JP2005242798A - Avatar control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make avatars act naturally in communication among a plurality of users using the avatars. <P>SOLUTION: A server (an avatar control system) 2 receives text information sent from a client 6a via a network 4, counts the number of characters of the received text information, and calculates the degree of intimacy and action parameters of each avatar on the basis of the number of characters and the degree of intimacy among a plurality of users who performs chat. On the basis of the calculated action parameters, action information of the respective avatars is created, each action information on an avatar A, an avatar B, and an avatar C is sent to the client 6a, a client 6b, and a client 6c, and the text information is sent to the client 6b and the client 6c. On the respective clients, actions of the avatar A, the avatar B, and the avatar C based on the action information are displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an avatar control system that controls the operation of an avatar in communication using an avatar (user incarnation) in a three-dimensional virtual space using a computer.

  In recent years, in communication using a three-dimensional virtual space using a computer, avatar (Avatar, Sanskrit means “alternation / incarnation”. In many cases, it means a “pseudo personality” of a user on a network. Are often used. For example, when chatting via the Internet (conversations in real-time using the Internet, one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many conversations) The user is using an avatar.

  Note that there is a physical media communication system that uses a pseudo personality (avatar) in voice communication via a communication line. In this physical media communication system, when a user is a speaker, a speaker operation that operates according to the voice of the user who is the speaker, and another user who is a speaker when the user is a listener. The pseudo personality is operated based on the listener's operation that operates according to the voice of the above (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-108502 A

  By the way, conventionally, when an avatar is used in communication such as chat, an avatar is randomly operated based on a user operation or control by a server providing a chat service. In addition, as in the above-described physical media communication system, even when an avatar is operated based on the user's voice, each avatar is operated based on the user's voice. It was not made to work. For this reason, the movement of the avatar is remarkably unnatural compared to the movement of the person in the actual conversation, and there is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable with the movement of the avatar.

  In addition, the control of the avatar is performed on the assumption that communication in the virtual space is performed on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, when many users are participating in communication using avatars at the same time, for example, when one-to-many or many-to-many communication such as chat is performed, a plurality of avatars simultaneously exhibit the same operation. There was a case. For example, when one user speaks, the other user's avatar shows an action such as simultaneously gazing at the one user's avatar and simultaneously whispering, compared with the action of a person in a real conversation The behavior of the avatar was unnatural.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an avatar control system that controls an avatar operation so as to perform a natural operation in communication between a plurality of users using an avatar in a three-dimensional virtual space using a computer. It is.

  The avatar control system according to claim 1 is a text information receiving unit that receives text information transmitted from one user, a character number counting unit that counts the number of characters in the text information received by the text information receiving unit, and A closeness storage means for storing closeness between one user and each of a plurality of other users, the number of characters counted by the number of character count means and the closeness stored in the closeness storage means Then, based on the operation parameter calculated by the operation parameter calculation means, the operation parameter calculation means for calculating the operation parameter of each of the one user and each of the avatars of the plurality of other users, Motion information creation means for creating information, and the motion parameter calculation means comprises the intimacy description. When there are a plurality of other users having the same closeness of the other user with respect to the one user stored in the means, different operating parameters are calculated for each of the other users. .

  According to the avatar control system according to claim 1, based on the number of characters of text information transmitted from one user and the familiarity between users, the operation parameters of each avatar used by each of the plurality of users are not the same. The operation parameters are calculated as follows. That is, even when communication using avatars is performed among a plurality of users and there are a plurality of users having the same intimacy with the speaking user, the operation parameters of each user's avatar Is different. Therefore, it is possible to cause the avatar to perform a natural operation without simultaneously performing the same operation by a plurality of avatars.

  The avatar control system according to claim 2 is an operation parameter storage means for storing operation parameters of a plurality of patterns corresponding to the number of characters and familiarity, and a text information receiving means for receiving text information transmitted from one user. A character number counting unit that counts the number of characters of text information received by the text information receiving unit; a familiarity storage unit that stores a familiarity between the one user and each of a plurality of other users; Based on the number of characters counted by the character count unit and the familiarity, each of the avatars of the one user and the plurality of other users is selected from the operation parameters stored in the operation parameter storage unit. An operation parameter extracting means for extracting an operation parameter, and extracted by the operation parameter extracting means Based on the operating parameters, characterized in that it comprises an operation information generation means for generating the operation information of each avatar.

  According to the avatar control system according to claim 2, communication such as received text information and chat is performed from among a plurality of patterns of operation parameters calculated in advance based on the number of characters of text information and the familiarity between users. Predetermined operation parameters are extracted based on the familiarity between users. Therefore, even when a plurality of users are communicating via avatars, it is possible to quickly create operation information for each avatar and allow the avatar to perform a natural operation without overloading the server. it can.

