JP3249738B2 - Information providing method and information providing system in three-dimensional virtual space - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for providing information using a three-dimensional object in a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via a network, and more particularly, for example, using this shared virtual space. The present invention relates to an information providing method and an information providing system in a three-dimensional virtual space that are effective when applied to providing business services such as mail order sales.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate through a network, for example, InterSpac
e (Sugawara, S., et al., "InterSpace: Networked Virt
ual World for Visual Communication ", IEICE Transa
ctions on Information and Systems, December 1994)
There is. In this system, an example of a service using a three-dimensional object is an alter ego object of a user in a virtual space (this is called an “avatar”).
When a user approaches a three-dimensional object that provides a service (hereinafter referred to as a “service anchor object”), there is a method in which a still image or a moving image having detailed information of a service provided by the object pops up.

[0003] Here, the service means detailed information of each three-dimensional object existing in the virtual space.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, when the avatar approaches the service anchor object by a certain distance, the service anchor object can always provide only information services such as fixed still images and moving images. . In other words, the interaction between the avatar and the service anchor object, which provides information such as still images and moving images when the avatar approaches, is always fixed, and the user dynamically exchanges information between them. The relationship could not be changed.

Therefore, the conventional technique has a problem that the user cannot freely edit and modify the contents of the service provided by the service anchor object and the method of providing the service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow a user who does not have programming knowledge to visually and intuitively interact with a plurality of objects. It is an object of the present invention to realize an environment in which a user can easily provide a service by making it possible to define a service.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a service definition space for defining contents of a service provided by a service anchor object arranged in a service providing space. In this service definition space, the conditions for providing the service by the service anchor object are set first, and the service definition of the event attached to the service anchor object is defined by dragging and dropping the iconized information object. Perform visually and intuitively.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an information providing system according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a service definition processing unit that defines a service provided by a service anchor object, 2 is a service providing processing unit that provides a service according to a provided service database created by the service definition processing unit 1, and 3 is a service definition processing unit. A display device used in the process, 5 is a service anchor object list including definition information of the service anchor object, 6 is a provided service library for storing information objects associated with the service anchor object, and 7 is a service provided by the service providing processing unit 2. Represents a provided service database in which information about the provided service is stored.

A service anchor object arrangement processing unit 11 of the service definition processing unit 1 displays a two-dimensional service providing space sketch 31 on the display device 3 and provides a service anchor object which is a three-dimensional object for providing a service in the shared virtual space. Is a processing means for inputting the arrangement position of the service anchor space map 31 on the screen and defining the arrangement position of the service anchor object. The service anchor object to be arranged is selected from those prepared as the service anchor object list 5 in advance. Alternatively, it is newly defined at the time of this arrangement processing.

Service definition space creation / display processing unit 12
Is a processing means for creating a service definition space 32 composed of a two-dimensional service providing space sketch 31 and a three-dimensional space obtained by adding the axis of the provided service information amount, and displaying it on the display device 3. Service definition space creation / display processing unit 12
Calls the event start condition setting processing unit 13 and the event definition processing unit 14 when the service anchor object is instructed to define an event for providing a service.

The event start condition setting processing unit 13 displays an event start screen 33 of the service anchor object specified in the service providing space sketch 31. In this event start screen 33, an event start condition relating to service provision by the service anchor object is displayed. This is a processing means for inputting a “.” And defining an event start condition. The event screen 34 is generated based on this definition.

[0012] The event definition processing unit 14 provides an event definition screen 35 for an event screen 34 associated with the service anchor object specified in the service definition space 32.
Is displayed, a list of information objects iconified by the designation on the event definition screen 35 is displayed, and the information object specified in the list is associated with the event of the service anchor object, thereby displaying the event associated with the service anchor object. Processing means for performing service definition.

The service providing processing unit 2 provides a service via a shared virtual space based on a provided service database 7 having information on a service defined by each of the above processing units. The processing by the service providing processing unit 2 may be the same as the conventional processing.

According to the present invention, the service definition space creation /
The service definition space 32 is displayed by the display processing unit 12, and the service definition of the event attached to the service anchor object is visually and intuitively performed in the service definition space 32. Even a user without knowledge can easily grasp.

Further, conditions for providing a service are defined on the event start screen 33 of the service anchor object providing the service, and a predetermined provided service library 6 is called on the event definition screen 35 of the service anchor object to call the icon. Since the specified information object is specified and the service anchor object is linked to the specified object to define the service,
Various services can be set for the service anchor object with a simple operation.

Therefore, the information provider prepares the entire service contents for each service anchor object.
As a result, the entire service definition can be easily realized as a result.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a service definition space for performing service definition according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example of a service providing space layout for arranging iconized service anchor objects. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an event start screen for defining conditions under which a service anchor object provides a service, and FIGS. 5 to 7 show a process of defining a service of an event screen of a service anchor object in a service definition space. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a service definition process.

As shown in FIG. 2, a service definition space 32 for defining a service includes a service service information amount (Kbit) 36 in a service providing space sketch 31 (XY plane).
And a three-dimensional space to which are added. In the service definition space 32, the service anchor object 37 has information of a service to be provided as a service information pipe 38, respectively. The service information pipe 38 is provided for visually recognizing the service information amount of each event screen provided by each service anchor object 37 when the service definition space 32 is overlooked.

