JP2002082895A - Three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system and user information managing method in the same system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user managing method and its system to enable data communication suitable for a communication form of one to many in a system to perform communication by sharing a three-dimensional virtual space via a communication line. SOLUTION: Terminal computer programs 16 of a lecturer terminal and plural student terminals capable of logging in the respective servers 13 by a virtual space management server program 12 having (n) cell world management servers 13 are connected via the communication line 11. The server 13 logged in by the lecturer terminal is defined as a master server and the servers except it are defined as slave servers. User terminals are managed so that communication data are distributed to all the student terminals to log in the master server and the slave servers when the communication data are transmitted from the lecturer terminal to log in the master server and the communication data are distributed to all the student terminals including the lecturer terminal when the communication data are transmitted from any of the student terminals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method in which a large number of participants communicate with each other through a communication line using a plurality of computer terminals, and a three-dimensional virtual space constructed by using computer graphics technology. The present invention relates to a user management method and system suitable for one-to-many communication forms such as concerts and lectures in halls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique for transmitting images and sounds from one person to many people, broadcasting using television or radio as a receiving terminal is known. In addition, as a technology for sharing a three-dimensional virtual space and allowing multiple users to communicate using voice and image, "Shigeki Masaki, Tetsuo Tajiri, Susumu Ichinose,
“Server Communication Platform: Interspace”, NTT R & D, Vol. 47, p
p. 453-458, April 1998 ".

[0003]

However, when considering a lecture in a form of communication between one teacher and many students using images and sounds by a remote communication system, when a broadcast is used, the teacher sends one teacher to many students. Although it is possible to send information, it has not been realized to provide a means for students to ask the teacher in one system.

In a system in which a plurality of users communicate with each other using images and sounds, such as an interspace, all users are assumed to use the same form of use. No communication form is assumed, and a form of system that can simultaneously communicate with a sufficient number of people to give a lecture has not been realized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system in which a plurality of users communicate by sharing a three-dimensional virtual space via a communication line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a user management method and a system capable of the user management.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a user management method in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system according to the present invention manages each cell world which is a partial area of the three-dimensional virtual space. A plurality of cell world management servers, and a plurality of user terminals connected to any of the cell world management servers and communicating by sharing any of the cell worlds,
A user information management method in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, comprising: a virtual space management server that manages login / logout of the user terminal to / from the plurality of cell world management servers. A management process for managing and holding user information of users who can simultaneously communicate with the cell world management server when logging in / logout of the user terminal; and a specific user according to the management and held user information. A first transmitting step of transmitting communication information to another cell world beyond the cell world in which the user logically exists, and transmitting the communication information of the user to the specific user logically by the user. Whether it is an existing cell world or another cell world, A second transmission step of, characterized in that it has.

Alternatively, in the user information management method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, in the management process, the virtual space management server is in charge of a virtual space name of a login destination in response to a login request from a user terminal. A cell world management server to be operated, and the selected cell world management server is set to be in charge of managing the user who has requested the login.

Alternatively, in the user information management method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, in the management step, the cell world management server responds to a logout request from the user terminal, and transmits the communication information of the user to another. In this case, the setting is made so as to end distribution to the user terminal and end distribution of communication information from another user to the user.

Alternatively, in the method for managing user information in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, in the managing step, when the user of the user terminal is a user having a lecture ID as a specific user ID, The cell world management server set as the login destination of the user terminal is logically a master server, and the other cell world management servers are logically slave servers.

Alternatively, in the user information managing method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, in the managing step, dummy user information for the slave server to receive communication information of the user having the lecture ID from the master server. To create
In the first transmitting step, the master server transmits communication information of a user having the lecture ID to a user terminal directly managed by the master server and the slave server, and the slave server transmits the communication information to the master server. The communication information received from the slave server is distributed to user terminals directly managed by the slave server.

Alternatively, in the method for managing user information in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, in the second transmitting step, the communication information of the user terminal is directly transmitted from the user terminal directly managed by the slave server to the master server. The master server transmits the communication information received from the slave server to a user terminal of a user having a lecture ID.

[0012] Similarly, in order to solve the above problems, a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system according to the present invention includes a plurality of cell world management servers for managing each cell world which is a partial area of the three-dimensional virtual space; A plurality of user terminals connected to any of the cell world management servers via a communication line and a virtual space management server to communicate by sharing any of the cell worlds; and A three-dimensional virtual space sharing communication system including the virtual space management server that manages login / logout of a user terminal, wherein the virtual space management server includes:
The system has management means for managing and holding user information of users who can simultaneously communicate with the cell world management server at the time of login / logout of the user terminal, and performs specific use in accordance with the managed and held user information. One of the cell world management servers where the user logically exists has transmission means for transmitting the communication information of the specific user to another cell world beyond the cell world where the user logically exists. Transmitting means for transmitting the communication information of the cell world management server to the specific user regardless of whether the cell world is a cell world in which the cell logically exists or another cell world. It is characterized by having.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a processing mechanism in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system. FIG.
, The virtual space management server program 12 is divided into n cell world management servers 13, a user ID and password collating unit 14, and a user information holding unit 15.