  Further, in the avatar control system according to claim 3, when there are a plurality of other users having the same familiarity with the one user, the operation parameter extracting unit has different patterns of operations for each other user. It is characterized by extracting parameters.

  According to the avatar control system according to claim 3, even when there are a plurality of users having the same familiarity, a different pattern for each user avatar from among a plurality of operation parameters. Operating parameters are extracted. Therefore, even when communication using avatars between a plurality of users is performed, since a plurality of patterns of operation parameters are calculated in advance, a plurality of avatars are prevented from simultaneously performing the same operation, Allows multiple avatars to perform natural actions.

  The avatar control system according to claim 4 is a waiting mode for setting a waiting time until the other user's avatar starts operation for each other user having the same closeness to the one user. A number of other users having the same closeness to the one user than the number of operation parameter patterns stored in the operation parameter storage unit; Thus, when a plurality of operation parameters having the same pattern are extracted, the operation information creating unit creates operation information including the waiting time set by the waiting time setting unit.

  According to the avatar control system according to claim 4, communication via avatars is performed among a larger number of users than the pattern of motion parameters calculated in advance, and the same motion is performed for users having the same familiarity. The waiting time until the avatar starts to move when the parameter is extracted is set. In other words, when motion parameters of the same pattern are extracted, the waiting time until the motion is started is set for each avatar, and the motion information including the set waiting time is created to shift the motion timing of the avatar. ing. Therefore, a plurality of avatars do not perform the same operation at the same time, for example, a plurality of avatars do not perform an unnatural operation such as the same number of times at the same time, and the avatar operates naturally in communication between a plurality of users. Can be made.

  According to the present invention, communication using avatars is performed between a plurality of users, and even if there are a plurality of users having the same intimacy with respect to the speaking user, Different operating parameters are extracted. Therefore, even when there are many users with the same intimacy with respect to the speaker, the avatar can be controlled so that each user's avatar operates differently, and the avatar can perform a natural operation. .

  Moreover, based on the familiarity between the users who are performing communication, such as received text information and chat, among the operation parameters of a plurality of patterns calculated in advance based on the number of characters of text information and the familiarity between users Predetermined operating parameters are extracted. Therefore, even when a large number of users are communicating via avatars, for example, the operations of a large number of avatars can be performed quickly without imposing an excessive burden on a server that provides a communication service such as chat. The parameter can be calculated and the avatar can be operated naturally. In addition, since the avatar can perform a natural motion, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable with the motion of the avatar and to activate communication in the three-dimensional virtual space.

  Hereinafter, an avatar control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an entire system that performs communication in a three-dimensional virtual space including an avatar control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the system that performs communication in a three-dimensional virtual space includes a server 2 that provides a communication service such as chat and functions as an avatar control system that controls the operation of an avatar in the virtual space. ing. This server 2 is connected via a network 4 to clients 6a, 6b, 6c used by each of a plurality of users. A user who uses the client 6a is a user A, a user who uses the client 6b is a user B, and a user who uses the client 6c is a user C.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a server (avatar control system) according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the server (avatar control system) 2 includes a data control unit 10 that controls processing of data in the server 2. The data control unit 10 stores information related to the communication control unit 12 that controls communication with the clients 6a, 6b, and 6c and users, for example, user information that stores user IDs and passwords for identifying each user. A storage unit 14 is connected. The data control unit 10 also receives information from the avatar information storage unit 16 that stores information related to the avatar, such as an avatar image used by the user, and operation parameters for operating the avatar and the user received via the communication control unit 12. A data storage unit 18 for storing text information and the like is connected.

  The user information storage unit 14 stores user information of a user who uses a communication service (for example, chat) provided by the server 2, that is, a user who has registered in advance with the server 2. The user information includes, for example, a user ID for identifying the user, a password, a nickname (such as a user name used when chatting), and a closeness between the users, for example, closeness between the user A and the user B The coefficient shown (the coefficient arbitrarily set by the user) is included. Note that personal information such as the user's name and address may be included in the user information and stored.

  The avatar information storage unit 16 stores avatar information related to avatars used when using communication services provided by the server 2, for example, chat. That is, the avatar image, the avatar ID for identifying each avatar, the avatar position information indicating the position of the avatar when the chat is performed in the three-dimensional virtual space (the position of the avatar in the three-dimensional virtual space is indicated) Coordinates) and the like are stored in the avatar information storage unit 16 as avatar information. Here, as the coordinates indicating the position of the avatar, coordinates indicating the center of the avatar's head are used. In addition, you may make it use the coordinate which shows the gravity center (body center) of an avatar, and the coordinate which shows the step of an avatar as a coordinate which shows the position of an avatar.

