JP2000172616A - Method and system for actualizing common object in three-dimensional common virtual space and storage medium with actualizing program for common object in three-dimensional common virtual space stored therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decentralize the load of processing as a master terminal of a user terminal by dynamically changing and managing the allocation of a user terminal (master terminal), to which the operation of a common object is propagated, distributing common object information and attached information to the master terminal, and storing the common object information and attached information on the master terminal. SOLUTION: A user starts logging in a world management server 200 by using a terminal 100 and sends log-in information. A log-in user managing means 210 updates log-in user information and sends the log-in user information to a common object management server 300. The common object management server 300 retrieves the common object. Then a master terminal management part 310 newly allocates the terminal 100 of the user as a master terminal for the common object of '(the number of common objects/the number of users) body'.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional shared virtual space and a storage medium storing a shared object realization program in the three-dimensional shared virtual space. A three-dimensional shared virtual space in a three-dimensional shared virtual space connected to a server device via a line and allowing a plurality of users to participate in their avatars in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG and share their operations In a technology for realizing an object that shares an operation in a space, for example, when a shared object appears and disappears in a space,
A method and system for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional virtual space that is effective for appropriately distributing the processing load of a user terminal as a master terminal by dynamically changing and managing the assignment of a master terminal that propagates the operation of the shared object. And a storage medium storing a shared object realization program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users are connected to a three-dimensional CG.
As a three-dimensional shared virtual space that allows each avatar to participate in the three-dimensional virtual space constructed by and share its operation, for example, InterSpace (http://www.ntts.com/ispac
e.html). In this system, the avatar symbolizing the user's participation is a type of shared object.
A server that manages shared objects in a dimensional shared virtual space (hereinafter referred to as a shared object management server)
The avatar on each user terminal is generated and displayed via. A certain user terminal (hereinafter referred to as a master terminal)
When the user moves his / her avatar in the three-dimensional shared virtual space using an input device such as a mouse, the shared object management server is notified of the user's own identifier, coordinate position and direction (hereinafter referred to as shared object change information). ), And other user terminals (hereinafter, referred to as slave terminals) can simulate the operation of the other avatar by using the received shared object change information of the other avatar. And, since the shared object change information of the avatar operated by each user is usually the master terminal of the user, the processing load as the master terminal for propagating the shared object change information is appropriately set between the user terminals. Distributed.

As shared objects other than avatars, the following two types of shared objects are mainly realized. First, an operation that always performs some kind of operation in the space, and an operation that is started by using any action of the user as a trigger. In the former case, the assignment of the master terminal that propagates the shared object change information is randomly selected when the user logs in to the space. In the latter case, a user who has performed an action that triggers an operation on a shared object is assigned to the master terminal.

[0004]

However, in the conventional three-dimensional shared virtual space technology, regarding a shared object other than an avatar, the assignment of master terminals for propagating the shared object change information is not appropriately distributed. Therefore, for example, when there are a plurality of shared objects that always perform some operation in a certain three-dimensional shared virtual space, the user terminal of the user who first logs in the space is assigned as the master terminal of all the shared objects. However, there is a problem that the processing load as a master terminal is biased toward a specific user terminal.

Further, for example, when there are a plurality of shared objects in a certain three-dimensional shared virtual space whose operation is triggered by any action of the user as a trigger, the operation of the shared objects is triggered. Even when an action is performed by a specific user, the processing load as a master terminal is biased toward a specific user terminal.

