US-12627847-B2 - Video distribution system, video distribution control method, and storage medium

US12627847B2US 12627847 B2US12627847 B2US 12627847B2US-12627847-B2

Abstract

In a video distribution system comprising a relay server that relays and distributes video to be viewed distributed from a predetermined distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, a distribution base is set in the relay server as a unit for relaying and distributing video to the user terminal device after obtaining permission from the distribution source, and the video from the distribution source is relayed and distributed to the user terminal device of a user via the distribution base used by the user.

Inventors

Shigeru Chiba
Junki HIRAI
Kai INOUE
Akira Sakai
Tsuguo Shinpo
Toshiaki KANAHARA
Yoshihiko Narita

Assignees

KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220916
Priority Date: 20200327

Claims (11)

1 . A video distribution system comprising a computer provided with a relay unit for relaying and distributing a video to be viewed which is distributed from a distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, wherein the computer serves as: a distribution base setup unit that obtains permission from the distribution source and sets up, on the relay unit, a distribution base as a unit for relaying and distributing the video to the user terminal device; a viewing control unit that relays and distributes the video from the distribution source to the user terminal device of a user via the distribution base used by the user; and an opportunity providing unit that provides a user group sharing the distribution base with an opportunity to use a paid service via the user terminal device, wherein the distribution base setup unit sets up the distribution base such that at least a portion of specifications that characterize the distribution base are defined based on an instruction of a setter, and wherein same one distribution base is able to be shared by two or more users.
2 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution base setup unit can set a plurality of distribution bases such that the specifications are different from each other, and the viewing control unit selects the distribution base used by the user based on an instruction of the user.
3 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution base setup unit can set, as the at least a portion of the specifications, a requirement for limiting the users who can use the distribution base based on the instruction of the setter, and the viewing control unit determines based on the requirement whether the user can use the distribution base, and relays and distributes the video only to user terminal devices of users who are permitted to use the distribution base.
4 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution base setup unit sets, as the at least a portion of the specifications, the paid service that the user group can use based on the instruction from the setter, and the opportunity providing unit provides an opportunity to use the paid service set by the distribution base setup unit.
5 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , comprising a service presentation unit that presents the paid service for which the opportunity providing unit provides the opportunity to the user group sharing the distribution base.
6 . The video distribution system according to claim 5 , wherein the service presentation unit presents the paid service by displaying an advertisement corresponding to the paid service on the user terminal device.
7 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , further comprising a report unit that reports to the user such that it possible to identify the at least a portion of the specifications of the distribution base set by the distribution base setup unit.
8 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution base setup unit selects any one video from a plurality of video candidates based on the instruction from the setter and sets the selected video as the video to be viewed which is to be distributed to the user terminal device.
9 . The video distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution base setup unit sets up a virtual space including a virtual monitor for displaying the video in association with the distribution base and sets the at least a portion of the specifications of the distribution base by setting at least a part of items that characterize the virtual space, and the viewing control unit causes display, on the user terminal device of the user using the distribution base, a moving image expressing a state of viewing the video via the virtual monitor in the virtual space associated with the distribution base.
10 . A video distribution control method applied to a video distribution system provided with a relay unit for relaying and distributing a video to be viewed which is distributed from a distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, wherein the video distribution control method includes: a step that obtains permission from the distribution source and sets up, on the relay unit, a distribution base as a unit for relaying and distributing the video to the user terminal device; a step that relays and distributes the video from the distribution source to the user terminal device of a user via the distribution base used by the user; and a step that provides a user group sharing the distribution base with an opportunity to use a paid service via the user terminal device, wherein the step that relays and distributes the video sets up the distribution base such that at least a portion of specifications that characterize the distribution base are defined based on an instruction of a predetermined setter, and wherein same one distribution base is able to be shared by two or more users.
11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program applied to a video distribution system provided with a relay unit for relaying and distributing a video to be viewed which is distributed from a distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, wherein the computer program is configured to cause a computer of the video distribution system to function as: a distribution base setup unit that obtains permission from the distribution source and sets up, on the relay unit, a distribution base as a unit for relaying and distributing the video to the user terminal device; a viewing control unit that relays and distributes the video from the distribution source to the user terminal device of a user via the distribution base used by the user; and an opportunity providing unit that provides a user group sharing the distribution base with an opportunity to use a paid service via the user terminal device, wherein the distribution base setup unit sets up the distribution base such that at least a portion of specifications that characterize the distribution base are defined based on an instruction of a predetermined setter, and wherein same one distribution base is able to be shared by two or more users.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a video distribution system and the like for distributing a video to be viewed to a user terminal device. BACKGROUND ART An information processing system for displaying a video playing back a play of a game on a virtual television device disposed in a three-dimensional virtual space, disposing a character associated with a user in the virtual space, and displaying a comment contributed by the user as a comment of the character is known (for example, see Patent Literature 1). A system for providing a virtual room for each user to allow the user to view various videos through a virtual screen therein, disposing an avatar corresponding to the user in the virtual room, and enabling the avatar to visit a virtual room of another user is also known (for example, see Patent Literature 2). PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: JP6180802BPatent Literature 2: JP6203369B SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem It is possible to allow a plurality of users to view a video while sharing the same virtual space in a conventional video distribution system. However, when the scale of the number of users and the like that can view the video together is expanded limitlessly, there is a possibility that the feeling of sharing a place for viewing videos is conversely diminished. For example, it is sometimes difficult to ensure communication between users. When such a difficulty occurs, it is convenient to set the range of the user group sharing the place for viewing comparatively small. However, when limiting the distribution destination from the distribution source to such a small-scale group, it is necessary to set up a large number of distribution destinations on the distribution source end in order to increase the total number of views, which increases the burden required for setup and management thereof. Furthermore, there is room for improvement in the conventional system as relating to what manner of users to draw to the virtual space. For example, in the real world, various commercial activities are deployed that provide a place where viewers can watch videos together, such as public screenings and sports bars, and the customer attraction effect leads to commercial opportunities such as product sales. The systems taught in the patent literatures described above are not necessarily suited to such activities. Therefore, an object of a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a video distribution system and the like capable of appropriately setting up a place for viewing a video while reducing burden on the distribution source. Furthermore, an object of a second aspect of the present invention is to provide a video distribution system and the like capable of providing a place for a desired range of users to gather a view a video together. Solution to Problem The video distribution system according to the first aspect of the present invention is video distribution system comprising a computer provided with a relay unit for relaying and distributing a video to be viewed which is distributed from a predetermined distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, wherein the computer serves as: a distribution base setup unit that obtains permission from the distribution source and sets up, on the relay unit, a distribution base as a unit for relaying and distributing the video to the user terminal device; and a viewing control unit that relays and distributes the video from the distribution source to the user terminal device of a user via the distribution base used by the user. The video distribution control method according to the first aspect of the present invention is a video distribution control method applied to a video distribution system provided with a relay unit for relaying and distributing a video to be viewed which is distributed from a predetermined distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, wherein the video distribution control method includes: a step that obtains permission from the distribution source and sets up, on the relay unit, a distribution base as a unit for relaying and distributing the video to the user terminal device; and a step that relays and distributes the video from the distribution source to the user terminal device of a user via the distribution base used by the user. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to the first aspect of the present invention stores a computer program applied to a video distribution system provided with a relay unit for relaying and distributing a video to be viewed which is distributed from a predetermined distribution source to a user terminal device used by each of a plurality of users, wherein the computer program is configured to cause a computer of the video distribution system to function as: a distribution base setup unit that obtains permission from the distribution source and sets up,