JP2013065236A - Server device, terminal and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a virtual space in which a message and an image of each user are displayed to each terminal, in an order of registration of user identification information acquired from a plurality of terminals, using an external server device.SOLUTION: A server device registers user identification information of a user in an external server device in an order of acquisition from a terminal, and acquires user image data corresponding to the user identification information from the external server device. The server device provides the acquired user image data to the terminal. The server device causes display means included in the terminal and having a plurality of first positions and second positions which make a predetermined pair to display an image shown by the user image data on the first position in an order of registration of the user identification information corresponding to the user image data, and instructs the terminal to display a message corresponding to the user identification information provided in response to a request from the terminal to the external server device on the second position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device using a social networking service by an external server device.

  Server devices that connect to a plurality of terminals and provide a virtual space shared by users of the terminals have been developed. Patent Document 1 describes that an avatar representing a user is arranged in a virtual space as a spectator, combined with the background of an outdoor stage, and further avatar voices, impressions, and the like are displayed as balloons. Patent Document 2 discloses a chat server in which a moving image and a user's avatar serving as a spectator are displayed in a virtual space, and a user's remarks are displayed in a speech bubble near the avatar.

JP 2009-301477 A JP 2009-301404 A

  In Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in order to display a user's message (speech) in a balloon shape, messages from the user must be sequentially received and displayed at a position corresponding to the position of the user's avatar. .

  On the other hand, in recent years, services that support the construction of social networks between users using telecommunications have been rapidly developed. Such a service is called a social networking service (hereinafter referred to as SNS), and the number of users is increasing. For example, such services include using a computer to sequentially store messages posted by users and providing them to external devices that request the messages. Therefore, it is conceivable that the server device that provides the virtual space disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 uses an external SNS.

  However, in these external SNSs, a mode of providing a message is a display mode in which, for example, a message is inserted upward as the message is new and flows downward as the message is old. In the virtual space, since the position is assigned to the avatar representing the user, this display mode tends to be unfamiliar with the virtual space.

  An object of the present invention is to store user image data representing an image for showing a user, and use an external server device that provides a message received from the user upon request, and receives a user from a plurality of terminals. In order of registration, each terminal is provided with a virtual space in which a message and an image of each user are displayed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the server device according to the present invention stores user identification information for identifying a user and user image data representing an image for indicating the user in association with each other and received from the user. A server device that communicates with the user identification information of the user and communicates with the external server device that provides the message in response to a request, and from the terminal, the user identification information of the user in the external server device A registration unit for registering in order of acquisition, an acquisition unit for acquiring user image data corresponding to user identification information registered by the registration unit from the external server device, and a user image acquired by the acquisition unit A supply unit for supplying data to the terminal; and a plurality of first positions and a plurality of first positions which are provided in the terminal and form a predetermined pair. The display means having the second position causes the image indicated by the user image data to be displayed at the first position in the order registered in the registration unit of the user identification information corresponding to the user image data, and An instruction unit that sends an instruction to the terminal so that a message corresponding to the user identification information provided by requesting the external server device is displayed at the second position. .

  Preferably, the image processing apparatus includes a synthesis unit that synthesizes composite image data obtained by combining the user image data from a plurality of user image data acquired by the acquisition unit, and the supply unit combines the composite image synthesized by the synthesis unit. The data is supplied to the terminal, and the instruction unit displays an image indicated by the user image data separated for each user identification information from the composite image data supplied by the supply unit to the display unit. An instruction may be sent to the terminal so that user identification information corresponding to data is displayed at the first position in the order registered in the registration unit.

  Preferably, the instructing unit extracts and provides a message including a predetermined character string from messages stored in the external server device to the external server device. The request may be sent to the terminal so that the message provided from the external server device is displayed at the second position based on the user identification information associated with the message.

  Preferably, the communication device includes a communication unit that communicates with a predetermined dedicated terminal different from the terminal, and the instruction unit receives the message from the dedicated terminal when the dedicated terminal transmits a message to the external server device. The message may be acquired directly via the communication unit, and an instruction may be sent to the terminal so that the acquired message is displayed at a predetermined position.

  In addition, the terminal according to the present invention is a request for requesting the external server device a message corresponding to the user identification information, and a transmission unit that transmits the user identification information registered by the server device to the server device. Image data received by the receiving unit on a display unit having a plurality of first positions and second positions that form a predetermined pair, and a receiving unit that receives the user image data from the server device Are displayed at the first position in the order in which user identification information corresponding to the user image data is registered by the server device, and the request unit is provided by requesting the external server device. A generating unit configured to generate an image for displaying the message at the second position.

  In addition, the program according to the present invention stores user identification information for identifying a user and user image data representing an image for indicating the user in association with each other, and a message received from the user is stored in the user's user Registration that stores information associated with the identification information and communicates with the external server device that provides the message in response to the request, from the terminal, acquires user identification information of the user in the external server device, and registers in the order of acquisition An acquisition unit that acquires user image data corresponding to the user identification information registered by the registration unit from the external server device, and a supply unit that supplies the user image data acquired by the acquisition unit to the terminal And a display means provided in the terminal and having a plurality of first and second positions forming a predetermined pair On the other hand, an image indicated by the user image data is displayed at the first position in the order registered in the registration unit of the user identification information corresponding to the user image data, and the terminal requests the external server device. A program for causing a message corresponding to the user identification information provided in this manner to function as an instruction unit that sends an instruction to the terminal so as to be displayed at the second position.

