JP2003000955A - Server for controlling system for providing characters through communication circuit, information provision system and use of electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server which can provide a chance of communication with other players while enabling further enhancing of the attachment to characters. SOLUTION: Address information of users presently using characters and users previously using the characters are stored as database and by retrieving the database, a chance can be provided to make users as strangers acquainted with each other through the characters as contacts. The exchange of message information enables obtaining of information on how to use the characters or others to make the use of the characters more simple for the users.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the use of a server, an information providing system, and an electronic device for controlling a system for renting a character via a communication line such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional game device or game system, a character imitating a moving object such as a human being or an animal appears, and the character performs various actions in a virtual space formed by a game program. There is something to do. The action of this character was defined by the game program.

[0003]

However, the characters that appear in conventional game devices and game systems are
It is common to an unspecified number of players, and since the character's personality and behavior were to be selected from predetermined types, it cannot be one that reflects the player's intentions and emotions. There is a problem that all characters have similar personalities and behaviors and are easily bored.

Some conventional characters serve as a medium for communication with other players, such as delivering mail to other players, but such characters are simple to deliver mail. However, the character itself was not an opportunity to communicate, or an opportunity for strangers to get to know each other, and it was not interesting.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to further increase the attachment to the character and to provide an opportunity for communication with other players. , The provision of information provision systems and the use of electronic devices.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the address information of the user who is currently using the character or the user who has used the character in the past is stored in the database. By exchanging and searching the database, message information can be exchanged even between users who are unknown to each other, and thus a communication circle can be created. In this way, it becomes possible to obtain information such as how to use the character by exchanging the message information, so that it becomes easy to use the character itself. As a result, the user can easily give affection to the character, so that the character is treated as a part of the game,
You will come to treat yourself as a partner to live with.

More specifically, the present invention provides the following.

(1) Character information about a character displayed on the display unit of a communication terminal device in a server capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the communication terminal device while connected to the communication terminal device via a communication line By sequentially giving the authority to use the plurality of communication terminals to the plurality of communication terminals and supplying the character information as the data to the communication terminal having the authority to use the respective communication terminals. The experience in the device is sequentially reflected in the character, and among the plurality of communication terminal devices, the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given or the character It holds the address information of the communication terminal device that has been given the authority to use, and the authority of the character. The information from either the communication terminal device that is currently given or the communication terminal device that has been given the authority to use the character in the past, based on the address information. Providing the authority to the communication terminal apparatus to which the authority is currently given or to another communication terminal apparatus of the communication terminal apparatuses to which the authority to use the character has been given in the past. A server characterized by that.

According to the invention of (1), it is possible to exchange information such as a question about a character and its answer between communication terminal devices that have been given the authority to use the character now or in the past. Become. Thereby, a communication ring can be formed between players who have used the character now or in the past.

(2) Information provided from a communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given is provided to a communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character has been given in the past. The server according to (1) above.

According to the invention of (2), information from a communication terminal device to which a right to use a character is currently given is given to a communication terminal device to which a right to use the character has been given in the past. By making it possible to transmit the message, the player who is currently using the character can ask the player who has used the character in the past about the use of the character. By being able to ask questions about the use of the character, it becomes easier to use the character itself, and enjoy using the character without being bothered by how to use the character. It will be possible.

(3) In an information providing system for transmitting and receiving data between a server and a communication terminal device via a communication line and providing various information from the server to the communication terminal device, the display of the communication terminal device The authority to use the character information about the character displayed on the section is sequentially given to the plurality of communication terminal devices, and the character information is supplied as the data to the communication terminal device to which the authority to use is given. The experience in each of the communication terminal devices is sequentially reflected in the character, and among the plurality of communication terminal devices,
The address information of the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given or the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character has been given in the past is stored in the server, and Based on the address information, the information from either the communication terminal device to which the authority to use is currently given or the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character has been previously given is based on the address information. Is provided to the communication terminal device to which the power to use the character is currently given or to another communication terminal device among the communication terminal devices to which the power to use the character has been given in the past, An information providing system characterized by being performed.

According to the invention of (3), the same effect as that of (1) can be obtained.

(4) The information providing system according to (3), characterized in that address information of a communication terminal device as a source of the information is added to the information.

According to the invention of (4), the communication terminal device that has received the information from the other communication terminal device can know the address information of the sender of the information, and the information can be received from the communication terminal device that has received the information. It is possible to send a reply directly to the sender of.

(5) Use of electronic equipment for constructing the information providing system described in (3).

According to the invention of (5), the same effect as that of (3) can be obtained.

[Definition of terms, etc.] The term "character" means not only a moving object such as a person, an animal or a plant, or a robot, but also various items such as an empty can or the like. This is a concept that also includes characters, and it is preferable that it has an appearance that the user wants to own.

Further, "character information" is information including image information of the character and character information of the character, and is a concept indicating information for characterizing the character externally and internally.

Further, the "authority of use" is a concept indicating the qualification that the use of the character information is permitted, and this qualification is given by the server to the communication terminal device or determined by the server. is there. In this "use",
The meanings of "finite use" and "infinite use" are included. “Limited use” is a concept that enables the character to be used by restricting the character information in terms of time, area, or contents, and for example, a communication terminal device. This allows the characters to be displayed on the display section for only a predetermined period, which is a concept corresponding to so-called "rental". In addition, the concept also includes regional restrictions that limit only people who live in a predetermined area and content restrictions that allow only predetermined functions to be used. In addition, "infinite use" means
It means use in a state where restrictions on "limited use" such as time restrictions, area restrictions, and content restrictions on character information are released.

Further, the "electronic device for constructing the information providing system" means a server and a communication terminal device.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a character rental system having a portable communication terminal device 10, a portable game device 60 and a mobile phone 70 (hereinafter referred to as communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70) according to the present invention ( 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system) 1. FIG. In the character rental system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a portable game device 60 is connected to a public telephone line network 2, and the portable game device 60 is connected to the server 4 or a mail server via the public telephone line network 2 and the Internet 6. By connecting to 114, various information can be received from these servers.

Further, the portable communication terminal device 10 or the portable telephone 70 can be connected to the portable telephone line network 3 via the base station 5, and further connected to the server 4 via the public telephone line network 2 and the Internet 6. It is made accessible.

The above-mentioned server 4 corresponds to each communication terminal device 1.
The addresses of 0, 60, and 70 are managed, and the server 4 uses the communication terminal device 10, 60, or 70.
It is possible to identify various information transmitted from, for example, information such as a password.

[Configuration of Communication Terminal Device] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the communication terminal device 10. Incidentally, it is assumed that the communication terminal devices 60 and 70 also have the same configuration as the communication terminal device shown in FIG.

In the communication terminal device 10 shown in FIG. 2, the bus line 30 has a CPU (Central Processing Unprocessor).
it) 12, ROM 14, RAM 16 and non-volatile RAM
18 is connected, and the CPU 12 has ROM 14, RA
Each unit is controlled according to a program stored in the M16 or the nonvolatile RAM 18.