The cell world server 13 exists for each virtual space as a unit in which users can communicate by transmitting and receiving voices, images, and texts to and from each other. Here, an example in which n virtual spaces exist is shown.

The user ID and password collating unit 14
When the user logs in, he / she is allowed to use this system by checking with the pre-registered information whether the user is authorized to participate in this 3D virtual space shared communication system. At the same time, the user ID of the user currently using the system and which virtual space the user is using, that is, which cell world management server 1 to n is assigned to the user information holding unit 15 To save.

The virtual space terminal computer program 16 performs data communication with one of the cell world management servers via the communication line 11 while the user is participating in the virtual space, that is, while logging in.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the cell world management server 13 in detail. The cell world management server 13 includes an image data receiving unit 21, an audio data receiving unit 22, a text data receiving unit 23, an image data transmitting unit 24, an audio data transmitting unit 25, a text data transmitting unit 26, a user managing unit 27, and position data. It has a management unit 28 and a data transfer server name management unit 29.

The image data receiving unit 21, the voice data receiving unit 22, and the text data receiving unit 23 receive image, voice, and text data transmitted from the virtual space terminal computer program or another cell world management server, respectively. I do.

The image data transmitting unit 24, the voice data transmitting unit 25, and the text data transmitting unit 26 transmit image, voice, and text data to the virtual space terminal computer program or another cell world management server, respectively.

The user management unit 27 manages the user ID of a user who belongs to the three-dimensional virtual space currently managed by the cell world management server.

The position data management unit 28 receives the observation viewpoint position data of the three-dimensional virtual space sent from the virtual space terminal computer program, and manages another user's virtual space terminal computer program or another virtual space. Send to cell world management server.

The data transfer server name management unit 29 stores an image,
It manages the server name of the cell world management server to which voice, text, and location data should be transmitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the virtual space terminal computer program in detail. Virtual space terminal computer program 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a login / logout processing unit 37 for performing login / logout processing to the virtual space, an image data transmission unit 38 for transmitting a user's face image input from the camera 31 to the cell world management server, and a microphone 32 for input. An audio data transmitting unit 39 that transmits the voice of the user to the cell world management server, an audio data receiving unit 310 that receives audio data from the cell world management server, and reproduces the audio data through the speaker 33. Mouse 34 for changing the position and direction of the viewpoint to be observed
A position data transmission unit 311 for transmitting the position and direction data input from the user to the cell world management server, and a text data transmission unit 31 for transmitting text data input from the keyboard 35 by the user to the cell world management server
2, a text data receiving unit 313, an image data receiving unit 314, and a position data receiving unit 315 for receiving text data, image data, and position data from the cell world server, respectively, and a three-dimensional virtual image read from a virtual space data storage unit 317. The position data receiving unit 31 is added to the spatial data.
The avatar is combined with the position of the other user in the three-dimensional gateway that was received in step 5, and the face image of the other user received by the image data receiving unit 314 is pasted on the avatar, and the terminal computer screen is displayed. And a virtual space generation unit 316 for generating data to be displayed on the display 36.