  In addition, a program according to the present invention includes a computer that transmits the user identification information registered by the server device to the server device, and a message corresponding to the user identification information to the external server device. The receiving unit receives the requesting unit to request, the receiving unit that receives the user image data from the server device, and the display unit having a plurality of first and second positions that form a predetermined pair. The image indicated by the user image data is displayed at the first position in the order in which user identification information corresponding to the user image data is registered by the server device, and the request unit requests the external server device to A program for causing the provided message to function as a generation unit that generates an image for displaying the message at the second position. It is a lamb.

According to the server device of the present invention, a plurality of terminals are stored by using an external server device that stores user image data representing an image for showing a user and provides a message received from the user upon request. The virtual space in which the messages and images of each user are displayed can be provided to each terminal in the order in which the user identification information acquired from is registered.
The terminal according to the present invention can enjoy the virtual space provided by the server device described above.
According to the program according to the present invention, a virtual space can be provided from the server device described above to the terminal described above.

It is a figure showing the whole server system composition concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of an SNS server. It is a figure which shows an example of account DB. It is a figure which shows an example of profile DB. It is a figure which shows an example of message DB. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of an SNS server. It is a figure which shows an example of a message list. It is a figure which shows the structure of a theater server. It is a figure which shows an example of participant DB. It is a figure for demonstrating synthetic | combination image data. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of a theater server. It is a figure which shows the structure of a delivery server. It is a figure which shows the structure of a terminal. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of a terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed by the display part of a terminal. It is a sequence diagram showing an example of operation | movement of a server system. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the server system in a modification. It is a figure which shows the structure of a dedicated terminal. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of a dedicated terminal and a theater server.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a server system 9 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The communication line 4 is a line that mediates electrical communication between devices connected thereto, and is, for example, the Internet. The theater server 1 is a server device that provides a “theater” constructed in a virtual space to the terminal 2 via the communication line 4. The SNS server 3 is a server device that supports the construction of a social network between users who have acquired an account. Specifically, the SNS server 3 is a server device that sequentially stores messages sent from users and provides them to external devices that request the messages. The distribution server 5 is a server device that distributes audio and video to an external device via the communication line 4.

(Configuration of SNS server)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the SNS server 3. The control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). In the control unit 31, the CPU controls each unit of the SNS server 3 by reading out the program stored in the storage unit 32 according to the boot loader stored in the ROM and executing it. The communication unit 33 is a circuit that performs electrical communication with an external device via the communication line 4. When communication is established with the external device by the communication unit 33, the control unit 31 generates a session ID that is not yet used and assigns it to the communication.

  The storage unit 32 is a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk drive, and stores a program read by the CPU. The storage unit 32 stores an account database (data base, hereinafter referred to as DB) 321, a profile DB 322, and a message DB 323.

(Account DB configuration)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the account DB 321. Information for authenticating the user who provides the service by the SNS server 3 is written in the account DB 321. Specifically, the account DB 321 describes a user ID, which is identification information for identifying a user, and a password for proving that the user is identified by the user ID in association with each other. Hereinafter, a combination of a user ID and a password is referred to as “account”.

  When the account received from the external device matches the account described in the account DB 321, the account DB 321 is associated with the session ID assigned to the communication with the external device. Is described. The association between the account and the session ID is maintained for a period during which the communication is valid. Therefore, when the session ID is described in the account DB 321, the control unit 31 assumes that access by communication identified by the session ID is performed by the user identified by the user ID of the account corresponding to the session ID. deal with.

(Configuration of Profile DB)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the profile DB 322. The profile DB 322 describes a user profile for each user ID. The user's profile includes image data (hereinafter referred to as self-portrait data) representing an image of the user (hereinafter referred to as self-portrait data), the user's name, address, gender, date of birth, and other information Various information is included, such as self-introduction, which is a sentence when introducing a user, a friend list in which user IDs of other users connected to the user are listed.

(Configuration of message DB 323)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the message DB 323. In the message DB 323, messages transmitted from a user are sequentially written in association with the user ID of the user and time information indicating the time when the message was transmitted.

(Functional configuration of SNS server)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the SNS server 3. The control unit 31 of the SNS server 3 functions as an authentication unit 311, a writing unit 312, a providing unit 313, and an extracting unit 314. In FIG. 6, the communication unit 33 and the communication line 4 of the SNS server 3 are omitted, and the terminal 2 is described as an external device that communicates with the SNS server 3.

  The authentication unit 311 authenticates the user of the external device based on the stored contents of the account DB 321. Specifically, the authentication unit 311 acquires an account from the terminal 2 that is an external device, and acquires a session ID assigned to communication established with the terminal 2. Then, the authentication unit 311 refers to the account DB 321 stored in the storage unit 32 and determines whether an account that matches the acquired account is stored in the account DB 321. If this account is stored in the account DB 321, the authentication is successful, and if it is not stored, the authentication fails. The authentication unit 311 returns information indicating the success / failure (possibility) of this authentication to the terminal 2. If the authentication is successful, the authentication unit 311 describes the session ID in the account DB 321 in association with the account.

  When the writing unit 312 obtains a message from the terminal 2, the writing unit 312 determines whether or not the session ID assigned to the communication with the terminal 2 is described in the account DB 321. When this is described, the writing unit 312 includes the acquired message, time information indicating the time when the message is acquired, and the user ID of the account associated with the session ID in the account DB 321. Are described in association with the message DB 323. The writing unit 312 acquires the above time information with reference to a timer built in the control unit 31 when the message is acquired, for example.