A keyboard 32 and a controller 34 are connected to the bus line 30 via the input interface 22. In addition, the display circuit 2 is provided on the bus line 30.
4, a sound processing circuit 25, and a communication interface 21 for exchanging information with the public telephone line network 2 are connected.

The above-mentioned display circuit 24 includes a display device 41.
Is connected to the sound processing circuit 25, and the speaker 42
Are connected. Various information including a character, which will be described later, is displayed on the display device 41 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 12.

Further, the bus line 30 is also connected to a timer 20 for measuring a time such as a program execution time. The signal for starting the timer is CPU1
When issued from 2, the timer 20 initializes the timer value and starts counting the timer value. Further, when the signal for stopping the timer is issued from the CPU 12, the timer 20 stops counting the timer value and supplies the timer value at that time to the bus line 30. The date and time are set based on this timer value.

[Structure of Server] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the server 4 for controlling the system for renting a character via a communication line network such as the Internet has various data (character information and a mailbox described later) on a hard disk. Etc.) and a hard disk drive 88 for building a database, a CPU 82, and a ROM 8
4, RAM 86, and communication interface circuit 90
It consists of and. Hard disk drive 88
Is a program for communicating with the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, a program for unregistered user processing, a program for registered user processing, a program for processing interactive information, and a program for processing to notify the rental deadline, which will be described later. , A program such as a program for processing the rental completion information, the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.
A program for displaying an image of a character, a program for depositing a character, which will be described later, and the like are stored. By doing so, the server 4 gives the communication terminal device the authority of limited use of the character information including the image information of the character, and the program for supplying the character information to the communication terminal device, and the communication terminal device. And a storage medium for storing the program for displaying the character on the display section of.

With the configuration as described above, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 and the server 4 are connected via the public telephone line network 2 or the mobile telephone line network 3 and data can be transmitted and received. Therefore, the server can transmit and receive data to and from the communication terminal device while being connected to the communication terminal device via the communication line.

In the following, the communication terminal device 10,
60 or 70 and the server 4 have been started in advance, the variables used in the CPU 12 and the CPU 82 described above are initialized to predetermined values, and the communication terminal devices 10, 6
It is assumed that 0 or 70 and the server 4 are operating steadily.

[Outline of Character Rental System] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a system for renting a character.
Shown in. In this specification, the term “rental” indicates that a character can be used in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 regardless of whether it is paid or free.

The operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 specifies and accesses the server 4 for renting the character. Thereby, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 7
In 0, guide information about character rental is downloaded from the server 4, and the appearance and character of the character are displayed on the display device 41. Multiple types of characters are prepared in the database of the server 4, and the operator
A character that is likely to be compatible with himself or a character that is interested can be selected in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

The operator who has selected the character performs a predetermined rental application procedure operation in order to apply for rental of the character, following the selection operation on the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. As a result, user registration is made in the server 4, and the server 4
If character information such as character image data and personality information, and a program for operating them are not stored in the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70, the program is read from the database on the hard disk and the application is made. Communication terminal device 10, 60
Alternatively, the rental of the character is started by sending the character to 70. The communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 stores these information downloaded from the server 4 in the RAM.
It stores in 16. It should be noted that the character image data and character information such as personality information are made unusable in the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 by a method such as being rewritten in the RAM 16 when the character is exchanged. . Further, the program for moving the character information is the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 7
Once written in the RAM 0 of 0, it is saved regardless of the rewriting of the character information.

At the same time when the rental of the character is started, the trial period will be counted. During this trial period, the character can be used in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 free of charge. For example, when the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives an e-mail or a call, a display indicating that the character has arrived is displayed by the character.
0 is displayed on the display device 41, or a character asks a question about the contents of the mail.
It is displayed such that the character invites the operator to the game.

During the trial period, restrictions may be set on the function of using the character. For example, it is possible to provide a function that cannot be used, such as notifying about incoming calls but not telling about incoming mails.

As described above, in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, by interacting with the rented character or playing a game, it is possible to know the character of the character in more detail. You can After using the character for a while, if the operator determines that the character is not compatible with the character or gets tired of the character, the character can be exchanged.

When the predetermined trial period has elapsed, the server gives a notice as to whether or not to extend the rental period. When the operator wants to extend the rental period, the rental period can be extended by paying a predetermined number of chips to the server.

The number of chips is increased by interacting with the character or playing a game, and indicates the degree of interaction with the character. As will be described later, the number of chips changes depending on the number of times of interaction with the character, the time, and the result of the game competition with the character. It is also possible that the chip can be purchased in exchange for a predetermined amount of money. By doing this, it is possible to increase the number of chips even if the operator likes the character but has difficulty in providing time for interacting with the character or is not good at playing the game. The character can then be rented.

Further, when the extension period has elapsed or when the operator desires to buy the character, the operator can purchase the character by paying more chips. By purchasing the character, the operator can permanently use the character in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

If desired, the operator may purchase the character even during the trial period. Further, in this case, the number of chips to be paid may be set to be large.

[Description of Server Operation] (Discrimination Process of Registered User or Unregistered User) FIG. 5 shows a subroutine executed in the server 4 below.

It is assumed that the subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is called and executed at a predetermined timing from a main routine (not shown) which has been executed in advance.

First, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70
(Step S11). When it is determined that communication with the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is not possible, the present subroutine is immediately ended.

When it is determined that the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is in a communicable state, the user ID issued from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is received (step S12). The user ID is identification information for identifying the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and is specified by the server 4.

Next, the communication terminal device 1 connected to the server 4
It is determined whether the operator 0, 60 or 70 is a registered user (step S13). This judgment is made based on whether or not the above-mentioned user ID exists. That is, the server 4
However, when the user ID is received, it is determined that the user is a registered user, and when the user ID is not received, it is determined that the user is an unregistered user.

When it is determined in step S13 that the user is not a registered user, that is, when it is determined that the user is an unregistered user, an unregistered user process described later is called and executed (step S14). On the other hand, when it is determined that the user is a registered user, a registered user process described later is called and executed (step S15).

After executing the processing of step S14 or S15 described above, this subroutine is ended.

(Process of Unregistered User) FIG. 6 shows a subroutine of the process of an unregistered user which is called and executed in step S14 described above.

First, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70
Guidance information relating to the rental of the character is transmitted to (step S21).

When the guide information regarding the rental of the character is transmitted from the server 4, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives the guide information, and the communication terminal device 10, 60
In the display unit 60 or 70, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is displayed.
"Welcome to the character rental site" on the display
And a message prompting the user to select a character rental process such as "return", "continue", or "select".

When the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 selects the desired processing, the communication terminal device 10, 6
Information about the process is transmitted from 0 or 70 to the server 4.

Next, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70
It is determined whether or not the information to continue the process has been received (step S22). When the information that the processing is not continued is received, this subroutine is immediately ended.

On the other hand, when the information that the processing is to be continued is received, the character selection processing is performed (step S2).
3). In this selection process, one character type is selected as a character from a plurality of character types. As will be described later, the server 4 prepares a plurality of character types as characters so that one character can be selected from the plurality of character types. By carrying out such a processing, it is possible to freely select from a plurality of character types.

