JP6827276B2 - Image providing device, control method of image providing device, and control program of image providing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image providing device, a control method of the image providing device, and a control program of the image providing device, and in particular, an image capable of providing an image generated by the user playing using a photography game device to the user. The present invention relates to a providing device, a control method of the image providing device, and a control program of the image providing device.

There is known a photography game device that is installed in a game center or the like and takes a picture of a device user (user, player) or the like to generate an image. As a photography play device, a photo sticker creation device that edits a plurality of photographed photographs (writing with a pen, arranging stamps, etc.), prints the image after the graffiti editing on a sheet, and provides the user Is known for

An image providing service is provided in which an image created by such a photography game device is provided to a terminal such as a user's mobile phone (so-called feature phone) or smartphone. Images are provided to users who have registered as members on a predetermined website or the like and have become members of the image providing service. As a member of the image providing service, the user can download and acquire the image to the terminal by accessing the image providing device or the like of the image providing service. The user can use the acquired image by posting it on his / her blog or a web service such as SNS (social networking service), for example.

In the member registration system of such an image providing service, in general, the type of member may be divided into a free member who can use the image providing service for free and a paid member who is registered by paying a membership fee. Paid members are provided with more services than free members are provided, for example:

That is, when a user plays using a photography game device, a plurality of images are often generated for each play. In this case, all the images out of the plurality of images generated in one play are provided to the paying member. On the other hand, for free members, for example, only one image selected by the user in play is provided. That is, only one image is provided to the free member per play. All the captured images are transmitted from the photography game device to the image providing device. When a free member wants to acquire all images other than the selected image, he / she can acquire all the images by registering as a paid member and becoming a paid member.

The following Patent Document 1 describes an outline of an image providing service for an image created by a photo sticker creating device, which has the above-mentioned types of paid members and free members. Patent Document 1 discloses that even a free member is provided with all the images created by playing on the target model.

JP-A-2015-15134

There are a plurality of image providing services as described above. Each image providing service can receive an image created by a photography amusement device that supports the image providing service. In other words, the image created by the photographic amusement device is provided only by a specific image providing service (for example, an image providing service provided by the manufacturer of the photographic amusement device) among the plurality of image providing services.

Membership types for paid members and free members are provided for each image providing service. There are few users who become paid members of multiple image providing services at the same time, and users who become paid members of a certain image providing service frequently play with a photography game device corresponding to the image providing service. , There is a tendency that the player does not play with the photography game device of another service that does not support the image providing service. Therefore, for example, a user who is a paid member of an image providing service provided by another company and a free member of the image providing service provided by the company is played with a photography game device corresponding to the image providing service of the company. There is a problem that it is difficult to motivate them.

Regarding such a problem, Patent Document 1 describes that all images generated by playing with a photo sticker taking device of a specific target model are also provided to free members. There is. However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, since only the image created by a specific model is provided, it is possible to promote the play using the photo sticker creating device of that model. , It is not possible to promote the play of other models of photo sticker making devices.

Each model of the photography game device has its own features, and various ingenuities have been devised. However, the attractiveness of such features and the quality of the generated images is the user who actually experienced the play. Otherwise, it cannot be fully understood. Therefore, even if the provision of an attractive photography game device is started, if there are few opportunities for play due to circumstances such as not being a paid member of the corresponding image provision service as described above, the photography game device will be used. There is a problem that the attractiveness is not understood by the user. In other words, even if an attractive photographic amusement device is manufactured, it does not necessarily lead to an increase in the number of plays of the photographic amusement device.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and motivates a user who is not a paying member of the image providing service to play using a photography game device corresponding to the image providing service. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image providing device, a control method of the image providing device, and a control program of the image providing device.

According to an aspect of the present invention in order to achieve the above object, an image providing device having an image providing function for providing an image created by a user playing with a photographing game device to a user terminal has an image providing function. It is a member registration means that accepts registration of free members to use or paid members who are provided with more services than services provided to free members, and is a target specified by instructions to users who are free members. A granting means for granting a privilege to receive the same treatment as a paid member only for one play, a transmitting means for transmitting information for displaying a predetermined screen to the user terminal of the user to which the privilege is granted , and information. there after being transmitted to the user terminal, based on the information transmitted from the user terminal, and receiving means for receiving an instruction to use the benefits for playing a target, when the instruction is received, is subject and setting means for setting an image providing function to take advantage of the benefits for play, Bei example and image providing means for providing an image according to the settings made by the setting means, the predetermined screen, the target utilizing a privilege Reception that accepts thumbnail display of selected images selected from multiple images created in a certain play, thumbnail display of images other than the selected image among multiple images, and instructions to use benefits for the target play Including part .

Preferably, the transmitting means determines the presence or absence of the privilege given to the user, and even if it is determined that the privilege is present, if the privilege is not available, information for displaying a screen for causing the user to give an instruction. Do not send.

Preferably, the granting means accepts an application for receiving the privilege from the user who uses the image providing function, and selects and selects the user to be granted the privilege from the users who have received the application. Give benefits to users.

Preferably, the granting means grants the privilege according to a predetermined operation by the user terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the control method of the image providing device having the image providing function for providing the image created by the user playing with the photographing game device to the user terminal utilizes the image providing function. A member registration step that accepts registration of a free member for, or a paid member that provides more services than the service provided to the free member, and one time that is specified by instructions to the user who is a free member. A grant step that grants a privilege to receive the same treatment as a paid member only for the play of, a transmission step that sends information to display a predetermined screen to the user terminal of the user to whom the privilege is granted, and the information is the user. After being sent to the terminal, based on the information sent from the user terminal, the reception step that accepts the instruction to use the privilege for the target play , and when the instruction is received, the target play a setting step for setting an image providing function to take advantage of benefits, e Bei and an image providing step of providing an image according to the settings made by the setting step, a predetermined screen is a target to use the benefits play The reception unit that accepts the thumbnail display of the selected image selected from the multiple images created in, the thumbnail display of the image other than the selected image among the multiple images, and the instruction to use the privilege for the target play. including.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the control program of the image providing device having the image providing function of providing the image created by the user playing with the photographing game device to the user terminal utilizes the image providing function. A member registration step that accepts registration of a free member to do so, or a paid member that provides more services than the service provided to the free member, and a target specified by instructions to the user who is a free member 1 A grant step that grants a privilege to receive the same treatment as a paid member only for one play, a transmission step that sends information to display a predetermined screen to the user terminal of the user to whom the privilege is granted , and information after being sent to the user terminal, based on the information transmitted from the user terminal, the steps of: receiving an instruction to use the benefits for playing a target, when the instruction is received, which is the target play The computer is made to execute the setting step of setting the image providing function so that the privilege can be used and the image providing step of providing the image according to the setting made by the setting step, and the predetermined screen is the target for using the privilege. Accepts the thumbnail display of the selected image selected from the multiple images created in the play, the thumbnail display of the images other than the selected image among the multiple images, and the instruction to use the privilege for the target play. Including the reception department.

According to these inventions, an image providing device, a control method of the image providing device, which can motivate a user who is not a paying member of the image providing service to play using a photography game device corresponding to the image providing service. And the control program of the image providing device can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the network connection example of the photograph sticker play system in one of the Embodiments of this invention. It is a side view which shows the hardware structure of the photograph sticker making apparatus. It is a top view which shows the hardware structure of the photograph sticker making apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the play using the photo sticker making apparatus. It is a sequence diagram which roughly shows the operation of a photo sticker creation device and an image providing server at the time of a user play. It is a figure which shows an example of the transmission image selection screen. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the basic processing of an image providing server when an image is transmitted from a photo sticker creation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the image providing database used about the image providing function. It is a figure explaining the display example of an application screen. It is a figure explaining the operation flow of the image providing server at the time of application to a lottery. It is a figure which shows an example of a privilege database. It is a 1st flowchart explaining the privilege granting function and privilege use function. It is the 2nd flowchart explaining the privilege granting function and privilege use function. It is a flowchart which shows the privilege confirmation process. It is a flowchart which shows the privilege use processing. It is a figure which shows the example of the transition of the display screen of a mobile terminal when a paying member receives the provision of an image. It is a figure which shows the example of the transition of the display screen of a mobile terminal when a free member receives the provision of an image. It is a figure which shows the example of the transition of the display screen of a mobile terminal when the privilege use processing is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the re-notification process.

