WO2024080108A1 - Information processing device and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present technique pertains to an information processing device and method, and a program, which can provide added value for users. This information processing device comprises: a control unit that identifies, when the user terminal of a user enters a user-selected content area where element contents are provided, a service area corresponding to the content area where the user terminal has entered, on the basis of content area setting information about the content area and service area setting information about the service area where related contents are provided, the service area being set by a provider who provides the related contents of the element contents; and a communication unit that transmits, to the user terminal, the related contents corresponding to the service area identified by the control unit. The present technique is applicable to a content provider system.

Description

Information processing device, method, and program

This technology relates to an information processing device, method, and program, and in particular to an information processing device, method, and program that can provide added value to users.

　Conventionally, a system has been known in which a business continuously tracks the location information of individual users in order to guide them to their own trade area or store, and when the business detects that the user has entered an area designated by the business, the business provides the user with coupons or advertisements.

As a technology related to such a system, for example, a technology has been proposed in which, each time a mobile station moves to a wireless area managed by a different base station, wireless area information managed by the base station to which the mobile station is connected is reported to a server device by a higher-level control device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this technology, regional information of a type related to the area in which the mobile station is located and registered in advance by the user of the mobile station is distributed to the mobile station.

Also, for example, a technology has been proposed that updates the experience period during which the user can experience the content based on the location information of the advertising store and the location information of the user (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-186033 A International Publication No. 2020/189582

However, in many cases, the above-mentioned systems provide users with coupons and advertisements that explicitly request purchases when they enter the area, and fail to provide added value based on the individual goals and experiences of users.

This technology was developed in light of these circumstances, and makes it possible to provide added value to users.

The information processing device according to the first aspect of the present technology includes a control unit that, when a user terminal of a user enters a content area in which element content is provided and which is set by the user, identifies the service area that overlaps with the content area into which the user terminal has entered, based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information indicating the service area in which related content is provided and which is set by a business providing related content related to the element content, and a communication unit that transmits the related content corresponding to the service area identified by the control unit to the user terminal.

The information processing method or program of the first aspect of the present technology includes a step of, when a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, identifying the service area that overlaps with the content area into which the user terminal has entered based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information indicating the service area in which related content is provided, set by a business providing related content related to the element content, and transmitting the related content corresponding to the identified service area to the user terminal.

In a first aspect of this technology, when a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, the service area that overlaps with the content area into which the user terminal has entered is identified based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information indicating the service area in which the related content is provided, set by a business providing related content related to the element content, and the related content corresponding to the identified service area is transmitted to the user terminal.

The information processing device of the second aspect of the present technology is an information processing device that plays element content or related content related to the element content, and includes a control unit that sets a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation, and detects entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area, and a communication unit that, when entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, receives the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided, which is set by a business operator that provides the related content and which overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered, and the control unit plays the received related content.

The information processing method or program of the second aspect of the present technology includes a step in which an information processing device that plays element content or related content related to the element content sets a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation, detects entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area, and, when entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, receives the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided that is set by a business operator that provides the related content and that overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered, and plays the received related content.

In a second aspect of the present technology, in an information processing device that plays element content or related content related to the element content, a content area in which the element content is provided is set in response to a user's operation, entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected based on content area setting information indicating the content area, and when entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content is received from a service area in which the related content is provided, which is set by a business operator that provides the related content and which overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered, and the received related content is played.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a content providing system. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating detection of a typical user's behavior and provision of a benefit. 1 is a diagram for explaining user behavior detection and reward provision in the present technology. FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the creation and provision of content. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating element contents and bonus contents. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating setting of a content area. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating setting of a content area. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the playback of element contents. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating playback of special content. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a service area. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a service area. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when a service area is not displayed. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating playback of element contents and bonus contents. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a user terminal. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a server configuration. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a content area setting process and a setting information receiving process. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a content playback process. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing process. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of a computer.

Below, we will explain an embodiment in which this technology is applied, with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
Example of a content provision system configuration
When a content area set by a user overlaps with a service area set by a service provider, this technology allows for the provision of added value to a user by playing bonus content corresponding to the service area when the user enters the content area, thereby guiding the user to the service area.

Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of one embodiment of a content provision system to which this technology is applied.

The content provision system shown in FIG. 1 has a user terminal 11, a content provider terminal 12, a business operator terminal 13, and a server 14, and the user terminal 11 to the server 14 can be connected to each other via a wired or wireless network.

The user terminal 11 is an information processing device owned by a user who is a user of the content provision service provided by the server 14. Specifically, the user terminal 11 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a portable device, or the like.

The user terminal 11 receives content provided by the content provision service from the server 14 and plays the content provided.

The content provided by the content provision service is made up of element content and bonus content, which are mutually related contents, and relates to a single theme, for example, content based on a work such as a game, movie, music, or novel. In particular, the theme referred to here is not limited to content related to a single work, but may be any theme, such as a theme such as "I was inspired by multiple works by the same author," or a theme based on multiple works by different authors.

Element content is content associated with a content area set by the user.

In other words, a content area is an area in which element content is provided to a user, and when the user terminal 11 held by the user enters a content area, the element content corresponding to that content area is played back on the user terminal 11.

Bonus content is other content related to the element content, that is, related content, that is provided to users by the business operator as a bonus.

In particular, the purpose of the bonus content is to guide users to a specific service area, as well as to provide users with further added value regarding the themes covered in the element content.

A service area is an area in which special content is provided to users. In other words, special content is associated with a service area set by a carrier.

In addition, multiple bonus contents may be associated with a service area, and the bonus contents provided (played) may change depending on the usage status of any service provided by the operator, such as product provision. In other words, one of the purposes of the bonus contents may be to have users use any service provided by the operator, such as product provision.

For example, when a user, i.e., a user terminal 11 carried by the user, enters a content area that overlaps with a service area, the privileged content corresponding to that service area is played on the user terminal 11.

The content provider terminal 12 is an information processing device such as a personal computer operated by the content provider (content creator).

The content provider terminal 12 creates (generates) the content provided by the content providing service, i.e., element content and bonus content, in response to operations by the content provider.

The business operator terminal 13 is an information processing device such as a personal computer managed by a business operator that provides a given service.

The business operator terminal 13 specifies (selects) the content to be provided to the user from among the contents created by the content provider terminal 12 (content provider), in particular the bonus content that constitutes the content, and specifies a service area for the bonus content.

The server 14 is an information processing device managed by the operator of a content provision service that provides content to users.

The server 14 records element content and bonus content created by content providers, and supplies (transmits) the element content and bonus content to the user terminal 11 in response to information, etc., supplied from the user terminal 11.

Note that the supply of element content does not necessarily have to be performed by server 14, and element content may be supplied to user terminal 11 by content provider terminal 12 or another server different from server 14.