  Further, the data storage unit 18 stores motion parameters, that is, parameters indicating the line of sight, facial expression and whispering of the avatar used for chatting in the three-dimensional virtual space, and motions of the avatar created based on the motion parameters. Is stored. The data storage unit 18 also includes text information such as information indicating a character string based on a chat message transmitted from the user A to the user B when the user A and the user B are chatting. The information indicating the character string based on the chat message transmitted from the user B to the user A is stored. Further, the data storage unit 18 stores history information related to communication services, for example, a conversation history between users using chat, that is, a conversation history between user A and user B when user A chats with user B, etc. Is memorized. Note that data indicating an image of a three-dimensional virtual space in which chat is performed, for example, a chat room, is also stored in the data storage unit 18.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the client 6a according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the client 6a includes a data control unit 20 that controls data processing in the client 6a. The data control unit 20 is connected to a communication control unit 22 for controlling communication with the server 2 and a keyboard 24 for inputting text information as a chat message. In addition, the data control unit 20 includes a data storage unit 26 that stores text information transmitted from the server 2, operation information for operating the avatar, and a display unit 28 that displays an avatar that operates based on the operation information. Is connected.

  The data storage unit 26 stores operation information for operating the avatar transmitted from the server 2, that is, information for operating the avatar displayed on the display unit 28. The data storage unit 26 stores a chat message (text information) input by the user via the keyboard 24, a chat message transmitted from the client used by the chat partner via the server 2, and the like. Note that the configurations of the clients 6b and 6c are the same as the configuration of the client 6a, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, an avatar control process by the avatar control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, a case where the operation of an avatar in a chat performed between a plurality of users who are registered in advance in the server 2 is controlled will be described as an example.

  First, a user who performs chat logs into the server 2. For example, the user ID and password of the user A are input via the keyboard 24 of the client 6 a, and the input user ID and password are transmitted to the server 2 via the communication control unit 22 and the network 4.

  In the server 2, the user ID and password of the user A transmitted from the client 6 a are received via the communication control unit 12, and the received user ID and password and the user A stored in the user information storage unit 14 are stored. The user ID and password are verified. If the verification does not match, a message notifying that the verification does not match, such as “the user ID or password is different”, is transmitted to the client 6a. On the other hand, if a match is found, a screen for selecting an avatar to be used for chatting, for example, data of an avatar selection screen showing thumbnail images of the avatars in a list format is transmitted via the communication control unit 12 and the network 4. To the client 6a. Alternatively, the avatar selection screen may be omitted and the avatar image used by the user at the previous login may be used.

  When the client 6a receives a message notifying that the collation does not match, the client 6a inputs the user ID and password again via the keyboard 24 and transmits them to the server 2. On the other hand, when the data of the avatar selection screen is received, the avatar selection screen is displayed on the display unit 28. Then, an avatar is selected by designating and clicking an avatar to be used in the chat using a pointing device such as a mouse.

  When the server 2 receives the avatar selection information indicating that the avatar is selected from the client 6a, the avatar ID of the selected avatar and the user ID are associated with each other and stored in the data storage unit 18. In addition, the image data of the selected avatar, the avatar ID of the selected avatar, and data indicating the chat room image are transmitted to the client 6a. That is, the data indicating the avatar image stored in the avatar information storage unit 16 and the chat room image stored in the data storage unit 18 are transmitted to the client 6 a via the communication control unit 12. In addition, when another avatar already exists in a chat room, the image and avatar ID of the other avatar which exists in a chat room are also transmitted.

  In the client 6 a, the data indicating the avatar image, the avatar ID, and the chat room transmitted from the server 2 are received via the communication control unit 22 and stored in the data storage unit 26. Next, based on the avatar image data stored in the data storage unit 26 and the data indicating the chat room image, a screen indicating that an avatar exists in the chat room is created and displayed on the display unit 28. Here, when other avatars exist in the chat room, for example, when the avatar B that is the avatar of the user B and the avatar C that is the avatar of the user C exist in the chat room, the image of the avatar B and the avatar The ID, the image of the avatar C, and the avatar ID are also received via the communication control unit 22 and stored in the data storage unit 26. And the screen which shows that the avatar B of the user B and the avatar C of the user C exist in the chat room with the avatar A of the user A is created and displayed on the display unit 28.

  Next, in the client 6a, a chat message for the user B and the user C is input via the keyboard 24, and text information (character string) of the input chat message is transmitted to the server 2 via the communication control unit 22 and the network 4. To do. In addition to the text information, avatar position information indicating the position of the avatar in the chat room, that is, coordinates indicating the position of the avatar A in the three-dimensional virtual space are transmitted to the server 2. The position information is transmitted at regular intervals even when there is no chat transmission, and the server 2 always knows the position of the avatar that exists in the virtual space. The text information and the avatar position information transmitted to the server 2 are stored in the data storage unit 26.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the server 2 receives text information transmitted from the client 6a via the network 4 via the communication control unit 12 (step S10). The received text information is stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID and the avatar ID.