Hereinafter, an example of the photo sticker game system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Overview]

The photo sticker game system (an example of an image providing system) is owned by a photo sticker creating device (an example of a photography game device), an image providing server (an example of an image providing device), and a user who plays with the photo sticker making device. It is composed of a portable terminal device (an example of a user terminal). The image providing server receives and stores a plurality of images taken when the user plays with the photo sticker creation device from the photo sticker creation device. Then, a plurality of stored images are provided to the user who has performed the play (image providing service). The user can receive the image provided by the image providing server using, for example, a mobile terminal device.

The photo sticker creating device outputs a sticker to be provided to the user by using a photograph obtained by taking a photograph of the user with a camera, and also executes various functions. The photo sticker creating device generates an image to be provided to the user by using the photographed photograph, and transmits the image to the image providing server. As a result, the image providing server provides the image to the user. The image provided to the user may be processed by the image providing server or may be a photograph taken. That is, the user is provided with an image obtained as a result of the play accompanied by shooting by the photo sticker creating device or an image based on the image.

Images are provided to users who have registered as members on a predetermined website or the like and have become members of the image providing service. As a member of the image providing service, the user can download and acquire the image to the mobile terminal device by accessing the image providing server of the image providing service. In the member registration system of the image providing service, the types of members are divided into free members who can use the image providing service for free and paid members who are registered by paying the membership fee. Paid members are provided with more services than free members are provided. That is, when a user plays using the photo sticker creating device, a plurality of images are generated for each play, and all of these images are provided to the paying member. On the other hand, free members are usually provided with only one image selected by the user, for example in play.

The image providing server grants a predetermined privilege to a free member under a predetermined condition. In addition, the image providing server receives an instruction from the free member to use the privilege for the target while indicating the target for using the privilege to the free member. Upon receiving the instruction, the image providing server sets the target so that the free member can use the privilege, and provides the image to the free member with the set contents.

[Embodiment]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network connection example of a photo sticker game system according to one of the embodiments of the present invention.

The photo sticker creation device 1 includes a photo sticker game system 901 together with an image providing server (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a server) 601 and a mobile terminal device (hereinafter, may be referred to as a mobile terminal) 701 (701a, 701b). Configure. The photo sticker creating device 1 is installed in various stores such as a game center. The server 601 is managed in, for example, a data center. The mobile terminal 701 is owned by, for example, a user (user) who plays with the photo sticker creation device 1. Each device of the photo sticker game system 901 is connected to a network 801 such as the Internet. As a result, the photo sticker creating device 1 and the mobile terminal 701 can communicate with the server 601 via the network 801. The photo sticker creating device 1 and the mobile terminal 701 may be able to communicate with each other.

The image providing server 601 is an electronic computer having a general hardware configuration, and includes a communication unit 603, a storage unit 605, a control unit 650 that controls each unit of the device, and the like. The communication unit 603 connects the server 601 to the network 801 via a LAN (local area network) or the like. The storage unit 605 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The control program 607 is stored in the storage unit 605. The control unit 650 is composed of, for example, a CPU and a memory. The control unit 650 controls the operation of each unit of the server 601 by executing the control program 607 and the like.

The mobile terminal 701 is, for example, a so-called smartphone. The mobile terminal 701 has a communication unit 703, a storage unit 705, and a control unit 750. The communication unit 703 can be connected to the network 801 through, for example, a wireless LAN or a mobile phone network. The storage unit 705 is, for example, a flash memory. The control program 707 is stored in the storage unit 705. The mobile terminal 701 further includes an operation unit 711, a display unit 713, a camera 715, and the like. The control unit 750 is composed of, for example, a CPU and a memory. The control unit 750 controls the operation of each unit of the mobile terminal 701 by executing the control program 707 or the like.

The photo sticker creating device 1 transmits the image (image data) generated at the time of play to the server 601. The server 601 stores the transmitted image.

In the photo sticker game system 901, the server 601 is used to provide an image providing service. In the image providing service, the server 601 has a function of accepting access from the mobile terminal 701 and the like and providing an image corresponding to the user who owns the mobile terminal 701 to the mobile terminal 701. As a result, the user can receive the image stored in the server 601 on the mobile terminal 701, display it on the display unit 713, or store it in the storage unit 705.

[Outline configuration of photo sticker making device 1]

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the hardware configuration of the photo sticker creating device 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the hardware configuration of the photo sticker creating device 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photo sticker creating device 1 has a front housing (photographing housing) 510, a back housing 540, and an editing output device 570. The front housing 510, the back housing 540, and the editing output device 570 are arranged side by side and used as one photo sticker creating device 1.

The front housing 510 is provided with a pre-customer service unit 520 in which an external monitor 521, a coin insertion unit 525, and the like are arranged. The pre-customer service unit 520 is arranged on one side surface of the front housing 510 of the photo sticker making device 1. Inside the front housing 510, a front lighting device 511, a camera 515, an operation monitor 517, and the like are arranged.

A seal discharge port 575 is provided at the front of the edit output device 570. Editing reception units 580 having an editing monitor 581, a touch pen 583, a non-contact communication device 585, a speaker 587, and the like are provided on both sides of the editing output device 570, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, a shooting corner (shooting booth) is formed by combining the front housing 510 and the back housing 540. Both sides of the shooting corner are openings, which can be covered with curtains (not shown).

As described above, various monitors (external monitor 521, operation monitor 517, editing monitor 581, etc.) are arranged in the photo sticker creating device 1. These monitors display various guidances during play and accept operation input by the user.

Returning to FIG. 1, the photo sticker creating device 1 has a control unit 501, a storage unit 505, a communication unit 509, and the like, such as a PC (personal computer). The control unit 501 is composed of a CPU, a memory, an image processing unit, and the like. The storage unit 505 is, for example, a flash memory or an HDD. The communication unit 509 is composed of, for example, a PHS communication module for connecting to the network 801. The photo sticker creating device 1 executes various functions based on the control operation executed by the control unit 501 based on the control program 507 stored in the storage unit 505. The photo sticker creating device 1 may be configured so that the PC provided on the shooting corner side and the PC provided on the graffiti corner side cooperate with each other to perform such an operation of the control unit 501. ..

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a play using the photo sticker creating device 1.

In the present embodiment, the play using the photo sticker creating device 1 is roughly performed by following four steps in order as follows.

When a predetermined number of coins are inserted into the coin insertion unit 525 of the advance customer service unit 520, the play starts. In step S1, reception is performed by the external monitor 521. At this time, the user stands at the position of P1 shown in FIG. At this stage, before the start of shooting, guidance and advertisement regarding various plays such as shooting, editing, and created images and sheets are performed to the user. In addition, the user performs various selection operations.

In step S2, shooting is performed. At this time, the user stands in the position of P2 shown in FIG. 3, that is, in the shooting corner. In the shooting corner, based on various selection operations received by the pre-customer service unit 520, the user is photographed according to the shooting course selected by the various operations. At the same time, various operations by the user are accepted, and an image that can be scribbled is created.

In step S3, graffiti is accepted. At this time, the user stands at the position (graffiti corner) of P3 shown in FIG. That is, the user stands facing the editing reception units 580a and 580b on either the left or right side. At the graffiti reception, the user who has finished playing in the shooting corner is informed about various selection operations. Then, various selection operations for the sticker to be output and graffiti operations performed by the user are accepted. Based on the reception result received at this time, the image printed on the sticker is processed.

In step S4, the seal is output. At this time, the user stands at the position of P4 shown in FIG. That is, the user waits for the seal to be discharged from the seal discharge port 575 in front of the seal discharge port 575. When the seal is discharged from the seal discharge port 575, a series of main plays performed in the vicinity of the photo sticker making device 1 ends.

In this way, as the play progresses while the user moves in four stages, the number of user groups that can use the photo sticker creating device 1 per unit time is increased. That is, a maximum of five sets of users can use the photo sticker creating device 1. Since it takes time to accept graffiti, the two editing reception units 580a and 580b are used so that two sets of users can play the stage of accepting graffiti at the same time.

In the present embodiment, when the play is performed once using the photo sticker creating device 1, six times of shooting are performed, and six images are created using each photograph. That is, six images are created for each play. The number of images created and the number of shots are not limited to this. For example, five shots may be taken or five images may be created for each play. Further, in addition to the images created by using the photographs obtained in each shooting, images of a special aspect, moving image contents, etc. may be created by using those photographs.

