WO2002084571A1 - Method and system for generating virtual object with reference to an identification symbol which is physically readable and printed on an real object - Google Patents

Method and system for generating virtual object with reference to an identification symbol which is physically readable and printed on an real object Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002084571A1
WO2002084571A1 PCT/KR2002/000675 KR0200675W WO02084571A1 WO 2002084571 A1 WO2002084571 A1 WO 2002084571A1 KR 0200675 W KR0200675 W KR 0200675W WO 02084571 A1 WO02084571 A1 WO 02084571A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
identification symbol
virtual object
basic information
information
user
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2002/000675
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Junghee Ryu
Original Assignee
Oozzoo Connections Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oozzoo Connections Inc. filed Critical Oozzoo Connections Inc.
Priority to JP2002582439A priority Critical patent/JP2004519797A/en
Publication of WO2002084571A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002084571A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/955—Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
    • G06F16/9554—Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL] by using bar codes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10—Services
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to decipherment and processing the identifiers printed on the objects, more specifically to the method of deciphering the identifiers printed on the objects and obtaining additional information and virtual objects using deciphered identifiers.
  • the information about various objects existing in real world, especially the commodities, can be obtained from the books which is the conventional information provider or internet which becomes the most extensive information provider recently.
  • the consumer looks for information about goods via books or Internet in advance of purchase.
  • information which can discriminate goods for example, the name of the goods or product number provided by the manufacturer is referenced for searching information via books or Internet.
  • the consumer records the information which discriminates goods, for example, the name of the goods or product number in advance, goes to the library in person, and searches information via books. Or, the consumer goes to the terminal
  • the user should record the information which discriminates the article or broadcasting program, i.e. the title or keyword of the article or broadcasting program, and search information in library or via internet as same as the previous example.
  • virtual objects are on a high level.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method of searching the information about the object existing in real world from virtual world through network and providing the information to the user.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of searching the information about the selling goods existing in real world from virtual world through network, providing the information to the user, and helping the user to purchase the goods in optimum condition based on the information provided.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of generating virtual objects corresponding to the goods in real world using the information about the goods existing in real world and distributing the virtual objects.
  • a method of generating a virtual object corresponding an object on which an identification symbol which can be read physically is marked in a virtual space where a network is provided to which a server and user terminal may access comprises the steps
  • a system for searching related information related to an object on which an identification symbol which can be read physically is
  • a host computer including a first recording area for
  • said host computer further includes
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the process of an embodiment of the present invention is performed.
  • Fig. 2 shows the structure of the database in the server according to
  • Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example providing related
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process in which the
  • present invention requests a specific service.
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for
  • Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the process of an embodiment of
  • Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating communication environment
  • Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of generating the virtual
  • Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing another communication
  • Fig. 10 shows the structure of the database about the basic
  • Fig. 11 shows the structure of the database of the virtual object
  • Fig. 12 shows the structure of the database of the virtual object definition data generated based on the basic information and the related
  • Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating minimum environment in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
  • Figs. 1 and 6 are block diagrams showing the processes of embodiments of the present invention are performed.
  • the method shown in Fig. 1 is about the processes of searching the information about the objects 101 existing in real world in the virtual world via network and providing searched rnf ormation to the user.
  • the method shown in Fig. 6 is about the processes of transmitting the information about the objects 101 existing in real world to the virtual world via network and generating virtual object 607
  • a virtual object management server 711 to generate virtual objects based on basic information and manage them and a virtual object database 713 to record the generated virtual object information are further included.
  • a virtual object generating server 901 can be arranged separately.
  • Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the operational environment in which a separate virtual object generating server 901 is equipped according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the operational environment to practice the method according to the present invention comprises a virtual object generating server 901 to generate virtual objects, a virtual object management server 711 to manage generated virtual objects, and a virtual object database 713 to record the information about generated virtual objects.
  • the virtual object generating server 901, the virtual object management server 711, and the virtual object database 713 constitute a virtual object generating system.
  • the network connects users to the server, and it may be a voice telephone network, ARS, wired/wireless Internet, or etc.
  • the idea of the present invention is not confined to a specific kind of network, but the network should be interpreted to a broad meaning including all
  • the identification information 103 means a symbol used to discriminate the object.
  • the object identification information 103 is the information to be printed on the real object 101 of the real world.
  • the basic information 105 is the information showing characteristics of the object.