  Next, the number of characters of the text information received in step S10 is counted (step S11). That is, the number of characters constituting the character string of the text information stored in the data storage unit 18 is counted, and the counted number of characters is stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the text information.

  Next, the avatar position information transmitted from the client 6a is received via the communication control unit 12 (step S12). That is, the coordinate of the three-dimensional virtual space which shows the position of the avatar in the chat room currently displayed on the display part 28 of the client 6a is received. The received avatar position information is stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID and the avatar ID.

  Next, a conversation partner is determined based on the avatar position information received in step S12 (step S13). In other words, the distance from the avatar that exists in a predetermined range from the avatar is calculated from the avatar of the user who uses the client that is the transmission source of the text information received in step S10. For example, the distance between the avatar B of the user B and the avatar C of the user C existing within a predetermined range centering on the avatar A of the user A is calculated. If the distance between the avatar A and the avatar B and the distance between the avatar A and the avatar C are within the predetermined ranges, the avatar A, the avatar B, and the avatar C exist within the chatting range. Then, avatar B and avatar C are determined as the avatar A's conversation partners.

  Next, operation parameters of the avatar of the speaking user and the avatar of the user participating in the chat are calculated (step S14). Here, for example, non-verbal expressions in a normal conversation faced by a person, that is, non-verbal expressions such as facial expressions, line of sight, and whispering are (1) relevance of non-verbal expressions between persons, (2) There is a relevance of non-linguistic expressions in people. That is, it is known that there is a certain relationship between the amount of gaze, facial expression, whispering, and utterance between persons when a conversation is performed between persons. Moreover, it is known that each element has a certain relevance in the non-verbal expression in a person. The line of sight is the time to stare at the other party, the facial expression is the intensity of smile, the whisper is the number of whispering, and the utterance is the number of words spoken (for example, the number of characters in the chat message).

  The relationship of the non-linguistic expression between the persons in (1) is that there is an equilibrium state based on the closeness between the interlocutors in the amount of expression of the non-linguistic expression. For example, when a user A and a user B have a face-to-face conversation, the user A's line of sight, facial expression (expression), whisper and speech, and the user B's line of sight, facial expression (expression), whisper and As shown in FIG. 5A, the relationship with the utterance has a positive correlation between the expressions connected by the line that when one increases, the other increases. That is, between the expressions marked with “◯” in the table of FIG. 5B, for example, when the user A's line of sight increases, the user B's speech volume and line of sight increase, and the user B's smile increases. There is a positive correlation such as an increase in the amount of utterance and smile of user A.

  (2) Relevance of non-linguistic expressions in a person is that the non-linguistic expressions in a person are in an equilibrium state based on intimacy between interlocutors, and always try to keep the sum of various expressions in equilibrium. Is. For example, in the user A's line of sight, facial expression, whispering, and speech, the sum of various non-verbal expressions is kept constant (equilibrium), such as if the line of sight increases, the whispering value decreases. It is.

Here, when the expression amount of the non-linguistic expression of the user A is x ^A and the expression amount of the non-linguistic expression of the user B is x ^B , the relationship between the persons of the non-linguistic expression based on the above (1) is obtained. based on the relationship of ^{x a} and ^{x B} can be shown by the following (equation 1).
x ^A = x ^B (Formula 1)
Further, when the expression amount of each element of the non-linguistic expression on which the user's intention has worked is ci, the value of Σci is always constant based on the relevance within the person of the non-linguistic expression based on the above (2). It becomes. Further, e is the expression amount of the non-language expression expressed by the avatar, and e is defined by the following (Equation 2). “A” is a coefficient indicating individual differences, and can be arbitrarily set by the user.
e = x · c · a (Equation 2)
At this time, the operation parameter indicating the expression amount of the facial expression of the avatar A is e ^A _f , the operation parameter indicating the expression amount of the line of sight is e ^A _e , the operation parameter indicating the expression amount of the whirling is e ^A _n , and the speech expressive amount operation parameter indicating the e ^a _s (say weight, counted number of characters in step S11), and the operation parameter indicating the expression of facial expression of the avatar B e ^{B _f,} the expression amount of the line of sight the operation parameters shown e ^{B _e,} the operating parameters e ^{B n} indicating the expression of _nod, expression amount of utterances operating parameters indicating the (speech volume) and e ^B _s. Also, the expression amount of the facial expression based on the intention of the avatar A is c ^A _f , the expression amount of the gaze based on the intention is c ^A _e , the expression amount of the whispering expression based on the intention is c ^A _n , and the utterance based on the intention The expression amount is c ^A _s , the expression amount of the facial expression based on the intention of the avatar B is c ^B _f , the expression amount of the gaze based on the intention is c ^B _e , and the expression amount of the whispering based on the intention is c ^B _n , _let c ^B _s be the amount of speech expressed based on intention. Furthermore, a coefficient indicating the individual difference regarding the expression amount of the facial expression of avatar A is a ^A _f , the coefficient indicating the individual difference regarding the expression amount of the line of sight is a ^A _e , and the coefficient indicating the individual difference regarding the expression amount of the whirling a ^A _n , a coefficient indicating an individual difference related to the amount of utterances expressed as a ^A _s , a coefficient indicating an individual difference related to the amount expressed of a facial expression of Avatar B a ^b _f , and an individual difference regarding the amount expressed as a line of sight It is assumed that a ^B _e is a coefficient to indicate, a ^B _n is a coefficient indicating an individual difference regarding the amount of expression of whispering, and a ^B _s is a coefficient indicating an individual difference regarding the amount of speech expression.