[0006] These shared objects are usually closed in a specific three-dimensional shared virtual space, and perform some operations in that space. Is not moved. Therefore, with respect to a shared object that moves to another three-dimensional shared virtual space, a method of allocating a master terminal for propagating the shared object change information has not been established.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, when a shared object appears and disappears in a space, the assignment of a master terminal for propagating the operation of the shared object cannot be dynamically changed and managed. There is a problem that the processing load cannot be appropriately distributed as a master terminal of the terminal. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users each participate in an avatar in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. When realizing an object that shares the operation in the three-dimensional shared virtual space in the three-dimensional shared virtual space sharing the operation, the assignment of the master terminal that propagates the operation of the shared object is dynamically changed. A method and system for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional virtual space and a storage medium storing a program for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional virtual space that are effective for appropriately distributing the processing load of a user terminal as a master terminal by managing the shared object. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention (claim 1) provides:
A plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users
In a method for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional shared virtual space in which each avatar participates in the three-dimensional virtual space and shares the operation of the avatar, the user logs in to a world that is a logical range of the three-dimensional shared virtual space. A shared object management server that manages a shared object that is an object having the same operation on all user terminals; and a plurality of user terminals. Based on the state in the world and the state of the shared object, dynamically change and manage the assignment of a user terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a master terminal) for propagating the operation of the shared object existing in the world, and share it. Distribute object information and incidental information to the terminal that has become the master terminal, In the terminal became end, stores the supplementary information and the shared object information.

According to the present invention (claim 2), in the shared object management server, when the user logs in to the world, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed. According to the present invention (claim 3), in the shared object management server, when the user logs out of the world, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed.

According to the present invention (claim 4), in the shared object management server, when the shared object moves to another world by a task, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed. According to the present invention (claim 5), in the shared object management server, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed so that the processing load of the user terminal as the master terminal is appropriately distributed.

[0011] The present invention (claim 6) defines, in a user terminal that has become a master terminal, what kind of operation should be performed when the user terminal has become a master terminal, which is the supplementary information distributed from the shared object server. The action of the shared object is propagated by referring to the action table.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

According to the present invention (claim 7), a plurality of user terminals 100 are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users participate in their avatars in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. A shared object realizing system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space for sharing the operation of the avatar, wherein a login user management for managing a user logged in to a world which is a logical range of the three-dimensional shared virtual space Based on the state of the user in the world and the state of the shared object which is the object whose operation on all the user terminals coincides with the world management server 200 having the means 210, the operation of the shared object existing in the world is propagated. Dynamically changes and manages the assignment of master terminals for shared objects and auxiliary information. The master terminal management means 3 to be delivered to The
10 and a shared object management server 3 when it becomes a master terminal.
And a user terminal 100 having means for storing the shared object information and the accompanying information distributed from 00.

The present invention (claim 8) includes a means in the shared object management server 300 for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the user logs in to the world. According to the present invention (claim 9), in the shared object management server 300,
Means for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the user logs out of the world.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the shared object management server 300, when the shared object moves to another world by a task, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed. including. The present invention (claim 11) includes means for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object in the shared object management server 300 so that the processing load of the user terminal as the master terminal is appropriately distributed. .

[0015] The present invention (claim 12) provides the user terminal 10
0, an action table defined from the shared object management server 300 and defining what action to take when it becomes a master terminal, and means for referring to the action table to propagate the action of the shared object .

According to the present invention (claim 13), a plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users make their avatars participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. A storage medium storing a shared object realizing program in the three-dimensional shared virtual space mounted on the world management server in the shared object realizing system in the three-dimensional shared virtual space sharing the operation of the avatar; It has a login user management process for managing users logging in to a world that is a logical range of space.

According to the present invention (claim 14), a plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users make their avatars participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. A storage medium storing a shared object realizing program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space mounted on a shared object management server for managing a shared object in a shared object realizing system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space sharing the operation of the avatar. The assignment of a master terminal for propagating the operation of a shared object existing in the world based on the state of the user in the world and the state of the shared object that is the object whose operation on all user terminals matches is dynamically determined. To the user terminal that has become the master terminal. Having a master terminal management process for distributing the defect information and the supplementary information.

The present invention (claim 15) includes a process for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of a master terminal of a shared object when a user logs in to the world. The present invention (claim 16) includes a process for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the user logs out of the world. The present invention (claim 17) includes a process of dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the shared object moves to another world by a task.