Further, the information indicating that the above-mentioned processing is continued constitutes the permission request information for the limited use of the character information in the communication terminal device.

The above-described selection processing may be performed by generating a random number and selecting the character type corresponding to the random number. In this case, one character type corresponding to a random number is selected from a plurality of character types.

It should be noted that the hard disk of the server 4 is shown in FIG.
A database for character introduction as shown in is stored in advance. This database stores images of a plurality of character types and messages corresponding to the character types. In step S23 described above, the database is searched and the image of the character type and the message corresponding to the character type are read.

Then, the read character image,
The communication terminal device 1 sends a message corresponding to the character.
It is transmitted to 0, 60 or 70 (step S24).

When the image of the character or the message corresponding to the character is transmitted from the server 4, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives the image of the character or the message corresponding to the character, and performs communication. In the display unit of the terminal device 10, 60 or 70, for example,
As shown in FIG. 7B, an image of the character, a message from the character, and a message prompting the user to select a process are displayed.

By performing such processing, it is possible to display a display image related to selection on the display unit of the communication terminal device.

The operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 determines whether or not the displayed character is acceptable, and inputs the permission / inhibition by key operation. The permission / prohibition information is transmitted from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 to the server.

The server 4 receives the permission / prohibition information transmitted from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and determines whether to accept the character introduced by the operator (step S25). When it is determined that the operator does not want to rent the introduced character, the above step S
23, the character selection process is performed again.

By performing such processing, the character can be freely selected from a plurality of character types, and the character can be exchanged in the communication terminal device.

When it is determined in step S25 that the operator wants to rent the introduced character, user registration processing is performed (step S2).
6). This user registration process is performed by the communication terminal devices 10, 6
0 or 70 name, communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70
The communication terminal device 10, 60 or 7 with predetermined information such as a mail address and a telephone number for communicating with the server 4.
When the server 4 receives the information from 0 and determines that there is no defect, the user registration is completed. By performing this process, the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is changed from an unregistered user to a registered user, and one user ID described later is set for the operator.

After the processing of step S26 is completed, the program of the character use system is set to the communication terminal devices 10 and 6.
It is transmitted to 0 or 70 (step S27).

The program of the character use system includes a program for displaying the rented character in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. For example, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70
A program for displaying an image that the rented character will inform you of incoming mail or phone call when you receive an email or phone call, or the character asks a question to the operator based on the content of the mail It includes a program for displaying an image and a program for displaying an image in which a character invites a game.

If the above-mentioned program of the character use system includes a function of limited use authority for the use of characters, the communication terminal device 1
0, 60 or 70 manages the limited use time limit according to the program. With such a configuration, the character can be used only in a predetermined rental period in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and the program transmitted by the server 4 causes the server 4 to perform limited use of the character information. The authority is given to the communication terminal device.

Further, as will be described later, the server 4 may manage the time limit for limited use. In this case, when the time limit for limited use is approached, the server 4 transmits information to that effect to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is based on the transmitted information. The character information is used in a limited manner.

In the case of such a configuration, since the server 4 manages the limited use time limit, the limited use authority of the character information in the communication terminal device is determined. Further, since the information on the limited use period is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, the server 4 also gives the communication terminal device the limited use authority for the character information.

The program of the character using system described above may be any programming language suitable for communication and display, and is, for example, a program created in a programming language such as I-mode compatible JAVA (registered trademark).

Next, the server 4 uses the communication terminal device 10,
The data of the image of the character displayed on the display device 41 of 60 or 70 is read from the database on the hard disk and transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 (step S28). By performing such processing, the character information can be supplied as data to the communication terminal device.

When the image data is included in the program transmitted in step S27, the image data need not be transmitted independently.

Next, with respect to the personality information that defines the personality of the character, question information as to whether or not the past history is to be taken over is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. As will be described later, the character personality information is information regarding the character personality that is formed based on the dialogue between the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 and the character.

The communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 displays the question information transmitted from the server 4 on the display device 41,
Prompt for input of whether to take over past history. The operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 operates the keyboard 32 or the controller 34 to select and input an answer as to whether or not to take over the past history. Communication terminal device 10, 6
0 or 70 transmits this answer information to the server 4.

The server 4 receives the information of the answer as to whether or not to take over the past history transmitted from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and judges whether or not to take over the past history of the personality information. (Step S29). When it is determined that the past history of the personality information is not taken over, the process proceeds to step S31 described below.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the past history of the personality information is taken over, the past history of the personality information of the character is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 (step S30). By performing such processing, the character information can be supplied to the communication terminal device as data. Further, the character information including the personality information is also supplied as data to the communication terminal device.

Then, the database as shown in FIG. 9 described later is updated in the server 4 (step S31).
It should be noted that this database constitutes the operator information of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 and the information of the rented character, and is stored in the hard disk of the server 4.

After the above processing is completed, this subroutine is completed.

Steps S27, S28 and S2 described above
By performing the process of 9, the character information regarding the character displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device and the program including the program for displaying the character are supplied as data to the communication terminal device.

At the above-mentioned step S21, when the guide information for renting the character is transmitted from the server 4 to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, it is displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. The displayed image is shown in FIG. Incidentally, this FIG.
The display part of the mobile phone 70 shown in FIG.

A message "Welcome to the character rental site" from the server 4 is displayed on the upper part of the display section. Further, an image of a character as an example of the character is displayed in the center of the display unit. Further, in the lower part of the display unit, a selection frame of "continue" and "return" showing options for continuing or returning the process is displayed.

In step S24 described above,
FIG. 7B shows a display image displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 when a character image or a message corresponding to the character is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. Shown in. In addition, this FIG.
7B is an enlarged view of the display unit of the mobile phone 70 shown in FIG. 1, as in FIG. 7A.

At the upper part of the display section, the introduction sentence of the character from the server 4 "I'm a cute character. I want to play with you" is displayed. An image of an introduction character is displayed in the center of the display unit. Further, in the lower left part of the display unit, a selection frame of "next" and "return" showing options for advancing the process or returning to the process is displayed. Furthermore, a “select” frame for selecting the displayed character is displayed in the lower right part of the display unit.

In step S24 described above, the message from the character is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 7
FIG. 8 shows an example of a character introduction database to be referred to when transmitting to 0.

The left column stores character types, for example, "bully character", "cute character", "sluggish character", and the like.

The central column stores the name of the character corresponding to the character type. For example, "□"
Character names such as "chan", "○", and "x" are stored.

Further, in the right column, a document of self-introduction from each of the characters is stored. For example, "I am
□ Right. It's fun to play with me. "," My name is ○. I want to play with you. ","I'm x. It might be good to play with me. "

The character introduction database also stores the image data of the introduction character,
The image data is read together with the introduction text of the character.

FIG. 9 shows a database generated or updated in step S31 described above.

The first column is the area where the user ID is stored. This user ID is for identifying the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 or the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and when the user registration process of step S26 is completed, the server 4 To allocate.

The second column is the area where the character ID is stored. This character ID is for identifying a rented character, and is used in step S2.
The server 4 assigns it when the user registration process 6 is completed. The character ID also includes information for identifying the character type.