FIG. 4 shows a virtual space management server program 1
2 shows a configuration diagram of hardware on which the virtual space terminal computer program 16 operates. The virtual space management server program 12 runs on the server computer 41. The virtual space terminal computer program 16 runs on the terminal computer 42.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a general process in which a user logs in to a virtual space. The user ID, the password, and the name of the three-dimensional virtual space to participate in are transmitted from the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer program to the virtual space management server program. The user ID / password collation unit 14 of the virtual space management server checks whether the user ID and the password match the information registered in advance. If not, it informs the virtual space terminal computer program that the login has failed. If they match, the user information is stored in the user information holding unit 15, the cell world server that manages the virtual space in which the user wants to participate is confirmed, and the user ID is notified that there is a user who has newly logged in to the cell world server. . The corresponding cell world server starts data communication with this user, and sends a confirmation notification that the request has been received. Upon receiving this notification, the user I of the virtual space management server
The D and password verification unit 14 notifies the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer that the login has been normally performed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a general process in which the user logs out of the virtual space. The user ID is transmitted from the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer program to the virtual space management server program. The user information holding unit 15 of the virtual space management server deletes information on the user after confirming to which cell world server the user having the current user ID belongs. After that, the user is notified together with the user ID that there is a user who wants to log out to the corresponding cell world server. The corresponding cell world server stops data transmission to this user and notifies the user that the request has been received. Upon receiving this notification, the user I of the virtual space management server
The D and password matching unit 14 notifies the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer that the logout has been normally performed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing mechanism in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system when one speaker and a large number of students use the present system. The processing mechanism in FIG. 7 is basically the same as the processing mechanism in FIG. Here, the master server and the slave server, and the speaker terminal and the student terminal described in each cell world server are the same as a program, respectively. This is a name used in the system for distinguishing between students and students because they operate differently when classified.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a process in which a speaker logs in to the present system. The login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer program of the speaker terminal transmits the user ID, the password, and the name of the three-dimensional virtual space to participate in to the virtual space management server program. User ID and password verification unit 14 of virtual space management server
Confirms whether the user ID and the password match the speaker information registered in advance. If not, it informs the virtual space terminal computer program that the login has failed. If they match, the user information is stored in the user information holding unit 15, the cell world server that manages the virtual space in which the user wants to participate is confirmed, and the fact that there is a speaker who has newly logged in to the cell world server is notified together with the user ID. . This cell world server becomes the master server. At the same time, it notifies that there is a speaker who has newly logged in to another cell world server, that is, a slave server, together with the user ID, and stores the slave server name in the data transfer server name management unit. The master server starts data communication with the presenter, and notifies the speaker that the request has been received. Upon receiving this notification, the user ID and password verification unit 14 of the virtual space management server
Notifies the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer that the login has been normally performed. The slave server stores the master server name in the data transfer server name management unit 29, creates dummy user information of the speaker, and displays the speaker avatar, face image, and text in the virtual space managed by the slave server. And hear the audio sent by the speaker.

When a student logs in, a general process shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a process in which the speaker logs out of the virtual space. The user ID is transmitted from the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer program of the speaker terminal to the virtual space management server program. The user information holding unit 15 of the virtual space management server confirms to which cell world server the speaker having the current user ID belongs, and then deletes information on the user. After that, the master server notifies the corresponding master server that there is a speaker who wants to log out, together with the user ID, and sets the slave server name in the data transfer server name management unit 2
9 to delete. The corresponding master server stops sending data to this speaker and sends a confirmation that the request has been received. Upon receiving this notification, the user ID and password verification unit 14 of the virtual space management server of the speaker terminal notifies the login / logout processing unit 31 of the virtual space terminal computer that the logout has been normally performed. In the slave server, the master server name is deleted from the data transfer server name management unit 29, and the dummy user information of the speaker is deleted.

When a student logs out, a general process shown in FIG. 6 is performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the processing steps when voice, image, text, and position data are transmitted from the speaker terminal. Data transmitted from the image data transmitting unit 38, the audio data transmitting unit 39, the position data transmitting unit 311, and the text data transmitting unit 312 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as communication data) of the virtual space terminal computer program of the speaker terminal is First, it is sent to the master server.
The master server extracts the slave server name from the data transfer server name management unit 29 and transfers the communication data (* 1) to the slave server. The transferred communication data (* 1) is transmitted to the student's virtual space terminal computer program managed in each slave server via each slave server. The communication data (* 1) is also transmitted to the student's virtual space terminal computer program directly managed by the master server.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a processing procedure when communication data (* 2) is transmitted from the student terminal. When the communication data (* 2) is transmitted from the student terminal, the case is divided into a case where the student terminal belongs to the slave server and a case where the student terminal belongs to the master server. When the student terminal belongs to the slave server, communication data (* 2) is first transmitted to the slave server from the virtual space terminal computer program of the student terminal. The slave server sends communication data (*) to the virtual space terminal computer program belonging to the virtual space that is directly managed by this slave server.
2), the master server name is extracted from the data transfer server name management unit 29, and the communication data (* 2) is transferred to the master server. The master server sends the communication data (* 2) to the speaker's virtual space terminal computer program. If the student terminal belongs to the master server, the communication data sent to the master server (*
2) is transmitted to the virtual space terminal computer program managed by the master server.

