U.S. Pat. No. 9,480,926

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter.

(Embodiment)

FIG. 1is a block diagram of a game system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The game system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a game server1and a plurality of communication terminals2. Note that, for simplification, only one of the communication terminals2is illustrated inFIG. 1.

The game server1includes a communication unit10, a storage unit11, and a control unit12. The game server1provides a predetermined game to a plurality of communication terminals2. Also, the game server1, based on a purchase request from the communication terminal2, provides a variety of items usable in a game to a user.

The communication unit10communicates with a plurality of communication terminals2either wirelessly or by using a wire.

The storage unit11stores various information necessary for the game system. In particular, the storage unit11stores user information111and notification history information112.

The user information111includes information associated with a name and a friend user of each user. The friend user is another user with whom the user mutually resisters as a friend in the game.FIG. 2illustrates an example of the user information111. The user information111illustrated inFIG. 2includes, for example, user ID information “UID001”, a user name “user A”, and friend user ID information “UID002 UID003, UID004”. Here, the user ID information means identification information for uniquely identifying the user in the system. Also, the friend user ID information means user ID information associated with the friend user. That is, by the user information111, one user ID information is linked to another user ID information. According to the present invention, in summary, when a user (a user of first user ID information) acquires an item (a first item), a notification (hereinafter, referred to as item providing information) that the item is provided to the communication terminal2associated with the user of the first user ID information is sent to a friend user (a user of second user ID information). Hereinafter, a communication terminal of the user of the first user ID information is referred to as a communication terminal2-1(a first communication terminal), and a communication terminal of the user of the second user ID information is referred to as a communication terminal2-2(a second communication terminal).

The notification history information112contains a notification history associated with acquisition of the item.FIG. 3illustrates an example of the notification history information112. The notification history information112contains a notification time, notification source user ID information, notification destination user ID information, and information about acquisition by a user of a notification destination. The information about acquisition by the user of the notification destination means information about whether the user of the notification destination, after receiving the notification, acquires a predetermined item of the notification. In this information, “Yes” means that the user of the notification destination has acquired the item, while “No” means otherwise. Note that the predetermined item of the notification means the item acquired by a user of a notification source (i.e., the first item). For example, the notification history information112illustrated inFIG. 3contains “20:12 on Feb. 28, 2013” as the notification time, “UID001” as the notification source user ID information, “UID002” as the notification destination user ID information, and “Yes” as the information about acquisition by the user of the notification destination. This means that a notification is sent at 20:12 on Feb. 28, 2013 from the user associated with “UID001” to the user associated with “UID002”, who has acquired the item later.

The control unit12includes a notification means121and an additional item providing means122and carries out various controls of the game server1. For example, the control unit12, when receiving a request for provision of an item (hereinafter, referred to as a providing request) from the communication unit2-1, refers to the user information111in the storage unit11and retrieves user ID information (second user ID information) linked to user ID information (first user ID information) of the user who has sent the request for provision of the item. That is, the control unit12retrieves at least one friend user ID information of the user information111as the second user ID information. Preferably, the request for provision of the item includes the user ID information, and the control unit12determines the user ID information based on the request for provision of the item.

The notification means121, based on the second user ID information retrieved by the control unit12, inquires of the communication terminal2-1for a notification destination of the item providing information. In particular, the notification means121sends information about a panel that allows for selection of the notification destination (hereinafter, referred to as a notification destination selection panel) to the communication terminal2-1. Also, the notification means121, based on the second user ID information selected as the notification destination obtained from the communication terminal2-1, sends the item providing information to the communication terminal2-2. When the notification means121sends the item providing information, the control unit12records the notification time, the notification source user ID information (first user ID information), and the notification destination user ID information (second user ID information) as the notification history information112of the storage unit11.

The additional item providing means122, when the notification means121sends the notification described above, provides an additional item (a second item) to the communication terminal2-1. The additional item is provided to the user in addition to the item of the providing request. Preferably, the additional item is identical to the item of the providing request. Accordingly, the user of the notification source, when the notification means121sends the notification, may acquire the item in response to the request for provision of the item, as well as another item as a bonus that is identical to the item of the providing request.

