Matching system, information processing apparatus, server, matching method, and matching program
18 claims: 6 independent, 12 dependent
- 1サーバと、ネットワークを介して前記サーバに接続される複数の情報処理装置とからなり、複数のマッチング範囲のうちのいずれかで、複数の情報処理装置の間での情報通信を行いながら所定の情報処理を行なおうとする参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なうマッチングシステムであって、 前記参加ユーザに対して、当該参加ユーザに関連する関連ユーザを提示する関連ユーザ提示手段と、 前記関連ユーザ提示手段にて提示された前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を特定するマッチング範囲特定手段と、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段にて特定されたマッチング範囲にて、前記参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング処理手段と、 を備えたことを特徴とするマッチングシステム。
- 2前記関連ユーザは、前記参加ユーザが特定して登録したユーザ、前記参加ユーザと近距離無線通信が成立したユーザ、前記参加ユーザと過去にマッチメイクされたユーザ、前記参加ユーザの属性に基づいて選択されたユーザ、前記参加ユーザが作成したマッチング範囲でマッチメイクされたユーザの少なくともいずれかを含むことを特徴とする請求項1に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 3前記関連ユーザ提示手段にて提示された前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を提示するマッチング範囲提示手段と、 前記マッチング範囲の指定を受け付けるマッチング範囲指定受付手段と、 をさらに備え、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段は、前記マッチング範囲指定受付手段にて指定を受け付けたマッチング範囲を、前記マッチング処理手段にてマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング範囲として特定することを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 4前記マッチング範囲提示手段は、前記関連ユーザが直近にマッチメイクされたマッチング範囲、前記関連ユーザのマッチメイキングの履歴に基づいて決定されるマッチング範囲、前記関連ユーザが現在マッチメイキングされているマッチング範囲、前記関連ユーザが作成したマッチング範囲の少なくともいずれかを、前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲として提示することを特徴とする請求項3に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 5前記関連ユーザの指定を受け付ける関連ユーザ指定受付手段をさらに備え、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段は、前記関連ユーザ指定受付手段にて指定を受け付けた関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を、前記マッチング処理手段にてマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング範囲として特定することを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 6前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲は、前記関連ユーザが直近にマッチメイクされたマッチング範囲、前記関連ユーザのマッチメイキングに基づいて決定されるマッチング範囲、前記関連ユーザが現在マッチメイキングされているマッチング範囲、前記関連ユーザが作成したマッチング範囲のいずれかであることを特徴とする請求項5に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 7前記関連ユーザ提示手段は、前記関連ユーザがオンライン状態であることが分かるように、前記関連ユーザを提示することを特徴とする請求項1ないし6のいずれか一項に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 8前記マッチング処理手段は、前記参加ユーザと前記関連ユーザとのマッチメイキングを行なうことを特徴とする請求項1ないし7のいずれか一項に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 9前記情報処理装置における操作に基づいて、前記マッチング範囲を作成するマッチング範囲作成手段をさらに備えたことを特徴とする請求項1ないし8のいずれか一項に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 10前記マッチング処理手段は、前記マッチング範囲特定手段にて特定されたマッチング範囲内でマッチメイキングされているユーザを提示することなく、当該特定されたマッチング範囲にてマッチメイキングを行うことを特徴とする請求項1ないし9のいずれか一項に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 11前記サーバは、ゲームサーバであり、前記情報処理装置はゲーム装置であり、前記マッチングシステムは、ゲームサーバと、ネットワークを介してゲームサーバに接続される複数のゲーム装置とからなり、複数のマッチング範囲のうちのいずれかで、複数のゲーム装置の間での情報通信を行いながらゲームを行なおうとする参加プレイヤのマッチメイキングを行なうゲームシステムであることを特徴とする請求項1ないし10のいずれか一項に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 12前記マッチング範囲は、そこに参加する参加ユーザについての特定の条件が明示されるマッチングルームであることを特徴とする請求項1ないし11のいずれか一項に記載のマッチングシステム。
- 13請求項1に記載のマッチングシステムに用いられる情報処理装置であって、 前記関連ユーザの情報を記憶した関連ユーザ記憶手段と、前記関連ユーザ提示手段とを備え、 前記関連ユーザ提示手段は、前記関連ユーザ記憶手段に記憶された情報に基づいて関連ユーザを提示することを特徴とする情報処理装置。
- 14請求項1に記載のマッチングシステムに用いられるサーバであって、 前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を取得して、取得したマッチング範囲の情報を前記情報処理装置に提供するマッチング範囲取得手段と、前記マッチング範囲特定手段と、前記マッチング処理手段とを備え、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段は、前記情報処理装置から、前記マッチング範囲取得手段が前記情報処理装置に提供したマッチング範囲の指定を受け付けて、指定を受け付けたマッチング範囲を、前記マッチング処理手段にてマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング範囲として特定することを特徴とするサーバ。
