JP3521191B2 - Realization system of virtual creation - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention makes a virtual creation created by using an information processing means such as a personal computer (personal computer) into an entity that can be actually touched by a hand. Related to the system
It

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the performance of personal computers has been remarkably improved, and a variety of software (software) has been developed in accordance with the improvement of processing capacity, and three-dimensional CAD
r Aided Design) software and CG (Com
A lot of computer graphics software etc. are on the market. Also, personal computers are rapidly spreading,
Many people purchase their own personal computers. And the above C
The number of people who purchase AD software and CG software personally and create virtual creations such as various shaped objects, animations, and human characters has become more and more enjoyable.

By the way, there is a case where it is desired to manufacture a virtual creation created by oneself as an actual entity as described above, display it in a room, or give it to an acquaintance. In addition, there are times when I want the general public to see my virtual creation, or I want to sell my creation to others.

[0004]

However, conventionally, there is no place where a virtual creation created by an individual by a personal computer or the like can be inexpensively formed into an actual object by an individual, and the virtual creation is considered as an actual object in a room. I could not decorate or send it to an acquaintance. In addition, there was no place to disclose or sell virtual creations created by individuals, and it was not possible to satisfy the desire to make one's work widely visible to unspecified people and to sell it.

Further, conventionally, in electronic creation data (two-dimensional drawing data and three-dimensional figure data) produced as a result of design work, this part is not a copy of another person's design, but the worker himself. There was no way to prove that was the part that worked on the design, and it was not possible to show the contribution of the worker to the design. On the contrary, the client of the design work did not have a method of evaluating how much of the creative data the worker actually designed by looking at the creative data as the design result.

The present invention has been made in view of the above demands, and an object thereof is to enable a virtual creation created by an individual to be easily formed into a physical entity. Further, the present invention aims to widely disseminate a virtual creation created by an individual.

A further object of the present invention is to make it possible to buy and sell virtual creations created by individuals. In addition, in trading, the purpose is also to respect the right of each individual as a creator who is involved in the creation of virtual creations with his own creative power. Further, the present invention has an object to provide a means for clarifying who created the partial portion of the electronic creation data.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a virtual creation materialization system according to the present invention comprises:
It is used to create graphic data for virtual creations, and
For each component data corresponding to each component of the crop
It is possible to separate and use, and for each data of each of the above-mentioned components
Creator ID that cannot be rewritten and unauthorized rewriting is impossible
There is a recordable owner ID that can be rewritten.
A trader processing means for transmitting in accordance with the form soft in the order information from the user is connected to the trader processing means via the communication network provided in the user side, the shaped source
And a user side information processing means for outputting the created graphic data of the virtual creation created by the modeling software to the trader side information processing means and the trader side information processing means. Was created by
The public work storage section for storing the graphic data
The created graphic data received by the information processing means
And the creator ID recorded in the data of each component
A right ratio note that memorizes the creator right ratio calculated based on
And the creations stored in the public work storage unit
Created graphic data or based on this created graphic data
When the user purchases a modeled article based on
Each creation is based on the creator's right ratio stored in the memory.
Sales price distribution that calculates the distribution amount of sales price to the author
And a part . In addition, it was created
As a modeling means for creating a modeled object based on the graphic data , for example, a modeling apparatus as described in JP-A-1-237123 can be used.

The information processing means on the business operator side is connected to a database for registering virtual creations created by the user based on the disclosure request information output by the information processing means on the user side,
In response to a request from an unspecified information processing means, the graphic data of the virtual creation registered in the database can be displayed in the information processing means as a view requested by the user side information processing means. Further, the business entity side information processing means forms the graphic data of the virtual creation corresponding to the virtual creation registered in the database based on the entity purchase request information output by the unspecified information processing means. It can be configured to deliver to the means. Furthermore, the information processing means on the business side is stored in a database.
Any user side information processing for registered virtual creations
Based on the graphic data purchase request information output by the processing means,
User-side information processing tool for graphic data of corresponding virtual creation
It can be sent to the stage.

The information processing means on the user side is newly added by the user.
Write in the data of each component of the created graphic data.
The creator ID and owner ID to be recorded are user side information.
Write based on the user ID stored in the processing means
be able to. Therefore, the user is
Rights as the creator of the created graphic data
Can be recorded, and at the same time, the owner can be recorded Well
In addition, the information processing means on the business side is
When sending the data to the purchaser,
The creator ID recorded in the component data remains unchanged.
User management data storage only for owner ID without changing
New purchases made based on the user ID stored in the department
It can be rewritten and sent with a different owner ID. Servant
Therefore, the business owner holds the rights of the creator for each element of the graphic data.
Can protect your identity and make sure you are the legitimate owner
It

According to the present inventionData structure of figure
Is data that represents a figure created electronicallyStructure ofAnd
Of the above figureFor each data that represents each componentCan be separated into
Formed inRewrite for each data that represents each of the above components
Unauthorized creator ID field and unauthorized rewriting
Field of owner ID that is legal and rewritable
It is characterized by having and.

[0012]

According to the present invention configured as described above, a user who is provided with specific modeling software from a business operator can freely create a virtual creation using the modeling software.
Then, when the user wants to materialize the virtual creation, such as when he or she can create a virtual creation that he / she likes, the user side information processing means is used to obtain the graphic data of the virtual creation on the business side. To the information processing means to request the materialization. When the business entity side information processing means receives the graphic data from the user side information processing means, the business entity side information processing means transfers the graphic data to the modeling means, and the modeling means manufactures an entity corresponding to the virtual creation based on the graphic data. . Therefore,
A user of modeling software can easily materialize a virtual creation created by him / herself, and can display it in a room or give it to a person as a gift.

The business entity side information processing means registers the virtual creation in the database according to the information desired to be disclosed from the user side information processing means, and the virtual creation graphic of the virtual creation is requested by an unspecified information processing means. By displaying the data as a requested view on an unspecified information processing means, that is, by displaying it on the communication network, the user wants to show the work created by the user to others,
It is possible to meet the desire to make it widely available. Here, the unspecified information processing means includes not only the user side information processing means that is provided with the specific modeling software but also a personal computer or the like that is owned by a person who is not provided with the specific modeling software. There is.