Since the hardware configuration of the photo sticker creating device 1 is known, detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The photo sticker making device 1 may have a hardware configuration different from the above. For example, a display panel may be provided near the seal discharge port 575 so that the user waiting there can see it, and the display panel may be used to display guidance to the user or display an advertisement or the like. Good.

[Explanation of operation of photo sticker game system 901]

When the photo sticker creating device 1 operates in cooperation with the server 601 and the mobile terminal 701, the photo sticker game system 901 operates as follows.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram roughly showing the operation of the photo sticker creating device 1 and the server 601 during the play of the user.

When the user inserts a coin into the photo sticker creation device 1 to execute the play, the play is started. This time point is recorded as the play start time. As shown in FIG. 5, in step S51, the photo sticker creating device 1 shoots and edits. That is, the external monitor reception (S1), the shooting (S2), and the graffiti reception (S3) described in FIG. 4 are performed. The user can perform graffiti editing input at the editing stage.

When the editing is completed, the user performs an operation of inputting an e-mail address for receiving information to be used for the image acquisition operation on the photo sticker creation device 1. In addition, the photo sticker creation device 1 is subjected to an operation of selecting an image that can be acquired regardless of the type of member.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission image selection screen.

The control unit 501 receives from the user an image selection operation that can be acquired regardless of the member type while the transmission image selection screen is displayed. As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission image selection screen 51 is an image obtained by shooting in the play, and thumbnail images 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, 53f of the image reflecting the graffiti result are displayed. Includes. In response to the selection operation performed when the transmission image selection screen 51 is displayed, information indicating whether or not the image is an image (selected image) selected by the user at the time of image transmission is also added. It is transmitted to the server 601.

Returning to FIG. 5, in step S52, the photo sticker creating device 1 transmits the data obtained by the play to the server 601. For example, image data generated based on a photograph taken, an email address entered by the user, and other play-related attribute information are transmitted. The photo sticker creation device 1 transmits all the images generated by the play to the server 601. As the attribute information transmitted at this time, for example, information regarding an image ID, a sticker ID, a shooting date and time, a shooting mode, a play course name, and other image types of the created image are transmitted.

In step S53, printing is performed by the photo sticker creating device 1. When printing is completed, the printed sheet (seal) is discharged from the sticker discharge port 575.

In step S54, the user acquires the sheet discharged to the seal discharge port 575.

On the other hand, when the image data or the like is transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 1 to the server 601, the server 601 receives the transmitted data in step S55.

In step S56, the server 601 performs database recording processing using the received data. The server 601 records the received data in the database as described later. The server 601 also generates a providing URL including identification information (seal ID) and the like used to provide the image to the user based on the received data.

In step S57, a post-receipt determination process is performed to determine a method for notifying the user of the sticker ID and the provision URL including the seal ID. It is performed by a method according to the result of the discrimination process after reception (for example, a method of notifying by e-mail, a method of notifying by so-called push notification, etc.).

In step S58, the server 601 notifies the user of the acquisition information about the provided image. For example, the URL for providing is transmitted by e-mail to the e-mail address input to the photo sticker creating device 1, or the sticker ID is transmitted by push notification to a predetermined destination corresponding to the e-mail address.

In step S59, the user's mobile terminal 701 receives the acquisition information by receiving the e-mail or the push notification.

In step S60, the user operates the mobile terminal 701 to access the server 601. Access can be performed using the acquisition information. For example, when the provision URL is notified, the provision URL can be accessed by using a web browser or the like running on the mobile terminal 701. Further, for example, when the seal ID or the like is notified by push notification, the server 601 can be accessed based on the information.

In step S61, the server 601 performs an image acquisition process according to the access from the mobile terminal 701. The image acquisition process will be described later.

In step S62, the server 601 transmits the image and other data of the image acquired image to the mobile terminal 701 in response to the access from the mobile terminal 701.

In step S63, the mobile terminal 701 receives the data transmitted from the server 601 and stores the image. Further, based on the stored data, the display unit 713 is displayed in a predetermined manner. As a result, the user can receive the sheet as a result of the play, and can use the image for the mobile terminal on the mobile terminal 701. Therefore, the enjoyment of playing is increased for the user.

[Explanation of membership system for image provision service]

A user who uses the photo sticker game system 901 can receive an image provided by the server 601 by accessing the server 601 while being registered as a member of an image providing service having a predetermined membership system, and will be described later. You can use the image acquisition function of. In the membership system of this image providing service, for example, two membership types are provided. The registered user (member) has a user attribute as a member of any member type. Members are divided into paid members who pay the usage fee of the image providing service every predetermined period and free members who use the image providing service without paying the usage fee.

The image providing service is operated by using the member information database managed by the server 601. The user is registered as a member in the member information database by performing a predetermined registration procedure such as accessing the server 601 via the mobile terminal 701 and inputting information on a web page or the like. When a user who wants to acquire an image operates the mobile terminal 701 to access the server 601 and the access user information (for example, session identification information recorded in a cookie or the like) is stored in the mobile terminal 70, , The access user information is transmitted to the server 601. The server 601 determines whether or not the user is logged in to the image providing service based on the access user information. If not logged in, the server 601 requests a login operation to the image providing service. When it can be determined that the user is logged in to the image providing service, or when the user performs a login operation, the server 601 can determine that the user is a member, and each member is determined based on the member information database. Can be identified. The server 601 identifies the user when the member accesses it. Then, the server 601 acquires the user attribute of the user such as the member type information regarding whether the user is a free member or a paid member from the member information database, and provides the image to the user based on the user attribute.

The member information database contains, for example, a user ID assigned by the server 601 for each user, a user account ID (a character string specified by the user as his / her own name used for the image providing service), a password, and an e-mail address (member e-mail address). ), Registration date, token (device token), other member information, etc. are recorded in association with each other. The member e-mail address is, for example, an e-mail address designated as a destination of e-mail addressed to the user by using a mobile terminal or the like when the user registers as a member of the image providing service. If you change your e-mail address after registering as a member, it will be the changed e-mail address. The token is information used for performing so-called push notification, and is recorded when a predetermined application is installed on the mobile terminal 701 and when a predetermined setting is made. As other member information, for example, information regarding whether or not the member is a paid member is recorded.

The identification of the user who has accessed the server 601 using the mobile terminal 701 is not limited to the one performed based on the session identification information. For example, a user who has accessed the server 601 may be made to enter a passcode or the like prepared in advance so that the user can be identified. In addition, the user is simply asked to enter the sticker ID, and the user is identified based on the entered sticker ID and the user's e-mail address or the like that is previously associated with the sticker ID and recorded in the database or the like. You may.

[Explanation regarding image transmission]

In the present embodiment, the photo sticker creating device 1 transmits all the plurality of images (for example, six images) generated in the play to the server 601 for each play. If there is a specially provided image in addition to the created image depending on the model of the photo sticker creating device 1 and the content of the play, those images are also transmitted. When an image is transmitted, information about play is transmitted with the image, including information about the individual image. The transmitted image and various information related to the play are transmitted as variables with predetermined variable names, respectively.

When the server 601 receives the transmitted information, the server 601 processes each variable included in the transmitted information as information regarding the variable name. The server 601 records, for example, information about an image or play in a predetermined image attribute database (DB), and stores the transmitted image with a predetermined name. The image attribute database is a database that manages images stored in the first storage area described later.

Various attribute information is included as the information regarding the play. For example, an image ID that uniquely identifies an image, a play ID that uniquely identifies a play, a sticker ID corresponding to each sticker output by the play, a selected image flag, and an electronic device specified by the user in the play. An e-mail address (sometimes referred to as a designated e-mail address) is sent as a variable with a predetermined variable name when the image is sent.

For example, two sticker IDs are issued for each of the left and right users per play (not limited to this, only one sticker ID may be issued, or three or more sticker IDs may be issued. ). The play ID and the sticker ID are associated with each other, and the play ID can be specified by the sticker ID. The sticker ID and the play ID are play identification information that can identify the play.

The selected image flag is information indicating whether or not the image is a selected image. As described above, the image selected by the user on the transmission image selection screen 51 or the image automatically selected by the photo sticker creation device 1 is different from other images captured and transmitted in the play by the selection image flag. Can be distinguished. As a result, the server 601 can handle the image as a selected image.

The designated e-mail address is an e-mail address designated by the user's input operation when the user plays with the photo sticker creation device 1.

Further, the server 601 can determine the model of the photo sticker creation device 1 by receiving the information transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 1. For example, if the attribute information related to play includes information that can identify the model, the model of the photo sticker creating device 1 can be determined based on the information. The discrimination method is not limited to this, and various methods can be adopted. Information about the model in which the play was performed is recorded in the image attribute database.

