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

• US 20030005062A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hachiya, Kazuhiko, Otaki, Namie, Koki, Takashi, Kitamura, Michio
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 automatically controlling a transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

appending a plurality of agent parameters controlling the behavior of an agent delivering the transmission to a main mail text having an appended mail header, the agent parameters being responsive to a send command designating the transmission to a recipient;

modifying the agent parameters responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent; and

sending a preset illustrative sentence via the agent to a user of the agent based on the agent parameters.

2. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

performing a control procedure to randomly select an illustrative sentence for the transmission from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent; and

voluntarily sending the selected sentence to the user of the agent.

3. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 2, the method further comprising the steps of:

setting an effective period of the agent; and

voluntarily sending a transmission to the user of the agent upon expiration of the effective period.

4. A method for automatically controlling a transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

appending a plurality of agent parameters controlling the behavior of an agent to a main mail text having an appended mail header, responsive to a send command designating the transmission for sending to a recipient;

modifying the agent parameters responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent; and

transmitting a preset illustrative sentence via the agent to the recipient based on the agent parameters.

5. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 4, the method further comprising the steps of:

performing a control procedure to randomly select an illustrative sentence from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent; and

voluntarily sending the selected sentence to the recipient.

6. A method for automatically controlling a transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

appending a plurality of agent parameters controlling the behavior of an agent delivering the transmission to a main mail text having an appended mail header, responsive to a send command designating the transmission for sending to a recipient;

modifying the agent parameters responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent;

randomly selecting via the agent at least one of the user and the recipient based on the agent parameters; and

sending a preset illustrative sentence via the agent to at least one of the user and to the recipient.

7. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 6, the method further comprising the steps of:

randomly selecting an illustrative sentence for sending from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent; and

voluntarily sending the selected sentence to at least one of the user and the recipient.

8. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 7, the method further comprising the steps of:

setting an effective period of the agent; and

voluntarily sending a transmission to at least one of the user and to the recipient upon expiration of the effective period.

9. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission, comprising:

an agent manager for displaying an agent and for managing the behavior of the agent responsive to agent parameters which determine the behavior of the agent;

send command accepting means for accepting a send command designating a transmission; and

mail transmission means controlled by the agent manager upon acceptance by the send command accepting means of a send command which designates the transmission for appending the agent parameters to a main mail text having an appended mail header for transmitting to a recipient;

wherein the agent manager modifies the agent parameters responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent to voluntarily send to the user an illustrative sentence preset by the agent based on the agent parameters.

10. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 9, wherein the agent manager randomly selects an illustrative sentence for transmission from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent, the agent manager voluntarily transmitting the selected sentence to the user.

11. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 10, wherein an effective period of the agent is set and a transmission is voluntarily transmitted to the user upon expiration of the effective period.

13. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 12, wherein the agent manager randomly selects an illustrative sentence from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent, the agent manager voluntarily sending a transmission to the recipient.

15. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 14, wherein the agent manager randomly selects an illustrative sentence for sending from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent, the agent manager voluntarily sending a transmission to at least one of the user and the recipient.

16. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 15, wherein an effective period of the agent is set and a transmission is voluntarily sent to the user upon expiration of the effective period.

18. The medium of claim 17 wherein the control procedure is performed so that an illustrative sentence for transmission randomly selected from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent, the selected sentence being voluntarily sent to the user.

19. The medium of claim 18 wherein the control procedure is performed so that an effective period of the agent is set and a transmission is voluntarily sent to the user upon expiration of the effective period.

12. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission, comprising:

an agent manager for displaying an agent and for managing the behavior of the agent responsive to agent parameters which determine the behavior of the agent;

sending command accepting means for accepting a send command designating the transmission; and

mail transmission means controlled by the agent manager upon acceptance by the send command accepting means of a send command which designates the transmission for appending the agent parameters to a main mail text having an appended mail header, for sending a transmission to a recipient;

wherein the agent manager modifies the agent parameters responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent to voluntarily send to the recipient an illustrative sentence preset by the agent based on the agent parameters.

14. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission, comprising:

an agent manager for displaying an agent and for managing the behavior of the agent responsive to agent parameters which determine the behavior of the agent;

send command accepting means for accepting a send command designating the transmission; and

mail transmission means controlled by the agent manager on acceptance by the send command accepting means of a send command which designates the transmission, the mail sending means appending the agent parameters to a main mail text having an appended mail header for sending a transmission to a recipient;

wherein the agent manager modifies the agent parameters responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent for voluntarily sending to at least one of the user and the recipient an illustrative sentence preset by the agent based on the agent parameters.

17. An automatic transmission control program supply medium for supplying an automatic transmission control program that can be read and executed by a computer, wherein, responsive to a send command for designating a transmission, a plurality of agent parameters are appended to a main mail text having an appended mail header, wherein the behavior of the agent is managed by the agent parameters, the agent parameters are modified responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent, and wherein a control procedure is performed for automatic transmission by the agent of a preset illustrative sentence based on the agent parameters to a user.

20. An automatic transmission control program supply medium for supplying an automatic transmission control program that can be read and executed by a computer, wherein, responsive to a send command for designating the transmission, a plurality of agent parameters are appended to a main mail text having an appended mail header, wherein the behavior of the agent is managed by the agent parameters, the agent parameters are modified responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent, and wherein a control procedure is performed for automatic transmission by the agent of a preset illustrative sentence based on the agent parameters to at least one of a user and a recipient.

21. The medium of claim 20 wherein the control procedure is performed so that an illustrative sentence is randomly selected from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent, the selected sentence being voluntarily sent to the recipient.

22. An automatic transmission control program supply medium for providing an automatic transmission control program that can be read and executed by a computer, wherein, responsive to a send command for designating the transmission, a plurality of agent parameters are appended to a main mail text having an appended mail header, wherein the behavior of the agent is managed by the agent parameters, the agent parameters are modified responsive to the contents of experiences reflecting the operating hysteresis for the agent, and wherein the agent randomly selects at least one of a user and a recipient based on the agent parameters for voluntarily sending a preset illustrative sentence to at least one of the user and the recipient.

23. The medium of claim 22 wherein a control procedure is performed so that an illustrative sentence for transmission is randomly selected from a plurality of illustrative sentences classed and preset depending on the contents of experiences acquired by the agent so that the selected sentence is in a class consistent with the contents of experiences acquired by the agent, the selected sentence being voluntarily sent at least on of the user and the recipient.

24. The medium of claim 23 wherein the control procedure is performed so that an effective period of the agent is set and a transmission is voluntarily sent to the user upon expiration of the effective period.

26. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 25, wherein the input signal includes at least one of petting the virtual agent and hitting the virtual agent.

27. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 25, wherein the virtual agent has a predetermined life span such that the behavior of the agent is continuously modified during the life span.

28. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 27, wherein the predetermined life span is two years.

29. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 27, wherein the virtual agent is capable of generating at least one message based on the updated agent parameters responsive to a state of the virtual agent.

30. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 29, the method further including the step of automatically transmitting the at least one generated message from the virtual agent to a corresponding user for display on the display unit.

31. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 30, wherein the at least one displayed message indicates the state of the virtual agent.

32. A method for controlling a virtual agent as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of displaying includes the step of animating the displayed virtual agent.

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

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

displaying the virtual agent on a display unit;

interacting with the virtual agent on the display unit, including positioning at least a portion of a display of an input device over the virtual agent on the display unit, detecting an input signal from the input device, and modifying the agent parameters such that the displaying step displays the virtual agent in response to the input signal; and

updating the plurality of agent parameters based on the interacting step such that the behavior of the virtual agent is continuously modified.

33. A method for automatically controlling a transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a send command designating the transmission to a recipient;

appending a plurality of agent parameters to a main mail text, the agent parameters controlling the behavior of an agent delivering the transmission;

transmitting the transmission to the recipient;

automatically returning an indication when the recipient has received the transmission; and

modifying the agent parameters based on the agent interacting with the recipient.

34. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 33, wherein the agent parameters are continuously updated based on interaction of the agent such that the behavior of the agent is continuously modified.

35. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 33, wherein the transmission includes an expiration period, and, wherein the transmitting step further includes the steps of:

transmitting via a mail server; and

automatically purging the transmission at the mail server when the recipient does not receive the transmission within the expiration period.

36. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 33, wherein the agent is an animated virtual pet.

37. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 33, wherein the agent is provided with a predetermined life span.

38. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 37, the method further including the step of generating a message when the predetermined life span expires.

39. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 38, the method further including the step of displaying the message when the predetermined life span expires.

40. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 38, the method further including the step of displaying at least one predetermined message selected by the agent, wherein the selected at least one predetermined message is indicative of a state of the agent.

41. A method for automatically controlling a transmission as claimed in claim 40, wherein the agent selects at least one predetermined message based on the plurality of agent parameters.

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

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

a display unit adapted to display the virtual agent;

means for interacting with the virtual agent on the display unit, the interacting means including means for positioning at least a portion of a display of an input device over the virtual agent on the display unit, means for detecting an input signal from the input device, and means for modifying the agent parameters such that the display unit displays the virtual agent in response to the input signal; and

means for updating the plurality of agent parameters using the interacting means such that the behavior of the virtual agent is continuously modified.

43. An apparatus for automatically controlling a transmission, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a send command designating the transmission to a recipient;

means for appending a plurality of agent parameters to a main mail text of the transmission, the agent parameters controlling the behavior of an agent delivering the transmission;

means for transmitting the transmission to the recipient;

means for automatically returning an indication when the recipient has received the transmission; and

means for modifying the agent parameters based on the agent interacting with the recipient.

44. A computer readable medium for controlling a virtual agent, wherein the medium generates a virtual agent having a plurality of agent parameters, the agent parameters are configured to determine a behavior of the virtual agent;

wherein the virtual agent is displayed on a display unit;

wherein the virtual agent interacts on the display unit including positioning at least a portion of a display of an input device over the virtual agent on the display unit, detecting an input signal from the input device, and modifying the agent parameters such that the display unit displays the agent in response to the input signal; and

wherein the plurality of agent parameters are updated based on the interaction such that the behavior of the virtual agent is continuously modified.

47. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 46, wherein the first agent is displayed as an animated character.

48. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 46, 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.

49. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 46, 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.

50. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 46, 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.

51. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 46, wherein the first agent parameter is randomly generated.

45. A computer readable medium for automatic control of a transmission wherein the medium, on receiving a send command designating the transmission to a recipient, appends a plurality of agent parameters to a main mail text of the transmission, the agent parameters controlling the behavior of an agent delivering the transmission;

wherein the transmission is transmitted to the recipient;

wherein an indicator that the recipient has received the transmission is automatically returned; and

wherein the agent parameters are modified based on the agent interacting with the recipient.

46. 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;

displaying 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 first agent parameter to the first computer through a communication network.

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

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

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

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

53. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 52, wherein the first agent parameter is sent from the first memory device to a remote computer without passing through the first storage device.

54. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 52, wherein the first agent parameter is sent from the first memory device to a remote computer through an Internet service provider.

55. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 52, wherein the first storage device is a hard disk drive.

56. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 52, wherein the first memory device is random access memory.

57. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 52, wherein the first agent parameter is randomly generated.

59. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 58, the method further comprising the step of processing the first agent parameter to execute the first agent at the first computer.

60. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 58, the method further comprising the step of processing the second agent parameter to execute the second agent at the first computer.

61. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 58, 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 event.

62. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 58, 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 event.

63. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 61, wherein the first event is a first interaction between the first agent and the second agent.

64. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 61, wherein the first event is a second interaction between the first agent and an operation by the first person.

65. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 62, wherein the second event is a third interaction between the second agent and the first agent.

66. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 62, wherein the second event is a fourth interaction between the second agent and an operation by the first person.

67. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 58, wherein the first agent parameter is randomly generated.

69. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 68, the method further comprising the step of receiving the second agent parameter through a communication network.

70. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 68, the method further comprising the step of updating the second agent parameter.

71. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 70, the method further comprising the step of sending the updated second agent parameter through a communication network.

72. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 68, the method further comprising the step of sending the first agent parameters through a communication network.

73. A method for providing a virtual agent as claimed in claim 68, wherein the first agent parameters are randomly generated.

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

sending a first agent parameter at a first computer operated by a first person to a second computer remote from the first computer through a communication network, wherein the second computer is operated by a second person and the first agent parameter controls a first agent kept by the first person;

receiving the first agent parameter sent from the second computer at the first computer;

receiving a second agent parameter sent from the second computer at the first computer, the second agent parameter controlling a second virtual agent kept by the second person; and

sending the received second agent parameter to the second computer using the first computer.

68. 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; and

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.

74. A method for providing an agent, the method comprising the steps of:

randomly generating an agent parameter which is configured to determine a behavior of an agent; and

storing the agent in a memory device.

75. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 74, the method further comprising the step of sending the agent parameter through a communication network.

76. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 74, the method further comprising the step of updating the agent parameter according to an event.

77. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 75, the method further comprising the step of receiving the sent agent parameter.

78. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 74, the method further comprising the step of displaying the agent o n a display unit.

79. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 78, wherein the agent is displayed as an animated character.

80. A method for providing an agent, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a first agent software;

storing an agent parameter controlling a behavior of an agent;

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

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 agent software can be executed using the agent parameter to control the behavior of the agent.

81. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 80, the method further comprising the step of receiving the agent parameter from the remote computer.

82. 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.

83. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 82, 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.

84. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 83, wherein the received agent parameters have been modified.

85. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 84, wherein the received agent parameters have been continuously modified.

86. A method for providing an agent as claimed in claim 82, 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.

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

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;

a display unit connected to the first computer adapted to display the first agent on a first screen based on the first image data and the first agent parameter; and

means for sending the first agent parameter to the first computer through a communication network.

88. 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; and

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.

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

means for sending a first agent parameter at a first computer operated by a first person to a second computer remote from the first computer through a communication network, wherein the second computer is operated by a second person and the first agent parameter controls a first agent kept by the first person;

means for receiving the first agent parameter sent from the second computer using the first computer;

means for receiving a second agent parameter sent from second computer at the first computer, the second agent parameter controlling a second virtual agent kept by the second person; and

means for sending the received second agent parameter to the second computer using the first computer.

90. 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; and

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.

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

means for randomly generating an agent parameter which is configured to determine a behavior of an agent; and

means for storing the agent in a memory device.

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

means for storing a first agent software;

means for storing an agent parameter con trolling a behavior of an agent;

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

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.

93. 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.

94. A computer readable medium for providing a virtual agent, wherein the medium stores a first agent parameter controlling a first agent kept by a first person a first computer operated by the first person;

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

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

displays the first agent on a first screen connected to the first computer based on the first image data and the first agent parameter; and

wherein the first agent parameter is sent to the first computer through a communication network.

95. A computer readable medium for of providing a virtual agent, wherein a first agent parameter is stored in a first storage device, the first agent parameter controlling a first virtual agent kept by a first person;

wherein the first agent parameter is transferred from the first storage device to a first memory for controlling the first agent at a first computer operated by the first person; and

wherein the first agent parameter is sent from the first memory to a second computer remote from both the first storage and the first computer through a communication network.

96. A computer readable medium for providing a virtual agent, wherein a first agent parameter at first computer operated by a first person is sent to a second computer remote from the first computer through a communication network, wherein the second computer is operated by a second person and the first agent parameter controls a first agent kept by the first person;

wherein the first agent parameter sent from the second computer is received using the first computer;

wherein a second agent parameter sent from second computer is received using the first computer, the second agent parameter controlling a second virtual agent kept by the second person; and

wherein the received second agent parameter is sent to the second computer using the first computer.

97. A computer readable medium for providing a virtual agent, wherein the medium detects 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.

98. A computer readable medium for providing an agent, wherein an agent parameter which is configured to determine a behavior of agent is randomly generated;

and wherein the agent is stored in a memory device.

99. 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 executed using the agent parameter to control the behavior of the agent; and

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.

100. A computer readable medium 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.