Here, the expression amounts of the non-linguistic expressions of Avatar A and Avatar B are equal from (Expression 1), and the expression amounts of the non-language expressions of each of Avatar A and Avatar B are based on (Expression 2). Can be calculated. Therefore, based on the relevance shown in (1) above, for example, the relationship shown in the following (Equation 3) is established between the line of sight of avatar A and the line of sight of avatar B.
_{^{e A e / (c A e}} · a A e) = e B e / (c B e · a B e) ··· ( Equation 3)
Further, based on the relationship shown in (2) above, each element of the non-language expression based on the intention of the avatar A, each element of the non-language expression based on the intention of the avatar B, the user A and the user B, The relationship shown in the following (Formula 4) is established with the intimacy (I).
_{^{c A f + c B f +}} c A e + c B e + c A n + c B n + c A s + c B s = I ··· ( Equation 4)
Based on (Equation 3) and (Equation 4), the relationship between the non-linguistic expressions having the positive correlation shown in FIG. 5B is expressed by the following equations (Equation 5) to (Equation 13). be able to. At this time, by calculating the value of the expression amount “e” of each element so that each value of E _{1 to} E ₁₂ is “0” in the following (Formula 5) to (Formula 13). The value of the operation parameter indicating the expression amount of the non-linguistic expression that satisfies the relevance (1) and (2) described above can be calculated.
_{^{E 1 = {e A e /}} (c A e · a A e) -e B e / (c B e · a B e)} 2 ··· ( Equation 5)
E ₂ = {e ^A _f / (c ^A _f · a ^A _f ) −e ^B _f / (c ^B _f · a ^B _f )} ² (Equation 6)
_{^{E 3 = {e A s /}} (c A s · a A s) -e B e / (c B e · a B e)} 2 ··· ( Equation 7)
_{^{E 4 = {e A e /}} (c A e · a A e) -e B s / (c B s · a B s)} 2 ··· ( Equation 8)
_{^{E 5 = {e A s /}} (c A s · a A s) -e B f / (c B f · a B f)} 2 ··· ( Equation 9)
_{^{E 6 = {e A f /}} (c A f · a A f) -e B s / (c B s · a B s)} 2 ··· ( Formula 10)
_{^{E 7 = {e A s /}} (c A s · a A s) -e B n / (c B n · a B n)} 2 ··· ( Equation 11)
_{^{E 8 = {e A n /}} (c A n · a A n) -e B s / (c B s · a B s)} 2 ··· ( Equation 12)
_{^{E 9 = {I- (c A}} f + c B f + c A e + c B e + c A n + c B n + c A s + c B s)} 2 ··· ( Formula 13)
The familiarity I is set in advance by the user and stored in the data storage unit 18. The calculated operation parameters are stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID and the avatar ID. Further, the expression amount of the non-linguistic expression of the avatar A and the expression amount of the non-linguistic expression of the avatar C are applied to the expression (1) to the expression (13), and the operation parameter between the avatar A and the avatar B is applied. The operation parameter between avatar A and avatar C is calculated by the same processing as that for calculating. Further, the calculated operation parameter is stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID and the avatar ID.

  Here, when the intimacy between the user A and the user B and the intimacy between the user A and the user C are the same, the operation parameter of the user B and the operation parameter of the user C are the same. End up. Therefore, when the intimacy of the user B and the user C with respect to the user A is the same, the initial value used when calculating the expression amount of the non-language expression in the above formula is changed to change the operation parameter. calculate. That is, the operation parameter of the avatar C is calculated using an initial value different from the initial value used when calculating the operation parameter of the avatar B, and the operation parameters of the avatar B and the avatar C are prevented from being the same.

  Note that as the operation parameter of the avatar A, an operation parameter arbitrarily selected from the operation parameters stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID of the user A and the avatar ID of the avatar A is used. That is, the data storage unit 18 stores an operation parameter calculated with the avatar B as an operation parameter of the avatar A and an operation parameter calculated with the avatar C. Accordingly, any one of the two operation parameters stored in the data storage unit 18 is arbitrarily selected and becomes the operation parameter of the avatar A.

