Purchase system and method, order accepting device and method, and computer program

• US 20020138359A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Noma, Hideki
• Application Number:
  US09/914,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138359A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

In a purchasing system and its method, an order receiving device, an order receiving method and a computer program, question data regarding changeable items of a virtual creature or the hardware holding this virtual creature, or a robotic device are to be transmitted to the order sender, and by reflecting the buyer'"'"'s answer to the question, the predetermined processing to form the virtual creature and/or hardware is conducted. Moreover, in a data sales agent system and its method, a data sales device and its method, and a computer program, the consignment sales of a part of data or control data in the virtual creature or the robotic device are to be accepted, and said part of data will be sold.

Claims

1. A Purchasing system for purchasing a virtual creature existing as a software and programmed to act or move, comprising:

first communication means provided on the order sender side of said virtual creature;

second communication means provided on the order receiving side of said virtual creature; and

a communication path to connect between said first and the second communication means;

wherein

said second communication means, comprising;

question data transmission means for transmitting question data regarding changeable items in said software of said virtual creature and/or hardware holding a recording medium in which said software is stored to said first communication means that accessed via said communication path; and

data processing means for conducting the predetermined data processing in order to form said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting the order sender'"'"'s answer to said question to be transmitted from the first communication means via said communication path.

2. The purchasing system according to claim 1, wherein

said changeable item is the specification on said action or motion of said virtual creature.

3. The purchasing system according to in claim 1, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said virtual creature or said hardware.

4. The purchasing system according to claim 1, wherein

said data processing means analyzes the taste and/or the living environment of said order sender based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question and conducts the data processing according to the analysis result.

5. The purchasing system according to claim 1, wherein

said data processing means forms the image data of computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, and transmits said image data to the first communication means via said communication path.

6. A purchasing method for purchasing a virtual creature existing as a software and programmed to act or move, comprising:

a first step of the first communication means provided on the order sender side of said virtual creature accessing to the second communication means provided on the order receiver side of said virtual creature;

a second step of the second communication means transmit question data regarding changeable items in said software of said virtual creature and/or the hardware holding a recording medium in which said software is stored to the first communication means that accessed; and

a third step for conducting the predetermined data processing to form said virtual creature and/or said hardware in said second communication means reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question to be transmitted from said first communication means to said second communication means.

7. The purchasing method according to claim 6, wherein

said changeable item is the specification on the action or the motion of said virtual creature.

8. The purchasing method according to claim 6, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said virtual creature or said hardware.

9. The purchasing method according to claim 6, wherein

said third step analyzes the taste and/or the living environment of said order sender based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts said data processing according to said analysis result.

10. The purchasing method according to claim 6, wherein

said third step forms the image data of the computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question as said data processing, transmits said image data to the first communication means.

11. The order receiving device for receiving an order of a virtual creature existing as a software and programmed to act or move, comprising:

question data transmission means for transmitting question data regarding changeable items in said software of said virtual creature and/or the hardware holding a recording medium in which said software is stored to the order sender who accessed via the predetermined communication path; and

data processing means for conducting the predetermined data processing to form said virtual creature and/or said hardware by reflecting the order sender'"'"'s answer to said question.

12. The order receiving device according to claim 11, wherein

said changeable item is the specification on the action or the motion of said virtual creature.

13. The order receiving device according to claim 11, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said virtual creature or said hardware.

14. The order receiving device according to claim 11, wherein

said data processing means analyzes the taste and/or the living environment of said order sender based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts the data processing according to said analysis result.

15. The order receiving device according to claim 11, wherein

said data processing means forms image data of the computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to an order sender.

17. The order receiving method according to claim 16, wherein

said changeable item is the specification regarding said action or motion of said virtual creature.

18. The order receiving method according to claim 16, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said virtual creature or said hardware.

19. The order receiving method according to claim 16, wherein

said second step analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conduct said data processing according to said analysis result.

20. The order receiving method according-to claim 16, wherein said second step as said data processing forms image data of the computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to said order sender.

16. The order receiving method for receiving a virtual creature existing as a software and programmed to act or move, comprising:

a first step for transmitting question data regarding changeable items in said software of said virtual creature and/or the hardware having a recording medium in which said software is stored to the order sender who accessed via the predetermined communication path; and

a second step for conducting the predetermined data processing to form said virtual creature and/or said hardware by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question.

21. A computer program for making the computer execute the processing to order a virtual creature existing as a software and programmed to act or move, comprising:

a first step for transmitting question data regarding changeable items in said software of the virtual creature and/or the hardware holding a recording medium in which said software is stored to the order sender who accessed via the predetermined communication path; and

a second step for conducting the predetermined data processing to form said virtual creature and/or said hardware by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question.

22. The computer program according to claim 21, wherein

said changeable item is the specification regarding the action or motion of said virtual creature.

23. The computer program according to claim 21, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said virtual creature or said hardware.

24. The computer program according to claim 21, wherein

said second step analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts said data processing according to said analysis result.

25. The computer program according to claim 21, wherein:

said second step as said data processing, forms image data of the computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmit said image data to said order sender.

