JP2004343555A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a sender of message to easily confirm an operation to be performed by a device received with the message on the basis of the message. <P>SOLUTION: A cellular telephone 100-1 transmits a message including a character string to a server device 600. The server device 600 stores a character string to be a retrieval key and explanation data that explains an operation that an electronic pet 200 performs on the basis of a key character string. When the server device 600 receives the message including the character string, the server device 600 compares the character string included in the received message with the key character string, specifies the explanation data on the basis of coincided character strings and transmits the specified explanation data to the cellular telephone set 100-1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for checking the operation of an electronic pet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, e-mail has become widespread as a means of transmitting messages, and is used for business purposes, communication between friends, and the like. Usually, characters are used to convey a message by e-mail, and communication between the sender and the recipient of the message is achieved.
As described above, communication can be achieved only by transmitting a message using characters, but various techniques have been devised in recent years in order to achieve more intimate communication.
[0003]
As an example of such a technique, a technique has been devised in which a toy operates based on the content of the text of a received e-mail (for example, see Patent Document 1).
The driving device disclosed in Patent Document 1 receives an e-mail transmitted from an e-mail server. When the driving device displays the text of the received e-mail and then performs an operation of clicking on a specific keyword included in the text of the e-mail, the driving device performs Then, the clicked keyword is transmitted to the toy connected to the driving device. The toy that has received the keyword performs an operation such as pronouncing a voice as “Konichiha” or lifting an arm based on the received keyword.
As described above, by causing the toy to perform an operation based on the content of the e-mail text, it is possible to make the transmission of the message more entertaining, as compared to a case where the message is transmitted only by characters, and the e-mail can be transmitted. The feeling of intimacy between those who give and receive can be enhanced. Furthermore, if there are many actions that the toy can perform, the actions are more likely to be conveyed, and the sender and the receiver of the e-mail can communicate not only by text but also by the action of the toy .
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-159760 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the sender of the e-mail knows what kind of action is performed with what keyword, it can create an e-mail that can move the toy as intended, and aim for more intimate communication be able to.
However, when there are many keywords, the e-mail sender needs a great deal of effort to grasp all the keywords and memorize the correspondences between the keywords and the actions one by one, so that the toy is moved as intended. Creating email that can be is not easy.
In addition, types of toys may differ depending on the owner. In such a case, it is a great effort for the sender of the e-mail that the sender of the e-mail memorizes the correspondence between the keyword and the action for each toy of different types. Therefore, the sender of the e-mail easily knows what kind of operation the toy performs based on the body of the e-mail before sending the e-mail without storing a keyword for each type of toy. There was a demand for a technology that could do it.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and has as its object to provide a technique that allows a message sender to easily confirm an operation performed by a device that has received a message based on the message. I do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a communication terminal that transmits character string data to a designated destination while presenting information represented by received data, and a communication terminal that represents information represented by the received character string data. When the character string includes a preset key character string, an electronic pet that performs an operation of the content that is previously associated with the key character string, and a server device that can communicate with the communication terminal, In the communication system having the electronic pet, the server device includes description data representing information describing the content of the operation of the electronic pet, type data indicating a type of the description data, and a key character string associated with the operation. A character string receiving means for receiving the character string data and the type data transmitted from the communication terminal; and a character string receiving means for receiving the character string data and the type data transmitted from the communication terminal. A character string indicated by character string data, and a key character string stored in the storage means, and a specifying means for specifying a matched key character string; and a key character string specified by the specifying means, Reading means for identifying the description data to be read based on the type data received by the character string receiving means, and reading the description data from the storage means; and the character string receiving means for reading the description data read by the reading means. And a reply means for transmitting the character string data received by the transmission means to the transmission source.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the server device specifies the description data based on the character string data and the type data transmitted from the communication terminal and the key character string, and transmits the specified description data to the communication terminal. The communication terminal receives the transmitted description data, and presents information represented by the received description data.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
[1. Configuration of Embodiment]
[1-1. overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this communication system, there are a large number of mobile phones and electronic pets. However, in order to prevent the drawing from being complicated, the mobile phone 100-1, the mobile phone 100-2, the electronic pet 200-1, and the electronic pet 200- Only 2 is shown.