[Explanation of image storage function]

In the image providing service using the photo sticker game system 901, an image is stored and stored in a predetermined storage area (hereinafter, also referred to as a second storage area) called "My Album" for each member user. You can use the image storage function. When the user plays the photo sticker creation device 1, the user performs a predetermined procedure to store the image created and provided by the play in the predetermined storage area of the server 601 (image acquisition). processing). The predetermined procedure is, for example, accessing the server 601 from the mobile terminal 701 based on the information notified from the server 601 or using a predetermined application (hereinafter, may be referred to as an application) operating on the mobile terminal 701. , Information for designating the play as a storage target is transmitted to the server 601. Once such a procedure is performed, the image can be easily viewed and used by using the image storage function.

In the image storage function, the functions that can be used by the user differ depending on the member type of the user (whether the user is a paid member or a free member). Specifically, free members have restrictions on the number of images that can be stored per play, the total number of plays that can store images, storage period, etc., but paid members have such restrictions. Is not provided. For example, the total number of plays that can store images is unlimited for paid members, but limited to a predetermined number for free members. Such functional differences depending on the membership type may be appropriately set.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of basic processing of the image providing server 601 when an image is transmitted from the photo sticker creating device 1.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which an image for one play is stored in the second storage area.

As shown in FIG. 7, when a plurality of images, corresponding image IDs, designated e-mail addresses, and the like are transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 1 in step S171, the server 601 is as described above. Receive them.

In step S172, the server 601 stores the received image or the like in a first storage area (hereinafter, may be referred to as a first storage area) provided in the storage unit 605. The first storage area is an area for temporarily storing an image until the user first accesses the predetermined method after playing. The image is stored in the first storage area for each play.

When the image is stored, the server 601 notifies the mobile terminal 701 of information regarding the provision of the image. For example, an e-mail (“pre-picture Get mail”) notifying the provision URL (access destination URL) is sent to the designated e-mail address. Here, as an example, the operation when the notification by e-mail is performed and the server 601 is accessed by using the web browser operating on the mobile terminal 701 will be described below.

In step S173, the mobile terminal 701 receives the e-mail and displays the content. The user accesses the provision URL based on the display of the e-mail. At this time, in addition to the access user information recorded in the cookie or the like, the sticker ID of the image desired to be stored is transmitted to the server 601. The server 601 may determine the membership type of the user or specify the play including the image to be provided to the user based on the transmitted information and the information recorded in various databases. it can.

In step S174, the server 601 determines the membership type of the user based on the acquired access user information.

If the user is a free member, the process of step S175 is performed. That is, the server 601 confirms whether or not the images for a predetermined number of plays are stored in the second storage area (the second storage area of the user) specified by the access user information. Then, if the images for the predetermined number of plays are stored, the user's selection operation is requested, and then the images for the selected one play are deleted. This process is performed in order to store the image of the current play in the second storage area.

When the user is a paying member or when the process of step S175 is performed, the process of step S176 is performed. That is, all of the plurality of images related to the play specified by the seal ID are stored in the second storage area of the user. Even if you are a free member, all of those multiple images are temporarily stored in the second storage area.

When the process of step S176 is performed, in step S177, the server 601 provides the user with a provision screen (“pre-image Get page”) for acquiring an image according to the member type of the user. As a result, in step S178, the provision screen is displayed on the mobile terminal 701. Once the "pre-image Get page" is displayed in this way, the user can acquire the image of the play on the album screen without accessing the provision URL described in the "pre-image Get mail". Can be displayed on the mobile terminal 701 to acquire an image.

Even when the notification is sent by push notification, the display mode of the provided screen may differ depending on the storage of the pre-image in the second storage area, the handling of the stored image, and the membership type. , Basically the same as above.

The temporary storage period of the image in the first storage area is limited to, for example, 7 days after the image is stored. Further, in the second storage area of the free member, the storage period of images other than the images provided free of charge is limited to, for example, 23 days after being stored. If such a limit is exceeded, the image is deleted from each storage area. Further, when a user who is a member of the image providing service withdraws from the membership, the image in the storage area of the user is deleted. Such image deletion processing is performed by periodically executing batch processing. The storage period of the image stored in the first storage area can be determined by referring to, for example, the reception date and time of the image.

In the case of paying members, there is no particular storage restriction regarding the second storage area. That is, the number of images that can be stored in the second storage area, the storage period, and the number of plays that can be stored are unlimited. When a paid member becomes a free member, restrictions on the free member are imposed. Also, when a paid member withdraws, all images will be deleted.

[Explanation of image providing function]

When the image is recorded in the second storage area as described above, the user can download and acquire the image to the mobile terminal 701 by accessing the server 601 as a member of the image providing service. The image providing function is performed by displaying the provided screen on the display screen of the web browser or application operating on the mobile terminal 701 when the server 601 is accessed from the user's mobile terminal 701.

In the present embodiment, with respect to the image providing function, more services are provided to the paid member than the service provided to the free member. That is, the paying member is provided with all of the plurality of images generated for one play. On the other hand, the free member is basically provided with only one image selected by the user in the play.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an image providing database used for the image providing function.

When the server 601 performs the image providing function, the server 601 controls the display contents of the providing screen by using the image providing database. The image providing database is created by the server 601 for, for example, the images stored in the second storage area. It should be noted that the image stored in the second storage area may be managed by using or updating the image attribute database or other database without creating the image providing database.

As shown in FIG. 8, the image providing database contains records for each image. Each record contains, for example, information such as a user ID, a sticker ID, an image ID, and a free flag indicating whether the image is an image provided to a free member. For example, the free flag is set to "1" for images provided to free members and "0" for other images. In the present embodiment, the free flag is set to "1" for at least the selected image selected by the user in the play. The setting of the free flag for the selected image can be performed according to the selected image flag of the image attribute database, that is, based on the data transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 1.

The server 601 provides the free member with an image in which the free flag is "1" through the providing screen. That is, the "pre-image Get page" is controlled so that the image whose free flag is "1" can be downloaded to the mobile terminal 701. On the other hand, the server 601 provides the paying member with all the images of the play specified by the seal ID, regardless of whether the free flag is "1" or "0". That is, the "pre-image Get page" is controlled so that all the images of the play specified by the sticker ID can be downloaded to the mobile terminal 701.

[Explanation of privilege grant / use function]

In the present embodiment, the server 601 can execute the privilege granting function and the privilege utilization function. In the privilege granting function, the server 601 grants a predetermined privilege to a free member under a predetermined condition. Further, in the privilege use function, the server 601 indicates the target of the privilege use to the free member, and receives an instruction from the free member to use the privilege for the target. The server 601 causes the free member to give an instruction by displaying the provision screen to be displayed on the mobile terminal 701 of the free member as a reception screen of a predetermined mode. Upon receiving the instruction, the server 601 sets the target so that the free member can use the privilege, and provides the image to the free member with the set contents.

In the privilege granting function, the server 601 selects a user to whom the privilege is granted from the users who have played with the photo sticker creation device 1. The server 601 grants a privilege to the selected user. The server 601 grants a privilege to a user who satisfies a predetermined condition. Specifically, it is a free member, an application (sometimes called an application) for receiving a privilege by a predetermined method has been made and accepted by the server 601. The privilege has been granted within a predetermined period. The privilege is given to the user who satisfies the condition that the server 601 wins the lottery after satisfying each condition of not having.

In the present embodiment, as for the privilege given by the privilege giving function, for one play performed by the user, even if it is a free member, all the images generated by the play are acquired in the same manner as the paid member. (Hereinafter, such a privilege may be referred to as a free play image acquisition right, or simply a privilege). In other words, a free member can acquire all the images generated in the play by using the privilege for one play (using (exercising) the play image free acquisition right). Benefits can only be used once.

The server 601 controls the user who has already been granted another free play image acquisition right within a predetermined period so as not to grant the free play image acquisition right. This prevents the value of the benefits from being diluted by granting a plurality of benefits to a single user.

The server 601 receives an application from the user by transmitting information for displaying a predetermined application screen to the user's mobile terminal 701 and displaying the application screen on the mobile terminal 701 in response to the access from the user. .. The application screen is, for example, a web page displayed by the function of a web browser or application operating on the mobile terminal 701. The application screen is composed of a plurality of web pages, and an application is made by transitioning the plurality of web pages according to the user's operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the application screen.

