JP2001084209A - Method and device for recording virtual space history and recording medim with the method recorded therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide virtual space history recording method and device capable of reproducing events in a virtual space for participants taking part at different times and observing the events from various directions, when the events are reproduced. SOLUTION: When a participant's terminal transmits a record start request, a participant identifier and a record identifier to a partial area managing device and a voice information managing device (31), the partial area managing device records the position and face image of the person, an event, the request, etc., from the participant identifier together with time (33). The voice information managing device also records the voice of the person from the participant identifier together with time (32). When the operator transmits a record end request together with the same record identifier to the partial area managing device and the voice information managing device (31), the both managing devices finish a corresponding recording operation (32 and 33), and integrated history managing part collates combinations of the voice and the face image, and the position, the direction and the event, etc., from the record identifier and stores them together with a file name specifying virtual space data as history record data (34).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitable for asynchronous communication and monitoring of events occurring in a virtual space in a multiplayer virtual space where a plurality of people operate and use computers connected to a network. The present invention relates to a virtual space history recording method and apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of participants perform asynchronous communication using a computer connected to a network, a method of writing a message in a place having an electronic mail or a bulletin board function has been used.

In a system where other participants can share an operation performed on a virtual space, a method of recording an event occurring in the virtual space is displayed on its own terminal. A method of video recording the screen can be considered.

[0004]

[0006] In a shared virtual space, it is not always the case that partners who wish to communicate are always participating simultaneously. The above-mentioned conventional method of writing a message in a place having an e-mail or a bulletin board function is used in such a case to leave a message together with an event in the virtual space to a user who has joined at a different time. Although effective as a communication method, there is a problem that events occurring in a virtual space cannot be recorded and reproduced.

[0005] In the above-described conventional method of video recording a screen displayed on the terminal itself, when an event in a virtual space is screen-photographed by video, the observation viewpoint cannot be changed. If a person wants to record what happened in the virtual space, the advantage is that blind spots prevent them from seeing important scenes, but for well-intentioned participants, events in the virtual space are unique. There is a problem that only interpretation is possible.

An object of the present invention is to reproduce events in a virtual space over time in order to communicate with users who have participated at different times, and at the time of reproduction from various directions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual space history recording method and apparatus capable of observing, suppressing malicious behavior, and searching for the cause.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a virtual space history recording method according to the present invention can share a virtual space with a plurality of persons by operating a computer connected to a network. In the system, one or both of an event in the virtual space, that is, an operation of a participant in the virtual space and an input operation performed on the virtual space,
The method further comprises a recording step of recording the position or the position and the direction of the participant in the virtual space in a temporal order.

In the recording step, in addition to the above,
It is characterized in that it is recorded in temporal order together with at least one of a participant's face image displayed in the virtual space, a sound emitted from the virtual space, and a sound heard from the virtual space.

[0009] In the recording step, the case where the participant is the operator himself is recorded based on an instruction from the operator.

[0010] In the recording step, a specific operator records all participants without knowing recording start and recording end timings to the participants in the virtual space.

Further, before the recording step, there is a step of designating a recording range in the virtual space, and in the recording step, recording is performed within the designated virtual space.

[0012] In the recording step, recording may be started or ended in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event in the virtual space, a change in position or position and direction, a voice, or a combination thereof. It is characterized by.

Further, in the recording step, a recording identifier is obtained for each recording unit, and each data constituting the recording data is stored in association with the recording identifier.

In addition, before the recording step, a step of acquiring a disclosure range of the recording data to another person from the operator is provided, and in the recording step, the disclosure range is stored in association with the recording data. Features.

A program for causing a computer to execute the steps in the virtual space history recording method described above is recorded on a recording medium readable by the computer.

