Virtual space management system

1. A virtual space management system, comprising:

a plurality of space management servers for respectively managing a plurality of partial spaces obtained by dividing a virtual space; and

a communication control server for relaying communication between at least one of the plurality of space management servers and a user terminal, wherein:

a first of the plurality of space management servers comprises user transition control means operating to: (i) execute a process relating to a transition in which a position in the virtual space associated with the user terminal transitions from inside a first partial space which is managed by the first space management server to inside a second partial space which is managed by a second of the plurality of space management servers, (ii) notify the communication control server and the second space management server of an initiation of the transition from the first partial space to the second partial space;

the communication control server comprises connection destination management means operating, in response to the notification of the initiation of the transition from the first partial space to the second partial space: (i) to maintain communication connection with the user terminal during execution of the process relating to the transition even after receiving the notification of the initiation of the transition, and (ii) to buffer information received from the user terminal and not forward such information to the first or second space management servers;

the second space management server comprises a user transition control means operating to notify the communication control server of completion of the process relating to the transition; and

the connection destination management means operates, in response to the notification of the completion of the process relating to the transition: (i) to transmit the buffered information from the user terminal to the second space management server, and (ii) to change the transmission destination of the data received from the user terminal to the second space management server.

2. The virtual space management system according to claim 1 , wherein during the execution of the process relating to the transition, the communication control server maintains the communication connection with the first space management server which manages the first partial space and the second space management server which manages the second partial space.

3. The virtual space management system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the connection destination management means holds, as connection destination information, information specifying a space management server that manages a partial space to which the position in the virtual space associated with the user terminal belongs, and, when receiving a notification of completion of the transition, updates the connection destination information to information specifying a space management server that has made the notification; and

the communication control server determines the transmission destination of the data received from the user terminal by referring to the connection destination information.

4. A communication control server for relaying communication between at least one of a plurality of space management servers for respectively managing a plurality of partial spaces obtained by dividing a virtual space, and a user terminal, the communication control server comprising:

connection destination management means for: (i) receiving a notification from a first of the plurality of space management servers of an initiation of a transition in which a position in the virtual space associated with the user terminal transitions from inside a first partial space which is managed by the first space management server to inside a second partial space which is managed by a second of the plurality of space management servers, (ii) in response to the notification of initiation of the transition, maintaining communication connection with the user terminal while the second space management server is executing a process relating to the transition, even after receiving the notification of the initiation of the transition, (iii) in response to the notification of initiation of the transition, buffering information received from the user terminal and not forwarding such information to the first or second space management servers (iv) receiving a notification from the second of the plurality of space management servers of completion of the process relating to the transition, (v) in response to receiving the notification of completion of the transition, transmitting the buffered information from the user terminal to the second space management server, and (vi) changing a transmission destination of data received from the user terminal to the second space management server according to the transition.

5. A control method for a communication control server for relaying communication between at least one of a plurality of space management servers for respectively managing a plurality of partial spaces obtained by dividing a virtual space, and a user terminal, the control method comprising:

receiving a notification from a first of the plurality of space management servers of an initiation of a transition in which a position in the virtual space associated with the user terminal transitions from inside a first partial space which is managed by the first space management server to inside a second partial space which is managed by a second of the plurality of space management servers;

in response to the notification of initiation of the transition, maintaining communication connection with the user terminal while the second space management server is executing a process relating to the transition, even after receiving the notification of the initiation of the transition;

in response to the notification of initiation of the transition, buffering information received from the user terminal and not forwarding such information to the first or second space management servers;

receiving a notification from the second of the plurality of space management servers of completion of the process relating to the transition;

in response to receiving the notification of completion of the transition, transmitting the buffered information from the user terminal to the second space management server; and

in response to receiving the notification of completion of the transition, changing a transmission destination of data received from the user terminal to the second space management server according to the transition.

6. A non-transitory, computer readable information recording medium, storing a program for causing a communication control server for relaying communication between at least one of a plurality of space management servers for respectively managing a plurality of partial spaces obtained by dividing a virtual space, and a user terminal, to function as:

connection destination management means for: (i) receiving a notification from a first of the plurality of space management servers of an initiation of a transition in which a position in the virtual space associated with the user terminal transitions from inside a first partial space which is managed by the first space management server to inside a second partial space which is managed by a second of the plurality of space management servers, (ii) in response to the notification of initiation of the transition, maintaining communication connection with the user terminal while the second space management server is executing a process relating to the transition, even after receiving the notification of the initiation of the transition, (iii) in response to the notification of initiation of the transition, buffering information received from the user terminal and not forwarding such information to the first or second space management servers (iv) receiving a notification from the second of the plurality of space management servers of completion of the process relating to the transition, (v) in response to receiving the notification of completion of the transition, transmitting the buffered information from the user terminal to the second space management server, and (vi) changing a transmission destination of data received from the user terminal to the second space management server according to the transition.