result, the user can recognize that the privilege has been granted in accordance with the receiving menu selection operation, as shown at P2 in FIG.
In steps S290 and S300, HTML data corresponding to the current action placed in a transmittable state is transmitted. As a result, the web page corresponding to the current Action ID is displayed on the communication terminal 10 as shown in P3 of FIG. In either case, the contents of the display area 103 are updated to the latest.

As described above, according to the privilege grant system of the present embodiment, when content is provided to the user, based on the time point that an event that can occur in the content has actually occurred. Since it is configured such that a privilege can be obtained by performing a predetermined operation on the communication terminal at an appropriate timing from that time point, the user is motivated to continuously view the content. That is, the user's attention can be continuously attracted to the content provided to the user.

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.

[Automatic transmission of event contents and privilege contents]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the HTML data including the event content and privilege content corresponding to the action newly generated during the baseball game as the content is not automatically transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but the transmission is performed according to the selection operation of the update menu by the user.
HTML data including event contents and privilege contents corresponding to a new action may be automatically transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10. Hereinafter, this event content and privilege content transmission mode is also referred to as “automatic transmission”. The target of automatic transmission may be either or both of the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event content.
For example, the HTML data may be automatically transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10 by a periodic and automatic screen update request by the communication terminal 10. For example, the user may automatically operate the privilege reception menu on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 only when some action occurs while watching a television broadcast game. In this case, the user can obtain a lot of privileges without watching the baseball television broadcast and by continuing to watch the screen of the communication terminal 10. However, when the content is provided for a long time, it is practically difficult to keep watching the screen of the communication terminal 10 from the beginning to the end, and the content (in this case, baseball game) Watching TV broadcasts will be motivated.
Hereinafter, automatic transmission of event contents and privilege contents will be described in more detail.

FIG. 22 shows a functional block diagram of a server device according to a modification of the present embodiment in the case where event content and privilege content corresponding to a new action are automatically transmitted. The functional block diagram shown in FIG. 22 differs from that shown in FIG. 15 in that a privilege notification means 55a is provided instead of the transmission enabling means 55. As in FIG. 15, the registration means 51, the game recording means 53, the game management means 54, and the notification means 59 are not essential in the present invention, but are preferable in implementing the present invention.
The privilege notifying means 55a, when an action that causes any event occurs in a baseball game (content), either or both of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event to the communication terminal. Provide a notification function. That is, the transmission enabling means 55 in FIG. 15 makes both or either of the privilege contents transmittable to the communication terminal and does not transmit to the communication terminal, whereas the privilege notification means 55a Are transmitted to the communication terminal. In order to realize the function of the privilege notification means 55 a, the CPU 21 of the main server 20 generates HTML data for displaying the professional baseball bulletin web page shown in FIG. 6 and transmits it to the communication terminal 10. The method for generating HTML data is as described above in connection with the transmission enabling means 55.

Next, processing in the case of automatic transmission of event contents and privilege contents is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing main processing of the server apparatus according to the modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the privilege notification process of the server device according to the modification of the present embodiment.
The flowchart of FIG. 23 differs from the flowchart of FIG. 16 in that step S6 and step S8 are not provided, and privilege notification processing (step S12a) is executed instead of HTML data transmission (step S12). In the flowchart of FIG. 23, it is assumed that the communication terminal 10 automatically transmits a screen update request to the main server 20 periodically at relatively short intervals (for example, automatically every 10 to 20 seconds).
Compared with the flowchart of the transmission enabling process of FIG. 17, the flowchart of the privilege notification process of FIG. 24 executes step S180a (generates and transmits HTML data) instead of step S180 (generates HTML data). It is different in point.

In FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, in the automatic transmission of event content and privilege content, a screen update request is made periodically and automatically at relatively short intervals, so it is necessary to determine whether or not an action has occurred during the match HTML data for displaying a new professional baseball bulletin web page reflecting the latest game situation (that is, reflecting the contents of the latest Action ID) is generated and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 The If any action occurs during the match, an event corresponding to the generated action has occurred. Therefore, the HTML data to be transmitted includes the event contents corresponding to the latest action and the benefits corresponding to the event. Content. When the user performs an operation of selecting the receipt menu m2 on the web page displayed based on the automatically transmitted HTML data, a privilege request message is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the main server 20, and the message The main server 20 performs a privilege grant process (see FIG. 19).