  • the basic information 105 is preferably recorded on the server on the network. Or the basic information 105 can be recorded on the terminal device. From the relationship between the identification information 103 and the basic information 105, the characteristics of the objects 101 in which the corresponding identification information is printed can be searched.
  • the related information 107 is the information accessible via network, and it means various information on network which can be referenced using the basic information 105.
  • the related information 107 can be present on the server or another sources on the network.
  • the virtual object 607 exists in a virtual world and it is a symbol standing for the real object 101. Characters which can be displayed using computer may be used to represent the virtual object 607.
  • the virtual world means the virtual space defined from the network, server, user terminal device, etc. and the space accessible by the network in which the virtual object 607 is generated.
  • the virtual object 607 is conventionally called as the names of avatar, character, or etc. According to the method shown in Fig. 1, a physically readable
  • identification symbol 103 is printed in advance on the object 101 of the real world. Or, a separate step 151 of printing the identification symbol to identify the object concerned on the object 101 of the real world can be used as shown in Fig. 1. Next, the basic information 105 about the object 101 of the real world is connected to the identification symbol 103 printed on the object 101 (152).
  • the user terminal device reads the identification symbol 103 by a physical operation (153). Then, the basic information 105 of the object 101 is searched with
  • the user terminal device transmits decoded identification symbol 103 to server through the network and the server searches the basic information 105 connected to the identification symbol 103 concerned in case that the basic information 105 is recorded on the server.
  • the server searches the basic information 105 connected to the identification symbol 103 concerned in case that the basic information 105 is recorded on the server.
  • the related information 107 which is related to the object is
  • searched related information of the object is connected to the basic information 105 of the object.
  • the related information 107 connected to the basic information 105 is provided to the user by referring the basic information 105 which is searched in advance (156).
  • the user may utilize provided related information 107 as a reference material to various activities in the real world (157).
  • the user may update the basic information 105 by referring the related information provided.
  • the user sends an update instruction to the server using the user terminal device in the case that the basic information 105 is present in the server on the network.
  • the user may update the basic information 105 directly using the user terminal device when the basic information 105 is present in the user terminal device.
  • the user may wish to select a part of the related information 107 provided and to record on separate recording area.
  • the selected information from the user may be recorded to the recording media of the server or the user terminal device.
  • the server monitors the process in which the user reads the identification symbol 103 of the object 101 using the user l terminal device and measures the user's behaviors and server use statistics.
  • symbols which can identify each object are assigned to each of the objects according to an appointed rule. For example, a unique identification symbol system for identifying prescribed objects is newly prepared. Or, existing barcode system such as UPC/ E AN barcode which has attached to the goods already can be used as it is. When existing barcode system is used, the barcode printed on the product or the package of the product is utilized as the identification symbol of the product concerned.
  • a unique user identification number may be assigned to each user.
  • an identification symbol including user identification number is assigned to the object in which the user requests to assign. Therefore, the identification symbol of the object includes a part of user identification symbol and a part of object identification symbol.
  • the user related to the object concerned for example, the owner or provider of the object can be identified as well as the object by the identification symbol.
  • identification symbol is printed to the object as a physically readable form.
  • the printing process may be performed as printing one-dimensional or
  • unique characteristics of the object such as appearance, color, taste, fragrance, etc. can be used as the identification symbol.
  • the process of assigning the identification symbol of the objects separately and printing the identification symbol on the objects is omitted.
  • the identification symbol can be made available only if the real object is purchased. For doing this, it is preferable that the identification becomes readable only after the package of the object is opened or the film or the package shielding the identification symbol of the object is removed.
  • the identification symbol is preferably constituted of a complex combination which is not presumed easily by the arbitrary combination.
  • a unique identification symbol different from any other identification symbol for each of the products should be assigned whenever the product is packaged or the identification symbol is attached. The identification symbol printed in this way is not readable before non-reversibly removing the package sealing the code physically, electronically, optically, or in
  • the user may check easily with the naked eye whether the sealing package is removed or not. For example, a sheet of paper may be posted, or a special coat may be covered such as that of instant lottery ticket.
  • the server of the agency issuing the identification symbols manages the list of the identification symbols using database.
  • the server may store the additional information about the identification symbols.
  • the additional information will be explained later.
