IP Library Granted Patent US 8,986,123
Granted Patent B2
US 8,986,123 · App. 13/561,345 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Information provision apparatus and program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,986,123
App. No.
13/561,345
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information provision apparatus includes a storage section that stores item data, an update section that updates the item data when an item quantity change event has occurred during a first game that is executed by a first terminal, and a control section that causes a communication section to transmit item information to a second terminal when a purchase request operation has been performed by using a second terminal.

Claims (55)

1. An information provision apparatus for a game system connected to mobile communication terminals and portable game devices, comprising:

a memory;

a communication section; and

at least one server cooperatively operable with the memory and communication section, and configured to, based on instructions stored in the memory;

store, in a storage section, item data that indicates a plurality of items that can be provided;

update, in an update section, the item data when an item quantity change event has occurred during a first game that is executed by a first terminal that belongs to a first game network, the first terminal being a mobile communication terminal;

cause, in a control section, the communication section to transmit item information to a second terminal that belongs to a second game network when a provision request operation has been performed by using the second terminal, the second terminal being a portable game device, the item information indicating at least one item that can be used in a second game that is executed by the second terminal, and being based on the item data, the plurality of items can be exchanged during the second game; and

determine, in a determination section, a value of each of the plurality of items based on a change in quantity of each of the plurality of items,

wherein the determination section adjusts a price of each of the plurality of items corresponding to the quantity of each of the plurality of items that is possessed b the second terminal in the second game.

2. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein

the storage section stores provision history data about occurrence of an item provision event during the second game;

the control section causes the communication section to transmit the item information based on the information about the item data to the second terminal based on the provision history data, and

the update section updates the provision history data based on information that indicates an item provision request that has been received from the second terminal by the communication section.

3. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 2 ,

wherein the plurality of items can be sold during the second game; and

wherein the determination section determines a price of each of the plurality of items so that the price decreases as the quantity of each of the plurality of items increases, regardless of a sales quantity of each of the plurality of items.

4. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 2 ,

wherein the determination section calculates the change in quantity of each of the plurality of items for a specific time interval in response to occurrence of the item quantity change event, and further determines the price of each of the plurality of items at the specific time interval.

5. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 2 ,

wherein the storage section stores dummy data about each of the plurality of items; and

wherein the update section updates the item data to fill up a shortage of an item among the plurality of items based on the dummy data when a quantity of the item is insufficient.

6. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 2 ,

wherein the update section deletes an item among the plurality of items that is indicated by the item information transmitted by the communication section from the item data.

7. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of items can be sold during the second game; and

wherein the determination section further determines the price of each of the plurality of items so that the price decreases as the quantity of each of the plurality of items increases, regardless of a sales quantity of each of the plurality of items.

8. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the determination section calculates the change in quantity of each of the plurality of items for a specific time interval in response to occurrence of the item quantity change event, and further determines the price of each of the plurality of items at the specific time interval.

9. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the update section deletes an item among the plurality of items that is indicated by the item information transmitted by the communication section from the item data.

10. The information provision apparatus as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the update section sets a parameter value of an among the plurality of items that is added to the item data when the item quantity change event has occurred, to a value that differs from a parameter value of an item among the plurality of items that is added to the item data independently of the item quantity change event.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing a program that causes a computer having a storage section that stores item data indicating a plurality of items that can be provided, and a communication section, to function as:

an update section that updates the item data when an item quantity change event has occurred during a first game that is executed by a first terminal that belongs to a first game network;

a control section that causes the communication section to transmit item information to a second terminal that belongs to a second game network when a provision request operation has been performed by using the second terminal, the item information indicating at least one item that can be used in a second game that is executed by the second terminal, and being based on the item data, the plurality of items can be exchanged during the second game; and

a determination section that determines a value of each of the plurality of items based on a change in quantity of each of the plurality of items,

wherein the determination section adjusts a price of each of the plurality of items corresponding to the quantity of each of the plurality of items that is possessed by the second terminal in the second game.

12. An information provision apparatus for a game system connected to mobile communication terminals and portable game devices, comprising:

a memory;

a communication section and

at least one server cooperatively operable with the memory and communication section, and configured to, based on instructions stored in the memory;

store, in a storage section, item data that indicates a plurality of items that can be provided;

update, in an update section, the item data when an item quantity change event has occurred during a first game that is executed by a first terminal, the first terminal being a mobile communication terminal; and

cause, in a control section, the communication section to transmit item information to a second terminal when a provision request operation has been performed by using the second terminal, the second terminal being portable game device, the item information indicating at least one item that can be used in a second game that is executed by the second terminal, and being based on the item data,

wherein the storage section stores dummy data about each of the plurality of items, and

wherein the update section updates the item data to fill up a shortage of an item among the plurality of items based on the dummy data when a quantity of the item is insufficient.

13. An information provision apparatus for a game system connected to mobile communication terminals and portable game devices, comprising:

a memory;

a communication section; and

at least one server cooperatively operable with the memory and communication section, and configured to, based on instructions stored in the memory:

store, in a storage section, item data that indicates a plurality of items that can be provided;

update, in an update section, the item data when an item quantity change event has occurred during a first game that is executed by a first terminal, the first terminal being a mobile communication terminal; and

cause, in a control section, the communication section to transmit item information to a second terminal when a provision request operation has been performed by using the second terminal, the second terminal being a portable game device, the item information indicating at least one item that can be used in a second game that is executed by the second terminal, and being based on the item data,

wherein the storage section stores dummy data about each of the plurality of items, and

wherein the update section deletes the stored dummy data when the supply quantity of the item has become sufficient.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2016
From: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 038104/0788 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 035033/0265 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2012
From: SATAKE, SHINYA; AKATSUKA, MASAHIRO
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 029105/0862 →