Character managing system, character server, character managing method, and program

• US 20030008713A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LINE Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oka, Masaaki, Iwai, Yoshiaki, Oyaizu, Hideki, Ushiro, Teruyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Characters set corresponding to users are registered in a character server, so the users can download characters from the character server and feature the characters in various games. Also, characters of different players can notify characters of players within a range permitted beforehand regarding their own locations in different games or different virtual spaces, and can send messages one to another. Further, in addition to the appearance of the character, attributes of the character and items which the player have can be stored in the character server, and used throughout various games. Thus, the same characters can be featured in various types of game programs.

Claims

1. A character data managing system for managing character data displayed on a communication terminal device, comprising:

a character server storing character information relating to characters set corresponding to a plurality of users; and

communication terminal devices capable of downloading, from the character server, character information set corresponding to the users;

wherein character information stored in the character server contains information disclosure settings information as to other characters;

and wherein the character server follows the information disclosure settings information to execute information communication control between the communication terminal devices using characters registered in the character server.

2. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a game server for providing game programs executable at the communication terminal devices;

wherein each of the communication terminal devices further comprises game program execution processing parts for downloading a character registered in the character server to the respective communication terminal device and executing a game provided by the game server featuring the downloaded character.

3. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server contains character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a communication terminal device currently using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

4. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server contains character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a network game server currently using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

5. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server contains disclosure range information;

wherein the disclosure range information includes data correlating disclosure range information within character information and disclosure destination character information;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following setting conditions of the disclosure range information.

6. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server contains a buddy character list;

wherein the buddy character list includes other character information data to which character information is disclosable;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following character conditions registered in the buddy character list.

7. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes message termination settings information;

wherein the message termination settings information includes settings data regarding the permissibility of respective reception and termination of messages from another character wherein character information is registered in one of the character server and another character managing user;

and wherein the character server executes processing for transmission of a message from another character wherein character information is registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following the message termination settings information.

8. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the character server executes authentication processing to a respective communication terminal device and executes data transmission to the communication terminal device when authentication is established.

9. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the character server obtains character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executes processing for transmitting a character status, obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

10. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the character server obtains character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executes processing for transmitting the character status obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, and address information of a game server providing a game program in which the buddy character is participating, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

11. A character data managing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication terminal device executes access to the game server following address information of the game server providing the game program in which the buddy character obtained from the character server is participating, and executes game participation processing of own character obtained by downloading from the character server.

13. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information disclosure settings information includes character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a communication terminal device using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

14. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information disclosure settings information includes character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a network game server using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

15. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information disclosure settings information includes disclosure range information;

wherein the disclosure range information includes data correlating disclosure range information within character information and disclosure destination character information;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following setting conditions of the disclosure range information.

16. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information disclosure settings information includes a buddy character list;

wherein the buddy character list includes other character information data to which character information is disclosable;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following character conditions registered in the buddy character list.

17. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information disclosure settings information includes message termination settings information;

wherein the message termination settings information includes settings data regarding the permissibility of respective reception and termination of messages from another character wherein character information is registered in one of the character server and another character managing user;

and wherein the character server executes processing for transmission of a message from another character wherein character information is registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following the message termination settings information.

18. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the character server executes authentication processing to a respective communication terminal device, and executes data transmission to the communication terminal device when authentication is established.

19. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the character server obtains character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executes processing for transmitting a character status, obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

20. A character server as claimed in claim 12, wherein the character server obtains character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executes processing for transmitting a character status obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, and an address of a game server providing a game program in which the buddy character is participating, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

12. A character server for managing character data to be displayed on a communication terminal device, comprising a database storing character information relating to characters set corresponding to a plurality of users;

wherein the character information stored in the database includes information disclosure settings information as to other characters;

and wherein information communication control is executed between communication terminal devices using the characters registered in the character server.

21. A character data managing method for managing character data displayed on a communication terminal device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a character server, character information containing information disclosure settings information of other characters relating to characters set corresponding to a plurality of users; and

executing information communication control between communication terminal devices using characters registered in the character server, following the information disclosure settings information.

22. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of enabling, at the communication terminal device, transferring of a character registered in the character server to the communication terminal device and executing a game provided by a game server featuring the downloaded character.

23. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a communication terminal device currently using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

24. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a network game server currently using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

25. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes disclosure range information;

wherein the disclosure range information includes data correlating disclosure range information within character information and disclosure destination character information;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following setting conditions of the disclosure range information.

26. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes a buddy character list;

wherein the buddy character list includes other character information data to which character information is disclosable;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following character conditions registered in the buddy character list.

27. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes message termination settings information;

wherein the message termination settings information includes settings data regarding the permissibility of respective reception and termination of messages from another character wherein character information is registered in one of the character server and another character managing user;

and wherein the character server executes processing for transmission of a message from another character wherein character information is registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following the message termination settings information.

28. A character data managing method according to claim 21, wherein the character server executes authentication processing to a respective communication terminal device, and executes data transmission to the communication terminal device when authentication is established.

29. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the character server obtains character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executes processing for transmitting a character status obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

30. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the character server obtains character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executes processing for transmitting a character status obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, and address information of a game server providing a game program in which the buddy character is participating, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

31. A character data managing method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the communication terminal device executes access to the game server following address information of the game server providing the game program in which the buddy character obtained from the character server is participating, and executes game participation processing of own character obtained by downloading from the character server.

32. A storing medium, storing a program for executing, on a computer system, character data management processing for managing character data displayed on a communication terminal device, the program comprising a step for executing information communication control between communication terminal devices using characters registered in a character server, following information disclosure settings information for other characters contained in character information relating to characters registered in the character server and set corresponding to a plurality of users.

33. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, further enabling, at communication terminal device, transferring of a character registered in the character server to the communication terminal device and executing a game provided by a game server featuring the downloaded character.

34. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a communication terminal device currently using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

35. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes character usage destination information;

wherein the character usage destination information includes an address of a network game server currently using a character;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the address to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user.

36. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes disclosure range information;

wherein the disclosure range information includes data correlating disclosure range information within character information and disclosure destination character information;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following setting conditions of the disclosure range information.

37. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes a buddy character list;

wherein the buddy character list includes other character information data to which character information is disclosable;

and wherein the character server executes processing for disclosing the character information to another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user, following character conditions registered in the buddy character list.

38. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the information disclosure settings information within character information stored in the character server includes message termination settings information;

wherein the message termination settings information includes settings data regarding the permissibility of respective reception and termination of messages from another character, with character information being registered in one of the character server and another character managing user;

and wherein the character server executes processing for transmission of a message from another character, with character information being registered in the character server and another character managing user, following the message termination settings information.

39. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the program effects the character server executing authentication processing to a respective communication terminal device and executing data transmission to the communication terminal device when authentication is established.

40. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the program effects the character server obtaining character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executing processing for transmitting a character status obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

41. A storing medium as claimed in claim 32, wherein the program effects the character server obtaining character usage destination information from character usage destination information within character information corresponding to a buddy character based on buddy character identification data registered in the character information, in response to reception of a character state transmission request from a respective communication terminal device, and executing processing for transmitting a character status obtained by inquiry to the obtained character usage destination information, and address information of a game server providing a game program in which the buddy character is participating, to the communication terminal device which made the character state transmission request.

42. A storing medium as claimed in claim 41, wherein the program effects the communication terminal device executing access to the game server following address information of the game server providing the game program in which the buddy character obtained from the character server is participating, and executing game participation processing of own character obtained by downloading from the character server.