[0011]
The mobile communication network 300 is a communication network that provides a voice communication service and a packet communication service to a subscriber who has made a subscription contract with a communication carrier that operates the mobile communication network 300. The mobile communication network 300 includes a wireless base station that performs wireless communication with the mobile phone 100-1, the mobile phone 100-2, the electronic pet 200-1, or the electronic pet 200-2, an exchange connected to the wireless base station, A gateway exchange connected to the exchange, information on the subscriber, a service control station connected to each exchange, a gateway exchange and a gateway server connected to the Internet 500 (both not shown); And a mail server device 400 connected to the exchange. A communication company operating this communication network gives a telephone number and an e-mail address to the subscriber. The subscriber can receive a voice communication service and an e-mail distribution service provided by the mobile communication network 300 using the assigned telephone number and e-mail address.
[0012]
The mail server device 400 has a function of distributing an e-mail. Upon receiving an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address given to the subscriber, the received e-mail is designated as a destination. Delivery is made to the mobile phone 100-1 or the mobile phone 100-2, the electronic pet 200-1, or the electronic pet 200-2 specified by the email address.
[0013]
The mobile phone 100-1 and the mobile phone 100-2 are mobile phones that can receive a voice call service and a data communication service provided by the mobile communication network 300. Here, the mobile phone 100-1 and the mobile phone 100-2 have the same configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish individual mobile phones, the mobile phones are abbreviated as mobile phones 100.
[0014]
Like the mobile phone 100, the electronic pet 200-1 and the electronic pet 200-2 are electronic devices that can receive a data communication service provided by the mobile communication network 300. Here, the hardware configurations of the electronic pet 200-1 and the electronic pet 200-2 are the same. Therefore, hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish individual electronic pets, they are abbreviated as electronic pets 200. The electronic pet 200 has a function of performing an operation based on the content of the text of the received e-mail. The difference between the electronic pet 200-1 and the electronic pet 200-2 is that the operation to be performed is different even if the text of the received e-mail is the same sentence.
[0015]
The server device 600 has a function of sending and receiving electronic mail. Details of the server device 600 will be described later.
[0016]
[1-2. Configuration of electronic pet]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the electronic pet 200. Each unit of the electronic pet 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 performs communication via a bus 201 connected to each unit.
[0017]
The communication unit 206 has a function as a communication interface, and communicates with a wireless base station of the mobile communication network 300 via an antenna (not shown) under the control of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202. Perform wireless communication. Upon receiving a signal transmitted from the wireless base station, the communication unit 206 supplies the received signal to the CPU 202. Further, communication section 206 transmits a signal supplied from CPU 202 to the wireless base station. The operation unit 207 has a button for operating the electronic pet 200 (not shown). When the provided button is pressed, the operation unit 207 supplies a signal indicating that the button has been pressed to the CPU 202.
[0018]
The communication unit 208, which is a controlled unit controlled by the CPU 202, includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a speaker. Under the control of the CPU 202, the communication unit 208 blinks the LED and generates a notification sound from the speaker. Further, the communication unit 208 converts audio data supplied from the CPU 202 into an analog signal under the control of the CPU 202, supplies the converted analog signal to a speaker, and emits sound from the speaker. The communication unit 208 includes motors for driving the feet and tails of the electronic pet 200 shown in FIG. 1 (both are not shown), and drives these motors under the control of the CPU 202. Then, the feet and tail of the electronic pet 200 are moved.
[0019]
The storage unit 205 has, for example, a hard disk device (not shown) as a device for permanently storing data, and stores character data and pronunciation data in association with each other. The character data is data indicating a character, and the pronunciation data is data indicating a sound when the character indicated by the character data is pronounced.
Further, the storage unit 205 stores an operation table TB1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a format of the operation table TB1. The keyword field stores a key character string serving as a keyword. A character string (hereinafter, abbreviated as an operation character string) indicating an operation performed by the electronic pet 200 is stored as control data for controlling the communication unit 208 in the operation field. For example, the character string “paw.right.up” means that the electronic pet 200 raises the right front leg, and the character string “paw.left.up” means that the electronic pet 200 raises the right front leg. are doing.