Then, when the business information processing means receives information from the unspecified information processing means that the entity (model) of the virtual creation is desired to be purchased, the graphic data corresponding to the virtual creation is received. Output to modeling means. This allows
The user who created the virtual creation can sell his / her virtual creation (work) to another person. Further, when the business entity side information processing means receives a request from an arbitrary user having a specific modeling software to purchase the graphic data of the virtual creation, the information processing means of the purchase applicant receives the graphic information. Send data. As a result, it is possible to distribute the graphic data created by an individual, and the person who created the virtual creation can show his / her work on the display by the information processing means such as another person's personal computer. Further, the user who purchased the graphic data can always see the work of another person he / she likes through his / her information processing means.

Further, when the graphic data is separated and made available for each constituent element of the virtual creation, the person who purchased the graphic data can modify the graphic data or make a part of the graphic data in his or her work. It can be taken in and the utility value and application value of graphic data can be increased. In this case, by entering the creator's identification code and the owner's identification code for each component, it is easy to know who the creation relates to and who the ownership belongs to. it can. Then, if the creator's identification code is not rewritable, it is possible to know the person who first created the component, and it is false that the person who used and applied the component created by another person is his own creation. It is possible to prevent fraud.

When the virtual creation is a combination of constituent elements created by a plurality of users, the business operator side information processing apparatus uses each of the constituent elements based on the creator's identification code entered in each constituent element. Even if the virtual creation is a collaboration of many users, the distribution of the selling price for each user is calculated based on this ratio, and the creation of that creation is calculated. You can easily find the distribution amount for a product.

Further, by designating the constituent symbols of the creator for each constituent element of the graphic data so that the proportion of constituent constituents (creation contribution rate) created by a specific person to all constituent elements can be calculated, designing, etc. When the creative work is requested from another person for a fee, the client can reasonably and justly evaluate the work content of the worker from the creative contribution rate.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of a virtual creation materialization system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a virtual creation materialization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a virtual creation materialization system 10 is a business operator 12 that makes a virtual creation a physical entity.
A user group 14 including a plurality of users who create a virtual creation, a cooperating company group 16 whose details will be described later, and one or more delivery companies 18 are communication networks 2 such as the Internet.
Connected to each other by 0.

That is, the business operator 12 has a server 22 which is a trader-side information processing means connected to the communication network 20. This business operator 12 provides each user of the user group 14 with a specific modeling software, which will be described later in detail for creating a three-dimensional virtual creation, for a fee or free of charge, and the virtual creation created by the user is provided to the user. At the request of, the physical substance is manufactured and delivered to the user. The server 22 of the business operator 12 is connected to a modeling device (modeling means) 24 that creates an entity from the graphic data of the virtual creation. Further, in the server 22, a user management database 26 for managing users, a modeling order management database 28 for managing production requests for physical objects, and a public work registered to publish a virtual creation whose details will be described later. Database 3
Connected to 0, the transaction data database 31 that records the contents of the transaction when the graphic data of the virtual creation or the sale of the physical object, and the transaction statement passbook database 32 that manages the transaction details with the user. is there.

On the other hand, the user group 14 is composed of a large number of general individual users and corporate users such as design offices and manufacturers, and each of the users A to N has a communication network 2.
It has a user information processing device (user side information processing means) 34 (34a to 34n) such as a personal computer connected to 0. In addition, when the business operator 12 cannot deal with an order for materialization (modeling) from a user, the cooperator group 16 takes on the materialization of the virtual creation for the part that cannot be dealt with. Each cooperating company has a cooperating company information processing device 36 (36a to 36n) including a personal computer connected to the communication network 20,
The graphic data sent from the server 22 can be received. Each of the cooperating companies is provided with a modeling device 38 (38a to 38n) that receives graphic data from the cooperating company information processing devices 36a to 36n.

The delivery company 18 has a delivery company information processing device 40 connected to the communication network 20. The delivery company information processing device 40 includes a personal computer and the like,
The server 22 of No. 2 or the cooperating company information processing device 36 (36a to 36n) of the cooperating company receives the delivery request. When the delivery company 18 receives the delivery request, the delivery company 18 goes to the business operator 12 or the cooperating company who has sent the delivery request to receive the entity, and requests the user or a predetermined delivery place to make it the entity. To ship to.

As described above, the business operator 12 provides the user with a specific modeling software to create a three-dimensional virtual creation, and the business is to materialize the virtual creation for a fee at the request of the user. As will be described later in detail, a virtual creation created by the user is disclosed via the communication network 20 at the request of the user, and an entity corresponding to the virtual creation at the request of the user. , Or mediate the trading of graphic data of virtual creations.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of a procedure for providing or distributing the modeling software for a fee. First, a person who wants to receive the provision of the modeling software (a person who wants to purchase the modeling software, for example, the user information processing device 34
The owner A) of a uses the user information processing device 34a to set the server 2 of the business operator 12 as shown in step 50.
2 accesses the home page of the business operator 12 displayed and reads the order form. And the purchaser is
Prescribed items on the order form, such as name, address, postal code, credit card I
D, telephone number, electronic mail (E-mail) address, method of receiving modeling software (whether it is received directly by communication such as FTP or by a computer-readable recording medium (media) such as CD-ROM (CD)), etc. Is input from the user information processing device 34a and the order button is clicked to send the order information (step 51). Also,
If the purchaser is a company, company name, company address,
You will be asked to enter the postal code, representative name, department in charge, person in charge, bank name, bank account number, telephone number, e-mail address, method of receiving modeling software, etc.

