JP2002157209A - Retrieval system using three-dimensional virtual space - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support the creation of a home page original for a user for utilizing a prescribed facility, in which a life is really experienced, constituted as a three-dimensional (3D) virtual space and linked with a real URL on The Internet and performing the retrieval and display of a desired URL by a retrieving function. SOLUTION: The 3D virtual space constituted as a completed island or city by locating street having a living style by arranging a financial institution, medial institution, shopping mall amusement facility, public facility and other facility required for daily life is downloaded from a server side database to a user side terminal and by entering the desired facility while moving a character along with a virtual road formed within this island on the side of user, that facility can be utilized. At the same time, by selecting or exchanging the other facility prepared on the database on the side of user as desired, a home page having an island or town having the life style matched to the user's taste can be generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A search system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to the present invention uses an Internet client (hereinafter referred to as an "island") as a virtual space constituted by three-dimensional moving images provided by a server administrator. The user uses the three-dimensional virtual space by visual operation to enable the user to use the facilities and life experience similar to real life on the homepage as a resident of the island or city on the home terminal. It is about a search system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a home page created on a personal computer is basically based on a text block for a subpage of several pages with respect to a text block of a top page, and displays an image file such as JIF or JPEG on the page if desired. Or data such as a sound file can be used, and the image file including the background pattern and the like can only be displayed two-dimensionally. Also, many of these homepages are limited to business or personal hobbies, and although links to other private or public homepages are possible, the homepage itself provides the same experiential games as real life. There was nothing to make it possible.

[0003]

A search system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to the present invention has been devised in order to solve the drawbacks of the information providing means using two-dimensional still images, which is the conventional homepage creation method. It is intended to be a three-dimensional virtual space, which can be used as a unique homepage on the user side as appropriate, and a financial institution that is configured as a living space,
Enables the use of various facilities such as department stores and other logistics institutions such as stores, amenity centers, etc., and enables the real-life use of homepages of real-life facilities linked to each facility on the screen and various search operations. is there.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a search system using a three-dimensional virtual space, which solves the above-mentioned problems. A three-dimensional virtual space constructed as a complete island or city from the server side by forming shops, shopping streets, recreational facilities, public facilities such as administrative agencies, and other facilities, forming a cityscape with a lifestyle Download it to the user's terminal, and move (walk) the character along the virtual road formed in this island on the user's side
While allowing the user to enter a desired facility, find a sub-category that enables the use of the facility, and use the sub-category as appropriate. The gist of the present invention is that a dedicated homepage having an island or a town having a lifestyle suitable for one's preference can be created by selection or exchange.

Further, in the present invention, a system using voice recognition and viewpoint movement recognition is added to a user side terminal for downloading and other operations in place of a pointing device such as a mouse or a tablet to enable visual operations. This makes it possible to construct a system that is easy to use even for a wide range of age groups and persons with physical disabilities.

Further, each facility is configured as a sub-category of a three-dimensional life form having the same functions as facilities in real life, and is configured so that predetermined functions in the facility can be appropriately used. And a character (virtual character), which is a user's avatar (alternate) on the homepage, enters on a virtual road or in a facility, and has a chat between the terminal users by having the characters talk with each other as desired. It is also possible to configure so as to make it possible.

[0007] In addition, a search function is added to the function of each facility, and the function can be linked to the homepage of the facility in real life, so that the facility can be actually used on the Internet. And a general search function can be added to a three-dimensional virtual space configured as an island or a town.

