Virtual space system structured by plural user terminals and server device
First Claim
1. A distributed system provided with a plurality of user terminal devices having image-taking means and displaying means, and a server device connected with said plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines, comprising:
- user status recognition means for recognizing the status of user in use of said terminal devices per user terminal device; and
control means for controlling the display of user status on the other user terminal devices for said displaying means per user terminal device, wherein when the pictorial image of a user image-taken by image-taking means of the other user terminal device is displayed on one of the user terminal devices among each of said user terminal devices, said control means works out the interuser distance between said one of user terminal devices and said other user terminal device, and controls the display of the pictorial image of the user on said other user terminal device for said displaying means of said one of user terminal devices in accordance with said interuser distance thus worked out.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual space system is structured by a plurality of user terminals and a server device, and arranged to be able to keep the privacy of each of users when the pictorial image of each user is distributed. In this system, when a user A requests the pictorial image of a user B as the status information of the user B, for example, the interuser distance between the user A and user B is worked out, and corresponding to the interuser distance thus worked out, an image process is given to the pictorial image of the user B. Then, it is controlled to display the pictorial image of the user B on the user terminal device of the user A after the execution of such image process.
138 Citations
51 Claims
-
1. A distributed system provided with a plurality of user terminal devices having image-taking means and displaying means, and a server device connected with said plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines, comprising:
-
user status recognition means for recognizing the status of user in use of said terminal devices per user terminal device; and
control means for controlling the display of user status on the other user terminal devices for said displaying means per user terminal device, wherein when the pictorial image of a user image-taken by image-taking means of the other user terminal device is displayed on one of the user terminal devices among each of said user terminal devices, said control means works out the interuser distance between said one of user terminal devices and said other user terminal device, and controls the display of the pictorial image of the user on said other user terminal device for said displaying means of said one of user terminal devices in accordance with said interuser distance thus worked out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30)
-
-
15. A method for controlling the display of a distributed system provided with a plurality of user terminal devices having image-taking means and displaying means, and a server device connected with said plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines, comprising the following steps of:
-
recognizing the status of user in use of said terminal devices per user terminal device;
displaying the user status of the other user terminal device on said displaying means per user terminal device; and
working out the interuser distance between said one of user terminal devices and said other user terminal device when the pictorial image of the user image-taken by image-taking means of the other user terminal device is displayed on displaying means of said one of user terminal devices among each of said user terminal devices, and controlling the display of the pictorial image of user of said other user terminal devices for said displaying means of said one of user terminal devices in accordance with said interuser distance thus worked out.
-
-
29. A storage medium having a program readable by a computer for structuring a distributed system by use of a plurality of user terminal devices having image-taking means and displaying means, and a server device connected with said plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines, wherein
said program is provided with user status recognition module for recognizing the status of user in use of said terminal devices per user terminal device; - and control module for controlling the display of the user status on the other user terminal devices for said displaying means per user terminal device, and when the pictorial image of a user image-taken by image-taking means of the other user terminal device is displayed on one of the user terminal devices among each of said user terminal devices, said control module works out the interuser distance between said one of user terminal devices and said other user terminal device, and controls the display of the pictorial image of the user on said other user terminal device for said displaying means of said one of user terminal devices in accordance with said interuser distance thus worked out.
-
31. A sever device connected with a plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines, comprising:
-
storage medium for storing the information for designating a plurality of virtual spaces to enable a user to reside therein, and the information for designating one specific virtual space among a plurality of virtual spaces to be set by said user;
signal receiving means for receiving the user information to be transmitted from one of said plurality of user terminal devices;
first signal distributing means for distributing the user information received by said signal receiving means to the other user terminal devices positioned in said specific virtual space set by the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information; and
second signal distributing means for distributing the user information received by said signal receiving means to the other user terminal devices positioned in the virtual space other than said specific virtual space among a plurality of virtual spaces to enable the user of the user terminal device on the transmitted side of said user information to reside therein. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39)
-
-
38. A user terminal device connected with a server device through communication line, comprising:
-
first signal transmitting means for transmitting to said server device the information for designating one specific virtual space set by said user among a plurality of virtual spaces for the user to reside therein;
acquiring means for acquiring the user information regarding said user;
second signal transmitting means for transmitting to said server device the user information acquired by said acquiring means; and
reception display means for receiving and displaying the other user information distributed by said server device.
