IP Library Granted Patent US 12675154
Granted Patent B2
US 12675154 · App. 18/745,461 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Method and system

Inventor: Kohei Mori (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: COVER Corp.
G06F3/011G06T11/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12675154
App. No.
18/745,461
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a method and a system that are capable of increasing the interest in live event gradually. A computer is configured to provide a virtual space to a user. The computer causes to display an image in a generated virtual space, the image being in accordance with an operation by the user; and to generate an event in the virtual space, and to provide event content in a predetermined type of virtual space of the virtual space on a scheduled date. Also during a period before the scheduled date, an image in the predetermined type of virtual space may be displayed in response to an operation by the user, and an event may be generated in the predetermined type of virtual space, and a display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space may change in accordance with the event that occurs in the predetermined type of virtual space in the period before the scheduled date.

Claims (44)

1 . A computer control method that controls a computer configured to provide a virtual space to a viewer user, comprising:

a displaying step of displaying an image in a generated virtual space;

a generating step of generating an event in the virtual space which is displayed; and

a providing step of providing event content in which a performer participates in a predetermined type of virtual space of the virtual space to the viewer user on a scheduled date, which is not a period before the scheduled date, wherein

also during the period before the scheduled date, the displaying step displays an image in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to a current time before the scheduled date in response to an entering operation by the viewer user, and the generating step generates an event in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date, and

the displaying step changes a display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date in accordance with the event that is generated in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date, the predetermined type of virtual space being displayed by the entering operation of the viewer user.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space that is changeable in the period before the scheduled date is different from the display mode for another viewer user in accordance with an event that occurs in the period before the scheduled date.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the displaying step changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space during provision of the event content in accordance with an event that occurs in the period before the scheduled date.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space that is changeable during provision of the event content is different from the display mode for another viewer user in accordance with an event that occurs in the period before the scheduled date.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein an event that changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space includes an action in response to an operation by the viewer user, the action being reflected in the predetermined type of virtual space.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein an event that changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space includes an action in response to an operation by another viewer user, the action being reflected in the predetermined type of virtual space.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the displaying step keeps a display mode associated with a special type of user in the predetermined type of virtual space even if an event that changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space occurs.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined type of virtual space has a first area that is used to provide event content on the scheduled date and a second area that has a common display mode with the first area, and

the displaying step is such that, until an open condition is met during the period before the scheduled date, entry into the first area is restricted, while entry into the second area is allowed and an image of the second area is displayed in response to an operation by the viewer user, and after the open condition is met, entry into the second area is restricted, while entry into the first area is allowed and an image of the first area is displayed in response to an operation by the viewer user.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the predetermined type of virtual space has a third area, and

the second area and third area are connected to enable seamless entrance, and the first area and the third area are separate from each other and are allowed to be entered from one area to another via display of a predetermined screen.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the open condition is met on a specific period before the scheduled date of the event content to be provided.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space to be changed by the displaying step includes the display mode of a specific object placed in the predetermined type of virtual space, and

an event that changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space includes an event that places the specific object in a designated area in the predetermined type of virtual space during the period before the scheduled date, the specific object being associated with the viewer user.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein an event that changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space includes an event that generates a display mode of the specific object in response to an operation by the viewer user when placing the specific object.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space that is changed by the displaying step includes the display mode of a specific object that is displayed corresponding to a facilitator character, the facilitator character facilitating the event content and being displayed and acting in the predetermined type of virtual space while the event content is being provided, and

the facilitator character is the performer.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer functions to perform

a storing step of storing information that enables the event content provided by the providing step to be provided again, wherein

the providing step provides the event content provided on the scheduled date based on the information stored by the storing step in response to a request from the viewer user, even after the event content has been provided, and

the display mode of the event content provided by the providing step after the event content has been provided differs with an event that occurs during the period before the scheduled date.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the displaying step further changes the display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space in accordance with a degree to which an image in the predetermined type of virtual space is displayed during the period before the scheduled date.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the providing step provides the event content on the scheduled date to a viewer user who meets a predetermined condition, and

the displaying step allows a viewer user who meets the predetermined condition to view a displayed image in the predetermined type of virtual space during the period before the scheduled date.

17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the providing step provides the event content on the scheduled date to a viewer user who meets a predetermined condition, and

the displaying step allows the viewer user, regardless of whether the viewer user meets the predetermined condition, to view a displayed image in the predetermined type of virtual space during the period before the scheduled date.

18 . A system including a computer being configured to perform a process of providing a virtual space to a viewer user, the system comprising:

the computer including a processor and a memory, wherein the processor causes to:

display an image in a generated virtual space;

generate an event in the virtual space which is displayed; and

provide event content in which a performer participates in a predetermined type of virtual space of the virtual space to the viewer user on a scheduled date, which is not a period before the scheduled date, wherein

also during the period before the scheduled date, the processor causes to display an image in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to a current time before the scheduled date in response to an entering operation by the viewer user, and causes to generate an event in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date, and

the processor causes to change a display mode in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date in accordance with the event that is generated in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date, the predetermined type of virtual space being displayed by the entering operation of the viewer user.

19 . A method for controlling a computer including a processor and a memory, the computer being configured to perform a process of providing a virtual space to a viewer user, the method comprising:

displaying an image in a generated virtual space;

generating an event in the virtual space which is displayed; and

providing event content in which a performer participates in a predetermined type of virtual space of the virtual space to the viewer user on a scheduled date, which is not a period before the scheduled date, wherein

also during the period before the scheduled date, an image is displayed in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to a current time before the scheduled date in response to an entering operation by the viewer user, and an event is generated in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date, and

a display mode is changed in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date in accordance with the event that is generated in the predetermined type of virtual space corresponding to the current time before the scheduled date, the predetermined type of virtual space being displayed by the entering operation of the viewer user.