- 15請求項1に記載のマッチングシステムに用いられるサーバであって、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段と、前記マッチング処理手段とを備え、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段は、前記情報処理装置から前記関連ユーザの指定を受け付けて、指定を受け付けた関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を、前記マッチング処理手段にてマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング範囲として特定することを特徴とするサーバ。
- 16サーバと、ネットワークを介して前記サーバに接続される複数の情報処理装置とからなるマッチングシステムの前記サーバにて実行され、 複数のマッチング範囲のうちのいずれかで、複数の情報処理装置の間での情報通信を行おうとする参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング方法であって、 前記サーバが、 前記参加ユーザに対して、当該参加ユーザに関連する関連ユーザを提示する関連ユーザ提示ステップと、 前記サーバが、 前記関連ユーザ提示ステップにて提示された前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を特定するマッチング範囲特定ステップと、 前記サーバが、 前記マッチング範囲特定ステップにて特定されたマッチング範囲にて、前記参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング処理ステップと、 を含むことを特徴とするマッチング方法。
- 17複数のマッチング範囲のうちのいずれかで、複数の情報処理装置の間での情報通信を行おうとする参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なう情報処理装置のコンピュータにおいて実行されるマッチングプログラムであって、 前記参加ユーザから当該参加ユーザに関連する関連ユーザの指定を受け付ける関連ユーザ指定受付手段と、 ユーザとマッチング範囲とを関連付けて記憶したマッチング範囲記憶手段から、 前記関連ユーザ指定受付手段にて指定を受け付けた前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を取得して、前記参加ユーザに提供するマッチング範囲取得手段と、 前記参加ユーザから、 前記マッチング範囲取得手段にて提供したマッチング範囲の指定を受け付けて、指定を受け付けたマッチング範囲を特定するマッチング範囲特定手段と、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段にて特定されたマッチング範囲にて、前記参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング処理手段として、 前記コンピュータを機能させるマッチングプログラム。
- 18複数のマッチング範囲のうちのいずれかで、複数の情報処理装置の間での情報通信を行おうとする参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なう情報処理装置のコンピュータにおいて実行されるマッチングプログラムであって、 前記参加ユーザから当該参加ユーザに関連する関連ユーザの指定を受け付ける関連ユーザ指定受付手段と、 ユーザとマッチング範囲とを関連付けて記憶したマッチング範囲記憶手段を参照して、 前記関連ユーザ指定受付手段にて指定を受け付けた前記関連ユーザに関連付けられたマッチング範囲を特定するマッチング範囲特定手段と、 前記マッチング範囲特定手段にて特定されたマッチング範囲にて、前記参加ユーザのマッチメイキングを行なうマッチング処理手段として、 前記コンピュータを機能させるマッチングプログラム。
Independent claims18
65 paragraphs, as filed
The present invention provides a matching system, an information processing device, a server, a matching method, which performs matchmaking of participating users who intend to perform predetermined information processing while performing information communication between a plurality of information processing devices via a network. And matching programs.
Conventionally, there is known a game system in which a group is formed by a plurality of players and a game is played with the players in the group via a network. According to this game system, in the game device of each player participating in the group, the game is developed based not only on the operation information of the user of the game device but also on the operation information of other players in the group. ..
The group is formed by performing matchmaking of players for players all over the world who are connected to the network, or by performing matchmaking of players for domestic players who are connected to the network. It is formed (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
If the range of matchmaking (hereinafter referred to as "matching range") is too wide as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, matchmaking is generally performed only with a player who has nothing to do with it. Therefore, even if you want to play a game with players with specific conditions (for example, people from the same school, people with the same hobbies and tastes, people living in the same area, etc.), those specific conditions are satisfied. Matchmaking with the player could not be realized.
For such a conventional game system, a wide variety of matching ranges (for example, ranges for each school, hobby, taste, region, etc.) are prepared, and players who desire matchmaking in each matching range are provided. It is conceivable to perform matchmaking. By doing so, matchmaking between players that satisfy any of a wide variety of conditions can be realized.
