Method, storage medium, apparatus, server and program for providing an electronic chat

• US 6,882,975 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Yotoriyama, Hiroaki, Akatsuka, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US10/154,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/275, 704/260, 345/473, 345/758
• US Class Current: 704/275
• 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 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for expressing a feeling and so on included in a speech of a player, more plainly, when the player has a chat through a network. The method for providing an electronic chat between a first apparatus controlling a first own player character and a second apparatus controlling a second own player character, through a network, comprises: inputting a speech data to the first apparatus; inputting a motion pattern of the first own player character to the first apparatus; sending a chat data including the speech data and the motion pattern to the second apparatus; receiving a chat data sent from the second apparatus; outputting a speech data included in the chat data received from the second apparatus; and moving and displaying the second own player character on the basis of a motion pattern included in the chat data received from the second apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic chat between a first apparatus controlling a first own player character and a second apparatus controlling a second own player character, through a network, comprising:

inputting a speech data to the first apparatus;

inputting a motion pattern of the first own player character to the first apparatus;

sending a chat data including the speech data and the motion pattern to the second apparatus;

receiving a chat data sent from the second apparatus;

outputting a speech data included in the chat data received from the second apparatus; and

moving and displaying the second own player character on the basis of a motion pattern included in the chat data received from the second apparatus;

storing a plurality of motion patterns and a plurality of predetermined displayed objects which are corresponded to each other, in the first apparatus; and

displaying some of the predetermined displayed objects, which are determined according to a predetermined condition.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

storing the plurality of motion patterns and a plurality of predetermined input operations which are corresponded to each other, in the first apparatus; and

determining any one of the motion patterns, which corresponds to any one of the predetermined input operations, to be inputted to the first apparatus, when the one of the predetermined input operations is inputted to the first apparatus.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, comprising:

determining any one of the motion patterns, which corresponds to any one of the predetermined displayed objects, to be inputted to the first apparatus, when the one of the predetermined displayed objects is inputted to the first apparatus.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, comprising:

restricting the motion patterns which can be selected, by a predetermined condition.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

sending the chat data further including a sequence data indicating an output order of the speech data and the motion pattern to the second apparatus; and

controlling outputting the speech data and moving and displaying the second own player character, on the basis of a sequence data included in the chat data received from the second apparatus.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, comprising:

storing a plurality of speech and motion patterns including at least the speech data, the motion pattern and the sequence data in the first apparatus;

selecting any one of the speech and motion patterns stored in the first apparatus; and

sending the chat data including the one selected of the speech and motion patterns to the second apparatus.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, comprising:

generating the sequence data on the basis of an input order of the speech data and the motion pattern.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

inputting the speech data including a predetermined output control code to the first apparatus; and

outputting the speech data in an output state and/or at an output speed, determined according to a predetermined output control code included in the speech data received from the second apparatus.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

outputting the speech data in an output state and/or at an output speed, determined according to the motion pattern included in the chat data received from the second apparatus.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

analyzing a content of the speech data included in the chat data received from the second apparatus; and

moving and displaying the second own player character on the basis of the motion pattern corresponding to the content of the speech data.

11. A storage medium having a program recorded thereon, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, the program making the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A program, when the program is loaded onto an operating apparatus, to make the operating apparatus execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. An apparatus for controlling an own player character, and providing an electronic chat with another apparatus controlling another own player character, through a network, comprising:

a section for inputting a speech data thereto;

a section for inputting a motion pattern of the own player character thereto;

a section for sending a chat data including the speech data and the motion pattern to another apparatus;

a section for receiving a chat data sent from another apparatus;

a section for outputting a speech data included in the chat data received from another apparatus;

a section for moving and displaying another own player character on the basis of a motion pattern included in the chat data received from another apparatus;

a section for storing a plurality of motion patterns and a plurality of predetermined displayed objects which are corresponded to each other, in the first apparatus; and

a section for displaying some of the predetermined displayed objects, which are determined according to a predetermined condition.

14. A server connectable to first and second apparatuses each of which comprises a section for sending a speech data and a motion code of an own player character, a section for receiving a predetermined data, a section for outputting a speech data received, and a section for moving and displaying another player character on the basis of a motion data received, a section for storing a plurality of motion patterns and a plurality of predetermined displayed objects which are corresponded to each other, in the first apparatus;

and

a section for displaying some of the predetermined displayed objects, which are determined according to a predetermined condition, through a predetermined communication line, the server comprising;

a section for storing a plurality of motion data and a plurality of motion codes which are corresponded to each other;

a section for receiving the speech data and the motion code sent from the first apparatus;

a section for extracting any one corresponding to the motion code received, from the motion data stored; and

a section for sending the motion data extracted and the speech data received, to the second apparatus.