  Next, based on the motion parameters calculated in step S14, motion information indicating the motions of the speaking user's avatar and the user's avatar participating in the chat is created (step S15). That is, based on the operation parameters stored in the data storage unit 18, for example, the time when the avatar A looks at the avatar B, the degree of smile and the number of times of a smile, the time when the avatar B looks at the avatar A, smile And the number of times of whispering, the time when the avatar C turns the line of sight toward the avatar A, the degree of smile and the number of times of whispering are created. The created operation information is stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID and the avatar ID.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of motion information of an avatar. FIG. 6 shows an example of operation information of avatar A and avatar B when user A uses avatar A and user B chats between user A and user B using avatar B. Here, the line of sight indicates the proportion of time for which the line of sight is directed to the other party, and the facial expression indicates the intensity of the smile that is shown to the other party. In addition, whispering is the number of whisperings to be returned to the partner, and the utterance amount is the number of utterance words, that is, the number of characters in the chat message. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, in “data 1”, the value of the line of sight of avatar A is “0.23”, the value of facial expression is “0.27”, the value of whispering is “0”, and the amount of speech is “ The value of the line of sight of Avatar B is “0.26”, the value of facial expression is “0.23”, the value of whispering is “0”, and the amount of speech is “5”. In “data4”, the value of the line of sight of Avatar A is “0.45”, the value of facial expression is “0.55”, the value of whispering is “1.5”, and the amount of speech is “30”. The value of the line of sight of Avatar B is “0.51”, the value of facial expression is “0.48”, the value of whispering is “1.5”, and the amount of speech is “30”. Therefore, the line-of-sight, smile, and whisker values increase as the amount of speech increases, and a positive correlation is established between the elements of the non-linguistic expression. In addition, in the non-linguistic expression of avatar A, the total value of each element increases as the amount of speech increases, and the amount of expression of the non-linguistic expression of avatar A maintains an equilibrium state. Similarly, in the non-linguistic expression of the avatar B, the expression amount of the non-linguistic expression is kept in an equilibrium state. In FIG. 6, the motion information of the avatar C is omitted, but the motion information of the avatar C is also correlated with each element of the non-language expression as in the case between the avatar A and the avatar B. And maintain an equilibrium state with Avatar A.

  Next, the operation information stored in the data storage unit 18 is transmitted to the client that is chatting (step S16). For example, when chatting is performed between the user A, the user B, and the user C, the operation information of the avatar A, the operation information of the avatar B, and the avatar C are respectively given to the client 6a, the client 6b, and the client 6c. The operation information of is sent. Here, the motion information is an avatar ID, for example, the motion information of avatar A is avatar ID of avatar A, the motion information of avatar B is avatar ID of avatar B, and the motion information of avatar C is avatar ID of avatar C. Sent with.

  Next, the text information memorize | stored in the data memory | storage part 18 is transmitted with respect to the client which the user of the avatar participating in chat uses (step S17). For example, when a chat is being performed among avatar A, avatar B, and avatar C, for each of client B of user B using avatar B and client 6c of user C using avatar C To send text information.

  In the client 6 a, the communication control unit 22 receives the avatar A operation information, the avatar B operation information, and the avatar C operation information transmitted from the server 2 via the network 4. Based on the motion information corresponding to the avatar ID of the avatar A, the line of sight, facial expression and whispering motion of the avatar A are changed and displayed on the display unit 28 based on the motion information corresponding to the avatar ID of the avatar A. Then, the line of sight, facial expression and whispering movement of avatar B and the line of sight, facial expression and whispering movement of avatar C are changed and displayed on display 28. Further, when displaying the avatar action, the text information which is the chat message of the user A stored in the data storage unit 26 is displayed on the display unit 28.

  Further, in the client 6b, as in the case of the client 6a, the operations of the avatar A, avatar B, and avatar C are changed and displayed, the text information transmitted from the server 2 is received, and the received text information is received. Based on the above, the chat message of the user A is displayed. Further, in the client 6c, as in the case of the client 6a and the client 6b, the operations of the avatar A, the avatar B, and the avatar C are changed and displayed, and the text information transmitted from the server 2 is received and received. The chat message of the user A is displayed based on the text information.

  According to the avatar control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of people are chatting and there are a plurality of users having the same intimacy with respect to a speaker, The motion parameters are calculated so that the motion parameters of the avatar do not overlap. That is, even when the initial value for calculating the operation parameter is changed and the same familiarity and the same number of characters are used, different operation parameters are calculated. Therefore, when a plurality of people are communicating, avatars of a plurality of users do not simultaneously perform the same operation, and the avatar can perform a natural operation.

