Method and apparatus for providing virtual space, and non-transitory computer readable data storage medium storing program causing computer to perform method

Abstract

A content providing apparatus capable of approaching user's interests can be provided. A computer-implemented method for providing a content can generate a virtual space where the user is immersed and a target object in the virtual space, and define a reference position in the virtual space and a target object position. The method can define a reference direction which is a direction of a line of sight of the user with respect to the reference position, specify a direction of gaze at the target object, which is the direction of the line of sight of the user, specify a duration of gaze where the user has gazed at the target object, and specify an adjusted duration of gaze based on the duration of gaze, the direction of gaze, and the reference direction. A prescribed content is provided to the user based on the adjusted duration of gaze.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating a virtual space comprising a plurality of target objects;   defining a target object position for each target object of the plurality of target objects where each of the plurality of target objects is arranged;   defining a field of view of a user based on an inclination of a head-mounted display (HMD);   displaying an advertisement in each of the plurality of the target objects; and   varying an advertisement of a first target object of the plurality of target objects, in response to a gaze of the user at a second target object of the plurality satisfying a predetermined condition, so that the varied advertisement is associated with an advertisement of the second target object.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is a gaze duration exceeding a threshold value. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising varying an advertisement of a third target object of the plurality of target objects, in response to the gaze of the user at the second target object satisfying the predetermined condition. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of target objects is arranged in the field of view. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one target object of the plurality of target objects is arranged outside of the field of view. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 generating a first virtual space comprising a first plurality of target objects;   displaying an advertisement at each of the first plurality of target objects;   determining a first gaze duration for each of the first plurality of target objects;   receiving an instruction from a user to quit the first virtual space;   determining a priority of advertisements based on the determined gaze duration for each of the first plurality of target objects;   generating a second virtual space comprising a second plurality of target objects; and   displaying an advertisement at each of the second plurality of target objects based on the determined priority of advertisements.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the generating the second virtual space comprises generating the second virtual space following receiving the instructions to quit the first virtual space. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising generating a launcher space in response to receiving the instruction to quit the first virtual space. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the generating the second virtual space comprises generating the second virtual space in response to receiving an input from the user following generating the launcher space. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising determining a second gaze duration for each of the second plurality of target objects. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising determining a total gaze duration based on the first gaze duration and the second gaze duration. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising requesting a trial version of an advertised product based on the total gaze duration. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising displaying a trial object associated with the requested trial version in a launcher space, wherein the launcher space comprises a first object for selecting the first virtual space and a second object for selecting the second virtual space. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions thereon; and   a processor connected to the non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for:
 generating a first virtual space comprising a first plurality of target objects; 
 instructing a head mounted display (HMD) to display an advertisement at each of the first plurality of target objects; 
 determining a first gaze duration for each of the first plurality of target objects; 
 receiving an instruction from a user to quit the first virtual space; 
 determining a priority of advertisements based on the determined gaze duration for each of the first plurality of target objects; 
 generating a second virtual space comprising a second plurality of target objects; and 
 instructing the HMD to display an advertisement at each of the second plurality of target objects based on the determined priority of advertisements. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for generating a launcher space in response to receiving the instruction to quit the first virtual space. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for generating the second virtual space in response to receiving an input from the user following generating the launcher space. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for determining a second gaze duration for each of the second plurality of target objects. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for determining a total gaze duration based on the first gaze duration and the second gaze duration. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for requesting a trial version of an advertised product based on the total gaze duration. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions for instructing the HMD to display a trial object associated with the requested trial version in a launcher space, wherein the launcher space comprises a first object for selecting the first virtual space and a second object for selecting the second virtual space.