Information processing system that seamlessly connects real world and virtual world

• US 7,115,034 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuwahara, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US10/139,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/25, 463/29, 463 42- 43
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A player moves point value in virtual world into an IC card and a service center updates the point value stored in the IC card based on a result of an event which the player performed in real world. As a result, information concerning the play of the player in the virtual world is updated based on the player'"'"'s acts in the real world and a part of the virtual world is created based on the acts, which allows seamlessly connecting between the virtual world and the real world.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

a first terminal device provided at a user side, for executing predetermined information processing including a process for causing a user to execute a predetermined event in the real world;

portable storage means for storing a unique storage means identifier;

a second terminal device placed in a predetermined place, the second terminal device being assigned a unique second device identifier and having means; and

a server device connected to the first terminal device and the second terminal device via a predetermined network, the server device having certifying means and generating means, wherein;

the input/output means of the second terminal device reads our the storage means identifier front the portable storage means;

the second terminal device sends the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier to the server device;

the certifying means of the server, including a database having pre-stored information that includes the storage means identifier and the second terminal device identifier, certifies the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier sent by the server device by referencing the pre-stored information in the database; and

the generating means of the server device generates event completion information upon receiving a certification of the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier from the certifying means and an event completion notification from the second terminal device indicating that the user has executed the predetermined event.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information processing executed by the first terminal device is concerned with a video game.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined event to be executed by the user is instructed while the user plays the video game on the first terminal device.

4. The information processing system according to claim 2, further comprising:

modifying means for modifying information stored in the portable storage means in accordance with a result of the predetermined event; and

controlling means provided at the user side, for controlling the information processing executed on the first terminal device based on the modified information stored in the portable storage means;

wherein the modified information stored in the portable storage means represents a point value obtained by the user through playing the video game.

5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the controlling means adds points to the point value stored in the portable storage means when the user clears the predetermined event.

6. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the controlling means subtracts points corresponded to a virtual item purchased by the user from the point value stored in the storage means when the user purchases the virtual item within the video game at an existing store with the point value stored in the storage means.

7. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage means is portable by the user.

8. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

executing predetermined information processing by a first terminal device at a user side, the predetermined information processing including a process for causing a user to execute a predetermined event in the real world;

storing a unique storage means identifier in a portable storage means;

reading out the storage means identifier from the portable storage means by an input/output means of a second terminal device;

sending the storage means identifier and a second terminal device identifier to a server device by a second terminal device;

wherein

the server device is connected to the first terminal device and the second terminal device via a predetermined network and includes certifying means and generating means;

the certifying means of the server, including a database having pre-stored information that includes the storage means identifier and the second terminal device identifier, certifies the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier sent by The server device by referencing the pre-stored information in the database; and

the generating means of the server device generates event completion information upon receiving a certification of the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier from the certifying means and an event completion notification from the second terminal device indicating that the user has executed the predetermined event.

9. The information processing method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

modifying information stored in the portable storage means in accordance with a result of the predetermined event; and

controlling the information processing executed on the first terminal device based on the modified information stored in the portable storage means.

10. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined information processing executed by the first terminal device is concerned with a video game.

11. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined event to be executed by the user is instructed while the user plays the video game on the first terminal device.

12. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein the modified information stored in the portable storage device represents a point value obtained by the user through playing the video game.

13. The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein the modifying step comprises a step of adding points to the point value when the user clears the predetermined event.

14. The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein the modifying step comprises a step of subtracting points corresponded to a virtual item purchased by the user from the point value when the user purchases the virtual item within the video game at an existing store with the point value.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having recorded therein an information processing program to be executed on a computer, wherein the information processing program performs the steps of:

executing predetermined information processing by a first terminal device at a user side, the predetermined information processing including a process for causing a user to execute a predetermined event in the real world;

storing a unique storage means identifier in a portable storage means;

reading out the storage means identifier from the portable storage means by an input/output means of a second terminal device;

sending the storage means identifier and a second terminal device identifier to a server device by a second terminal device;

wherein

The server device is connected to the first terminal device and the second terminal device via a predetermined network and includes certifying means and generating means;

the certifying means of the server, including a database having pre-stored information that includes the storage means identifier and the second terminal device identifier, certifies the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier sent by the server device by referencing the pre-stored information in the database; and

the generating means of the server device generates event completion information upon receiving a certification of the second terminal device identifier and the storage means identifier from the certifying means and an event completion notification from the second terminal device indicating that the user has executed the predetermined event.

16. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the information processing program further comprises the steps of:

modifying information stored in the portable storage means in accordance with a result of the predetermined event; and

controlling the information processing executed on the first terminal device based on the modified information stored in the portable storage means of the information processing.

17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim. 16, wherein the predetermined information processing executed by the first terminal device is concerned with a video game.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined event to he executed by the user is instructed while the user plays the video game on the terminal device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the modified information stored in the portable storage device represents a point value obtained by the user through playing the video game.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the information processing program further comprises the step of:

adding points to the point value when the user clears the predetermined event.

21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the information processing program further comprises the step of:

subtracting points corresponded to a virtual item purchased by the user from the point value when the user purchases the virtual item within the video game at an existing store with the point value.

22. An information processing system comprising:

a first terminal device provided at a user side, for executing predetermined information processing including a process for causing a user to execute a predetermined event in the real world;

a portable storage unit for storing a unique storage means identifier;

a modifying unit for modifying information stored in the portable storage unit in accordance with a result of the predetermined event; and

a controlling unit provided at the user side, for controlling the information processing executed on the first terminal device based on the modified information stored in the portable storage unit;

wherein the modifying unit modifies the information stored in the portable storage unit upon receiving event completion notification from a server device connected to the modifying unit via a predetermined network.

23. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

executing, a;

a firs;

terminal device provided at a user side, predetermined information processing including a process for causing a user to execute a predetermined even;

in the real world;

storing a unique storage means identifier in a portable storage unit;

modifying information stored by the portable storage unit in a modifying unit, in accordance with a result of the predetermined event; and

controlling the information processing executed on the first terminal device in a controlling unit provided at the user side, based on the modified information stored in the portable storage unit;

wherein the modifying unit modifies the information stored in the portable storage unit upon receiving event completion notification from a server device connected to the modifying unit via a predetermined network.