Information processing system, service providing apparatus and method, information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An information processing system, comprising:
- a plurality of information processing apparatuses; and
a service providing apparatus connected with the plurality of information processing apparatuses over a network;
the service providing apparatus including;
providing means for providing, to a given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, a service of a private virtual space in which a first mascot and an icon are arranged, wherein the private virtual space, the first mascot and the icon are associated with a particular user of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the icon representing an actual electrical device that is located in a real space associated with the particular user and that is connected over a local network to a particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses,storage means for storing layout information defining a layout of the private virtual space and for storing a selected location of the icon within the layout of the private virtual space, the location of the icon being selected by the particular user, andsharing means for sharing the service of the private virtual space being provided to the given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses with another one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses being used by another user;
the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses including;
control means for controlling the electrical device over the local network in response to an operation performed by the particular user or by the another user.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided which can be used to control electrical household appliances connected to a home network by use of a GUI having an entertainment-oriented virtual space capability. A virtual space is arranged with a mascot dedicated to the user of an information processing apparatus. An icon can be clicked to control a real world device existing in the home of a user. A user can participate in a virtual space belonging to another user through sharing.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An information processing system, comprising:
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a plurality of information processing apparatuses; and a service providing apparatus connected with the plurality of information processing apparatuses over a network; the service providing apparatus including; providing means for providing, to a given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, a service of a private virtual space in which a first mascot and an icon are arranged, wherein the private virtual space, the first mascot and the icon are associated with a particular user of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the icon representing an actual electrical device that is located in a real space associated with the particular user and that is connected over a local network to a particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, storage means for storing layout information defining a layout of the private virtual space and for storing a selected location of the icon within the layout of the private virtual space, the location of the icon being selected by the particular user, and sharing means for sharing the service of the private virtual space being provided to the given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses with another one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses being used by another user; the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses including; control means for controlling the electrical device over the local network in response to an operation performed by the particular user or by the another user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. A service providing apparatus connected with a plurality of information processing apparatuses over a network, the service providing apparatus comprising:
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providing means for providing, to a given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, a service of a private virtual space in which a first mascot and an icon are arranged, wherein the private virtual space, the first mascot and the icon are associated with a particular user of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the icon representing an actual electrical device that is located in a real space associated with the particular user and that is connected over a local network to a particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses; storage means for storing layout information defining a layout of the private virtual space and for storing a selected location of the icon within the layout of the private virtual space, the location of the icon being selected by the particular user; and sharing means for sharing the service of the private virtual space being provided to the given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses with another one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses being used by another user, and for sharing, with the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, an operation performed by the particular user or by the another user which, in response thereto, the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses controls the electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An information processing method, comprising:
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providing, to a given one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses using a service providing apparatus connected with the plurality of information processing apparatuses over a network, a service of a private virtual space in which a first mascot and an icon are arranged, wherein the private virtual space, the first mascot and the icon are associated with a particular user of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the icon representing an actual electrical device that is located in a real space associated with the particular user and that is connected over a local network to a particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses; storing, at the service providing apparatus, layout information defining a layout of the private virtual space and storing a selected location of the icon within the layout of the private virtual space, the location of the icon being selected by the particular user; sharing, at the service providing apparatus, the service of the private virtual space being provided to the given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses with another one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses being used by another user; and controlling, using the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the electrical device in response to an operation performed by the particular user or by the another user.
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20. A service providing method, comprising:
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providing, over a network to a given one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, a service of a private virtual space in which a first mascot and an icon are arranged, wherein the private virtual space, the first mascot and the icon are associated with a particular user of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, the icon representing an actual electrical device that is located in a real space associated with the particular user and that is connected over a local network to a particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses; storing layout information defining a layout of the private virtual space and storing a selected location of the icon within the layout of the private virtual space, the location of the icon being selected by the particular user; sharing, over the network with another one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses used by another user, the service of the private virtual space being provided to the given one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses; and sharing, over the network with the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, an operation performed by the particular user using the given one of plurality of information processing apparatuses or by the another user using the another one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses which, in response thereto, the particular one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses controls the electrical device.
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Specification