Regarding content playback
Next, the reproduction of the content provided by the content providing service will be described.

First, we will explain how benefits are provided in general services, with reference to Figure 2.

In a typical service, the location information of each individual user, i.e., the user's behavior, is detected at all times.

For example, the broken line L11 in Figure 2 shows the trajectory of a user's location, and the server providing the service and the user's terminal can determine the trajectory of the user's location (movement) from the user's location information at each time.

In addition, in a typical service, the service provider sets multiple service areas, such as service area R11-1 and service area R11-2.

In the following, unless there is a need to distinguish between service area R11-1 and service area R11-2, they will simply be referred to as service area R11.

Each service area R11 is associated with coupons etc. provided to the user, and when the user enters a service area R11, the coupons etc. associated with that service area R11 are provided to the terminal carried by the user. In other words, benefits such as coupons are displayed on the user's terminal.

In contrast, in the content provision system of the present technology, benefits are provided as shown in Figure 3, for example.

In the example shown in Figure 3, a content area and a service area are set for any space, such as an urban area.

Here, six content areas CR11-1 to CR11-6 have been set by the user, and two service areas SR11-1 and SR11-2 have been set by the operator.

Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between content areas CR11-1 to CR11-6, they will be referred to simply as content area CR11, and when there is no need to distinguish between service area SR11-1 and service area SR11-2, they will be referred to simply as service area SR11.

In the following description, the space in which the content area CR11 and the service area SR11 are to be set is an urban area. However, this is not limiting, and the space (area) in which the content area CR11 and the service area SR11 are to be set may be, for example, a space within a facility such as a theme park or a shopping mall, or an interior space of a building such as a house.

In this technology, when a user issues an instruction to start using a content provision service, the user terminal 11 starts detecting the location information of the user terminal 11, i.e., detecting whether the user has entered the content area CR11 (detecting the user's behavior).

After that, when the user, i.e., the user terminal 11, enters the content area CR11, entry detection information is sent from the user terminal 11 to the server 14 to indicate that entry into the content area CR11 has been detected, and bonus content is played back as a bonus as appropriate.

Specifically, if the content area CR11 that the user terminal 11 has entered does not overlap with the service area SR11, the element content associated with that content area CR11 is played back on the user terminal 11.

In contrast, if the content area CR11 into which the user terminal 11 has entered overlaps with the service area SR11, the privileged content associated with the service area SR11 that overlaps with the content area CR11 is played back on the user terminal 11.

Therefore, for example, when the user terminal 11 enters the content area CR11-1, the element content corresponding to that content area CR11-1 is played back.

For example, when the user terminal 11 enters the content area CR11-3, the privileged content corresponding to the service area SR11-1 that overlaps with the content area CR11-3 is played back.

Comparing the content provision service of the present technology described with reference to Figure 3 with a general service such as that shown in Figure 2, the content provision service of the present technology has the following advantages:

In other words, in a typical service, the user's location information is continuously tracked (detected) to detect the user's entry into the service area R11 designated by the operator.

Also, a method has been proposed in which users themselves can decide the area within which their location information will be tracked, but this only specifies a geographical area, and location information is constantly collected regardless of the user's purpose, which is not considered good from the perspective of privacy.

In contrast, in the content provision service of the present technology, the content area CR11 is set by the user. In other words, the user can explicitly set one or more content areas CR11 as the location for tracking location information.

Therefore, the intrusion detection information is sent to the server 14 only when the user terminal 11 enters the content area CR11 set by the user, and the user himself can clearly understand when the intrusion detection information is sent to the server 14.

Moreover, location information is detected (entry into content area CR11 is detected) only when the content provision service is being used, that is, only when the action objective is to view content.

For these reasons, it can be said that the content provision service based on this technology is more useful than general services from the perspective of privacy protection.

Also, in many cases, general services provide users with coupons and other items that explicitly encourage them to make purchases, and do not provide added value in relation to the individual goals and experiences of users.

In contrast, the content provision service of this technology provides bonus content related to the same theme (work) as the element content in response to the user's objective or experience of viewing the element content. In other words, it is possible to provide content that each user needs as a bonus (bonus content).

This makes it possible to guide the user to service area SR11 while providing added value for the user's individual objectives and experience. In other words, the user feels as if the content has been upgraded by the bonus content, improving satisfaction. In particular, in this case, because the bonus content is content with the same theme as the element content, the user's immersion in viewing the content is not diminished, unlike when a coupon or advertisement is presented.

Furthermore, when offering benefits that are directly related to a business's products or services, such as coupons offered by general services, users who wish to receive the benefits are limited to those who originally intended to use the target product or service. As a result, businesses are unable to increase access to new users beyond the scope of coupon use.

In contrast, the content provision service of this technology provides bonus content related to elemental content, rather than coupons, which can increase access from businesses providing bonus content, even to users who have no direct business with the business.

In other words, because the benefits offered are not coupons but bonus content, more businesses can participate in the content provision service and there is more variety.

For example, if a coupon is offered as a benefit, like a general service, participating businesses in that service would be limited to businesses offering the coupon, i.e. businesses that have stores within service area R11.

In contrast, with the content provision service of this technology, participating businesses can be a more diverse range of businesses, not just businesses that have stores within the service area SR11, but also other businesses that provide products sold in the stores, and other businesses that collaborate with businesses that have stores.

Moreover, not only users who have direct business with the operator, but also users who have no direct business with the operator but are interested in element content can be guided to service area SR11.

<Content creation and provision>
Here, creation and provision of content in the content provision system of the present technology will be described.

For example, as shown in the upper part of Figure 4, the content provider, i.e., the content provider terminal 12, creates element content and bonus content as content.

The element content created at the content provider terminal 12 is supplied to the user terminal 11 of the user directly from the content provider terminal 12 or via the server 14.

For example, the user terminal 11 may download the element content from the content provider terminal 12 or the server 14 in advance, or the element content may be streamed from the content provider terminal 12 or the server 14 to the user terminal 11.

In the following, the server 14 will be described as streaming the element content to the user terminal 11. Therefore, the created element content is first supplied from the content provider terminal 12 to the server 14 and recorded there.

In addition, the bonus content created by the content provider terminal 12 is provided to the business operator, i.e., the business operator terminal 13.

Then, the operator terminal 13 specifies (selects) one or more bonus contents to provide to the user from one or more bonus contents provided by the content provider.

Then, the operator terminal 13 sets a service area for each specified privilege content, and generates service area setting information that indicates the setting result.

In addition, the operator terminal 13 generates selection condition information for the bonus content, as appropriate, that indicates the conditions (selection conditions) under which the bonus content is selected as the bonus content to be played.

For example, the selection conditions indicated by the selection condition information may be that a specific product provided by the business operator has been purchased by the user, or that the product is available within a specific period of time.