[0016] To solve the above-mentioned problem, a virtual space history recording apparatus according to the present invention provides a system in which a virtual space can be shared with a plurality of persons by operating a computer connected to a network. A face image recording unit that records the face image of the participant, a sound recording unit that records the sound emitted from the participant in the virtual space or the sound heard from the virtual space, and the position or position of the participant in the virtual space. At least one of a position recording unit that records a direction and an event recording unit that records one or both of an event in the virtual space, that is, an operation of a participant in the virtual space and an input operation performed on the virtual space. A recording unit and an event recording unit, and a comprehensive history management unit that associates recording data recorded by the recording unit with the recorded data as virtual space data. And butterflies.

[0017] The system may further include a position or a position and a direction of the participant, an event,
And a partial area management device that manages at least a position or position and direction of a face image, an event, an audio information management device that manages audio information, the partial area management device, or a case where the audio information management device is provided. Comprises at least a partial region management device and a virtual space management device among the virtual region management device that manages the partial region management device and the audio information management device, wherein the face video recording unit, the position recording unit, and the event The recording unit exists in the partial area management device,
The audio recording unit is present in the audio information management device, and the comprehensive history management unit is present in the virtual space management device.

According to the present invention, the event in the virtual space is reproduced over time by recording the event in the virtual space together with the position of the alter ego of the participant displayed in the virtual space or its position and direction. And allows observation from various directions during reproduction. In addition, by recording together with personal information such as a face image or a voice displayed at that time, it is possible to pursue a cause of a malicious action in the virtual space or to suppress an action related thereto.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a virtual space history recording apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The virtual space history recording device 1 includes a face video recording unit 11, an audio recording unit 12, a position recording unit 13, an event recording unit 14, an overall history management unit 15
Consists of

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a virtual space management method and a system configuration for performing history recording in a virtual space.

The three-dimensional virtual space data is managed by a virtual space management device. The room of the three-dimensional virtual space 24 is
The management area is appropriately divided according to the processing capacity of the management device. For each partial area, there is a partial area management device 21 that manages the position and direction of a participant in the partial area, a face image, and an event. A voice information management device 22 exists for each room in the three-dimensional virtual space 24, and voice is managed by this. Further, there is a virtual space management device 23 for managing information such as which audio information management device 22 corresponds to the partial area management device 21 for each room in each three-dimensional virtual space. The face image recording unit 11, the position recording unit 13, and the event recording unit 14 in FIG.
Exists. The voice recording unit 12 includes a voice information management device 22
Exists. The comprehensive history management unit 15 exists in the virtual space management device 23.

FIG. 3 shows a method in which an operator records a history in his own virtual space. In FIG. 3, 3
1 is a processing method of the operation terminal of the virtual space participant, 32 is a processing method of the voice information management device, 33 is a processing method of the partial area management device, and 34 is a processing method of the general history management unit.

When a recording start request is made by the operator at the participant's operation terminal, the participant identifier and the recording identifier of the participant are transmitted to the partial area management device and the voice information management device together with the request (31). The partial area management device determines the recording target based on the participant identifier, periodically records the position and direction of the person, and the face image together with the time from the start of recording, and requests for an event generated by the person with respect to the virtual space. Each time an event request or event occurs, the event and the event are recorded together with the time at that time (33). The voice information management device determines the recording target from the participant identifier, and records the voice having the participant identifier of the person from the voices in the virtual space together with the time from the start of recording (32). When the recording end is requested by the operator, the request is transmitted to the partial area management device and the audio information management device together with the same recording identifier transmitted at the start of the recording (31). Both management devices
From the received recording identifier, the corresponding recording operation is specified from among the operations currently performing recording, and the operation is terminated. The record information is transmitted to the comprehensive history management unit together with the record identifier (3.
2, 33). The integrated history management unit collates the combination of the voice and the face image, the position and the direction, the event request and the event from the record identifier, and associates and associates the time from the start of the recording. Further, the comprehensive history management unit stores both the record and a file name for specifying the three-dimensional virtual space data (34).