The additional item providing means122, when receiving the request for provision of the item from the communication terminal2-2, provides the additional item to the communication terminal2-2. Preferably, the additional item is identical to the item of the providing request. That is, the friend user as the notification destination may acquire the item in response to the request for provision of the item and, further, another item as a bonus that is identical to the item of the providing request. When the additional item providing means122provides the additional item to the communication terminal2-2, the control unit12changes information on acquisition of the notification destination of the notification history information112in the storage unit11from “No” to “Yes”.

The additional item providing means122, further, periodically refers to the notification history information112. When at least a predetermined number of communication terminals2-2among the communication terminals2-2of the notification destinations having the first user ID information as the notification source acquire the item, the additional item providing means122provides another additional item to the communication terminal2-1. In particular, the additional item providing means122provides another additional item to the communication terminal2-1when at least a predetermined number of information on acquisition of the notification destination having the first user ID information as the notification source in the notification history information112indicate “Yes”.

FIG. 4illustrates a conceptual diagram associated with the notification and the provision of the additional item according to the present embodiment. A user A is a user who first sends the request for provision of the item. When the user A sends the request for provision of the item ((1) ofFIG. 4), the game server1, based on selection of the notification destination made by the user A, sends item acquisition notification to users B, C, and D ((2) ofFIG. 4), who are the user A′s friend users. Upon this notification, the game server1provides the additional item, as a bonus in addition to the item of the providing request, to the user A ((3) ofFIG. 4). Further, when, for example, the user B receiving the notification acquires the item, the game server1provides the additional item as a bonus in addition to the item of the providing request to the user B ((4) ofFIG. 4). Note that, althoughFIG. 4illustrates an example where the user B alone among the notification destinations acquires the item, the game server1, also when the user C or the user D acquires the item, provides an additional item as a bonus in addition to the item of the providing request to the user C or the user D.

The communication terminal2includes a communication unit20, a display unit21, an operation unit22, and a control unit23.

The communication unit20, by using at least one of a wireless method and a wired method, communicates with the game server1. In particular, the communication unit20, based on an operation of the operation unit22by the user, sends the request for provision of the item to the game server1. Also, the communication unit20receives the item of the providing request from the game server1.

The display unit21includes an LCD display, an organic EL display or the like and outputs a display associated with a game provided from the game server1. The display unit21displays, for example, a panel associated with acquisition of the item and an image of the item provided from the game server1.

FIG. 5illustrates examples of the panel displayed by the display unit21.FIG. 5(a)illustrates an item acquisition panel for sending the request for provision of the item. An area501of the item acquisition panel displays an item to be acquired and a description thereof such as, for example, “Drink A: a special drink for restoring all an energy, an attack cost and a defense cost!”. A button502may be either clicked or touched and, in response thereto, the communication terminal2sends the request for provision of the item to the game server1.

When the button502is clicked and the like inFIG. 5(a), the display unit21displays an item providing panel illustrated inFIG. 5(b). The item providing panel displays information about the acquired item such as “Drink A is acquired”. Further, the item providing panel shows that an additional item may be acquired by sending the item providing information. In particular, as illustrated in an area503, a message such as “Now special offer available/Tell your friends and get another Drink A!” is displayed. After the panel inFIG. 5(b), the display is shifted to the notification destination selection panel illustrated inFIG. 5(c). The notification destination selection panel allows for selection of the notification destination of the item providing information. On the notification destination selection panel, buttons504,505that allow for selection of the friend users of the notification destinations are displayed. When the user clicks or the like those buttons, the user of the notification destination is selected. After selection of the notification destination on the notification destination selection panel ofFIG. 5(c), the display is shifted to an additional item provision confirmation panel ofFIG. 5(d). The additional item provision confirmation panel shows that the item providing information is sent and the additional item is provided. In particular, as illustrated by the additional item provision confirmation panel in an area506, a message such as “Notification about the campaign is sent to the above user/You've got another Drink A!!” is displayed.