The application screen is displayed by following a hyperlink on the top page of the image providing service website or the URL notified to each user.

As shown in FIG. 9, in step S221, the top page of the application screen is displayed. On the top page, for example, an application button 83 for applying for a lottery is displayed. In the example of the top page shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the application button 83, an application button 84 for applying for a gift campaign targeting only paid members is also displayed. The user operates the application button 83 in order to apply for the lottery.

When the application button 83 is operated, in step S222, the server 601 determines the login status of the user to the website of the image providing service and the membership type.

If the user has not logged in in step S222, the prize selection page in step S223 is displayed. On the prize selection page, for example, prize selection buttons 85a, 85b, 86, etc. that guide the application method for each of the plurality of prizes are displayed. Here, the prize selection buttons 85a and 85b correspond to the items presented to the user. On the other hand, the prize selection button 86 corresponds to the play image free acquisition right given to the user by the privilege giving function.

In order to apply, the user must be a member registered in the image acquisition service and logged in to the website of the image acquisition service. Therefore, in step S223 corresponding to the case where the user is not logged in, a caution display 88a for notifying the user that the application requires login is displayed on the prize selection page. When the prize selection buttons 85a, 85b, 86 are operated, for example, the user is transitioned to a login page for logging in. When the user logs in through the login page, the transition to the individual application page corresponding to the prize selection buttons 85a, 85b, 86 operated when transitioning to the login page may be performed.

In step S222, when the user is logged in and it is determined that the user is a free member, the prize selection page of step S224 is displayed. Also in step S224, the prize selection buttons 85a, 85b, and 86 are displayed on the prize selection page.

Here, in order to apply, the member must have a predetermined number of applications. In the present embodiment, the member needs to have one unit for each application in order to apply for each prize. For example, the user can increase the number of applications by playing with the photo sticker creating device 1 of the target model during a predetermined period and performing the image acquisition process by using the image providing service. The user can apply for a plurality of units by performing the play a plurality of times and performing the image acquisition process a plurality of times.

The number of applications is counted as follows, for example. That is, for the user ID of the logged-in user, the number of times played by a predetermined model within a predetermined period is counted. The counting can be performed by referring to, for example, an image providing database. In the image providing database, records are registered in image units, but records with the same sticker ID and records with the same play ID that can be identified from the sticker ID are counted as 1 count, and are counted as 1 count per play. Is done. Further, when the image is stored in the first storage area described above, another user may use the image providing function to save the image in the second storage area of the other user with the same sticker ID. it can. Even in such a case, since one count is set for each play, the count is not performed for the same sticker ID or the play ID that can be identified from the sticker ID that has already been counted. Regarding the counting of the number of applications, the period to be counted and the limited contents of the model may be changed as appropriate, or may not be limited.

In step S224, the prize selection page displays a number display 88b indicating how many applications the logged-in user has. By looking at the number display 88b, the user can know information about whether or not an application can be made and information such as how many units can be applied. When there is no number of units that can be applied for, the unit number display 88b may be replaced with a display prompting the player to perform the image acquisition process.

In step S222, when the user is logged in and it is determined that the user is a paid member, the prize selection page of step S225 is displayed. In step S225, the number display 88b and the prize selection buttons 85a and 85b corresponding to the item are displayed.

In this way, the prize selection page displayed for paid members does not include the prize selection button 86 corresponding to the play image free acquisition right, which is included in the prize selection page displayed for free members. .. The right to acquire free play images is not valuable to paid members because it is intended for free members to receive the same services as paid members for only one play. Therefore, by not displaying the prize selection button 86 on the prize selection page in advance, the paying member can efficiently select the prize. In addition, it is possible to reduce the chance that the paid member knows that the free member is granted the right to acquire the play image for free. Therefore, the paying member does not feel that the value of the benefits associated with being a paying member has been diluted.

In addition, on the prize selection page displayed to the paying member, the prize selection button 86 may be displayed in a mode indicating an expired state such as a grayout display.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of the server 601 when an application for a lottery is performed.

In step S224 described above, when the prize selection button 86 corresponding to the free play image acquisition right is operated, the server 601 controls so that the application screen as described above is displayed on the mobile terminal 701. The user can apply for the lottery through the application screen.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the prize selection button 86 is operated on the mobile terminal 701 in step S226, the server 601 accepts it and proceeds to step S227.

In step S227, the server 601 determines whether or not the user has logged in to the website of the image providing service. If the user has not logged in (if the operation was performed in the state of step S223 in FIG. 9), the process proceeds to step S228. In step S228, the user is required to log in to the website of the image providing service or register as a member of the image providing service. The request is made by transmitting the information of the web page for accepting the operation of logging in or registering as a member to the mobile terminal 701 and displaying the web page on the mobile terminal 701.

If the user is logged in in step S227, it is determined in step S229 whether or not the number of applications for the user is insufficient. If there is a shortage, in step S230, the mobile terminal 701 is displayed with an error page for notifying the user that the number of applications is insufficient and the application cannot be accepted. When the error page is displayed, the process related to the application operation for the lottery ends.

If the number of applications is not insufficient in step S229, the information on the individual application page is transmitted to the mobile terminal 701 so that the individual application page regarding the free play image acquisition right is displayed on the mobile terminal 701 in step S231.

In step S232, it is determined whether or not the user has input the information necessary for application and confirmed the input information on the individual application page. When the operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S233.

In step S233, the information on the completion page is transmitted to the mobile terminal 701 so that the completion page notifying the user that the application is completed is displayed on the mobile terminal 701. When the application is completed, a series of processes is completed. The server 601 draws a lottery based on the received application, and grants the winning user the right to acquire the play image for free. That is, the server 601 selects a user to be granted the privilege from the users who applied, and grants the selected user the right to acquire the play image for free.

The lottery is performed by a predetermined algorithm, for example, after the predetermined application period ends or at a predetermined date and time. For example, the winner is determined by randomly extracting the winning free members from all the free members who applied. The lottery method can be appropriately selected.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a privilege database.

The server 601 manages and controls the benefits given to the free members while recording the information in the privilege database. The benefit database is used to manage whether the benefits granted to free members are valid. One benefit is no longer valid once it is used. In addition, the benefits have a deadline that can be used effectively, and the benefits will no longer be valid after the deadline. The target for using the privilege is specified by the play unit performed by the user. The play in which the award can be used is limited to the play performed after the date and time when the award is granted.

In the privilege database, the user ID of the user who has the privilege, the date and time when the privilege was granted, the date and time of the expiration date, the used flag, and the like are recorded. The record of the privilege database is added, for example, when the privilege is given to the user.

As the expiration date and time, for example, the date and time after a predetermined period is specified and recorded by the server 601 based on the date and time when the privilege is given. For example, if the application period is from July 4th to July 20th, and the winners are decided and the benefits are given on July 22nd, the benefits can be used for about 2 months. Register with September 30 as the expiration date. The date and time of the expiration date may be specified by the administrator of the image providing service or the like.

The used flag is information indicating whether or not the privilege has been used. The used flag is recorded as, for example, "0" when the privilege is unused and "1" when the user uses the privilege. By referring to the used flag, the server 601 can determine whether or not the privilege has already been used (that is, whether or not it has expired due to being used).

FIG. 12 is a first flowchart illustrating the privilege giving function and the privilege using function. FIG. 13 is a second flowchart illustrating the privilege granting function and the privilege utilization function.

The server 601 executes the privilege granting function and the privilege using function in the following flow.

The privilege granting function will be described below.

During the application period, the server 601 accepts an application operation from a user who has played with the photo sticker creation device 1 of the target model as described above in step S241.

When the application period ends, the server 601 draws a lottery in step S242 and grants the winning free member the right to acquire the play image for free. The server 601 registers information in the privilege database regarding the privilege given to the winning free member. In addition, the server 601 notifies the winning free member of the lottery result. That is, the server 601 notifies the user to whom the privilege has been granted to that effect.

Notification to the user can be performed by various methods. For example, the user may be notified by e-mail, push notification, or the like that the privilege has been granted. Further, when the user accesses the website of the image providing service, the user may be able to know that the privilege has been obtained by displaying the fact that the privilege has been granted on the web page. ..

The privilege use function will be described below.

When the user plays the photo sticker creation device 1, the server 601 receives the data transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 1 in step S243. Then, the server 601 notifies the user of the provision URL by transmitting a "pre-picture Get mail" or the like based on the received data.