  • (2) process of connecting the identification symbol of the object with the basic information of the object The basic information 105 of the object is basic information showing the characteristics of the object concerned. From the relationship between the identification information 103 and the basic information 105, the basic characteristics of ihe object 101 in which the identification information 105 concerned is printed. Such basic information 105 plays a role as a reference word or keyword to search the related information of the object concerned from various sources on the network.
  • the basic information may be a URL designating a specific site in the Internet related to the object concerned.
  • the basic information 105 is preferably recorded on the server on the network. That is, the server stores the basic information 105 for various reasons.
  • Fig. 2 shows the structure of the database in the server according to
  • Fig. 2 is an example of records of the identification information, basic information and the relationship therebetween for the products such
  • "Field” item 201 indicates a data item in ihe database.
  • "CD” item 202, "DVD” item 203, and "Book” item show the contents of each data item in case that the product name is CD, DVD, and books, respectively.
  • Barcode of maximum 20 characters size is recorded in "GOD_CD” item 212 with 13 digits. For example, barcodes of 13 digits are recorded in case that the products recorded in the server are CD, DVD, and books.
  • a flag of 1 character size indicating whether the barcode follows the standard barcode system is recorded in "GOD_GB” item 213. In the example of Fig. 2, all "GOD_GB” items are recorded as A because CD, DVD, and book follow the EAN standard barcode system.
  • Product name of maximum 100 characters size is recorded in "GOD_NMl” item 214.
  • the second product name of maximum 100 characters size is recorded in "GOD_NM2" item 215.
  • basic information 105 may be recorded on ihe terminal device.
  • ihe terminal device In this case,
  • ihe identification symbol includes user identification symbol. In this case, it
  • the server makes the user
  • an agent program is operated to automatically update the link to the basic information related to the barcode concerned. If the identification symbol
  • characteristic information such as product name, manufacturer, date of
  • the user terminal device reads the identification symbol printed on the object by a physical operation.
  • the identification symbol is the conventional barcode
  • a barcode scanner is furnished to the user terminal device and performs reading.
  • the identification symbol is printed on the object or the package of the object in the form in which the user may recognize.
  • the user recognizes the identification symbol, and inputs recognized value to the terminal device in person.
  • the terminal device decodes the value inputted by the user to find out the identification symbol using internal software.
  • the identification symbol is a conventional barcode, for example, the user may input the numbers printed with ihe barcode to the terminal device in person.
  • the terminal device is a cellular phone. In this case, the user recognizes the identification symbol, and inputs the number corresponding to the identification symbol to the cellular phone directly.
  • a barcode reader may be attached to the cellular phone for the cellular phone to read the barcode directly.
  • the user terminal device may have a barcode reader 705 to read the barcode and a controller 707 to process the barcode read. At this time, 1-
  • barcode reader 705. dimensional or 2-dimensioinal barcode reader can be used as the barcode reader 705. It is preferable that the barcode reader 705 has the functions of reading barcode and temporarily memorizing the barcode read.
  • a general- purpose computer may used as the controller 707.
  • the barcode reader 705 may record the barcode read to the memory of the barcode reader 705 temporarily.
  • the barcode inputted to the barcode reader 705 may be transmitted later to a PC by connecting with wire of wireless to the PC through a serial, USB, infrared, or bluetooth terminal.
  • the barcode recorded on the memory of the barcode reader 705 is transmitted to the controller 707 with wire or wireless.
  • barcode may be transmitted through the serial, USB, or parallel port.
  • barcode reader 705 and the controller 707 transceive the barcode wireless barcode may be transmitted using short-distance wireless communication such as infrared communication or bluetooth.
  • the user terrninal device transmits the decoded identification symbol to the server on ihe network.
  • the server inquires the database to search the basic information related to the transmitted identification
  • the search for the basic information related to the identification symbol is performed in the
  • the server drives the agent program to call the basic information recorded on a different server on the network after transmission of the identification
  • the server transforms the basic information to the form available to search the related information distributed on various sources on the network. That is, the server extracts the search word or keyword available to search the related information from the basic information.
  • the related information is various information related to the object concerned which exists in any source on the network. This related information includes the sale price, review, vendor, etc.
  • the server search the related information related to the object concerned from various sources on the network with reference to the search word or keyword extracted from ihe basic information. According to another embodiment of the present invention, search
  • word or keyword is transmitted to a different server on the network using a program such as agent, and the different server searches the related
  • the server connects the basic information and the related information on the network. Only such connection information, for example, link information is recorded in the database of the server.