<p num="0006"><nplcit num="1"><text>Mario Kart Wii Instruction Manual (pages 23-24)</text></nplcit></p>
<p num="0007"> However, if the matching range becomes too large, it is not easy to find the matching range that the player himself likes. Also, even if you want to play a game with a specific player, you may not know the matching range used by that specific player.</p><p num="0008"> The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to support a user in selecting a matching range from a large number of matching ranges.</p>
<p num="0009"> In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the matching system of the present invention comprises a server and a plurality of information processing devices connected to the server via a network, and is provided in any one of a plurality of matching ranges. It is a matching system that performs matchmaking of a participating user who intends to perform predetermined information processing while performing information communication between a plurality of information processing devices, and is related to the participating user in relation to the participating user. A related user presenting means for presenting a user, a matching range specifying means for specifying a matching range associated with the related user presented by the related user presenting means, and a matching range specified by the matching range specifying means. It has a configuration including a matching processing means for performing matchmaking of the participating users.</p><p num="0010"> With this configuration, it is possible to perform matchmaking in the matching range associated with the related user related to the participating user, and it is possible to support the participating user in selecting a matching range from a large number of matching ranges. In addition, "specifying the matching range" means determining one matching range for which match making is performed by the matching processing means from a plurality of matching ranges.</p><p num="0011"> In the matching system of the present invention, the related user is a user specified and registered by the participating user, a user who has established short-range wireless communication with the participating user, a user who has been matched with the participating user in the past, and the participation. It may include at least one of a user selected based on the attributes of the user and a user matched-made in the matching range created by the participating users.</p><p num="0012"> With this configuration, a user suitable as a user related to a participating user can be presented as a related user, and matchmaking can be performed within a matching range associated with such a related user.</p><p num="0013"> The matching system of the present invention further includes a matching range presenting means that presents a matching range associated with the related user presented by the related user presenting means, and a matching range designation receiving means that accepts the designation of the matching range. The matching range specifying means may specify the matching range designated by the matching range designation receiving means as a matching range for which match making is performed by the matching processing means.</p><p num="0014"> With this configuration, when the matching range associated with the related user is presented to the participating user, the participating user specifies the matching range, and the specified matching range is used as the matching range for matchmaking. You can identify and perform matchmaking. One or a plurality of matching ranges may be associated with the related user, and the matching range presenting means may present one or a plurality of matching ranges associated with the related user.</p><p num="0015"> In the matching system of the present invention, the matching range presenting means includes a matching range in which the related user was most recently matched, a matching range determined based on the matchmaking history of the related user, and the related user currently matching. At least one of the making range and the matching range created by the related user may be presented as the matching range associated with the related user.</p><p num="0016"> With this configuration, it is possible to present to the participating users a matching range suitable as a matching range associated with the related user. The matching range determined based on the matchmaking history of the related user may be, for example, the matching range in which the related user is most frequently matched-made in the matchmaking history of the related user.</p><p num="0017"> The matching system of the present invention may further include a related user designation receiving means for receiving the designation of the related user, and the matching range specifying means is associated with the related user who has received the designation by the related user designated receiving means. The matching range may be specified as a matching range for which matchmaking is performed by the matching processing means.</p><p num="0018"> With this configuration, when a related user is presented to a participating user, the participating user specifies the related user, and the matching range associated with the related user is specified as a matching range for matchmaking. , Matchmaking can be done.</p><p num="0019"> In the matching system of the present invention, the matching range associated with the related user is the matching range in which the related user is most recently matched, the matching range determined based on the matchmaking of the related user, and the related user. It may be either a matching range currently being match-made or a matching range created by the related user.</p><p num="0020"> With this configuration, when a related user is presented to a participating user and a related user is specified by the participating user, matchmaking is performed on a matching range suitable as a matching range associated with the specified related user. Matchmaking can be performed by specifying it as a matching range.</p><p num="0021"> In the matching system of the present invention, the related user presenting means may present the related user so that the related user can be found to be online.</p><p num="0022"> With this configuration, the participating users can know the related users who are online and can perform predetermined information processing together by matchmaking. In addition, in order to show that the related users are online, all the related users may be presented and each related user may be marked as being online or offline, or online. Only relevant users in the state may be presented.</p><p num="0023"> In the matching system of the present invention, the matching processing means may perform matchmaking between the participating user and the related user.</p><p num="0024"> With this configuration, even if a plurality of groups are formed in the specified matching range, the participating users can match-make with the related users related to them and perform predetermined information processing together with the related users. it can.</p><p num="0025"> The matching system of the present invention may further include a matching range creating means for creating the matching range based on the operation in the information processing apparatus.</p><p num="0026"> With this configuration, predetermined information processing can be performed between the users desired by the user. If the user can create the matching range by himself / herself, the number of matching ranges may become enormous because many users create the matching range. Also in this case, according to the matching system of the present invention, it is possible to perform matchmaking in the matching range associated with the related user related to the participating user, and for the participating user, a huge number of matching ranges can be obtained. It can support the selection of the matching range from the inside.</p><p num="0027"> In the matching system of the present invention, the matching processing means performs matchmaking in the specified matching range without presenting a user who is matchmaking within the matching range specified by the matching range specifying means. You may go.</p><p num="0028"> With this configuration, the participating users cannot know which user is in the matching range in which they are matched. As a result, the participating users who are matched and made in a certain matching range do not have a sense of companionship with other users in the matching range or a sense of belonging to the matching range. In this way, the user who forms a group within the matching range and performs predetermined information processing does not form a sense of fellowship with other users in the matching range or a sense of belonging to the matching range, so that a new matching range is created. It can be expected that the participating users who are going to make a match in the above will have a psychological effect that it will be easier to select the matching range. That is, the sense of fellowship and affiliation of existing users may become a psychological barrier for new users to newly participate in the matching range, but in the present invention, the participating users For this, it is not possible to know which user is in the matching range in which the player is matched, so that such a psychological barrier can be alleviated.