According to the present invention (claim 18), the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed so that the processing load of the user terminal as the master terminal is appropriately distributed.
Including processes to manage. According to the present invention (claim 19), a plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users make their avatars participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. A storage medium that stores a shared object realization program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space mounted on a user terminal in a shared object realization system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space that shares the operation of an avatar, and is shared by a server that manages the shared object. Refer to the action table that defines what action should be taken when it becomes the master terminal for propagating the action of the shared object that exists in the world, which is the additional information passed along with the object information. Includes the process of propagating actions.

As described above, according to the present invention, when a shared object appears and disappears in space, the shared object management server dynamically changes and manages the assignment of the master terminal that propagates the operation of the shared object. Therefore, the processing load as the master terminal is not biased to the user terminal that has logged in first.

[0021]

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a shared object realizing system according to the present invention. The system shown in FIG.
User terminal 100, world management server 200, shared object management server 300, and network 400
Consists of The user terminal 100, the world management server 200, and the shared object management server 300
It is connected to the network 400.

The world management server 200 includes a user management unit 210 and a communication control unit 220, and manages a user who has logged in to a world which is a logical range of the three-dimensional shared virtual space. The user management unit 210 manages user management information for managing which user is logged in to the world.

The communication control unit 220 manages communication with the shared object management server 300 and the user terminal 100. The shared object management server 300 includes a master terminal management unit 310, a shared object database 320,
Search unit 330, load unit 340, upload unit 35
0, a shared object change information management unit 360, a distribution user management unit 370, a data transfer management unit 380, and a communication control unit 390, and manages a shared object that is an object having the same operation on all user terminals.

The master terminal management section 310 selects and manages to which user terminal a master terminal for propagating the operation of the shared object is assigned. The shared object database 320 stores and manages information on shared objects (hereinafter, referred to as shared object information) and action tables.

The search unit 330 includes a master terminal management unit 310
The shared object and the corresponding action table are retrieved from the shared object database 320 based on the request specified by. The loading unit 340 stores the result searched by the search unit 330 in the master terminal management unit 310.
To load.

The upload unit 350 sends the master object management unit 310 to the shared object database 320.
Upload the shared object information updated by. The shared object change information management unit 360 stores and manages the shared object change information transmitted from the user terminal 100.

The distribution user management section 370 manages a user terminal that distributes shared object change information managed by the shared object change information management section 360. The data transfer management unit 380 controls the shared object change information management unit 36.
0, the necessary information is loaded, and the distribution user management unit 370 is loaded.
Manages information for distribution to user terminals based on.

The communication control unit 390 manages communication with the world management server 200 and the user terminal 100. The user terminal 100 includes a shared object processing unit 110, a virtual space generation unit 120, a display unit 130, a shared object change information processing unit 140, a communication control unit 150, and a data management unit 17.
0 and a management database 180.

The shared object processing unit 110 performs processing on the shared object information as needed. The virtual space generation unit 120 executes the shared object management server 3
A three-dimensional CG to be displayed to the user 160 is generated based on the shared object change information received from 00 and the viewpoint information of the user.

The display unit 130 displays the three-dimensional CG generated by the virtual space generation unit 120 to the user 160. The shared object change information processing unit 140 acquires shared object change information generated on the user terminal 100 of the shared object to which the user terminal 100 is assigned as the master terminal.

The communication control unit 150 manages communication with the world management server 200 and the shared object management server 300. The management database 180 has an action table 181 including an instruction command and an action status. The action table is a table distributed from the shared object management server 300, and defines an operation to be performed when the terminal becomes a master terminal.

The data management unit 170 refers to the contents of the management database 180 and sends the management database 180 to the communication control unit 150 and the shared object processing unit 110.
The shared object on the master terminal is operated by the task given to the object, and the shared object change information is propagated to the slave terminal.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the shared object database 320 of the shared object management server 300 will be described. FIG.
9 shows an example of a data format of a shared object database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The shared object information is stored and managed in a data format as shown in FIG. As information on the shared object in this case, the name is “GO”.
BJ1 ”, the user name of the terminal assigned as the master terminal is“ USER1 ”, the existing world name is“ WORLD1 ”, the owning task name is“ TASK1 ”, and the execution of the owning task is performed. The state is
It means "END".