The third column shows the number of rentals, and shows the number of times the character has been rented in the past.

The fourth column stores the rental start date, and stores the date when the user registration process of step S26 described above is completed.

The fifth column shows whether or not the rental of the character is during the trial period. For example, during the trial period, the stored value is set to "1" and the trial period is set. If not, the stored value is "0".
Set to.

The sixth column shows whether or not the character is rented during the extension period. For example, when the character is not rented, the value to be stored is set to "0" and the extension period is set. At some time, the number of times of extension is stored.

The seventh column stores whether or not the character shown in the second column has been purchased. For example, when the character is not purchased, the stored value is set to "0". The value to be stored is set to "1" when the character is purchased.

The eighth column stores the number of chips. This number of chips is
For example, the number increases when the user interacts with the character, plays a game with the character, and purchases chips by the registered user.

FIG. 10 shows a time chart when the above-mentioned subroutine of FIG. 6 is executed. The vertical line on the left side indicates the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and the vertical line on the right side indicates the server 4.

When the process of step S21 described above is executed, guide information for character rental is transmitted from server 4 to communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

On the other hand, when the processing is continued,
Information to the effect that processing will be continued is transmitted from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 to the server 4.

When the process of step S24 is executed, the introduction information such as the introduction character image is transmitted from the server 4 to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

On the other hand, when renting the introduced character, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is rented.
The information of consent is transmitted from the server 4.

Further, in step S27, the program of the character use system is transmitted from the server 4 to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and the communication terminal device 1 is transmitted.
When it is determined that 0, 60, or 70 has received all of the programs, the information indicating the end of reception is displayed in the communication terminal device 1.
It is transmitted from 0, 60 or 70 to the server 4.

Furthermore, in step S28, the character image data is transferred from the server 4 to the communication terminal device 10,
When it is determined that the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 has received all of the character image data by being transmitted to the communication terminal device 1 or 60, the information indicating the end of reception is provided to the communication terminal device 1
It is transmitted from 0, 60 or 70 to the server 4.

Further, in step S29, the server 4 transmits, to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, question information as to whether or not the past history of the personality information that determines the personality of the character is to be taken over. .

On the other hand, when the history is taken over,
The communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 sends information to that effect to
It is transmitted to the server 4.

[Explanation of operation of communication terminal device] (Operation when receiving mail / operation when receiving phone call) When the character is rented by the above-mentioned procedure, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is rented. When the user receives the mail, the image as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

At the upper part of the screen of the display device 41, a message from the character is displayed such as "A mail has arrived from Kanna-chan. Read now?". An image of the rented character is displayed in the center of the screen. Further, at the bottom of the screen, a frame indicating whether to read the mail or not to read the mail is displayed.

In this way, when the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives a mail while renting the character, the character is informed of the display.

Further, even when the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives a call, a display indicating that the character is informed is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 11, while renting a character, information indicating that the character is currently rented, such as "renting", may be displayed on the screen. By performing such processing, "a display image related to the notification information regarding the limited use of the character information is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device", and the registered user who sees this screen display At this time, it is possible to recognize that the character making the incoming call is rented.

(Operation for Asking Question from Character) In the case of this embodiment, from the server 4 to the mobile terminal devices 10 and 60.
Alternatively, the character is displayed on the display screen to display various questions by the program downloaded in 70, and the answer from the operator is stored. The questions are randomly selected from a plurality of predetermined questions, past conversations between the operator (registered user) and the character (inputting sentences, operating from predetermined answers). The person asks about the content), or the character asks about the content of the received mail. FIG. 12 shows a display example of the display screen when the character makes a question about the content of the received mail. This FIG.
As shown in, the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70
Extracts a word from a received email and asks what the word means.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 12A, at the top of the screen, what is "" normal ""? The question of the character "" is displayed. The word "normal line" is a word extracted from the received mail. An image of the character is displayed in the center of the screen. Also, at the bottom of the screen,
A frame for selecting “answer” and “do not answer” to the question from the character is displayed.

When the operator answers the question from the character, a screen as shown in FIG. 12 (b) is displayed. On the left side of the screen, categories to which the word may belong, for example, "place", "food", "game name", and "person name" are displayed.

When the operator answers this, the character further asks a question, and "Do you like or dislike" normal "at the top of the screen? The question from the character is displayed. At the bottom of the screen, a frame for selecting whether the word indicates "like" or "dislike" is displayed. The operator
As described above, the question from the character is answered.

The question from this character is registered in the keyword database described later and is reflected in the character's character and the like.

As an example of a method of extracting a word from a received mail in the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70, a method of selecting a word that is repeatedly recognized in a mail received during a certain period is selected. is there. The mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 stores the received mail in the RAM 16 unless the user deletes it, and the CPU 12
The word extraction program executed by extracts the frequently used words from the stored mails for the mails for a certain period. As a result, a word with which the registered user who is the operator of the mobile terminal device 10, 60, or 70 is likely to be particularly interested is extracted. By registering such words in the keyword database, words that are highly relevant to the registered user are reflected in the character's character and the like. Incidentally, in order to make it easy to extract words, a standardized mail format may be used.

(Operation of Competing Game with Character) Further, when the character is rented, the character stored in the RAM 16 of the portable terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is changed from the character being rented at this time. The display for offering the player a game battle is displayed at a predetermined timing. This example is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13A, a challenge message from the character "Do you want to play a game with me?" Is displayed at the top of the screen. In addition, at the bottom of the screen, a frame for selecting "Yes" or "No" for the challenge from the character is displayed.

When the operator receives a challenge from the character, the game is started.

When the game ends and, for example, the character wins, a screen as shown in FIG. 13B is displayed.
At the top of the screen, "My win, do you want to do it again?"
The message from the character is displayed, and a frame for selecting "play" or "not" for the game is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

As described above, the contact with the character is deepened through notification of incoming mails and telephone calls, questions about mails, game competitions, and the like. Also,
When the operator wins this game, the number of chips of the registered user of the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 in the server 4 is increased. As described above, in the server 4, it is considered that the operator (registered user) playing the game with the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is regarded as the communication with the character.

(Processing of Registered User) Step S described above
FIG. 14 shows a subroutine of a registered user's process called in 15 and executed by the server 4.

First, the server 4 includes the communication terminal device 10,
It is determined whether or not the information issued from 60 or 70 is the information indicating that the dialog information is desired to be transmitted (step S4).
1). When it is determined that the information does not indicate that the conversation information is to be transmitted, the information for displaying the menu is displayed on the communication terminal device 10,
It is transmitted to 60 or 70 (step S42).

Information for displaying the menu is displayed on the communication terminal device 1.
When 0, 60 or 70 is received, the communication terminal device 1
The image as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 41 of 0, 60 or 70.

At the top of this screen, a message "Please select the desired process" is displayed, and below that, a list of processes, for example, "character exchange", "rental extension", "character purchase" is displayed. , "End" is displayed.

When the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 selects a desired process, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is selected.
Alternatively, 70 transmits information identifying the selected process to the server 4.

The server 4 receives the information for identifying the selected process, and determines whether the process desired by the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is character exchange (step S43). .

