Apparatus and method for providing virtual world customized for user

• US 20020113809A1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Osamu Iemoto
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Osamu Iemoto
• Inventors: Iemoto, Osamu, Akazawa, Yoshiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The invention relates to generating a variable virtual world in accordance with user'"'"'s potential needs. An information processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor causes an image of a first virtual world to be displayed on a display. The first virtual world includes predefined objects and an avatar selected by the user. The avatar is controlled to act in the first virtual world by the user. The processor analyzes the action of the avatar from the position of the avatar relative to the position of the object in the first virtual world to derive a feature of the user and determine a second virtual world including other objects in accordance with the derived feature. The processor causes an image of the second virtual world to be displayed on the display.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising a memory device and a processor, said memory device having a first memory area for storing data inputted by a user and a second memory area for storing data representative of a plurality of respective virtual worlds;

said processor causing an image of a first virtual world to be displayed on a display, data representative of said first virtual world being stored in said second memory area, said first virtual world including a predefined object and an avatar selected by said user, said object being associated with a specific content, said avatar being controlled to act in said first virtual world by said user;

said processor storing, in said first memory area, a position of said avatar in said first virtual world that is inputted by said user;

said processor analyzing the action of said avatar in said first virtual world to derive a feature of said user and determine, in accordance with said derived feature, a second virtual world which includes another object, said other object having a specific content and a specific position;

said processor allowing an image of said second virtual world to be displayed on said display.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a set of definition data of said second virtual world is selected from sets of definition data of said respective virtual worlds.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feature of said user is derived from the position of said avatar relative to the position of said predefined object in said first virtual world.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feature of said user is derived from a message inputted by said user.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feature of said user is derived from data related to said user.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second virtual world includes said avatar.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feature has a weight.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein definition data of said second virtual world is accessed with the URL.

9. An information processing apparatus comprising a memory device and a processor, said memory device having a first memory area for storing data inputted by a user and a second memory area for storing data representative of a plurality of respective virtual worlds;

said processor providing definition data of a first virtual world stored in said second memory area to an information processing terminal of said user, said first virtual world including a predefined object and an avatar selected by said user, said object being associated with a specific content, said avatar being controlled to act in said first virtual world by said user;

said processor storing, in said first memory area, a position of said avatar in said first virtual world that is inputted by said user;

said processor analyzing the action of said avatar in said first virtual world to derive an interest of said user and determine a second virtual world including another object in accordance with said derived interest, said other object having a specific content and a specific position;

said processor providing data associated with said second virtual world to said user information processing terminal.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a set of definition data of said second virtual world is selected from sets of definition data of said respective virtual worlds.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the feature of said user is derived from the position of said avatar relative to the position of said predefined object in said first virtual world.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the feature of said user is derived from a message inputted by said user.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the feature of said user is derived from data related to said user.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second virtual world includes said avatar.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said interest has a weight.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data associated with said second virtual world is the URL for definition data of said second virtual world.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data associated with said second virtual world is definition data of said second virtual world.

19. The program according to claim 18, wherein a set of data representative of said second virtual world is selected from sets of the data representative of said respective virtual worlds.

20. The program according to claim 18, wherein the feature of said user is derived from the position of said avatar relative to the position of said predefined object in said first virtual world.

21. The program according to claim 18, wherein the feature of said user is derived from a message inputted by said user.

22. The program according to claim 18, wherein the feature of said user is derived from data related to said user.

23. The program according to claim 18, wherein said second virtual world includes said avatar.

24. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said feature has a weight.

25. The program according to claim 18, wherein the definition data of said second virtual world is accessed with the URL.

27. The program according to claim 26, wherein a set of data representative of said second virtual world is selected from sets of the data representative of said respective virtual worlds.

28. The program according to claim 26, wherein the feature of said user is derived from the position of said avatar relative to the position of said predef ined object in said first virtual world.

29. The program according to claim 26, wherein the feature of said user is derived from a message inputted by said user.

30. The program according to claim 26, wherein the feature of said user is derived from data related to said user.

31. The program according to claim 26, wherein said second virtual world includes said avatar.

32. The program according to claim 26, wherein said interest has a weight.

33. The program according to claim 26, wherein the data associated with said second virtual world is the URL for definition data of said second virtual world.

34. The program according to claim 26, wherein the data associated with said second virtual world is definition data of said second virtual world.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said user inputted data is coordinate data and/or message data.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the data associated with said second virtual world is the URL for definition data of said second virtual world.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein the data associated with said second virtual world is definition data of said second virtual world.

18. A program stored in a recording medium, said program being for use in an information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising a memory device and a processor, said memory device having a first memory area for storing data inputted by a user and a second memory area for storing data representative of a plurality of respective virtual worlds, said program enabling said processor to perform the steps of:

causing an image of a first virtual world to be displayed on a display, data representative of said first virtual world being stored in said second memory area, said first virtual world including a predefined object and an avatar selected by said user, said object being associated with a specific content, said avatar being controlled to act in said first virtual world by said user;

storing, in said first memory area, a position of said avatar in said first virtual world that is inputted by said user;

analyzing the action of said avatar in said first virtual world to derive a feature of said user and determine a second virtual world including another object in accordance with said derived feature, said other object having a specific content and a specific position; and

allowing an image of said second virtual world to be displayed on said display.

26. A program stored in a recording medium, said program being for use in an information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising a memory device and a processor, said memory device having a first memory area for storing data inputted by a user and a second memory area for storing data representative of a plurality of respective virtual worlds, said program enabling said processor to perform the steps of:

providing definition data of a first virtual world stored in said second memory area to an information processing terminal of said user, said first virtual world including a predefined object and an avatar selected by said user, said object being associated with a specific content, said avatar being controlled to act in said first virtual world by said user;

storing, in said first memory area, a position of said avatar in said first virtual world that is inputted by said user;

analyzing the action of said avatar in said first virtual world to derive an interest of said user and determine a second virtual world including another object in accordance with said derived interest, said other object having a specific content and a specific position; and

providing data associated with said second virtual world to said user information processing terminal.

35. A method of generating a variable virtual world, comprising the steps of:

storing data inputted by a user in a memory device,

analyzing said inputted data stored in said memory device to derive a feature,

determining a virtual world in accordance with said feature, and

presenting data associated with said determined virtual world to a device of said user.