</p><p num="0029"> In the matching system of the present invention, the server may be a game server, the information processing device may be a game device, and the matching system may be a game server and a plurality of games connected to the game server via a network. It may be a game system composed of devices and performing matchmaking of participating players who intend to play a game while performing information communication between a plurality of game devices in any one of a plurality of matching ranges.</p><p num="0030"> With this configuration, it is possible to present to the participating players of the game a matching range suitable as a matching range associated with the related player.</p><p num="0031"> In the matching server of the present invention, the matching range may be a matching room in which specific conditions for participating users are specified.</p><p num="0032"> With this configuration, it is possible to present to the participating users under what conditions the matching range is used for matchmaking.</p><p num="0033"> Another aspect of the present invention is an information processing device used in the matching system, which includes a related user storage means for storing information of the related user and the related user presenting means. , The related user presenting means presents a related user based on the information stored in the related user storage means.</p><p num="0034"> With this configuration, the information processing device stores and presents related users related to the user who owns the information processing device. The information processing device may receive and present the status of the related user, the information of the matching range associated with the related user, and the like from the server.</p><p num="0035"> Yet another aspect of the present invention is a server used in the matching system, which acquires a matching range associated with the related user and uses the acquired matching range information as the information processing apparatus. The matching range specifying means, the matching range specifying means, and the matching processing means are provided, and the matching range specifying means is provided from the information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus by the matching range acquiring means. The designation of the matching range is accepted, and the matching range for which the designation is accepted is specified as the matching range for which match making is performed by the matching processing means.</p><p num="0036"> With this configuration, the server receives the designation of the related user and performs the matching process in the matching range associated with the designated related user.</p><p num="0037"> Another aspect of the server of the present invention is a server used in the matching system, which includes the matching range specifying means and the matching processing means, and the matching range specifying means is described from the information processing apparatus. The designation of the related user is accepted, and the matching range associated with the related user who has received the designation is specified as the matching range for which matchmaking is performed by the matching processing means.</p><p num="0038"> With this configuration, the server receives the designation of the matching range and performs the matching process in the designated matching range.</p><p num="0039"> Yet another aspect of the present invention is a matching method for performing matchmaking of participating users who intend to perform information communication between a plurality of information processing devices in any one of a plurality of matching ranges, and this matching is performed. The method is a matching that specifies a matching user presentation step that presents a related user related to the participating user to the participating user and a matching range associated with the related user presented in the related user presentation step. A range specifying step and a matching processing step of performing matchmaking of the participating users in the matching range specified in the matching range specifying step are included.</p><p num="0040"> This method also makes it possible to perform matchmaking in the matching range associated with the related user related to the participating user, and it is possible to support the participating user in selecting a matching range from a large number of matching ranges.</p><p num="0041"> Yet another aspect of the present invention is executed in the computer of the information processing device that performs matchmaking of participating users who intend to perform information communication between the plurality of information processing devices in any one of a plurality of matching ranges. The matching program includes a related user designation receiving means that accepts the designation of a related user related to the participating user from the participating user, and the related user that receives the designation by the related user designation receiving means. Matching that acquires the matching range associated with and specifies the matching range acquisition means provided to the participating user and the matching range provided by the matching range acquisition means, and specifies the matching range that has received the designation. It has a configuration in which the computer functions as a matching processing means for performing matchmaking of the participating users in the range specifying means and the matching range specified by the matching range specifying means.</p><p num="0042"> With this configuration, it is possible to receive a designation of a matching range and perform matchmaking in the designated matching range, and it is possible to support participating users in selecting a matching range from a large number of matching ranges.</p><p num="0043"> Yet another aspect of the present invention is executed in the computer of the information processing device that performs matchmaking of participating users who intend to perform information communication between the plurality of information processing devices in any one of a plurality of matching ranges. The matching program includes a related user designation receiving means that accepts the designation of a related user related to the participating user from the participating user, and the related user that receives the designation by the related user designation receiving means. The computer is configured to function as a matching processing means for performing matchmaking of the participating users in the matching range specifying means for specifying the matching range associated with the matching range and the matching range specified by the matching range specifying means. doing.</p><p num="0044"> With this configuration, it is possible to receive the designation of the related user related to the participating user and perform matchmaking in the matching range associated with the specified related user, and for the participating user, a large number of matching ranges can be obtained. It can support the selection of the matching range from the inside.</p>
<p num="0045"> According to the present invention, it is possible to perform matchmaking in the matching range associated with the related user related to the participating user, and it is possible to support the participating user in selecting a matching range from a large number of matching ranges. ..</p>
<figref num="1">The figure which shows the whole structure of the game system of embodiment of this invention</figref><figref num="2">A block diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="3">A block diagram showing a configuration of a game server that functions as a matching device according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="4">A block diagram showing a configuration of a game server that functions as a matching room creating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="5">Flow chart of the matching method according to the embodiment of the present invention</figref><figref num="6">The figure which shows the example of the matching top screen of embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="7">The figure which shows the example of the matching room search top screen of embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="8">The figure which shows the example of the related player presentation screen of the Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="9">The figure which shows the example of the matching room presentation screen of embodiment of this invention.</figref>
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The matching system of the present invention comprises a server and a plurality of information processing devices connected to the server via a network, and information communication between the plurality of information processing devices in any one of the plurality of matching ranges. This is a system that performs matchmaking of participating users who try to perform predetermined information processing while performing the above. In the following, as an embodiment of the matching system of the present invention, a game server and a game server are connected via a network. A game system that performs matchmaking of participating players who are trying to play a game while communicating information between a plurality of game devices in one of a plurality of matching rooms. explain.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game system 100 is configured by connecting a plurality of game devices 300 and a game server 500 so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network NW. In FIG. 1, four game devices 300 are connected to the network, but the number of game devices 300 is not limited to four.