As described above, a feature of the present invention is that a user having a specific user ID (lecture ID) in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system having a plurality of cell world management servers and performing communication. The cell world management server that is logged in is the master server, the others are slave servers, and the information of the user having the lecture ID is distributed to all users including the user who is logged in to the slave server. It is in. Thus, according to the present invention, not only the user logged in to the master server but also the user logged in to the slave server can see the user having the lecture ID and hear one-to-many communication. Is obtained.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, a voice and an image are transmitted from a lecturer to a number of persons who can gather in a lecture, which is suitable for a one-to-many communication form such as a lecture. Communication so that the participants can ask questions about the content of the lecture, and the data transmission volume of the lecturer and the student can be adjusted to match the communication capacity of the limited communication line. A method is provided for implementing a data communication method in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a processing mechanism in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cell world management server in detail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a virtual space terminal computer program in detail.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of hardware on which a virtual space management server program 12 and a virtual space terminal computer program 16 operate.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a general process in which a user logs in to a virtual space.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a general process in which a user logs out of a virtual space.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing mechanism in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system when one speaker and a large number of students use the present system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a process in which a speaker logs in to the present system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a process in which a speaker logs out of a virtual space.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing process when voice, image, text, and position data are transmitted from a speaker terminal;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a processing process when voice, image, text, and position data are transmitted from a student terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Communication line 12 ... Virtual space management server program 13 ... Cell world management server 14 ... User ID and password collation part 15 ... User information holding part 16 ... Virtual space terminal computer program 21 ... Image data receiving part 22 ... Audio data receiving part 23 text data receiving unit 24 image data transmitting unit 25 audio data transmitting unit 26 text data transmitting unit 27 user management unit 28 position data management unit 29 data transfer server name management unit 31 camera 32 microphone 33 ... Speaker 34 ... Mouse 35 ... Keyboard 36 ... Terminal computer screen 37 ... Login / logout processing unit 38 ... Image data transmission unit 39 ... Audio data transmission unit 310 ... Audio data reception unit 311 ... Position data transmission unit 312 ... Text data transmission unit 313: Text data Shin portion 314 ... image data receiving section 315 ... position data receiver 316 ... virtual space generation unit 317 ... virtual space data storage unit 41 ... server computer 42 ... terminal computer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of cell world management servers that manage each cell world, which is a partial area of a three-dimensional virtual space, and are connected to one of the cell world management servers and share one of the cell worlds. A user information management method in a three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system, comprising: a plurality of user terminals for performing communication; and a virtual space management server for managing login / logout of the user terminals to / from the plurality of cell world management servers. A process in which the virtual space management server manages and holds user information of users who can communicate simultaneously with the cell world management server when logging in / logout of the user terminal; Communication information of a specific user according to the user information A first transmitting step of transmitting to another cell world beyond the cell world in which the user logically exists; and A second transmitting step of transmitting a cell world regardless of whether the cell world is a different cell world or another cell world. 2. In the management process, a virtual space management server selects a cell world management server to be assigned from a virtual space name of a login destination in response to a login request from a user terminal, and the selected cell world management server. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the server is set to be in charge of managing the user who has requested the login. 3. In the managing step, in response to a logout request from the user terminal, the cell world management server terminates distributing the communication information of the user to another user terminal, and performs another use. 3. The user information management method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system according to claim 1, wherein setting is made to end distribution of communication information from the user to the user. 4. In the managing step, when the user of the user terminal is a user having a lecture ID as a specific user ID, a cell world management server set as a login destination of the user terminal 4. The user information management method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system according to claim 2, wherein a logical server is a master server, and the other cell world management servers are logical slave servers. 5. In the management step, the slave server creates dummy user information for receiving communication information of a user having a lecture ID from the master server, and in the first transmission step, the master server Transmitting the communication information of the user having the lecture ID to a user terminal directly managed by the master server and the slave server, and the slave server directly managing the communication information received from the master server by the slave server. 5. The user information management method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system according to claim 4, wherein the user information is distributed to a user terminal performing the communication. 6. In the second transmitting step, the communication information of the user terminal is transferred from the user terminal directly managed by the slave server to the master server, and the communication information received by the master server from the slave server is transmitted. 6. The user management method in the three-dimensional virtual space shared communication system according to claim 4, wherein the transmission is performed to a user terminal of a user having a lecture ID. 7. A plurality of cell world management servers for managing each cell world, which is a partial area of the three-dimensional virtual space, and connected to any one of the cell world management servers via a communication line and a virtual space management server. A three-dimensional system comprising: a plurality of user terminals that communicate by sharing one of the cell worlds; and the virtual space management server that manages login / logout of the user terminals to the plurality of cell world management servers. A virtual space sharing communication system, wherein the virtual space management server has management means for managing and holding user information of users who can simultaneously communicate with the cell world management server when logging in / logout of the user terminal. In accordance with the managed and retained user information, a specific user One of the cell world management servers that exists in a specific manner, has transmission means for transmitting the communication information of the specific user to another cell world beyond the cell world in which the user logically exists, The cell world management server has transmission means for transmitting the communication information of the user to the specific user regardless of the cell world in which the user is logically present or another cell world. A 3D virtual space sharing communication system characterized by: