Communication management apparatus with user modifiable symbol movable among virtual spaces shared by user terminals to direct current user position in real world and recording medium used therefor

• US 6,298,374 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sasaki, Kazuo, Obata, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/044,980
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200-206, 709/223-224, 707/10, 707/104, 345/326, 345/329-332, 345/355
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A communication management apparatus and recording medium which manages positions in the real world in connection with virtual spaces in a virtual world that correspond to these positions; which makes, while maintaining a substitute join either of the virtual spaces of the virtual world, the substitute in the virtual world move to follow the physical movement of a communicating person who moved to another place; and which displays the destination of the substitute of the communicating person in the virtual world or the destination of the communicating person in the real world, whereby a communicating person who wishes to communicate with another person physically moved, is able to know the destination of the substitute which moved in the virtual world to follow the physical movement of the other person, or the physical movement destination of the other person and is also able to communicate with the other person through designating the substitute of the other person who physically moved as the partner for communication by using a communication terminal apparatus at the destination, by monitoring either with his own communication terminal apparatus joining conditions of substitutes in the virtual world or by monitoring a screen of the communication terminal apparatus of the other person after moving thereto.

Claims

1. A communication management apparatus which makes a movement of a symbol of a communicating person in a virtual world follow a movement of the communicating person in the real world through a communication system in which the virtual world having a plurality of virtual spaces corresponding to the real world is constructed on a network to which a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses are connected, and the symbol of the communicating person to perform communication is operated to move from one virtual space to another virtual space, and the communication system enables exchange of messages between plural communicating persons who make their symbols join the same virtual space, said communication management apparatus comprising:

virtual space data management means for managing data specifying a virtual space and identification data of a communicating person that makes the symbol thereof join said virtual space;

correspondence management means for managing a position in the real world and data specifying a virtual space corresponding to the position relating each other;

position detecting means for detecting a position of a communicating person in the real world; and

control means for controlling, in case the position detecting means detects that the communicating person moved to another position in the real world, the symbol of the communicating person to move to a virtual space corresponding to the other position in the real world.

2. The communication management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication terminal apparatus at the default position of a symbol is defined, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a position of a symbol in the virtual world is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world, information of the destination of the communicating person on the communication terminal apparatus at the default position of the symbol of the communicating person.

3. The communication management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal data management means for managing positions in the real world at which said plurality of communication terminal apparatuses are disposed corresponding to data for respectively identifying the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses, and wherein the control means further comprises a means for requiring, in case a symbol of which position in the virtual world is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world is requested to exchange a message by another symbol, communication of a communication terminal apparatus which is disposed in the real world at a position that corresponds the virtual space to which the symbol moved.

4. The communication management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a terminal data management means for managing positions in the real world at which said plurality of communication terminal apparatuses are disposed corresponding to data for respectively identifying the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses, and wherein the control means further comprises a means for requiring, in case a symbol of which position in the virtual world being moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world is requested to exchange a message by another symbol, communication of a communication terminal apparatus which is disposed in the real world at a position that corresponds the virtual space to which the symbol moved.

5. The communication management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a position of a symbol in the virtual world is moved to another virtual space, the symbol on a terminal apparatus disposed at a position in the real world which corresponds to the virtual space to which the symbol is moved.

6. The communication management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a position of a symbol in the virtual world is moved to another virtual space, the symbol on a terminal apparatus disposed at a position in the real world which corresponds to the virtual space to which the symbol is moved.

7. The communication management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying a symbol which is moved through an operation and a symbol which is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world differently on a communicating terminal apparatus.

8. The communication management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying a symbol which is moved through an operation and a symbol which is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world differently on a communicating terminal apparatus.

9. The communication management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying a symbol which is moved through an operation and a symbol which is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world differently on a communicating terminal apparatus.

10. The communication management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying a symbol which is moved through an operation and a symbol which is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world differently on a communicating terminal apparatus.

11. The communication management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying a symbol which is moved through an operation and a symbol which is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world differently on a communicating terminal apparatus.

12. The communication management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying a symbol which is moved through an operation and a symbol which is moved to follow a movement of a communicating person in the real world differently on a communicating terminal apparatus.

13. The communication management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the default virtual space where a symbol should join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

14. The communication management apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

15. The communication management apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

16. The communication management apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

17. The communication management apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

18. The communication management apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

19. The communication management apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

20. The communication management apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

21. The communication management apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

22. The communication management apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

23. The communication management apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

24. The communication management apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the default virtual space where a symbol is to join is defined, and wherein the virtual space data management means comprises a means for managing data respectively specifying the default virtual space of a symbol and a virtual space to which the symbol moves relating each other, and a means for updating data for specifying a virtual space to which the symbol moved each time the symbol moves, and wherein the control means comprises a means for displaying, in case a second symbol is made to join the default virtual space of a first symbol which moved to another virtual space from the default virtual space, information on the destination of the first symbol.