FIG. 4 shows a method in which the virtual space manager records all histories in the virtual space. In FIG.
41 is a processing method of the operation terminal of the virtual space manager, 42 is a processing method of the audio information management device, 43 is a processing method of the partial area management device, and 44 is a processing method of the comprehensive history management unit.

When a recording start request is issued from the virtual space manager, the recording identifier is transmitted together with the request to all of the partial area management devices and audio information management devices that manage the respective partial regions included in the virtual space (41). ). In each partial area management device, the positions and directions of all participants included in the partial area,
The facial image is recorded periodically with the time from the start of recording, and event requests and events that occurred for that partial area are
Each time an event request or event occurs, it is recorded together with the time (43). The voice information management device records the voices from all the participants uttered in the virtual space with time (42). When there is a request to end recording from the virtual space manager (41), the subsequent processing is the same as the method of recording the history of the operator himself (FIG. 3) (42, 43, 44).

FIG. 5 shows a method of recording a history in the virtual space when a virtual space manager specifies a recording range when recording a history in the virtual space. 51 is a processing method of the operation terminal of the virtual space manager, 52 is a processing method of the audio information management device, 53 is a processing method of the partial area management device, and 54 is a processing method of the comprehensive history management unit.

The virtual space manager can specify the history recording range in partial area units. When a recording start request is issued from the administrator, a recording identifier and a recording range identifier are transmitted to the partial area management device and the audio information management device together with the request (51). The partial area management device specifies the partial area management device to start recording from the recording range identifier, and starts recording. The recording method of each partial area management apparatus at this time is the same as the recording method of each partial area management apparatus (FIG. 4) in the above-described method in which the virtual space manager records all histories in the virtual space. At the same time as the recording, the partial area management device transmits a participant identifier of the participant who is currently participating in the partial area in which the partial area management apparatus is in charge to the audio information management apparatus. Further, each time a participant who enters the partial area in which he or she is in charge or a participant who exits the partial area exists, the participant identifier of the participant is transmitted to the voice information management device (5).
3). The audio information management device specifies a participant to record audio from the participant identifier obtained from the partial space management device, and records audio information having the corresponding participant identifier together with the time from the start of recording (52). When a recording end request is received from the virtual space manager (51), the subsequent processing is the same as the method of recording the history of the operator himself (FIG. 3) (52,
53, 54).

FIG. 6 shows the start of recording of a history in the virtual space triggered by an event (event) in the virtual space such as generation of a sound, movement to a specific position or direction, or action on a specific virtual object. The method of termination will be described. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes a processing method of an operation terminal of a recording person (participant or manager of the virtual space, etc.); 62, a processing method of a voice information management device; 63, a processing method of a partial area management device; This is a processing method of the management unit.

The recording person specifies the type of trigger for starting and ending recording, the participant to be recorded, and the recording range.
An instruction is given to one of the voice information management device and the partial area management device (61). One of the devices receiving the instruction triggers a pre-specified recording start, such as a specific person uttering a voice, a participant passing a specific place in virtual customs, or a participant acting on a specific virtual object. When such an event occurs, the recording is started and the other of the audio information management device and the partial area management device is requested to start recording. In response to this request, the other device starts recording (62, 63).
FIG. 6 shows an example in which when a specific person emits a sound, recording starts and ends recording. The recording method is the same as the method of recording the history in the virtual space of the operator himself or the method of recording all the histories in the virtual space (FIGS. 3 and 4).
As in the case of recording start, one of the audio information management device and the partial area management device terminates recording when a predetermined event occurs, and requests the other device to terminate recording, and the other device receives this request. To end recording. The processing after the end of the recording is the same as the method of recording the history of the operator himself (FIG. 3) (62, 63, 64).

FIG. 7 shows a method of recording a history in a virtual space for a specific user. In FIG.
71 is a processing method of the operation terminal of the virtual space manager, 72 is a processing method of the audio information management device, 73 is a processing method of the partial area management device, and 74 is a processing method of the comprehensive history management unit.

