Content distribution system, content distribution method, and content distribution program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12243120-B2
Application number	US-202217668293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2022
Priority date	Sep 30, 2019
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

Content distribution systems for displaying a virtual space to user terminals, content distribution methods executed by a content distribution system including at least one processor, and non-transitory computer-readable media storing a content distribution program are disclosed. An example system according to the disclosure includes at least one processor that detects when an avatar corresponding to a first user performs a predetermined action in a virtual space, and displays a content image of the virtual space on a user terminal of a second user among the plurality of user terminals. The predetermined action is invisible in the content image when the processor detects that the avatar performs the predetermined action.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A content distribution system for displaying a virtual space to a plurality of user terminals, comprising at least one processor configured to:
detect a state where an avatar corresponding to a first user performs a predetermined action in the virtual space, the predetermined action including an input operation of information secret to a second user, and the state including a state where the input operation is performed on a target virtual object of the input operation; and
display a content image of the virtual space on a user terminal of the second user among the plurality of user terminals in response to detection of the state,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
detect the state if a distance between a position of the target virtual object and a position of the avatar is less than a preset threshold such that the state is detected at a time point before the predetermined action is performed; and
make the predetermined action not visible in the content image if the state is detected, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect action information defining the predetermined action by comparing the action information with a prepared template.

2. The content distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
detect action information defining the predetermined action of the avatar; and
prevent the action information from being transmitted to the user terminal of the second user.

3. The content distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect when the avatar is positioned within a predetermined distance range from the target virtual object.

4. The content distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the target virtual object includes a non-shared object in the virtual space, and
wherein the non-shared object is visible to the first user and invisible to the second user.

5. The content distribution system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect the state in response to occurrence of the non-shared object in the virtual space.

6. The content distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the user terminal of the second user to display the content image including the avatar performing a dummy action instead of the predetermined action, in response to detection of the state.

7. The content distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the user terminal of the second user to display the content image including an object covering the predetermined action, in response to detection of the state.

8. A content distribution method executed by a content distribution system including at least one processor, the method comprising:
detecting a state where an avatar corresponding to a first user performs a predetermined action in a virtual space, the predetermined action including an input operation of information secret to a second user, and the state including a state where the input operation is performed on a target virtual object of the input operation; and
displaying a content image of the virtual space on a user terminal of the second user among the plurality of user terminals in response to detection of the state,
wherein the method further comprises:
detecting the state if a distance between a position of the target virtual object and a position of the avatar is less than a preset threshold such that the state is detected at a time point before the predetermined action is performed; and
making the predetermined action not visible in the content image if the state is detected, and

wherein the method further comprises detecting action information defining the predetermined action by comparing the action information with a prepared template.

9. The content distribution method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting action information defining the predetermined action of the avatar; and
preventing the action information from being transmitted to the user terminal of the second user.

10. The content distribution method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting when the avatar is positioned within a predetermined distance range from the target virtual object; and
detecting when the avatar performs the predetermined action.

11. The content distribution method of claim 8 , wherein the target virtual object includes a non-shared object in the virtual space, and
wherein the non-shared object is visible to the first user and invisible to the second user.

12. The content distribution method of claim 8 , further comprising causing the user terminal of the second user to display the content image including the avatar performing a dummy action instead of the predetermined action, in response to detection of the state.

13. The content distribution method of claim 8 , further comprising causing the user terminal of the second user to display the content image including an object covering the predetermined action, in response to detection of the state.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a content distribution program that causes a computer to perform functions comprising:
detecting a state where an avatar corresponding to a first user performs a predetermined action in a virtual space, the predetermined action including an input operation of information secret to a second user, and the state including a state where the input operation is performed on a target virtual object of the input operation; and
displaying a content image of the virtual space on a user terminal of the second user among the plurality of user terminals in response to detection of the state,
wherein the function further comprises:
detecting the state if a distance between a position of the target virtual object and a position of the avatar is less than a preset threshold such that the state is detected at a time point before the predetermined action is performed; and
making the predetermined action not visible in the content image if the state is detected, and

wherein the function further comprises detecting action information defining the predetermined action by comparing the action information with a prepared template.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the functions further comprise:
detecting action information defining the predetermined action of the avatar; and
preventing the action information from being transmitted to the user terminal of the second user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the functions further comprise:
detecting when the avatar is positioned within a predetermined distance range from the target virtual object; and
detecting when the avatar performs the predetermined action.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the target virtual object includes a non-shared object in the virtual space, and
wherein the non-shared object is visible to the first user and invisible to the second user.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the functions further comprises causing the user terminal of the second user to display the content image including the avatar performing a dummy action instead of the predetermined action, in response to detection of the state.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the functions further comprises causing the user terminal of

Assignees

• Dwango Co Ltd

Inventors

• Iwaki Shinnosuke

Classifications

• G06T13/00

  Animation · CPC title

• G06V20/20 Primary

  in augmented reality scenes · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• A63F13/55

  Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress · CPC title

• G06F13/00

  Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units (interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 {; multiprogram control therefor  G06F9/46}; multiprocessor systems  G06F15/16 ) · CPC title