When it is determined that the process desired by the operator is not character exchange, other processes such as rental extension and character purchase are carried out (step S44), and this subroutine is terminated.

When it is determined that the process desired by the operator is character exchange, the processes of steps S23 to S31 are executed. Incidentally, these steps S23 to S31
5 is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, and is denoted by the same reference numeral.

When it is determined in the above step S41 that the information transmitted from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is the information indicating that the dialog information is desired to be transmitted,
The server 4 receives the dialogue information (step S45).

It is to be noted that the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 transmits the dialogue information to the server 4 at a predetermined timing.
For example, night or morning. For example, when transmitting at night, the conversation information for one day of the day is transmitted to the server 4. Also, when transmitting in the morning, the dialogue information for one day of the previous day is transmitted to the server 4. By performing such processing, R of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70
Even if the storage capacity of the AM 16 or the non-volatile RAM 18 is small, the dialogue information can be sufficiently stored, and the server 4
The dialogue information can be accurately transmitted to.

Further, the transmission timing may be matched with the motion of the displayed character. For example, at night, a message “I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep.” From the character is displayed on the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 7.
It may be transmitted after being displayed on the display device 41 of 0. Also, in the morning, the message “Good morning!” From the character may be transmitted after being displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

Also, the above-mentioned dialogue information is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It consists of items as shown in FIG.

These items include the number of times of interaction with the character, the time of interaction with the character, and the number of responses to the character's call such as "Good morning!" And "Good night". The number of times of this reply includes the number of times of answering the call from the character, the number of times of ignoring, etc.

Further, the item includes the number of answers to the question about the word included in the mail. The number of times of this reply includes the number of times of answering and the number of times of not answering.

Further, the items of the dialogue information include the number of times the operator has called for the character, the number of times the game has been played with the character, the classification of the words the character has asked, and the like.

As described with reference to FIG. 12, the word questioned by the character is a word extracted from the received mail, and is a category of what the word means or another category of likes and dislikes.

In step S45 described above, after receiving the dialogue information, the dialogue information processing described later is executed (step S46), and the personality information and the keyword information generated by the dialogue information processing are sent to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. Transmission is performed (step S47), and this subroutine is completed.

(Processing of dialogue information) Step S4 described above.
FIG. 17 shows a subroutine of interactive information processing called and executed in No. 6.

First, the total number of dialogues is calculated from the number of dialogues already stored in the database and the number of dialogues newly received from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 (step S51). Next, the interaction time already stored in the database and the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 7
The total conversation time is calculated from the conversation time newly received from 0 (step S52).

Next, the number of replies to the call from the character already stored in the database and the number of replies to the call newly received from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 are used to make the call. The total number of answers is calculated (step S53). Next, the total number of times the call is ignored is calculated from the number of times the call from the character already stored in the database is ignored and the number of times the call newly received from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is ignored ( Step S54).

Next, with respect to the number of times the question about the word from the character already stored in the database is answered, and the question about the word from the character newly received from the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is answered. Then, the total number of times the question is answered is calculated from the number of times answered (step S55). Next, the number of times that the question about the word from the character already stored in the database is not answered, and the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 7
The number of times the question is not newly answered from 0 and the total number of times the question is not answered are calculated from the number (step S56).

Next, the number of times the character already stored in the database is called and the communication terminal device 1
From 0, 60 or 70, the total number of times the character has been called and the total number of times the character has been called are calculated (step S57).

Furthermore, the number of times the game has already been stored in the database and the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 are executed.
The total number of game executions is calculated from the number of game executions newly received from (step S58).

Next, character character setting processing, which will be described later, is performed (step S59), keyword setting processing is performed (step S60), and this subroutine is terminated.

(Personality setting process) Step S59 described above.
FIG. 18 shows an example of a database used in the personality setting process in FIG.

FIG. 18 (a) is a database for defining the basic character defined for each character type. The basic personality is, for example, "Kachiki", "Crazy", "Cute", "Naughty", etc. In addition, five personality parameters, "extroversion", "cooperation",
“Diligence”, “emotional stability”, and “intelligence” are quantified to determine the above basic character.

For example, for a winning character, the extroversion is set high and the emotional stability is set low. For cute characters, cooperation and diligence are set high.

The basic personality defined by these five personality parameters is first defined, and as the character is rented and interacts with the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, the personality parameter is set. The value of is changed. As shown in the example of FIG. 18B, as the character is rented and interacts with the operator, the value of the personality parameter changes. For example, when the dialogue time with the operator is long or the number of dialogues is large, the value of the personality parameter is changed so that the operator has a personality. Further, when the dialogue time with the operator is short or the number of dialogues is small, the value of the personality parameter is changed so that the personality avoids the operator.

In this way, the character of the character is gradually changed by the dialogue with the operator, and the character is determined 5
The values of the three personality parameters are stored as a personality database as shown in FIG. 18 (b). In this way, the character's character gradually changes according to each operator who rents the character, so that the operator tries to take care of the character diligently and feels attachment to the character. It becomes.

In the personality database shown in FIG. 18 (b) described above, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 or a user ID for identifying the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and rental to this operator. The character ID for identifying the character being played and the values of the five personality parameters are stored, and the personality of the character rented by one operator can be determined.

By carrying out such a processing, even if a predetermined number of character types are prepared, a character type having a character corresponding to each of a plurality of operators is generated. Can be done.

By performing the processing as described above, the personality information that defines the character of the character displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device is determined based on the dialogue between the operator of the communication terminal device and the character. Of.

The values of the above-mentioned five personality parameters may be changed only within a predetermined range, for example, ± 1. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the character's personality from changing significantly from the basic personality.

As described above, the character's character is formed in correspondence with the dialogue with the owner who rented the character. By performing such processing, when the owner who rents the character changes, the character formed by the previous owner is inherited, and the database shown in FIG. 18B is updated. It will go.

As described above, since the character's character is formed by the dialogue with the owner,
At the beginning of renting a character, the character formed by the owner in the past becomes the character of the character, and as the time for dialogue with the new owner becomes longer and the number of dialogues increases, the character The character changes and becomes a character formed by a new owner.

By performing the above-described processing, when the personality information that defines the character of the character is generated as the character information from the history of the dialogue, the history includes the dialogue with the past owner.

When renting a character, it may be possible to select whether to use the character's personality as the basic personality or to inherit the personality changed by the owner in the past. In step S29 of FIG. 6 described above, the determination as to whether or not to take over the past history of the personality information is performed by this selection process, and is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 in step S30. The past history of the personality information of the character is the personality information corresponding to the personality formed by the past owner.

(Keyword Setting Process) An example of the word database used in the above-described keyword setting process is shown in FIG.
It shows in (a). It should be noted that the example of the word database shown in FIG. 19A shows a database for one character ID, and words for all operators who have rented that character from the past to the present are shown. It is something to remember.

Further, the word is a word extracted from the mail sent to the operator who rented the character, as described with reference to FIG. 12, and the category of the word and the classification of likes and dislikes are as follows. The character asks the operator about the word and is obtained by answering the question.

