Communication Game System, Communication Game Control Method, Information Recording Medium, and Program

• US 20090054156A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Mori, Shoji
• Application Number:
  US12/280,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20090054156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video

Abstract

In an online game in which game players are able to communicate with each other by voice utterance, in order that information such as audio information representing a voice uttered by one of the game players in synchronization with video image information may be output in synchronization with video image information in a terminal on the side of the other game player, a sending end terminal (301) of an online game system (201) plays back sending end video image information when a playback start condition is satisfied, accepts the input of audio information from the game player, transmits to a receiving end terminal (401) audio information (synchronous audio information) and other than the synchronous audio information (asynchronous audio information) both of which were input during the playback. The receiving end terminal (401) receives audio information transmitted from the sending end terminal (301), audibly outputs the received audio information if the received audio information is asynchronous audio information, starts the playing back of receiving end video image information after the received information changes in type from asynchronous audio information to synchronous audio information, and performs buffering with respect to synchronous audio information so that the synchronous audio information is audibly output in synchronization with receiving end audio information.

Claims

1. An online game system (201) comprising a sending end terminal (301) and a receiving end terminal (401),

(a) wherein the sending end terminal (301) includes:

a multimedia information input accepting unit (302) to accept the input of multimedia information;

a sending end video image playing-back unit (303) to start the playing back of sending end video image information when a predefined playback start condition is satisfied;

a sending unit (304) to distinguish whether the multimedia information whose input is accepted is (i) multimedia information that had been accepted during a period of time from when the predefined playback start condition was satisfied until when the playing back of the sending end video image information was over (this multimedia information being hereinafter referred to as “

synchronous multimedia information”

) or (ii) multimedia information other than the synchronous multimedia information (this multimedia information being hereinafter referred to as “

asynchronous multimedia information”

), the sending unit (304) then sequentially sending the multimedia information whose input is accepted; and

(b) wherein the receiving end terminal (401) includes;

a receiving unit (402) to sequentially receive multimedia information that are sequentially transmitted from the sending end terminal (301);

a receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) to start the playing back of receiving end video image information when a predefined synchronous playback start condition is satisfied with respect to multimedia information received by the receiving unit (402);

a multimedia information outputting unit (404) that is configured such that;

(p) when each of the sequentially received multimedia information is asynchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) sequentially outputs the respective asynchronous multimedia information;

(q) when each of the sequentially received multimedia information is synchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) buffers the respective synchronous multimedia information until the playing back of the receiving end video image information is started and then sequentially outputs the respective buffered synchronous multimedia information once the playing back of the receiving end video image information is started.

2. An online game system comprising a sending end terminal (301) and a receiving end terminal (401),

(a) wherein the sending end terminal (301) includes:

a manipulation input accepting unit (105) to accept a manipulation input from a user;

a multimedia information input accepting unit (302) to accept the input of multimedia information from the user;

a sending end video image playing-back unit (303) to start the playing back of sending end video image information when the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input;

a sending unit (304) that is a sending unit to sequentially transmit information, the type of which includes start notification, multimedia information, or termination notification, to the receiving end terminal (401), the sending unit (304) being configured such that;

(r) when the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input, then the sending unit (304) transmits a start notification to that effect;

(s) when the inputting of the multimedia information is detected to have been accepted for a predefined length of time, then the sending unit (304) transmits the predefined length of time'"'"'s multimedia information per such detection;

(t) if the playing back of the sending end video image information is detected to be over, the sending unit (304) transmits a termination notification to that effect;

(b) wherein the receiving end terminal (401) includes;

a receiving unit (402) to sequentially receive information that are sequentially transmitted from the sending end terminal (301);

a receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) that is configured such that, if information received by the receiving unit (402) is detected to be the start notification, the receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) starts the playing back of receiving end video image information that is associated with the sending end video image information after a predefined allowance time has elapsed since the detection;

a multimedia information outputting unit (404) to determine that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during a period of time from when the receiving unit (402) received the start notification until when the receiving unit (402) received the termination notification are synchronous information, and that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during other than that period of time are asynchronous multimedia information, the multimedia information outputting unit (404) being configured such that;

(p) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be asynchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) sequentially outputs the respective asynchronous multimedia information;

(q) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be synchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) buffers the respective synchronous multimedia information to a buffer region capable of buffering for a time equal to or longer than the predefined allowance time and then sequentially outputs the respective buffered synchronous multimedia information after the playing back of the receiving end video image information is started.