Therefore, for example, if multiple bonus contents are associated with one service area, one bonus content can be selected from among those bonus contents based on the selection condition information and played.

The operator terminal 13 supplies the special content, service area setting information, and selection condition information to the server 14 for recording.

Note that each piece of bonus content may be provided by a different provider, or the same bonus content may be provided to users by multiple providers.

In addition, the business operator terminal 13 may generate unique presentation information for presenting a unique presentation image to the user along with the bonus content, and supply it to the server 14 for recording.

The unique presentation information is image information that allows a business to present unique information as a unique presentation image, such as an advertisement for a service provided by the business. In particular, the unique presentation information here is data (image data) for presenting unique information by image, and is not data (audio data) for presenting information by audio, etc.

The server 14 records content information including at least the bonus content, service area setting information, and selection condition information supplied from the operator terminal 13, and the element content supplied from the content provider terminal 12. This content information may also include the unique presentation information described above.

Also, as shown in the lower left of the figure, the user operates the user terminal 11 and sets the content area for each element content using the user interface.

The user terminal 11 records content area setting information indicating the set content area, and supplies the content area setting information to the server 14 for recording.

Once the content area setting information for each user and the content information for the content are recorded in the server 14 in this manner, the user will be able to view the content through the content provision service provided by the server 14.

For example, when the user terminal 11 starts a dedicated application program in response to a user's instruction to start using a content providing service, the user terminal 11 starts detecting its own location.

Then, the user terminal 11 detects (senses) the user's (user terminal 11's) entry into the content area based on the detected position and the recorded content area setting information.

When the user terminal 11 detects that a user has entered the content area, it generates entry detection information indicating the detection result and transmits it to the server 14.

The entry detection information is information that can identify which content area the user has entered, which corresponds to which element content, such as ID information indicating the content area where the user's entry was detected.

When the server 14 receives the intrusion detection information from the user terminal 11, it determines whether there is a service area that overlaps with the content area that the user has entered, based on the intrusion detection information and the recorded content information and content area setting information.

If there is no service area that overlaps with the content area that the user has entered, the server 14 transmits the element content corresponding to that content area, or more specifically, data for playing the element content (hereinafter also referred to as element content playback data), to the user terminal 11. As a result, the element content is played on the user terminal 11.

In response to this, if there is a service area that overlaps with the content area that the user has entered, the server 14 transmits the bonus content corresponding to that service area, more specifically, data for playing the bonus content (hereinafter also referred to as bonus content playback data), to the user terminal 11. As a result, the bonus content is played on the user terminal 11.

Next, we will explain some examples of specific content provided by the content provision system of this technology, i.e., the content provision service.

The content provided by the content provision service consists of multiple elemental contents and bonus content that are intended to be placed in different areas.

Content is provided to users as a single theme, based on works such as games, movies, music, and novels.

As an example, one possible approach would be to use one game as a theme, and provide each of the multiple scenes contained within that game as a set of multiple elemental content pieces. In this case, the bonus content would be created based on the theme of the game that is covered in the elemental content.

Figure 5 shows examples of elemental content and bonus content that make up the content.

In the figure, the upper part shows an example of content themed around movie A.

In this content, five areas A1 to A5 are defined, and each area is associated with one element content and one or more bonus content. In other words, element content and bonus content are defined for each area.

For example, area A1 is associated with one element content CE11 and three bonus contents CB11 to CB13.

In this case, the user sets a content area corresponding to area A1, and the operator sets a service area corresponding to area A1.

When bonus content associated with area A1 (service area) is played back, the bonus content to be played back is selected from bonus content CB11 to bonus content CB13 based on, for example, the selection condition information described above.

Also, the bottom of the figure shows an example of content themed around Game B.

In this content, five areas B1 to B5 are defined, and one element content is associated with each of these areas. Furthermore, among areas B1 to B5, there are areas to which one or more bonus content items are associated, and areas to which no bonus content items are associated.

For example, one element content CE21 and two bonus contents CB21 and CB22 are associated with area B3. On the other hand, only one element content CE22 is associated with area B5, and no bonus content is associated with area B5.

As described above, each area is always defined with one elemental content, and bonus content can be defined (added) to those areas as needed.

In particular, it is possible to define multiple bonus contents for one area, and it is also possible to define no bonus content for an area.

Furthermore, element content and bonus content, i.e., element content playback data and bonus content playback data, consist of at least one data.

Specifically, the element content consists of at least one of an image and audio. In other words, the element content may be a still image, a moving image (video), i.e., video content, or audio content (sound content) that is audio only.

In particular, when the element content is video content, audio may or may not accompany the moving images (video). Furthermore, audio here is not limited to the voice of a character, etc., but may refer to any sound, such as music, sound effects, background sounds, etc.

For example, if the element content is a moving image with audio, the image data of the moving image and the audio data (audio data) of the audio accompanying the moving image are regarded as the element content playback data. Note that an image as element content may contain text as a displayed element, and for example, an image in which only text is displayed (text image) can also be regarded as element content. Therefore, element content can be said to consist of at least one of an image, audio, and text.

Furthermore, like the element contents, the bonus content also consists of at least one of images and audio. In other words, like the element contents, the bonus content also consists of at least one of images, audio, and text.

<Content Areas and Service Areas>
As described above, the user can set the content area of each element content using the user interface.

When the user terminal 11 starts an application program for using the content providing service, a map screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, is displayed on the user terminal 11.

In this example, the map screen displays a map of the city where the user (i.e., the user terminal 11 held by the user) is located.

Also displayed on the map screen are a current location mark MK11 indicating the user's current location, content areas CR31-1 to CR31-3, and service areas SR31-1 to SR31-3.

Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between content areas CR31-1 to CR31-3, they will also be referred to simply as content area CR31. Also, when there is no need to distinguish between service areas SR31-1 to SR31-3, they will also be referred to simply as service area SR31.

The user operates the user terminal 11 to specify the placement position and size of the content area CR31, thereby setting the content area CR31 corresponding to each element content.

At this time, for example, the user can specify the content area CR31 by tapping or the like to display information about the content area CR31, such as which element content the content area CR31 corresponds to.

In addition, the user may be able to change the shape of the content area CR31. Also, the service area SR31 may not be displayed when the user sets (edits) the content area CR31 or when playing back content after the setting.

For example, assume that the user moves the content area CR31 and sets the content area CR31 as shown in Figure 7.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, content area CR31-1 does not overlap with any service area SR31. In contrast, content area CR31-2 overlaps with service area SR31-2, and content area CR31-3 overlaps with service area SR31-3.

After the user sets the content area CR31 in this way, he or she starts using the content providing service, i.e., gives an instruction to start playing the content. When the user moves around the city, the current location mark MK11 on the map screen moves in accordance with the user's movements.

For example, suppose the state shown in Figure 7 changes to the state shown in Figure 8.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the current location mark MK11 is located within the content area CR31-1. Therefore, in this example, the user's entry into the content area CR31-1 is detected.

