JP2003256586A - Animation character generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an animation character generation system for optionally generating an animation by combining animation sites such as eyes, a mouth, hands, feet and the like from a communication terminal through an Internet line. <P>SOLUTION: An animation site providing part 8 provides animation information for each site of eyes, a mouth or feet of animation character, an acceptance and delivery part 6 accepts selection information for which of the provided pieces of animation information for each site is selected from the communication terminal connected to a main animation character generation system 2 through the Internet line, and a generation part 10 combines the selected pieces of animation information accepted by the acceptance and delivery part 6 to generate an animation character, and a management part 12 manages the animation character generated by the generation part 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a personal computer and a PDA.
The present invention relates to a moving image character generation system connected to a communication terminal such as a (mobile information terminal) and a mobile phone via an Internet line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a system for delivering a moving image character on the Internet, but there has been no system for a user to produce a moving image character on the Internet and deliver the produced moving image character.

Although there is a system for generating a character of a still image by arbitrarily combining parts such as eyes, mouth, hands and feet with a still image instead of a moving image, a similar system can be realized with a moving image. There wasn't.

On the other hand, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-52290 discloses a device for generating a face moving image for a videophone and a video conference by switching the moving image only to the human mouth according to the language spoken by the person. A moving image cannot be arbitrarily generated by combining all parts such as eyes, mouth, hands, and feet.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a moving image in which a moving image is arbitrarily generated by combining moving image parts such as eyes, mouth, hands, and feet from a communication terminal via an Internet line. An object of the present invention is to provide a character generation system, distribute a moving image character generated in the system, and further provide a moving character generation system for charging a user of a distribution destination.

[0006]

The present invention according to claim 1 is a moving-image character generation system connected to a communication terminal via an Internet line, wherein the moving-image character's eyes are:
A moving image part providing means for providing moving image information of each part such as a mouth, a hand, a foot, etc., and a selection information receiving means for receiving selection information from the communication terminal as to which of the moving image information provided for each part is selected. , A moving image character generation system including a generation unit that generates a moving image character by combining selected moving image information of each part, and a management unit that manages the generated moving image character.

According to the present invention of claim 1, the moving image part providing means provides moving image information of each part such as the eyes, mouth, hands, and feet of the moving image character, and the selection information receiving means uses the moving image part providing means. Selection information for selecting which of the video information provided by the part to be selected is received from the communication terminal that is connected to the video character generation system by wire or wireless, and the generation means is selected by the selection information reception means. The moving image information is combined to generate a moving image character, and the managing unit manages the moving image character generated by the generating unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the distribution means can distribute the generated moving image character to the communication terminal. The user can receive delivery of the generated moving image character to his communication terminal.

According to the present invention of claim 3, when the charging system delivers the generated moving image character to a communication terminal, the charging system charges the user via the communication terminal.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the moving image character generation system 2 of the present embodiment and a communication terminal, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the moving image character generation system 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the moving image character generation system 2 is connected to a user terminal, such as a personal computer, a PDA, or a mobile phone, which is going to create a moving image character, by wire or wirelessly via an Internet line. In addition, the moving image character generation system 2 is a personal computer, PD
A, such as a mobile phone, is connected to a user terminal, such as a mobile phone, from which an animation character is downloaded, by wire or wirelessly via an Internet line.

FIG. 2 collectively shows the user terminal on the creation side and the user terminal on the download side as user communication terminals. In FIG. 2, the user's communication terminal is a moving image character generation system 2 via the Internet line.
Is connected to the generation server 4.

The generation server 4 has a moving image part providing section 8,
The moving image part providing unit 8 is used for the eyes, nose, mouth, and
Several types of moving image contents of each part such as ears, eyebrows, hands, feet, and body are prepared in advance as a list.

The reception / delivery unit 6 of the generation server 4 displays on the web page several kinds of moving images of each region prepared by the moving image region providing unit 8 in a list, and the user selects which one is displayed. The selection information of whether to perform is accepted from the communication terminal. The user selects a moving image of each part so as to form a moving image character. After the selection by the user, the generation server 4 also receives predetermined information regarding the user. The user inputs the predetermined information if necessary. The predetermined information is
Name of creator (user), terminal type information (PC, PD
A, mobile phone type information), whether or not the generated moving image character is open to the public on the Internet, and the like.

The generation unit 10 generates moving image characters by combining the selected moving images of the user received by the reception / delivery unit 6 while editing the arrangement position.

The management unit 12 stores and manages the moving image character generated by the generation unit 10.

The reception / delivery unit 6 delivers the moving image character stored in the management unit 12 to the user's communication terminal via the Internet line. At that time, the video character for free distribution is transmitted as it is, but for the video character for paid distribution, the charging unit 14 generates and presents the charging information, and when the payment is completed, the distribution permission is sent to the reception / distribution unit 6, and the user is sent. To other communication terminals. In the case of payment by credit card, the credit accepting / transmitting unit 16 inquires and confirms the credit information with the credit card company, and then the charging unit 14 makes a payment.

The management unit 12 further stores and manages the creator's name, the terminal type information, the open / closed information of the generated moving image character received by the reception / delivery unit 6, and the presence / absence of a download charge and the download charge (download charge). It also stores and manages copyright charges (only when charging for download) and copyright charges (only when charging for download). As the creator information, in addition to name, address, phone number, email address, purpose of creation (personal use / acquaintance distribution / general distribution (free) / general distribution (pay)), billing information (payee information) (however , General distribution (paid) purposes only, billing history (however,
The general distribution (only for the purpose of paying) is also stored and managed based on the input of the user and the storage of the management unit 12.