  Further, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6, when the writing unit 312 acquires from the terminal 2 an instruction to change the contents (for example, a friend list) described in the profile DB 322, the writing unit 312 assigns the communication to the terminal 2 It is determined whether or not the given session ID is described in the account DB 321. When this is described, the writing unit 312 changes the contents of the profile DB 322 in accordance with this instruction.

  The providing unit 313 provides information described in the profile DB 322 in response to a request from an external device. When the providing unit 313 obtains a request for providing a profile together with an account from an external device such as the terminal 2, the providing unit 313 refers to the profile DB 322, for example, according to the acquired user ID of the account and the request for providing, for example, the user's Provide profiles such as self-portrait data and friend lists.

  The extraction unit 314 uses a tag acquired from an external device to extract a message including this tag from the messages described in the message DB 323, and arranges a list arranged in chronological order (hereinafter referred to as a message list ML). 2 to provide. Here, the “tag” is a character string similar to a message. The tag may be a character string starting with a specific character such as “#”.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the message list ML. In this case, the extraction unit 314 acquires the character string “# live819” from the external device as a tag, extracts a message including this tag from the message DB 323 illustrated in FIG. 5, and extracts the message list ML illustrated in FIG. Is generated.

(Theater server configuration)
Next, the configuration of the theater server 1 will be described. The theater server 1 uses the SNS server 3 described above as an external server device to provide the terminal 2 with a theater constructed in a virtual space. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the theater server 1. The control unit 11 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. In the control unit 11, the CPU controls each unit of the theater server 1 by reading the program stored in the storage unit 12 into the RAM and executing it in accordance with the boot loader stored in the ROM. The communication unit 13 is a circuit that performs electrical communication with an external device via the communication line 4. When communication with an external device is established by the communication unit 13, the control unit 11 generates a session ID that is not yet used and assigns it to the communication. The storage unit 12 is a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk drive, and stores a program read by the CPU. In addition, the storage unit 12 stores a participant DB 121 and composite image data 122.

(Composition of participant DB)
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the participant DB 121. In the participant DB 121, the user IDs of accounts that have been successfully authenticated by the SNS server 3 are described in the order received by the theater server 1 together with the session IDs assigned to the communication with the terminal 2 that transmitted the user IDs. . Participant DB 121 has columns of order, user ID, session ID, and friend list. In the order column, an integer indicating the order in which the user IDs are received from the terminal 2 is described. In the user ID column, the user ID of an account that has been accepted from the terminal 2 and has been successfully authenticated by the SNS server 3 is described. In the session ID column, a session ID assigned to communication with the terminal 2 is described. In the friend list column, the friend list provided by the control unit 11 of the theater server 1 requesting the SNS server 3 based on the above-described user ID is described.

(Composition of composite image data)
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the composite image data 122. FIG. 10A shows the entire composite image data 122. FIG. 10B shows a portion indicated by a broken line in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 10B, the composite image data 122 includes self-image data of a plurality of users. That is, the composite image data 122 is image data obtained by combining self-image data of a plurality of users in a grid pattern. Note that the composite image data 122 is not limited to a combination of self-image data arranged vertically and horizontally, and may be a composite of self-image data arranged only in the vertical direction or only in the horizontal direction.

(Functional configuration of theater server)
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the theater server 1. The control unit 11 of the theater server 1 functions as a registration unit 111, an acquisition unit 112, a synthesis unit 113, a supply unit 114, and an instruction unit 115, respectively. In FIG. 11, the communication unit 13 and the communication line 4 of the theater server 1 are omitted.

  The registration unit 111 acquires a user account in the SNS server 3 from the terminal 2, assigns the order of acquiring the account to the user ID of the account, and writes it in the participant DB 121 of the storage unit 12. Register the user ID for this account. In addition, the registration unit 111 passes the account acquired from the terminal 2 to the acquisition unit 112, and acquires the self-portrait data and the friend list corresponding to the user ID of the account.

  The acquisition unit 112 transmits the account delivered from the registration unit 111 to the SNS server 3, requests authentication of the account, and acquires a notification of success or failure of authentication from the SNS server 3. Further, the acquisition unit 112 sends the above account to the SNS server 3 and requests self-portrait data and a friend list corresponding to the user ID of this account. Then, the acquisition unit 112 acquires the self-portrait data and the friend list corresponding to the user ID registered by the registration unit 111 from the SNS server 3. Even if the user is not authenticated, the acquisition unit 112 may not send the account to the SNS server 3 when the SNS server 3 provides the self-portrait data or the friend list for the presentation of only the user ID. Good. In this case, the acquisition unit 112 may send only the user ID to the SNS server 3.

  The synthesizing unit 113 synthesizes the composite image data 122 by arranging a plurality of self-image data acquired by the acquiring unit 112 in a grid pattern. The order in which the combining unit 113 arranges a plurality of self-portrait data is determined. For example, the synthesizing unit 113 arranges the plurality of self-portrait data in the order in which the registration unit 111 assigns the corresponding user IDs.

  Specifically, the composite image data 122 is image data in which self-portrait data of m rows and n columns (m is an integer of 1 ≦ m and n is an integer of 1 ≦ n) is arranged in a grid pattern, and the row direction Suppose that the self-portrait data are arranged and combined along the scanning order with the main scanning direction and the column direction as the sub-scanning direction. In this case, the self-portrait data arranged in i rows and j columns (i is an integer satisfying 1 ≦ i ≦ m and j is an integer satisfying 1 ≦ j ≦ n) is (j + (i−1) × n) in the participant DB 121. The self-portrait data corresponding to the user ID registered in the second.

