Entertainment system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An entertainment system, comprising:
- a server machine for constructing a virtual world;
a plurality of terminal devices connectable via a communication network to the server machine and adapted for use by players to operate in the virtual world characters assigned to the players;
a log-in player database having stored therein identification information for the terminal devices;
a determination unit operable, in response to a request from a first player to communicate with a second player while the first player is operating a character, to determine whether the terminal device of the second player is connected to the server machine by referring to the log-in player database;
a calling unit operable to call a registered communication destination of the second player when the terminal device of the second player is not connected to the server machine; and
a communication unit operable to establish a first communication path between the terminal device of the first player and the communication destination when the communication destination responds to the call, and operable to establish a second communication path between the terminal device of the first player and the terminal device of the second player when the terminal device of the second player is connected to the server machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication device communicates information via a virtual world configured by a server machine to client terminal devices operating characters in the virtual world. It is therefore possible to transmit various information to and to receive various information from the virtual world, even from a place remote from the client terminal devices, which enables a linking between the virtual world and the real world to be realized.
182 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An entertainment system, comprising:
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a server machine for constructing a virtual world;
a plurality of terminal devices connectable via a communication network to the server machine and adapted for use by players to operate in the virtual world characters assigned to the players;
a log-in player database having stored therein identification information for the terminal devices;
a determination unit operable, in response to a request from a first player to communicate with a second player while the first player is operating a character, to determine whether the terminal device of the second player is connected to the server machine by referring to the log-in player database;
a calling unit operable to call a registered communication destination of the second player when the terminal device of the second player is not connected to the server machine; and
a communication unit operable to establish a first communication path between the terminal device of the first player and the communication destination when the communication destination responds to the call, and operable to establish a second communication path between the terminal device of the first player and the terminal device of the second player when the terminal device of the second player is connected to the server machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of terminal devices for constructing a virtual world;
a server machine connected via a communication network to the terminal devices; and
a communication device connectable via a communication network to the server machine and operable to communicate sound information and digital information via the server machine to the virtual world. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A communication method, comprising:
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determining whether a character exists in a virtual world in response to a request from a source to communicate with the character;
establishing a first communication path between the request source and a terminal device of a player operating the character when the character exists in the virtual world;
placing a call to a communication destination registered by the player operating the character when the character does not exist in the virtual world; and
establishing a second communication path between the request source and the communication destination when the communication destination responds to the call. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication method, comprising:
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receiving an identifier of a terminal device;
establishing a communication path with a virtual world constructed on the terminal device; and
communicating sound information and digital information with the virtual world via the communication path. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a communication program to be executed on a computer, the communication program comprising:
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determining whether a character exists in a virtual world in response to a request from a source to communicate with the character;
establishing a first communication path between the request source and a terminal device of a player operating the character when the character exists in the virtual world;
placing a call to a communication destination registered by the player operating the character when the character does not exist in the virtual world; and
establishing a second communication path between the request source and the communication destination when the communication destination responds to the call. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 21)
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20. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a communication program to be executed on a computer, the communication program comprising:
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receiving an identifier of a terminal device;
establishing a communication path with a virtual world constructed on the terminal device; and
communicating sound information and digital information with the virtual world via the communication path.
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22. A system for performing communication, comprising:
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a processor for executing instructions; and
instructions, the instructions including;
determining whether a character exists in a virtual world in response to a request from a source to communicate with the character;
establishing a first communication path between the request source and a terminal device of a player operating the character when the character exists in the virtual world;
placing a call to a communication destination registered by the player operating the character when the character does not exist in the virtual world; and
establishing a second communication path between the request source and the communication destination when the communication destination responds to the call.
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23. A system for performing communication, comprising:
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a processor for executing instructions; and
instructions, the instructions including;
receiving an identifier of a terminal device;
establishing a communication path with a virtual world constructed on the terminal device; and
communicating sound information and digital information with the virtual world via the communication path.
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Specification