Further, the shared object database 3
Reference numeral 20 has an action table including an instruction command and an action status. The operation in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described below. First, a case where user A logs in to world A will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence chart (part 1) illustrating the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Here, a shared object that always performs some operation other than the avatar will be described as an example. Step 101) User A starts login to world A using terminal 100. Step 102) The login information of the user A to the world A is transmitted to the world management server 200 by the communication control unit 150.

Step 103) World management server 2
00 is transmitted to the user management unit 210
Will be updated by Step 104) Then, the communication control unit 220
The login user information of the world A is transmitted to the shared object management server 300. Step 105) Search unit 3 of shared object management server 300 that has received the login user information of world A
30 searches the shared object database 320 for a shared object existing in the world A based on a request from the master terminal management unit 310.

Step 106) World management server 2
00, and the loading unit 34
0 based on the shared object information loaded by
The terminal 100 of the user A is newly assigned by the master terminal management unit 310 as the master terminal of the “(number of shared objects / number of users)” shared object. The selection method is “(number of shared objects / number of users)
/ (Number of users-1) shared objects "are randomly selected from each.

Here, for example, there are 30 shared objects in world A, and two users B and C log in first before user A logs in to world A. Will be described. User A
Logs into World A, the master terminal management unit 31
By 0, (30/3) = 10 shared objects are newly assigned as master terminals. Since the terminals of user B and user C have already been assigned as master terminals of 15 shared objects, respectively, (30/3) / (3-1) = 5 shared objects are assigned to user B, User C randomly selects from the shared objects that are masters.

Here, the selection method in which each user simply manages the same number of shared objects has been described as an example. However, the execution state of the task owned by the shared object and the processing load in executing the task are described. Various selection examples are conceivable, for example, an appropriate selection is made according to parameters such as. Step 107) When the terminal 100 of the user A is newly assigned as the master terminal of the shared object, the master terminal management unit 310 updates the shared object database 320.

Step 108) The communication control unit 390 transmits the shared object information newly assigned as the master terminal (hereinafter, referred to as master information) and the action table as supplementary information to the terminal 100 of the user A. Step 109) Simultaneously with step 108, the communication control unit 390 transmits the shared object information released from the master terminal (hereinafter, referred to as slave information) to the corresponding master terminal.

Step 110) Upon receiving the master information, the terminal 100 of the user A executes the shared object processing unit 11
0 sets the master attribute of the corresponding shared object and stores the action table. Step 111) Then, the virtual space generation unit 120
A three-dimensional CG to be displayed to the user 160 is generated, and the display unit 130 displays the three-dimensional CG.

Step 112) The master terminal receiving the slave information releases the master attribute of the corresponding shared object by the shared object processing unit 110. Step 113) Then, the virtual space generation unit 120
A three-dimensional CG to be displayed to the user is generated, and the display unit 130 displays the three-dimensional CG.

Thus, when the user logs in to the three-dimensional shared virtual space in which a plurality of shared objects other than the avatar exist, the assignment of the shared object as the master terminal can be dynamically changed and managed. The processing load as a terminal is not biased toward a specific user terminal. As a result, the processing load of the user terminal as a master terminal can be appropriately distributed.

Next, the operation when the user A logs out of the world A will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart (part 2) illustrating the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Step 201) User A starts logout from world A using terminal 100. Here,
The case where the user terminal 100 is intentionally logged out will be described. However, if the user terminal 100 hangs up due to some unexpected phenomenon, the user terminal 100 will eventually be logged out of the world A. Becomes

Step 202) The logout information from the world A is transmitted to the world management server 200 by the communication control unit 150. Step 203) The logout information transmitted to the world management server 200 is updated by the user management unit 210. Step 204) Then, the communication control unit 220
The login user information of the world A is transmitted to the shared object management server 300.

Step 205) The shared object management server 30 receiving the login user information of the world A
The 0 search unit 330 searches the shared object database 320 for a shared object existing in the world A where the user A was the master terminal, based on the request of the master terminal management unit 310. Step 206) Based on the login user information received from the world management server 200 and the shared object information loaded by the loading unit 340, the shared object in which the user A was the master terminal is logged into the world A by the master terminal management unit 310. Assigned to the terminal of the user who performs the operation.