In the case where the main server 20 automatically transmits HTML data including event contents and privilege contents corresponding to a new action to the user's communication terminal 10, as described with reference to FIG. In order to reduce the processing load of the main server 20, it is preferable to change the timing of transmitting HTML data (the timing of notifying event contents and privilege contents) in units of users or in groups of a plurality of users. Further, from the viewpoint of fairness among users, it is more preferable to change the order of the timing of transmitting HTML data at random or in order for each event occurrence, in units of users or in units of groups of a plurality of users.
The automatic transmission of event content and privilege content has been described above, but various improvements and changes described in connection with the case where event content and privilege content are transmitted in response to a screen update request are for automatic transmission. Can be applied in the same manner.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the content provided to the user is a broadcast program of a professional baseball game provided in real time has been described as an example. However, the content provided to the user is not limited to that in real time. . Even if the content is not real-time, it is normal that the user does not know or remember the exact timing of the action or event that occurred in the content. Even so, the privilege granting system is motivated to allow the user to continuously view the content.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the content provided to the user is a broadcast program of a professional baseball game is taken as an example, but the nature or type of the content provided to the user is not limited. For example, the content may be a relay program related to sports competitions such as soccer, volleyball, and athletics, or a so-called TV drama, etc., and a video program provided by television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, or Internet broadcasting. Even if it is a TV drama, for example, it is possible to define a specific event for generating a privilege in advance, such as a specific person appearing or a specific incident occurring. The grant system is a motivation for the user to continuously watch the TV drama. In addition, when the TV drama includes a commercial video, by defining the start of the commercial as an event and setting a period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the event by the end of the commercial, the privilege granting system This motivates the user to continuously view commercials. In addition, when an event does not frequently occur in the content, it is preferable to set the period within a predetermined time from the timing when the event occurs in order to set a period for receiving the privilege request short. Thereby, since the psychology which does not miss the privilege by the event which does not occur frequently acts on the user, the user is strongly interested in the TV drama.
In addition, it has been stated that the period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the event may be limited from the occurrence timing of the event to the timing of the break of the content after the occurrence of the event. In the case of a game relay program, the timing of the break may not be determined in advance by sports rules. For example, a soccer or basketball game has a first half, a second half, or a quarter or period, but a baseball or volleyball game has no predetermined batting, inning, or set time. If the timing of content delimitation is not determined by the rule, the user cannot predict the timing of the delimitation, so that the user is more strongly encouraged not to miss a privilege due to the occurrence of an event.

In addition, the content need not be provided through public or private media such as television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, or Internet broadcasting. For example, in the case of a professional baseball game provided in real time, a user who is in a stadium where the game is actually played can be given the same motivation as the privilege grant system of the above-described embodiment. Needless to say, you can.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where data recording in the game management database 33 by the game management unit 54 is performed in response to an input by an operator who views a baseball game has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. . In the case of content including an event whose occurrence can be automatically detected by the detection device, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the detection result by the detection device is automatically input to the server device. unnecessary. An example of such content is a bowling game. In a bowling game, for example, when the occurrence of a strike is defined as an event in advance, a system configuration that automatically transmits a signal indicating that an event has occurred from an existing detection device that detects the occurrence of a strike to the server device. Good. In the embodiment described above, in the case of content that can automatically detect the occurrence of an event, the timing setting unit 58 can set the start point of the period for receiving the privilege request as the timing at which the event occurs.

