JPH09265480A - Method and system for providing information in three-dimensional virtual space - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain an environment enabling a user to easily provide service by enabling also a user having no programming knowledge to visually and intuitively define mutual transfer among plural objects in the case of providing various service by using shared virtual space in which plural users participate through a net work. SOLUTION: At the time of defining service, service definition space 32 constituted of three-dimensional space obtained by adding the axis of providing service information volume 36 to a service providing space sketch 31 is displayed and a service anchor object 37 arranged on the space 32 defines a condition for providing service on an event start picture. Then a providing service library is accessed on the event definition picture of the object 37 and an iconed object is dragged and dropped, so that the object is automatically linked.

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 by using a three-dimensional object in a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via a network, and in particular, for example, by utilizing this shared virtual space. The present invention relates to an information providing method and an information providing system in a three-dimensional virtual space which is effective when applied to provide business services such as mail order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via 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, as an example of a service using a three-dimensional object, a user's alter ego object in a virtual space (this is called an "avatar")
When a user approaches a three-dimensional object that provides a service (referred to as a "service anchor object"), there is a method of popping up a still image or a moving image having detailed information on the service provided by the object.

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

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, when the avatar approaches the service anchor object by a certain distance, the service anchor object can always provide only the information service such as a fixed still image or moving image. . That is, the mutual interaction between the avatar and the service anchor object, which provides information such as a still image and a moving image when the avatar approaches, is always fixed, and the user dynamically moves between them. Could not change the relationship.

Therefore, the above-mentioned conventional technique has a problem that the user cannot freely edit / correct the contents of the service provided by the service anchor object and the providing method thereof.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow a user who has no programming knowledge to visually and intuitively interact with each other between a plurality of objects. It is to realize an environment where users can easily provide services by making it possible to define.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a service definition space for defining the contents of the service provided by the service anchor object arranged in the service providing space. In this service definition space, a service anchor object first sets a condition for providing a service, and an iconized information object is dragged and dropped to define a service definition of an event associated with the service anchor object. Do it visually and intuitively.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration 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 provision processing unit that provides a service according to the provided service database created by the service definition processing unit 1, and 3 is a service definition. A display device used in this case, 5 is a service anchor object list including service anchor object definition information, 6 is a provided service library that stores a group of information objects associated with the service anchor object, and 7 is a service provided by the service providing processing unit 2. It represents a provided service database that stores information about

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

Service definition space creation / display processing unit 12
Is a processing means for creating a service definition space 32 constituted by a three-dimensional space obtained by adding an axis of the amount of service information to be provided to the two-dimensional service provision space sketch 31 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 the event start screen 33 of the service anchor object specified in the service provision space sketch 31, and on this event start screen 33, the event start condition for the service provision by the service anchor object. Is a processing means for inputting and defining the event start condition. The event screen 34 is generated by this definition.

The event definition processing section 14 has an event definition screen 35 for the 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 in the event definition screen 35 is displayed, and the information objects designated in the list are associated with the events of the service anchor object. It is a processing means for defining a service.

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

According to the present invention, a service definition space is created.
The service definition space 32 is displayed by the display processing unit 12, and the service definition of the event associated with the service anchor object is visually and intuitively performed in the service definition space 32, so that the entire flow of the provided service is programmed. Even a user who does not have knowledge can easily understand.

Further, a condition for providing a service is defined on the event start screen 33 of the service anchor object which provides 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 and the specified object are linked to define the service,
Various services can be set for the service anchor object with a simple operation.

Therefore, the information provider creates / creates the entire service content for each service anchor object.
As a result, the entire service definition can be easily realized while checking.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An 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 defining a service, which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example of a service provision space sketch for arranging an iconized service anchor object. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing an example of an event start screen for defining a condition for providing a service by the service anchor object, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are process steps of defining a service on the event screen of the service anchor object in the service definition space. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the service definition process.

As shown in FIG. 2, a service definition space 32 for defining a service is provided in a service provision space sketch 31 (XY plane), and a service information amount (Kbit) 36 is provided.
It is composed of a three-dimensional space to which the axis of is added. In the service definition space 32, the service anchor object 37 uniquely holds information on the service to be provided as a service information pipe 38. 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 provision space sketch 31, n service information pipes 38 are visualized and displayed vertically to the XY plane. In order to make the service information pipe 38 easy to see, only the service information pipe 38 for a particular selected service anchor object 37 is selected.
May be displayed.

The arrangement of the service anchor objects 37 in the service provision space sketch 31 is selected from the service anchor object list 5 shown in FIG. 1 on the service provision 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 is iconized. If the service anchor object 37 is placed in advance,
Service anchor object placement processing unit 11 shown in FIG.
The arrangement processing by 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 provision 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 iconized service anchor object 40 on the service provision space sketch 31 of FIG. 3 at coordinates (x ′, y ′). Is. In this case, the site area occupied by the service anchor object 37 on the service provision 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. 4 is displayed. 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 centered on the service anchor object 37. For example, the angle at which the avatar 41 approaches the service anchor object 37 can be defined as the event start condition. This makes it possible to define different event start conditions for the service anchor object 37 depending on whether the avatar 41 approaches from the left direction or the right direction, for example. Further, various conditions such as conditions based on past access history may be settable.

According to the definition of the event start condition, the 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 the second event is defined for the service anchor object 37 as in the event screen 42, it is displayed on the service information pipe 38 like an event screen 42 'on the right side of the event screen 42.

Next, the process of concretely defining a service will be described with reference to FIGS. Step S1: The event definition screen 35 is called by clicking the event screen 42 that appears 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 content of the service mainly provided by the service anchor object 37 on this event definition screen 35 is defined as described below.