[0020]
A ROM (Read Only Memory) 203 stores a control program for controlling each part of the electronic pet 200. When power is supplied from a power supply (not shown), the CPU 202 reads out a control program from the ROM 203 and starts up, and controls each part of the electronic pet 200 using a RAM (Random Access Memory) 204 as a work area. When the CPU 202 executes the control program, the functions described below are realized.
[0021]
<E-mail receiving function>
When the communication unit 206 receives the incoming notification message indicating that the mail server device 400 has received the electronic mail and supplies the received incoming notification message to the CPU 202, the CPU 202 issues a mail request to request the delivery of the electronic mail. A message is generated, the communication unit 206 is controlled, and a mail request message is transmitted to the mail server device 400 as a destination. When communication unit 206 receives the e-mail transmitted from mail server device 400, CPU 202 stores the received e-mail in storage unit 205, and then controls communication unit 208 to generate a notification sound from the speaker. Let it.
[0022]
<E-mail reading function>
When the user of the electronic pet 200 operates a button included in the operation unit 207 to open the received electronic mail, the CPU 202 extracts the text of the received electronic mail. After extracting the body of the e-mail, the CPU 202 compares the key character string stored in the operation table TB1 with the body of the e-mail, and searches for a character string that matches the key character string. When finding the same character string as the key character string stored in the operation table TB1 from among the character strings included in the extracted text, the CPU 202 reads the operation character string stored in association with this keyword. Then, the key character string and the read operation character string are stored in the RAM 204 in association with each other.
[0023]
When the specification of the key character string is completed, the CPU 202 sequentially extracts the character string of the body of the extracted e-mail, and outputs a voice to read out the e-mail based on the character data and the pronunciation data stored in the storage unit 205. The communication unit 208 is controlled so as to be emitted from the communication unit 208. When the CPU 202 extracts the same character string as the key character string stored in the RAM 204, the CPU 202 reads the operation character string stored in association with the key character string, and based on the read operation character string, the communication unit 208. Control and operate the electronic pet 200.
[0024]
Thus, the electronic pet 200 can be said to have the same configuration as a general computer device in the sense that the CPU 202 controls each unit according to the program.
[0025]
[1-3. Configuration of server device]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the server device 600. Each unit of the server device 600 illustrated in FIG. 4 performs communication via a bus 601 connected to each unit.
[0026]
The communication unit 606 is a communication interface for performing communication using the Internet 500. The communication unit 606 receives a signal transmitted from the Internet 500 and supplies the signal to the CPU 602, and transmits a signal supplied from the CPU 602 to the Internet 500.
[0027]
The storage unit 605 includes a device (not shown) for permanently storing data, such as a hard disk device, for example. OS (Operating System) software for controlling each unit of the server device 600, and a pet operation check program , A keyword table TB2, and explanation data for explaining operations performed by the electronic pet 200.
[0028]
The storage unit 605 stores, for example, a file according to a format called an animation GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) as explanation data for explaining an operation performed by the electronic pet 200.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a format of the keyword table TB2. The keyword field stores a key character string serving as a keyword. In the file name field, a file name of explanatory data describing an operation performed by the electronic pet 200 is stored. The file name field is divided into fields for each type of description data (that is, for each type of electronic pet 200). For example, the explanation data for explaining the operation of the electronic pet 200-1 is stored in the electronic pet-1 field, and the explanation data for explaining the operation of the electronic pet 200-2 is stored in the electronic pet-2 field. .
[0030]
The ROM 603 stores an initialization program for initializing each unit of the server device 600. When power is supplied from a power supply (not shown), the CPU 602 reads and executes an initialization program from the ROM 603, and initializes each unit of the server device 600 using the RAM 604 as a work area. Upon ending the initialization of each unit, the CPU 602 that has started the initialization program reads out the OS software from the storage unit 605 and starts it, and controls each unit of the server device 600. When the CPU 602 activates the OS software, the CPU 602 reads out the pet operation confirmation program from the storage unit 605 and activates it. When the CPU 602 executes the pet operation check program, the functions described below are realized.