  The supply unit 114 supplies the synthesized image data 122 synthesized by the synthesis unit 113 to the terminal 2. The composite image data 122 is a combination of a plurality of self-image data acquired by the acquisition unit 112 arranged in a grid and is separated into each self-image data in the terminal 2. That is, the supply unit 114 supplies the self-image data to the terminal 2 in a state included in the composite image data 122.

  The instruction unit 115 causes the display unit 25 provided in the terminal 2 to display the self-portrait indicated by the separated self-image data at a position corresponding to the order in which the user ID corresponding to the self-image data is registered in the registration unit 111. An instruction is sent to the terminal 2. In addition, the instruction unit 115 sends a predetermined tag to the terminal 2 and causes the terminal 2 to acquire the message list ML including the tag from the SNS server 3. And the instruction | indication part 115 respond | corresponds to the above-mentioned self-portrait for each message contained in the message list provided by the terminal 2 from the SNS server 3 on the above-mentioned display part 25 based on the user ID matched with each. An instruction is sent to the terminal 2 to display it at the position.

  Thereby, the terminal 2 separates the own image data for each user ID from the composite image data 122 supplied from the theater server 1. Then, the display unit 25 of the terminal 2 displays the self-portrait indicated by the separated self-image data at a position corresponding to the order in which the user ID corresponding to the self-image data is registered in the theater server 1. In addition, the terminal 2 requests the SNS server 3 for the message list ML including the tag, and acquires it. Then, the display unit 25 of the terminal 2 displays each message included in the acquired message list ML at a position corresponding to the self-image corresponding to the user ID. The position corresponding to the self-portrait is, for example, a position in a balloon displayed near the self-portrait.

(Configuration of distribution server)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the distribution server 5. The distribution server 5 distributes audio and video to an external device such as the terminal 2 via the communication line 4. The control unit 51 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. In the control unit 51, the CPU controls each unit of the distribution server 5 by reading the program stored in the storage unit 52 into the RAM and executing it according to the boot loader stored in the ROM. The communication unit 53 is a circuit that performs electrical communication with an external device via the communication line 4. The storage unit 52 is a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk drive, and stores a program read by the CPU. For example, the photographing unit 54 photographs a subject such as a concert performer or a stage actor, and generates video data indicating the video. The sound collection unit 55 collects sound at, for example, the concert venue or the stage described above, and generates acoustic data indicating surrounding sounds. The control unit 51 distributes the video data generated by the photographing unit 54 and the acoustic data generated by the sound collection unit 55 to an external device such as the terminal 2 via the communication unit 53.

(Terminal configuration)
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminal 2. The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. In the control unit 21, the CPU controls each unit of the terminal 2 by reading the program stored in the storage unit 22 into the RAM and executing it in accordance with the boot loader stored in the ROM. The communication unit 23 is a circuit that performs electrical communication with an external device via the communication line 4. The storage unit 22 is a storage unit such as a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), and stores a program read by the CPU. The operation unit 24 includes a coordinate acquisition unit for inputting various instructions, an operation button, and the like. The operation unit 24 receives an operation by a user and supplies a signal corresponding to the operation content to the control unit 21. The display unit 25 is a display device that uses liquid crystal or the like, and displays an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 21. The sound emitting unit 26 is a speaker, for example, and emits sound according to the supplied acoustic data.

(Functional configuration of terminal)
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the terminal 2. The control unit 21 of the terminal 2 functions as a reception unit 211, a separation unit 212, a request unit 213, a transmission unit 214, a reproduction unit 215, a generation unit 216, and a delegation unit 217. In FIG. 14, the communication unit 23 and the communication line 4 of the terminal 2 are omitted.

  When the operation unit 24 is operated by the user and an account assigned to the user is input, the delegation unit 217 sends the input account to the theater server 1 and sends a request for authentication by the SNS server 3 to the theater server 1. Entrust to.

  The receiving unit 211 receives the composite image data 122 from the theater server 1. The separation unit 212 separates the own image data for each user ID from the composite image data 122 received by the reception unit 211.

  The generation unit 216 receives an instruction including information indicating the order of each registered user ID from the theater server 1. Then, the generation unit 216 causes the display unit 25 to display the self-portrait indicated by each self-image data at a position (first position) corresponding to the registration order of the user ID corresponding to the self-image data.

  Further, the generation unit 216 receives a tag from the theater server 1. Then, the generation unit 216 delivers the received tag to the request unit 213. The request unit 213 transmits a tag to the SNS server 3 and receives a message list ML including a message including the tag from the SNS server 3. The request unit 213 delivers the message list ML received from the SNS server 3 to the generation unit 216. The generation unit 216 displays each message included in the message list ML at a position (second position) according to the registration order of the corresponding user ID.

  Furthermore, when receiving a message corresponding to the user's operation via the operation unit 24, the generation unit 216 incorporates the tag into the message and delivers it to the transmission unit 214. The transmission unit 214 transmits the message in which the tag is incorporated to the SNS server 3. Thus, since the message transmitted to the SNS server 3 by the transmission unit 214 includes the above-described tag, the message is extracted by the SNS server 3 and included in the message list ML received by the request unit 213.

  In addition, when the account used in the terminal 2 is not authenticated by the SNS server 3, the transmission unit 214 transmits the account to the SNS server 3, and after receiving the authentication by the SNS server 3, the above tag May be transmitted to the SNS server 3.