When n service anchor objects 37 appear in the service providing space sketch 31, the n service information pipes 38 are visualized and displayed perpendicular to the XY plane. In order to make the service information pipe 38 easy to see, only the service information pipe 38 for the selected specific service anchor object 37 is selected.
May be displayed.

The arrangement of the service anchor objects 37 in the service providing space sketch 31 is selected from the service anchor object list 5 shown in FIG. 1 on the service providing space sketch 31 displayed in a two-dimensional plane as shown in FIG. 3, for example. It is determined by arranging the service anchor object 40 that has been iconized. If the service anchor object 37 is arranged in advance,
Service anchor object placement processing unit 11 shown in FIG.
Is unnecessary.

Here, the service definition space 32 shown in FIG.
Is called by, for example, double-clicking the service anchor object 37 arranged on the service providing space sketch 31 shown in FIG. The fixed area 39 of the service anchor object 37 shown in FIG. 2 is secured by arranging the service anchor object 40 iconized on the service providing space sketch 31 of FIG. 3 at coordinates (x ′, y ′). It is. In this case, the site area occupied by the service anchor object 37 on the service providing space sketch 31 is (x × y). This site area is determined by the shape and size of the service anchor object 37.

When a service anchor object 37 newly defines an event for providing a service in the service definition space 32 shown in FIG. 2, the service anchor object 37 is designated and an event start screen as shown in FIG. 33 is displayed. On this event start screen 33, an event start condition that triggers the service anchor object 37 to provide a service is defined.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the service anchor object 37 is defined to provide a service when the avatar 41 comes within a radius r around the service anchor object 37. As an event start condition, for example, an angle at which the avatar 41 approaches the service anchor object 37 can be defined. Thus, for example, different event start conditions can be defined for the service anchor object 37 when the avatar 41 approaches from the left direction and when the avatar 41 approaches from the right direction. Various conditions may be set, such as conditions based on past access history.

According to the definition of the event start condition, a mark of the event screen 42 is displayed on the service information pipe 38 in the service definition space 32, for example, as shown in FIG. When a second event is defined for the service anchor object 37 in the same manner as the event screen 42, the second event is displayed on the service information pipe 38 like an event screen 42 'on the right of the event screen 42.

Next, the process of defining a specific service will be described with reference to FIGS. Step S1: The event definition screen 35 is called by clicking on the event screen 42 appearing on the service information pipe 38 of the service anchor object 37. By clicking on the event screen 42, FIG.
Since the event definition screen 35 is displayed as shown in (a), the contents of the services provided mainly by the service anchor object 37 on this event definition screen 35 are defined as described below.

Step S2: First, the character input button 43
The character string such as the title of the event to be defined is specified as required by the
Enter on 5. The character string to be input is arbitrary. Here, the character string “mov object” is input.
Next, the link button 44 is arranged on the event definition screen 35 by drag and drop. FIG.
(B) shows a state in which the link button 44 is arranged on the event definition screen 35.

Step S3: By double-clicking the link button 44, as shown in FIG. 6A, a provided service library 6 storing service information that can be provided is called. As a display of the provided service library 6, a list of information objects prepared in advance as icons is displayed. In this example, “mov object”, “html object”, “wrl object”, “gif object”
Information objects of various media such as “au object” and “mpeg object” are displayed as icons.

Step S4: When associating the mov object 45, which is information represented by a moving image, with the service anchor object 37, as shown in FIG. 6B, the mov object 45 is displayed from the display of the provided service library 6. Is selected and dragged and dropped on the event screen 42.

Step S5: As shown in FIG.
A link 46 is automatically provided to the dragged and dropped mov object 45. This link 46
Means that a pointer to the mov object 45 is internally set in the event definition information of the service anchor object 37. In addition, by displaying the link 46 on the service definition space 32, the relationship between the service anchor object 37 and various information objects can be easily grasped visually. In particular, one information object is displayed on a plurality of event screens 42.
Or a plurality of information objects can be linked to one event screen 42. Therefore, the display of the link 46 in the service definition space 32 can be used to grasp the existing service definition and create a new service definition. Useful for facilitation.

Step S6: mov is displayed on the event screen 42
When the object 45 is linked, the amount of the added service information is represented by the color depth of the service information pipe 38, as shown in FIG. 7B. The magnitude of the information amount may be visually grasped by changing the color tone or the brightness.

By repeating the above steps S2 to S6, the service definition of the event screen 42 is easily realized. Further, the relationship between a plurality of objects attached to each event screen 42 can be grasped at a glance, and the flow of the entire contents of the service provided by each service anchor object 37 can be easily confirmed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing relating to the above service definition. When the start of the service definition is instructed, a service providing space sketch 31 as shown in FIG. In the next processing 102, the iconized service anchor object 40
The service anchor object 37 is arranged by drag-and-drop or the like. In the process 103, it is determined whether or not a service definition is to be performed for the service anchor object 37. If no service definition is to be performed, the process proceeds to a process 120.