  • the related information searched can be recorded to the database of the server
  • the server searches automatically the related information based on the basic information periodically and updates the database on the server successively without the search request from the user terminal device. In this case, the required time to finish the search of the related information after the user terminal device reads the identification symbol of the object is reduced.
  • the server of the agency issuing the identification symbol determines whether the identification symbol of the real object in which
  • the server in advance based on the basic information transmitted from the
  • the server of the agency issuing the identification symbol determines whether another user has transmit the basic information related to the same identification symbol before the user transmits the basic information when the identification symbol is determined to be genuine to prevent the identification information of the same real object from being transmitted twice or more. By doing this, it is guaranteed that the identification symbol is that printed on the genuine real object in which the user purchased and the identification symbol is not the one printed on the real object purchased
  • the server provides various related information connected to the basic information to the user. That is, the server transmits the relate information to the user terminal device, and the user terminal device displays to the user the related information transmitted from the server using display means.
  • Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example providing related information to the user. If the process of providing related information is started (301), the server draws up a list of servers for searching related information related to the basic information (302). Next, the server transforms the basic information to the form used to search for the search
  • the server provides searched
  • the related information provided to the user includes market price
  • the user may utilize the related information which is provided from the server to various activities such as purchase of the product, participation to ihe auction or reverse auction, sending searched information to a community, or sending searched information by e-mail,
  • the request of the user for the action is transmitted to the server who provided the related information.
  • the related server performs various additional processes satisfying user's request. For example, if a user wishes to purchase a product by connecting ihe Internet shopping mall after being
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process in which the user who was provided with the related information according to the present invention requests a specific service. First, if the user requests an additional service or an additional service is available according to the
  • a button is displayed or provided to the user terminal device
  • the server provides the result of ihe service provided from the server which provided the related information concerned to the user with or without additional processing (405).
  • the user provided with the related information may request an additional processing to the information based on the related information concerned. For example, if the user provided with two or more price information, the user may wish to get information about the shopping mall which guarantees the lowest price among the price information provided.
  • the server analyzes the related information and provides the user with related information about the shopping mall which guarantees ihe
  • the relate information is price information, transaction information, auction or reverse auction
  • the user may request an optimum purchase to a server.
  • the server automatically participates to auction or reverse auction, analyzes the transaction information and price information, and performs the request for opiimum purchase.
  • the user provided with the related information may amend or edit
  • the user may update
  • the basic information of the server This process is very useful when the basic information in which the user requests to search is not present or has errors. If the basic information is not present or has errors, the search for the related information is not correctly performed. Therefore, the basic information should be updated by the user after receiving the result.
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for amending and editing parts of the related information by the user provided with ihe related information according to the present invention.
  • the user terminal device searches the basic information using read identification number (502). Then, it determines whether the basic information exists (503). If there is the basic information, it determines whether the basic information is correct (504). If it is determined that the basic information is correct, the search for the related information based on the basic information is performed (505). If the basic information is not correct, the user is asked if he or she wishes to change the basic information (506). If the user does not wish to modify the basic information, the search for the related information is performed based on the existing basic information. If the user wished to modify the basic information, it branches to the basic information adding routine which shall be described later. If it is determined that ihe basic information is not present in the above-described step of determining the presence of the basic information
  • the user is asked whether he or she wishes to add the basic information (508). If the user does not wish to add the basic information,
  • the administration server determines whether the basic information inputted by the user is genuine (511). If it is determined that
  • the user may record subjective rate information for the specific object to the server. For example, if the specific object is an item on sale, the user may record the rate of the item to the server.
  • the rate information of the user is recorded with the basic information for the object as evaluating information.
  • Such rate information of the user is provided to another user as well as the basic information of the object concerned in the case that another user requests to search the related information for the object concerned. Therefore, the user may read the rate information for the object from various users.
  • the rate information of another user for the rate information of the user itself can be recorded on the server.
  • the reliability of the rate information itself is provided to another users as well as the user's rate information for the object concerned.
  • the method according to the present invention may include the
  • a user identification number is issued to the user who wishes to use the server, a separate recording area for recording the history of reading the object identification code of the user is prepared on the server, and the object identification code is recorded in real time whenever it is transmitted from the user terminal device.
  • Such user search history is utilized as reference data to search and process the related information to
  • the user may wish to selectively record the related information after provided with the related information.
