JP3737885B2 - Virtual space sharing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a virtual space sharing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The virtual space sharing system is a system that can share a virtual space between a server computer and a client computer on a network. In the virtual space sharing system, each client computer connects to a server computer that manages the virtual space and participates in the virtual space. Client computers participating in the virtual space can perform cooperative work in the virtual space between the participating client computers via the server computer.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional virtual space sharing system, the client computer transmits its own amount of exercise to the server computer, and the server computer distributes the amount of exercise to other client computers around the client computer in the virtual space. Furthermore, the client computer receives the momentum information of the other client computers around it from the server computer, updates the information around itself, and draws it.
[0004]
For this reason, since all the client computers participating in the virtual space perform the same operation, there is a problem that the load on the server computer becomes very large as the number of participating clients increases. For this reason, it is necessary to limit the number of client participants and the amount of exercise to be updated, and it becomes impossible to provide a use environment that satisfies the client.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to reduce a load on a server due to data transmission and distribution to clients, and a comfortable virtual space sharing system in which more clients can participate. Is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention is a system for sharing a virtual space on a network, and includes a server computer, and a plurality of client computers connected to the server computer via the network, The virtual space includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of avatars that move on the cell according to an instruction from the client computer, the cell has a unique multicast address, and each client computer The multicast address of the active cell that is the cell in which the avatar that moves in accordance with the instruction is acquired, and the multicast address of the active cell and the passive cell that is the surrounding cell are obtained from the server computer, and the active cell The multicast address of the cell By sending information that the avatar exists in the active cell to the other client computer that has acquired the multicast, and by hearing the multicast address of the passive cell, The virtual space sharing system is characterized in that information indicating that the avatar that moves according to an instruction from a client computer exists is received from another client computer by multicast.
When each avatar moves to another cell, each client computer may acquire the multicast address of the active cell to be moved and the multicast address of the passive cell from the server computer.
Each of the client computers further transmits information on the direction and amount of movement of the avatar moving by its own instruction to the other client computers that have acquired the multicast address of the active cell by multicast, and the passive cell By hearing the multicast address, information on the direction and movement amount of the other avatars existing in the passive cell may be received from the other client computers by multicast.
Each of the client computers may acquire information such as the coordinates of the passive cell from the server computer.
The server computer may be composed of a plurality of hierarchical server computers.
The server computer includes a plurality of slave computer servers that manage the cells, a plurality of master server computers that manage the slave server computers every predetermined number, and a main server computer that manages the plurality of master server computers. It may be.
The cell may be divided into a plurality of pieces, and may be managed by a predetermined number of server computers depending on the capacity of the server computer.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a virtual space sharing system 1 according to the present embodiment.
[0008]
In FIG. 1, a virtual space sharing system 1 includes a main server computer 3, a master server computer 5, a slave server computer 7, and a client computer 9 connected to a network.
[0009]
The main server computer 3 performs procedures for joining and leaving the client computer 9 to the virtual space sharing system. For example, it receives the password of the client computer 9 and checks whether it is a client that can participate and whether it has already participated in the service to prevent access from an unauthorized user. Furthermore, a navigation service is provided such as presenting a virtual space that can be participated in to the client computer 9 and providing a bridge when moving to another virtual space.
[0010]
The master server computer 5 manages a part of the virtual space. For example, in FIG. 1, the master server computer 5a manages the virtual space of “Australia” and the master server computer 5b manages the virtual space of “Japan”. The master server computer 5 performs procedures for joining and leaving the virtual space where the client computer 9 actually acts.
[0011]
Moreover, the slave server computer 7 connected to the master server computer 5 itself is managed, the load of each slave server computer 7 is distributed, and the decrease in the processing capability of the slave server computer 7 is suppressed.
[0012]
The slave server computer 7 subdivides and manages the virtual space managed by the master server computer 5. For example, among “Japan” managed by the master server computer 5b, the slave server computer 7a manages “Hokkaido” and the slave server computer 7b manages “Shikoku”.
The client computer 9 selects a virtual space to participate and participates.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a virtual space 21 managed by the slave server computer 7a. The virtual space 21 is divided into cells 23a, ..., 23p.
The slave server computer 7a manages the cell information of each cell and notifies the cell information to be shared to the client computers 9a, 9b,. Here, the cells to be shared are an active cell and a passive cell described later.
