Communication support method, system, and server device
First Claim
1. A method for supporting communication among avatars representing users in a virtual world shared by a plurality of users'"'"' client terminals and a server connected with each other through a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- accumulating statistical information, which includes (i) a plurality of combinations of word groups and avatar motions that have been used in association with the word groups in messages, the messages transmitted by one or more avatars, and the avatar motions being generated by commands distinct from the word groups the and (ii) a degree of usage of the combinations, corresponding to a frequency with which one or more different avatar motions have been used together with each word group;
generating a keyword group from text content in a first message transmitted by the one or more avatars in response to the transmission of the first message;
searching through the statistical information to compare the keyword group to the word groups to extract the avatar motions associated with the keyword group and the degrees of usage of the combinations of the respective avatar motions and the keyword group;
obtaining one or more avatar motions as motion candidates for a motion that the avatar is to take for the first message transmitted thereby, wherein the one or more avatar motions have a degree of usage satisfying a predetermined condition; and
presenting the avatar motion candidates to the user of the avatar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for supporting communication among avatars representing users in a virtual world shared by a plurality of users'"'"' client terminals and a server connected with each other through a network. The method includes the steps of: accumulating statistical information, which includes (i) a combination of a component of a message transmitted by one or more avatars and avatar motion matching the component, and (ii) a degree of usage of the combination; generating a keyword group from the components of a message transmitted by the one or more avatars in response to the transmission of the message; searching through the statistical information; obtaining one or more avatar motion candidates; and presenting the candidates to the user of the avatar. A system for supporting communication among avatars and a communication support server device in a virtual world are also provided.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for supporting communication among avatars representing users in a virtual world shared by a plurality of users'"'"' client terminals and a server connected with each other through a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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accumulating statistical information, which includes (i) a plurality of combinations of word groups and avatar motions that have been used in association with the word groups in messages, the messages transmitted by one or more avatars, and the avatar motions being generated by commands distinct from the word groups the and (ii) a degree of usage of the combinations, corresponding to a frequency with which one or more different avatar motions have been used together with each word group; generating a keyword group from text content in a first message transmitted by the one or more avatars in response to the transmission of the first message; searching through the statistical information to compare the keyword group to the word groups to extract the avatar motions associated with the keyword group and the degrees of usage of the combinations of the respective avatar motions and the keyword group; obtaining one or more avatar motions as motion candidates for a motion that the avatar is to take for the first message transmitted thereby, wherein the one or more avatar motions have a degree of usage satisfying a predetermined condition; and presenting the avatar motion candidates to the user of the avatar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15)
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9. A system, including users'"'"' client computer terminals and at least one server computer, for supporting communication among avatars representing users in a virtual world shared by a plurality of the users'"'"' client computer terminals and the server computer which are connected with each other through a network, the system comprising:
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a statistical information storage unit, comprising a memory device, for storing combinations, each combination including a word group of a message transmitted by one or more avatars and an avatar motion used together with the word group, and a degree of usage of each of the combinations based on a frequency with which the word group has been used together with the avatar motion, wherein the avatar motion is generated by a command distinct from the word group; a keyword generation unit for generating a keyword group from text content of a first message transmitted by an avatar in response to the transmission of the first message; a motion extracting unit for searching through the statistical information by use of the keyword group to extract the avatar motions and the degrees of usage according to the keyword group; a motion candidate determination processing unit for obtaining the avatar motions each having a degree of usage that satisfies a predetermined condition, as motion candidates for a motion that the avatar is to take for the first message transmitted thereby; and a motion presentation unit for presenting one or more of the avatar motions obtained as the avatar motion candidates, to the user of the avatar. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A communication support server device including one or more processors and memory for supporting a virtual world accessible by a plurality of users'"'"' client terminals through a network, the communication support server device comprising:
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a communication unit for receiving from a client terminal any one of a first message and a keyword group of the message in response to input of the first message from any one of the users to the client terminal; and a statistical information storage unit in the memory of the communication support server device for storing combinations, each combination including a word group of a message transmitted by one or more avatar users and an avatar motion used together with the word group, and a degree of usage of each of the combinations based on a frequency with which the avatar motion has been used together with the word group, wherein the avatar motion is generated by a command distinct from the component, the avatar motion generated together with the component; wherein the communication unit is configured for transmitting, to the client terminal having transmitted the first message, the first message or the keyword group received, and avatar motion candidates having been recognized to match the message in the statistical information storage unit.
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for executing a computer implemented method for supporting communication among avatars representing users in a virtual world shared by a plurality of users'"'"' client terminals and a server connected with each other through a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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accumulating statistical information, which includes (i) combinations of word groups of messages transmitted by one or more avatars and avatar motions used together with the word groups, the avatar motions generated by a command distinct from the word groups, and (ii) a degree of usage of the combinations based on a frequency with which the avatar motions have been used with the word groups; generating a keyword group from the components of a first message transmitted by the one or more avatars in response to the transmission of the first message; searching through the statistical information by use of the keyword group to extract the avatar motions and the degrees of usage according to the keyword group; obtaining one or more avatar motions as motion candidates for a motion that the avatar is to take for the message transmitted thereby, wherein the one or more avatar motions have a degree of usage satisfying a predetermined condition; and presenting the avatar motion candidates to the user of the avatar.
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Specification