[0031]
<Pet operation notification function>
When receiving the e-mail transmitted from mobile phone 100, CPU 602 extracts the text of the e-mail. The CPU 602 compares the key character string stored in the keyword table TB2 with the character string described in the text of the extracted e-mail, and searches for a character string that matches the key character string. When specifying the same character string as the key character string stored in keyword table TB2, CPU 602 extracts the first line of the e-mail text. When the character string described in the extracted line is “electronic pet-1”, the CPU 602 determines the file name stored in association with the specified key character string, Reads the file name stored in the field. When the extracted character string is “electronic pet-2”, the CPU 602 has a file name stored in association with the specified key character string, and is stored in the electronic pet-2 field. Read the file name.
When reading the file name, CPU 602 attaches the description data specified by the read file name to display the content of the description data specified by the file name read from keyword table TB2 on mobile phone 100. Generate When generating the e-mail, the CPU 602 transmits the generated e-mail to the mobile phone 100 that has transmitted the e-mail as a destination.
[0032]
[1-4. Configuration of Mobile Phone]
The mobile phone 100 stores an application program for realizing a WWW (World Wide Web) browser and an application program for sending and receiving e-mail (hereinafter abbreviated as e-mail AP). When the WWW browser is realized in the mobile phone 100, the mobile phone 100 displays a page by interpreting a communication according to HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or a file described in accordance with HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). It becomes possible. When the mobile phone 100 executes the email AP, the mobile phone 100 can send an email or receive and display an email sent from the mail server device 400.
[0033]
[1-5. Configuration of mail server device]
The mail server device 400 has a function of delivering an e-mail transmitted from the mobile phone 100 to the mobile phone 100 or the electronic pet 200 designated as the destination of the e-mail. In addition, the mail server device 400 includes an address table TB3, and has a function of transferring a received electronic mail to an electronic mail address stored in the address table TB3. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format of the address table TB3. The address field is a field for storing an e-mail address as a search key, and the transfer destination address field is a field for storing an e-mail address as a transfer destination of the e-mail. When the e-mail address stored in the address field of the address table TB3 receives the e-mail specified as the destination, the mail server device 400 reads the e-mail address stored in the transfer destination address field, The received e-mail is delivered to the read e-mail address.
[0034]
[2. Operation example of embodiment]
Next, an operation example of the above-described embodiment will be described. In the operation example described below, it is assumed that electronic mail AP has already been executed in mobile phone 100-1, and an electronic mail application has been realized. It is also assumed that the e-mail address assigned to server device 600 is “server@aaa.ne.jp”.
[0035]
When the user of the mobile phone 100-1 performs an operation to instruct the mobile phone 100-1 to display a screen for creating an e-mail, the screen illustrated in FIG. -1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display. As shown in FIG. 8, the user of the mobile phone 100-1 inputs a text in which “Electronic Pet-1” is described in the first line into the text box BX3 as the body of the e-mail, After inputting the e-mail address “server@aaa.ne.jp” given to the server device 600 in the text box BX2 and performing an operation of clicking a “send” button, the mobile phone 100-1 receives the input. An e-mail addressed to the input e-mail address is generated and transmitted with the received document as the text. This e-mail is sent to server device 600 via mobile communication network 300.
[0036]
When the communication unit 606 of the server device 600 receives the electronic mail and supplies the received electronic mail to the CPU 602, the CPU 602 extracts the text of the electronic mail. When extracting the text of the e-mail, the CPU 602 compares the key character string stored in the keyword table TB2 with the character string described in the extracted text, and specifies a character string that matches the key character string. (FIG. 9: Step SA1). For example, in this operation example, CPU 602, the key string stored in the keyword table TB2, identifies the string such as "Hello".
When the CPU 602 specifies a character string that matches the key character string, the CPU 602 extracts the character string described in the first line of the extracted text, and based on the extracted character string, stores the file stored in the file name field. Read the name. The first line of the body of the e-mail that is sent to the server apparatus 600, because the "electronic pet -1" is described, CPU602 is stored in the electronic pet -1 field in association with the "Hello" The file name "hello1.gif" is read (step SA2).