Upon receiving the ordering information from the purchaser, the server 22 of the business operator inquires the name and address of the purchaser (orderer) based on, for example, the credit card ID, and further inquires about the debt status and places an order. It is determined whether the person is eligible for purchase (step 52). If the orderer is not eligible for purchase, the server 22 determines, as shown in step 53,
For example, the fact that the modeling software cannot be purchased because the address of the credit card ID and the address entered in the order form are different is output to the user information processing device 34a, the program is terminated, and the home page is returned to.

If the orderer is eligible for purchase, the server 22 proceeds from step 52 to step 54 to send a message confirming the purchase intention to the user information processing device 34a of the orderer by communication. The contents of this purchase intention confirmation include confirmation of the name, address, postal code, credit card ID, telephone number, e-mail address, and method of receiving the modeling software of the orderer. If the orderer is a company, etc., the contents entered at the time of ordering are included.

Upon receipt of the above-mentioned purchase intention confirmation message, the orderer retransmits the ordering (purchasing) intention to the business operator 12 (step 55). This completes the order. Upon receiving the order confirmation message from the orderer, the server 22 issues a user ID dedicated to the orderer and registers the orderer as a regular user in the user ledger of the user management database 26 (step 5).
6). The items to be registered in this user ledger are, for example, a user ID, a user name, an address, a postal code, a credit card ID, a telephone number, an e-mail address, and the like. Further, the server 22 registers sales management data in the software sales management system. The sales management data includes the user ID,
The sales software ID, sales amount, sales date, deposit date, etc. can be entered. The credit card may be used for debit, or an existing bank account or a dedicated bank account of the user may be opened and debited from the bank account.

After that, the server 22 transmits the user ID to the user information processing device 34a of the orderer and distributes the modeling software (step 57). In the embodiment, this modeling software is composed of a basic program of modeling software that cannot be used as it is and an installation program. Then, the orderer receives the modeling software according to the method of receiving the modeling software designated at the time of ordering. For example, if the customer wants to receive by FTP, the server 22 of the business operator 12 sends an e-mail containing information linkable to the function of downloading the modeling software from the e-mail to the user information processing device 34a. Further, when desiring to receive the modeling software on a physical medium such as a CD, the business operator 12 ships the medium on which the modeling software is recorded by mail or the like, and also ships the medium via the server 22. The user information processing apparatus 3 sends an e-mail including a message to inform
4a. The public encryption key of the business operator 12 is incorporated in advance in the modeling software provided (distributed) by the business operator 12.

Next, the orderer (user) makes a step 58.
As shown in, the acquired modeling software is installed in the user's user information processing device 34a. At this time, the user determines an encryption key to be used in future transactions with the business operator 12. Then, the installation software uses the public key designated by the user when installing the modeling software, via the user information processing device 34a, to the business server 2
2, the encryption key creation program of the server 22 calculates the user's private key and sends it to the installation program of the user information processing device 34a, and the installation program incorporates the user's public key and private key into the modeling software. When the installation of the modeling software ends normally, the information indicating that the normal installation is completed is transmitted from the user information processing device 34a to the business owner server 22. The business owner server 22 registers the public key of the user in the user ledger of the server 22 when the installation completion is normally notified. As a result, the user ID, user name, address, postal code, credit card ID, telephone number, e-mail address, public encryption key, etc. are registered in the user ledger. As a result, the procedure for providing the modeling program for a fee ends.

The modeling program provided to the user is
The target area is virtual (virtual) modeling in general,
For example, building blocks, models, clay work, prints, sculptures, origami, etc. can be performed so that individual play, leisure, hobbies, or commemorative modeling can be created. The modeling software has, as standard part objects, basic shapes required for virtual modeling (modeling) such as circles, spheres, polygons, polyhedra, and cones.
An object (virtual object) on an image can be placed and placed at an arbitrary position such as rotation and movement. Further, the modeling software has functions of copying and transforming virtual objects, integrating virtual objects, and deleting virtual objects.

The format of the data handled by the modeling software is to prevent the graphic data (model data) from being traded and the virtual creation created by the creator from being illegally used, as will be described later. The data format is a binary format in which it is extremely difficult to modify or forge graphic data, and encryption processing is performed on it. This encryption process
In the case of the embodiment, a two-key method using a public key such as RSA and a secret key is adopted. That is, the modeling software (modeling program) is as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the modeling software 70 has a decryption program (decryption program) 72 of the program owner who is a specific user and a secret key (user secret key) 74 of the program owner. The decryption program 72 incorporates the program owner's private key, and can read only the graphic data (graphic data for oneself) 90 in which the binary graphic data is encrypted with the user public key for the program owner. I am trying. Since the graphic data 90 for oneself is the data of the binary format which is usually difficult to be modified and further encrypted, it cannot be intentionally modified. When the graphic data 90 for oneself is input, the decryption program 72 decrypts the graphic data 90 for oneself using the user secret key 74 which is a decryption key, and generates the graphic data 76 in the binary format.

The graphic data 76 is, for example, VRML (Vi
true Reality Modeling La
data having a data structure in which an identification symbol between the creator and the owner (creator ID, owner ID) is introduced into an existing graphic data structure (eg, nguage). This graphic data 76 is the central portion of the virtual object creating function of the modeling software (virtual object creating function central portion) 80.
The graphic data is transmitted and received between and. Then, the graphic data forming the virtual object (virtual creation) created by the virtual object creating function center 80 is sent to the graphic data 76.

The encryption program 84 binary-codes the graphic data 76 including the identification symbol between the creator and the owner using the public key 86 of the business operator 12 or the public key (user public key) 88 of the program owner himself. The format graphic data 76 is encrypted. Then, the encryption program 84
When outputting the graphic data addressed to the business, the graphic data 76 is encrypted with the public key 86 of the business, and the encrypted graphic data for business (graphic data for business) 92 is output. Further, when outputting the graphic data addressed to the program owner himself, the graphic data 76 is encrypted by the user public key 88, and the encrypted graphic data addressed to the program owner himself (graphic data for himself) 90 is outputted, and is stored in the external storage. Store it in the device.