27. The purchasing system according to claim 26, wherein

said changeable item is the specification regarding said action or motion of said robotic device.

28. The purchasing system according to claim 26, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said robotic device.

29. The purchasing system according to claim 26, wherein

said data processing means analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or the living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts said data processing according to the analysis result.

30. The purchasing system according to claim 26, wherein

said data processing means as the data processing, forms image data of the computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to the first communication means via the communication path.

26. A purchasing system for purchasing a robotic device to act or move based on the predetermined program, comprising:

first communication means provided on the order sender side of said robotic device;

second communication means provided on the order receiver side of said robotic device; and

a communication path for connecting said first and the second communication means;

wherein;

said second communication means, comprising;

question data transmitting means for transmitting question data on changeable items of said robotic device to said first communication means that accessed via said communication path through said communication path; and

data processing means for conducting the predetermined data processing to construct said robotic device by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question to be transmitted from said first communication means via said communication path.

31. A purchasing method for purchasing a robotic device what acts or moves based on the predetermined program, comprising:

a first step of the first communication means provided on the order sender side of the robotic device accessing to the second communication means provided on the order receiver side of said robotic device;

a second step for transmitting question data on changeable items of said robotic device to the first communication means from the second communication means; and

a third step for conducting the predetermined data processing to construct said robotic device at said second communication means by reflecting the order sender'"'"'s answer to said question to be transmitted to said second communication means from said first communication means.

32. The purchasing method according to claim 31, wherein

said changeable item is the specification on said action or motion of said robotic device.

33. The purchasing method according to claim 31, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said robotic device.

34. The purchasing method according to claim 31, wherein

said third step analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or the living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts said data processing according to said analysis result.

35. The purchasing method, according to claim 31, wherein

said third step as the data processing forms image data of the computer graphic image of said robotic device by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to the first communication means.

37. The order receiving device according to claim 36, wherein

said changeable item is the specification on said action or motion of said robotic device.

38. The order receiving device according to claim 36, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said robotic device.

39. The order receiving device according to claim 36, wherein

said data processing means analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or the living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts the data processing according to said analysis result.

40. The order receiving device according to claim 36, wherein

said data processing means as said data processing, forms image data of computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to said order sender.

36. An order receiving device for receiving an order of the robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined program, comprising:

question data transmission means for transmitting question data on changeable items of said robotic device to the order sender who accessed via the predetermined communication path; and

data processing means for conducting the predetermined data processing to construct said robotic device by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question.

41. An order receiving method for receiving an order of robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined control program, comprising:

a first step for transmitting question data concerning changeable items of said robotic device to the order sender who accessed via the predetermined communication path; and

a second step for conducting the predetermined data processing to construct said robotic device by reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question.

42. The order receiving method according to claim 41, wherein

said changeable item is the specification concerning said action or said motion of said robotic device.

43. The order receiving method according to claim 41, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said robotic device.

44. The order receiving method according to claim 41, wherein

said second step analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts said data processing according to said analysis result.

45. The order receiving method according to claim 41, wherein

said second step as said data processing forms image data of computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to said order sender.

47. The computer program according to Claim 46, wherein

said changeable item is the specification concerning said action or motion of said robotic device.

48. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein

said changeable item is the design of said robotic device.

49. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein

at said second step analyzes said order sender'"'"'s taste and/or living environment based on said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, conducts said data processing according to the analysis result.

50. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein

said second step as said data processing, forms image data of computer graphic image of said virtual creature and/or said hardware reflecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question, transmits said image data to said order sender.

46. A computer program for causing the computer to execute the processing to receive an order of robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined control program, comprising:

a first step for transmitting question data concerning changeable items of said robotic device to the order sender who accessed via the predetermined communication path; and

a second step for conducting the predetermined data processing to construct said robotic device by refecting said order sender'"'"'s answer to said question.

51. A data sales agent system, comprising:

first communication means provided on the producer side of a part of data in the virtual creature held as a software in the hardware and acting or moving based on said software;

second communication means provided on the sales consignee side to sell a part of data of said virtual creature;

third communication means provided on the intending buyer side of said part of data of said virtual creature; and

a communication path for connecting between said first, second and the third communication means;

wherein

said second communication means, comprising;

consignment accepting means for conducting the consignment accepting processing on said part of data of said virtual creature produced by said producer to be given from the first communication means via said communication path; and

sales means for executing the predetermined sales processing to sell a part of data of said virtual creature consigned to the third communication means accessed via said communication path.

52. The data sales agent system according to claim 51, wherein

said part of data is the data to control the action or motion of said virtual creature.

53. The data sales agent system according to claim 52, wherein

said sales means transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said virtual creature based on said part of data specified to the third communication means that accessed via the communication path.

54. A data sales agent method, comprising:

a first step for conducting the predetermined consignment accepting processing a part of data of said virtual creature to be transmitted to the second communication means provided on the consignee side from the first communication means provided on the producer side of a part of data in the virtual creature held as the software in the hardware and acting or moving based on said software; and

a second step of the second communication means conducting the predetermined sales processing to sell a part of data of said virtual creature consigned to the third communication means provided on the intending buyer side of a part of data of said virtual creature accessed via the predetermined communication path.