[0014]
The cell information is data representing the definition of the cell, and includes cell region definition information such as the vertex coordinates of the cell rectangular region, the cell multicast address, the number of clients in the cell, and client information.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, multicast addresses 33a,..., 33p are assigned to the cells 23a,. Multicast is a technique for transmitting the same information to an unspecified number of users. For example, when the client computer 9a transmits data to the multicast address 33a, the information is simultaneously transmitted to the other client computers hearing the multicast address 33a. Sent.
[0016]
The client information includes, for example, the number of clients participating in the cell, the client name and identification number, the avatar identification number, and the amount of movement of the avatar. The client computer 9 moves in the virtual space with anthropomorphic symbols called avatars.
[0017]
The client computers 9a, 9b,..., 9x move freely in the virtual space 21, obtain the virtual space around them and other client information, and display avatars and structures in 3D computer graphics (3DCG). draw. It also notifies other clients of information on the amount of exercise such as its own movement and rotation, receives information on the amount of exercise of other clients, and updates the information.
[0018]
Next, a case where the client computer 9a participates in the virtual space 21 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing procedures for joining and leaving the virtual space sharing system 1 by the client computer 9a.
[0019]
The client computer 9a requests the main server computer 3 to participate in the service (step 301). After the security check, the main server computer 3 authorizes participation (step 302), and notifies the virtual space list that can participate and the IP address of the master server computer 5 that manages the virtual space list (step 303).
[0020]
The client computer 9a selects the virtual space 21 to participate in, and requests participation from the master server computer 5b that manages it (step 304). The master server computer 5b performs a procedure for joining the client computer 9a to the virtual space 21 (step 305), confirms the initial position of the client computer 9a, and manages the IP of the slave server computer 7a that manages the cell 23 corresponding to the initial position. The address is notified (step 306).
[0021]
The slave server computer 7a updates the position and momentum of the client in the cell (step 307), and the client that has moved in the cell notifies the slave server computer 7a of the momentum (step 308).
[0022]
Next, the service exit of the virtual space sharing system 1 of the client computer 9a will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the client computer 9a requests exit from the virtual space 21 (step 309), and the master server computer 5b permits exit (step 310). Further, the client computer 9a requests exit from the service (step 311), and the main server computer 3 permits the exit (step 312).
[0023]
Next, transmission / reception of information in the virtual space sharing system 1 will be described.
Multicast addresses 33a to 33p are assigned to the cells 23a to 23p of the virtual space 21 shown in FIG. 2 by the master server computer 5b.
[0024]
Further, the master server computer 5b notifies the cell information to the slave server computers 7a and 7b connected to the master server computer 5b, and allocates a cell 23 to be managed to each slave server computer.
In FIG. 2, the cell 23 is rectangular, but the shape of the cell 23 is arbitrary, and the size of each cell may be different.
[0025]
In the virtual space sharing system 1, transmission and distribution of information between client computers is performed using the multicast address 33 as described above. That is, when the client computer 9a transmits, for example, data on its own exercise amount to the multicast address 33a, other client computers hearing the multicast address 33a simultaneously receive the exercise amount of the client computer 9a.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an active cell 45a and a passive cell 47a. The client computer 9a participates in the virtual space 21 as an avatar 43a. The cell in which the client computer 9a participates, that is, the cell in which the avatar 43a exists is the active cell 45a.
[0027]
Here, the fact that the client computer 9a participates in the virtual space 21 with the avatar 43a is held as cell information of the active cell 45a.
Further, the client computer 9a transmits its own exercise amount to the multicast address 33f assigned to the active cell 45a.
[0028]
The passive cell 47a is an active cell 45a and its surrounding cells. The client computer 9a obtains the cell information of the passive cell 47a, further hears the multicast address of the passive cell 47a, receives the momentum of the avatars of other participating clients, and updates the drawing. When data has been sent from a client other than the other clients that have been drawn up to now, the avatar is added to the drawing target by regarding the user as a new information sharing user.
[0029]
In addition, other clients whose information is not updated for a certain period of time may be regarded as having been excluded from the sharing target and excluded from the drawing target.
In this way, it is only necessary to update the information of the clients in the vicinity of itself, and it is possible to omit remote client information that cannot be displayed, thereby reducing the load for display.
[0030]
Next, the process of the virtual space sharing system 1 for the movement of the avatar accompanied by the movement of the cell will be described. FIG. 5 shows a virtual space 51 managed by the slave server computers 7a and 7b. As shown in FIG. 5, when the avatar 43b of the client computer 9b moves from the cell 23s to the cell 23r (arrow A), the slave server computer to be managed does not change. Accordingly, the client computer 9b inquires and updates the cell information to be shared with the slave server computer 7a.