Step 207) User A's terminal 100
Is released from the master terminal of the shared object, the master object management unit 310 updates the shared object database 320. Step 208) Then, the communication control section 390 transmits the master information together with the action table to the corresponding slave terminal.

Step 209) The slave terminal receiving the master information sets the master attribute of the corresponding shared object and stores the action table by the shared object processing unit 110. Step 210) Then, the virtual space generation unit 120
A three-dimensional CG to be displayed to the user is generated, and the display unit 130 displays the three-dimensional CG.

Thus, when the user logs out from the three-dimensional shared virtual space in which a plurality of shared objects other than the avatar exists, the assignment of the shared object as the master terminal can be dynamically changed and managed.
The processing load as the master terminal is not biased to a specific user terminal. As a result, the processing load of the user terminal as a master terminal can be appropriately distributed.

Next, a case where the shared object A moves to another world by a task will be described. FIG.
Is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention (part 3)
It is. Step 301) The shared object A starts moving to another world using the terminal 100 of the user A by a task.

Step 302) The shared object processing unit 110 acquires the destination world name of the shared object A, and erases the shared object A. Step 303) The user management unit 210 of the world management server 200 based on the destination world name of the shared object A acquired by the shared object processing unit 110
Requests the login user information of the destination world.

Step 304) World management server 2
The 00 user management unit 210 creates the corresponding user management information. Step 305) Then, the communication control unit 220
The login user information of the destination world is transmitted to the shared object management server 300. Step 306) Upon receiving the login user information of the destination world, the search unit 330 of the shared object management server 300 sends a request to the shared object database 320 to the shared object database 320 based on the request of the master terminal management unit 310. Search for object information.

Step 307) The shared object management server 300 selects the shared object A by the master terminal management unit 310 based on the login user information received from the world management server 200 and the shared object information loaded by the loading unit 340. The assigned user terminal is appropriately assigned as its master terminal.

Step 308) When the master terminal of the shared object A is changed, the shared object management server 300
Update 20. Step 309) Then, the data transfer management unit 380 transmits the master information to the corresponding slave terminal together with the action table.

Step 310) Upon receiving the master information, the slave terminal prepares for the appearance of the corresponding shared object A by the shared object processing unit 110, sets its master attribute, and stores the action table. Step 311) Then, the virtual space generation unit 120
A three-dimensional CG to be displayed to the user is generated, and the display unit 130 displays the three-dimensional CG.

Thus, when a shared object other than an avatar moves to another three-dimensional shared virtual space by a task, the assignment of the shared object as a master terminal can be dynamically changed and managed. Is not biased toward a specific user terminal. As a result, the processing load of the user terminal as a master terminal can be appropriately distributed.

Next, general processing in which the terminal of the user A is the master terminal of the shared object A and the master terminal is not changed will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence chart (part 4) for explaining the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Step 401) The operation of the shared object A whose master 100 is the user A is changed.

Step 402) The shared object change information acquired by the shared object change information processing section 140 is transmitted to the shared object management server 300 by the communication control section 150. Step 403) Shared object management server 300
Is temporarily stored by the shared object change information management unit 360.

Step 404) Next, the distribution user management section 370 selects a user terminal to distribute the received shared object change information. Step 405) Based on the selection of the user terminal,
The data transfer management unit 380 loads necessary information from the shared object change information management unit 360. Step 406) The communication control unit 390 distributes data (shared object change information + action table) to the selected user terminal.

Step 407) In the terminal 100 of the user 160 that has received the shared object change information distributed from the shared object management server 300 by the communication control unit 150, the virtual space generation unit 120 uses the user's viewpoint information at the time of reception. , To generate a three-dimensional CG for display to the user 160,
30 displays the three-dimensional CG. Here, for example, when the shared object change information is received, if there is no shared object A to which the shared object change information is to be reflected in the three-dimensional shared virtual space viewed from the user's viewpoint, the three-dimensional No CG is generated.