Step S2: First, the character input button 43
Specify the character input by, and enter a character string such as the title of the event to be defined as necessary in the event definition screen 3
Enter on 5. The input character string is arbitrary. Here, the character string "mov object" is input.
Next, the link button 44 is arranged on the event definition screen 35 by dragging and dropping. 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, the provided service library 6 storing the service information that can be provided is called as shown in FIG. 6 (a). As a display of the provided service library 6, a list of previously prepared iconized information objects is displayed. In this example, "mov object""htmlobject""wrlobject""gifobject"
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, the mov object 45 is displayed from the display of the provided service library 6 as shown in FIG. 6B. Is selected and dragged and dropped on the event screen 42.

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

Step S6: mov is displayed on the event screen 42
When the object 45 is linked, as shown in FIG. 7B, the information amount of the added service information is represented by the color depth of the service information pipe 38. The amount of information may be visually comprehended by changing the color tone and 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 it becomes possible to easily confirm the flow of the entire content of the service provided by each service anchor object 37.

FIG. 8 shows a processing flowchart relating to the above service definition. When the start of the service definition is instructed, the process 101 first displays the service provision space sketch 31 as shown in FIG. In the next process 102, the iconized service anchor object 40
The service anchor object 37 is arranged by dragging and dropping or the like. In process 103, it is determined whether or not a service definition is to be performed for this service anchor object 37, and if service definition is not to be performed, the process proceeds to process 120.

When there is an instruction to define a service, the process 104 causes the service definition space 3 as shown in FIG.
2 is displayed, and according to the designation, the processing 105
The event start screen 33 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. The event start condition is input through the event start screen 33, and the event start condition of the service anchor object 37 is set.

By the process 106, the event screen 42 is displayed on the service information pipe 38 as shown in FIG. In process 107, it is determined whether or not to define an event for this event screen 42. If an event is to be defined, the process proceeds to process 108. If no event is defined here, the process proceeds to process 120.

When defining an event, the process 108 displays the event definition screen 35 and sets the event definition screen 35. In process 109, various services are set on the event definition screen 35 by the steps described with reference to FIGS. When the setting of the service is completed, it is determined in step 110 whether or not the next service is to be defined. When the next service is to be defined, 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 placed, and if it is placed, step 101 is performed. The subsequent processing is repeated. If the service anchor object 37 is not placed, this 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 by using a shared virtual space participating via a network, they have no programming knowledge. Even the user can visually and intuitively define the interaction between multiple objects, which has the effect of enabling an environment in which the user can easily provide services.

[Brief description of 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 showing an example of a service definition space for defining a service that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a service providing space floor plan for arranging iconized service anchor objects.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an event start screen for defining a condition for a service anchor object to provide a service.

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

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

FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart of service definition.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Service Definition Processing Unit 11 Service Anchor Object Placement Processing Unit 12 Service Definition Space Creation / Display Processing Unit 13 Event Start Condition Setting Processing Unit 14 Event Definition Processing Unit 2 Service Providing Processing Unit 3 Display Device 31 Service Providing Space Floor Plan 32 Service Defining Space 33 Event start screen 34 Event screen 35 Event definition screen 5 Service anchor object list 6 Service library 7 Service database

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A three-dimensional object providing a service in an information providing method in a three-dimensional virtual space, which provides a service using a three-dimensional object arranged in a shared virtual space in which a plurality of users participate via a network. The process of inputting and setting the conditions of the event related to the service provision by the service anchor object, which is
Displaying a list of iconified information objects, and associating the information objects specified therein with the events of the service anchor object, thereby defining the service of the event associated with the service anchor object, Information in a three-dimensional virtual space that realizes a service in the shared virtual space based on an event condition set for the service anchor object and an information object associated with the event of the service anchor object How to provide. 2. In the step of defining the service, a three-dimensional space is formed by adding a service information space axis to a two-dimensional service providing space sketch showing the arrangement of service anchor objects in the shared virtual space. The method for providing information in a three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1, wherein the service definition space is displayed, and the service definition is performed for the service anchor object specified in the service definition space. 3. The process of associating the information object with an event of a service anchor object is an operation of dragging and dropping an iconified information object on an event screen for defining a service for the service anchor object. Done by
The method for providing information in a three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1, which is a process of linking an event screen of the service anchor object and an information object. 4. The information amount of an information object associated with an event of the service anchor object is represented by a difference in color or lightness of a service information pipe displayed in a column with respect to the display of the service anchor object. The information providing method in the three-dimensional virtual space according to claim 1. 5. An information providing system 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,
A two-dimensional service provision space sketch is displayed, and the arrangement position of a service anchor object, which is a three-dimensional object that provides a service in the shared virtual space, is input on the service provision space sketch, and the arrangement position of the service anchor object is defined. A service anchor object placement processing unit, a service definition space creation / display processing unit that creates and displays a service definition space composed of a three-dimensional space in which the axis of the provided service information is added to the service provision space sketch Display the event start screen of the service anchor object specified in the service provision space sketch, enter the conditions of the event related to the service provision by the service anchor object in this event start screen, and set the event start condition that defines the event start condition. The processing unit and the event definition screen of the event associated with the service anchor object specified in the service definition space are displayed, the list of the information objects iconified by the specification on this screen is displayed, and the specified By associating an information object with an event of the service anchor object, an event definition processing unit that performs service definition of an event associated with the service anchor object, and a shared virtual space based on information about the service defined by each processing unit. An information providing system in a three-dimensional virtual space, comprising: a service providing processing unit that provides information through the service providing processing unit.