When the user accesses the provision URL notified by using the mobile terminal 701, the server 601 receives the display request of the provision screen from the mobile terminal 701 in step S244. At this time, if the user's mobile terminal 701 is not logged in to the website of the image providing service, the server 601 requests login and logs in.

In step S245, the server 601 identifies the user ID of the user who is logged in with the mobile terminal 701, and determines whether or not the user is a free member based on the member information database. If it is a free member, the process proceeds to step S247. If it is not a free member (if it is a paid member), there is no privilege granted. Therefore, in step S246, a provision screen for acquiring an image for the paid member is transmitted to the user's mobile terminal 701 to use the privilege. The processing for the function ends.

In step S247, the server 601 performs a privilege confirmation process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a privilege confirmation process.

The privilege confirmation process is whether or not the user has the right to acquire the play image for free, and if the user has the privilege, whether or not the privilege can be used for the play for which the display request of the provision screen is received. It is a process to confirm.

In step S261, the server 601 determines whether or not the user is a winner. That is, the server 601 determines that the winner is the winner when the record corresponding to the user ID is recorded in the privilege database. If it is a winner, the process proceeds to step S262. If it is not a winner, the process proceeds to step S267, and it is determined that the privilege is not possessed.

In step S262, the server 601 determines whether or not the user's privilege has been used. The server 601 refers to the privilege database and makes a determination based on the used flag for the user's privilege. If it has not been used, the process proceeds to step S263. If it has been used, the process proceeds to step S267, and it is determined that the user does not have the privilege.

In step S263, the server 601 determines whether or not the date and time when the play is performed for the play for which the display request of the provision screen is requested is after the date and time when the user is elected. That is, it is determined whether or not the play for which the display request has been made is performed after the date and time when the privilege is given to the user (starting determination). On the date and time when the play was performed, the sticker ID transmitted from the mobile terminal 701 at the time of the display request is collated with the sticker ID transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 1 to the server 601 and stored, and the sticker ID is matched with the sticker ID. It can be specified by the shooting date and time stored in association with each other. If the play is performed after the date and time when the user is elected, the process proceeds to step S264. On the other hand, if the play is performed before the winning date and time, the process proceeds to step S266, and it is determined that the player has the privilege but cannot use the play.

In step S264, the server 601 determines whether or not the current date and time is within the expiration date of the privilege (final determination). Judgment is made by referring to the expiration date of the user's privilege recorded in the privilege database. If it is within the expiration date, the process proceeds to step S265. If the expiration date has passed, the process proceeds to step S266, and it is determined that the privilege is possessed but cannot be used for the play.

In step S265, server 601 determines that it has the perks and is available for that play. That is, when all the conditions of steps S261 to S264 described above are satisfied, it is determined that there are available benefits, and if any of the conditions is not satisfied, there is no benefit (step S267), or there is a benefit. It is determined that it cannot be used (step S266).

In addition, the privilege may be available for the play performed before the winning date and time. In this case, the determination in step S263 described above may be omitted. In addition, the expiration date of the award may not be set, and the award may be available indefinitely until it is used. In this case, the determination in step S264 may be omitted.

Returning to FIG. 13, in step S248, the server 601 determines in the privilege confirmation process whether or not it is determined that there is a privilege available for the play. If it is determined that there are no benefits or no benefits available, the process proceeds to step S249. In step S249, information for displaying the provided screen on the mobile terminal 701 is transmitted so that the normal provided screen is displayed for the play for which the display request has been made. As a result, if it is a free member, the user can acquire one image selected in the play.

If it is determined that there is a privilege, in step S250, the server 601 transmits the display information on the screen for receiving the instruction to use the privilege from the user to the mobile terminal 701.

In the present embodiment, the screen for receiving the instruction to use the privilege also serves as a providing screen for receiving the provision of one image selected for the play when the privilege is not used. ing. In other words, the provision screen on which the use button for instructing the use of the privilege is displayed becomes the screen for receiving the instruction to use the privilege. On the provided screen, the play to be used as a privilege when the use button is operated on the screen is indicated by an image or characters. As a result, the user can instruct to operate the use button to use the privilege while confirming which play is the target for which the privilege is used.

In step S251, after the server 601 transmits the display information to the mobile terminal 701, the user gives an instruction to use the privilege for the play displayed on the provision screen based on the information transmitted from the mobile terminal 701. Determine if it was broken. That is, when the use button is operated and an instruction is given, information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 701 to the server 601. The server 601 accepts an instruction based on the information. By accepting the instruction, the play shown on the offer screen is specified as the target of the privilege use.

Upon receiving the instruction, in step S252, the server 601 performs the privilege use process. In the privilege use process, the server 601 is set, specifically, the image providing database is updated, and the like, so that the privilege can be used for the target play.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a privilege utilization process.

As shown in FIG. 15, in step S281, the server 601 updates the image providing database. The server 601 sets the free flag to "1" for all the images corresponding to the seal ID of the play specified by the received instruction. That is, among the images generated in the specified play, the free flag is changed from "0" to "1" for the images other than the selected image whose free flag is already "1".

In step S282, the server 601 updates the privilege database. The server 601 changes the used flag from "0" to "1" for the privilege used. Since the privilege database is updated in this way, the right to acquire the play image for free will no longer be available.

Returning to FIG. 13, in step S253, the server 601 causes the mobile terminal 701 to display the provided screen so that the provided screen is displayed for the play for which the display request has been made according to the updated contents of the image providing database. Send information for. This allows even a free member to get all the images of the play. By using the play image free acquisition right for an image of a certain play, the user is a free member only for that play, but the service equivalent to that of a paid member is provided to the user and is equivalent to that of a paid member. Will be handled.

[Explanation of screen transition example of image providing service when email notification is sent]

The display screen of the mobile terminal 701 that receives the image provided by using the web browser is as follows.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of transition of the display screen of the mobile terminal 701 when a paying member receives an image.

FIG. 16 shows an example in which the mobile terminal 701 accesses the server 601 while the user is recognized as a paying member by the server 601.

When the play is performed by the photo sticker creation device 1 and an image or the like is transmitted to the server 601, an e-mail called "pre-image Get mail" is sent from the server 601 to the e-mail address input by the user in step S301. Will be sent. This e-mail includes information that the user can access with the mobile terminal 701 to acquire an image, and a URL 61 for providing.

When the user who receives the above-mentioned e-mail accesses the place indicated by the provision URL 61, the first provision screen is displayed in step S302. In the case of a paying member, thumbnail images of a plurality of images 63a created by play are displayed, and a plurality of images 63a can be selected.

When one of the plurality of images 63a is selected, a second providing screen including an enlarged image of the image is displayed (image 64a in step S303, image 64b in step S303b, etc.). By operating the save button 69 included in the second provision screen, the user can store each image in the mobile terminal 701 (S304). That is, when the save button 69 is operated, the images 64a and 64b are stored in the storage unit 705 of the mobile terminal 701 or the like by the function of the mobile terminal 701 (save). Note that the function of the mobile terminal 701 may enable the saving operation to be performed by, for example, pressing and holding the images 64a and 64b. In this way, the paid member can get all the images created in the play.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of transition of the display screen of the mobile terminal 701 when a free member receives an image.

FIG. 17 shows an example in which the provision process is performed while the user is recognized as a free member by the server 601.

As shown in FIG. 17, in step S311 the "pre-picture Get mail" is displayed as in the case of the paying member. When the operation to access the place indicated by the provision URL 61 included in the "pre-image Get mail" is performed, as described above, it is determined whether or not the free member has the right to acquire the free play image available for the play. Then, the screen transitions to a different first provision screen according to the result.

That is, when the provision URL 61 is accessed and there is no available privilege, the first provision screen (the screen of step S249 in FIG. 13 (normal provision screen)) is displayed in step S312. The first provision screen includes a thumbnail display of the selected image 63 selected by the user. Since the user is a free member, only the selected image 63 can be acquired.

The thumbnail display of the selected image 63 also serves as a hyperlink to the second provided screen. When the selected image 63 is operated by the user, the screen transitions to the second providing screen as shown in step S313. On the second provided screen, an enlarged image 64 of the selected image 63 and a save button 69 are displayed. The user can store the image 64 in the mobile terminal 701 by performing an operation of selecting the save button 69.

The first provision screen (S312) includes an appeal display 65a that appeals to the user to register as a paid member. The appeal display 65a includes, for example, a thumbnail display of images other than the selected image 63 created in the same play. The appeal display 65a is a display that appeals to the user to register as a paid member if he / she wants to acquire these images as well. The appeal display 65a also serves as a hyperlink to the paid member registration screen.