The game device 300 is a portable game device in which an operation button as an input unit and a liquid crystal panel as a display unit are integrated. The game device 300 may be connected to the access point by wireless communication such as Wi-Fi, and may be connected to the network NW via the access point. In the present embodiment, the game device 300 is a portable game device, but the game device 300 may be a stationary game device connected to a television.
In the game system 100, one game can be executed at the same time on a plurality of game devices 300. At this time, the game program is executed by each game device 300. Each game device 300 transmits its own operation information to the game server 500 via the network NW. The game server 500 distributes the operation information of each participating player to other participating players. Each game device 300 receives operation information of other participating players and passes it to the game program. As a result, in each game device 300, the game is developed based not only on the operation information of the user of the game device 300 but also on the operation information of other participating players. In this way, a game in which a plurality of players participate is executed in each game device 300.
Examples of games in which a plurality of participating players participate include a competitive game in which a plurality of participating players play against each other (for example, a car racing game and a quiz game), and a cooperative game in which a plurality of participating players cooperate to develop a game. (For example, a role-playing game), a team-based game in which a plurality of participating players form a team and compete with each other (for example, a team sports game).
In order to execute one game at the same time on the plurality of game devices 300, the game server 500 may only perform matchmaking of a plurality of participating players, which will be described later. After the group is formed by matchmaking and the game is started, the operation information of each game device 300 is directly transmitted and received between the game devices 300 without going through the game server 500, or the operation of each game device 300 is performed. Information may be transmitted and received between the game devices 300 via a server different from the game server 500 on which matchmaking is performed, and the game may be advanced.
The game server 500 forms a group of a plurality of players to play one game together when executing a game in which a plurality of players participate as described above. This group is, for example, a group of participants in a fighting game, a group of participants in a cooperative game, and a group of members of a team in a team fighting game. For this purpose, the game server 500 has a function as a matching device that performs matchmaking of a plurality of players. Match-made players belong to the same group and execute the game.
The game server 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention particularly performs matchmaking of a player within a predetermined matching range. In the present embodiment, this matching range is presented to the user as a matching room. The game server 500 has a plurality of matching rooms. Users can form groups in the desired matching room. A matching room is a matching range with specific conditions, such as a matching room for a certain class in a school, a matching room for a certain area, or a matching room for a fan of a certain entertainer, and information about the specific conditions ( For example, information such as a name and a description) is a matching range that is clearly shown to the user. For example, if a school has a matching room for a class, by forming a group there, all the members of the group are the classmates of the school, that is, among the classmates. It can be expected to form a group.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the game system 100 for assisting the user in selecting a matching room from a large number of matching rooms will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the game device 300 will be described with reference to FIG. The user who owns the game device 300 is hereinafter referred to as a "device user", and the device user when playing a game with another player via a network is also referred to as a "participating player".
The game device 300 includes a transmission / reception unit 31, a related player storage unit 32, a control unit 33, a display unit 34, and an input unit 35. The transmission / reception unit 31 wirelessly transmits / receives various types of information. In the case of a stationary game device, the display unit 34 can be replaced with an interface that outputs a display signal to an external monitor such as a television. The transmission / reception unit 31 may include a cable connector and transmit / receive information via the cable (wired).
In the related player storage unit 32, as related players, the attributes of the player specified and registered by the device user, the player for which short-range wireless communication has been established with the device user, the player who has been matched with the device user in the past, and the device user Information on the player selected based on the player and the player matched and made in the matching room created by the device user is stored.
The control unit 33 is configured by the arithmetic processing unit executing a predetermined program. The program may be read from the portable memory or may be stored in the game device 300 itself. By executing the program, the control unit 33 constitutes a related player presentation unit 331, a related player designated reception unit 332, a matching room presentation unit 333, a matching room designated reception unit 334, and a game processing unit 335 as necessary. ..
The display unit 34 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and displays various still images or moving images. The input unit 35 is a cross button and a plurality of circular buttons. The input unit 35 may be a touch panel used together with the display unit 34.
The related player presentation unit 331 presents the device user's related player to the device user by using the display unit 34 in order to assist the device user in selecting the matching room. The related player presentation unit 331 reads out the related player stored in the related player storage unit 32 and outputs the related player to the display unit 34.
The related player designation reception unit 332 accepts the designation of any of the related players presented by the related player presentation unit 331. When a related player is presented to the display unit 34 by the related player presenting unit 331, the participating player designates one related player from among them. Specifically, among the related players displayed on the display unit 34, the cursor may be moved to the designated related player and the enter button may be pressed, or one related player may be directly specified on the touch panel.
When the related player designation reception unit 332 receives the designation of the related player, the transmission / reception unit 31 sends the information to the game server 500 and requests the information of the matching room associated with the related player. The transmission / reception unit 31 receives information on the matching room associated with the related player whose designation has been received by the related player designation reception unit 332 from the game server 500. What kind of matching room is associated with each player (user) will be described later.
The matching room presentation unit 333 uses the display unit 34 to present the matching room information received by the transmission / reception unit 31 to the device user. The matching room designation reception unit 334 receives the designation of the matching room presented by the matching room presentation unit 333. When the matching room presentation unit 333 presents the matching room associated with the related player on the display unit 34, the participating players input an intention of whether or not to perform matchmaking in the matching room. The matching room designation reception unit 334 accepts the input of the participating player's intention to perform matchmaking in the presented matching room as the matching room designation.