In the above-described embodiment, the main server 20 and the database server 30 on the network use the storage unit 52, the transmission enabling unit 55 (or privilege notification unit 55a), the display screen update unit 56 (privilege notification unit), and the privilege grant unit 57. The timing setting unit 58 and the notification unit 59 are configured to implement the functions. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. 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 main 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. In the above-described embodiment, the function of the storage unit 52 is realized by causing the CPU 21 of the main server 20 to store the event data in the RAM 23 (storage device). However, the storage device is not limited to the RAM 23 and is stored in the communication terminal 10. It may be stored in a device (RAM 13 or a large-capacity storage device such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) not shown) or another storage device on the network, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the transmission enabling means 55 generates HTML data including event contents and / or privilege contents, and places the HTML data in a transmittable state (that is, in a transmittable state). If the HTML data is transmitted to the communication terminal 10, the event content and / or the privilege content are displayed on the communication terminal 10. Therefore, the function of the transmission enabling means 55 is the function of placing the event content and / or the benefit content in a state that can be displayed on the communication terminal 10 (that is, the display enabling state), that is, the display enabling means. Is equivalent. Such display enabling means may be provided in the game server 20 or may be provided in the communication terminal 10. In that case, for example, a storage device that stores event data in which event contents and privilege contents are associated is provided in the communication terminal 10, and event occurrence information (information indicating that a specific event has occurred) is received from the main server 20. When received, the CPU 11 of the communication terminal 10 sets the event content and / or privilege content to a displayable state. Then, when the CPU 11 of the communication terminal 10 receives a display request according to a predetermined operation, the CPU 11 of the communication terminal 10 reads the data in the storage device in the communication terminal 10 based on the event specified by the event occurrence information, It is possible to realize a display unit that displays both or either of the content and the privilege content.

Claims (26)