  • recording area for related information is prepared on the server, and selected related information is recorded on the recording area for related information.
  • a case that ihe read object by the user is a media where information is recorded such as newspapers, magazines, or etc. is described as an example.
  • the user reads the identification symbol assigned to the article of the newspaper or magazine to be provided with ihe related information related to the article carried in the newspaper or magazine using terminal device.
  • the user sends an instruction to record selected information among related information to the server.
  • the server records selected related information on the recording area prepared on the server.
  • the identification symbol is printed one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on the product or the package of the product.
  • the basic information may
  • the related information may include the users' review, market information, auction or reverse auction information, etc. from various servers. Therefore, the user who keeps in contact with ihe product in real world can be provided with the information helpful to the purchase of the product by reading the related information for the product concerned.
  • the object whose related information is asked to search is explained.
  • the object whose related information is asked to search is a medium where multimedia contents are recorded such as videotape, DVD, CD, or
  • the identification symbol is printed one-dimensionally or two- dimensionally on the package or the exterior surface of the multimedia medium concerned.
  • the basic information may include the copyright holder, manufacturer, genre, and/ or brief content.
  • the related information may include the copyright holder, manufacturer, genre, and/ or brief content.
  • the multimedia contents may include the users' review, zip file of the multimedia contents
  • the identification symbol is printed on the newspaper with the article concerned.
  • the identification symbol is
  • the basic information may include the title of the article or program and brief content.
  • the related information may include related detailed information of ihe article or program and related articles, etc.
  • the user can scrap the article or program on the server on the network or search the related information by reading the identification symbol of desired article or program when watching the concerned article or program while keeping in contact with the newspaper or broadcasting.
  • the identification symbol transmitted from the user is guaranteed as one read from the genuine real object in which the user purchased
  • the identification symbol in which the user transmitted and the related information related thereto can be utilized
  • the identification symbol is issued only to the genuine product.
  • the identification symbol issuing agency records the identification symbols issued to the genuine products to the database and manages them. Only if the identification symbol printed on the object in which the user purchased is equal to any one of tire identification symbols recorded on the database of the identification symbol issuing agency, and only if the identification symbol has not transmitted before, the object is determined to be genuine. By informing the result of examination of genuineness to the user, the user can determine whether the purchased item is genuine or not.
  • the network is a phone network, especially the phone network to which an ARS (automatic response system) is connected in the communication environment shown in Fig. 7 is described.
  • the user calls to the ARS through the phone network, and sends the identification symbol of the purchased real object by voice or by generating dial tone by pressing the electronic buttons.
  • the ARS receives the identification symbol from the user and transmits it to the identification symbol issuing agency.
  • the identification symbol issuing agency determines whether received identification symbol is the one of the genuine real object, and transmits
  • the ARS informs the result of determination to the user's phone by voice via phone network.
  • the user can easily examine the genuineness of the real object in which he or
  • the identification symbol becomes
  • the identification symbol of the object it is possible to make the identification symbol of the object available without purchasing ihe real object.
  • the identification symbol is printed on the real object in the form understandable with the naked eye or readable with the reader.
  • the identification symbol can be printed on the package or exterior of the game machine or medium for game. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the identification symbol may be printed as the identification symbol is displayed on the screen of the game machine or computer when the game machine or medium for game is operated.
  • the character, item, animation or music can be the virtual object. That is, such virtual object sometimes gains popularity in the real world, and in this case, the user may want to display the virtual object on his or her terminal device.
  • the character, item, animation can be displayed on the mobile phone which is a representative example of the terminal device, the music can be used as the ringing sound, and mini game can be operated on ihe mobile phone.
  • the object can be printed on the exterior or ihe package of the real object, or
  • the identification symbol is printed as a form of code displayed during game, and the user records ihe code on his or her terminal device and inputs the code to obtain the virtual object.
  • the authentication process for the identification symbol in which the user transmitted is performed.
  • An example of the authentication is to determine whether the identification symbol in which the user transmitted is the same as the identification symbol printed on the real object which is sold actually. Through this process, the virtual object is prevented from being obtained by the identification symbol in which the user inputs arbitrarily or without purchase.
  • Another example of the authentication is to determine whether the identification symbol in which the user transmitted is the same as the identification symbol transmitted by the other or the same user and used to obtain the virtual object. Through this process, the virtual object is prevented from being obtained again by the identification symbol already used to obtain the virtual object.