When the matching room designation reception unit 334 receives the matching room designation, the transmission / reception unit 31 sends the information together with the information of the participating players to the game server 500 and requests the matching process.
The game processing unit 335 inputs the operation of the player (user) to the input unit 35 as operation information according to the game program, executes the game, and displays the content of the game using the display unit 34. As described above, when the device user executes a game together with another player via the network NW, the transmission / reception unit 31 receives the operation information of the other player, and the game processing unit 335 receives the input unit 35. The game is developed based not only on the operation information of the device user from the above, but also on the operation information of other players received by the transmission / reception unit 31.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game server that functions as a matching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game server 501 that functions as a matching device (hereinafter, simply referred to as "matching device") 501 is a transmission / reception unit 51, a matching room acquisition unit 52, a user information database 53, a matching room identification unit 54, a matching processing unit 55, and a game progress unit. It has 56. The matching room acquisition unit 52, the matching room identification unit 54, the matching processing unit 55, and the game progress unit 56 are realized by the game server 500 executing a predetermined program. This program is an example of the player matching program of the present invention.
The transmission / reception unit 51 communicates with the game device 300 via the network NW. One matching room is associated with each user in the user information database 53. The matching room associated with each user is the matching room in which the user has most recently matched-made.
When the matching room acquisition unit 52 receives the designation of the related player from the game device 300 of the participating player via the transmission / reception unit 51, the matching room acquisition unit 52 refers to the user information database 53 and acquires the matching room associated with the designated related player. To do. The matching room acquisition unit 52 transmits the acquired matching room information to the participating player's game device 300 via the transmission / reception unit 51, thereby providing the acquired matching room information to the participating player's game device 300.
When the matching room specifying unit 54 receives the information of the participating player and the designation of the matching room from the game device 300 of the participating player via the transmission / reception unit 51, the matching processing unit 55 performs matching processing on the designated matching room. It is specified as a matching room, and the information of the participating players and the information of the specified matching room are passed to the matching processing unit 55.
The matching processing unit 55 performs matchmaking of participating players in the matching room specified by the matching room specifying unit 54. The matching processing unit 55 employs an existing technique to perform matching processing. The matching processing unit 55 stores the result of matchmaking as a history of matchmaking in the user information database 53. Based on this matchmaking history, the user information database 53 holds information such as a matching room in which each user has recently made a matchmaking.
When the matching process is completed by the matching processing unit 55 and the group is formed, the game progressing unit 56 distributes the operation information of each player to other players in the group via the transmitting / receiving unit 51. Achieve the progress of one game by multiple players. As described above, in order to execute one game on a plurality of game devices 300 at the same time, even if the operation information of each game device 300 is directly transmitted and received between the game devices 300 without going through the game server 500. Good.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game server that functions as a matching room creating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game server 502 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "matching room creation device 502") that functions as a matching room creation device includes a transmission / reception unit 51, a matching room creation unit 57, and a matching database 58.
The transmission / reception unit 51 has been described as a transmission / reception unit of the matching device 501, but when the game server 100 functions as the matching room creation device 502, various information for creating the matching room is particularly provided to the game device 300. Receive from. The matching room creation unit 57 creates a matching room based on the information received from the game device 300 by the transmission / reception unit 51. When the matching room is created, the matching room creation unit 57 assigns a unique identification number to the matching room. The matching room created by the matching room creation unit 57 is stored in the matching room database 58.
In the present embodiment, the matching room is created by specifying the name of the matching room, the game method applied in the matching room, and the introduction comment of the matching room. This information is transmitted from the game device 300 of the device user who wants to create the matching room. In the matching room database 58, the above identification number, name, game method, and introduction comment are stored for each matching room.
Next, a player matching method executed in the game system 100 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the matching method according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 to 9 are diagrams showing a display example of the display unit 34 of the game device 300 when the matching method is executed. Hereinafter, the matching method will be described with reference to the display example of the display unit 34 of the game device 300 of FIGS. 6 to 9 according to the flow chart of FIG.
First, when the device user performs a predetermined operation on the game device 300, the matching top screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. When the device user selects "find a matching room", the next step is to move to the matching room search top screen shown in FIG. 7. When the device user selects "Create a matching room" on the matching top screen of FIG. 6, the game server 100 functions as the matching room creation device 502, and the matching room creation process is started.
When the device user selects "Search from related players" on the matching room search top screen of FIG. 7, the matching method of the present embodiment shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 5 is started. It should be noted that other selections such as "random search", "favorite", "recommended", and "search by number" can also assist the device user in selecting a matching room, but the description thereof will be omitted.
First, the related player presenting unit 331 of the game device 300 reads out the related player stored in the related player storage unit 32 and outputs the related player to the display unit 34, thereby causing the device user of the game device 300 as a participating player. On the other hand, the related player of the person is presented (step S501). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a related player presentation screen on the display unit 34.