25. A recording medium readable by a computer which makes a movement of a symbol of a communicating person in a virtual world follow a movement of the communicating person in the real world through a communication system in which the virtual world having a plurality of virtual spaces corresponding to the real world is constructed on a network to which a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses are connected, and the symbol of a communicating person who is to perform communication is operated to move from one virtual space to another virtual space, and the communication system enables exchange of messages between plural communicating persons who make their symbols join the same virtual space, said recording medium comprising:

program code means for causing the computer to manage data specifying a virtual space and identification data of a communicating person that makes the symbol thereof join said virtual space;

program code means for causing the computer to manage a position in the real world and data specifying a virtual space corresponding to the position relating each other;

program code means for causing the computer to detect a position of a communicating person in the real world; and

program code means for causing the computer to move the symbol of the communicating person to a virtual space corresponding to another position in the real world, in case it is detected that the communicating person moved to the position in the real world.

26. A communication management apparatus which makes a movement of a symbol of a communicating person in a virtual world follow a movement of the communicating person in the real world through a communication system in which the virtual world having a plurality of virtual spaces corresponding to the real world is constructed on a network to which a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses are connected, and the symbol of the communicating person to perform communication is operated to move from one virtual space to another virtual space, and the communication system enables exchange of messages between plural communicating persons who make their symbols join the same virtual space, said communication management apparatus comprising:

a virtual space data management unit managing data specifying a virtual space and identification data of a communicating person that makes the symbol thereof join said virtual space;

a correspondence management unit managing a position in the real world and data specifying a virtual space corresponding to the position relating each other;

a position detecting unit detecting a position of a communicating person in the real world; and

a control unit controlling, in case the position detecting unit detects that the communicating person moved to another position in the real world, the symbol of the communicating person to move to a virtual space corresponding to the other position in the real world.

27. A recording medium readable by a computer which makes a movement of a symbol of a communicating person in a virtual world follow a movement of the communicating person in the real world through a communication system in which the virtual world having a plurality of virtual spaces corresponding to the real world is constructed on a network to which a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses are connected, and the symbol of a communicating person who is to perform communication is operated to move from one virtual space to another virtual space, and the communication system enables exchange of messages between plural communicating persons who make their symbols join the same virtual space, said recording medium comprising:

a program code unit causing the computer to manage data specifying a virtual space and identification data of a communicating person that makes the symbol thereof join said virtual space;

a program code unit causing the computer to manage a position in the real world and data specifying a virtual space corresponding to the position relating to each other;

a program code unit causing the computer to detect a position of a communicating person in the real world; and

a program code unit causing the computer to move the symbol of the communicating person to a virtual space corresponding to another position in the real world, in case it is detected that the communicating person moved to the position in the real world.

28. A communication management system for moving a symbol representing a user from one virtual space to another virtual space as the user moves from one location to another location in the real world, comprising:

a position detector detecting a position of a user in the real world, the symbol of the user being displayed in a first one of the virtual spaces corresponding to the location of the user in the real world, and the user communicating with other users having symbols joined in the first virtual space; and

a controller moving, when the position detector detects that the user moved to another position in the real world corresponding to a second one of the virtual spaces, the symbol of the user to the second virtual space, the user communicating with other users having symbols joined in the second virtual space.

29. A communication management method for moving a symbol representing a user from one virtual space to another virtual space as the user moves from one location to another location in the real world, comprising:

detecting a position of a user in the real world, the symbol of the user being displayed in a first one of the virtual spaces corresponding to the location of the user in the real world, and the user communicating with other users having symbols joined in the first virtual space; and

moving, when said detecting detects that the user moved to another position in the real world corresponding to a second one of the virtual spaces, the symbol of the user to the second virtual space, the user communicating with other users having symbols joined in the second virtual space.

30. A computer-readable storage controlling a computer to move a symbol representing a user from one virtual space to another virtual space as the user moves from one location to another location in the real world, and comprising a process of:

detecting a position of a user in the real world, the symbol of the user being displayed in a first one of the virtual spaces corresponding to the location of the user in the real world, and the user communicating with other users having symbols joined in the first virtual space; and

moving, when said detecting detects that the user moved to another position in the real world corresponding to a second one of the virtual spaces, the symbol of the user to the second virtual space, the user communicating with other users having symbols joined in the second virtual space.