Animated virtual agent displaying apparatus, method for displaying a virtual agent, and medium for storing instructions for displaying a virtual agent

• US 6,434,597 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LINE Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hachiya, Kazuhiko, Otaki, Namie, Koki, Takashi, Kitamura, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/691,354
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 707/505, 345/473, 345/474, 345/335, 345/327, 345/329
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing attached E-mail data and storage medium for processing a program for attached data in which, in sending/receiving an E-mail using a virtual pet displayed on a real world oriented GUI screen as an agent, in which parameters controlling the behavior of the agent are processed on the side of a server and returned to the user to enable the user to change the agent behavior. A user appends agent parameters to an E-mail to send the resulting mail to a pre-set address. An Internet service provider receives the E-mail to judge whether the title (Subject:) of the mail header is (cocktail lounge). If the title is the cocktail lounge, the physical power parameter of the agent parameter is lowered to append it to the E-mail Magneto-optical disc to send the mail back to the user. On the user side, the tipsy behavior of the drunken pet is displayed on the basis of the agent parameters appended to the E-mail Magneto-optical disc.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus, comprising:

a server for receiving a data transmission including an agent parameter defining a behavior of an animated virtual agent and for receiving specifying information which specifies an event;

a controller for determining an event participation by said animated virtual agent based on said specifying information;

wherein said controller is configured to modify said agent parameter based on said event participation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said event participation includes one of a visit to a cocktail lounge, a barber and a hospital by said virtual agent.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein when said controller determines that said virtual agent visited said cocktail lounge, said controller further configured to lower a physical power parameter of said virtual agent.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein when said controller determines that said virtual agent visited said barber, said controller further configured to modify a physical appearance parameter of said virtual agent.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein when said controller determines that said virtual agent visited said hospital, said controller further configured to lower a physical strength parameter of said virtual agent.

6. The data processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said animated virtual agent is an electronic pet.

7. A method of data processing, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data transmission including an agent parameter defining a behavior of an animated virtual agent;

receiving specifying information which specifies an event;

determining an event participation by said animated virtual agent based on said specifying information; and

modifying said agent parameter based on said event participation.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said event participation includes one of a visit to a cocktail lounge, a barber and a hospital by said virtual agent.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein when said determining step determines that said virtual agent visited said cocktail lounge, said modifying step includes the step of lowering a physical power parameter of said virtual agent.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein when said determining step determines that said virtual agent visited said barber, said modifying step includes the step of modifying a physical appearance parameter of said virtual agent.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein when said determining step determines that said virtual agent visited said hospital, said modifying step includes the step of lowering a physical strength parameter of said virtual agent.

12. The method of data processing of claim 7 wherein said animated virtual agent is an electronic pet.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said animated virtual agent is an electronic pet.

13. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program for performing data processing, said data processing comprising the steps of:

receiving a data transmission including an agent parameter defining a behavior of an animated virtual agent;

receiving specifying information which specifies an event;

determining an event participation by said animated virtual agent based on said specifying information; and

modifying said agent parameter based on said event participation.

14. The medium of claim 13 wherein said event participation includes one of a visit to a cocktail lounge, a barber and a hospital by said virtual agent.

15. The medium of claim 14 wherein when said determining step determines that said virtual agent visited said cocktail lounge, said modifying step includes the step of lowering a physical power parameter of said virtual agent.

16. The medium of claim 14 wherein when said determining step determines that said virtual agent visited said barber, said modifying step includes the step of modifying a physical appearance parameter of said virtual agent.

17. The medium of claim 14 wherein when said determining step determines that said virtual agent visited said hospital, said modifying step includes the step of lowering a physical strength parameter of said virtual agent.