When the participating player operates the input unit 35 to specify one of the related players, the related player designation reception unit 332 accepts this designation (step S502), and the transmission / reception unit 31 sends the designation to the matching device 501. Send. In the matching device 501, the matching room acquisition unit 52 receives the designation of the related player via the transmission / reception unit 51. The matching room acquisition unit 52 acquires the matching room associated with the designated related player by referring to the user information database 53 (step S503).
The matching room acquisition unit 52 transmits the acquired matching room information to the game device 300 of the participating player via the transmission / reception unit 51. The user device 300 receives this from the transmission / reception unit 31, and the matching room presentation unit 333 presents the matching room information received by the transmission / reception unit 31 to the participating players using the display unit 34 (step S504). .. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a matching room presentation screen on the display unit 34. In this example, a matching room named "KYOTO" is presented.
When the matching room is presented to the display unit 34 by the matching room presentation unit 333, the participating player inputs an intention of whether or not to perform matchmaking in the matching room (step S505). When the participating player selects "OK" on the matching room presentation screen shown in FIG. 9, the participating player's intention to perform matchmaking in the presented matching room is input via the input unit 35, and the matching room designation reception is accepted. Part 334 accepts this as a matching room designation (YES in step S505).
The participating player selects "Cancel" on the matching room presentation screen shown in FIG. 9, and the matching room designation reception unit 334 receives an input of the participating player's intention not to perform matchmaking in the presented matching room. And (NO in step S505), the process returns to step S501 so that the participating players can select the related player again.
When the matching room designation reception unit 334 receives an input of the participating player's intention to perform matchmaking in the presented matching room (YES in step S505), the information and matching of the participating player are performed via the transmission / reception unit 31. The room designation is sent to the matching device 501, and the matching device 501 is requested to perform the matching process.
When the matching room specifying unit 54 receives the information of the participating players and the designation of the matching room via the transmission / reception unit 51, the matching room specifying unit 54 specifies the designated matching room as a matching room for performing matching processing by the matching processing unit 55. The information of the participating players and the information of the specified matching room are passed to the matching processing unit 55 (step S506). Then, the matching processing unit 55 performs matchmaking of the participating players in the matching room specified by the matching room specifying unit 54 (step S507). If there is a group in the matching room where players can be added, the matching processing unit 55 processes the participating players to join the group, and there is room for adding new participating players in the matching room. If not, it processes to create a new group with other participating players.
When the matching process is completed by the matching processing unit 55 and the group is formed, the game progressing unit 56 starts the progress of the game by the players in the group (step S508). When the game ends, the game progress unit 56 asks each player in the group whether to continue the game or leave the group (stop the game) (step S509). If the player chooses to proceed with the game (YES in step S509), return to step S508 to proceed with the game, and if the player chooses to leave the group (NO in step S509). , End the process. When some players in the group leave, new participating players join the group by matching processing, and a new group is formed.
As described above, according to the game system 100 of the present embodiment, in the game device 300, the related player related to the participating player (player specified and registered by the participating player, participating player) is given to the participating player. Players who have established short-range wireless communication, players who have been matched with participating players in the past, players selected based on the attributes of participating players, players matched in the matching room created by participating players, etc.) are presented. When the participating player selects the desired related player, the matching room in which the related player is most recently matched is presented, so that the participating player forms a group in the matching room in which the player related to him / her most recently participated. You can play the game. Therefore, even when a large number of matching rooms exist, it is possible to preferably support the selection of the matching room by the participating players.
In the above embodiment, the user information database 53 is associated with a matching room to which the person is most recently matched to each user (player), but the matching room associated with each user is associated with the user information database 53. Not limited to this. In the user information database 53, a matching room to which the user is most frequently matched, a matching room to which the user is currently matched, and a matching room created by the user may be associated with each user.
Further, in the above embodiment and the above modified example, in the user information database 53, only one matching room is associated with each user, and the matching room acquisition unit 52 is related from the game device 300 of the participating player. Upon receiving the designation of the player, one matching room associated with the related player is acquired for the game device 300 of the participating player, and the information is provided to the game device 300 of the participating player, and the matching room presentation unit is provided. 333 inquired whether to perform matchmaking in the matching room, but the method of presenting the matching room is not limited to this.
In the user information database 53, a plurality of matching rooms are associated with each user, and the matching room acquisition unit 52 provides the game device 300 of the participating player with a plurality of matching rooms associated with the related player of the participating player. You may present it. In this case, in the matching room associated with each user, in addition to the matching room in which the user was most recently matched-made, the user is most frequently matched-made based on the matchmaking history of the user. A matching room, a matching room in which the user is currently matched, a matching room created by the user, and the like may be included.
Further, in the above embodiment, the matching device 501 includes a user information database 53 that stores information such as a matching room in which each user has recently matched and made, and the matching room acquisition unit 52 has a user information database. Although the matching room associated with the designated related player has been acquired with reference to 53, the matching room information associated with each user may be stored in the game device 300 of the user. That is, the matching room information associated with itself may be stored in its own game device 300.
In this case, the matching room acquisition unit 52 acquires information on the matching room associated with the related player from the game device 300 of the related player designated by the game device 300 of the participating player.