  The reproduction unit 215 receives an instruction from the theater server 1 via the generation unit 216, requests the distribution server 5 to distribute video data and audio data, and receives these distributions. The reproduction unit 215 delivers the video obtained by reproducing the video data to the generation unit 216. The generation unit 216 incorporates this video into the display screen and causes the display unit 25 to display the video. In addition, the reproduction unit 215 causes the sound emission unit 26 to output a sound obtained by reproducing the acoustic data.

(Server system operation)
Next, the operation of the server system 9 will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed by the display unit 25 of the terminal 2. FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the server system 9. As shown in FIG. 16, when the terminal 2 accesses the theater server 1 (step S1), the theater server 1 requests an account in the SNS server 3 from the terminal 2 (step S2). Specifically, this request is made as follows. For example, the theater server 1 sends data described in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) to the terminal 2. The terminal 2 analyzes this data with a WEB browser or the like being executed, and causes the display unit 25 to display an authentication request form for the SNS server 3 described in the data.

  The authentication request form is provided with a text box for entering a user ID and a text box for entering a password constituting an account paired with the user ID. When the user fills in each text box, the terminal 2 sends the filled account to the theater server 1 and entrusts an authentication request to the SNS server 3 (step S3). The account input using this authentication request form is encrypted by, for example, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and sent from the terminal 2 to the theater server 1.

  The theater server 1 establishes a communication path for encrypting communication contents with the SNS server 3. Then, the account sent from the terminal 2 is sent to the SNS server 3 via this communication path, and the SNS server 3 is requested to authenticate this account entrusted by the terminal 2 (step S4).

  The SNS server 3 receives an account from the theater server 1, authenticates the account with reference to the account DB 321 (step S5), and if successful, sends a notification to the theater server 1 that the authentication is successful (step S5). S6). Upon receiving notification that the authentication has been successful from the SNS server 3, the theater server 1 registers the user ID of this account that has been successfully authenticated in the participant DB 121 (step S7), and the self-portrait data corresponding to this user ID Is requested to the SNS server 3 (step S8).

  The SNS server 3 sends the requested self-portrait data to the theater server 1 (step S9). The theater server 1 accumulates the sent self-portrait data in the storage unit 12, and synthesizes the composite image data 122 by combining the accumulated self-portrait data in a grid pattern (step S10). Then, the theater server 1 sends the synthesized composite image data 122 to the terminal 2 (step S11). The terminal 2 separates the composite image data 122 sent from the theater server 1 (step S12).

  The theater server 1 sends an instruction for the control unit 21 of the terminal 2 to display a virtual theater on the display unit 25 (step S13). Specifically, the theater server 1 puts the self-portrait data obtained by separating the composite image data 122 described above into the terminal 2 in a position corresponding to the order in which the corresponding user IDs are registered in the theater server 1. Send instructions to display. Further, the theater server 1 sends a tag to be included in the request so that the terminal 2 causes the SNS server 3 to extract the message list. Further, the theater server 1 sends an instruction to the terminal 2 so as to request the distribution server 5 to distribute video and audio as an element constituting a virtual theater.

  The terminal 2 sends the tag received from the theater server 1 to the SNS server 3 and requests the message list ML including this tag (step S14). The SNS server 3 extracts the message list ML including the tag sent in response to the request from the terminal 2 from the message DB 323 (step S15), and provides the extracted message list ML to the terminal 2 (step S16). . Further, the terminal 2 requests the distribution server 5 to distribute video and audio (step S17). The distribution server 5 distributes video and audio in response to the request from the terminal 2 (step S18). Then, the terminal 2 uses the message list ML received from the SNS server 3, the video received from the distribution server 5, and the respective self-image data obtained by separating the composite image data received from the theater server 1, to create a virtual An image showing the theater is generated (step S19). The generated image is displayed by the display unit 25. Note that the sound received from the distribution server 5 is emitted by the sound emitting unit 26.

  When the operation unit 24 is operated and a message to be transmitted to the SNS server 3 is input, the terminal 2 accepts the input of this message (step S20), adds the above tag to this message, and adds the SNS server 3 to the message. (Step S21). The message to which the tag has been added is included in the message list ML by the SNS server 3 and sent to the terminal 2 in step S16 described above.

  Through the above-described operation, the display unit 25 of the terminal 2 displays an image as shown in FIG. That is, the video region Rv is arranged in the upper center portion of the display screen of the display unit 25. In the video region Rv, the video obtained by the playback unit 215 playing back the video data distributed from the distribution server 5 in step S18 is incorporated and displayed by the generation unit 216.

  In the vicinity of the video area Rv (immediately below the video area Rv in FIG. 15), a performer message area Rp surrounded by balloons is arranged. The performer message area Rp is an area that is paired with the video area Rv. In the performer message area Rp, a message transmitted from a user with a special user ID among the user IDs registered in the theater server 1 is displayed. For example, the theater server 1 treats the user ID of the order “1” in the participant DB 121 shown in FIG. 9 as a special user ID, and receives the message list from the SNS server 3 in step S16 at each terminal 2. In ML, a message associated with this special user ID is displayed in this performer message area Rp.