When the appeal display 65a is operated in step S312, the screen transitions to the paid member registration page as shown in step S315. On the paid member registration page, the user can become a paid member by performing a predetermined registration procedure (registered as a paid member in the member information database). Even if the user is a free member, when the image acquisition process is performed, all the images of the play including the selected image are stored in the second storage area. Therefore, even if the user is initially a free member, he / she can acquire other images by registering as a paid member in this way.

On the other hand, when the provision URL 61 is accessed and there is a privilege available, the first provision screen (step of FIG. 13) including the use button 67 for instructing the privilege to be used in step S316. The screen of S250) is displayed. That is, in step S316, the display of the use button 67 is added to the first providing screen displayed in step S312. The use button 67 is displayed, for example, in a manner including a display for explaining the privilege so that the user can grasp the content of the play image free acquisition right.

On the first provision screen displayed in step S316, the play to be used for the privilege is shown to the user by displaying the thumbnail image of the selected image 63 of the play. By operating the use button 67 on the first provision screen, the user can give an instruction to use the privilege for the target in a state where the play for which the privilege is to be used is specified.

When the use button 67 is operated by the user, the privilege use process is performed as shown in step S317 (corresponding to step S252 in FIG. 13). The privilege use process is as described above.

When the privilege use process is performed, the transition from the first provision screen to the third provision screen (sometimes referred to as “all Get pages”; shown in FIG. 18).

If the user does not want to use the privilege for the play on the first provision screen displayed in step S316, the user may not operate the use button 67. In this case, the user operates the thumbnail image of the selected image 63, the appeal display 65a, and the like to change the screen and save the selected image 63 (S314) in the same manner as in step S312. Can be done.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of transition of the display screen of the mobile terminal 701 when the privilege use process is performed.

When the privilege use process is performed, as shown in FIG. 18, the third provision screen (the screen of step S253 in FIG. 13) is displayed in step S512. The third provision screen is a thumbnail image of a plurality of images 63a that are provided to free members as a result of the privilege use processing, similar to the first provision screen displayed to paying members. Is included. By operating each of the thumbnail images, the user can display an enlarged image of the image or save it in the mobile terminal 701.

The third provision screen is displayed to the free member, and may include the appeal display 65a as in the first provision screen.

In the above, an example of accessing the server 601 from the mobile terminal 701 based on the e-mail transmitted from the server 601 has been described, but after that, when the user accesses the server 601 using the image storage function. However, a plurality of images can be viewed or saved as they are for the play in which the privilege is used.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the user accesses the server 601 and uses the image providing service in step S511, the main page of the user is displayed. The main page includes a display 81a showing an overview of each of the plays stored in the second storage area for that user. For example, for each play, a thumbnail display of a typical image, a play date and time, and a model name of the photo sticker creation device 1 played are displayed. By performing an operation of selecting one of the displayed plays, the user can display the first providing screen for acquiring the photograph stored in the second storage area for the play.

When, for example, an operation of selecting one play 81 is performed on the main page, the first providing screen is displayed as shown in step S513. Since the privilege is not used in this play 81, the first provision screen is the same as that shown in step S312 of FIG. When the operation of selecting the thumbnail display of the selected image 163 is performed on the first provided screen, the screen transitions to the second provided screen and the image can be acquired.

On the other hand, when the operation of selecting the play 82 for which the privilege has been used is performed on the main page, the third provision screen of step S512 described above is displayed. As a result, the images provided by using the benefits can be continuously viewed or saved.

[Explanation of re-notification processing]

In addition, in the present embodiment, when the privilege is granted, but the time has passed without being used and the expiration date is approaching, a re-notification process for notifying the user to whom the privilege is granted is performed. Will be done. The re-notification process is periodically executed by the server 601 once a day by using the privilege database and the member information database.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the re-notification process.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the re-notification process is executed, in step S391, the server 601 refers to the privilege database, and some of the unused benefits are about to expire in 14 days. Judge whether or not.

If there is a corresponding privilege in step S391, in step S392, the corresponding user's mobile terminal 701 is notified by a predetermined method. For example, the next time the user visits the website of the image providing service, only the user will be displayed that the benefit is about to expire.

Further, in step S393, the server 601 refers to the privilege database and determines whether or not there is an unused privilege that is about to expire in 7 days.

If there is a corresponding privilege in step S393, in step S394, the corresponding user's mobile terminal 701 is notified by a predetermined method. For example, an e-mail is sent to the user's member e-mail address stating that there is a privilege that is about to expire.

In this way, if there are unused benefits, re-notification will be performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to use the privilege. For users who have been re-notified but have not played after the benefits have been granted and want to use the benefits, motivate them to effectively play with the photo sticker creation device 1. Can be given.

The mode of re-notification processing is not limited to this, and the timing, number of times, method, etc. of re-notification can be appropriately selected. The re-notification may be given only once, the notification may be given only in the manner displayed when the website is accessed, or the notification may be given only by e-mail. Further, the re-notification process does not have to be performed.

[Effect in Embodiment]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the free member to which the predetermined privilege is granted uses the privilege to display the image created in the play for which the privilege is used, in the same manner as the paid member. You will be able to get everything. Therefore, for free members, the attractiveness of playing with the photo sticker making device increases. Free members can be motivated to play with the photo sticker creation device.

In the past, it was difficult to convey the appeal that can be felt by experiencing actual play to light users who are free members and do not frequently use photo sticker creation devices and image providing services. There was a problem that there was. In the present embodiment, such a light user can be invited to actually play with the photo sticker making device and use the image providing service, and the photo sticker making device and the image providing are provided through the actual play. It is expected that light users will understand the attractiveness of the service.

As shown in step S316 of FIG. 17, since the use button 67 to be operated when using the privilege and the target play (thumbnail image shown by the selected image 63 and the appeal display 65a) are shown, the play of this play is shown. If you like the images and want to use the benefits for this play, you can operate the use button and get all the images. On the other hand, if you do not like the image of this play and do not want to use the privilege for this play, you can acquire only that image by operating the image selection 63 without operating the use button 67, and another one again. It will be possible to use the benefits for play. That is, the play that is the target of the privilege use can be appropriately selected by the user from the plays performed by the photo sticker creation device that is a selection candidate. That is, the user can use the privilege for the object desired by the user. Therefore, it is possible to give an even motivation to play the photo sticker creation device in which the play is set as a selection candidate. For example, if the play performed by the photo sticker creation device corresponding to the image providing service is set to be a selection candidate regardless of the model, the model of the photo sticker creating device corresponding to the image providing service is selected. Not limited to, it can motivate free members to play. Free members can easily select a desired play from the selectable plays and use the benefits.

Benefits are given to selected free members. Therefore, the value of the privilege can be maintained high as compared with the case where the privilege is given to all the free members. Since the value of the award is maintained high, the value obtained by the paid member being a paid member is not impaired. Since the privilege is given to the free member who won the lottery, the fun of the lottery can be given to the free member, and the attractiveness of the image providing service can be increased. Since the lottery targets those who applied by a predetermined method among the free members, it is possible to encourage the free members to use the image providing service. Since it is one of the application requirements that the play is performed by the photo sticker making device, it is possible to give the free member a motivation to play. Since the benefits are given to the winning free members among the free members who applied for the lottery, the benefits can be given to the free members who are considered to have a certain degree of interest in the obtained benefits. Therefore, it becomes easier for a free member to whom the privilege has been granted to obtain the effect of utilizing the privilege.

The initial judgment that the privilege is available but can be used only for the play after the privilege is given is effective in motivating at least the second and subsequent plays to try a new play because the privilege is given. In addition, the final judgment that sets the expiration date gives a limited feeling that it cannot be used unless it is used forever, and it can be expected that the percentage of players who are played to use the benefits will be higher than when it can be used forever.

As mentioned above, for free members, the appeal of playing with a photo sticker creation device that supports image provision services will increase. Therefore, even a user who is neither a paid member nor a free member and who is not involved in the image providing service can be motivated to become a free member of the image providing service and play with the photo sticker creation device.

The target for using the privilege is configured to be specified in units of play performed by the user. In other words, the user can select which play the privilege is to be used for, and the image providing device controls the selected play so that the user's privilege can be used. As a result, the options can be appropriately narrowed as compared with the case where the target of privilege use is specified in a finer unit (for example, image unit), and the user can easily select the target of privilege use. Will be able to.