[0008] It should be noted that the result of using the homepage and the game as a three-dimensional virtual space created independently by the user is stored in the server-side database at the time of logoff, and can be reused in the previous use state at the next use. It is possible to configure so that the function as its home page is stored on the server side and downloaded to the user side terminal at the next logon.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a retrieval system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Structure of Island as Three-Dimensional Virtual Space] FIG. 1 shows an entire configuration screen 1 including a plurality of selectable three-dimensional virtual spaces displayed on a user terminal. A plurality of islands that can be further selected from a part as an element of 1, that is, a central island (or “city”) 1, in the illustrated example, “South Island 2”, “North Island 3”, “Developing Island” 4 "and" Island 5 scheduled to start selling ".
FIG. 2 shows a screen on which a south island 2 is selected and displayed from a plurality of selectable islands 2 to 5 in FIG. Among the selected islands 2 (see FIG. 2), there are medical facilities 6, schools 7, banks 8, police 9, city halls (prefectural offices) 10, fire stations 11, shrines 12, A church 13, a condominium 14, a recreation facility (eg, a game center) 15, a hotel 16, and the like are incorporated therein, and the character, which is the alter ego of the user, can be freely moved (walked), and the desired facility can be used. These facilities can be exchanged or replaced with other facilities as desired by the user, and various selectable iconized facilities are prepared on the screen side. These facilities can be dragged by a pointing device (such as a mouse or tablet) into the island 2 or moved out of the island 2.
(Homepage) can be created. On this island as a virtual space, prepaid cards, credit cards and currency can be used as games, and facilities can be used as if in real life, and these virtual facilities can be used as needed. A link is made to an existing facility so that it can be moved to the homepage of the corresponding facility.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a display screen in a state where the player enters the inside of a game center 15 which is one of the facilities taken into the island 2. Slot machine 17, roulette 18, card game 1
9 and the like are arranged so that the user can select and use it as appropriate. Once inside the facility, the character's line of sight on the screen changes to
It is configured as a moving image that can be viewed stereoscopically at 0 degrees, and is configured to move a character from a specific viewpoint to a specific game machine in the facility and to make use of the character. As an example, how to play (play) the game in the game center 15 will be described. (1) Casino / Playground (a) Slot machine When entering the game center, a sight from the same viewpoint as when entering the actual game hall is output on the screen. 2. When a desired stadium is selected while walking, a screen of the entire image of the stadium is output. 3. When sitting in front of the stadium, a slot portion and a button for stopping the operation of the slot are output. 4. Exchange coins for points. 5. Insert a coin into the slot slot and press the start button. 6. Stop the slot at an appropriate place, and if it hits, the coin will make a noise and come out to the saucer. 7. You can save the coins, but you can also exchange them for goods. In that case, hold a coin,
Go to the merchandise exchange counter in the casino and select whether to save or exchange for merchandise. This product can also be sold if you bring it to an auction site. (B) Pachinko The same operation as a slot machine can be performed. (C) Card game Decide where to play the game and sit down. 2. The dealer greets. 3. Exchange points for chips. 4. For example, an exchange ratio such as 1 chip = 1 point is determined. 5. In this regard, for example, one maximum investment amount is 1
If the player wins and loses the game, such as 00 chips, the same operation as (a) 7 can be performed. (D) The same operation as the roulette card game can be performed. (2) Auction site An auction site is provided in the virtual space, and is configured so that product transactions can be performed as desired.

[Structure of Basic System] A search system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to the present invention is configured as a web search system having no restriction on a platform to be used, and uses a communication line from a user terminal. A search system that accesses the host data center on the server administrator side, searches the host data center for necessary homepage information and other various information on the user terminal side, and sends the search results to the terminal side. is there.

That is, the web search system and the business processing system according to the present invention are constituted by an Internet server and a database server possessed by a server administrator of the present system, and an Internet terminal possessed by a user. The database server stores advertisement pages of various organizations or individuals registered in the present system, each of which has an individual URL. The system is configured to improve user convenience by arranging a unified screen before each page. In addition, each user can seamlessly display various advertisement pages stored in the database on his or her terminal through a unified screen.

[0013] The Internet server has a position search system for displaying an image and processing a business based on the access information stored in the database server to grasp the position of the registered user. This search system requires at least a URL, a name, and a brief description of handling operations when various organizations (financial institutions, medical organs, etc.) or individuals (shops, department stores, etc.) register in this system. At the time of this registration, the database server
There is provided storage means for storing the advertisement page in a sort means for rearranging the pages in the Japanese syllabary order. In addition, the names or trade names of various registered organizations or individuals can also be posted as facility signs or other signs displayed on the island. The user-side terminal needs to include reading means for reading the homepage and display means for displaying the read homepage.

First, a CD-ROM distributed by a server administrator of the present system is inserted into a user terminal, and first, user registration (to which an ID and a password are given) to be described later.
Let By using the CD-ROM, the user can easily view the home page via the data center on the server administrator side. Therefore, it is not necessary to input a URL every time the user logs on, and the server administrator can easily access the homepage.

[Usage Method] The user can create an original island in the homepage. At that time, register your island name and password. To display your own island at the next logon, you must enter your island name and password when you enter the server administrator's home page.

Further, the information is downloaded depending on the kind of facility or game desired by the user. For the downloaded game, the server administrator's homepage itself cannot be terminated unless the game termination on the screen is clicked. Clicking on the end of the game will automatically distribute the information from the user to the server administrator, and will transfer to point exchange and other sites.