A keyword database is generated based on the word database described above. As shown in FIG. 19B, this keyword database is obtained by extracting a predetermined number of words, for example, 10 words, which have been frequently used, from the word database. In step S47 of FIG. 14 described above, this keyword database is transmitted from the server 4 to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. In this way, by extracting only a predetermined number of words as keywords, the communication terminal device 1
Even if the storage capacity of the RAM 16 of 0, 60, or 70 or the nonvolatile RAM 18 is small, the keywords can be sufficiently stored.

Further, in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, it is possible to use the keyword to perform a display for calling from the character to the operator of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. For example, in FIG.
As shown in, using the keyword "Kanna-chan",
It is possible to display a message from a character such as "You haven't received a call from Kanna-chan these days. Did you have a quarrel?"

As described above, the word extracted from the mail is stored as a keyword, and the character is used by the character to display the message, which may increase the degree of intimacy between the character and the operator. .

Further, it is also possible to determine the word to be extracted by reflecting the character of the character. For example, when renting a cute character, only the favorite word is extracted. By doing so, a message from the character using only the operator's favorite word is displayed. Further, in the case of a bullish character, only words that he / she dislikes are extracted. By doing so, a message from the character using only the word that the operator dislikes is displayed.

By processing in this way, the character's personality can be included in the message, and there is a possibility that the character will feel a sense of familiarity or interest. In addition, there is a possibility that the character in the virtual space and the operator in the real space can be inseparably integrated, or information can be shared with the character.

When the time limit for character rental is approaching, the server 4 informs the communication terminal device 10,
Send to 60 or 70. The processing at this time is shown in FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not it is time to notify the rental deadline (step S81). This timing is the timing at which the rental start date recorded in the database shown in FIG. 9 is compared with today's date and, for example, the rental end date or the day before the rental end date is notified. To determine.

If it is determined that it is not the timing to notify, this subroutine is immediately ended. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is time to notify the rental deadline, information indicating that the rental deadline is approaching is transmitted to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 (step S82).

When the guide information indicating that the rental deadline is approaching is transmitted from the server 4, the communication terminal devices 10, 60.
Or 70 receives this guidance information and communication terminal device 1
For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the display unit of 0, 60, or 70 has the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60, or 70.
The message such as "You can play with me until today. Let's play with me" and "I can play with you until tomorrow. Also, with you I want to play. "Is displayed.

By performing such processing, a message indicating that the rental period is about to expire is transmitted from the server 4 to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70, and therefore the character displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device is related. Notice information about the limited use of character information,
It can be supplied to the communication terminal device. Furthermore, since the message received by the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is displayed on the display device 41 on the communication terminal device,
The display image related to the notification information regarding the limited use of the character information is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 22A or 22B, a message reflecting the character of the character may be displayed. For example, a bullish character displays a bullish message, and a cute character displays a pretty message.

When the rental period ends, it is necessary to prohibit the use of characters in the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. This process is shown in FIG.
Shown in.

First, it is determined whether it is time to send the rental completion information (step S91). When it is determined that it is not the time to send the rental completion information, this subroutine is immediately ended.

When it is determined that it is time to send the rental completion information, the rental completion information is sent to the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 (step S9).
2).

When the rental completion information is transmitted from the server 4, the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives the rental completion information, and the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is received.
The value of the flag used in the program executed in is set to a predetermined value, for example 1. This flag indicates whether the character is rented or has been rented.
The value of the flag is “0” when the character is rented, and the value of the flag is “1” when the rental is completed.

When the rental completion information is received from the server 4, the flag value is set to "1". When the character is displayed or the character is called after the value of this flag is set to "1", for example, a message as shown in FIG. 24, "The rental period has passed. I can't play with you anymore, but if you like, please sign up again. Then, you can play with me again. "Is displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70. , The action of the function using the character is prohibited.

By performing such processing, the server 4 gives the communication terminal device the limited use authority for the character information, and at the same time, determines the limited use authority of the character information in the communication terminal apparatus. It also serves.

Further, the value of the above-mentioned flag indicates whether or not the "limited use authority" is given, and the limited use authority for character information is provided to the communication terminal device independently of the program. To give to the other.

In this case, it is possible to visually indicate that the rental period has ended by displaying only the message without displaying the character image. Further, since the image of the character is not displayed, it is possible to cause a sad feeling of wanting to see the rented character again, and to make the character rent again.

Also, the contents of the message are
The character of the rented character may be reflected. By doing so, the operator can remember the character and have the desire to display the character again, and can be motivated to rent the character again.

In the above-described embodiment, "finite use of character information" is shown when the rental period is expired. However, there are regional restrictions such as those limited to those who live in a predetermined area, The content may be restricted so that only predetermined functions can be used.

[Creation of Communication Environment by Sending Message] In the case of this embodiment, the server 4 is based on a request from the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70.
A communication terminal that has used the character in the past in another communication terminal device for a message such as a question regarding the character currently used (used for rental or purchase) by the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70. It can be sent to the device.

That is, as shown in FIG. 25, in this information providing system, the character information of a certain character is sequentially rented to a plurality of users (portable terminal devices used by registered users), thereby The character is made to gain experience through contact with each user, whereby the parameters and keywords relating to the personality as described above with reference to FIGS. 18B and 19 are updated.

[0187] As described above, a certain character (character information) is sequentially rented to each user, so that there are a plurality of users who have been involved with the character. These users are supposed to gain experience with the character through how to contact the character according to their individuality. Therefore, each user may have information that the other users do not know about the character, based on their own experience of interacting with the character.

Therefore, in this information providing system, each user knows a better usage of the character (better contact with the character) by exchanging information about the characters owned by the respective users. It is also possible to provide an opportunity for communication of the user with the character as a contact point.

In FIG. 25, a plurality of users US11,
Each of US12, ... Represents a registered user, and in FIG. 25, users US11, US12 ,.
... uses a character, and the user US1
. 1, US12, ... Send and receive information to and from the server 4 by the respective users US11, US1.
2, ... means that the process is performed using the mobile terminal device of each person.

In FIG. 25, a user US11 is a user who is currently using (having authority to use) the character (character information) CA11, and other users US12 to US15 have used the character CA11 in the past. It is a user who has done. When each user sequentially uses the character CA11, the character CA is stored in the database of the server 4 as described above with reference to FIG.
11 and the relationship with the user are registered, and the rental contents are accumulated. As a result, the server 4 searches the database to find a certain character CA11.
For, it is possible to find a user who is currently using the character CA11 and a user who has been used in the past.

As shown in FIG. 25, the user US11
While the user is using the character, other users US12 to US15 who have used the character CA11 in the past can know each other or the current character CA.
They are not aware of user US11 who is using 11 and therefore do not communicate with each other.

In such a state, the user US11
However, if the user US11 wants to obtain information for solving the fact that he does not know how to use the currently used character CA11, the user US11 uses the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or The user operates 70 to access the server 4 and sends a search request of another user who has used the character CA11 in the past (step S101).

The search request includes the user ID of the user US11 who is the source of the search request and the user US1.
The mail address of the mobile terminal device used by No. 1 and the character ID of the character CA11 are included. The server 4 that has received the search request executes the destination search processing routine S110 shown in FIG.