  Next, an avatar control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, a plurality of users in a virtual space provided by the same system as the system (see FIG. 1) that performs communication such as chat in the three-dimensional virtual space according to the first embodiment. The case where the operation of the avatar is controlled in the chat performed in FIG. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used for the portions that exhibit the same functions as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a block configuration diagram of the server 2 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the server 2 includes a data control unit 10 that controls processing of data in the server 2. The data controller 10 is connected to an operation parameter database 30 that stores a plurality of patterns of operation parameters indicating the avatar's operation. The other parts have the same configuration as that of the server 2 according to the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the operation parameter database 30, when generating operation information indicating the operation parameters, that is, the degree of familiarity between users and the number of characters in the chat message (text information), the avatar's line of sight, facial expression, number of whispering, etc. The parameters used for are stored. The operation parameter database 30 stores operation parameters of a plurality of patterns, for example, three patterns of pattern a, pattern b, and pattern c for each number of characters and familiarity as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the operation parameter of pattern a, the operation parameter of pattern b, and the operation parameter of pattern c are stored as operation parameters when the familiarity is 1 and the number of characters is 1. In addition, as operation parameters when the familiarity is 2 and the number of characters is 2, an operation parameter of pattern a, an operation parameter of pattern b, and an operation parameter of pattern c are stored. Thus, when the familiarity is 1 and the number of characters is 1 to 40, the familiarity is 2 and the number of characters is 1 to 40. Similarly, the familiarity is 3, 4,. In each case where the number of characters is 1 to 40, the operation parameters of pattern a, pattern b, and pattern c are stored. That is, the operation parameter database 30 stores a total of 1200 operation parameters.

  Here, the operation parameter stored in the operation parameter database 30 is calculated by a process similar to the process in the first embodiment, that is, the process in step S14 shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the initial value for pattern a, the initial value for pattern b, and the initial value for pattern c are set as initial values used when calculating the operation parameter. The set initial value is the pattern b when calculating the operation parameter of each pattern, that is, with the same number of characters and the same familiarity, the initial value of the pattern a is the pattern b when calculating the operation parameter of the pattern a. Is used when calculating the operation parameter of the pattern b, and the initial value of the pattern c is used when calculating the operation parameter of the pattern c. By setting the initial values of multiple patterns in this way, even if the familiarity and the number of characters are the same, the operation parameters of the multiple patterns are calculated, and the calculated operation parameters of the multiple patterns are set to the familiarity and the number of characters. Correspondingly, it can be stored in the operation parameter database 30.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, the same client as the clients 6a, 6b and 6c used in the first embodiment is used as the client, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, an avatar control process in the avatar control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, as in the case of the first embodiment, a case where the operation of an avatar in a chat performed between a plurality of users registered in advance in the server 2 is controlled will be described as an example.

  First, a user who performs chat, for example, user A transmits a user ID and password to the server 2 to log in. The logged-in user A selects an avatar (avatar A) to be used in the three-dimensional virtual space, and transmits text information to other users (user B and user C) existing in the chat room. Start a chat in a three-dimensional virtual space. By starting the chat, an image indicating that the avatar B of the user B and the avatar C of the user C exist together with the avatar of the user A is displayed on the client 6a. Note that the above-described processing is the same processing as the processing according to the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the server 2 receives the text information transmitted from the client 6a via the network 4 via the communication control unit 12 (step S20), and determines the number of characters of the received text information. Count (step S21). The counted number of characters is stored in the data storage unit 18 in association with the user ID and the avatar ID together with the text information. Next, the avatar position information transmitted from the client 6a is received via the communication control unit 12 (step S22), and a conversation partner (partner for chatting) is determined based on the received avatar position information (step S23). ). The processes in steps S20 to S23 described above are the same as the processes in steps S10 to S13 in the flowchart of FIG.

  Next, the operation parameter of the avatar who is chatting is extracted (step S24). That is, the intimacy between the user who has spoken and other users who are participating in the chat other than the user who has spoken is confirmed by referring to the familiarity included in the user information stored in the user information storage unit 14 To do. Next, from the operation parameters stored in the operation parameter database 30, the operation parameters stored corresponding to the number of characters counted in step S21 and the familiarity confirmed are extracted.

  Here, when the user A speaks, the intimacy between the user A and the user B and the intimacy between the user A and the user C are the same. For example, when the motion parameter of pattern a is extracted, the motion parameter of pattern b (or pattern c) is extracted as the motion parameter of avatar C so that the motion parameter of the same pattern is not extracted. Note that the motion parameter of the avatar A is extracted from the motion parameters stored in the motion parameter database 30 based on the number of characters counted in step S21 and the closeness with the conversation partner determined in step S23. The