If there is an instruction to perform a service definition, the process 104 executes the service definition space 3 as shown in FIG.
2 is displayed, and according to the designation, by the process 105,
An event start screen 33 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. An event start condition is input via the event start screen 33, and an event start condition of the service anchor object 37 is set.

In step 106, the event screen 42 is displayed on the service information pipe 38 as shown in FIG. In step 107, it is determined whether or not an event is to be defined for the event screen 42. If an event is to be defined, the process proceeds to step 108; otherwise, to step 120.

When an event is to be defined, the event definition screen 35 is displayed by the processing 108, and the setting processing of the event definition screen 35 is performed. In the process 109, various services are set on the event screen 42 on the event definition screen 35 by the steps described with reference to FIGS. When the service setting is completed, it is determined in step 110 whether or not the next service definition is to be performed. If the next service definition is to be performed, steps 108 and 109 are repeated.

If the service definition is not performed for the current service anchor object, it is determined in step 120 whether or not the next service anchor object 37 is to be arranged. The subsequent processing is repeated. If the service anchor object 37 is not to be arranged, the process ends.

The above processing flow is an example.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of users provide various services using a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via a network, they do not have programming knowledge. Even a user can visually and intuitively define the interaction between a plurality of objects, which has the effect of realizing an environment in which the user can easily provide a service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service definition space for performing service definition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service providing space sketch for arranging iconized service anchor objects.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an event start screen for defining a condition under which a service anchor object provides a service.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process of defining a service on an event screen of a service anchor object in a service definition space.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of defining a service on an event screen of a service anchor object in a service definition space.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of defining a service on an event screen of a service anchor object in a service definition space.

FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart of a service definition.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Service definition processing part 11 Service anchor object arrangement processing part 12 Service definition space creation / display processing part 13 Event start condition setting processing part 14 Event definition processing part 2 Service provision processing part 3 Display device 31 Service provision space sketch 32 Service definition space 33 Event start screen 34 Event screen 35 Event definition screen 5 Service anchor object list 6 Provided service library 7 Provided service database

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-119229 (JP, A) Nobuhiko Matsuura, Examination of Shared Virtual Space Service Implementation Method-Study of Dynamic Environment Description Method, IEICE Technical Report HC 94-86, February 3, 1995, p. 31-36 (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information providing method in a three-dimensional virtual space for providing a service using a three-dimensional object arranged in a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via a network, wherein the service is provided in the shared virtual space. 3 to provide
Of the service anchor object, which is a dimensional object
In the two-dimensional service provision space sketch showing the location,
Consists of a three-dimensional space with an axis of service information
Displaying the service definition space and the service anchor specified on the service definition space.
When defining a service for an object, the process of inputting and setting the event conditions related to service provision by the service anchor object, displaying a list of iconified information objects, and specifying the information object specified in the list Relating the event of the service anchor object to the event of the service anchor object, thereby defining the service of the event attached to the service anchor object. The condition of the event set for the service anchor object and the event of the service anchor object A method for providing information in a three-dimensional virtual space, wherein a service in the shared virtual space is realized based on an information object associated with the virtual object. 2. A method in which a plurality of users access via a network.
Add 3D objects placed in the shared virtual space
Information in a three-dimensional virtual space that provides services using
In the providing method, a service that is a three-dimensional object providing a service
Events related to service delivery by anchor objects
The process of inputting and setting the conditions of the list and the list of information objects iconized are displayed.
The information object specified in the
By associating the event with the
Service of the event attached to the service anchor object
The service anchor object.
The amount of information of the information object accompanying the event of
A pillar for the display of the service anchor object
Depending on the color or brightness of the displayed service information pipe
And displaying the service anchor object.
Event conditions and event of the service anchor object
Based on the information object associated with the
A method for providing information in a three-dimensional virtual space, characterized by realizing a service in the shared virtual space . 3. The process of associating an information object with an event of a service anchor object includes an operation of dragging and dropping an iconized information object onto an event screen for defining a service for the service anchor object. Done by
Information providing method in the three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein it is a process to link the event screen and the information objects of the service anchor object. 4. An information providing system for providing a service by using a three-dimensional object arranged in a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via a network, wherein a two-dimensional service providing space sketch is displayed. A service anchor object arrangement processing unit for inputting an arrangement position of a service anchor object, which is a three-dimensional object for providing a service in the shared virtual space, on the service providing space sketch and defining an arrangement position of the service anchor object; A service definition space creation / display processing unit for creating and displaying a service definition space composed of a three-dimensional space obtained by adding an axis of the amount of provided service information to a space sketch, and a service anchor object specified in the service providing space sketch. Display the event start screen An event start condition setting processing unit for inputting an event condition relating to service provision by the service anchor object on the event start screen, and defining an event start condition; The event definition screen is displayed, a list of information objects iconified by the designation on this screen is displayed, and the information object specified in the icon is associated with the event of the service anchor object, so that the information associated with the service anchor object is displayed. 3. An event definition processing unit for defining a service of an event, and a service providing processing unit for providing information via a shared virtual space based on information on a service defined by each processing unit. The information providing system in the original virtual space.