Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium

• US 20020080173A1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tagami, Naoki, Kamachi, Teruhisa, Naito, Taketo
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16

Abstract

An information processing apparatus restricts admission to space occupied by a user in a virtual space. When a second user of a second terminal makes a request for admission to space which is in the virtual space and which is occupied by a first user of a first terminal, a space management server transmits data to the first user causing the first user to recognize that the request for admission is made by the second user. In response to an action based on the data, the first user performs an operation. If the first user performs an operation to permit the second user admission to the space, the second user can enter the space occupied by the first user.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for managing a virtual space containing a user space within the virtual space occupied by a first user, comprising:

notifying means for notifying the first user when a second user makes a request for admission to user space occupied by the first user; and

control means for controlling admission of the second user to the user space based on a response from the first user, the response being made as a result of the notification to the first user by the notifying means.

2. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the notifying means is configured to provide at least one of a visual and audible notification to the first user.

3. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

storage means for storing a list of users designated by the first user as those denied admission to the user space; and

determining means for determining whether the second user is on the list stored in the storage means when the second user makes the request for admission to the user space;

wherein, when the determination means determines that the second user is on the list, the notification by the notifying means is terminated, and the control means denies the second user admission to the user space.

4. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

storage means for storing a list of users designated by the first user as those admitted to the user space; and

determining means for determining whether the second user is on the list stored in the storage means when the second user makes the request for admission to the user space;

wherein, when the determining means determines that the second user is on the list, the notification by the notifying means is terminated, and the control means permits the second user admission to the user space.

5. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

storage means for storing first entry information generated by the first user to allow other users to enter the user space;

distributing means for distributing the first entry information stored in the storage means to the second user in response to an instruction from the first user; and

determining means for determining whether entry information used by the second user to gain access to the user space matches the first entry information stored in the storage means when the second user uses the first entry information distributed by the distributing means to make a request for admission to the user space;

wherein, when the determining means determines that the entry information used by the second user matches the first entry information stored in the storage means, the notification by the notifying means is terminated, and the control means permits the second user admission to the user space.

6. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

storage means for storing a list of predetermined spatial locations in the virtual user space, the spatial locations being designated by the first user; and

placing means for placing the list stored in the storage means in predetermined user space in the virtual space in response to an instruction from the first user.

7. An information processing method for managing a virtual space containing user space occupied by a first user, the method comprising the steps of:

notifying the first user when a second user makes a request for admission to user space occupied by the first user; and

controlling admission of the second user to the user space based on a response from the first user, the response being made as a result of the notification to the first user in the notifying step.

8. A storage medium having stored therein a computer-readable program for causing a computer system to perform processing which enables a plurality of users to communicate with one another in a shared virtual space formed and provided on a computer network, the program comprising the steps of:

notifying a first user when a second user makes a request for admission to user space occupied by the first user; and

controlling admission of the second user to the user space based on the result of the notification to the first user in the notifying step.

9. A program for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

notifying a first user when a second user makes a request for admission to a virtual space occupied by the first user; and

controlling admission of the second user to the virtual space based on the result of the notification to the first user in the notifying step.

10. A program as claimed in claim 9, the program causing the computer to perform the further steps of:

storing a list of users designated by the first user as those denied admission to the virtual space;

determining whether the second user is on the list when the second user makes the request for admission to the virtual space; and

terminating the notification and denying the second user admission to the virtual space when it is determined that the second user is on the list.

11. A program as claimed in claim 9, the program causing the computer to perform the further steps of:

storing a list of users designated by the first user as those permitted admission to the virtual space;

determining whether the second user is on the list when the second user makes the request for admission to the virtual space; and

terminating the notification and permitting the second user admission to the virtual space when it is determined that the second user is on the list.

12. A program as claimed in claim 9, the program causing the computer to perform the further steps of:

storing first entry information generated by the first user to allow other users to enter the virtual space;

distributing the stored first entry information to the second user in response to an instruction from the first user;

determining whether entry information used by the second user to gain access to the virtual space matches the stored first entry information when the second user uses the distributed first entry information to make a request for admission to the virtual space; and

terminating the notification and permitting the second user admission to the virtual space when it is determined in the determining step that the entry information used by the second user matches the stored first entry information.

13. A program as claimed in claim 9, the program causing the computer to perform the further steps of:

storing a list of predetermined spatial locations in the virtual space, the spatial locations being designated by the first user; and

placing the stored list in predetermined space in the virtual space in response to an instruction from the first user.