[Explanation of variant example]

The granting of benefits is not limited to those that are made on the premise of application. Moreover, it is not limited to the one given to the free member who won the lottery. For example, the server can be used for enrollment date and time, play date and time, number of plays, play frequency, play area, play model, user information registration details, behavior history on image provision services and other websites, etc. You may choose a free member to whom you are eligible to receive benefits, according to certain conditions. In addition, the benefits may be given to all free members.

The privilege may be given to a user who has never used the photo sticker making device, or may be given regardless of whether or not he / she has used the photo sticker making device. For example, when a predetermined operation is performed by a user, a privilege may be given to the user who has performed the operation. In this case, the lottery may or may not be held.

For example, when an operation of downloading a predetermined application that operates on a mobile terminal is performed using the mobile terminal, the privilege may be given regardless of the lottery. Specifically, for example, the following may be performed. When an application (application) is downloaded from a predetermined website or online service accessible by the mobile terminal and the application is started, the image providing server communicates with the mobile terminal through the application. At this time, the image providing service requests the user to log in to the image providing service. By logging in, the image providing server identifies the user, and by registering the user ID of the identified user in the privilege database, the privilege is given to the user.

In addition, in a predetermined SNS (social networking service) or the like, an action of a predetermined mode (for example, an account follow operation, an account post repost operation, a reply operation, a predetermined wording) is performed on a predetermined operator account. On condition that the operation to perform the given post is performed, the user who performed the action is specified and the user ID of the specified user is registered in the privilege database so that the privilege is given to that user. You may. The user can be specified by, for example, notifying a user information transmission web page dedicated to the winner by direct mail of SNS or the like, and having the user send the information through the web page. Further, in the image providing service, the user ID and the SNS account may be linked in advance, and then the user ID corresponding to the account specified on the SNS may be registered in the privilege database.

Furthermore, for users who log in to a predetermined website, the user ID is registered in the privilege database without exception, and the so-called Gacha Gacha (registered trademark), roulette, etc., which are produced on the web page after login, etc. The user ID may be registered in the privilege database according to the result of the game or the like.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the privilege grant is applied for and the privilege is granted on the condition that the photograph sticker creation device 1 of the target model is used for playing in the predetermined period. Therefore, it is necessary to play at least once before the privilege is granted, and if the privilege is granted, it motivates the player to play after the grant, but the motivation to play the user for the first time. It is hard to attach. On the other hand, in the form of the present modification, since it is not necessary to play with the photo sticker creating device 1 and it is possible to give a privilege, it is effective for motivation for the first play. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present modification, as compared with the present embodiment, the paying members of the other image providing service tend not to play with the photo sticker creating device 1 that does not support the other image providing service. , Can be reduced.

[Other]

The photo sticker making device, the server, and the mobile terminal may not have all the feature points in the above-described embodiment, but may have only some feature points. Even a photo sticker creating device, a server, or a mobile terminal configured in this way can obtain an effect according to having its characteristic points.

The privilege is not limited to making it possible to acquire all the images created for each play. It suffices to make it possible to obtain more benefits by using the benefits than those obtained by ordinary free members and users who have not registered as members.

The benefits are not limited to those used for each play. The effect of using the privilege may be obtained by specifying the period, or the effect of using the privilege may be permanently obtained. Benefits that provide various aspects of effect can be set to be granted and used.

The information recorded in each database is not limited to this, and can be set as appropriate. Further, the database does not have to be a single database, and may be divided into a plurality of databases normalized to each other. For example, the image attribute database may be provided with a record for each play, or may be provided with a record for each image. By appropriately setting the items included in each database, it is possible to identify information about individual images and plays.

The image providing device is not limited to one server device. For example, a system constructed by a plurality of computers or the like connected to each other via a network or the like may be configured to function as an image providing device.

The present invention is not limited to a photo sticker creating device, and can be widely applied to a photography game device that provides a user with a processed image using an captured photograph and an image providing system using a device including the same.

The processing in the above-described embodiment may be performed by software or by using a hardware circuit.

It is also possible to provide a program for executing the processing according to the above-described embodiment, or record the program on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, or a memory card and provide the program to a user. It may be. The program may be downloaded to the device via a communication line such as the Internet. The process described in the text in the above flowchart is executed by the CPU or the like according to the program.

It should be considered that the above embodiments are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

1 Photo sticker making device (an example of a photography game device)
67 Use button 501 Control unit 505 Storage unit 507 Control program 509 Communication unit 601 Image providing server (example of image providing device)
603 Communication unit 605 Storage unit 607 Control program 650 Control unit 701 Mobile terminal (example of user terminal)
703 Communication unit 705 Storage unit 707 Control program 713 Display unit 750 Control unit 801 Network 901 Photo sticker game system (example of image providing system)

Claims (6)

An image providing device having an image providing function for providing an image created by a user playing with a photography game device to a user terminal.
A member registration means for accepting registration of a free member for using the image providing function or a paid member who is provided with more services than the service provided to the free member.
A granting means for granting the user who is the free member a privilege to receive the same treatment as the paid member only for one play which is the target specified by the instruction .
A transmission means for transmitting information for displaying a predetermined screen to the user terminal of the user to which the privilege is given , and
After the information is transmitted to the user terminal, a receiving means for receiving an instruction to use the privilege for the target play based on the information transmitted from the user terminal.
When the instruction is accepted, the setting means for setting the image providing function so that the privilege can be used for the target play , and the setting means.
E Bei and image providing means for providing the image according to the settings made by the setting unit,
The predetermined screen includes thumbnail display of selected images selected from a plurality of images created in a play for which the privilege is used, thumbnail display of images other than the selected images among the plurality of images, and thumbnail display of images other than the selected images. An image providing device including a reception unit that receives an instruction to use the privilege for the target play . The transmitting means determines the presence or absence of the privilege given to the user, and even if it is determined that the privilege is present, if the privilege is not available, a screen for causing the user to give the instruction. The image providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information for displaying the image is not transmitted. The granting means
We accept applications to receive benefits from users who have used the image provision function.
From the users whose application has been accepted, select the user to whom the privilege is to be granted, and select the user.
The image providing device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the privilege is given to the selected user. The image providing device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the granting means grants the privilege according to a predetermined operation by the user terminal. It is a control method of an image providing device having an image providing function of providing an image created by a user playing with a photography game device to a user terminal.
A member registration step that accepts registration of a free member for using the image providing function or a paid member who is provided with more services than the service provided to the free member.
A granting step of granting the user who is the free member a privilege to receive the same treatment as the paid member only for one play which is the target specified by the instruction .
A transmission step of transmitting information for displaying a predetermined screen to the user terminal of the user to which the privilege is given, and a transmission step.
After the information is transmitted to the user terminal, a reception step for receiving an instruction to use the privilege for the target play based on the information transmitted from the user terminal, and a reception step.
When the instruction is accepted, a setting step for setting the image providing function so that the privilege can be used for the target play , and a setting step.
E Bei an image providing step of providing the image according to the settings made by the setting step,
The predetermined screen includes thumbnail display of selected images selected from a plurality of images created in a play for which the privilege is used, thumbnail display of images other than the selected images among the plurality of images, and thumbnail display of images other than the selected images. A method for controlling an image providing device , which includes a reception unit that receives an instruction to use the privilege for the target play . It is a control program of an image providing device having an image providing function of providing an image created by a user playing with a photography game device to a user terminal.
A member registration step that accepts registration of a free member for using the image providing function or a paid member who is provided with more services than the service provided to the free member.
A granting step of granting the user who is the free member a privilege to receive the same treatment as the paid member only for one play which is the target specified by the instruction .
A transmission step of transmitting information for displaying a predetermined screen to the user terminal of the user to which the privilege is given, and a transmission step.
After the information is transmitted to the user terminal, a reception step for receiving an instruction to use the privilege for the target play based on the information transmitted from the user terminal, and a reception step.
When the instruction is accepted, a setting step for setting the image providing function so that the privilege can be used for the target play , and a setting step.
The computer is made to execute the image providing step of providing the image according to the setting made by the setting step .
The predetermined screen includes thumbnail display of selected images selected from a plurality of images created in a play for which the privilege is used, thumbnail display of images other than the selected images among the plurality of images, and thumbnail display of images other than the selected images. A control program for an image providing device , which includes a reception unit that receives an instruction to use the privilege for the target play .

Images