[0037]
The CPU 602 generates an e-mail to which the description data specified by the read file name is attached so that the content of the description data specified by the file name read from the storage unit 605 is displayed on the mobile phone 100-1. (Step SA3). When generating the e-mail, the CPU 602 transmits the generated e-mail to the mobile phone 100-1 (step SA4). This e-mail is sent to the mobile phone 100-1 via the Internet 500 and the mobile communication network 300.
[0038]
Upon receiving the e-mail, the mobile phone 100-1 notifies the reception of the e-mail by a notification sound. When the user of the mobile phone 100-1 performs an operation to open the received e-mail, the mobile phone 100-1 sets the electronic pet based on “hello1.gif” attached to the e-mail. operation 200 is carried out based on the character string "Hello", for example, to display the action, such as raising the right forefoot in animation.
[0039]
After the user of the mobile phone 100-1 confirms the operation performed by the electronic pet 200, the user operates the keys of the mobile phone 100-1 to read the “electronic pet” described in the first line from the text shown in FIG. -1 "is input to the text box BX3 as the body of the e-mail, and the e-mail address" aaapet@aaaaa.ne.jp "assigned to the user of the mobile phone 100-2 as the destination of the e-mail Is entered in the text box BX2 and an operation of clicking the “Send” button is performed, the mobile phone 100-1 sends an e-mail with the input document as the body and the input e-mail address as the destination. Generate and send. This e-mail is sent to the mail server device 400 via the mobile communication network 300.
[0040]
Upon receiving the e-mail, the mail server device 400 extracts the e-mail address designated as the destination of the e-mail from the received e-mail, and uses the extracted e-mail address as a search key in the address table TB3. Search the address field. When the mail server device 400 finds a cell in which the same e-mail address as the search key is stored, the e-mail address “aaa@aaaaa.ne.jp” stored in association with this cell. And the e-mail address "aaa@petaaaa.ne.jp".
[0041]
Upon reading the e-mail address, the mail server device 400 sets the destination of the received e-mail to the read e-mail address “aaa@aaaa.ne.jp” and “aaa@petaaaaaa.ne.jp”. Generate mail. After generating the e-mail, mail server apparatus 400 generates an incoming notification message notifying that the e-mail has been sent, and transmits the generated incoming notification message.
[0042]
When the mobile phone 100-2 receives the incoming notification message, the mobile phone 100-2 generates a notification sound. When the user of the mobile phone 100-2 performs an operation to obtain an e-mail, the mobile phone 100-2 generates a mail request message requesting the delivery of the e-mail, and transmits the generated message to the mail. The data is transmitted to the server device 400. When receiving the mail request message transmitted from mobile phone 100-2, mail server device 400 transmits an e-mail addressed to “aaa@aaaaa.ne.jp”.
[0043]
When the communication unit 206 of the electronic pet 200 receives the incoming notification message transmitted by the mail server device 400 and supplies this message to the CPU 202, the CPU 202 transmits a mail request message requesting the distribution of the electronic mail. The mail request message is generated and transmitted to the mail server device 400 by controlling the communication unit 206. When the mail server device 400 receives the mail request message transmitted from the electronic pet 200, the mail server device 400 transmits an electronic mail addressed to “aaa@petaaaaaa.ne.jp”.
[0044]
When the communication unit 206 of the electronic pet 200 receives the e-mail transmitted by the mail server device 400 and supplies the received e-mail to the CPU 202, the CPU 202 stores the received e-mail in the storage unit 205, and then performs communication. The unit 208 is controlled to generate a notification sound from the speaker. When the user of the electronic pet 200 hears the notification sound and operates the button of the operation unit 207 to open the received electronic mail, the CPU 202 extracts the text of the received electronic mail. .