Further, as described above, the user is selected based on the attributes of the user specified and registered by the participating player, the user who has established short-range wireless communication with the participating player, the user who has been matched with the participating player in the past, and the attributes of the participating player. A user and a user who has been matched-made in a matching room created by a participating player can be a related player, but when another user is specified and registered as a related player in the game device 300 of the participating player, it is close to the other user. When distance wireless communication is established, when matchmaking is performed, when another user is selected as a related player based on the attributes of the participating player, another user is matchmade in the matching room created by the participating player. At that time, the information of the matching room associated with the user who became the related player may be associated with the related player and stored in the game device 300 of the participating player.
In this case, the game device 300 does not need to make an inquiry to the matching device 501 in order to acquire the matching room information associated with the related player as in the above embodiment, and the game device 300 does not need to make an inquiry to the matching device 300. The room presentation unit 333 can present a matching room associated with the related player stored in the game device 300.
Further, in the above-described embodiment and modification, after the participating player specifies a related player, one or a plurality of matching rooms associated with the related player are presented to the participating player to perform matchmaking. However, the presentation and designation of the matching room may be omitted.
In this case, when the participating player designates the related player, the information of the participating player and the information of the designated related player are transmitted from the game device 300 to the game server 500. When the matching room acquisition unit 52 of the game server 500 receives the designation of the related player, the matching room acquisition unit 52 refers to the user information database 53, acquires the matching room associated with the related player, and obtains the matching room information of the participating player. It will be provided to the matching room identification unit 54 together with the information. The matching room specifying unit 54 specifies the matching room provided by the matching room acquisition unit 52 as a matching room in which the matching processing unit 55 performs matchmaking.
In general, a plurality of groups are formed in one matching room, and the game is progressing in each group, and the matchmaking of the participating players is performed by any other participation in the matching room. Although it is performed with a player, in the above modified example, when a matching room in which a related player is currently match-made is specified by the participating player, this participating player is particularly matched-made with the related player. It is desirable to do so. By doing so, the related players form a group in a certain matching room and play a game, and there is room for adding a new participating player to the group, or in a matching room as a participating player. As long as the matchmaking is about to be made, the participating players can play the game in the same group as the related player.
Further, in the above embodiment, when presenting the related player, information on whether or not the related player is online and can be matched may be displayed. Further, among the related players stored in the related player storage unit 32, only the related players that are online and can be matched may be presented. In these cases, the user information database 53 of the matching device 501 is provided with information on the status of whether or not each user is online and can be matched, and the related player is presented by the game device 300. At that time, the information on the status of the related player may be acquired by referring to the user information database 53 of the matching device 501 from the game device 300.
Further, in the above embodiment, as predetermined information processing performed while communicating information between a plurality of information processing devices, one game is executed at the same time while transmitting and receiving operation information between the plurality of game devices. Although the present invention has been described by taking a game device as an example, the information processing performed by the information processing device of the present invention and a plurality of information processing devices while performing information communication is not limited to this. For example, the information processing performed as described above may be such that a plurality of information processing devices send and receive text data to each other (chat).
Further, in the above embodiment, as the matching range, an example is shown in which a matching room in which specific conditions are clearly specified by a name or the like is presented to the user, but the matching range is not limited to this. For example, the matching range is specified by a combination of conditions such as the game method, the attributes of the participating players (gender, age, nationality, etc.), the level of the participating players, etc. in the above example of the game system, and the range so specified. May not be specified to the user.
As described above, the matching system according to the present invention can assist the user in selecting a matching range from a large number of matching ranges, and enables information communication between a plurality of information processing devices via a network. It is useful as a matching system or the like that performs matchmaking of participating users who want to perform predetermined information processing while performing the same.
31 Transmitter / receiver 32 Related player memory 33 Control unit 34 Display 35 Input section 51 Transmitter / receiver 52 Matching room acquisition department 53 User information database 54 Matching Room Specific Department 55 Matching processing unit 56 Game Progress 57 Matching Room Creation Department 58 Matching room database 100 game system 300 gaming device 331 Related player presentation section 332 Related player designated reception department 333 Matching room presentation section 334 Matching room designated reception department 335 Game Processing Department 500 game server 501 matching device 502 Matching room creation device
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Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office |
|---|---|---|
| JP2005270649A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2008546469A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2010284273A | Cites | Japan |
6 members in 3 offices
Priority claims2
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011230777 | Japan | A | |
| JP20110230777 | – | – | – |
Members6
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2013102392A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP2013085819A | Japan | A | |
| EP2591833A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| JP6046889B2This record | Japan | B2 | |
| US10080969B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| EP2591833B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 |
15 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC
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Numbers
- Publication
- 6046889
- Publication, DOCDB
- 6046889
- Publication, EPODOC
- JP6046889B
- Application
- 230777
- Application, DOCDB
- 2011230777
- Application, EPODOC
- JP20110230777
Titles2
- Japanese
- マッチングシステム、情報処理装置、サーバ、マッチング方法、及びマッチングプログラム
- English
- Matching system, information processing device, server, matching method, and matching program
Classification
- CPC, 4
- A63F13/795
- A63F2300/5566
- A63F13/35
- A63F13/87
- IPC, 8
- A63F13 00
- A63F13 33
- A63F13 31
- A63F13 35
- A63F13 45
- A63F13 5375
- A63F13 79
- A63F13 795