The user secret key 74 for decryption used when the user inputs the graphic data 90 for himself / herself.
When the user installs the modeling software 70, is determined as a pair with the public key specified by the user and is incorporated into the modeling software 70. However, since the user secret key 74 is incorporated in the modeling software 70 of the user, there is usually no problem even if it is forgotten. Also,
Since the user public key 88 can input only the graphic data encrypted by the modeling software, the user can save his / her own graphic data by himself / herself.
This is an encryption key used when outputting the, and is specified by the user when the modeling software 70 is installed and is incorporated into the modeling software 70 of the user. Furthermore, the public key 86 of the business operator 12 accepts only the graphic data encrypted for the business operator, so when the user outputs the graphic data 76 to send his / her own graphic data 76 to the business operator. It is an encryption key to be used, and is incorporated in the modeling software 70 in advance.

Then, the modeling software 70 and the business operator 1
As described above, the second software inputs / outputs the encrypted graphic data in the binary format. Further, the software on the business operator 12 side reduces the business-use graphic data 92 received from the user to light graphic data (light-weight graphic data) for graphic display for viewing public works, as will be described later in detail. 94 can be transmitted. The lightweight graphic data 94 is in a binary format like other graphic data and is encrypted by the private key of the business operator. The user's modeling software 70 has a lightweight graphic data decryption program 96 for decrypting the lightweight graphic data 94.

Lightweight graphic data decoding program 96
Can read only the lightweight graphic data 94 encrypted by the private key of the business operator 12, and decrypts the lightweight graphic data 94 using the public key 86 of the business operator 12, (Decryption lightweight graphic data)
Create 97. The decoded lightweight graphic data 97 is sent to the viewing function unit 98 and displayed as an image on the display device. The viewing function unit 98 can freely rotate and move the figure displayed as an image, and can see the figure from an arbitrary viewpoint.

Further, the software on the side of the business operator 12 passes the graphic data received from the user to the modeling apparatus 24, so that the graphic data is converted into a data format (for example, STL) that the typical modeling apparatus 24 can accept. It has a function of outputting.

The modeling software 70 actually owns the graphic data for each constituent element of the three-dimensional virtual creation, the creator ID which is an identification mark of the person who created the constituent element, and the graphic data of the constituent element. The owner ID, which is an identification mark of the person who is doing the job, is written (recorded). Here, in the present invention, the component means (1) one set of data for expressing a basic three-dimensional shape or a polygon, or (2) conversion data overlaid to deform the basic three-dimensional shape or a polygon (for example, Affine transformation matrix, etc.). Then, in the case of the embodiment, the creator ID and the owner ID are user IDs registered in the business.

FIG. 4A shows one set of the basic solid shape defined in the above (1), and FIG. 4B shows one set of data expressing the polygon defined in the above (1). , VRML is shown as an example in a text format. Further, FIG. 5 shows one set of conversion data for transforming the basic three-dimensional shape or polygon defined in (2) above in a text format using VRML as an example. In these data, the creator ID is recorded in the slogan field of "creator", and the owner ID is recorded in the slogan field of "owner".

Although FIGS. 4 and 5 show examples of VRML, other than VRML, the field name and field value indicating the creator are included in the data structure indicating the shape.
If you include the field name and field value that indicate the owner, you can handle them in exactly the same way.

The creator ID and the owner ID recorded in the constituent elements defined in the above (1) and (2) (hereinafter, these may be simply referred to as primitives) are defined by the user. When a virtual creation is created by the modeling software provided by the business operator 12, the modeling software automatically records it. In this embodiment, the modeling software does not change the creator ID once recorded. However, the owner ID is, operators Sir
It can be changed at the bar 22 . That is,
For example, when the user C purchases the graphic data of the virtual creation created by the user B and downloads it to his / her information processing device 34c , the business entity server 22 indicates that the owner of the user B who is described in the graphic data indicates the user B. Rewrite the ID to the owner ID indicating the new owner (user C) and send it.
It In addition, the modeling software manages data for each primitive, and it is possible to divide and separate it.The new owner of the graphic data can separate any primitive and use it for virtual creations created by himself. can do. Of course, it is possible to add new graphic data (components) to the purchased graphic data as a new creation of oneself.

In the case of this embodiment, the person whose name is recorded as the creator in the data of the primitive has the creator right similar to the copyright, and has the right to sell the data of the primitive and the materialization (modeling). To obtain a predetermined consideration from the business operator 12 when another person uses the graphic data of the constituent element or when a virtual creation including the constituent element is modeled. Has become. The creator ID that has already been recorded is saved even when the primitive is separated or a new primitive is added to the graphic data of the virtual creation. That is, the creator's right is set only to the newly generated (created) primitive, and the creator's right is not generated depending on the arrangement, duplication, and integration of the primitives. When the user wants to materialize (model) a virtual creation created by himself, modeling is performed by the procedure shown in FIG. This modeling is done for a fee.

A person who wishes to materialize a virtual creation (modeling applicant) first accesses the home page displayed by the server 22 of the business operator 12, and clicks the modeling order button displayed on the home page. (Step 100). As a result, a screen for selecting an authorized user or a guest user is displayed on the information processing device such as a personal computer on the side of the modeling applicant. Here, the authorized user is a person who has purchased the modeling software and is registered in the user management database 26 of the business operator 12. The guest user is a person who is not registered in the user management database 26.

As will be described later, the business operator 12 registers the virtual creation created by the user who purchased the modeling software in the public work database 30 and publishes it on the communication network 20 at the request of the user. And public works database 3
0 means that ordinary people (unspecified people) other than the registered users can access it freely,
People other than registered users can freely create their favorite virtual creations. Of course, the authorized user can purchase the entity of the virtual creation created by another authorized user.