FIG. 6illustrates examples of a panel displayed by the display unit21of the communication terminal2of the friend user receiving the notification.FIG. 6(a)illustrates a top page (My page) of the game of each user in the game. When the communication terminal2receives the notification about the item providing information, the item providing information of the user of the notification source is displayed on the My page. An area601of the My page illustrated inFIG. 6(a)displays a message such as “Notification from X about bonus Drink A campaign!!”. When the user goes to the item acquisition panel through a menu button or the like on the My page, the item acquisition panel illustrated inFIG. 6(b)is displayed. The panel inFIG. 6(b)is similar to that inFIG. 5(a). A button602may be clicked or the like and, in response thereto, the communication terminal2sends the request for provision of the item to the game server1. After sending the request for provision of the item, the display shifts to the item providing panel illustrated inFIG. 6(c)indicating that the additional item in addition to the item are provided. In particular, as illustrated in an area603of the item providing panel, a message such as “You've got Drink A/And a bonus Drink A! !” is displayed. Preferably, the friend user may further send the notification to another friend user of the friend user. In this case, when the friend user sends the notification to another friend user of the friend user, the game server1provides a further additional item to the communication terminal2of the friend user of the notification source.FIG. 6(c)illustrates an item providing panel that allows the friend user to send the notification to his/her friend user and includes an area604displaying the message such as “Now special offer available/Tell your friends and get another Drink A!”. In this case, the display shifts from the item providing panel ofFIG. 6(c)to the notification selection panel illustratedFIG. 5(c)and then to the additional item providing panel illustrated inFIG. 5(d).

The operation unit22includes a button, a touch panel and the like and receives an input signal from the user in the game. Then, the operation unit22transmits the input signal received from the user to the control unit23.

The control unit23carries out various controls of the communication terminal2. For example, the control unit23, based on an operation of the operation unit22by the user, transmits the request for provision of the item and the notification destination user ID information to the game server1via the communication unit20.

Next, an operation of the game system according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated inFIG. 7.FIG. 7illustrates an example of the operation taken place when the communication terminal2-2receiving the notification further sends the request for provision of the item.

First, the control unit23of the communication terminal2-1, based on the operation of the operation unit22by the user, sends the request for provision of the item to the gam server1(step S1). In particular, the control unit23, based on the operation by the user on the item acquisition panel displayed on the display unit21, sends the request for provision of the item to the game server1. Note that the request for provision of the item includes the first user ID information.

Next, the control unit12of the game server1refers to the user information111in the storage unit11and retrieves the second user ID information linked to the first user ID information (step S2).

Subsequently, the notification means121, based on the second user ID information retrieved by the control unit12, inquires of the communication terminal201for the notification destination (step S3). In particular, the notification means121transmits information about the notification destination selection panel.

Then, the display unit21of the communication terminal2-1displays the item providing panel and also the notification destination selection panel. The control unit23, based on the selection of the notification destination made by the user, transmits selected second user ID information to the game server1(step S4).

Next, to the communication terminal2-1, the control unit12of the game server1provides the item and, also, the additional item providing means122provides the additional item (step S5).

Subsequently, the notification means121of the game server1, based on the second user ID information selected by the communication terminal2-1, sends the item providing information to the communication terminal2-2(step S6). The control unit12records the notification time, the notification source user ID information (first user ID information), and the notification destination user ID information (second user ID information) as the notification history information112of the storage unit11(step S7).

Then, the control unit23of the communication terminal2-2, based on the operation of the operation unit22by the user, sends the request for provision of the item to the game server1(step S8). In particular, the control unit23, based on the operation by the user on the item acquisition panel displayed on the display unit21of the communication terminal2-2, sends the request for provision of the item to the game server1.

The control unit12of the game server1, when receiving the request for provision of the item from the communication terminal2-2, provides the item to the communication terminal2-2and, further, the additional item providing means122provides the additional item to the communication terminal2-2(step S9). The display unit21of the communication terminal2-2displays the item providing panel. Then, the control unit12changes the information on acquisition of the notification destination of the notification history information112in the storage unit11from “No” to “Yes” (step S10). Thus the operation ends.

According to the present invention, as described above, since the notification means121of the game server1sends the item providing information of a user to another user, a notification system of acquisition of an item is employed in a game, thereby promoting acquisition of the item. According to the present invention, also, since the user of the notification source receives the additional item from the game server1in reward for the notification, sending the notification may be promoted. According to the present invention, further, since the additional item providing means122provides the additional item also when the user of the notification destination acquires the item, the user may be further encouraged to acquire the item in the game.