In this case, since the content area CR31-1 does not overlap with any of the service areas SR31, the element content associated with the content area CR31-1 is played back on the user terminal 11.

In contrast, suppose the state changes from that shown in Figure 7 to that shown in Figure 9.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the current location mark MK11 is located within the content area CR31-2. Therefore, in this example, the user's entry into the content area CR31-2 is detected.

In this case, since the content area CR31-2 overlaps with the service area SR31-2, the user terminal 11 plays back the privileged content associated with the service area SR31-2.

The map screen may remain displayed even when element content or bonus content is being played, or the map screen may not be displayed when element content or bonus content is being played.

Furthermore, the service areas on the map screen may be displayed in any display format.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the service area SR31 can be displayed (presented) in a circular or polygonal shape.

For example, in the example of FIG. 10, service area SR31-2 is circular, and service area SR31-3 is substantially rectangular. Note that the shape of service area SR31 can be any shape that matches the shape of the area that the operator wishes to set.

Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, star-shaped icons AC11-1 to AC11-3 may be displayed on the map screen as information indicating the location of the service area.

In this case, for example, icon AC11-1 corresponds to service area SR31-1 shown in FIG. 10. In an example in which the location of a service area is presented using such icons, the user can roughly grasp the area that is the service area from the icon on the map screen.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, it is possible to prevent information that can identify the area that is the service area SR31, such as the service area SR31 or an icon, from being displayed on the map screen. In other words, it is possible to hide the service area SR31.

In the example shown in Figure 12, the current location mark MK11 and content area CR31 are displayed on the map screen, but the service area SR31 is not displayed.

In this way, when the service area SR31 is hidden, it is possible to realize a method of providing content in which bonus content is played back when the content area CR31 coincides with the service area SR31 by chance. In this case, it is possible to provide a way of enjoying content that is different from when the service area SR31 is displayed.

In other words, suppose that by chance, part of content area CR31 and service area SR31 overlap, causing a user to play bonus content, and that user reports (broadcasts) the approximate location of service area SR31 via a social networking service (SNS) or the like.

Other users can then use the user's report to configure content area CR31 and view the bonus content themselves.

The method of presenting the content areas and service areas on the map screen is not limited to the examples described with reference to Figures 10 to 12, and any other method may be used.

In addition, when content areas and service areas are defined on a map, conditions for the overlap between the two areas may be set according to the operator's objectives, such as when the areas partially overlap each other, or when one area encompasses the other.

For example, if at least a portion of a content area and a portion of a service area overlap, the content area and the service area can be determined to overlap. In this case, if at least a portion of the content area and the service area overlap, the bonus content corresponding to the service area is played back.

Furthermore, it is also possible to determine that a content area and a service area overlap when, for example, the entire service area is contained (encompassed) within the content area, or when the entire content area is contained within the service area.

In addition, the area (range) within the content area in which the bonus content is provided may be determined in advance, or may be configurable by the operator.

Specifically, for example, the entire content area, including areas that do not overlap with the service area, can be the area for which bonus content is provided.

In this case, when the user terminal 11 enters a content area that overlaps with a service area, the bonus content will be played back no matter where the user terminal 11 is located within that content area.

Also, for example, only the overlapping area between the content area and the service area can be designated as the area for which bonus content is provided.

In this case, the bonus content is played when the user terminal 11 enters an area where the content area and the service area overlap.

Therefore, even if there is a content area that partially overlaps with the service area and the user terminal 11 enters the content area, the bonus content will not be played if the user terminal 11 is outside the overlapping area between the content area and the service area.

In the following, we will assume that a content area and a service area are overlapping if at least a portion of the area of the two overlaps. In the following, we will assume that the area to which bonus content is provided is the entire content area, including areas that do not overlap with the service area.

In addition, when playing bonus content, the user may be able to select whether to play the bonus content or the element content, or the bonus content may be played after the element content is played.

In addition, the method of defining (designating) the content area or service area can be, for example, a method in which a position determined by latitude and longitude is used as a reference, and the content area or service area is a circular area of a specified radius centered on that position.

In addition, for example, multiple locations determined by latitude and longitude specified by a user or business operator may be used as vertices, and a polygonal area, including a rectangle, defined by these multiple vertices may be used as the content area or service area.

Furthermore, entry into a content area or a service area may be performed by detecting the position of the user terminal 11 using any positioning system such as a GPS (Global Positioning System), or may be performed using various types of beacons. In particular, beacons may be used to detect entry into a service area.

For example, beacons used to detect entry into an area may be of any type, including those that use electromagnetic waves such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or UWB (Ultra Wide Band), those that use optical means such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), or those that use sound waves such as ultrasound.

In addition, when a beacon is used, it may be determined that a device has entered the area when a signal from the beacon with a certain reception strength is detected.

<Selecting the bonus content to play>
Furthermore, when a plurality of bonus contents are associated with one area (service area), it is possible to determine which bonus content is to be selected as the bonus content to be played back, based on the above-mentioned selection condition information or the like.

An example of a selection condition indicated by the selection condition information is shown in FIG. 13. Note that in FIG. 13, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted as appropriate.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, selection conditions are shown for each of the three bonus contents CB11 to CB13 associated with one area A1, i.e., one service area.

In particular, on the right side of the diagram for each bonus content, the selection conditions for each of the following items are listed: "History of the same user," "Number of visitors," "Time of provision," and "Purchase history."

"Same user's history" refers to the user's (personal) visit history to the service area corresponding to area A1, i.e., the number of times the user has entered the service area, or more specifically, the number of times the user has entered a content area that overlaps with that service area. In other words, "same user's history" refers to the playback history of the bonus content corresponding to the user's (personal) service area.

In addition, "number of visitors" indicates the number (total number) of users who visited the service area corresponding to area A1, i.e., the number of users who entered the content area that overlaps with that service area.

"Provision period" indicates the period during which the bonus content will be provided, as determined by the business operator, and "purchase history" indicates products sold (provided) by the business operator etc. that must be purchased in order to receive the bonus content.

For example, the selection conditions for bonus content CB11 are the same user's history "first time," the number of visitors "10," the time of release "April," and the purchase history "Product A."

So, for example, let's say it's currently April, the number of visitors to the service area corresponding to area A1 so far is 10 or more, and a certain user has already purchased product A.

In this case, when a specific user enters a content area that overlaps with the service area corresponding to area A1 for the first time, bonus content CB11 is selected as the bonus content to be played from bonus content CB11 to bonus content CB13. Then, bonus content CB11 is played on the user terminal 11 of the specific user.

The bonus content to be played may be selected randomly. Also, for example, the selection condition may be only "history of the same user," and multiple bonus contents may be selected in order each time the user visits the service area.