The management unit 12 also stores and manages the download usage status at the time of pay distribution. Specifically, user information (name, address, phone number, payment information), creator information (name, address, phone number, deposit information), user terminal information (computer, PDA, mobile phone type information), download Content information, fees, etc.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the flow of accessing the generation server 4 from the communication terminal to create a moving image character will be described. Figure 3
Is a flowchart showing a flow of a moving image character creation process.

First, a user who uses the communication terminal makes a user registration with the generation server 4 (step 18). The generation server 4 includes a video character creation service site,
There is a movie character download service site, and the user accesses the movie character creation service site (step 20). The user receives the generation server 4
A favorite one is selected from several kinds of moving images of each part provided via the distribution unit 6 and combined to create a moving image character (step 22). The created moving image character is stored in the management unit 12 in a state of being linked to the created user information (step 24). The user selects whether or not the created moving image character may be opened to the public on the generation server 4 (step 26). When the user does not want the public disclosure, the user next receives the address for accessing the created moving image character from the generation server 4 (step 28). When the user is willing to make it open to the public, it is decided whether or not to make it public (step 30). When the pay release is not desired, the moving image character is displayed on the general public site (step 32). When the pay release is desired, the charge information including the charge conditions and the like when the third party downloads the moving picture character is set (step 34) and the moving picture character is displayed on the general pay open site ( Step 36).

Next, a flow of delivering the moving image character stored and managed by the management unit 12 to an acquaintance will be described. Figure 4
3 is a flowchart showing a flow of moving image character distribution processing.

First, the user accesses the moving image character creation service site (step 38). The user refers to the moving image character created by the user and selects a character to be shown (step 40). The user gives a delivery instruction of the selected moving image character to the generation server 4 (step 42), and inputs a delivery destination mail address (step 44). The generation server 4 transmits the selected moving image character from the reception / delivery unit 6 to the designated address (step 46). The URL for moving image reference may also be notified to the delivery destination by e-mail (step 48).

Next, the flow in which the user downloads the moving image character stored and managed by the management unit 12 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the moving image character download process.

First, a user who uses a communication terminal registers as a user in the generation server 4 (step 50). The user accesses the moving image character download service site (step 52). This moving image character download service site includes one that downloads a moving image character by e-mail notification and one that downloads a moving image character by general disclosure.
The user selects an arbitrary video character and creates the generation server 4
To download (step 54). It is determined whether or not the selected moving image character is a paid one (step 56), and if it is not a paid one, a moving image character in a format suitable for the access terminal is downloaded (step 58). Personal computer versions, PDA versions, and mobile phone versions of each format moving image character are created in advance by the management unit 12 of the creation server 4. If the charge is paid in step 56, the charge information is generated in the charge part 14 and the total charge is presented through the reception / delivery part 6 (step 6).
0). The user inputs the payment method to the generation server 4 (step 62), the billing unit 14 sends a delivery permission to the reception / delivery unit 6 after the settlement, and sends the selected moving image character to the user's communication terminal. In this case as well, the generation server 4 transmits a moving image character in a format suitable for the access terminal, and the user downloads it (step 64).

As described above, according to the moving picture character generation system 2 of the present embodiment, a moving picture is arbitrarily generated by combining moving picture parts such as eyes, mouth, hands and feet from a communication terminal via the Internet line. can do. Furthermore, the moving image character generated in the system 2 can be distributed to acquaintances and friends. Also this system 2
According to this, since it is possible to charge for downloading the video character, it is possible to manage the charging information between the creator of the video character and the downloader, and the profit of the creator can also be used. Opportunities to use useful video characters will increase.

[0029]

According to the present invention of claim 1, the user:
Since any moving image character can be generated by combining moving images of the prepared parts such as eyes, mouth, hands, and feet, it is possible to create a moving image character desired by oneself in a fun manner.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the user can take in the generated moving picture character in his / her communication terminal, the taken moving picture character can be used, for example, as a wallpaper of a personal computer or on a standby screen. be able to.

According to the present invention of claim 3, the system side can provide the generated moving image character by receiving the consideration from the user, and the user can obtain the favorite generated moving image character by paying the consideration. It is possible to harmonize the profits of the system side and the user side, and to develop a sound system with a solid economic foundation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a moving image character generation system of the present embodiment and a communication terminal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a moving image character generation system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of moving image character creation processing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of moving image character distribution processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of moving image character download processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Animation character generation system, 4 ... Generation server, 6
... Reception / delivery section, 8 ... Video part providing section, 10 ... Generation section,
12 ... Management Department, 14 ... Billing Department

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A moving image character generation system connected to a communication terminal via an Internet line, and a moving image part providing means for providing moving image information of each part such as eyes, mouth, hands, and feet of a moving image character. Selection information receiving means for receiving selection information from the communication terminal as to which one of the moving image information provided for each part is selected, and generating means for generating a moving character by combining the selected moving image information of each part, A moving image character generation system including a management unit that manages the generated moving image characters. 2. The moving image character generation system according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution unit that distributes the generated moving image character to a communication terminal. 3. The moving image character generation system according to claim 1, further comprising a charging system for charging a user when the generated moving image character is distributed to a communication terminal.