3. The online game system according to claim 2,

(c) wherein, in the sending end terminal (301), the type of the information that is transmitted by the sending unit (304) further includes playback stop information;

(x) the sending end video image playing-back unit (303) stopping and then terminating the playing back of the sending end video image information upon detecting that a predefined playback stop condition is satisfied;

(y) the sending unit (304) transmitting, upon detecting that the predefined playback stop condition has been satisfied, playback stop information to that effect; and

(d) wherein, in the receiving end terminal (401), upon detecting that information received by the receiving unit (402) is the playback stop information, the multimedia information outputting unit (404) erases the buffered synchronous multimedia information and then halts the outputting of multimedia information that had sequentially been received during a period of time from when the playback stop information was received until when the termination notification was received.

4. The online game system according to claim 3, wherein the predefined playback stop condition is satisfied in the sending end terminal (301) if the accepted manipulated input fails to match a predefined manipulation input pattern within a predefined grace period after the predefined playback start condition was satisfied.

5. The online game system according to claim 2, wherein the predefined playback stop condition is satisfied in the sending end terminal (301) if the input-accepted multimedia information fails to fulfill a predefined multimedial characteristic within a predefined grace period after the predefined playback start condition was satisfied.

6. The online game system according to claim 5, wherein, in the receiving end terminal (401), the multimedia information outputting unit (404) buffers the synchronous multimedia information for a longer length of time than the predefined grace period.

7. An online game control method that is executed in a sending end terminal (301) and a receiving end terminal (401),

(a) wherein, in the sending end terminal (301), the online game control method comprises:

a manipulation input accepting step of accepting a manipulation input from a user;

a multimedia information input accepting step of accepting the input of multimedia information from the user;

a sending end video image playing-back step of starting the playing back of sending end video image information if the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input;

a sending step sequentially sending information, the type of which includes start notification, multimedia information, or termination notification, to the receiving end terminal (401), the sending step being adapted such that;

(r) when the accepted manipulated input is detected to be the predefined start manipulation input, then the sending step transmits a start notification to that effect to the receiving end terminal (401);

(s) when the inputting of the multimedia information is detected to have been accepted for a predefined length of time, then the sending step transmits the predefined length of time'"'"'s multimedia information per such detection;

(t) when the playing back of the sending end video Image information is detected to be over, then the sending step transmits a termination notification to that effect to the receiving end terminal (401);

(b) wherein, in the receiving end terminal (401), the online game control method comprises;

a receiving step of sequentially receiving information that are sequentially transmitted from the sending end terminal (301);

a receiving end playing back step of starting, if information received in the receiving step is detected to be the start notification, the playing back of receiving end video image information that is associated with the sending end video image information after a predefined allowance time has elapsed since the detection;

a multimedia information outputting step of determining that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during a period of time from when the start notification was received in the receiving step until when the termination notification was received in the receiving step are synchronous information, and that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during other than that period of time are asynchronous multimedia information, the multimedia information outputting step being adapted such that;

(p) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be asynchronous multimedia information, the multimedia information outputting step sequentially outputs the respective asynchronous multimedia information;

(q) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be synchronous multimedia information, the multimedia information outputting step buffers the respective synchronous multimedia information to a buffer region capable of buffering for a longer length of time than the predefined allowance time and then sequentially outputs the respective buffered synchronous multimedia information after the playing back of the receiving end video image information is started.