Example of user terminal configuration
Next, the configuration and operation of the user terminal 11 and the server 14 which constitute the content providing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the configuration of a user terminal 11.

In this example, the user terminal 11 has an input unit 41, a display unit 42, a speaker 43, a position detection unit 44, a communication unit 45, a recording unit 46, and a control unit 47.

The input unit 41 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, switches, buttons, etc. superimposed on the display unit 42, and supplies signals according to operations by the user to the control unit 47.

The display unit 42 is composed of, for example, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel or a liquid crystal panel, and displays various images according to the control of the control unit 47. The speaker 43 outputs sounds such as the audio of element content and the audio of bonus content according to the control of the control unit 47.

The position detection unit 44 is composed of a positioning device using any positioning method, such as GPS, and detects (measures) the position of the user, or more specifically, the user terminal 11, and supplies the detection result to the control unit 47.

The position detection unit 44 may be composed of a beacon receiver or the like, and may detect the position of the user, more specifically, the user's entry into the service area, by receiving a signal transmitted from the beacon. The position of the user terminal 11 (user) may be detected by another device different from the user terminal 11 that is carried by the user, in addition to being detected by the position detection unit 44. In such a case, the communication unit 45 of the user terminal 11 receives (acquires) the detection result of the position of the user terminal 11 detected by the other device from the other device.

The communication unit 45 communicates with external devices such as the server 14 via the network. That is, the communication unit 45 transmits information provided by the control unit 47 to the external devices, and receives information provided from the external devices and provides it to the control unit 47.

The recording unit 46 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, and records various data (information) such as application programs for using the content providing service. The recording unit 46 supplies the recorded data to the control unit 47 as appropriate.

The control unit 47 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 11. For example, the control unit 47 causes the display unit 42 to display any image, such as a map screen, and controls the display unit 42 and speaker 43 to play element content and bonus content.

In addition, images (videos) of the element content and bonus content may be displayed on a wearable device such as AR (Augmented Reality) glasses that are connected to the user terminal 11 by wire or wirelessly and can be worn on the user's head. In such a case, the control unit 47 supplies images (image data) of the element content and bonus content to the wearable device and causes the images to be displayed.

Similarly, the audio of the element content or bonus content may be played on an external device, such as earphones or headphones that can be worn on the user's ears, or a speaker unit provided on a wearable device, that is connected to the user terminal 11 by wire or wirelessly. In such a case, the control unit 47 supplies the audio (audio data) of the element content or bonus content to the external device and outputs it.

In the following, for simplicity's sake, it will be assumed that the element content and bonus content are played on the display unit 42 and speaker 43 provided on the user terminal 11.

<Server configuration example>
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 14. As shown in FIG.

The server 14 has a communication unit 81, a recording unit 82, and a control unit 83.

The communication unit 81 communicates with external devices such as the user terminal 11, the content provider terminal 12, and the business operator terminal 13 via the network. That is, the communication unit 81 transmits information provided by the control unit 83 to the external devices, and receives information provided from the external devices and provides the information to the control unit 83.

The recording unit 82 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, records various data (information) such as element content and bonus content, and supplies the recorded data to the control unit 83 as appropriate.

The control unit 83 controls the operation of the entire server 14. For example, the control unit 83 controls the communication unit 81 to transmit element content and bonus content to the user terminal 11, and supplies element content received from the content provider terminal 12 and bonus content received from the business terminal 13 to the recording unit 82 for recording.

<Description of Content Area Setting Process and Setting Information Reception Process>
For example, when the content provider terminal 12 creates element content and bonus content and transmits the element content to the server 14, the communication unit 81 of the server 14 receives the element content from the content provider terminal 12 and supplies it to the control unit 83. The control unit 83 then supplies the element content supplied from the communication unit 81 to the recording unit 82, where it is recorded.

The operator terminal 13 also selects bonus content provided by the operator from among the bonus content received from the content provider terminal 12. The operator terminal 13 then specifies a service area for the selected bonus content and generates service area setting information indicating the service area.

The service area setting information may be any information as long as it is information that can identify which special content the service area corresponds to and the area that will become the service area.

For example, the service area setting information can be information including latitude and longitude information that identifies the center position of the service area, and a radius that identifies the size of the service area. In this case, the service area is a circular area with a center at the position indicated by the latitude and longitude information and a radius indicated by the service area setting information.

Furthermore, the operator terminal 13 sets selection conditions for the bonus content provided by the operator as necessary, generates selection condition information indicating the results of the settings, and also appropriately generates unique presentation information such as advertisements to be presented when the bonus content is played.

The selection conditions indicated by the selection condition information may be, for example, as described with reference to FIG. 13, conditions related to a user's usage history (purchase history) for services provided by the business operator, or conditions related to the playback status of bonus content for each user or for all users. In addition, conditions related to the timing of the provision of bonus content, for example, may also be used as selection conditions.

The operator terminal 13 transmits the selected bonus content, service area setting information, selection condition information, and unique presentation information to the server 14.

Then, the communication unit 81 of the server 14 receives the bonus content, service area setting information, selection condition information, and unique presentation information transmitted from the operator terminal 13 and supplies them to the control unit 83.

The control unit 83 generates content information including the bonus content, service area setting information, selection condition information, and unique presentation information supplied from the communication unit 81, and the element content recorded in the recording unit 82, and supplies the content information to the recording unit 82 for recording.

For example, when the selection conditions shown in FIG. 13 are set, visitor count information indicating the number of visitors to the service area, i.e., the total number of times the bonus content corresponding to the service area has been played, is also stored in the content information.

Once content information about a particular piece of content is recorded in the server 14 in this way, the user will be able to use that content.

When a user operates the user terminal 11 to start the application program for the content provision service and instructs the user to start setting the content area, the content area setting process starts on the user terminal 11.

In addition, the server 14 performs a setting information reception process in response to the content area setting process in the user terminal 11.

Below, the content area setting process by the user terminal 11 and the setting information receiving process by the server 14 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 16.

When the content area setting process is started by the user terminal 11, in step S11 the control unit 47 displays a map screen on the display unit 42 and starts accepting input operations for setting the content area.

In this case, the user terminal 11 communicates with the server 14 as necessary to obtain information about the content, such as the location of the service area, and displays, for example, a map screen (user interface) as shown in FIG. 6.

The user operates the input unit 41 to set the content area by moving the placement position of the content area on the map screen, changing the size of the content area, and so on.

In step S12, the control unit 47 generates content area setting information for identifying the content area set (specified) by the user, based on a signal supplied from the input unit 41 in response to the user's operation. In other words, the control unit 47 sets the content area in response to the user's input operation.

As with the service area setting information, the content area setting information may be any information that can identify which element content the content area corresponds to and the area that will become the content area.

In step S13, the control unit 47 supplies the content area setting information generated in the processing of step S12 to the recording unit 46 for recording, and also supplies the content area setting information to the communication unit 45.

