Three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing method and system, an information recording medium and method, an information transmission medium and method, an information processing method, a client terminal, and a shared server terminal

• US 5,956,038 A
• Filed: 07/11/1996
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LINE Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Application Number:
  US08/678,340
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 395/119-125, 345/419-425, 345/312, 345/326-329, 345/502, 707/4
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/024 Multi-user, collaborative environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A system and method of providing a virtual reality space that can be shared by unspecified users world-wide by the steps of composing, when a Universal Resource Locator (URL) is transmitted from a client terminal via a network, a three-dimensional virtual reality space of only basic objects of which basic states do not change and sending the Internet Protocol (IP) address of a shared server terminal from an information server and a mapping server to the transmitting client terminal. When the client terminal accesses the shared server based on the received IP address, information associated with avatars (update objects) representing users of other client terminals is transmitted from the shared server, displaying the virtual reality space reflecting the avatars on the client terminal. Consequently, the three-dimensional virtual reality space can be shared without changing the existing Internet.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space among a plurality of users of a plurality of client terminals, the client terminals being unspecified and each displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being interconnected with each other and with a shared server terminal via a global communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by the plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users;

controlling at the shared server terminal update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, sending to the shared server terminal via the global communication network from the client terminal that made the update, the update data associated with the update and sending via the global communication network from the shared server terminal to the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals, the update data about the update;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing, from the requesting client terminal, the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

2. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 1, wherein the global communication network transfers the update data between unspecified ones of the plurality of client terminals and the shared server terminal based on a communication protocol called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

3. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

storing the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object for displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality space in an information server terminal connected to the global communication network in a state described in Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML); and

transferring from the information server terminal, upon request from any of the plurality of client terminals, the three-dimensional graphics data described in the VRML to the requesting client terminal based on a communication protocol called Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

4. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 3, further comprising further steps of:

storing in the information server terminal the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object for displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality space by making the three-dimensional graphics data correspond to specification information for uniquely specifying a storage location of the three-dimensional graphics data;

sending from the client terminal to the information server terminal the specification information via the global communication network; and

transferring from the information server terminal the three-dimensional graphics data for displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality space specified in the specification information by the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network to the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network.

5. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

supplying the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object for displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality space to the plurality of client terminals via separate recording media readable by the plurality of client terminals.

6. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 1 wherein the update data associated with an update of the state of the update object indicate movement of the update object inside the three-dimensional virtual reality space.

7. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending, if another update object is added by any of the plurality of client terminals to the three-dimensional virtual reality space, three-dimensional graphics data about the another update object to the shared server terminal and sending the three-dimensional graphics data about the another update object to the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals.

8. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals;

identifying at the mapping server terminal, based on a source address of the requesting client terminal, a geographical area in which the requesting client terminal is installed;

selecting an address information from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is installed in the geographical proximity of the identified area; and

supplying the selected address information from the mapping server terminal to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network.

9. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

in response to a request to the mapping server terminal from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals, sending from the mapping server terminal an inquiry for a domain name corresponding to the requesting client terminal to a domain name server that controls a table listing relationship between source addresses of the client terminals and domain names to which the source addresses are assigned;

identifying a geographical area in which the requesting client terminal is installed based on the corresponding domain name;

selecting an address information from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is installed in the geographical proximity of the identified area; and

supplying from the mapping server terminal the selected address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network.

10. A system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space comprising:

a global communication network interconnected with a plurality of unspecified terminals for supplying three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users;

a plurality of user operated client terminals interconnected by the global communication network for displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space;

a shared server terminal, connected via the global communication network to the plurality of client terminals, for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

wherein if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, the client terminal that made the update sends the shared server terminal the update data associated with the update via the global communication network and the shared server terminal sends the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals the update data about the update via the global communication network;

a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network for controlling address information for addressing the shared server terminal to control the update data;

a first address information supply program code operative to supply, upon request, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, from the mapping server terminal to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

a first terminal access program code operative to access the shared server terminal from the requesting client terminal using the address information;

a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network for controlling the update data;

an address control program code operable to control a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

an address information request program code operative to receive at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

a terminal selector program code operative to select at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

a second address information supply program code operative to supply the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

a second terminal access program code operative to access from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

11. An information recording medium for use in a system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information recording medium recording a computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals;

if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

wherein the computer program is readable and executable by at least one of the client terminals and the shared server terminal;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

12. An information recording method for use in a system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information recording method recording a computer program on a recording medium, the computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals;

if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

wherein the computer program is readable and executable by at least one of the client terminal and the shared server terminal;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

13. An information transmission medium for use in a system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information transmission medium transmitting a computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals;

if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

wherein the computer program is receivable and executable by at least one of the shared server terminal and the client terminal and transmitted to at least one of the shared server terminal and the client terminal;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

