Information processing system, information processing method, information processing device, information processing device control method, information processing terminal, information processing terminal control method, information storage medium and program

1. An information processing system, comprising:

an information processing device; and

an information processing terminal,

the information processing terminal comprising:

own terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal;

other terminal operating user identification data receiving unit configured to receive identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection;

other terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal; and

identification data transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other,

the information processing device comprising:

identification data receiving unit configured to receive the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal, transmitted by the identification data transmitting unit; and

user association unit configured to associate the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal received by the identification data receiving unit and based on a previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while the users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the other terminal operating user identification data storage stores a plurality of identification data, each identification data corresponds to one of a plurality of other information processing terminals, and identifies a user who operates the corresponding other information processing terminal,

wherein the identification data transmitting unit transmits, to the information processing device, the plurality of identification data, each identification data identifies the user who operates the corresponding other information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal in association with each other, and

wherein the user association unit associates the user who operates the information processing terminal and the users, each user operates the corresponding other information processing terminals, wherein the association is based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the other information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the information processing device further comprises account data generation unit configured to generate, upon request of a user, account data of the user associated with an information processing terminal operated by the user, and

the user association unit associates account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal with account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3 , wherein under a condition that the account data generation unit generates the account data, the user association unit associates the account data with another piece of account data.

5. The information processing system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the account data is associated with a plurality of information processing terminals, and

wherein the user association unit associates each information processing terminal associated with account data corresponding to the user who operates the information processing terminal and each information processing terminal associated with the account data corresponding to the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the information processing device further comprises:

information processing terminal association unit configured to associate the account data with a new information processing terminal; and

transmitting unit configured to transmit, under a condition that the new information processing terminal is associated, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal to the new information processing terminal.

7. The information processing system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the own terminal operating user identification data storage stores the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal with an identifier of the account data of the user,

wherein the other terminal operating user identification data receiving unit receives the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal associated with an identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal,

wherein the other terminal operating user identification data storage stores the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal,

wherein under a condition that the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal is stored in the own terminal operating user identification data storage and the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal is stored in the other terminal operating user identification data storage, instead of transmitting the identification data, the identification data transmitting unit transmits, to the information processing device, the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other,

wherein the identification data receiving unit receives the identifiers of the account data transmitted by the identification data transmitting unit, and

the user association unit associates, based on the identifiers of the account data received by the identification data receiving unit, the account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal and the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the identification data contains an identifier unique to an information processing terminal corresponding to the identification data.

9. An information processing method, comprising:

storing, by an information processing terminal, identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal in own terminal operating user identification data storage unit;

receiving, by the information processing terminal, identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving an information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection;

storing, by the information processing terminal, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in other terminal operating user identification data storage unit;

transmitting, by the information processing terminal, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other;

receiving, by the information processing device, the transmitted identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal; and

associating, by the information processing device, based on the received identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network, the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

10. An information processing device capable of communicating with respect to an information processing terminal, wherein the information processing terminal includes: (i) own terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal; (ii) other terminal operating user identification data receiving unit configured to receive identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection; (iii) other terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal; and (iv) identification data transmitting unit configured to transmit the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal in association with each other, the information processing device comprising:

identification data receiving unit configured to receive the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal, transmitted from the identification data transmitting unit; and

user association unit configured to associate, based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal received by the identification data receiving unit and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network, the user who operates the information processing terminal with respect to which the information processing device is capable of communicating and the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

11. A control method for an information processing device capable of communicating with respect to an information processing terminal, the control method comprising:

receiving identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal and identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal; and

associating, based on the received identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection, the user who operates the information processing terminal with respect to which the information processing device is capable of communicating and the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for causing a computer to function as an information processing device capable of communicating with respect to an information processing terminal, the program including instructions which when executed by a processor cause the information processing device to:

receive transmitted identification data which identifies a user who operates an information processing terminal and identification data which identifies a user who operates the another information processing terminal; and

associate, based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection, the user who operates the information processing terminal with respect to which the information processing device is capable of communicating and the user who operates the another information processing terminal.

13. An information processing terminal capable of communicating with respect to an information processing device, comprising:

own terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal;

other terminal operating user identification data receiving unit configured to receive identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection;

other terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal; and

identification data transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other, the information processing device associating the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal with each other based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network.

14. A control method for an information processing terminal capable of communicating with respect to an information processing device, the control method comprising:

storing identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal in own terminal operating user identification data storage unit;

receiving identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection;

storing the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in other terminal operating user identification data storage unit; and

transmitting, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other, the information processing device associating the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal with each other based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program which when executed by a processor of a computer causes the computer to function as an information processing terminal capable of communicating with respect to an information processing device, the program including instructions to:

store identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal in own terminal operating user identification data storage unit;

receive identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection;

store the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in other terminal operating user identification data storage unit; and

transmit, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other, the information processing device associating the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal with each other based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network.

16. An apparatus including a processor and a memory containing a computer program, the processor executing the computer program such that the apparatus functions as an information processing terminal capable of communicating with respect to an information processing device, the program including instructions to cause the processor to:

store identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal in own terminal operating user identification data storage unit;

receive identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal via an ad hoc communication connection between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal without involving the information processing device in the ad hoc communication connection;

store the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in other terminal operating user identification data storage unit; and

transmit, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other, the information processing device associating the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal with each other based on the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal and based on previous exchange of data between the information processing terminal and the another information processing terminal while users of said terminals were playing a game together over the ad hoc communication network.

17. An information processing system, comprising:

an information processing device; and

an information processing terminal,

the information processing terminal comprising:

own terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store identification data which identifies a user who operates the information processing terminal;

other terminal operating user identification data receiving unit configured to receive identification data which identifies a user who operates another information processing terminal from the another information processing terminal;

other terminal operating user identification data storage configured to store the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal; and

identification data transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the information processing device, the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other,

the information processing device comprising:

identification data receiving unit configured to receive the identification data transmitted by the identification data transmitting unit;

user association unit configured to associate, based on the identification data received by the identification data receiving unit, the user who operates the information processing terminal and the user who operates the another information processing terminal; and

account data generation unit configured to generate, upon request of a user, account data of the user associated with an information processing terminal operated by the user,

wherein the user association unit associates account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal with account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal,

wherein the own terminal operating user identification data storage stores the identification data which identifies the user who operates the information processing terminal with an identifier of the account data of the user,

wherein the other terminal operating user identification data receiving unit receives the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal associated with an identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal,

wherein the other terminal operating user identification data storage stores the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with the identification data which identifies the user who operates the another information processing terminal,

wherein under a condition that the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal is stored in the own terminal operating user identification data storage and the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal is stored in the other terminal operating user identification data storage, instead of transmitting the identification data, the identification data transmitting unit transmits, to the information processing device, the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal and the identifier of the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal in association with each other, and

wherein the identification data receiving unit receives the identifiers of the account data transmitted by the identification data transmitting unit, and the user association unit associates, based on the identifiers of the account data received by the identification data receiving unit, the account data of the user who operates the information processing terminal and the account data of the user who operates the another information processing terminal.