Here, a shared object which always performs some operation other than an avatar is described as a shared object. However, a shared object which starts an operation triggered by any user action will also be described. There is no problem if the user of the terminal originally assigned as the master terminal has acted on the shared object as a triggering action. On the other hand, if the user of the terminal not assigned as the master terminal has performed an action that triggers the shared object, the shared object management server 300
, An operation start message is simply transmitted to the user terminal that is the master of the shared object.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of user terminals are connected to a server via a communication line, and a plurality of users participate in their avatars in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. Let's share the action 3
In a three-dimensional shared virtual space, when a shared object appears and disappears in the space, the processing load of the user terminal as the master terminal is reduced by dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal that propagates the operation of the shared object. It can be appropriately dispersed.

FIG. 8 is a series of flowcharts of a shared object realizing method according to one embodiment of the present invention. First, the operation of the user terminal will be described. Step 501) Communication control unit 15 of user terminal 100
By 0, the login information to the world is transmitted to the world management server 200.

Step 502) Upon receiving the master information (shared object information + action table), the user terminal 100
Set the master attribute of the corresponding shared object. Step 503) Then, the virtual space generation unit 120
A three-dimensional CG for display to the user is generated with reference to the action table, and the display unit 130
The three-dimensional CG is displayed, and the process at the start of logging in to the world on the user terminal 100 ends.

Step 504) The logout information from the world is transmitted to the world management server 200 by the communication control unit 150 of the user terminal 100, and this processing at the time of starting logout from the world on the user terminal 100 ends. Step 505) The shared object processing unit 110 of the user terminal 100 acquires the destination world name of the shared object, and erases the shared object.

Step 506) Based on the destination world name of the shared object acquired in step 505, the user management unit 210 of the world management server 200 requests login user information of the destination world. This processing at the time when the shared object in starts moving to another world by the task ends.

Next, the operation of the world management server 200 will be described. Step 601) The world management server 200, which has received the login information to the world or the logout information from the world, updates the information by the user management unit 210. Step 602) Then, the communication control unit 220
The login user information of the world is transmitted to the shared object management server 300, and the process at the time of receiving the login / logout information on the world management server 200 ends.

Step 603) The world management server 20 receiving the request for the login user information of the destination world
0 creates corresponding user management information by the user management unit 210. Step 604) Then, the communication control unit 220
The login user information of the destination world is transmitted to the shared object management server 300, and the world management server 20
This processing at the time of receiving the login user information request on 0 is ended.

Next, the operation of the shared object management server will be described. Step 701) The master terminal management unit 31 of the shared object management server 300 receiving the login user information
0 determines the state in the world of the user who has transmitted the information. In the case of login start state,
The flow shifts to step 702, and in the case of the logout start state, the flow shifts to step 703. If neither is the case, the process proceeds to step 704.

Step 702) Master terminal management unit 31
0 based on the request of shared object database 3
For 20, the search unit 330 searches for a shared object existing in the world. Step 703) Based on the request from the master terminal management unit 310, the shared object database 320
The search unit 330 searches for a shared object existing in the world where the user was the master.

Step 704) Master terminal management unit 31
0 based on the request of shared object database 3
For 20, the search unit 330 searches for shared object information in which the login user of the destination world is the master. Step 705) Based on the login user information received from the world management server 200 and the shared object information loaded by the loading unit 340, the corresponding shared object is transmitted to the user terminal selected by the master terminal management unit 310. Assigned as its master terminal.

Step 706) Then, the master terminal management unit 310 changes the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object to the shared object database 32.
Update 0. Step 707) Upon receiving the login user information, the shared object management server 300 determines again the state of the user who has transmitted the information in the world,
If it is in the login start state, the process proceeds to step 708. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 709.

Step 708) The communication control section 390 transmits the master information to the user terminal 100 together with the action table. At the same time, the slave information is transmitted to another corresponding user terminal. At the same time, the slave information is transmitted to the corresponding other user terminal 100, and the process at the time of receiving the login user information on the shared object management server 300 ends.