After extracting the body of the e-mail, the CPU 202 compares the key character string stored in the operation table TB1 with the body of the e-mail, and specifies a character string that matches the key character string. CPU202 has determined the string key character string "Hello" stored in the operation table TB1, the key character string "Hello" operation string "paw.right.up" stored in association with the The read / key character string and the read operation character string are stored in the RAM 204 in association with each other.
[0045]
When the specification of the key character string is completed, the CPU 202 sequentially extracts the character string of the body of the extracted e-mail, and outputs a voice to read out the e-mail based on the character data and the pronunciation data stored in the storage unit 205. The communication unit 208 is controlled so as to be emitted from the communication unit 208. When the CPU 202 extracts the same character string as the key character string stored in the RAM 204, the CPU 202 reads the operation character string “paw.right.up” stored in association with the key character string, and reads the read operation character string. , The communication unit 208 is controlled so that the electronic pet 200 raises the right front leg.
[0046]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the sender of the e-mail can check what kind of operation the electronic pet 200 performs before transmitting the e-mail. Further, since the server device 600 analyzes what operation the electronic pet 200 performs based on the sentence, the sender of the e-mail does not need to memorize the correspondence between the key character string and the operation every time. The operation performed by the electronic pet 200 can be easily confirmed.
Further, according to the present embodiment, a character string specifying the type of the electronic pet 200 is described in the body of the e-mail, so that even when there are a plurality of types of the electronic pet 200, different operations are performed for each type of the electronic pet 200. The sender of the e-mail can easily know.
[0047]
[3. Modification]
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. Hereinafter, a modified example of the above-described embodiment will be described.
[0048]
If the server device 600 finds a plurality of key character strings in the received character string, it generates an e-mail for displaying the operation performed by the electronic pet 200 so that the e-mail is displayed so that the plurality of operations are displayed. May be generated.
[0049]
The explanation data is not limited to the animation GIF. When the operation of the electronic pet 200 is indicated by a moving image, the operation of the electronic pet 200 is indicated by video data according to another moving image format such as MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Experts Group 4) or Motion JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). You may do so. The description data indicating the operation of the electronic pet 200 may indicate a still image. When the operation of the electronic pet 200 is indicated by a still image, the operation of the electronic pet 200 may be indicated by a plurality of still images as shown in FIG. 10 or by one sheet as shown in FIG. May be divided into a plurality of screens, and the operation may be represented by the still images. Further, the operation performed by the electronic pet 200 may be described in text or by voice.
[0050]
In the above-described embodiment, the electronic pet 200 determines the operation to be performed based on the character string stored in the operation table TB1, but the electronic pet 200 determines the operation to be performed based on the key character string. The present invention is not limited to the mode determined by the pet 200. For example, the following aspects are considered as modified examples.
For example, the mail server device 400 stores the operation table TB1. When receiving the electronic mail, the mail server device 400 generates an electronic mail to be transferred to the mobile phone 100 and an electronic mail to be transferred to the electronic pet 200. The mail server device 400 searches for the same character string as the key character string stored in the operation table TB1 in the body of the electronic mail to be transferred to the electronic pet 200. When finding a character string that matches the key character string, mail server device 400 reads out the operation character string stored in the operation field of operation table TB1 in association with the matched character string. The mail server device 400 associates the read operation character string with the same character string as the key character string and describes it in the body of the electronic mail to be transferred to the electronic pet 200. The electronic pet 200 that has received the e-mail sequentially extracts and reads out the text of the received e-mail, extracts the operation character string, and controls the communication unit 208 according to the operation character string to operate the feet and tail. According to such an aspect, the electronic pet 200 does not need to store the operation table TB1, so that the storage area of the storage unit 205 can be used effectively.
In addition, the mail server device 400 may transmit the electronic mail by describing only the operation character string in the body of the electronic mail to be transmitted to the electronic pet 200. According to this aspect, only the command for operating electronic pet 200 is transmitted to electronic pet 200.
[0051]
In the above-described embodiment, the mail server device 400 transfers the electronic mail to the electronic pet 200. However, the method of sending the body of the electronic mail to the electronic pet 200 is not limited to the method of the above-described embodiment. . An electronic mail may be received by the mobile phone 100, and the mobile phone 100 and the electronic pet 200 may be connected to transmit the text of the electronic mail to the electronic pet. Further, the body of the e-mail may be transmitted to the electronic pet by short-range wireless communication such as infrared communication or Bluetooth (registered trademark).
