Method and apparatus for automatic sending of e-mail and automatic sending control program supplying medium

• US 7,159,009 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hachiya, Kazuhiko, Otaki, Namie, Koki, Takashi, Kitamura, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong
• Application Number:
  US10/013,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/206, 345/473, 345/156, 345/421, 715/848, 715/701, 482/4
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sending an E-mail, dispatching or delivering mail with an animated representation as if a pet were going in and out on a GUI picture simulating the inside of a room. In addition, the user can send an E-mail with a friendly feeling using an agent. By sending agent data which is updated responsive to experiences of an electronic pet as annexed papers to the E-mail, the animation appears as if an electronic pet were going in and out on a GUI picture simulating the inside of a room for dispatching or delivering a mail. The behavior of the animated pet is varied depending on the keeping environment. The electronic pet selects an illustrative sentence in keeping with the agent data from preset illustrative sentences for voluntary sending the sentence as an E-mail to a user who is a keeper or to a counterpart of past mailing of the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing a virtual agent, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a first agent parameter controlling a first agent kept by a first person on a first computer operated by the first person;

storing a first image data of the first agent on the first computer;

storing a second image data of a second agent being kept by a second person on the first computer;

selectively displaying according to a state of the first agent, wherein the first agent is displayed when the state represents other than an absent state, the first agent on a first screen connected to the first computer based on the first image data and the first agent parameter; and

sending the second agent parameter to a second computer through a communication network.

2. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first agent is displayed as an animated character.

3. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second agent parameter controlling a second agent kept by the second person through the communication network; and

displaying the second agent on the first screen connected to the first computer based on the second image data and the second agent parameter.

4. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

detecting a first event corresponding to the first agent; and

updating the first agent parameter with the detected first event.

5. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

detecting a second event corresponding to the second agent; and

updating the second agent parameter with the detected second event.

6. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first agent parameter is randomly generated.

7. A method for providing a virtual agent, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting one or more events corresponding to a first virtual agent, wherein the behavior of the first virtual agent is determined by a plurality of first agent parameters;

updating the plurality of first agent parameters based on a current first agent parameter with each detected event such that the behavior of the first virtual agent is continuously modified with each detected event, wherein the events include an interaction between the first virtual agent and a second virtual agent controlled by a second agent parameter and an interaction between the first virtual agent and at least one of an operation and an input by an operator;

determining whether a state of the first virtual agent is an absent state; and

selectively displaying the first virtual agent according to the state, wherein the first virtual agent is displayed when the state represents other than the absent state.

8. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 7, the method further comprising the step of receiving the second agent parameter through a communication network.

9. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 7, the method further comprising the step of updating the second agent parameter.

10. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 9, the method further comprising the step of sending the updated second agent parameter through a communication network.

11. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 7, the method further comprising the step of sending the first agent parameters through a communication network.

12. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first agent parameters are randomly generated.

13. A method for controlling a virtual agent, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual agent having a plurality of agent parameters, the agent parameters configured to determine the behavior of the virtual agent;

sending the agent parameters to a recipient through a network;

setting a state of the virtual agent to an absent state corresponding to the sending step; and

selectively displaying the virtual agent on the display unit according to the state, wherein the virtual agent is displayed on a display unit when the state represents other than the absent state.

14. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving the agent parameters through the network;

setting the state of the virtual agent to an existing state corresponding to the receiving step; and

selectively displaying the virtual pet on the display unit according to the state, wherein the virtual pet is displayed on a display unit when the state represents the existing state.

15. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 14, wherein the received agent parameters have been modified.

16. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 15, wherein the received agent parameters have been continuously modified.

17. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 13, wherein the agent parameters include sending date and time information, and setting the state of the virtual agent to an existing state after a lapse of preset time based on the sending date and time information.

18. An apparatus for providing a virtual agent, the apparatus compnsing:

means for storing a first agent parameter controlling a first agent kept by a first person on a first computer kept by the first person;

means for storing a first image data of the first agent on the first computer;

means for storing a second image data of a second agent kept by a second person on the first computer;

means for sending the first agent parameter from the first computer;

means for setting a state of the first agent to an absent state corresponding to the first agent parameter being sent from the first computer;

a display unit connected to the first computer adapted to selectively display the first agent on a first screen in accordance with the state of the first agent based on the first image data and the first agent parameter, wherein the first agent is displayed if the state of the first agent is other than the absent state;

means for receiving the first agent parameter to at the first computer through a communication network; and

means for setting the state of the first agent to other than the absent state corresponding to the first agent parameter being received at the first computer.

19. An apparatus for providing a virtual agent, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a first agent parameter in a first storage device, the first agent parameter controlling a first virtual agent kept by a first person;

means for transferring the first agent parameter from the first storage device to a first memory for controlling the first agent at a first computer operated by the first person;

means for sending the first agent parameter from the first memory to a second computer remote from both the first storage device and the first computer through a communication network;

means for setting a state of the first virtual agent to an absent state corresponding to the first agent parameter being sent from to the second computer; and

means for selectively displaying the first virtual agent in accordance with the state of the first virtual agent.

20. An apparatus for providing a virtual agent, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting one or more events corresponding to a first virtual agent, wherein the behavior of the first virtual agent is determined by a plurality of first agent parameters;

means for updating the plurality of first agent parameters based on a current first agent parameter with each detected event such that the behavior of the first virtual agent is continuously modified with each detected event;

means for interacting the first virtual agent with a second virtual agent controlled by a second agent parameter and the first virtual agent with at least one of an operation and an input by an operator;

means for determining whether a state of the first virtual agent is an absent state; and

means for selectively displaying the first virtual agent according to the state, wherein the first virtual agent is displayed when the state represents other than the absent state.

21. An apparatus for providing an agent, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a first agent software;

means for storing an agent parameter controlling a behavior of an agent;

means for executing the first agent software using the agent parameter to control the behavior of the agent;

means for sending the agent parameter to a remote computer storing a second agent software which is substantially the same as the first agent software so that the second software can be executed using the agent parameter to control the behavior of the agent; and

means for setting a state of the agent to an absent state corresponding to sending the agent parameter to the remote computer.

22. An apparatus for controlling a virtual agent, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing a virtual agent having a plurality of agent parameters, the agent parameters configured to determine the behavior of the virtual agent;

means for sending the agent parameters to a recipient through a network;

means for setting a state of the virtual agent to an absent state corresponding to the sending means sending the agent parameters; and

means for selectively displaying the virtual agent on the display unit according to the state connected to a display unit wherein the virtual agent is displayed when the state is other than the absent state.

23. A computer readable medium for providing a virtual agent, wherein the medium is executable on a processor to detect one or more events corresponding to a first virtual agent and the behavior of the first virtual agent is determined by a plurality of first agent parameters;

the plurality of first agent parameters are updated based on a current first agent parameter with each detected event such that the behavior of the first virtual agent is continuously modified with each detected event; and

wherein the events include an interaction between the first virtual agent and a second virtual agent controlled by a second agent parameter and an interaction between the first virtual agent and at least one of an operation and an input by an operator;

wherein the medium is also executable on the processor to determine whether a state of the first virtual agent is an absent state and to selectively display the first virtual agent according to the state, wherein the first virtual agent is displayed when the state represents other than the absent state.

24. A computer readable medium for providing an agent, wherein the medium stores a first agent software;

wherein an agent parameter controlling a behavior of an agent is stored;

wherein the first agent software is executable on a processor using the agent parameter to control the behavior of the agent;

wherein the agent parameter is sent to a remote computer storing a second agent software which is substantially the same as the first agent software so that the second software can be executed using the agent parameter to control the behavior of the agent; and

wherein a state of the agent is set to an absent state corresponding to agent parameter being sent.

25. A computer readable medium executable on a processor for controlling a virtual agent, wherein the medium provides a virtual agent having a plurality of agent parameters, the agent parameters configured to determine the behavior of the virtual agent;

wherein the agent parameters are sent to a recipient through a network;

wherein a state of the virtual agent is set to an absent state corresponding to sending the agent parameters to the recipient; and

wherein the virtual agent is selectively displayed on the display unit according to the state, wherein the virtual agent is displayed on a display unit when the state represents other than the absent state.