8. A computer readable information recording medium having a program recorded thereon that directs a first computer and a second computer to function respectively as a sending end terminal (301) and as a receiving end terminal (401),

(a) wherein the program directs the first computer to function as:

a manipulation input accepting unit (105) to accept a manipulation input from a user;

a multimedia information input accepting unit (302) to accept the input of multimedia information from the user;

a sending end video image playing-back unit (303) to start, when the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input, the playing back of sending end video image information;

a sending unit (304) that is configured to sequentially transmit information, the type of which includes start notification, multimedia information, or termination notification, to the receiving end terminal (401), the sending unit (304) being configured such that;

(r) when the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input, then the sending unit (304) transmits a start notification to that effect;

(s) when the inputting of the multimedia information is detected to have been accepted for a predefined length of time, then the sending unit (304), transmits the predefined length of time'"'"'s multimedia information per such detection;

(t) when the playing back of the sending end video image information is detected to be over, then sending unit (304) transmits a termination notification to that effect;

(b) wherein the program further directs the second computer to function as;

a receiving unit (402) to sequentially receive information that are sequentially transmitted from the sending end terminal (301);

a receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) configured such that, if information received by the receiving unit (402) is detected to be the start notification, the receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) starts the playing back of receiving end video image information that is associated with the sending end video image information after a predefined allowance time has elapsed since the detection;

a multimedia information outputting unit (404) to determine that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during a period of time from when the receiving unit (402) received the start notification until when the receiving unit (402) received the termination notification are synchronous multimedia information, and that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during other than that period of time are asynchronous multimedia information, the multimedia information outputting unit (404) being configured such that;

(p) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be asynchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) sequentially outputs the respective asynchronous multimedia information;

(q) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be synchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) buffers the respective synchronous multimedia information to a buffer region capable of buffering for a longer length of time than the predefined allowance time and then sequentially outputs the respective buffered synchronous multimedia information after the playing back of the receiving end video image information is started.

9. A program that directs a first computer and a second computer to function respectively as a sending end terminal (301) and as a receiving end terminal (401),

(a) wherein the program directs the first computer to function as:

a manipulation input accepting unit (105) to accept a manipulation input from a user;

a multimedia information input accepting unit (302) to accept the input of multimedia information from the user;

a sending end video image playing-back unit (303) to start, if the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input, the playing back of sending end video image information;

a sending unit (304) that is configured to sequentially transmit information, the type of which includes start notification, multimedia information, or termination notification, to the receiving end terminal (401) the sending unit (304) being configured such that;

(r) when the accepted manipulated input is detected to be a predefined start manipulation input, then the sending unit (304) transmits a start notification to that effect;

(s) when the inputting of the multimedia information is detected to have been accepted for a predefined length of time, then the sending unit (304), per such detection, transmits to the receiving end terminal (401) the predefined length of time'"'"'s multimedia information;

(t) when the playing back of the sending end video image information is detected to be over, then sending unit (304) transmits a termination notification to that effect to the receiving end terminal (401);

(b) wherein the program further directs the second computer to function as;

a receiving unit (402) to sequentially receive information that are sequentially transmitted from the sending end terminal (301);

a receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) configured such that, if information received by the receiving unit (402) is detected to be the start notification, the receiving end video image playing-back unit (403) starts the playing back of receiving end video image information that is associated with the sending end video image information after a predefined lead time has elapsed since the detection;

a multimedia information outputting unit (404) to determine that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during a period of time from when the receiving unit (402) received the start notification until when the receiving unit (402) received the termination notification are synchronous multimedia information, and that multimedia information that had sequentially been received during other than that period of time are asynchronous multimedia information, the multimedia information outputting unit (404) being configured such that;

(p) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be asynchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) sequentially outputs the respective asynchronous multimedia information;

(q) when each of the sequentially received information is determined to be synchronous multimedia information, then the multimedia information outputting unit (404) buffers the respective synchronous multimedia information to a buffer region capable of buffering for a longer length of time than the predefined allowance time and then sequentially outputs the respective buffered synchronous multimedia information after the playing back of the receiving end video image information is started.