-
-
40. A virtual space system formed by a plurality of user terminal devices, and a server device connected with said plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines for structuring virtual spaces on a network comprising:
-
first signal transmitting means provided for each of the user terminal devices for transmitting to said server device the information for designating the one specific virtual space set by said user among a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling the corresponding user to reside therein;
acquiring means provided for each of the user terminal devices for acquiring the user information regarding the corresponding user;
second signal transmitting means provided for each of the user terminal devices for transmitting to said server device the user information acquired by corresponding acquiring means among said acquiring means;
storage means provided for said server device to store the information for designating a plurality of virtual spaces for a user to reside therein, and the information for designating said specific virtual space transmitted by said first transmitting means;
signal receiving means provided for said server device to receive the user information transmitted from said second transmitting means of said plurality of user terminal devices;
first signal distributing means provided for said server device to distribute the user information received by said signal receiving means to the other user terminal devices positioned in said specific virtual space set by the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information;
second signal distributing means provided for said server device to distribute the user information received by said signal receiving means to the other user terminal device positioned in the virtual space other than said specific virtual space among a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information to reside therein; and
reception display means provided for each of the user terminal devices to receive and display the other user information distributed by said first signal distributing means or said second signal distributing means. - View Dependent Claims (41)
-
-
42. A method for distributing user information applicable to the server device connected with a plurality of user terminal devices through communication lines comprising the following steps of:
-
storing the information to designate a plurality of virtual space for enabling the user to reside therein, and the information to designate the specific one of said plurality of virtual spaces set by said user;
receiving signals of the user information transmitted from said plurality of user terminal devices;
distributing firstly the signals of the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal device positioned in said designated virtual space set by the user of the terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information; and
distributing secondly the signals of the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal device positioned in the virtual space other than said designated virtual space among a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling the user of the terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information to reside therein. - View Dependent Claims (43)
-
-
44. A method for displaying user information applicable to the user terminal devices connected with a server device through communication lines, comprising the following steps of:
-
transmitting firstly the information for designating one specific virtual space set by a user among a plurality of virtual spaces to enable the user to reside therein;
acquiring the user information regarding said user;
transmitting secondly the user information acquired in said acquiring step to the server device; and
receiving and displaying the information of other users distributed form said server device. - View Dependent Claims (46, 48)
-
-
45. A method for distributing and displaying user information applicable to a virtual space system formed by a plurality of user terminal devices and a server device connected with said plurality of user terminal device through communication lines for structuring virtual spaces within a network, comprising the following:
-
a first signal transmitting step for each terminal device to transmit to said server device the information for designating one specific virtual space set by a user concerned among a plurality of virtual spaces to enable the corresponding user to reside therein;
an acquiring step for each user terminal device to acquire user information regarding the corresponding user;
a second transmitting step for each user terminal device to transmit the user information acquired in said acquiring step to said server device;
a storing step for said server device to store the information for designating a plurality of virtual spaces to enable a user to reside therein, and the information for designating said specific virtual space transmitted in said first signal transmitting step;
a signal receiving step for said server device to receive the user information transmitted from said plurality of user terminal devices in said second transmitting step;
a first signal distributing step for said server device to distribute the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal devices positioned in said specific virtual space set by the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information;
a second signal distributing step for said server device to distribute the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal devices positioned in the virtual space other than said specific space among a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information to reside therein; and
a receiving and displaying step for each user terminal device to receive and display the information of other user distributed in said first signal distributing step or said second signal distributing step.
-
-
47. A storage medium readable by a computer for storing a method for distributing user information as a program applicable to the server device connected with a plurality of user terminal device through communication lines, wherein
said method for distributing user information comprises: -
a storing step for storing the information for designating a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling a user to reside therein, and the information for designating the specific one virtual space set by said user among said plurality of virtual spaces;
a signal receiving step to receive the user information transmitted from said plurality of user terminal devices;
a first signal distributing step to distribute the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal devices positioned in said specific virtual space set by the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information; and
a second signal distributing step to distribute the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal devices positioned in the virtual space other than said specific virtual space among a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information to reside therein.
-
-
49. A storage medium readable by a computer for storing a method for displaying user information as a program applicable to the user terminal devices connected with a server device through communication lines, wherein
said method for displaying user information comprises: -
a first signal transmitting step for each user terminal device to transmit to said server device the information for designating the specific one virtual space set by a user concerned among a plurality of virtual space for enabling said user to reside therein;
an acquiring step for acquiring the user information regarding said user;
a second signal transmitting step for transmitting the user information acquired in said acquiring step to said server device; and
a displaying step for receiving and displaying the other user information distributed from said server device.
-
-
50. A storage medium readable by a computer for storing a method for distributing and displaying user information as a program applicable to the user terminal devices connected with a server device through communication lines, wherein
said method for distributing and displaying user information comprises: -
a first signal transmitting step for transmitting to said server device the information for designating the specific one virtual space set by a user concerned among a plurality of virtual space for enabling said user to reside therein;
an acquiring step for each user terminal device to acquire the user information regarding said user;
a second signal transmitting step for each user terminal device to transmit to said server device the user information acquired in said acquiring step to said server device; and
a storing step for said server device to store the information for designating a plurality of virtual spaces enabling the user to reside therein, and the information for designating said specific virtual space transmitted in said first signal transmitting step;
a signal receiving step for said server device to receive the user information transmitted from said plurality of user terminal devices in said second transmitting step;
a first signal distributing step for said server device to distribute the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal devices positioned in said specific virtual space set by the user of user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information;
a second signal distributing step for said server device to distribute the user information received in said signal receiving step to the other user terminal devices positioned in the virtual space other than said specific virtual space among a plurality of virtual spaces for enabling the user of the user terminal device on the transmitting side of said user information; and
a receiving and displaying step for each terminal device to receive and display the other user information distributed in said first signal distributing step or said second signal distributing step. - View Dependent Claims (51)
-
Specification