[0052]
In the above-described embodiment, the mobile phone 100 confirms the operation of the electronic pet 200 by communicating with the server device 600, but the mail server device 400 is provided with the function of the server device 600, By transmitting an e-mail to a specific e-mail address given to 400, the operation of electronic pet 200 may be confirmed.
[0053]
The operation that can be confirmed by the user of the mobile phone 100 using the server device 600 is not limited to the operation performed by the electronic pet 200. In recent years, some applications for sending and receiving e-mails have shown the movement of delivering and receiving e-mails by virtual creatures, such as animal characters, as animations, thereby increasing the fun of using e-mails. There is something. For example, the server device 600 may notify the mobile phone 100 of the operation of the virtual creature such as the animal character realized by the mobile phone 100. At this time, the user of the mobile phone 100 may select any one of the operation of the virtual creature and the operation of the electronic pet 200 and confirm the operation.
[0054]
When generating an e-mail to which the description data is attached, the server device 600 may describe the e-mail text so that a character string that matches the key character string is displayed.
[0055]
A device that transmits an e-mail addressed to the electronic pet 200 or an e-mail addressed to the server device 600 is not limited to the mobile phone 100. A portable PC (Personal Computer) or PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) may send an e-mail to the electronic pet 200 or the server device 600 via the mobile communication network 300 or the Internet 500. Also, when an e-mail is transmitted using a portable PC or PDA, an e-mail address given to the owner of the portable PC or PDA may be given by a communication company operating the mobile communication network 300. Instead, an e-mail address given by another provider or the like may be used.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a message sender can easily confirm an operation performed by a device that has received a message based on the message. Further, even when there are a plurality of types of devices that operate based on the received message, the sender of the message can easily confirm the operation performed by the device that has received the message based on the message.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the electronic pet 200 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a format of an operation table TB1 stored in the electronic pet 200 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a hardware configuration of a server device 600 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a format of a keyword table TB2 stored in the server device 600 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format of an address table TB3 stored in the mail server device 400 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a view exemplifying a screen displayed on the mobile phone 100 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a view exemplifying a screen displayed on the mobile phone 100 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process performed by a CPU 602;
FIG. 10 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displayed on the mobile phone 100 according to a modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displayed on a mobile phone according to a modification of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100, 100-1, 100-2 ... mobile phone
200, 200-1, 200-2 ... electronic pet, 201 ... bus, 202 ... CPU, 203 ... ROM, 204 ... RAM, 205 ... storage unit, 206 ... Communication unit, 207: operation unit, 208: communication unit
300 mobile communication network
400 ... mail server device
500 ・ ・ ・ Internet
600 server device, 601 bus, 602 CPU, 603 ROM, 604 RAM, 605 storage unit, 606 communication unit

Claims (2)

A communication terminal that transmits character string data to a designated destination while presenting information represented by received data, and a character string represented by the received character string data includes a preset key character string. In the communication system having an electronic pet that performs an operation of the content previously associated with the key character string, and a server device capable of communicating with the communication terminal,
The server device,
Storage means for storing, in association with each other, description data representing information describing the content of the operation of the electronic pet, type data indicating the type of the description data, and a key character string associated with the operation;
Character string receiving means for receiving the character string data and the type data transmitted from the communication terminal,
A character string indicated by the character string data received by the character string receiving means, and a key character string stored in the storage means, and a specifying means for specifying a matched key character string;
Based on the key character string specified by the specifying means and the type data received by the character string receiving means, to specify the description data to be read, reading means to read the description data from the storage means,
A communication unit comprising: a reply unit configured to transmit the explanatory data read by the reading unit to a transmission source of the character string data received by the character string receiving unit. The reply means transmits the explanation data read by the reading means and the key character string specified by the specifying means to a transmission source of the character string data received by the character string receiving means. Item 2. The communication system according to Item 1.

Images