14. An information transmission method for use in a system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information transmission method transmitting a computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals;

if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

wherein the computer program is receivable and executable by at least one of the shared server terminal and the client terminal and transmitted to at least one of the shared server terminal and the client terminal;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

15. An information processing method for a plurality of client terminals in a system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space, the plurality of client terminals being provided in a system for sharing the three-dimensional virtual reality space to acquire three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;

drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality space on a display device;

acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of the user, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

16. A client terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system, the client terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the client terminal comprising:

an acquiring graphics data means for acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;

a drawing means for drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality space on a display device;

an acquiring update data means for acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

an updating means for updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of the user, a notifying update data means for notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network;

wherein the three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system includes;

a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network for controlling address information for addressing the shared server terminal to control the update data;

a first address information supply program code operative to supply, upon request, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, from the mapping server terminal to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

a first terminal access program code operative to access the shared server terminal from the requesting client terminal using the address information;

a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network for controlling the update data;

an address control program code operable to control a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

an address information request program code operative to receive at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

a terminal selector program code operative to select at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

a second address information supply program code operative to supply the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

a second terminal access program code operative to access from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

17. An information recording medium for use in a client terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system, the client terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information recording medium recording a computer program in a state readable and executable by the client terminal, the computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;

drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality space on a display device;

acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of the user, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

18. An information recording method for use in a client terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system, the client terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information recording method recording a computer program in an information recording medium in a state readable and executable by the client terminal, the computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;

drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality space on a display device;

acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of the user, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

19. An information transmission medium for use in a client terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system, the client terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information transmission medium transmitting a computer program to the client terminal in a state receivable and executable by the same, the computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;

drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality space on a display device;

acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of the user, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

20. An information transmission method for use in a client terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system, the client terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information transmission method transmitting a computer program to the client terminal in a state receivable and executable by the same, the computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;

drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality space on a display device;

acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;

updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of the user, notifying the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

21. An information processing method for a shared server terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system wherein a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space are connected via a global communication network to the shared server terminal, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

controlling at the shared server terminal update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network;

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of a user of any of the plurality of client terminals, acquiring update data associated with the update from the client terminal via the global communication network;

notifying the other client terminals of the acquired update data via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

22. A shared server terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system wherein a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space are connected to the shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the shared server terminal comprising:

an acquiring means for acquiring update data associated with an update from the client terminal via the global communication network if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of a user of any of the plurality of client terminals;

a notifying update data means for notifying the other client terminals of the acquired update data via the global communication network;

wherein the three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system includes;

a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network for controlling address information for addressing the shared server terminal to control the update data;

a first address information supply program code operative to supply, upon request, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, from the mapping server terminal to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

a first terminal access program code operative to access the shared server terminal from the requesting client terminal using the address information;

a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network for controlling the update data;

an address control program code operable to control a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

an address information request program code operative to receive at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

a terminal selector program code operative to select at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

a second address information supply program code operative to supply the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

a second terminal access program code operative to access from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

23. An information recording medium for use in a shared server terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system wherein a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space are connected to the shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information recording medium recording a computer program in a state readable and executable by the shared server terminal, the computer program comprising the steps of:

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of a user of any of the plurality of client terminals, acquiring update data associated with the update from the client terminal via the global communication network;

notifying the other client terminals of the acquired update data via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

24. An information recording method for use in a shared server terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system wherein a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space are connected to the shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information recording method recording a computer program in an information recording medium in a state readable and executable by the shared server terminal, the computer program comprising the steps of:

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of a user of any of the plurality of client terminals, acquiring update data associated with the update from the client terminal via the global communication network;

notifying the other client terminals of the acquired update data via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

25. An information transmission medium for use in a shared server terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system wherein a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space are connected to the shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information transmission medium transmitting a computer program in a state readable and executable by the shared server terminal to the same, the computer program comprising the steps of:

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of a user of any of the plurality of client terminals, acquiring update data associated with the update from the client terminal via the global communication network;

notifying the other client terminals of the acquired update data via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.

26. An information transmission method for use in a shared server terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system wherein a plurality of client terminals for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space are connected to the shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals, the information transmission method transmitting a computer program to the shared server terminal in a state readable and executable by the same, the computer program comprising the steps of:

if the state of the update object has been updated according to the operation of a user of any of the plurality of client terminals, acquiring update data associated with the update from the client terminal via the global communication network;

notifying the other client terminals of the acquired update data via the global communication network;

controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network, address information for addressing the shared server terminal for controlling the update data;

supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network;

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal using the address information;

controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global communication network;

controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network;

receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;

selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client terminal;

supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network; and

accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the selected optimum address information.