When a recording start request is issued from the virtual space manager, a recording identifier and a participant identifier to be recorded together with the request are transmitted to all the partial area management devices for managing each partial area included in the virtual space, and audio information. It is transmitted to the management device (71). In each partial area management device, when the recording target participant is included in the partial area, the position and the direction of the recording target participant, the face video are periodically recorded together with the time from the start of recording, and the recording participant is woken up by the participant. The event request or event is recorded with time each time the event request or event occurs. If it is not included in the partial area, it enters a recording standby state, and waits for a recording target participant to enter (73). The sound information management device records the sound from the recording target participant emitted in the virtual space with time (72). If the recording target participant moves the partial area during the recording, the source partial area management apparatus that has been performing the recording up to that point is in a recording standby state, and the recording is temporarily suspended (73). In addition, when a recording target participant enters, the partial area management apparatus at the movement destination periodically records the position and direction of the recording target participant and the face image together with the time from the start of recording, and wakes up the participant. The event request or event that has been made is recorded with time each time the event request or event occurs (73). If there is a request to end the recording from the virtual space manager (71), the subsequent processing is the same as the method of recording the history of the operator himself (FIG. 3) (72, 7).
3, 74).

In the present invention, the information processed by the voice information management device and the partial area management device is composed of a participant identifier indicating which participant's information and a data body. The selection of the recording target is performed by referring to the participant identifier included in the information to be processed, based on the participant identifier of the participant to be recorded transmitted from the terminal of the operator. Also,
The history data is added with the participant identifier of the recorder and the recording time and stored. Further, it is also possible to add an event name as a data handle name when the accumulated history data is reproduced later, and to accumulate the event name by the operator white body or the comprehensive history management unit.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the operator instructs the recording, the recording history disclosure condition, that is, only the administrator, only the specific individual participant, only the participant belonging to the specific group, It is also possible to specify all participants. When the disclosure condition is specified, the specified disclosure condition is added to the history data together with the record identifier and the participant identifier of the logger, and the history data is accumulated. When the reproduction of the history data is instructed, whether or not the reproduction is possible is determined. Used to determine.

In the above-described embodiment, an example including all the recorded data is shown. However, at least an event in the virtual space (movement of a participant in the virtual space, action on the virtual object,
The input operation (event request, etc.) performed on the virtual space is recorded in the event recording unit in FIG. 1)
And the position or position and direction of the alter ego of the participant
Is recorded in the position recording unit), the effect of the present invention can be obtained.

Further, a part or all of the functions of each unit of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can be realized by using a computer, or shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Needless to say, a computer can execute a processing step, and a computer-readable recording medium that can execute a program for realizing the function of each unit in the computer or a program for causing the computer to execute the processing step. For example, FD (floppy disk),
It can be recorded on an MO, ROM, memory card, CD, DVD, removable disk, or the like, provided, and distributed.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to leave a message even when a partner who wants to communicate is not participating in the virtual space at the same time as himself / herself. Occasionally, it becomes possible to record events in the virtual space for the participants who could not participate, so that the degree of use of the virtual space can be expected to be improved. In addition, since the user's behavior can be recorded together with personal information such as the face image and voice of the person, it becomes possible to pursue the cause of the malicious behavior in the virtual space or to suppress the behavior related thereto. In addition, by recording the history of the time at which a participant appeared, behavior, and the like at a specific place in the virtual space, it is effective for grasping the usage trend of the virtual space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a virtual space history recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a virtual space management method and a system configuration for implementing a virtual space history recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method of recording a history in a virtual space of an operator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a method for recording all histories in a virtual space according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method of recording a virtual space history specifying a recording range according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for recording a virtual space history triggered by an event or the like in a virtual space according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method of recording a virtual space history for a specific user according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Virtual space history recording device 11 ... Face video recording unit 12 ... Audio recording unit 13 ... Position recording unit 14 ... Event recording unit 15 ... Overall history management unit 21 ... Partial area management device 22 ... Audio information management device 23 ... Virtual space Management device 24 ... 3D virtual space 25 ... Participant in virtual space 31 ... Operation terminal of virtual space participant 32 ... Processing method of voice information management device 33 ... Processing method of partial area management device 34 ... Processing of general history management unit Method 41: Operation terminal of virtual space manager 42: Processing method of audio information management device 43: Processing method of partial area management device 44: Processing method of general history management unit 51: Operation terminal of virtual space participant 52: Audio information Processing method of management device 53 Processing method of partial area management device 54 Processing method of general history management unit 61 Operation terminal of virtual space manager 62 Processing of audio information management device Method 63: Processing method of partial area management apparatus 64: Processing method of general history management unit 71: Operation terminal of virtual space manager 72: Processing method of audio information management apparatus 73: Processing method of partial area management apparatus 74: General history Management unit processing method