[Search method] The search method in this system is performed by asking the character who is the avatar (alternate character) of the user on the homepage to enter the corresponding building or asking another character on the road. Is possible. At this time, the user displays the movement of the avatar as an image on the screen. On the Internet server, the display position is detected by the position search system based on registered personal information, and a display instruction is given.

[Virtual Space Management Method] In FIGS. 4 to 6, an Internet server (WWW server) 10
0 is the core of the virtual space, and is configured to execute each program in conjunction with the database. That is, first, when the search information 101 is transmitted from the user side, the search system in the Internet server 100 is started, the search is started together with the search request to the Internet virtual town database 103, and the search result is obtained. The obtained result, that is, the homepage,
Displayed on the user's terminal. The Internet virtual town database 103 stores advertisement pages for each group and individual. The advertisement page can be posted on the server administrator's home page according to the needs of the company (which may be a store), business hours, handling business contents, and the like. Procedures for registering in the Internet virtual town database 103 (online registration, etc.) are performed by renting a room in a cityscape on a virtual space (island), a building, an apartment, or the like (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, it is possible to set a higher monthly usage fee as the size of the building and the closer to the center area, but the fee is not an essential requirement for using this system.

[Execution of System] Next, the flow of processing when the main program of the virtual town is called from the Internet screen to the terminal on the user side will be described. In FIG. 5, first, when the browser is started by operating the terminal on the user side, the Internet screen 200 is displayed, and the top screen 201 of the homepage of the server administrator is displayed. And this top screen 201
, An explanation on use and specifications such as a model to be used are provided. Next, enter or leave according to the instruction on the screen. When the entry is selected, the screen is changed to a new screen, and the entire view 202 of the island (see FIG. 1) can be displayed, and the screen operates so as to approach the pier. Next, an information board 203 is displayed to provide guidance for registration as an islander, to explain the functions of the entire island,
Search guidance, islander release guidance, and the like are displayed as titles.

[Method of Islander Registration] In order to use this system, first, islander registration 205 must be performed.
When the user selects the islander registration of the information board 203 displayed on the server administrator's homepage, the registration screen 2
06, the user is required to input necessary information, for example, user personal information such as address, name, date of birth, gender, handle name, mail address and the like. Confirmation page 20 to check if there is any mistake such as input mistake after inputting these necessary items
7 is displayed, and when the entry is confirmed and transmitted to the server administrator, the registration processing program is activated and the automatic reply function 208 authenticates the registration. This information is
It is stored in the database by the main program in the virtual space. After the user registration authentication, the user can enter the use screen 212 of the present system. If you do not use this system or your registration is not authenticated 21
1, an end screen 109 is displayed.

[Explanation of the function of the island] When the user selects the button 204 for explanation of the island, the outline of the function is explained.
(See FIG. 6). First, as a description 301 of the entire function, a description that elements required for real residence are included in the island 1 as this virtual space and a description that the entire island also exists as a game are displayed. In addition, it is described that all selections and searches can be performed by an operation using a pointing device. In addition, currency on the island, credit card 302 or credit card 308
If the former 302 is selected, the server administrator will give the desired number of points 304 by inputting the address, name, card name, member code, etc. 303. The number of points is stored in the mileage bank 305 and stored in the Internet virtual town database 306 to enable use 307 on the island. When the latter 308 is selected, by inputting 309 the card ID, the set amount is input 310 as the number of points and stored in the mileage bank 305 as in the former. Here, when the prepaid card is not used, it is configured to jump to each card sales company 311.

[Function use on the island] In the island, administrative agencies as described above, for example, prefectural offices, municipal offices, police,
Various facilities that are needed daily, such as fire departments, financial institutions, game arcades, shopping malls, etc. are displayed on a unified screen.If desired, the user can change to the required facility configuration based on the instructions on the screen. You can create a personal homepage. Guidance to each facility is guided by a click operation using a pointing device on this unified screen, and each facility is configured to be able to be linked to an actual URL in addition to being used as a game. That is, the store is included as a part of the shopping mall, and can display department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, local product exhibitions, and the like. In addition, medical facilities, that is, hospitals, display guidance for each department, display single hospitals and general hospitals, link to actual hospitals as necessary, and accept medical consultations for telemedicine by e-mail. And explanation of additional equipment such as guidance for medical examination using a CCD camera. In addition, it is possible to provide links to temples, shrines and churches, open spaces for encounters, congratulations on congratulations, halls and hotel halls as venues, and to provide guidance for these searches if desired. Furthermore, it is possible to chat with other characters existing on the screen. The chat is configured to allow actual interaction with other users. Also, if you pick up something on the road and send it to the police box, it will be returned as points in the game, and sometimes you will pick up lost things of the poor god, so in that case it will be calculated as a minus point. Meals can also be searched by linking to each restaurant. In the amusement center, free or paid games can be played, and movies, concerts, and music DLs can be provided.