That is, in the state before receiving the search request, the server 4 first, in step S111,
It waits for a destination search request for message information such as a question from any user. Then, for example, when the user US11 who is currently using the character receives message information such as a question about how to use the character and a search request to which the message information is transmitted, the server 4 concerned.
Stores the message information in the RAM 16 once, obtains a positive result in step S112, and proceeds to the following step S113.

In step S113, the server 4 identifies the user who has used the character in the past based on the character ID included in the search request.
Search from the database shown in. For the user (user ID) searched here, the server 4 executes the process shown in FIG.
The address information (address A, address B, ...) Of the searched user is obtained from the database DBA representing the relationship between the user ID shown in (1) and the address information of the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 used by the user. Search for. The database DBA is built on the hard disk of the server 4.

When the user ID as the search result and the address information of the portable terminal device 10, 60 or 70 corresponding to the user ID are obtained, the server 4 performs step S shown in FIG.
Moving to 114, the RA is previously set for the address information.
The guide information stored in M16 or the nonvolatile RAM 18 is transmitted (step S102 in FIG. 25). On this occasion,
When there are a plurality of searched user IDs, the server 4 randomly uses one of them, or a user who has recently used the character CA11 (for example, the user U in FIG. 25).
S14) is selected.

User US14 searched in this way
When the guidance information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70, the guidance as shown in FIG. 28 is displayed on the display unit 41 of the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70.
When the user US14 selects “YES” on this display screen, this means that the user US14 has a willingness to respond to the message information regarding the character, and at this time, the mobile terminal device 1 concerned.
0, 60 or 70 transmits the acceptance permission information of the message information to the server 4. Also, in contrast, the user U
If S14 selects "NO", this means that the user US14 has no intention of responding to the message information regarding the character. At this time,
The mobile terminal device 10, 60, or 70 transmits the receipt refusal information of the message information to the server 4.

At this time, the server 4 executes step S in FIG.
While repeating 115 and step S116, waiting for a response from the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 used by the user US14, and when receiving a response from the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70, the process proceeds from step S116 to step S117. Then, it is determined whether or not the received response is the acceptance permission information of the message information.

When a negative result is obtained here, this means that the response from the portable terminal device 10, 60 or 70 is the message information reception refusal information, that is, the destination of the guidance information at this time. This means that the user US14 refuses to receive the message information. At this time, the server 4 returns to step S113 described above to search for another user who has used the character CA11 in the past. , Guide information is transmitted based on the search result.

[0200] On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step S117, this means that the response from the user US14 is the acceptance permission information of the message information, and the server 4 continues at this time. Step S
Moving to 118, the message information from the user US14 stored in the RAM 16 at this time and the mail address (included in the search request) of the mobile terminal device used by the user US11 who is the sender of the message information are stored. The data is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 used by the user US14 (step S102 in FIG. 25).

Thus, the display device 41 of the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 used by the user US14 has the same configuration as shown in FIG.
The message information as shown in 9 will be displayed. This message information includes the current character CA.
The question about the character CA11 from the user US11 who is using 11 and the mail address of the user US11 are described. It should be noted that this mail address is the one extracted by the server 4 from the search request from the user 11 and transmitted together with the message information to the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 of the user US14. It is included in the message information and displayed. This mail address is stored in the RAM 16 of the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 used by the user US14.

Display screen of this message information (FIG. 29)
In addition to the message information, a "Reply" button is displayed on the screen, and the user US14 operating the mobile terminal device 10, 60, or 70 selects and operates the "Reply" button to cause the mobile terminal device 10 to operate. , 60 or 70
Displays a reply input screen (not shown) on the display device 41 and prompts the user US14 to input a reply message.

In this state, the user US14 who is the creator of the reply inputs the reply message by a predetermined key operation, and causes the portable terminal device 10, 60 or 70 to reply to the reply to the server 4 which is the reply destination. (Fig. 25
Step S103). At this time, the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 which has transmitted the reply message adds the mail address of the user US14 who is the sender of the reply message to the reply message and transmits the reply message.

The server 4 having received the reply from the user US14 sends the reply to the user US11 who is the reply destination.
To the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70. In this case, the mobile terminal device 10 of the user US11 who is the reply destination,
The address information 60 or 70 is retrieved from the database DBA shown in FIG.

The mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 7 of the user US11 which has received the reply message from the user US14.
0 causes the display device 41 to display the reply message from the user US14 as shown in FIG. In this reply message, the mail address of the user US14 who is the sender of the reply message is added and displayed.

The reply message and the mail address of the user US14 who is the sender of the reply message are the RAM of the portable terminal device 10, 60 or 70 of the user US11.
16 is stored.

[0207] Thus, the user US1 who has exchanged the message information and the reply message to the message information.
In the RAM 16 of the user 1 and the user US 14, the mail addresses of the other parties are stored. Since the other party's mail address is stored in the mobile terminal device 10, 60, or 70 of the user US11 and the user US14 as described above, after that, as shown in FIG. 31, the user US11 tells the user US14. It becomes possible to directly send a mail without going through the server 4 (the mail server 114 (via FIG. 1)), and the user US14 can send directly to the user US11 without going through the server 4 (via the mail server 114). It is possible to send e-mail.

In this way, the server 4 sends the message information from the user US11 who is currently using the character CA11 to other users US12, US13, ... Who have used the character CA11 in the past. By repeatedly transmitting and sending the reply message from the other user to the user US11, as shown in FIG. 32, the user US11 is the other user who has used the character CA11 in the past. U
It is possible to obtain a state in which direct mail exchange (through the mail server 114) without passing through the server 4 is possible between S12, US13, .... Therefore, the user US11 who is currently using the character CA11 widely transmits a question regarding the usage method of the character CA11 to other users US12, US12, ... Who have used the character CA11 in the past. As a result, it is possible to relatively easily solve the usage method itself of the character CA11 even if it is difficult to understand.

If the use of the character CA11 itself becomes simple, the user US11 can use the character C11.
By making it easier to pour love into A11, we will be able to treat A11 as a partner to live with, rather than just as part of the game.

Incidentally, in FIG. 32, the user US11 who is currently using the character CA11 is another user U.
The case has been described in which by sending message information such as a question to S12, US13, ... By obtaining message mail communication between the user US11 and other users US12, US13 ,. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the character CA1 has been used in the past.
Users US12, US13, ... who have used 1
... transmits the message information by the server 4 to other users who have used the character CA11 in the past and to the user US11 who is currently using the character CA11. It is also possible to create a state in which mail can be exchanged as shown.

In this case, a user who has used the character CA11 in the past (for example, user US12),
User US who is currently using the character CA11
11, it is possible to send message information such as “Is the character (□ -chan) fine?” By searching the server 4, and the current state of the character CA11 used in the past is It is possible to confirm even without knowing the address of the user US11 currently used. Then, the message information is transmitted to the user US11, and a reply message to the message information from the user US11 is sent to the user U11.
After returning to S12, it becomes possible to exchange mail between the user US11 and the user US12. In this way, each user US11, US1
2 and so on can create a state in which the character CA11 can be used as a contact point for exchanging mail with a strange user, and thus a communication circle of the user with the character CA11 as a contact point can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which one character CA11 creates a communication environment with the character CA11 as a contact point, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, FIG.
, Different characters CA11 and CA
The server 4 exchanges message information even between users who are using 21 or have used 21 in the past.
Can be done through.