Step 709) The communication control unit 390 transmits the master information together with the action table to the corresponding other user terminal 100, and terminates the processing when the login object information is received on the shared object management server 300. Finally, the operation of another user terminal will be described. Step 801) Upon receiving the shared object information, the other user terminal 100 determines the type of the shared object information, and proceeds to step 802 if the type is the master information. If it is slave information, step 80
Move to 3.

Step 802) The shared object processing unit 110 sets the master attribute of the corresponding shared object. Step 803) The shared object processing unit 110 releases the master attribute of the corresponding shared object. Step 804) Then, the virtual space generation unit 120
A three-dimensional CG to be displayed to the user 160 is generated, the three-dimensional CG is displayed on the display unit 130, and the process at the time of receiving the shared object information on another user terminal 100 ends.

Although the above embodiment has been described based on the configuration of FIG. 2, the configurations of the world management server 200, the shared object management server 300, and the user terminal 100 are respectively constructed as programs, and the world management server 200 Device connected to each computer used as the shared object management server 300 and the user terminal 100, a floppy disk, a CD-R
The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium such as an OM and installing it when implementing the present invention.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of users are connected to a server device via a communication line, and each avatar participates in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. In a case where an object sharing an operation in the three-dimensional shared virtual space is realized in a three-dimensional shared virtual space sharing the operation, the present invention provides a method for sharing the object when the shared object appears and disappears in the space. By dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal that propagates the operation of the object, the processing load of the user terminal as the master terminal can be appropriately distributed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a shared object realizing system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a data format of a shared object database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart (part 1) showing the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention (when user A logs in to world A).

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart (part 2) showing the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention (when user A logs out of world A).

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart (part 3) showing the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention (when shared object A moves to another world by a task).

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the shared object realizing system according to one embodiment of the present invention (part 4) (the terminal of user A is the master terminal of shared object A;
General case where there is no change in the master terminal).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a shared object realizing method process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 user terminal 110 shared object processing unit 120 virtual space generation unit 130 display unit 140 shared object change information processing unit 150 communication control unit 160 user 170 data management unit 180 management database 181 action table 200 world management server 210 login user management means, user Management unit 220 Communication control unit 300 Shared object management server 310 Master terminal management unit, master terminal management unit 320 Shared object database 330 Search unit 340 Load unit 350 Upload unit 360 Shared object change information management unit 370 Distribution user management unit 380 Data transfer management Department

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B050 BA07 BA08 BA09 CA07 CA08 EA24 EA28 FA02 FA14 5B089 GA12 GA23 GB02 GB10 JA17 JB03 KA13 KB09 KB10 KC16 KC60 LB01 LB14 LB21

