Communication management apparatus

Details Communication management apparatus Communication management apparatus

1996-12-09

2002-06-04

Rinehart, Mark H. (Department: 2152)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput

Computer-to-computer session/connection establishing

C709S203000, C709S204000, C709S205000, C709S206000, C709S207000, C709S223000, C709S224000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06401122

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication management apparatus for managing a joining of symbols in a virtual world in a message communication system in which a plurality of user terminals are interconnected, the plurality of user terminals sharing the virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual spaces, and the symbols each defined for the associated one of the user terminals which will join the virtual world, and messages are exchanged among a plurality of user terminals corresponding to a plurality of symbols which have entered the same virtual space.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there has been developed a message communication system referred to as a so-called chat system in which messages are exchanged between user terminals through a so-called personal computer communication and the like.
FIG. 14
is a conceptual diagram of a message communication system comprising so-called servers and clients.
A plurality of user terminals, or a plurality of client computers
100
_
1
,
100
_
2
, . . . ,
100
_n are connected through a communication network
200
to a host computer
300
which serves as a server, so as to exchange messages among the client computers
100
_
1
,
100
_
2
, . . . ,
100
_n via the host computer
300
.
In such a message communication system, there is known a system comprising a common virtual world when the system is viewed as a whole, and the client computers
100
_
1
,
100
_
2
, . . . ,
100
_n having their own symbols referred to as so-called avatars, in which the client computer, who intends to have a message exchange or communication, displays on its display screen the virtual world and avatars or symbols of the clients entered the virtual world just as if a plurality of clients, who are of interest in communication, enter the virtual world and have conversations.
FIG. 15
is a conceptual diagram of a message communication system in which avatars or symbols enter the virtual world and have conversations.
Communication areas
1
,
2
and
3
illustrated in
FIG. 15
represent virtual spaces capable of observing mutual figures or avatars in the virtual world defined in the system, or capable of interacting with one another. Each of the communication areas corresponds to, for example, a room or the like in the real world. According to
FIG. 15
, in communication area
1
, there exist an avatar (hereinafter, it happens that the avatar is referred to as user A simply, and this is the similar as to the matter of other users) of user A who operates the user terminal of “client A”, and user B who operates the user terminal of “client B”; in communication area
2
, users C and D; and in communication area
3
, user E. For example, in client A (a user terminal of user A), it is possible to display on a display screen of client A looks of the inside of communication area
1
and the figure of user B in communication area
1
, just as if observing looks the inside of communication area
1
through eyes of user A in communication area
1
(for example, a room). In a similar fashion to that of client A, in client B (a user terminal of user B), it is possible to display on a display screen of client B looks of the inside of communication area
1
and the figure of user A in communication area
1
, just as if observing looks the inside of communication area
1
through eyes of user B in communication area
1
.
In this manner, messages are exchanged between client A and client B, while giving to user A operating client A and user B operating client B the impression just as if user A and user B enter the virtual space referred to as communication area
1
and have a conversation with one another. Each user operating the associated client (user terminal) can vary a position coordinate of his own avatar in the virtual world which his own avatar enters, by means of operating the associated client. Operation for varying the position coordinate causes his own avatar to move in the virtual world.
With respect to utilization of the communication areas, it is not restricted to a way for simply having a conversation or exchanging messages. There is considered, for example, a way of utilization of the communication areas such that a certain store is provided in the virtual world as communication area
1
, in which user A is a salesclerk, user B is a customer, and user B as the customer does his shopping in the virtual store while having a conversation.
As one of aspects for joining in the communication areas, there is considered not only an aspect in which users join in the communication areas in the form of avatars and have conversations as mentioned above, but also an aspect in which a screen of the communication area is displayed and users join in as so-called ghosts who are capable of simply listening a conversation between avatars appeared on the scene.
For the message communication system having the defined virtual world as mentioned above, it is necessary to limit the number of users or avatars who enter the communication area in order to have a smooth conversation (message exchange). The reasons why this is so done are that making entrance of a lot of users into a single communication area causes a display screen of the communication area to be confused, and a load of computation for performing treatments of movement and conversation of such a lot of users in the communication area is increased.
FIG. 16
is a typical illustration of a user management unit for performing a management of users, which is provided in a host computer.
The host computer has a request processing unit for a communication with a client computer, and a user management unit for managing a joining state of the user on each communication area.
The user management unit is provided with an avatar management table which is capable of managing 6 avatars in the maximum on each communication area. That is, the number of avatars, who are permitted to simultaneously enter the communication area, is determined as 6 on each communication area.
The user management unit is also provided with a user information list which is also provided on each communication area. In the user information list, there are managed users who join in the communication areas as so-called ghosts, the ghost being permitted to joining in simply regarding listening a conversation (receiving messages) but not permitted to talk (transmitting messages) himself. The number of joining members as the ghosts is not restricted.
FIG. 17
is a flowchart useful for understanding a flow of a processing for joining in communication areas in a message communication system provided with the host computer having the user management unit of the constitution shown in FIG.
16
.
First, in step
17
_
1
, a client designates a specified communication area to the host computer to request the joining in the communication area.
In step
17
_
2
, upon receipt of the client's request, the host computer refers to an avatar management table of the communication area in which the client wishes to join, and investigates whether the number of the avatars joining in the communication area reaches a predetermined number (here 6 members). If the number does not reach the predetermined number, the process goes to step
17
_
3
in which information (user information) concerning the user of the client, who desires a joining, is added to the avatar management table, and in step
17
_
4
, it is informed all the clients, who join as avatars or ghosts in the communication area in which the user newly joined, that the user joined as the avatar in the communication area of interest.
Upon receipt of such a notification, each of the clients updates images in the associated communication area so that the avatar of the user newly joined is included in the communication area.
The client, who newly joined in step
17
_
4
, may receives information involved in all avatars joining in the communication area and graphic data of the communication area as well. In this respect, hereinafter, it will happen t

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