JP2005173780A - Online community system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an online community system having various community services urging intensive participation of a customer. <P>SOLUTION: This online community system installing a virtual reality space on a network and offering contents for community service comprises a terminal for receiving predetermined input from participants A to E (101-105) of the community, a Web community contents server 107 for managing free contents for the community service, a Web flea market contents server 109 for managing chargeable contents for the community service, and a Web community customer management authentication server 108 having an authentication means for authorizing the participants of the community. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an online community system that takes an online participatory game format with a 3D screen and has functions such as Internet bulletin boards, Internet auctions, Internet shopping, and Internet banking within the community.

  There are technologies that provide various community services by providing a virtual reality space on a network, and Patent Documents 1 to 5 disclose one form of such technologies.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that provides a highly secure personal space on a network and uses an electronic key to exchange information more securely via the Internet.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for forming various communities on a network so that users can act in a shared space.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technology that enables a series of work by voice input even if virtual shopping is operated on the Internet or the like and the operation is performed without using a keyboard or a mouse as much as possible.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a technology related to a system having a series of functions until a character trained in its own PC participates in a shared space such as the Internet and is activated.

Patent Document 5 discloses a technology relating to a system in which a proxy character automatically delivers an instant message even in a situation where contact cannot be made on the Internet.
JP 2002-245259 A JP 2002-312612 A JP 2002-352104 A JP 2003-033573 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-076906

  Sites that currently occupy the top ranks of Internet access are Web giant bulletin boards and web auction sites, except for web search sites and major provider sites.

  The reason why huge bulletin boards and auctions are so popular is that there are plenty of specialized information and products in many fields, so that you can get the latest information in real time, and the unspecified number of interpersonal people will not get bored because they are opponents. It is done.

  On the other hand, online games are becoming established as a new PC game form mainly by young people due to the spread of broadband lines, but the reason for its popularity is not the game itself but the unpredictable interaction with humans.

  In recent years, as the speed of the Internet line has increased, various new services have become available on the Internet, and information provision has also changed interactively from one-way traffic.

  As you can see from the generations that never leave the mobile phone, even if the media and tools used change with the times, the craving for communication between humans and the desire for new information will not stop.

  Nowadays, it has become an era where anything can be done without leaving the home, and there is an even greater need for simple tools that allow users to participate as much as they like at home using the Internet connection.

  None of the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 satisfy such a requirement.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an online community system including various community services that encourage stronger participation of customers.

  In order to achieve the above object, as an aspect of the present invention, an online community system that provides a virtual service space on a network and provides content for a community service, which receives a predetermined input from a community participant A free content server that manages free content for community services, a paid content server that manages paid content for community services, and a customer management authentication server that has an authentication means for authenticating community participants It is characterized by having.

  Here, the free content server has message information management means for managing the message information input from the terminal in a database, and distributes the message information managed by the message information management means to other terminals. The real-time chat function is achieved.

  The free content server has browsing information management means for managing information for browsing to community participants provided in the virtual reality space as a database, and receives a predetermined input from the terminal. At this time, the browsing information management means distributes corresponding browsing information to the terminal, thereby fulfilling a bulletin board browsing function.

  On the other hand, the paid content server has contents for a flea market, exhibits management information for managing information on the exhibits to be exhibited in the flea market in a database, and records or sales records of the exhibits. Auction function is achieved by having exhibition / sales record management means for managing the database in a database.

  Further, the authentication means performs personal authentication of the participants recorded in the exhibition / sales record management means when exhibiting or purchasing an exhibit.

  The paid content server has contents for a shopping mall, and sales management means for managing information on sales sold in the shopping mall in a database and sales records of the sales in a database. And having a sales record managing means for managing them, thereby fulfilling the function of virtual shopping.

  Furthermore, the authentication means performs personal authentication of the participant recorded in the sales record management means when purchasing a sale item.