The modeling applicant selects either a regular user or a guest user according to the display on the screen (step 101). The server 22 of the business operator 12 displays an ordering screen on the information processing device of the modeling applicant according to the selected content. When the person who desires modeling is an authorized user (for example, the owner of the user information processing device 34b), an order for modeling is made using information transmission means such as e-mail or FTP. That is, when the authorized user models a virtual creation created by himself, his / her user ID, the size of the model (substance), the number of models, and the method of receiving the model (for example, delivery to home, home). While inputting information such as receipt at a nearby convenience store), the graphic data (shape data) of the virtual creation is transferred to the server 22 as a file. Of course, the authorized user can also request the modeling of his / her own work that has already been registered.

On the other hand, if the person who desires modeling is a guest user, his / her name, address, postal code, credit card ID, telephone number, e-mail address, work ID of the registered virtual creation, and modeled object. The size, the number of models, the method of receiving the model, etc. are transmitted to the server 22 (step 1).
01).

Upon receiving the modeling order, the server 22 issues a modeling work management ID for the order and determines whether the modeling requester (orderer) is a qualified person (step 102). . This determination of the eligibility of the modeling client is based on the credit card ID, together with the inquiry of the modeling client's name, address, and debt status. When the modeling client is an authorized user, the modeling client's By checking whether the ID is a legitimate user and whether the graphic data of the virtual creation requested to be modeled matches the ID (owner ID) of the data owner and the requester ID (user ID). Done. Further, when the modeling requester is a guest user, it is determined by determining whether or not the work ID of the modeling request is the correct work ID that is open to the public.

When the server 22 determines that the modeling client is not suitable for purchasing the modeled object, step 103
As shown in FIG. 7, the fact is output to the information processing device of the modeling client, the processing relating to the modeling transaction is completed, and the home page is displayed. On the other hand, when the server 22 determines that the person is a qualified person, the modeling cost is calculated, and the process proceeds from step 102 to step 104 to send a message confirming the intention of the order to the information processing device of the modeling client. To confirm the order will, along with the order confirmation column, the client's name, address, postal code, credit card ID, telephone number, e-mail address, size of the model, number of items, modeling price,
This is done by checking the data such as the method of receiving the modeled object and the modeling work management ID. Then, the modeling requester (orderer) retransmits the ordering intention to the server 22 (step 105). As a result, the modeling order is completed.

When the server 22 of the business operator 12 receives the restatement of order intention from the orderer, it registers the contents of the order in the modeling order management database 28 (step 10).
6). In the modeling order management database 28, when the modeling client is an authorized user, the modeling work management ID, the user ID, the method of receiving the modeled object, the schedule, and other work management data are recorded. When the modeling requester is a guest user, the modeling order management database 28 contains
A modeling work management ID, a user name (orderer's name), an address, a postal code, a credit card ID, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a method of receiving a modeled object, a schedule, and other work management data are registered.

After the registration in the modeling order management database 28 is completed, the server 22 stores the graphic data of the virtual creation received from the authorized user or the graphic data of the virtual creation corresponding to the public work ID in the modeling apparatus 24. Output to the image forming section 24 and give graphic data to the modeling apparatus 24 (step 1
07). Further, when the server 22 cannot support modeling only with the modeling device 24 of the business operator 12, the communication network 2
0 through 0, the cooperating company information processing means 36 of the cooperating company group 16
Is inquired whether or not modeling is possible by a predetermined date, and the graphic data is transferred to the cooperating company information processing device 36 of the cooperating company capable of modeling by that date. The cooperator information processing device 36 that has received the graphic data (for example,
The information processing device 36a) outputs the graphic data to the corresponding modeling device 38a. Further, the server 22 calculates the modeling cost according to the modeling order according to a program given in advance. Further, the server 22 calculates the profit return amount of sales according to the creator right of the graphic data (modeling data) of the virtual creation, as will be described in detail later. Further, the server 22 creates a purchase price (modeling price and data purchase price described later) and a monthly breakdown list associated with the creator right for each user, and calculates a settlement amount.

The server 22 finishes the production of the modeled object (substantial object) corresponding to the virtual creation by the modeling apparatus 24 or from the cooperating company information processing means 36 via the communication network 20. Upon receipt of the notification to the effect, the delivery request is transmitted to the delivery company information processing device 40 via the communication network (step 108). The delivery company 18 goes to the place (the business operator 12 or the cooperation business operator) designated by the delivery request to receive the modeled article, and delivers it to the location designated by the modeling requester. Then, the business operator 12 delivers the modeled product to the delivery company 18
When it is delivered to the customer, the orderer is notified via the server 22 that the modeled article has been shipped by communication means such as e-mail.
In addition, when the delivery company 18 receives a notification from the cooperating company that the delivery company 18 has received the modeled product, the server 22 also notifies the modeling client of the fact that the modeled product has been shipped.

When the server 22 receives notification of completion of delivery (delivery completion) of the modeled object from the delivery company 18 or the modeling client by e-mail or the like, it records it in the modeled order management database 28. Further, the server 22 organizes a monthly purchase price (modeling price, purchase price of graphic data, etc.) and a breakdown list of reduction money associated with the creator's right for each user to create a clearing statement, and a transaction statement passbook. The data is recorded in the data 32, and at the same time, the clearing amount is withdrawn or transferred to the user's account (step 109). This completes the processing for the modeling transaction.

If the user desires, the business operator 12 publishes on the communication network (net) 20 a virtual creation created by the user using the modeling software provided by the business operator 12. In the case of the embodiment, this virtual creation (work) is made available for a fee for the reason of avoiding unnecessarily long-term disclosure. However,
It is desirable to set the price low in order to promote the distribution of the work. Then, the work is released according to the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, a person who wishes to disclose a virtual creation (for example, a user B having the user information processing device 34b) uses the user information processing device 34b to set the business operator 12
Access the website of and apply for publication of the work (step 110). This disclosure applicant calls the disclosure application form by clicking the disclosure request button on the homepage of the business operator 12. When applying for publication, the user ID, the user's bank account number, the transfer price of the virtual creation graphic data to another person, the search keyword, etc. are input, and the virtual creation graphic data is sent to the server 22. Let Further, the search keywords are posted in advance on the homepage by the business operator 12 according to fields, or the user is notified of a search keyword list table or the like.

When there is an application for publication, the server 22 judges the eligibility of the work for which the application for publication has been made (step 11).
1). This determination of eligibility for disclosure is based on whether or not the data of the virtual creation (work) for which the application for disclosure has been made is appropriate.
It is performed by the processing shown in. That is, the server 22 first decrypts the graphic data sent from the user information processing device 34b using the private key of the business operator (step 201). Then, the format of the decrypted data is converted from binary format to text format (step 20).
2). Then, the graphic data in the text format is parsed to create a list of field names indicating primitives and creator IDs and owner IDs of the primitives (step 203). Further, the list created in step 203 is searched to count the number of primitives for each primitive name and each creator. Based on this counted list, the number of primitives is calculated for each creator as an index value representing the creator's right (step 204). Then, the total number of primitives (total of index values) for all creators involved in the creation of the work is calculated, and the total number of primitives for each creator (right index value) is divided. To calculate the creator right ratio (step 20)
5). In this case, in the calculation of the creator right index value, not only the number of primitives but also the kind of primitive may be weighted to calculate the index. That is, the right (index value) of a complicated primitive may be viewed heavier (larger index value) than a simple primitive.

Finally, the creator's right ratio of the disclosure applicant is examined, and it is determined whether or not the eligibility condition for recognizing the creator's creation is satisfied (step 206).
For example, if the creator's right of creation is 5% or less, or if the owner information (owner ID) is different from the applicant's user ID, the eligibility for disclosure is considered to be appropriate. It is determined not to do so, and that effect is transmitted to the disclosure applicant (step 112).

When the work requested to be published has the eligibility for publication, the server 22 displays the creator right ratio of each creator calculated in the previous step 205 in the right ratio table of the public work database 30. Register with ID (step 207). Then, the communication means is transmitted to the applicant that the work will be made public (step 113).

Further, the server 22 assigns a work public ID to the work and registers it in the public work table of the public work database 30 (step 114). To register in the public work table, the work public ID and creator ID along with the graphic data of the work decrypted with the private key of the business
(User ID), transfer price to another person, search keyword, etc. are included. However, the search keyword is 12
Supplement or change it to make it easier to search when necessary. When the business operator 12 changes the search keyword, the disclosure applicant may be notified by e-mail or the like.

After that, the server 22 publishes the applied work on the work open page of the homepage and displays it (step 115). In the case of the embodiment, the release of this work is
Not only regular users but also ordinary people can access and browse. In the exhibition of the work, the work public ID, the image display of the work, the registrant ID (owner I
D), the ID of the person who has the creator right (creator ID), etc. are disclosed. However, in the case of the embodiment, the creator IDs are disclosed to several top creators who have a large proportion of creator rights.

When a work is searched for by a genre and a keyword, an image image of the work is displayed. Further, when the search by the work public ID is performed, the registrant ID, genre, number of sales, list of creators with high rights of creator, etc. are displayed. , Displays a list of high-ranking creators. Further, in the search for popular works by genre, the work public ID, the number of sales, a list of creators with higher rights, etc. are displayed.

Here, for displaying an image, two methods are prepared, one for a general user and one for a regular user of modeling software. For general users, the viewer downloads image data (for example, JPEG format) of several views registered in the public work database 30 in advance when the work is publicly registered, and the viewer downloads the information data from the business server. It is a method to display. This is a method that is widely used today.

For the regular user, the method is devised so that the viewer can display a view from the arbitrary viewpoint desired by the viewer as detailed as possible. In order to send the graphic data of the work via the communication network in an extremely short time, the operator preliminarily reduces the weight at the time of public registration (for example, converts it into the XVL format) and registers it in the public work database 30. This is a method in which the viewer downloads the lightened work data to the information processing apparatus, and the player can enjoy the view from a desired viewpoint by playing it to the player of the lightened graphic data attached to the modeling software. Although this method reduces the weight, the same contrivance as described in the modeling software is performed in order to prevent fraud and abuse from downloading graphic data.

That is, in FIG. 3, the business operator 12
The business side lightens and converts the graphic data, converts it into a binary format, and provides the lightweight graphic data 94 encrypted by the private key of the business to the viewer, and the viewer incorporates it into the modeling software 70. The decrypted lightweight graphic data 97 is restored using the saved lightweight graphic data decryption program 96 and the public key 86 of the business operator. An authorized viewer who owns the modeling software 70 can read the decrypted lightweight graphic data 97 into the viewing function 98 in the modeling software 70 to view the published work from a free viewpoint.

When the server 22 publishes the work, the server 22 calculates the exhibition fee of the work according to a program given in advance and collects it from the applicant for publication (step 116). The exhibition fee is preset as a monthly fee for one work. Further, in the embodiment, the works are exhibited (exhibited) on a monthly basis for each work. Then, the server 22 outputs a confirmation message to the user information processing device 34b of the publication applicant, whether the publication is continued or stopped after a certain period of time, for example, three months, from the publication. The server 22 is the user information processing device 34b.
If there is a response from the user that the publication will continue (Step 11
7) Then, returning to step 115, the publication is extended for another 3 months, for example. In addition, when the server 22 receives a notification from the user information processing device 34b that the publication has been stopped, or when there is no reply by the reply deadline, the server 22 stops the publication of the work and ends the process. The exhibition will be stopped even when the exhibition fee cannot be collected. In addition, the applicant for publication is
Whether or not there is a message from the server 22, it is possible to make an offer to stop the publication at any time, and the server 22 that has received the offer to stop the publication stops the publication of the corresponding work (step 118).

By the way, in this embodiment, the server 22
I explained the case where the message output whether or not to continue the publication of the work, but when the server 22 does not output the above message and there is no request from the applicant to stop the publication, it will be automatically published. May be continued (extended), and the publication may be stopped when the publication applicant requests the publication suspension.