[Search Method] The search method of this system includes a method of following a link and a method of following an initial of the Japanese syllabary. When a keyboard is used, it is possible to reach a destination by inputting necessary words. Note that it is also possible to introduce an RPG-like search system as a search engine of the present system.

[Guidance for Islander Release] When canceling the islander setting of the present system, the user is prompted to input an ID number and an authentication password, and the server administrator releases the islander after confirmation.

[0025]

The search system using the three-dimensional virtual space according to the present invention is configured as described above, so that the user can create his / her own homepage on the Internet through a personal computer and feel like a game. You can intuitively experience the rules and ways of living,
Can provide a place for social experience for children,
For adults, creating a website as a kind of game, collecting necessary information by linking to a real-world URL in the game, and using actual facilities such as financial institutions, public facilities, and medical institutions necessary for life. It is possible to comprehensively enable not only the use of a virtual game on a user's homepage, but also a normal search function and the use of an existing facility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a top page of a three-dimensional virtual space provided by a server according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a virtual space (island) that is selected from the user side from the top page.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the inside of a virtual game center as an example of a facility used by a registered user on his / her own homepage.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a top-level program for executing a search system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing an operation procedure for accessing a three-dimensional virtual space in a user terminal using the system shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a procedure of a usage method in the present system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Overall Configuration Screen (Island or City) 2 South Island 3 North Island 4 Developing Island 5 Island to be Launched 6 Medical Facility 7 School 8 Bank 9 Police 10 City Hall (Prefectural Office) 11 Fire Station 12 Shrine 13 Church 14 Condominium 15 Entertainment Facilities (game center, etc.) 16 Hotel 17 Slot machine 18 Card game 19 Roulette

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 336 G06F 17/60 336 G06T 17/40 G06T 17/40 DF term (Reference) 5B050 AA08 BA07 BA08 BA09 BA11 BA12 CA07 CA08 EA19 EA24 EA27 FA02 FA09 FA10 GA08 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK37 ND03 ND12 ND20 ND22 ND23 PP07 PP12 PP30 PQ02 UU24 UU40

Claims (7)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A lifestyle form is arranged by arranging financial institutions (banks), medical institutions (hospitals), shops such as department stores, shopping centers, entertainment facilities, public facilities such as administrative agencies, and other facilities that are required daily. Arrange the streets that have, download the 3D virtual space composed as a complete island or city from the server side database to the user terminal, and on the user side, character along the virtual road formed in this island While moving (walking), the user is allowed to enter a desired facility, find a subcategory enabling the use of the facility, and use the subcategory as appropriate. Homepage with an island or town with a lifestyle that suits your preference by selecting and subscribing or exchanging other facilities provided A retrieval system using a three-dimensional virtual space, characterized in that the retrieval system is configured to be able to create a. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a voice recognition system and a viewpoint movement recognition system in place of the pointing device when operating the user-side terminal.
Search system using 3D virtual space. 3. Each of the facilities is configured as a sub-category of a three-dimensional form of life having the same functions as facilities in real life, and is configured so that predetermined functions in the facilities can be used as appropriate. The retrieval system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the virtual persons entered on the virtual road or in the facility have a conversation with each other as desired, thereby enabling a chat between the users. Or a retrieval system using the three-dimensional virtual space of 4. 5. A function configured in each facility has a search function, and is configured so that it can be linked to a homepage of the facility in real life, so that the facility can be actually used. The retrieval system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1, wherein the retrieval system is configured to: 6. The retrieval system using a three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1, wherein a general retrieval function is added to a three-dimensional virtual space configured as an island or a town. 7. A system in which a use result of a three-dimensional virtual space, a game, or the like uniquely configured by a user is stored in a server when a game ends, and can be reused in a previous use state at the next use. Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that they have a function as their own homepage.
A retrieval system using three, five, six or seven-dimensional virtual space.