  In the above-described aspect of the present invention, the customer management authentication server includes an operation history management unit that manages a series of input operations related to the community service performed by a community participant on a terminal as a database as an operation history. By grasping the trend of participants, it functions as marketing research.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the online community system provided with the various community service which encourages stronger participation of a customer can be provided.

  Participants of the online community system picked up in this embodiment become independent 3D characters on the Web, access free community areas on the Internet, and virtual towns (virtual reality space towns) in the 3D screen Act as an inhabitant.

  Inside the free community, there are virtual towns (virtual reality space streets) for each hobby category, and people can enjoy real-time chat conversations, information pages and bulletin board browsing.

  In other paid content areas protected by security, flea markets (product sales / purchases), virtual shopping, Internet banking, etc. can be used.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration>
As shown in Fig. 1, this system provides a virtual community town (virtual reality space town) on the Web to general participants who have accessed via the Internet. It becomes composition. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the database of this system.

  106.Firewall / 107.Web Community Content Server / 108.Web Community Customer Management Authentication Server / 109.Web Community Flea Market Content Server

  106: Firewall functions to prevent unauthorized packets or unauthorized access from external internet access.

  107: The web community content server provides basic contents constituting the virtual town (virtual reality space town) of the web community, and has database functions such as display of each virtual town town and a bulletin board. FIG. 3 is a screen image in which participants A + B are actually talking in a virtual town (virtual reality space town) of content provided by the Web community content server 107.

  108: The Web community customer management authentication server has an authentication management function for participants entering and leaving the Web community, and distinguishes between free general content providers and paid content providers by passwords in the customer management database. It has a function. Also, record the behavior patterns taken by the participants in the community and create a database. Fig. 4 shows an image of the authentication screen required when entering the Web community.

  109: The Web community flea market content server is a server that provides paid content authenticated by the Web community customer management authentication server 108, and has functions of providing flea market content, managing exhibits of participants, and a sales record database.

<Operation>
The operation process of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  S10101: Participant A101 requests participation in WebCommunity via the Internet, and accesses WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10601: Firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10801: Authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and connection is made to the WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10701: WebCommunity content server 107 connects to participant A101 and starts distributing content.

  S10201: Participant B102 requests to participate in WebCommunity via the Internet and accesses the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10602: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10802: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 and connected to the WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10702: The WebCommunity content server 107 connects to the participant B102 and starts distributing content.

  S10301: Participant C103 requests participation in WebCommunity via the Internet, and accesses WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10603: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10803: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 and the WebCommunity content server 107 is connected.

  S10703: The WebCommunity content server 107 connects to the participant C103 and starts distributing content.

  S10401: Participant D104 requests participation in the WebCommunity paid content flea market area via the Internet, and accesses the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10604: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10804: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the flea market admission screen is distributed to the participant D104 via the Internet.

  S10402: Participant D104 performs admission processing to the WebCommunity pay content free market area via the Internet.

  S10605: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10805: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 and the WebCommunity content server 107 is connected.

  S10704: The WebCommunity content server 107 connects to the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10901: Content distribution starts from the WebCommunity content server 107 and the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10806: Deliver flea market content from WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 to participant D104 via the Internet.

  S10501: Participant E105 requests participation in the WebCommunity pay content flea market area via the Internet, and accesses the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10606: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10807: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the flea market entrance screen is distributed to the participant E105 via the Internet.

  S10502: Participant E105 performs admission processing to the WebCommunity pay content free market area via the Internet.

  S10607: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10808: Authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the WebCommunity content server 107 is connected.

  S10705: The WebCommunity content server 107 is connected to the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10902: Distribution of content is started from the WebCommunity content server 107 and the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10809: Deliver flea market content from WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 to participant E105 via the Internet.

  S10102: Participant A101 requests to move to WebCommunity Virtual Town via the Internet and accesses WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10608: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10706: The WebCommunity content server 107 connects to the participant A101 via the Internet and starts distributing virtual town content.