As for the work released as described above, not only the authorized user who purchased the modeling software but also the non-authorized user (guest user) should purchase the molded product of the published work (order for modeling). You can The purchase procedure of this shaped article is performed by the method shown in FIG. Also,
Regular users are not only modeled on the published work,
You can also purchase the shape data (modeling data) of the work. Then, the business operator 12 mediates the trading of the graphic data via the server 22 and receives a fixed ratio of commission to the trading price. The procedure for buying and selling this data is
The process is performed in substantially the same manner as in the case of purchasing the shaped object described above. However, when there is a purchase request for the shape data, the server 22 determines whether the purchase candidate is a regular user based on the user ID input by the purchase candidate when placing an order, and determines whether the purchaser is a non-regular user. It does not accept purchase applications. Further, the authorized user who desires to purchase the graphic data specifies whether to receive the graphic data via the communication network 20 or by a physical medium. FIG. 9 illustrates a data transmission mechanism in mediation of trading of graphic data.

In FIG. 9, the encryption / decryption function unit 120a built in the modeling software owned by the user A is
It has the private key 74a of the user A, the public key 86 of the business operator 12 (business operator M), and the public key 88a of the user A. Further, the encryption / decryption function unit 120a holds the graphic data of the virtual creation created by the user A as the internal data 76a. In the internal data 76a, when the user A creates a virtual creation, the creator ID and the owner ID are attached to all the primitives forming the virtual creation. Then, the public key 86 of the business operator 12 encrypts the internal data 76a when outputting the internal data 76a to the outside, and outputs the encrypted data as business operator graphic data 92a.

Further, the public key 88a of the user A is the graphic data 90a for himself which is encrypted for the user A (self) when the user A stores the internal data 76a in an external storage device or the like. Output. The personal graphic data 90a is stored in the internal data 76 by the secret key 74a of the user A when the graphic data 90a is loaded into the modeling software.
decrypted to a. The data sent from the business operator 12 to the user A is also data encrypted for the user A and is decrypted by the secret key 74a of the user A.

The user A's encryption / decryption function unit 120a sends the business-use graphic data 92a via the communication network 20 such as the Internet when the user A requests the disclosure or modeling of the virtual creation. It is sent to the server 22 of the business operator 12. The server 22 of the business operator 12 has the private key 134 of the business operator, and decrypts the encrypted graphic data for business operator 92a sent from the user A by the decryption program 133 and decrypts the user A. The original internal data 136 (which is equivalent to the internal data 76a) is retained. The original internal data 1 of this decrypted user A
No. 36 does not rewrite the creator ID of each primitive. Then, for example, when the user C purchases the graphic data of the user A and the business operator 12 sends the data of the user A to the user C, the server 22 rewrites all the owner IDs of the internal data 136 with the IDs of C. Internal data 136
c is created, and this is encrypted for the user C and output.
When creating the internal data 136c for C, the creator IDs of all the primitives are not rewritten at all, and are maintained in the state they had when they were owned by the user A.

That is, the business operator 12 has a user public key management table 140 in the user management database 26, and uses the public key 88c of the user C managed in the public key management table 140 for encryption. The program 144 outputs the internal data 136c in which the owner ID is rewritten to the ID of the user C as the data 142 (data 90c for itself) encrypted for the user C.

Data 142 encrypted for user C
Is sent to the user information processing device 34c via the communication network 20. The modeling software installed in the user information processing device 34c includes the encryption / decryption function unit 120c configured similarly to the case of the user A, and the user included in the encryption / decryption function unit 120c. C
The private key 74c of the above decrypts the data 142 encrypted for the user C into the internal data 76c.

As described above, when a work of a virtual creation is sold as a model, or when the work is sold in the state of data, the person who has the creator right in the work owns it. Receive distribution according to the minutes. For example, a certain user (for example, user A) may find that the work of user A is not only the work created by user A, but also the work of user B published and sold by other user B. If it is quoted (copied and reused) in (1), the portion quoted will be used to return the corresponding sales profit. That is, when the work is sold (as a model or by data), the distribution amount of the user A who has the creator right for the work is

[Equation 1] Becomes

When the sale is completed, the server 2 of the business operator 12
2 registers the contents of the transaction in the work sale database 31. A trade transaction table is provided in the work trade database 31. In the trade transaction table, the trade transaction ID, trade date and time, purchaser ID, public work ID,
Trade prices are registered.

Then, the server 22 reads out data from two tables, that is, the trade transaction table of the work transaction database 31 and the creator right ratio table of the public work database 30 on a fixed day every month, and again for each month. The distribution is calculated and aggregated for each right holder, and transferred to the account of each right holder.

The data of the creator right ratio table of the published work database 30 is registered when the publication of the work is decided as described above. Further, the calculation of the distribution amount of each creator having the creator right is performed by the sales price distribution unit (not shown) of the server 22 on the basis of the above mathematical expression 1.

FIG. 10 shows the creator of the work of the user C, which is made by the user C purchasing the data of the work by the users A, B, and D, and modifying and adding the data. It shows the status of the right. In this case, the user A has the creator right for the primitives A _{1 to} A _i , and the user B has the creator right for the primitives B _{1 to} B _j . Similarly, user C has creator rights for primitives C ₁ -C _k and user D has creator rights for primitives D ₁ -D _m . And the ratio (%) of the creator right of user C who made this work is

[Equation 2] Becomes However, in Equation 2, i, j, k, and m are
Each of the primitives created by users A, B, C, and D
Indicates the number.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the creator ID is added to each component of the graphic data created by the specific modeling software has been described, but for general CAD data, for example. Alternatively, an identification mark indicating the creator may be recorded for each component. By doing so, it is possible to easily, rationally and objectively evaluate the work content of the designer engaged in the design work, the contribution ratio of the creation to the whole, the contribution degree, and the like. Further, an identification mark indicating the owner may be recorded for each component in CAD data or the like. As a result, it is possible to easily know who owns the data. A floppy (registered trademark) is a computer-readable recording medium in which graphic data is recorded.
Disc, CD, MO disc (Magnet Opt)
It may be a digital memory), a semiconductor memory, or the like.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user who has been provided with specific modeling software by a business operator can freely use the modeling software to generate graphic data of virtual creations. The user of the modeling software creates a physical object corresponding to the virtual creation based on the graphic data by sending it to the information processing means on the person's side and requesting the materialization. The created virtual creation can be easily made into a physical object, which can be displayed in a room or given to a person as a gift.