[0031]
When the avatar 43b moves from the cell 23s to the cell 23t (arrow B), the slave server computer to be managed changes. In this case, the client computer 9b inquires and updates the cell information to be shared with the slave server computer 7a that manages the cell before the movement, that is, the cell 23s. Thereafter, when the avatar 43b moves from the cell 23t to another cell, the client computer 9b inquires and updates the cell information to be shared with the slave server computer 7b.
[0032]
Next, procedure processing when the client changes the virtual space will be described. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of processing when changing the virtual space in which the client computer 9a participates. The client computer 9a requests the master server 5b that manages the currently participating virtual space to leave the currently participating virtual space (step 601), and the master server 5b permits the leaving (step 602). ).
[0033]
Next, the client computer 9a inquires of the main server computer 3 about other virtual spaces that can participate (step 603), and the main server computer 3 notifies the virtual space list and the IP address of the master server computer that manages the virtual space list (step 603). 604).
[0034]
The client computer 9a selects a virtual space to participate in and makes a request to the managing master server computer 5c (step 605). The master server computer 5c confirms the initial position of the client computer 9a and notifies the IP address of the slave server computer 7c that manages the cell corresponding to the initial position (step 606). The client computer 9a receives the notification (step 607). Thereafter, the client computer 9a performs the same operation as when participating in the virtual space 21.
[0035]
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the client only needs to transmit information to the multicast address, and even if the number of clients increases, the load does not increase, and the drawing can be updated with high frequency. Also, since the server manages the virtual space in a hierarchical structure, even if the number of clients participating in one virtual space increases, it is easy to increase the number of slave server computers 7 and distribute the load.
[0036]
Note that the number of cells assigned to the slave server computer 7 by the master server computer 5 may not be equal, and the number of cells may be determined according to the processing capability of the slave server computer 7. For example, of the 16 cells, 12 cells can be assigned to the slave server computer 7a, and 6 cells can be assigned to the slave server computer 7b.
Moreover, although the passive cell 47a shown in FIG. 4 is nine cells, the number of passive cells is arbitrary.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a comfortable virtual space sharing system that can reduce the load on the server due to the transmission / distribution of client data and allow more clients to participate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a virtual space sharing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a virtual space 21. FIG. 3 is a process in which a client computer 9a joins and leaves the virtual space sharing system 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an active cell 45a and a passive cell 47a. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a virtual space 51 managed by the slave server computers 7a and 7b. FIG. 6 is a diagram when the client computer 9a changes the virtual space. Flowchart showing the process of [Description of sign]
1 ... Virtual space sharing system 3 ... Main server computer 5 ... Master server computer 7 ... Slave server computer 9 ... Client computer 21 ... Virtual space 23 ... Cell 33 ... Multicast address

Claims (7)

A system for sharing a virtual space on a network,
A server computer, and a plurality of client computers connected to the server computer via a network;
Comprising
The virtual space is
A plurality of cells and a plurality of avatars moving on the cells according to instructions of the client computer;
Have
The cell has a unique multicast address;
Each of the client computers is
The server computer obtains the multicast address of the active cell that is the cell in which the avatar that moves according to its own instruction exists, and the multicast address of the active cell and the passive cell that is the surrounding cell, from the server computer,
Information that the avatar exists in the active cell is transmitted to the other client computers that have acquired the multicast address of the active cell by multicast,
By hearing the multicast address of the passive cell, information that the avatar that moves according to the instruction of the other client computer exists in the passive cell is received from the other client computer by multicast. Virtual space sharing system.   Each of the client computers is
  When the avatar moving by its own instruction moves to another cell, the multicast address of the active cell that is the moving destination and the multicast address of the passive cell are acquired from the server computer. The virtual space sharing system according to claim 1.   Each of the client computers is
  To other client computers that have acquired the multicast address of the active cell, further information on the direction and amount of movement of the avatar that moves according to its own instructions is further transmitted by multicast,
  The information on the direction and the amount of movement of the other avatars existing in the passive cell is received by multicast from the other client computers by hearing the multicast address of the passive cell. The virtual space sharing system according to 1.   2. The virtual space sharing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the client computers acquires information such as the coordinates of the passive cell from the server computer.   2. The virtual space sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the server computer includes a plurality of hierarchized server computers. The server computer
A plurality of slave computer servers managing the cell;
6. The virtual space sharing system according to claim 5, comprising a plurality of master server computers that manage the slave server computers every predetermined number, and a main server computer that manages the plurality of master server computers.   6. The virtual space sharing system according to claim 5, wherein the cell is divided into a plurality of cells, and is managed by a predetermined number of different server computers according to the capability of the server computer.

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