  S10202: Participant B102 requests to move to WebCommunity Virtual Town via the Internet and accesses WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10609: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10707: The WebCommunity content server 107 connects to the participant B102 via the Internet and starts distributing virtual town content.

  S10103: Participant A101 delivers a message to participant B102 participating in the same WebCommunity virtual town via the Internet.

  S10610: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10708: The WebCommunity content server 107 distributes the message of the participant A101 to the participant B102 via the Internet.

  S10203: Participant B102 who has received the message from participant A101 returns a message to participant A101 participating in the same WebCommunity virtual town via the Internet.

  S10611: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10709: The WebCommunity content server 107 distributes the message of the participant B102 to the participant A101 via the Internet.

  S10302: Participant C103 delivers a message to participant A101 participating in the same WebCommunity virtual town via the Internet.

  S10612: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10710: The WebCommunity content server 107 distributes the message of the participant C103 to the participant A101 via the Internet.

  S10104: Participant A101 who has received the message from participant C103 returns a message to participant C103 participating in the same WebCommunity virtual town via the Internet.

  S10613: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10711: The WebCommunity content server 107 distributes the message of the participant A101 to the participant C103 via the Internet.

  S10105: Participant A101 makes a WebCommunity virtual town bulletin board browsing request via the Internet and accesses WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10614: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10712: The WebCommunity content server 107 distributes the virtual town bulletin board content requested by the participant A101 via the Internet.

  S10204: Participant B102 requests to move to another virtual town in WebCommunity via the Internet and accesses WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10615: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10713: The WebCommunity content server 107 that has received the request from the participant B102 starts the delivery process of the participant B102 and the delivery destination content via the Internet.

  S10303: Participant C103 requests logout from WebCommunity via the Internet.

  S10616: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10810: The WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 performs logout processing requested by the participant C103, and starts distributing a logout completion screen to the participant C103.

  S10205: Participant B102 makes a logout request from WebCommunity via the Internet.

  S10617: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10811: The WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 performs logout processing requested by the participant B102, and starts distributing a logout completion screen to the participant B102.

  S10106: Participant A101 requests participation in the WebCommunity paid content flea market area via the Internet, and accesses the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10618: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10812: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the flea market entrance screen is distributed to the participant A101 via the Internet.

  S10107: Participant A101 enters the WebCommunity paid content flea market area via the Internet.

  S10619: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10813: Authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and connection is made to the WebCommunity content server 107.

  S10714: The WebCommunity content server 107 is connected to the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10903: Distribution of content is started from the WebCommunity content server 107 and the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10814: Deliver flea market content from WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 to participant A101 via the Internet.

  S10403: Participant D104 submits an item to the WebCommunity pay content flea market via the Internet and accesses the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10620: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10815: Authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and connection is made to the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10904: Distribution of content from the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 is started.

  S10816: The distribution from the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 is controlled by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the screen is distributed to the participant D104.

  S10404: Participant D104 submits a product to the WebCommunity pay content flea market via the Internet, and accesses the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10621: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10817: The authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 is connected.

  S10905: The exhibition data transmitted from the participant D104 is recorded in the WebCommunity flea market content server 109, and the updated screen and content are distributed to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10818: The distribution from the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 is controlled by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the updated screen is distributed to the participant D104.

  S10405: Participant D104 confirms that the exhibition data has been updated.

  S10503: Participant E105 makes a purchase request for a WebCommunity paid content flea market product via the Internet, and accesses WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10622: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10819: Authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 is connected.

  S10906: The distribution of content from the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 is started.

  S10820: The distribution from the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 is controlled by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the screen is distributed to the participant E105.

  S10504: Participant E105 purchases a WebCommunity paid content flea market product via the Internet, and accesses WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10623: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to access to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 via the Internet.

  S10821: Authentication is confirmed by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and connection is made to the WebCommunity flea market content server 109.

  S10907: The purchase request data transmitted from the participant E105 is recorded in the WebCommunity flea market content server 109, and the updated screen and content are distributed to the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108.