Further, since the information processing means on the business side discloses the virtual creation on the communication network according to the information desired to be disclosed by the information processing means on the user side,
Users can meet the desire to show their work to others and to make it widely available. Then, when the information processing means on the business side receives the information for purchasing the substance (model) of the virtual creation, it outputs the graphic data corresponding to the virtual creation to the modeling means. Therefore, the user who created the virtual creation can sell his / her virtual creation (work) to another person. Further, when the business information processing means receives the information for purchasing the graphic data of the virtual creation and sends the graphic information to the information processing means of the purchase applicant, the distribution of the graphic data created by the individual The person who created the virtual creation can show his / her work on the display of the information processing means such as another person's personal computer. Further, the user who purchased the graphic data can always see the work of another person he / she likes through his / her information processing means.

Further, if the graphic data is separated and made available for each constituent element of the virtual creation, the person who purchased the graphic data can modify the graphic data or make a part of the graphic data in his or her own work. It can be taken in and the utility value and application value of graphic data can be increased. In this case, by entering the creator's identification code and the owner's identification code for each component, it is easy to know who the creation relates to and who the ownership belongs to. it can. Then, if the creator's identification code is not rewritable, it is possible to know the person who first created the component, and it is false that the person who used and applied the component created by another person is his own creation. It is possible to prevent fraud.

When the virtual creation is a combination of constituent elements created by a plurality of users, the information processing apparatus on the side of the business entity uses each of the users based on the identification code of the creator entered in each constituent element. Even if the virtual creation is a collaboration of many users, the distribution of the selling price for each user is calculated based on this ratio, and the creation of that creation is calculated. You can easily find the distribution amount for a product.

Further, the identification symbol of the creator is given to each constituent element of the graphic data, and the ratio of the constituent element created by the specific person to all the constituent elements (creation contribution rate) can be calculated, thereby designing etc. When the creative work is requested from another person for a fee, the client can reasonably and justly evaluate the work content of the worker from the creative contribution rate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a virtual creation materialization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing modeling software according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of functions of modeling software according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure created by the modeling software according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4A is a set of data expressed in a text format using VRML representing a basic solid shape as an example. , (B) is VRML representing a polygon
Is one set of data expressed in a text format.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure created by the modeling software according to the embodiment, and an example of conversion data for transforming a basic solid shape or a polygon in a text format using VRML as an example. It is shown.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of materializing a virtual creation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of disclosing a virtual creation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for determining the eligibility of disclosure and calculating the creator right ratio of a published work when publicly registering a virtual creation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data transmission mechanism in trading of graphic data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a right relationship for a virtual creation according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ………… Virtual creation materialization system, 12 …….
Business operator, 14 ... User group, 16 ... Cooperator group,
18 ... Delivery company, 20 ... Communication network, 22 ... Information processing means (server) on the vendor side, 24, 38a to 38n ...
...... Modeling means (modeling apparatus), 34a to 34n ..... User side information processing means (user information processing apparatus), 36a to 3n
6n ......... Cooperator information processing device, 40 ... Delivery company information processing device.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-11-353462 (JP, A) JP-A-9-212682 (JP, A) JP-A-10-334272 (JP, A) "JMC, Internet, Stereolithography Use ”, Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun, May 17, 1996, p. 7 “Denken Engineering, Embarking on Modeling Service of Stereoscopic Model with Stereolithography Equipment”, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, April 9, 1996, p. 11 Nikkei CG, Nikkei BP, June 8, 1998, No. 141, p. 196-201 Nikkei Digital Engineering, Nikkei BP, February 15, 2000, Issue 27, p. 102, 103 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/60 142 G06F 17/60 330 G06F 17/60 502 G06F 17/50 601 G06F 17/50 614 JISST file (JOIS)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for creating graphic data of a virtual creation, which can be separated and used for each data of constituent elements corresponding to each constituent element of the virtual creation, and for each data of each constituent element. And a manufacturer-side information processing means for transmitting the modeling software in which the creator ID that cannot be rewritten and the owner ID that cannot be rewritten illegally and that is legally rewritable are transmitted according to the order information from the user. , Which is provided on the user side and is connected to the information processing means on the trader side via a communication network, has a storage section for storing the modeling software, and created graphic data of a virtual creation created by the modeling software. To the trader side information processing means, a public work storage section for storing the created graphic data received by the trader side information processing means, and the trader side information With respect to the created graphic data received by the information processing means, a rights ratio storage unit that stores a creator right ratio obtained based on the creator ID recorded in the data of each component, and the public work storage unit. When the user purchases the created graphic data stored in or the shaped object based on the created graphic data, each creation based on the creator right ratio stored in the right ratio storage unit. A distribution system for a virtual creation, comprising: a sales price distribution unit that calculates a distribution price of a sales price to a person. 2. The user-side information processing means, to which the modeling software is installed, can read only the graphic data encrypted for the user and each configuration of the graphic data newly created by the user. 2. The virtual creation materialization system according to claim 1, wherein the creator ID and the owner ID recorded in the element data are written based on the user ID stored in the user-side information processing means. . 3. The vendor-side information processing means, when transmitting the created graphic data to a purchaser, stores the owner ID recorded in the data of each component of the created graphic data. , When the user ID stored in the user management data storage unit is rewritten to the ID of a new owner who has purchased and transmitted and the graphic data is sent to the purchaser, only the purchaser can decrypt and decode. 3. The virtual creation materialization system according to claim 1, wherein the encrypted graphic data is transmitted as described above.