In step S14, the communication unit 45 transmits the content area setting information provided by the control unit 47 to the server 14, and the content area setting process ends.

Furthermore, when the processing of step S14 is performed and the content area setting information is sent, the server 14 starts the setting information reception processing.

That is, in step S31, the communication unit 81 of the server 14 receives the content area setting information sent from the user terminal 11 and supplies it to the control unit 83.

In step S32, the control unit 83 generates user information, which is information about the content for each user, including the content area setting information supplied from the communication unit 81, and supplies the generated user information to the recording unit 82 for recording.

For example, when the selection conditions shown in FIG. 13 are set, the control unit 83 generates user information that includes not only content area setting information, but also usage history information indicating the user's usage history of the services provided by the business operator, and playback history information indicating the user's playback history of the bonus content corresponding to each service area. The user information may also include ID information indicating the user.

Once the user information is recorded, the setting information reception process ends.

In this way, the user terminal 11 generates content area setting information in response to the user's operation, and the server 14 records the content area setting information.

In this way, it becomes possible to provide the user with bonus content that corresponds to the service area by utilizing the content area set by the user. This makes it possible to provide added value while guiding the user to the service area.

Furthermore, the user can explicitly set a content area for tracking his/her own location, i.e., for transmitting entry detection information to the server 14. This makes it possible to provide content that respects privacy.

<Explanation of Content Playback Processing>
Once the user has set the content area, the user can then use the content providing service to view content.

The content playback process by the user terminal 11 will be explained below with reference to the flowchart in Figure 17.

In step S71, the control unit 47 starts using the content providing service in response to a signal supplied from the input unit 41 in response to a user's operation. That is, processing for viewing content using the content providing service is started.

In step S72, the position detection unit 44 acquires user position information indicating the position of the user. That is, the position detection unit 44 detects (measures) the position of the user terminal 11 (user) using any positioning method, and supplies user position information indicating the detection result to the control unit 47.

The control unit 47 then detects the user's (user terminal 11's) entry into the content area based on the user position information provided by the position detection unit 44 and the content area setting information recorded in the recording unit 46.

For example, if the user's position indicated by the user position information is within the content area indicated by the content area setting information, it is determined that the user has entered the content area.

In step S73, the control unit 47 determines whether the user (user terminal 11) has entered the content area.

If it is not determined in step S73 that the content area has been entered, then processing proceeds to step S80.

In contrast, if it is determined in step S73 that the user has entered the content area, i.e., if the user's entry into the content area is detected, the control unit 47 generates entry detection information indicating the content area into which the entry was detected and supplies this information to the communication unit 45. Then, the process proceeds to step S74.

In step S74, the communication unit 45 transmits the intrusion detection information provided by the control unit 47 to the server 14.

The location detection unit 44 may also detect when a user (user terminal 11) enters a service area.

In such a case, the position detection unit 44 detects the user's entry into the service area by receiving a signal transmitted from a beacon for detecting entry into the service area. At this time, entry may be deemed to have been detected when a signal is received, or when the reception strength of the signal is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

When the position detection unit 44 detects that a user has entered a service area, for example, the entry detection information includes information indicating the service area in which the entry was detected, in addition to information indicating the content area in which the entry was detected.

When the entry detection information is sent, element content or bonus content is sent from the server 14 to the user terminal 11 depending on whether or not the content area the user entered overlaps with the service area set by the operator.

In other words, if there is a service area that overlaps with the content area the user has entered, bonus content will be transmitted. On the other hand, if there is no service area that overlaps with the content area the user has entered, element content will be transmitted.

In step S75, the control unit 47 determines whether element content has been sent from the server 14.

If it is determined in step S75 that element content has been transmitted, in step S76 the communication unit 45 receives the element content transmitted from the server 14, more specifically the element content playback data, and supplies it to the control unit 47.

In step S77, the control unit 47 controls the display unit 42 and the speaker 43 to play the element content based on the element content playback data supplied from the communication unit 45.

For example, the control unit 47 supplies image data as element content playback data to the display unit 42 to display an image (video) of the element content, or supplies audio data as element content playback data to the speaker 43 to output the audio of the element content.

Once the element content has been played, processing then proceeds to step S80.

If it is determined in step S75 that no element content has been transmitted, i.e., if bonus content has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S78.

In step S78, the communication unit 45 receives the bonus content, more specifically the bonus content playback data, transmitted from the server 14, and supplies it to the control unit 47.

In step S79, the control unit 47 controls the display unit 42 and the speaker 43 to play the bonus content based on the bonus content playback data supplied from the communication unit 45.

For example, the control unit 47 supplies image data as bonus content playback data to the display unit 42 to display an image (video) of the bonus content, or supplies audio data as bonus content playback data to the speaker 43 to output the audio of the bonus content.

In addition, when the control unit 47 receives unique presentation information such as advertisements from the server 14 along with the bonus content via the communication unit 45, it also supplies the received unique presentation information to the display unit 42, causing it to display a unique presentation image, which is an image based on the unique presentation information. As a result, for example, advertisements or the like are displayed as unique presentation images at the edge of the screen along with the bonus content. Note that information presentation based on the unique presentation information is basically performed as images only, and no audio is presented, so as not to interfere with the user's viewing of the content. Furthermore, the unique presentation image may also be displayed based on the unique presentation information when the element content is played.

Once the bonus content has been played, processing then proceeds to step S80.

If the processing of step S77 or step S79 has been performed, or if it is determined in step S73 that the content area has not been entered, the control unit 47 determines in step S80 whether or not to end the processing for viewing the content.

For example, if a user issues an instruction to end viewing of content, i.e., to end use of the content provision service, it is determined that the process should be ended.

If it is determined in step S80 that the process is not yet to end, then the process returns to step S72 and the above-mentioned process is repeated.

In contrast, if it is determined in step S80 that the processing should be terminated, each component of the user terminal 11 stops the processing it is currently performing, and the content playback processing ends.

In this way, when the user starts using the content provision service, the user terminal 11 starts detecting when the user enters the content area, and when the user enters the content area, it plays element content or bonus content.

In particular, the user terminal 11 can provide added value while guiding the user to the service area by playing bonus content related to the element content depending on whether or not there is an overlap between the content area and the service area set by the operator.

<Explanation of Content Providing Process>
Furthermore, when the content reproduction process is started at the user terminal 11 and intrusion detection information is transmitted from the user terminal 11, the server 14 performs content provision processing.

The content provision process by the server 14 will be explained below with reference to the flowchart in Figure 18.

In step S121, the communication unit 81 receives the intrusion detection information sent from the user terminal 11 and supplies it to the control unit 83.

In step S122, the control unit 83 determines whether the content area and the service area overlap.

In other words, the control unit 83 reads the content area setting information included in the user information from the recording unit 82 for the content area into which the user has entered, as indicated by the entry detection information supplied from the communication unit 81, and identifies the region that will become that content area.