  S10822: The distribution from the WebCommunity flea market content server 109 is controlled by the WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108, and the updated screen is distributed to the participant E105.

  S10505: Participant E105 confirms that purchase request data has been updated.

  S10406: Participant D104 makes a logout request from the WebCommunity paid content flea market via the Internet.

  S10624: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10823: The WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 performs logout processing requested by the participant D104 and starts distributing a logout completion screen to the participant D104.

  S10506: Participant E105 makes a logout request from the WebCommunity paid content flea market via the Internet.

  S10625: The firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10824: The WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 performs logout processing requested by the participant E105, and starts distributing a logout completion screen to the participant E105.

  S10108: Participant A101 makes a logout request from the WebCommunity paid content flea market via the Internet.

  S10626: Firewall 106 monitors unauthorized traffic and unauthorized access to the server from the outside Internet.

  S10825: The WebCommunity customer management authentication server 108 performs logout processing requested by the participant A101, and starts distributing a logout completion screen to the participant A101.

  As is clear from the above example, the online community system (virtual life) adopted in this example is different from the existing web community, in addition to real-time chat in the 3D virtual reality space on the web, the town by hobby category Has an information bulletin board browsing function. It is also possible to participate in flea market exhibition purchases and search for virtual shopping malls (virtual reality space streets) for products of interest.

  In other words, the system is characterized by having virtual shopping site, bulletin board site, and Web auction site elements, and participating in them as if it were a 3D online game.

  In addition, the Web community part is open for free and the number of customers is considered first, and the flea market and virtual shopping area parts are paid and personal authentication is required, making it a security-conscious system.

  In addition, it is a system that incorporates interesting elements of the Internet, such as online games and real-time chat, and aims at attracting many customers by making the basic part free of charge, and effectively grasps the advertising effects and various customer needs there.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a whole online community system (virtual life) block diagram. It is a database structure of an online community system (virtual life). It is an actual video screen image (participant A + B Web Community chat screen). It is an actual moving image screen image (participant A authentication screen). It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example. It is a sequence chart of a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

101 Participant A
102 Participant B
103 Participant C
104 Participant D
105 Participant E
106 Firewall 107 Web Community Content Server 108 Web Community Customer Management Authentication Server 109 Web Flea Market Content Server

Claims (8)

An online community system that provides virtual reality space on a network and provides content for community services,
A device that receives certain inputs from community participants,
A free content server that manages free content for community services,
A paid content server that manages paid content for community services;
An online community system comprising a customer management authentication server having authentication means for authenticating community participants. The free content server
Message information management means for managing the message information input from the terminal in a database;
2. The online community system according to claim 1, wherein the message information managed by the message information management means is distributed to another terminal. The free content server
Provided in the virtual reality space, having browsing information management means for managing information for browsing to community participants in a database;
2. The online community system according to claim 1, wherein, when a predetermined input is received from the terminal, the browsing information management unit distributes corresponding browsing information to the terminal. The paid content server has content for a flea market,
Exhibit management means for managing the information of the exhibits to be exhibited in the flea market as a database;
The online community system according to claim 1, further comprising exhibition / sales record management means for managing the exhibition records or sales records of the exhibits in a database.   5. The online community system according to claim 4, wherein the authentication unit performs personal authentication of the participant recorded in the exhibition / sales record management unit at the time of listing or purchasing an exhibit. The paid content server has content for a shopping mall,
Sales management means for managing information on sales sold in the shopping mall in a database;
2. The online community system according to claim 1, further comprising sales record management means for managing sales records of the sales items in a database.   The online community system according to claim 6, wherein the authentication unit performs personal authentication of the participant recorded in the sales record management unit at the time of purchase of a sales item. The customer management authentication server is:
8. The operation history management unit according to claim 1, further comprising an operation history management unit configured to manage a series of input operations related to the community service performed by a community participant on the terminal as a database of operation history. The online community system described.

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