Note that the additional item providing means122of the game server1, when a total number of notifications reaches a predetermined number (for example, 10,000 notifications) based on the notification history information112, may provide another additional item to the users associated with the notification (the user of the notification source user ID information and the user of the notification destination user ID information).

Note that, when the item providing information of users of different notification sources is sent to the same user, the game server1records the earliest notification source user ID information alone as the notification history information112. By prioritizing the user who notifies first as described above, the user may be further encouraged to send the notification of the item providing information.

Although at step S4the control unit23of the communication terminal23selects the notification destination based on the operation of the operation unit22by the user, selection of whether to notify all of the friend users may be made by an operation of the operation unit22by the user. In this case, the additional item providing means122of the game server1, only when the user may be notified at step S4, provides the additional item to the communication terminal2-1at step S5. That is, when the user may not be notified, the control unit12provides the item at step S5and the additional item is not provided.

Although at step S3the notification means121of the game server1inquires of the communication terminal2-1for the notification destination, the present invention is not limited thereto. At step S3, the notification means121of the game server1may automatically sends the item providing information to the communication terminal2-2associated with the second user ID information, without inquiring of the communication terminal2-1for the notification destination.

(Exemplary Variation)

Next, an exemplary variation of the present invention will be described. The storage unit11of the game server1according to the variation of the embodiment stores notification path information113. The notification path information113, when the notification is sent from a user to another user and then further to still another user, includes the user ID information of all of these users. The additional item providing means122, based on the notification path information113, provides the additional item to the users on a notification path.

FIG. 8illustrates a conceptual diagram associated with notification of the item providing information and provision of the additional item according to the exemplary variation. The user A is a user who first sends the request for provision of the item. When the user A sends the request for provision of the item ((1) ofFIG. 8), the game server1sends the item providing information to the users B, C, and D, who are the user A′s friend users ((2) ofFIG. 8). At this time, the user A acquires the additional item ((3) ofFIG. 8). Then, when the user B acquires the items ((4) ofFIG. 8), the game server1sends the item providing information to users E, F and who are the user B′s friend users ((5) ofFIG. 8). At this time, the user B acquires the additional item ((6) ofFIG. 8). Further, when the user E acquires the item ((7) ofFIG. 8), the game server1provides the additional item to the user E ((7) ofFIG. 8) and, also, to the user A, who is a source of the notification path of this notification ((8) ofFIG. 8). Note that the additional item may be provided not only to the user of the source of the notification path but also to any user on the notification path who contributes to the notification.

FIG. 9illustrates a concrete example of the notification path information113. The notification path information133includes information associated with the notification source user ID information, primary notification destination user ID information, and secondary notification destination user ID information. Although omitted inFIG. 9, user ID information of notification destinations after the secondary notification destination may be included in a similar manner. Here, the notification source user ID information means the user ID information of the user who first sends the request for provision of the item. The primary notification destination user ID information is the user ID information of the user who receives the notification from the user of the notification source user ID information. The secondary notification destination user ID information is the user ID information of the user who receives the notification from the user of the user ID information of the primary notification destination. The control unit12of the game server1according to the exemplary variation, when the notification is sent, updates the notification path information113. Also, the control unit12, when receiving the request for provision of the item, refers to the notification path information113and determines the notification path of the user ID information associated with the request for provision of the item. Then, the control unit12provides the additional item to the communication terminal2of the user ID information on the notification path.

Here, a computer may be preferably used to function as the communication terminal2. Such a computer may be substantialized by storing, in a storage unit thereof, a program of an operation for implementing each function of the communication terminal2and operating a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer to retrieve and execute the program.

Although the present invention has been described based on the figures and the embodiments, it is to be understood that various alterations and modifications may be implemented based on the present disclosure by those who are ordinarily skilled in the art. Accordingly, such alterations and modifications are included in a scope of the present invention. For example, functions and the like included in each of the means, steps and the like may be rearranged without logical inconsistency, so as to combine a plurality of means or steps together or to divide them.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1Game server10Communication unit11Storage unit12Control unit111User information112Notification history information113Notification path information121Notification means122Additional item providing means2,2-1,2-2Communication terminal20Communication unit21Display unit22Operation unit23Control unit501,503,506,601,603,604Area502,504,505,602Button