The control unit 83 also reads out the service area setting information included in the content information from the recording unit 82, and determines whether there is a service area that overlaps with the content area that the user has entered, based on the result of identifying the area that will be the content area and the service area setting information. In other words, the service area that overlaps with the content area that the user has entered is identified.

Then, if there is a service area that overlaps with the content area, the control unit 83 determines that the content area and the service area overlap.

In addition, the determination of whether the content area and the service area overlap can be made based on conditions set by the operator.

In other words, for example, if the content area and the service area overlap at least partially, it may be determined that the content area and the service area overlap.

In addition, for example, if a content area and a service area only partially overlap, the content area and the service area will not be determined to overlap, but if the entire service area is contained within the content area, or if the entire content area is contained within the service area, the content area and the service area will be determined to overlap.

Furthermore, for example, if entry into a service area is also detected by the user terminal 11, the entry detection information includes not only information indicating the content area into which the entry was detected, but also information indicating the service area into which the entry was detected.

In such a case, the control unit 83 determines whether the content area and service area indicated by the intrusion detection information overlap based on the content area setting information and the service area setting information.

If it is determined in step S122 that the content area and the service area overlap, i.e., if there is a service area that overlaps with the content area, then the process of step S123 is performed.

In step S123, the control unit 83 selects the bonus content associated with the service area that is determined to overlap with the content area that the user has entered.

At this time, if multiple bonus contents are associated with the service area and the selection conditions are set by the operator, the control unit 83 selects one bonus content to be played back based on the content information and user information recorded in the recording unit 82. In other words, the bonus content to be sent to the user terminal 11 is selected from the multiple bonus contents.

Specifically, for example, if the selection conditions shown in FIG. 13 have been determined in advance by the business operator, the control unit 83 uses the selection condition information and visitor count information contained in the content information, and the usage history information and playback history information contained in the user information, to select bonus content that matches the selection conditions from among multiple bonus contents.

When the control unit 83 selects the bonus content, it reads the selected bonus content, more specifically, the bonus content playback data of the bonus content, from the recording unit 82 and supplies it to the communication unit 81. At this time, the control unit 83 reads the unique presentation information from the recording unit 82 as necessary, and supplies the unique presentation information together with the bonus content to the communication unit 81.

In step S124, the communication unit 81 transmits the bonus content provided by the control unit 83 to the user terminal 11. At this time, if the control unit 83 provides the unique presentation information together with the bonus content, the communication unit 81 transmits the bonus content and the unique presentation information to the user terminal 11.

In addition, the control unit 83 updates the visitor count information included in the content information and the playback history information included in the user information as appropriate in response to the transmission of bonus content.

Once the bonus content is sent to the user terminal 11, the content provision process ends.

Also, if it is determined in step S122 that the content area and the service area do not overlap, i.e., if there is no service area that overlaps with the content area, then the process of step S125 is performed.

In step S125, the control unit 83 selects the element content associated with the content area into which the user has entered.

The control unit 83 then reads the selected element content, more specifically, the element content playback data of the element content, from the recording unit 82 and supplies it to the communication unit 81.

In step S126, the communication unit 81 transmits the element content provided by the control unit 83 to the user terminal 11, and the content provision process ends. As described above, the unique presentation information may also be transmitted together with the element content.

In this way, the server 14 determines whether the content area and the service area overlap, and transmits bonus content or element content to the user terminal 11 depending on the result of the determination.

In this way, users can be provided with bonus content related to element content that corresponds to the service area set by the operator. This makes it possible to provide added value while guiding users to the service area. This also makes it possible for the operator to increase access from users who do not have direct business with the operator.

Example of computer configuration
The above-mentioned series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. When the series of processes is executed by software, the program constituting the software is installed in a computer. Here, the computer includes a computer built into dedicated hardware, and a general-purpose personal computer, for example, capable of executing various functions by installing various programs.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer that executes the above-mentioned series of processes using a program.

In a computer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503 are interconnected by a bus 504.

Further connected to the bus 504 is an input/output interface 505. Connected to the input/output interface 505 are an input unit 506, an output unit 507, a recording unit 508, a communication unit 509, and a drive 510.

The input unit 506 includes a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, microphone, imaging element, etc. The output unit 507 includes a display, speaker, etc. The recording unit 508 includes a hard disk, non-volatile memory, etc. The communication unit 509 includes a network interface, etc. The drive 510 drives a removable recording medium 511 such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory.

In a computer configured as described above, the CPU 501 loads a program recorded in the recording unit 508, for example, into the RAM 503 via the input/output interface 505 and the bus 504, and executes the program, thereby performing the series of processes described above.

The program executed by the computer (CPU 501) can be provided by being recorded on a removable recording medium 511 such as a package medium, for example. The program can also be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting.

In a computer, a program can be installed in the recording unit 508 via the input/output interface 505 by inserting a removable recording medium 511 into the drive 510. The program can also be received by the communication unit 509 via a wired or wireless transmission medium and installed in the recording unit 508. Alternatively, the program can be pre-installed in the ROM 502 or the recording unit 508.

The program executed by the computer may be a program in which processing is performed chronologically in the order described in this specification, or a program in which processing is performed in parallel or at the required timing, such as when called.

Furthermore, the embodiments of this technology are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this technology.

For example, this technology can be configured as cloud computing, in which a single function is shared and processed collaboratively by multiple devices over a network.

In addition, each step described in the above flowchart can be executed by a single device, or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

Furthermore, when one step includes multiple processes, the multiple processes included in that one step can be executed by one device, or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

Furthermore, this technology can also be configured as follows:

(1)
a control unit that, when a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, identifies the service area that overlaps with the content area into which the user terminal has entered, based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information set by a provider that provides related content related to the element content and indicating the service area in which the related content is provided;
a communication unit that transmits the related content corresponding to the service area specified by the control unit to the user terminal.
(2)
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits to the user terminal the element content corresponding to the content area into which the user terminal has entered if there is no service area that overlaps with the content area into which the user terminal has entered.
(3)
The information processing device according to (1) or (2), wherein the related content is content on the same theme as the element content.
(4)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the control unit determines that the service area and the content area overlap when the content area and the service area overlap at least partially.
(5)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the control unit determines that the service area and the content area overlap when the entire service area is included within the content area.
(6)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the control unit determines that the service area and the content area overlap when the entire content area is included within the service area.
(7)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the element content is at least one of an image and an audio.
(8)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the related content is at least one of an image and an audio.
(9)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the communication unit transmits unique presentation information unique to the business operator together with the related content to the user terminal.
(10)
The information processing device according to (9), wherein the unique presentation information is image information.
(11)
The information processing device according to (9) or (10), wherein the unique presentation information is information for presenting an advertisement of the business.
(12)
The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein, when there are multiple related contents corresponding to the service area, the control unit selects the related content to be transmitted to the user terminal from among the multiple related contents.
(13)
The information processing device according to (12), wherein the control unit selects the related content based on a condition set in advance by the business operator.
(14)
An information processing device,
When a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, the service area overlapping with the content area into which the user terminal has entered is identified based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information set by a provider providing related content related to the element content and indicating a service area in which the related content is provided;
transmitting the related content corresponding to the identified service area to the user terminal.
(15)
When a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, the service area overlapping with the content area into which the user terminal has entered is identified based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information set by a provider providing related content related to the element content and indicating a service area in which the related content is provided;
a program for causing a computer to execute a process including a step of transmitting the related content corresponding to the identified service area to the user terminal.
(16)
An information processing device that reproduces element content or related content related to the element content,
a control unit that sets a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation, and detects entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area;
a communication unit that receives, when entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided, the service area being set by a provider of the related content and overlapping with the content area into which the information processing device has entered;
The control unit reproduces the received related content.
(17)
The information processing device according to (16), wherein, when there is no service area overlapping with the content area into which the information processing device has entered, the control unit reproduces the element content corresponding to the content area into which the information processing device has entered.
(18)
The information processing device according to (17), wherein, when there is no service area overlapping with the content area into which the information processing device has entered, the communication unit receives the element content corresponding to the content area into which the information processing device has entered.
(19)
A position detection unit that detects a position of the information processing device is further provided.
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (18), wherein the control unit detects entry of the information processing device into the content area based on a result of the position detection by the position detection unit and the content area setting information.
(20)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (19), wherein the control unit starts detecting entry of the information processing device into the content area after starting to use a service through which the element content and the related content are provided.
(21)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (20), wherein the related content is content on the same theme as the element content.
(22)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (21), wherein the service area and the content area are considered to overlap when the content area and the service area overlap at least partially.
(23)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (21), wherein the service area and the content area are considered to overlap when the entire service area is included within the content area.
(24)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (21), wherein the service area and the content area are considered to overlap when the entire content area is included within the service area.
(25)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (24), wherein the element content is at least one of an image and an audio.
(26)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (25), wherein the related content is at least one of an image and an audio.
(27)
The communication unit receives unique presentation information unique to the business operator together with the related content,
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (26), wherein the control unit reproduces the received related content and the unique presentation information.
(28)
The information processing device according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the unique presentation information is image information.
(29)
The information processing device according to any one of (27) to (28), wherein the unique presentation information is information for presenting an advertisement of the business entity.
(30)
The information processing device according to any one of (16) to (29), wherein, when there are a plurality of related contents corresponding to the service area, the related content to be played is selected from the plurality of related contents based on conditions preset by the operator.
(31)
An information processing device that reproduces element content or related content related to the element content,
setting a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation; detecting entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area;
When entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided and which is set by a provider of the related content and which overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered is received;
The information processing method further comprises: playing the received related content.
(32)
A computer that controls an information processing device that reproduces element contents or related contents related to the element contents,
setting a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation; detecting entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area;
When entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided and which is set by a provider of the related content and which overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered is received;
A program for executing a process including a step of playing the received related content.

11 User terminal, 12 Content provider terminal, 13 Business operator terminal, 14 Server, 41 Input unit, 42 Display unit, 43 Speaker, 44 Position detection unit, 45 Communication unit, 46 Recording unit, 47 Control unit, 81 Communication unit, 82 Recording unit, 83 Control unit

Claims (20)

1. a control unit that, when a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, identifies the service area that overlaps with the content area into which the user terminal has entered, based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information set by a provider that provides related content related to the element content and indicating the service area in which the related content is provided;
   a communication unit that transmits the related content corresponding to the service area specified by the control unit to the user terminal.
2. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit transmits to the user terminal the element content corresponding to the content area into which the user terminal has entered when there is no service area overlapping with the content area into which the user terminal has entered.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the related content is content on the same theme as the element content.
4. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the element contents are at least one of an image and an audio.
5. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the related content is at least one of an image and an audio.
6. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit transmits unique presentation information unique to the business operator together with the related content to the user terminal.
7. The information processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the unique presentation information is image information.
8. The information processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the unique presentation information is information for presenting an advertisement of the business operator.
9. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein, when there are a plurality of related contents corresponding to the service area, the control unit selects the related content to be transmitted to the user terminal from among the plurality of related contents.
10. The information processing device according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit selects the related content based on a condition previously set by the business operator.
11. An information processing device,
    When a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, the service area overlapping with the content area into which the user terminal has entered is identified based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information set by a provider providing related content related to the element content and indicating a service area in which the related content is provided;
    transmitting the related content corresponding to the identified service area to the user terminal.
12. When a user terminal of a user enters a content area set by the user in which element content is provided, the service area overlapping with the content area into which the user terminal has entered is identified based on content area setting information indicating the content area and service area setting information set by a provider providing related content related to the element content and indicating a service area in which the related content is provided;
    a program for causing a computer to execute a process including a step of transmitting the related content corresponding to the identified service area to the user terminal.
13. An information processing device that reproduces element content or related content related to the element content,
    a control unit that sets a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation, and detects entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area;
    a communication unit that receives, when entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided, the service area being set by a provider of the related content and overlapping with the content area into which the information processing device has entered;
    The control unit reproduces the received related content.
14. The information processing device according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit reproduces the element content corresponding to the content area into which the information processing device has entered, when there is no service area overlapping with the content area into which the information processing device has entered.
15. A position detection unit that detects a position of the information processing device is further provided.
    The information processing device according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit detects entry of the information processing device into the content area based on a result of the position detection by the position detection unit and the content area setting information.
16. The information processing device according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit starts detecting entry of the information processing device into the content area after starting to use a service through which the element content and the related content are provided.
17. The communication unit receives unique presentation information unique to the business operator together with the related content,
    The information processing device according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit reproduces the received related content and the unique presentation information.
18. The information processing device according to claim 13 , wherein, when there are a plurality of related contents corresponding to the service area, the related content to be reproduced is selected from the plurality of related contents based on a condition preset by the service provider.
19. An information processing device that reproduces element content or related content related to the element content,
    setting a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation; detecting entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area;
    When entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided and which is set by a provider of the related content and which overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered is received;
    The information processing method further comprises: playing the received related content.
20. A computer that controls an information processing device that reproduces element contents or related contents related to the element contents,
    setting a content area in which the element content is provided in response to a user's operation; detecting entry of the information processing device into the content area based on content area setting information indicating the content area;
    When entry of the information processing device into the content area is detected, the related content corresponding to a service area in which the related content is provided and which is set by a provider of the related content and overlaps with the content area into which the information processing device has entered is received;
    A program for executing a process including a step of playing the received related content.

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