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A system in which a virtual space can be shared with a plurality of persons by operating a computer connected to a network, an event in the virtual space, that is, an operation of a participant in the virtual space and a virtual space Recording a history of one or both of the input operations performed on the virtual space in a temporal order together with the position or the position and direction of the participant in the virtual space. 2. In the recording step, in addition to one or more of a participant's face image displayed in the virtual space, a sound uttered to the virtual space, and a sound audible from the virtual space, the recording step may further include: The virtual space history recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed. 3. The virtual space history recording method according to claim 1, wherein in the recording step, recording is performed on a case where the participant is the operator himself, based on an instruction from the operator. 4. The recording step according to claim 1, wherein in the recording step, a specific operator records all the participants without knowing recording start and recording end timings to the participants in the virtual space. The virtual space history recording method according to any one of the above. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, before the recording step, a step of designating a recording range in the virtual space, and in the recording step, recording is performed within the designated virtual space. 5. The virtual space history recording method according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. In the recording step, recording is started or ended in response to occurrence of a predetermined event in the virtual space, a change in the position or the position and the direction, a voice, or a combination thereof. The virtual space history recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The recording step according to claim 1, wherein a recording identifier is obtained for each recording unit, and each piece of data constituting the recording data is stored in association with the recording identifier. 2. The virtual space history recording method according to claim 1. 8. The method according to claim 8, further comprising, before the recording step, acquiring a disclosure range of the recording data to another person from an operator. In the recording step, storing the disclosure range in association with the recording data. The virtual space history recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: 9. A system in which a virtual space can be shared with a plurality of persons by operating a computer connected to a network, a face image recording unit that records a face image of a participant, and a participant in the virtual space. A voice recording unit for recording a voice emitted from a participant or a voice heard from a virtual space, a position recording unit for recording the position or position and direction of a participant in the virtual space, and an event in the virtual space, that is, a virtual space. At least one of a position recording unit and an event recording unit among the event recording units that record one or both of a participant's movement and an input operation performed on the virtual space in the computer is recorded by the recording unit provided. A virtual space history recording device, comprising: a comprehensive history management unit for storing the recorded data as virtual space data in association with each other. 10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a partial area management device that manages at least the position, position, and direction of the participant, and the face image of the participant for each partial area obtained by dividing the virtual space. A voice information management device that manages voice information; and the partial area management device, or, if the device includes the voice information management device, a virtual space management device that manages the partial region management device and the voice information management device. Comprising at least a partial area management device and a virtual space management device, wherein the face video recording unit, the position recording unit, and the event recording unit are present in the partial region management device; The virtual space history recording device according to claim 9, wherein the virtual space history recording device is present in the information management device, and the comprehensive history management unit is present in the virtual space management device. 11. A program for causing a computer to execute the steps in the virtual space history recording method according to claim 1 on a recording medium readable by the computer. Recording medium that records a virtual space history recording method to be performed.