That is, in FIG. 34, for example, the user US11 who is using the character CA11 is the server 4
In response to the message information to the user who is using another character (step S121),
The server 4 searches for a user who is using another character, and sequentially sends a message information guide (an inquiry as to whether or not to accept the reception) from the user US11 to the user obtained as a result of the search. To do.

Then, for example, as shown in FIG.
User US24 who is using another character CA21
Accepts the receipt of the message information, the server 4 transmits the message information kept by the user US11 to the user US24 (step S122). Thereby, the user US11 does not know about the user who is using another character (for example, the user US24 who uses the character CA21) or that the user is using the character. Both can send message information to the user.

User U who received this message information
The mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 of S24 is the RA
The message information and the mail address of the user US11 added to the message information are stored in M16. Then, when the reply message is input by the user US24, the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 used by the user US24 transmits the reply message to the server 4 (step S123).

The server 4, which receives the reply message from the user US24, receives the reply message from the user US11.
Of the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70 of the mobile terminal device 10 of the user US11 based on the search result.
It is transmitted to 60 or 70 (step S124). The email address of the user US24 who is the sender is added to the reply message, and the mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 7 used by the user US11 who received the reply message is added.
0 stores the mail address in the RAM 16.

In this way, between the users US11 and US24 who are using different characters, the message information can be exchanged via the server 4 without knowing each other, and once the message information is exchanged. , RAM of each mobile terminal device 10, 60 or 70
By storing the other party's email address in 16,
After that, it becomes possible to directly exchange mail (via the mail server) without using the server 4.

In FIG. 34, the case where message information is exchanged between users who are using characters has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other characters that have used characters in the past may be used. In the same way, it is possible to send message information to the user and then directly exchange e-mail.

In this way, communication between other users who are currently using the other character and other users who have used the other character in the past through the exchange of message information is also possible. Can be created.

[0220]

According to the present invention, the address information of the user who is currently using the character or the user who has used the character in the past is stored in the database.
By searching the database, it is possible to provide a place where strangers can get to know each other by using a character as a contact point. In this way, it becomes possible to obtain information such as how to use the character by exchanging the message information, which makes it easy for the user to use the character itself. As a result, the user can easily give affection to the character, and thus, the character can be treated as a partner who lives together rather than as a part of the game. You can enjoy it without getting tired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character rental system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a server 4.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a system for renting a character.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine that is executed in the server 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of processing of an unregistered user which is called and executed in step S14 of the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 7 shows communication terminal devices 10 and 60 when guide information for renting a character is transmitted from server 4.
Or (a) which shows an example of the message displayed on the display part of the display device 41 of 70, and (b) which shows an example of the message which urges selection of a character.

FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of a character introduction database that is referred to when a message from a character is transmitted to communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 in step S24.

FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of a database generated or updated in step S31.

FIG. 10 is a time chart when the subroutine of FIG. 6 is executed.

11 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 when the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 receives a mail. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display device 41 of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 when the character asks a question about the content of the received mail.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 when a character offers a game battle to an operator.
It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on the display device 41 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of an unregistered user process called and executed in step S15 of FIG.

FIG. 15: Communication terminal device 1 for displaying information for menu display
When 0, 60 or 70 is received, the communication terminal device 1
It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on the display device 41 of 0, 60, or 70.

FIG. 16 is a table showing items included in dialogue information between a character and an operator.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of interactive information processing called and executed in step S46 of the subroutine of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a table showing an example of a database used for character personality setting processing.

FIG. 19 is a table showing an example (a) of a word database used for a keyword setting process and an example (b) of a keyword database generated based on the word database.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a communication terminal device 10, 6 using keywords.
It is a figure which shows the example of a display when a character calls an operator of 0 or 70.

FIG. 21: When the character rental period is approaching, the server 4 informs the communication terminal device 10, 6 of that effect.
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the process transmitted to 0 or 70.

FIG. 22 shows the communication terminal device 10, when the guide information indicating that the rental deadline is approaching is transmitted from the server 4.
Reference numeral 60 or 70 is a diagram showing an example of an image received on the guidance information and displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of processing when the end date of the rental period comes.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal device 10, 60 or 70 when the rental completion information is received from the server 4.

FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing a processing procedure for exchanging message information.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a destination search processing routine.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing a database of user address information.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen display example of a mobile terminal device.

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing a screen display example of a mobile terminal device.

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen display example of a mobile terminal device.

FIG. 31 is a timing chart showing a processing procedure for exchanging message information.

FIG. 32 is a timing chart showing a processing procedure for exchanging message information.

FIG. 33 is a timing chart showing a processing procedure for exchanging message information.

FIG. 34 is a timing chart showing a processing procedure for exchanging message information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Character rental system 2 Public telephone network (communication line) 3 Mobile phone network (communication line) 4 servers 6 Internet 10 Portable communication terminal device (communication terminal device) 41 Display (Display) 60 Portable game device (communication terminal device) 70 Mobile phone (communication terminal device) 114 mail server

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A server capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from a communication terminal device in a state of being connected to the communication terminal device via a communication line, wherein character information relating to a character displayed on a display unit of the communication terminal device. By sequentially giving the authority of use to a plurality of communication terminal devices and supplying the character information as the data to the communication terminal device to which the authority of use is given, the respective communication terminal devices are performed. The experience in is reflected in the character one by one, and the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given among the plurality of communication terminal devices or the use of the character in the past. Holding the address information of the communication terminal device that has been given the authority of Based on the address information, the information from either the given communication terminal device or the communication terminal device that has been given the authority to use the character in the past, the authority to use the character is Providing to the other communication terminal device of the communication terminal device that has been given the right to use the character or the communication terminal device that is currently given in the past,
A server that is characterized by performing. 2. The information provided from the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given is provided to the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character has been given in the past. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server is present. 3. An information providing system for transmitting / receiving data between a server and a communication terminal device via a communication line and providing various information from the server to the communication terminal device, wherein a display unit of the communication terminal device is provided. The authority to use the character information relating to the character displayed on is sequentially given to the plurality of communication terminal devices, and the character information is supplied as the data to the communication terminal device to which the authority to use is given. The experience in each communication terminal device is sequentially reflected in the character, and among the plurality of communication terminal devices, the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given or the character in the past. Address information of a communication terminal device that has been given authority to use is stored in the server. Information from either the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character is currently given or the communication terminal device to which the authority to use the character has been previously given is based on the address information. Provided to the communication terminal device to which the right to use the character is currently given or to another communication terminal device among the communication terminal devices to which the right to use the character has been given in the past. An information providing system, characterized in that 4. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the information is added with address information of a communication terminal device as a transmission source of the information. 5. Use of an electronic device for constructing the information providing system according to claim 3.