  In FIG. 15, the inside of the rectangle shown by the broken line is the venue area Rh. The hall area Rh is an area facing the stage drawn on the upper side of the display screen, and represents a spectator seat for watching the stage. In the hall area Rh, self-portrait areas R1, R2,. The self-portrait areas R1 to R7 are assigned ranks in the order of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7. The positions according to the registration order of the user IDs corresponding to the self-image data described above are the self-image areas R1 to R7 to which this order is assigned. Hereinafter, unless there is a particular need for distinction, these are collectively referred to as “self-portrait region R”). In the self-portrait area R, user IDs other than the special user IDs described above are associated in the order registered in the participant DB 121 in the theater server 1. Therefore, for example, the self-portrait area R1, which is the first self-portrait area R, is associated with the user ID “U3” whose order is “2” in the participant DB 121 shown in FIG. 9, and the self-portrait is displayed. . Similarly, self-portraits of user IDs “U4”, “U6”, and “U8” are displayed in the self-portrait areas R2, R3, and R4.

  In the vicinity of each of the self-portrait areas R1 to R7, there are audience message areas Rc1 to Rc7 surrounded by balloons (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “audience message area Rc” unless otherwise required). Be placed. The audience message areas Rc1 to Rc7 are areas that are paired with the self-portrait areas R1 to R7, respectively. In the audience message area Rc, a user message corresponding to the self-image displayed in the nearby self-image area R in the message list ML received from the SNS server 3 in step S16 is displayed. The audience message area Rc may not be displayed when the message list ML does not contain the message described above. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 15, among the audience message areas Rc, the audience message areas Rc3 and Rc6 are displayed. The display unit 25 of the terminal 2 does not need to display all the messages included in the message list ML in the audience message area Rc, and may display only the message with the latest provided time. Further, the control unit 21 of the terminal 2 may select a message to be displayed on the display unit 25 from the message list ML using a random number, a pseudo-random number, or the like.

  With the above configuration, the theater server 1 provides the virtual space imitating the theater to each terminal 2 using the SNS server 3. Specifically, the theater server 1 accepts user IDs that have been successfully authenticated by the SNS server 3 from the terminal 2 and sequentially registers them, and displays the corresponding self-portraits stored in the SNS server 3 in this registration order. Then, each terminal 2 is instructed. Then, a tag common to each terminal 2 is distributed, the message list including this tag is requested to the SNS server 3, and the obtained message is displayed at a position corresponding to the self-image corresponding to the user ID. Thereby, in each terminal 2, the user of the SNS server 3 can experience a virtual space imitating a theater in a display mode different from the display mode provided by the SNS server 3.

[Modification]
The contents of the above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. Each modification shown below may be implemented in combination as necessary.

(Modification 1)
In the embodiment described above, when the terminal 2 receives a message corresponding to the user's operation via the operation unit 24, the terminal 2 incorporates the tag received from the theater server 1 into this message and directly transmits it to the SNS server 3. However, a terminal that transmits to the theater server 1 when receiving a message according to the user's operation may be provided.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the server system 9a in this modification. The server system 9 a includes a dedicated terminal 6 and a theater server 1 a connected to the dedicated terminal 6. The dedicated terminal 6 is connected to the communication line 4 in the same manner as the terminal 2 and communicates with the SNS server 3 through the communication line 4, but is directly connected to the theater server 1 without going through the communication line 4. Yes.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the dedicated terminal 6. A part of the configuration of the dedicated terminal 6 is common to the terminal 2. Specifically, the control unit 61 is in the control unit 21, the storage unit 62 is in the storage unit 22, the first communication unit 63 is in the communication unit 23, the operation unit 64 is in the operation unit 24, and the display unit 65 is in the display unit 25. Since the sound emitting unit 66 corresponds to the sound emitting unit 26, description thereof will be omitted. The second communication unit 67 is a circuit for directly connecting to the theater server 1 and performing electrical communication with the theater server 1.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the dedicated terminal 6 and the theater server 1a. Since a part of the configuration of the theater server 1a is common to the configuration of the theater server 1, the description of these common configurations is omitted. The configuration of the theater server 1a is different from the theater server 1 in that an instruction unit 115a is provided instead of the instruction unit 115.

  The control unit 61 of the dedicated terminal 6 functions as a reception unit 611, a separation unit 612, a request unit 613, a transmission unit 614, a reproduction unit 615, a generation unit 616, and a delegation unit 617. A part of the functional configuration of the dedicated terminal 6 is common to the functional configuration of the terminal 2. That is, the reception unit 611 corresponds to the reception unit 211, the separation unit 612 corresponds to the separation unit 212, the request unit 613 corresponds to the request unit 213, the reproduction unit 615 corresponds to the reproduction unit 215, and the entrusting unit 617 corresponds to the entrusting unit 217. Therefore, these descriptions are omitted. The transmission unit 614 and the generation unit 616 have the functions described below in addition to the functions of the transmission unit 214 and the generation unit 216 of the terminal 2, respectively.

  When the generation unit 616 receives a tag from the theater server 1 and receives a message corresponding to the user's operation via the operation unit 64, the generation unit 616 incorporates the tag into the message and delivers it to the transmission unit 614. The transmission unit 614 transmits the message in which the tag is incorporated to the SNS server 3 and also transmits to the instruction unit 115 a of the theater server 1.

  When the instruction unit 115a receives the message in which the tag is incorporated directly from the dedicated terminal 6, the instruction unit 115a transmits the message to the terminal 2 and the dedicated terminal 6, respectively. When the generation unit 616 of the dedicated terminal 6 receives the message including the tag from the instruction unit 115a before receiving the message list ML including the message from the SNS server 3, the generation unit 616 receives the message corresponding to the user. It is displayed at the second position according to the ID registration order. Similarly, when the generation unit 216 of the terminal 2 receives the message from the instruction unit 115a, the generation unit 216 displays the message at the second position.

  According to this configuration, when a message is transmitted from the dedicated terminal 6, the SNS server 3 temporarily stores it, performs extraction upon request, and provides this message to the terminal 2 and the dedicated terminal 6. In addition, the theater server 1 directly sends an instruction including this message to the terminal 2 and the dedicated terminal 6. Therefore, the terminal 2 and the dedicated terminal 6 may display a message transmitted from the dedicated terminal 6 even during a period in which the message list ML including the tag cannot be provided because the SNS server 3 is congested, for example. it can.

  In the modification described above, the dedicated terminal 6 is directly connected to the theater server 1 via the communication line 4 without being connected to the theater server 1, but may be connected to the theater server 1 via the communication line 4. Even in this case, the message input to the dedicated terminal 6 is transmitted to the theater server 1 via the communication line 4 and transmitted to each terminal 2 and the dedicated terminal 6 by the instruction unit 115a of the theater server 1 respectively. . That is, the message input to the dedicated terminal 6 is displayed on each terminal 2 without waiting for each terminal 2 to request the message list ML from the SNS server 3. In other words, other messages are acquired in a so-called pull-type manner, in which each terminal 2 actively requests the SNS server 3, whereas messages input to the dedicated terminal 6 are specially designated as theater servers. 1 to each terminal 2 is distributed in a so-called push-type manner. With this configuration, the time from when a message is input at the dedicated terminal 6 until it is presented at each terminal 2 can be shortened.

(Modification 2)
In the embodiment described above, the theater server 1 combines the composite image data 122 by combining a plurality of self-portrait data sent to the SNS server 3 in a grid pattern, but does not combine the composite image data 122. May be. In this case, the theater server 1 may send the plurality of self-portrait data sent from the SNS server 3 to the terminal 2 respectively. In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 2 does not need to function as the separation unit 212 because the composite image data 122 has not been received. In the above-described embodiment, the theater server 1 synthesizes the composite image data 122 and sends it to each terminal 2 as a batch of data. Therefore, compared to this modification, the transmission load of the self-image data to each terminal 2 is reduced. Alleviate

(Modification 3)
In the embodiment described above, the display unit 25 of the terminal 2 corresponds to the self-image indicated by the self-image data separated from the composite image data 122 according to the order in which the user ID corresponding to the self-image data is registered in the theater server 1. Although displayed at the position, it may be displayed at a position other than the position corresponding to the registered order. For example, when the terminal 2 receives an operation for displaying each self-portrait along the friend list associated with the user ID of the user from the user via the operation unit 24, the display unit 25 displays the theater server 1. Regardless of the order in which the user IDs are registered, each terminal 2 displays each self-portrait based on the friend list stored in association with the user ID registered in the theater server 1. For example, each user ID described in the friend list holds an order such as the order of importance evaluated by the user who is the owner of the friend list and the order added to the friend list. Therefore, the control unit 21 extracts the user ID described in the friend list associated with the user ID of the user who uses the terminal 2 from the user IDs registered in the theater server 1, and in the friend list A self-portrait corresponding to each user ID may be displayed on the display unit 25 in the order of each user ID.

(Modification 4)
In the embodiment described above, the theater server 1 treats the user ID of the order “1” in the participant DB 121 as a special user ID, and receives the message list ML received from the SNS server 3 in step S <b> 16 in each terminal 2. Among them, the message associated with the special user ID is displayed in the performer message area Rp, but the special user ID is not limited to one, and may be two or more. Further, the theater server 1 may handle all user IDs described in the participant DB 121 without distinction. In this case, the performer message area Rp described above may not be present.

(Modification 5)
In the embodiment described above, the position corresponding to the order of registration of user IDs is a position on a plane, but may be a position in a virtual three-dimensional space. In this case, the display unit 25 of the terminal 2 may display each self-portrait at a position where the position in the three-dimensional space is projected on a plane. For example, the difference in the depth direction on the display screen of the display unit 2 at the position in the three-dimensional space where each self-image is arranged may be expressed by enlarging or reducing each self-image.

  In addition, in step S13 shown in FIG. 16, the instruction sent from the theater server 1 is the position corresponding to the order in which the user ID corresponding to the self-image data is registered in the theater server 1 with the self-image indicated by the self-image data. Instructions to be displayed. In other words, the instruction sent from the theater server 1 in step S13 includes the position information described above. If this position is a position in a three-dimensional space, this instruction is added to the position on the plane. Information including the position of the depth described above may be included.

  Further, the display unit 25 of the terminal 2 may display each self-image three-dimensionally at a position in the three-dimensional space, for example, by displaying a stereoscopic image using binocular parallax. Note that the self-portrait area R is not limited to a fixed area. The self-portrait may be displayed, for example, at a position that periodically moves a circular orbit centered on a predetermined position, or a coefficient determined so that the probability decreases as the distance from the predetermined position increases. May be displayed at a position obtained by multiplying by a pseudo-random number. Further, an image representing a limb or the like may be displayed around the self-portrait as an element constituting an avatar that embodies the user. This avatar may be moved in accordance with video data or audio data distributed from the distribution server 5. In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 2 only needs to be able to analyze video data and audio data and detect changes based on them. For example, the avatar may be moved so that the movement increases as the difference between the frames of information indicated by the video data increases, or the avatar is moved so that the movement increases as the amplitude of the voice indicated by the acoustic data increases. May be.