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users store respective alter egos (hereinafter referred to as avatars) in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG. A method for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional shared virtual space in which the user participates and shares the operation of the avatar, wherein a world management server that manages a user who is logged in to a world that is a logical range of the three-dimensional shared virtual space And a shared object management server that manages a shared object that is an object having the same operation on all user terminals, and a plurality of user terminals. In the shared object management server, the state and shared object of the user in the world Based on the state of the object, propagate the action of the shared object existing in the world Dynamically changes and manages the assignment of user terminals (hereinafter, referred to as master terminals) for the distribution of shared object information and incidental information to the terminal that has become the master terminal. A shared object realizing method in a three-dimensional shared virtual space, wherein the shared object information and the supplementary information are stored. 2. The shared object management server, wherein, when the user logs in to the world, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is managed. 3. The shared object management server according to claim 1, wherein when the user logs out of the world, the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed. How to implement shared objects. 4. The three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein the shared object management server dynamically changes and manages the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the shared object moves to another world by a task. A method for realizing a shared object in a shared virtual space. 5. The shared object management server according to claim 1, wherein the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object is dynamically changed and managed so that the processing load of the user terminal as a master terminal is appropriately distributed. A method for implementing a shared object in a three-dimensional shared virtual space. 6. A user terminal that has become a master terminal refers to an action table that defines what kind of operation is to be performed when the terminal becomes the master terminal, which is the supplementary information distributed from the shared object server. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the shared object is propagated. 7. A plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users cause each avatar to participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG, and operate the avatar. What is claimed is: 1. A shared object realizing system in a shared three-dimensional shared virtual space, comprising: a world management server having login user management means for managing a user who is logged in to a world that is a logical range of the three-dimensional shared virtual space; Based on the state of the user in the world and the state of the shared object that is the object whose operation on all the user terminals is the same, the assignment of the master terminal for propagating the operation of the shared object existing in the world is dynamically determined. A master terminal management unit that changes and manages and distributes shared object information and incidental information to users A shared object management server, and a user terminal having means for storing the shared object information and the accompanying information distributed from the shared object management server when the shared object management server becomes a master terminal. A shared object realization system in a virtual space. 8. The shared object management server dynamically changes the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the user logs in to the world.
9. The shared object realizing system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space according to claim 7, further comprising a managing unit. 9. The three-dimensional sharing system according to claim 7, wherein said shared object management server includes means for dynamically changing and managing a master terminal assignment of said shared object when said user logs out of said world. A shared object realization system in a virtual space. 10. The shared object management server includes means for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of a master terminal of the shared object when the shared object moves to another world by a task. 3
A shared object realization system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space. 11. The shared object management server includes means for dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object so as to appropriately distribute the processing load of the user terminal as a master terminal. A shared object realizing system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space according to claim 7. 12. The shared terminal by referring to the action table, wherein the user terminal refers to the action table and defines an operation to be performed when the user terminal becomes the master terminal distributed from the shared object management server. 8. The shared object realizing system in a three-dimensional shared virtual space according to claim 7, further comprising means for propagating an operation of the object. 13. A plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users cause each avatar to participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG, and operate the avatar. A storage medium storing a shared object realizing program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space mounted on a world management server in a shared object realizing system in a shared three-dimensional virtual space, which is a logical range of the three-dimensional shared virtual space. A storage medium storing a shared object realizing program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space, comprising a login user management process for managing a user who logs in to the world. 14. A plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users cause each avatar to participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG, and operate the avatar. A storage medium storing a shared object realization program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space mounted on a shared object management server that manages a shared object in a shared object realization system in a shared three-dimensional shared virtual space, wherein Based on the state and the state of the shared object that is the object whose operation on all user terminals match, dynamically change and manage the assignment of the master terminal for propagating the operation of the shared object existing in the world, User who became the master terminal for shared object information and supplementary information Storage medium storing shared objects implement a program in the three-dimensional shared virtual space, characterized in that it comprises a master terminal management processes to deliver the end. 15. The program for realizing a shared object in a three-dimensional shared virtual space according to claim 14, further comprising a process of dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the user logs in to the world. Storage medium storing. 16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of dynamically changing and managing a master terminal assignment of the shared object when the user logs out of the world.
4. A storage medium storing a shared object realization program in the three-dimensional shared virtual space according to 4. 17. The three-dimensional shared virtual space according to claim 14, further comprising a process of dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object when the shared object moves to another world by a task. A storage medium storing a shared object realization program. 18. The three-dimensional shared virtual machine according to claim 14, further comprising a process of dynamically changing and managing the assignment of the master terminal of the shared object so that the processing load of the user terminal as a master terminal is appropriately distributed. A storage medium storing a shared object realization program in a space. 19. A plurality of user terminals are connected to a server device via a communication line, and a plurality of users cause each avatar to participate in a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by three-dimensional CG, and operate the avatar. A storage medium storing a shared object realizing program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space mounted on a user terminal in a shared object realizing system in a shared three-dimensional shared virtual space, which is passed along with shared object information from a server that manages the shared object. Propagating the operation of the shared object with reference to an action table that defines what operation will be performed when the device becomes a master terminal for transmitting the operation of the shared object existing in the world, Characterized by including a process of causing
A storage medium storing a shared object realization program in a three-dimensional shared virtual space.