Information providing system, information providing device, and system for controlling robot device

• US 20030158629A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Inoue, Makoto, Takeda, Masashi, Fujita, Masahiro, Noma, Hideki, Konishi, Tetsuya, Muramatsu, Katsuya, Inoue, Noritoshi, Matsuoka, Tsunetaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible and easier to serve optimum robot components/devices/accessories by means of an information service system including personal terminal devices (31A to 31C) connected to an information communication network via a telecommunication line, and a server (38) connected to the information communication network via the telecommunication line to cumulatively store information on components/devices/accessories available from a plurality of manufacturers (37a, 37c and 37c) (third party) of components/devices/accessories of a robot 1, as classified according to the attributes of the components/devices/accessories and send, to the personal terminal devices (31A to 31C) connected thereto, options information prepared based on the attribute of the cumulatively stored components/devices/accessories information and including a plurality of items for selection of a robot component.

Claims

1. An information service system comprising:

communication terminal devices connected to an information communication network via a telecommunication line; and

an information management unit connected to the information communication network via the telecommunication line to cumulatively store information about components/devices/accessories of a robotic device composed of a plurality of components/devices/accessories, available from a plurality of component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors, as classified according to the attributes of the components/devices/accessories, and send, to the communication terminal devices when connected thereto, options information including a plurality of options for selection of components/devices/accessories, the options information having been prepared on the basis of attributes of the cumulatively stored components/devices/accessories information;

the communication terminal devices selecting a component/device/accessory based on the options information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the

component/device/accessory is selected based on the options information at the communication terminal device, the information management unit informs the manufacturer or distributor of the selected component, via the telecommunication line, that the component/device/accessory is to be sold to a user owning the communication terminal device and having selected the component.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturer or distributor serves the components/devices/accessories information to the information management unit via the telecommunication line.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the options information is video information for displaying a plurality of items based on the attribute of the components/devices/accessories information.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

information required for autonomous behavior of the robotic device is sent via the information communication network to the information management unit; and

the information management unit sends, to the communication terminal devices, options information prepared based on the attribute of the components/devices/accessories information and information required for the robotic device to autonomously decide its behavior.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the communication terminal device sends the necessary information for autonomous behavior of the robotic device to the information management unit.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the necessary information for autonomous behavior of the robotic device is sent to the information management unit from a station connected to the information communication network and which makes data communications with the robotic device placed thereon.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein:

the necessary information for autonomous behavior of the robotic device is internal information which cannot be known by taking it out of the robotic device; and

the information management unit sends the internal information along with the options information to the communication terminal devices.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit stores information on the distribution of the component.

10. The system according to claim 1 (9?), wherein the information management unit serves information on a new product of the component/device/accessory to a predetermined owner of the robotic device based on the distribution information.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the components/devices/accessories available from the manufacturer or distributor include software for the robotic device.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit cumulatively stores the components/devices/accessories information classified according to the attributes of the components/devices/accessories and prepares the options information based on the thus classified components/devices/accessories information.

13. An information service method to be effected in an information service system including communication terminal devices connected to an information communication network via a telecommunication line and an information management unit connected to the information communication network via the telecommunication line to cumulatively store information about components/devices/accessories of a robotic device composed of a plurality of components/devices/accessories available from a plurality of component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors, as classified according to the attributes of the components/devices/accessories, the method comprising steps of:

sending, to the communication terminal devices when connected to the information management unit, options information including a plurality of options for selection of components/devices/accessories, the options information having been prepared on the basis of attributes of the cumulatively stored components/devices/accessories information; and

selecting a component/device/accessory based on the options information sent in the sending step.

14. An information server comprising:

means for storage of robot-related information on a robotic device composed of a plurality of components/devices/accessories;

means for storage of information about the components/devices/accessories of the robotic device; and

means for reading the robot-related information from the robot-related information storage means and selecting a predetermined piece of components/devices/accessories information from the components/devices/accessories information storage means based on the robot-related information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the robot-related information includes information on types of robotic devices in which at least the components/devices/accessories in consideration can be used.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined piece of components/devices/accessories information concerns components/devices/accessories usable in the robotic device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for serving the predetermined piece of components/devices/accessories information selected by the components/devices/accessories information selecting means.

18. An information serving method comprising steps of:

storing, into storage means, robot-related information on a robotic device composed of a plurality of components/devices/accessories and components/devices/accessories information on the robotic device; and

reading the robot-related information stored in the storage means in the storing step and selecting a predetermined piece of components/devices/accessories information from the storage means based on the robot-related information, thereby serving an optimum piece of components/devices/accessories information for the robotic device.

19. A robotic device management system comprises:

a manufacturer or distributor of an autonomous type robotic device which can be constructed of components/devices/accessories and autonomously behave based on an external factor and/or an internal factor;

a plurality of component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors of the components/devices/accessories for the robotic device; and

a robotic device manager that manages, as information, components/devices/accessories available from the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors, selects one of the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors by referring to the information on the available components/devices/accessories upon reception of an order from a demander for a component/device/accessory of the robotic device and then issues an order for the component/device/accessory ordered by the demander to the selected one of the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the selected one of the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors is charged for paying to the robotic device manufacturer or distributor and/or the robotic device manager a money for the production or distribution of the component, effected based on the order from the robotic device manager.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein:

the robotic device manager uses an information management unit to make the components/devices/accessories information management, manufacturer or distribution selection and ordering for the demanded component; and

the information management unit receives, via a communication means, the order entered by the demander by operating an input terminal, and issues the order to the component/device/accessory manufacturer or distributor via the communications means.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein:

the robotic device manager serves the information on the available components/devices/accessories to the demanders including possible ones; and

the demander issues the order on the basis of the information on the available components/devices/accessories, having been served in advance.

23. A robotic device management method in which:

there is produced or distributed an autonomous type robotic device which can be constructed of components/devices/accessories and autonomously behave based on an external factor and/or an internal factor;

a demander having purchased the robotic device issues an order for a component/device/accessory to a robotic device manager that manages, as information, components/devices/accessories available from a plurality of component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors of the components/devices/accessories for the robotic device; and

upon reception of an order from a demander for a component/device/accessory of the robotic device and then issues an order for the component/device/accessory having been ordered from the demander, the robotic device manager selects one of the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors by referring to the information on the available components/devices/accessories and then issues an order for the component/device/accessory ordered from the demander to the selected one of the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the selected one of the component/device/accessory manufacturers or distributors is charged for paying to the robotic device manufacturer or distributor and/or the robotic device manager a money for the production or distribution of the component, effected based on the order from the robotic device manager.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the robotic device manager serves the information on the available components/devices/accessories to the demanders including possible ones; and

the robotic device manager issues the order on the basis of the information on the available components/devices/accessories, having been served in advance.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the robotic device manager serves the information on the available components/devices/accessories to the demanders including possible ones; and

the demander issues the order on the basis of the information on the available components/devices/accessories, having been served in advance.