55. The data sales agent method according to claim 54, wherein

said part of data is the data for controlling the action or motion of said virtual creature.

56. The data sales agent method according to claim 54, wherein

at said second step transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said virtual creature based on said part of data specified to the third communication means that accessed.

58. The data sales device according to claim 57, wherein

said part of data is the data to control actions and motions of said virtual creature.

59. The data sales device according to claim 57, wherein:

said consignment accepting means accepts sales of said part of data via the network; and

said sales means sells said part of data via said network.

60. The data sales device according to claim 59, wherein:

said part of data is the data to control actions or motions of said virtual creature; and

said sales means transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said virtual creature based on said part of data in advance to the intending buyer.

57. A data sales device comprising:

consignment accepting means for accepting the consignment sales of a part of data in a virtual creature held as a software in the hardware and conducts actions and motions based on said software; and

sales means for conducting sales of said part of data that said consignment accepting means accepted the consignment to the intending buyer of said part of data of the virtual creature.

61. A data sales method comprising:

a first step to accept the consignment sales of a part of data in the virtual creature held as a software in the hardware and conducting action and motions based on said software; and

a second step to conduct the sales of said part of data accepted the consignment to the intending buyer of said part of data of said virtual creature.

62. The data sales method according to claim 61, wherein

said part of data is the data to control actions or motions of said virtual creature.

63. The data sales method according to claim 61, wherein:

the first step accepts the sales of said part of data via the network; and

the second step sells said part of data via the network.

64. The data sales method according to claim 63, wherein:

said part of data is the data to control actions or motions of said virtual creature; and

the second step transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said virtual creature based on said part of data in advance to said intending buyer.

65. A computer program for making the computer execute the processing comprising:

a first step for accepting the consignment sales of a part of data in a virtual creature which is held as a software in the hardware and acts or moves based on said software; and

a second step for conducting the sales of said part of data accepted the consignment to the intending buyer of said part of data of said virtual creature.

66. The computer program according to claim 65, wherein

said part of data is the data to control actions or motions of said virtual creature.

67. The computer program according to claim 65, wherein:

said first step accepts sales of the consignment sales of said part of data via the network; and

said second step sells said part of data via said network.

68. The computer program according to claim 66, wherein:

said part of data is the data to control actions or motions of said virtual creature; and

said second step transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said virtual creature based on said part of data in advance to said intending buyer.

70. The data sales agent system according to claim 69, wherein

said sales means transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said robotic device based on the control data in advance to the buyer of said control data.

69. A data agent system, comprising:

first communication means provided on the producer side of the control data of a robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined control data;

second communication means provided on the consignee side who conducts the consignment sales of said control data of said robotic device;

third communication means provided on the intending buyer side of said control data of said robotic device; and

a communication path to connect between said first, second and the third communication means;

wherein

said second communication means, comprising;

consignment accepting means for processing the consignment acceptance of said control data of said robotiv device to be supplied from the first communication means via said communication path; and

sales means for executing the predetermined sales processing to sell said control data of said robotic device accepted the consignment to the third communication means that accessed via said communication path.

71. A data sales agent method, comprising:

a first step for consignment accepting processing the control data of said robotic device to be transmitted to the second communication means provided on the consignee side from the first communication means provided on the control data producer side of the robotic device that conducts actions or motions based on the predetermined control data in the second communication means; and

a second step of the second communication means executing the predetermined sales processing to sell said control data accepted the consignment to the third communication means of said control data intending buyer side who accessed.

72. The data sales agent method according to claim 71, wherein

at said second step transmits image data for simulation displaying actions or motions of said robotic device based on the control data in advance to the intending buyer.

73. A data sales device comprising:

consignment accepting means for accepting the consignment sales of said control data of the robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined control data; and

sales means for selling said control data that said consignment accepting means accepted the consignment.

74. A data sales device, wherein:

said consignment accepting means accepts the consignment sales of said control data via the network; and

said sales means sells said control data via said network.

75. The data sales device according to claim 74, wherein

said sales means transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said robotic device based on said control data in advance to the intending buyer.

76. A data sales method comprising

a first step for accepting the consignment sales of the control data of the robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined control data;

and

a second step for selling the control data accepted the consignment to the intending buyer of said control data.

77. The data sales method according to claim 76, wherein:

the first step accepts the consignment sales of said control data via the network; and

said second step sells said control data via said network.

78. The data sales method according to claim 77, wherein

said second step transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said robotic device based on the control data in advance to the intending buyer.

80. The computer program according to claim 79, wherein:

said first step accepts the consignment sales of said control data via the network; and

said second step sells said control data via said network.

81. The computer program according to claim 80, wherein

said second step transmits image data for simulation displaying the action or motion of said robotic device based on said control data in advance to the intending buyer.

79. A computer program for making the computer execute the processing comprising:

a first step for conducting the predetermined consignment accepting processing to accept the consignment sales of said control data of the robotic device that acts or moves based on the predetermined control data; and

a second step for conducting the predetermined sales processing to sell said control data consignment accepted to the intending buyer of said control data.