  Next, when there is an overlap in the extracted operation parameters (step S25), a waiting time for the operation time is set (step S26). That is, the operation parameter database 30 stores three patterns of operation parameters in the case of the same number of characters and the same familiarity. Therefore, for example, when chatting is performed in a group of 10 people and there are four users who have the same intimacy with the user of the avatar who speaks, the operation parameters of the same pattern are always extracted. . Therefore, when motion parameters of the same pattern are extracted with the same number of characters and the same familiarity, it is possible to prevent a plurality of avatars from performing the same motion simultaneously by shifting the time when the avatar starts motion. . Therefore, the waiting time until the avatar starts moving is set based on the number of overlapping movement parameters. For example, when chatting is performed by user A, user B, user C, user D, and user E, and the intimacy of user B to user E with respect to user A is the same, user B to user E The operating parameter of any avatar becomes the same. At this time, for example, when the operation parameters of the avatar B and the avatar C are the same, the avatar B waits for “0 seconds” and the avatar C waits for “2 seconds” until the avatar starts operating. Set the waiting time. Note that the waiting time until the avatar starts to operate is set within a maximum time range that is arbitrarily set in advance. If there is no overlap in the extracted operation parameters (step S25), the process proceeds to step S27 as it is.

  Next, based on the extracted motion parameters, motion information indicating the motion of each avatar of each user who is chatting in the three-dimensional virtual space is created (step S27). It transmits to the client which each user uses (step S28). In addition, when the waiting time until an avatar starts operation | movement is set, the waiting time set in step S26 is contained in operation | movement information.

  Next, the text information memorize | stored in the data storage part 18 is transmitted to the client of the user who is participating in chat with users other than a speaker (step S29). In addition, since the process of the above-mentioned step S27-step S29 is a process similar to the process in step S15-step S17 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  According to the avatar control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of patterns of motion parameters for the same number of characters and the same familiarity are calculated in advance and stored in the motion parameter database. Therefore, even when a plurality of users are chatting, it is possible to quickly create operation information of a plurality of avatars without causing an excessive burden on the server and to naturally operate the avatars.

  In addition, according to the avatar control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when there are more users set with the same familiarity than the patterns stored in the operation parameter database, the avatar is The waiting time to start operation is set. Therefore, even when duplication of motion parameters is unavoidable, by shifting the time at which the avatar starts to move, it is possible to appropriately eliminate the uncomfortable feeling of motion caused by a plurality of avatars executing the same motion simultaneously, You can make the avatar move naturally.

  In the avatar control system according to the above-described embodiment, the case of controlling the operation of the avatar at the time of chat is taken as an example, but the operation of the avatar in communication other than chat may be controlled.

It is a block block diagram of the avatar control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the server which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the client which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the control process of the avatar which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship of each element of the non-language expression which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation information which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the server which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation parameter database which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the control process of the avatar which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ... Server (avatar control system), 4 ... Network, 6a, 6b, 6c ... Client, 10 ... Data control unit, 12 ... Communication control unit, 14 ... User information storage , 16 ... Avatar information storage unit, 18 ... Data storage unit, 20 ... Data storage unit, 22 ... Communication control unit, 24 ... Keyboard, 26 ... Data storage unit, 28 ... display unit, 30 ... operation parameter database.

Claims (4)

Text information receiving means for receiving text information transmitted from one user;
A character number counting means for counting the number of characters of the text information received by the text information receiving means;
Intimacy storage means for storing intimacy between the one user and each of a plurality of other users;
An operation parameter for calculating an operation parameter of each avatar of the one user and the plurality of other users based on the number of characters counted by the character count unit and the familiarity stored in the familiarity storage unit A calculation means;
Motion information creating means for creating motion information of each avatar based on the motion parameters calculated by the motion parameter calculating means,
The operation parameter calculation means includes
When there are a plurality of other users having the same closeness of the other user with respect to the one user stored in the closeness storage means, different operating parameters are calculated for each of the other users. An avatar control system characterized by An operation parameter storage means for storing a plurality of patterns of operation parameters corresponding to the number of characters and closeness;
Text information receiving means for receiving text information transmitted from one user;
A character number counting means for counting the number of characters of the text information received by the text information receiving means;
Intimacy storage means for storing intimacy between the one user and each of a plurality of other users;
Based on the number of characters counted by the character count unit and the familiarity, each of the avatars of the one user and the plurality of other users is selected from the operation parameters stored in the operation parameter storage unit. An operation parameter extracting means for extracting an operation parameter;
An avatar control system comprising: motion information creation means for creating motion information of each avatar based on the motion parameters extracted by the motion parameter extraction means. The operation parameter extraction means includes
3. The avatar control system according to claim 2, wherein when there are a plurality of other users having the same intimacy with respect to the one user, different operation parameters are extracted for each of the other users. A waiting time setting means for setting a waiting time until the other user's avatar starts operation for each other user having the same intimacy with respect to the one user,
The number of other users having the same intimacy with respect to the one user is larger than the number of operation parameter patterns stored in the operation parameter storage means. When multiple parameters are extracted,
The operation information creating means includes
The avatar control system according to claim 2, wherein operation information including a waiting time set by the waiting time setting means is created.

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