1. A server device connected via a network to a communication terminal operated by a user,
   Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
   When the event occurs in the content, privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
   A privilege granting means for determining that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is granted to a user when a privilege request from a communication terminal is received;
   A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest;
   A server device comprising:
2. The timing setting means is characterized in that the period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the first event is limited to the timing of the occurrence of the second event following the first event,
   The server device according to claim 1.
3. The timing setting means may limit a period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of an event to a predetermined time from the occurrence timing of the event, or after the occurrence of the event and to a timing of the break of the content. Features
   The server device according to claim 1.
4. The timing of notifying the communication terminal by the privilege notification means is different for each user or for each group consisting of a plurality of users.
   The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. The order of the timing of notifying the communication terminal by the privilege notification means is changed randomly or in order for each event occurrence, in units of users or in groups of a plurality of users.
   The server device according to claim 4.
6. It is characterized by comprising a notification means for notifying the communication terminal of the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event before the provision of the content is started,
   The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. The privilege granting means transmits a privilege determined to be granted to a user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content to a communication terminal after the provision of the content,
   The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. The privilege granting means transmits the privilege determined to be given to the user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content in a batch in association with the content, to the communication terminal.
   The server device according to claim 7.
9. A program for giving a privilege to a user who operates a communication terminal connectable to a network,
   A storage function for storing, in a storage device, an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event;
   When the event occurs in the content, a privilege notification function that notifies the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
   When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received, a privilege granting function for deciding to grant a privilege corresponding to the generated event to the user;
   A timing setting function for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest,
   A program to realize
10. A privilege granting method to a user performed between a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected via a network,
    The server device stores an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    The server device, when the event occurs in the content, notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
    The communication terminal makes a privilege request to the server device in response to a predetermined operation;
    When the server device receives the privilege request, the step of determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the generated event;
    Including
    The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest.
    Benefit granting method.
11. A privilege granting method for a user using a communication terminal,
    Storing an event that may occur in content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    When the event occurs in the content, notifying the communication terminal of the event content that occurred and either or both of the privilege content corresponding to the event;
    The communication terminal makes a privilege request to the server device in response to a predetermined operation;
    Determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the event that occurred when the privilege request is received;
    Including
    The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content ends at the latest.
    Benefit granting method.
12. A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
    The server device
    Storage means for storing an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event;
    When the event occurs in the content, privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
    A privilege granting means for determining that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is granted to a user when a privilege request from a communication terminal is received;
    A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest;
    A privilege granting system.
13. A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
    Storage means for storing an event that can occur in the content provided to the user in real time and a privilege corresponding to the event;
    When the event occurs in the content, privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
    A privilege granting means for determining that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is granted to a user when a privilege request from a communication terminal is received;
    A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the timing when the event occurs until the provision of the content is completed at the latest;
    A privilege granting system.
14. A server device connected to a communication terminal via communication,
    Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    When the event occurs in the content, transmission enabling means for making a transmission ready state in which either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal;
    In a transmittable state, when a transmission request from a communication terminal is accepted, a privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content and the privilege content;
    When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified, a privilege grant is determined to grant a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred to the user. Means,
    A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
    A server device comprising:
15. The timing setting means is characterized in that the period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of the first event is limited to the timing of the occurrence of the second event following the first event,
    The server device according to claim 14.
16. The timing setting means may limit a period for receiving the privilege request according to the occurrence of an event to a predetermined time from the occurrence timing of the event, or after the occurrence of the event and to a timing of the break of the content. Features
    The server device according to claim 14.
17. The transmission enabling means is characterized in that the timing for making the transmission ready state is made different for each user or for each group consisting of a plurality of users.
    The server device according to any one of claims 14 to 16.
18. The order of the timing for enabling the transmission is changed in units of users or in units of groups of a plurality of users, randomly or in sequence for each event occurrence,
    The server device according to claim 17.
19. It is characterized by comprising a notification means for notifying the communication terminal of the event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event before the provision of the content is started,
    The server device according to any one of claims 14 to 18.
20. The privilege granting means transmits a privilege determined to be granted to a user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content to a communication terminal after the provision of the content,
    The server device according to any one of claims 14 to 19.
21. The privilege granting means transmits the privilege determined to be given to the user in response to the occurrence of an event in the content in a batch in association with the content, to the communication terminal.
    The server device according to claim 20.
22. A program for giving a privilege to a user who operates a communication terminal connectable to a network,
    A storage function for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    When the event occurs in the content, a transmission enabling function for making a transmission ready state in which either or both of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal;
    In a transmittable state, when a transmission request from a communication terminal is accepted, a privilege notification function that notifies the communication terminal of either or both of the event content and the privilege content;
    When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified, a privilege grant is determined to grant a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred to the user. Function and
    A timing setting function for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
    A program to realize
23. A privilege granting method to a user performed between a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected via a network,
    The server device storing an event that can occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    The server device, when the event occurs in the content, a step of making the transmission possible state in which both or any one of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal; ,
    A step in which the communication terminal makes a transmission request to the server device according to a predetermined operation;
    In a transmittable state, when the transmission request is accepted, a step of notifying a communication terminal of either or both of the event content and privilege content;
    The communication terminal makes a privilege request to the server device in response to a predetermined operation in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified;
    When the server device receives the privilege request, the step of determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the generated event;
    Including
    The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest,
    Benefit granting method.
24. A privilege granting method for a user using a communication terminal,
    Storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    When the event occurs in the content, the step of making a displayable state in which the communication terminal can display both or any one of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
    In a displayable state, when a display request corresponding to a predetermined operation is received, a step in which a communication terminal displays both or any one of the event content and the privilege content;
    Receiving a privilege request according to a predetermined operation in a state where at least one of the event content and the privilege content is displayed;
    Determining to give a user a privilege corresponding to the event that occurred when the privilege request is received;
    Including
    The period for receiving the privilege request is set from the displayable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest,
    Benefit granting method.
25. A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
    The server device
    Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    When the event occurs in the content, transmission enabling means for making a transmission ready state in which either or both of the event content that occurred and the privilege content corresponding to the event can be transmitted to the communication terminal;
    In a transmittable state, when a transmission request from a communication terminal is accepted, a privilege notification means for notifying the communication terminal of either or both of the event content and the privilege content;
    When a privilege request from a communication terminal is received in a state in which at least one of the event content and the privilege content is notified, a privilege grant is determined to grant a privilege corresponding to the event that has occurred to the user. Means,
    A timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the transmittable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
    A privilege granting system.
26. A privilege granting system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server device connected to the communication terminal via a network,
    Storage means for storing an event that may occur in the content provided to the user and a privilege corresponding to the event in a storage device;
    When the event occurs in the content, display enabling means for making the displayable state in which the communication terminal can display both or any one of the generated event content and the privilege content corresponding to the event;
    In a display enabled state, when a display request according to a predetermined operation is received, a display means for displaying a communication terminal on both or any one of the event content and the privilege content;
    When a privilege request is received according to a predetermined operation in a state where at least one of the event content and the privilege content is displayed, it is determined that a privilege corresponding to the generated event is to be given to the user. Privilege granting means;
    Timing setting means for setting a period for receiving the privilege request from the displayable state to the end of provision of the content at the latest;
    A privilege granting system.

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