Control method for network system

• US 20040119733A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kenjiro, Toya, Kouichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/733
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

A plurality of information processing systems 10 are connected to a network 90. One of the information processing systems 10 photographs a part of a virtual space shared by the plurality of information processing systems 10. Information of having photographed is transmitted to the other information processing systems 10. The other information processing systems 10 which received the information of having photographed make a photographing effect, e.g., flashlight, shutter sound or others. The method for controlling a network system enables photographing in a virtual space, such as a game space.

Claims

1. A control method for a network system to which a plurality of information processing systems are connected, comprising the steps of:

photographing a part of a virtual space shared by the plurality of information processing systems by one of the information processing systems;

transmitting information of photographing or having photographed to the other information processing systems; and

executing a photographing effect when photographed.

2. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

specifying an object for said one information processing system to photograph,

the information of having photographed including information of the specified object,

the information processing system alone associated with the specified object of said other information processing systems executing the photographing effect.

3. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

specifying a character for said one information processing system to photograph,

the information of photographing being transmitted to the information processing system associated with the specified character,

said one information processing system photographing the character when the character takes a prescribed pose toward photographing means used by said one information processing system.

4. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

specifying a character for said one information processing system to photograph,

the information of photographing being transmitted to the information processing system associated with the specified object,

said one information processing system photographing said object after receiving from the information processing system associated with the object information of permitting photographing.

5. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

counting times of the respective information processing systems being photographed, and

executing events which are different depending on times of the respective information processing systems being photographed.

10. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the previous photographing operation, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

14. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the receipt of the previous information of having photographed, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

18. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores information of a photographed image.

22. A control method for a network system according to claim 1, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores a condition of a photographed image.

26. A program for executing one step of method according to claim 1.

30. An information storage medium for storing the program for executing one step of the method according to claim 1.

34. An electronic device for executing one step of the method according to claim 1.

6. A control method for a network system to which a plurality of information processing systems are connected, comprising the steps of:

photographing by one information processing system a part of a virtual space shared by said plurality of information processing systems, and

executing a photographing effect at least one of said plurality of information processing systems,

the photographing effect spontaneously visibly lighting the part of the virtual space.

11. A control method for a network system according to claim 6 wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the previous photographing operation, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

15. A control method for a network system according to claim 6, wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the receipt of the previous information of having photographed, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

19. A control method for a network system according to claim 6, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores information of a photographed image.

23. A control method for a network system according to claim 6, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores a condition of a photographed image.

27. A program for executing one step of method according to claim 6.

31. An information storage medium for storing the program for executing one step of the method according to claim 6.

35. An electronic device for executing one step of the method according to claim 6.

7. A control method for a network system to which a plurality of information processing systems are connected, comprising the steps of:

photographing by one information processing system a part of a virtual space shared by said plurality of information processing systems, and

producing an image photographed by said one information processing system,

an image which is invisible in the virtual space viewed by said one information processing system being included in the photographed image.

8. A control method for a network system according to claim 7, wherein

said invisible image is a copyright indication.

12. A control method for a network system according to claim 7 wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the previous photographing operation, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

16. A control method for a network system according to claim 7, wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the receipt of the previous information of having photographed, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

20. A control method for a network system according to claim 7, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores information of a photographed image.

24. A control method for a network system according to claim 7, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores a condition of a photographed image.

28. A program for executing one step of method according to claim 7.

32. An information storage medium for storing the program for executing one step of the method according to claim 7.

36. An electronic device for executing one step of the method according to claim 7.

9. A control method for a network system to which a plurality of information processing systems are connected, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from one information processing system to the other information processing systems, photographing means for photographing a part of a virtual space shared by said plurality of information processing system; and

transmitting, from the other information processing systems to said one information processing system, the photographing means and photographing information after the other information processing systems have photographed with said photographing means.

13. A control method for a network system according to claim 9 wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the previous photographing operation, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

17. A control method for a network system according to claim 9, wherein

until a prescribed period of time passes from the receipt of the previous information of having photographed, photographing is impossible, or the information of permitting photographing is not transmitted;

and a “

no photographing”

indication is made in the information processing system which is to photograph.

21. A control method for a network system according to claim 9, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores information of a photographed image.

25. A control method for a network system according to claim 9, wherein

upon photographing, said one information processing system stores a condition of a photographed image.

29. A program for executing one step of method according to claim 9.

33. An information storage medium for storing the program for executing one step of the method according to claim 9.

37. An electronic device for executing one step of the method according to claim 9.