Method and system for providing character having game item functions

• US 8,253,743 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NHN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NHN Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Joon-Mahn
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Sing-Wai
• Application Number:
  US11/573,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,567 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 345/473
• US Class Current: 345/473
• 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 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character

Abstract

Disclosed is a character service method and system having a game item function. In one embodiment, a method is provided for generating a character by a character generating system including a gamvatar provider, a gamvatar controller, and a game server. The method includes providing an avatar to a user accessing the character generating system online, checking whether the user desires to combine a game item function with the avatar before progressing a game when the user acquires the game item function, combining the game item function with a corresponding layer of the avatar when the user desires to combine the game item function with the avatar, and d) generating the combined gamvatar.

Claims

1. A method for generating a character associated with a character generating system comprising a gamvatar provider, a gamvatar controller, and a game server, the method comprising:

providing an avatar to a user accessing an avatar shop via a network, the avatar comprising multiple layers for displaying avatar functions or performing game item functions by using the respective layers; and

combining each of a plurality of game item functions with the avatar by adding the respective layers to the avatar to create a gamvatar associated with the plurality of the game item functions,

wherein the gamvatar is configured to be used to perform the plurality of the game item functions and each of the plurality of game item functions being combined with the respective layers is exhausted in response to detection of each time of using the each of the plurality of game item functions associated with playing a game provided by the game server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gamvatar is selectively editable by using a user interface in response to determination of the selected game character being combined with the avatar associated with the plurality of the game item functions.

3. A method, using a processor, for providing a character service, the method comprising:

providing an avatar, the avatar comprising a plurality of layers for displaying the avatar or performing game item functions by using the respective layers; and

combining each of the plurality of game item functions with the avatar by adding the respective layers to the avatar to create a gamvatar,

wherein the gamvatar is configured to be used to perform the plurality of the game item functions and each of the plurality of game item functions being combined with the respective layers is exhausted in response to detection of each time of using the each of the plurality of game item functions associated with playing a game provided by the game server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of the game item functions comprise at least one of a function for charging or restoring cyber money, a function for reinforcing power of the gamvatar, or a function for attacking or defending other gamers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gamvatar is configured to generate a predetermined facial expression or a motion to perform the game item function in response to detection of an input of a button or an emoticon provided by the user interface.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising an executable program which, when executed, performs the steps of:

providing an avatar to a user accessing an avatar shop, the avatar comprising a plurality of layers for displaying avatar functions or performing game item functions by using respective layers; and

combining each of a plurality of game item functions being selected with the avatar by adding the respective layers to the avatar to create a gamvatar associated with the a game item functions,

wherein the gamvatar is configured to be used to perform the the plurality of the game item functions and each of the plurality of game item functions being combined with the respective layers is exhausted in response to detection of each time of using the each of the plurality of game item functions associated with playing a game provided by the game server using the gamvatar.

7. A system for generating a character via a network, the system comprising:

an avatar provider to provide an avatar in response to detection of accessing an avatar shop, the avatar comprising multiple layers for displaying avatar functions or performing game item functions by using the respective layers;

a gamvatar provider to combine the selected game item functions with the avatar by adding the respective layers to the avatar to create a gamvatar being combined with the selected game character associated with a plurality of the game item functions; and

a gamvatar controller to edit the gamvatar corresponding to the respective layers of the avatar associated with the selected game item function, wherein the gamvatar is configured to be used to perform the plurality of the game item functions and each of the plurality of game item functions being combined with the respective layers is exhausted in response to detection of each time of using the each of the plurality of game item functions associated with playing a game, and wherein

a database is configured to store information of the gamvatar.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gamvatar controller is configured to selectively edit the gamvatar using a user interface, the selective edition corresponding to each of the multiple layers of the avatar.

9. A system comprising a non-transitory storage medium for servicing a character via a network, the system comprising:

a gamvatar provider to generate a gamvatar, the gamvatar comprising an avatar being combined with a game character associated with a game item function, the avatar comprising a plurality of layers for displaying avatar functions or performing game item functions by using the respective layers, wherein the non-transitory storage medium is configured to store information relating to the gamvatar;

a game server to progress a game according to a game logic associated with a game, and to combine one or more of the game item functions selected with the avatar by adding the respective layers to the avatar, the selection is performed by using a user interface; and

a gamvatar controller to control whether the gamvatar is to be used to perform the game item functions or each of the game item functions being combined with the respective layers is exhausted, the exhaustion is controlled in response to detection of each time of using the each of the game item functions,

wherein the gamvatar is configured to be used to play a plurality of games provided by the game server via a network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the game item functions comprise at least one of a function for charging or restoring cyber money, a function for reinforcing power of the gamvatar, or a function for attacking or defending other gamers.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gamvatar is configured to generate a predetermined facial expression or a motion to perform the game item function in response to detection of an input by the user interface.