(Modification 6)
Each program executed by the control unit 11 of the theater server 1 and the control unit 21 of the terminal 2 is a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. It may be provided in a state stored in a recording medium readable by a computer device. It is also possible to download this program via a network such as the Internet. Note that various devices other than the CPU may be applied as the control means exemplified by the control unit 11 and the control unit 21. For example, a dedicated processor or the like is used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a ... Theater server, 11 ... Control part, 111 ... Registration part, 112 ... Acquisition part, 113 ... Composition part, 114 ... Supply part, 115, 115a ... Instruction part, 12 ... Storage part, 121 ... Participant DB, 122: Composite image data, 13: Communication unit, 2 ... Terminal, 21 ... Control unit, 211 ... Reception unit, 212 ... Separation unit, 213 ... Request unit, 214 ... Transmission unit, 215 ... Playback unit, 216 ... Generation unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 ... Memory | storage part, 23 ... Communication part, 24 ... Operation part, 25 ... Display part, 26 ... Sound emission part, 3 ... SNS server, 31 ... Control part, 311 ... Authentication part, 312 ... Writing part, 313 ... Provision 314 ... Extraction unit 32 ... Storage unit 321 ... Account DB 322 ... Profile DB 323 ... Message DB 33 ... Communication unit 4 ... Communication line 5 ... Distribution server 51 ... Control unit 52 ... Storage Part, 53 ... communication part, 54 Image capturing unit, 55 ... sound collecting unit, 6 ... dedicated terminal, 61 ... control unit, 611 ... receiving unit, 612 ... separating unit, 613 ... requesting unit, 614 ... transmitting unit, 615 ... reproducing unit, 616 ... generating unit, 62 ... Storage unit 63 ... First communication unit 64 ... Operation unit 65 ... Display unit 66 ... Sound emission unit 67 ... Second communication unit 9, 9a ... Server system

Claims (7)

User identification information for identifying a user and user image data representing an image for indicating the user are stored in association with each other, and a message received from the user is stored in association with the user identification information of the user, A server device that communicates with an external server device that provides the message in response to a request;
From the terminal, the user identification information of the user in the external server device is acquired, and a registration unit that registers in the acquired order;
An acquisition unit that acquires user image data corresponding to the user identification information registered by the registration unit from the external server device;
A supply unit for supplying user image data acquired by the acquisition unit to the terminal;
For the display means provided in the terminal and having a plurality of first and second positions that form a predetermined pair, in the order registered in the registration unit of user identification information corresponding to the user image data, An image indicated by the user image data is displayed at the first position, and a message corresponding to the user identification information provided by the terminal requesting the external server device is displayed at the second position. As described above, a server device comprising: an instruction unit that sends an instruction to the terminal. A plurality of user image data acquired by the acquisition unit; and a combining unit that combines combined image data obtained by combining the user image data.
The supply unit supplies the synthesized image data synthesized by the synthesis unit to the terminal,
The instruction unit displays an image indicated by the user image data separated for each of the user identification information from the composite image data supplied by the supply unit with respect to the display unit, and user identification information corresponding to the user image data includes The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an instruction is sent to the terminal so that the first position is displayed in the order registered in the registration unit. The instructing unit requests the external server device to extract and provide a message including a predetermined character string from messages stored in the external server device. An instruction is sent to the terminal so that a message provided from an external server device is displayed at the second position based on user identification information associated with the message. The server device described in 1. Comprising a communication unit for communicating with a predetermined dedicated terminal different from the terminal;
When the dedicated terminal transmits a message to the external server device, the instruction unit acquires the message directly from the dedicated terminal via the communication unit, and the acquired message is in a predetermined position. The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an instruction is sent to the terminal so as to be displayed on the server. A transmission unit that transmits the user identification information registered by the server device according to claim 1 to the server device;
A request unit that requests the external server device for a message corresponding to the user identification information;
A receiving unit for receiving the user image data from the server device;
An image indicated by the user image data received by the receiving unit is displayed on the display means having a plurality of first positions and second positions forming a predetermined pair, and user identification information corresponding to the user image data is Generation for generating an image to be displayed at the first position in the order registered by the server device, and to display the message provided by the request unit requesting the external server device at the second position. And a terminal. User identification information for identifying a user and user image data representing an image for indicating the user are stored in association with each other, and a message received from the user is stored in association with the user identification information of the user, A computer that communicates with an external server device that provides the message in response to a request,
From the terminal, the user identification information of the user in the external server device is acquired, and a registration unit that registers in the acquired order;
An acquisition unit that acquires user image data corresponding to the user identification information registered by the registration unit from the external server device;
A supply unit for supplying user image data acquired by the acquisition unit to the terminal;
For the display means provided in the terminal and having a plurality of first and second positions that form a predetermined pair, in the order registered in the registration unit of user identification information corresponding to the user image data, An image indicated by the user image data is displayed at the first position, and a message corresponding to the user identification information provided by the terminal requesting the external server device is displayed at the second position. As described above, a program for causing a function to function as an instruction unit that sends an instruction to the terminal. Computer
A transmission unit that transmits the user identification information registered by the server device according to claim 1 to the server device;
A request unit that requests the external server device for a message corresponding to the user identification information;
A receiving unit for receiving the user image data from the server device;
An image indicated by the user image data received by the receiving unit is displayed on the display means having a plurality of first positions and second positions forming a predetermined pair, and user identification information corresponding to the user image data is Generation for generating an image to be displayed at the first position in the order registered by the server device, and to display the message provided by the request unit requesting the external server device at the second position. Program to make it function as a part.

Images