  • the server generates the virtual object corresponding the basic information concerned or obtains the virtual object generated in advance based on the basic information.
  • the server may newly generate a virtual object based on the basic information, or obtains the virtual object generated in advance through ihe basic information.
  • the system for generating virtual object is explained.
  • the server 709 requests to generate a virtual object to ihe virtual object generating system 711, and the virtual object generating system 711 generates a virtual object and transmits it to the server 709.
  • the data for expressing the virtual object is generated with reference to the basic information searched through the identification information of the real object.
  • the virtual object generating system may include a virtual object generating server and a virtual object management server.
  • Each of the virtual object generating server and the virtual object management server is a conventional server which comprises a memory device, control device performing arithmetic and control, input device and output device.
  • the virtual object generating server 901 receives ihe basic information from the server and records it. Then, the virtual object generating server 901 generates the virtual object with reference to the basic information, and records the information about the virtual object.
  • the virtual object generating server 901 comprises virtual object generating means. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the virtual object generating server 901 generates the virtual object based on the related information as well as the basic information.
  • the virtual object management server records the data for the
  • the user terminal device displays the virtual object
  • the virtual object definition data preferably
  • definition data includes ihe related information as well as the basic
  • Fig. 10 shows the structure of the database about the basic
  • Fig. 11 shows the structure of the database of the virtual object
  • definition data 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125 and 1126 generated based on
  • Fig. 12 shows ihe structure of the database of the virtual object
  • the virtual object can be implemented through
  • the virtual object can be made graphical form or avatar through the virtual object definition data based on the basic information or based on
  • the basic information of the cloth are the product name, manufacturer, designer, etc.
  • the virtual object definition data to make the cloth concerned to be the virtual object include the color, size, style, year of made, material, fabric, etc. of the cloth concerned.
  • the basic information of the book are the title, publisher, author, etc.
  • the virtual object definition data include the cover, abstract, genre, published year, etc. of the book concerned.
  • the real object is a music record
  • the basic information of the music are the album title, artist, manufacturer, etc.
  • the virtual object definition data include the jacket, genre, playing time, recording form, etc. of the music concerned.
  • the real object is an electronics
  • the basic information of the electronics are the product name, manufacturer, etc.
  • the virtual object definition data include the color, size, use, year of made, after-service (A/S), etc. of the electronics concerned.
  • the real object is a game machine or game medium
  • the basic information of the game machine or game medium are the game title, manufacturer and so on
  • the virtual object definition data includes the outward appearance such as size, material and so on, game manual, year of made, etc. if the virtual object is the virtual counterpart of
  • the virtual object definition data may include
  • the virtual object is character, item, animation, or sound effect, etc of the game machine or game medium.
  • the basic information of the toy are the product name, manufacture, class, etc.
  • the virtual object definition data include the character form, color, style, size; material, operation, etc. of the toy concerned.
  • the basic information are the manufacturer and product name, and the related information includes the color, size, year of made, etc.
  • the virtual object is a cloth
  • the basic information are the manufacturer and product name
  • the related information includes the color, size, year of made, etc.
  • definition data may include the change of the appearance according to the year of made, size, color, etc. with reference to the related information.
  • the virtual object definition data may be the cover, indication of published year, indication of genre, etc. with
  • information of the music are the album title, artist, manufacturer, and the
  • the virtual object definition data may be the jacket, indication of genre, indication of playing time, indication of recording form, etc.
  • the basic information of the game machine or game medium are the game title, manufacturer, and there are ihe related information about the virtual counterpart including the outward appearance such as size, material and so on of the game machine or game medium, game manual, year of made, etc. and the related information about the character, item, animation, sound effect, etc. of the game machine or game medium.
  • the virtual object definition data includes the outward appearance of the game machine or game medium such as size, material and so on, game manual, indication of year of made, etc. with reference to the related information.
  • the virtual object definition data may include respectively the indication of the appearance, sound effect, and moving
  • toy are the product name, manufacture, class, etc., and ihe virtual object
  • definition data include the character form, color, style, size, material,
  • the virtual object generation server 901 may use a network operating program as the operating system (OS) of the system.
  • OS operating system
  • operating program such as UNIX, LINUX, or WINDOW NT can be used as the operating system.
  • OS provides high-level instruction set to the application program interface (API) to control each operation for generating ihe virtual object.
  • API application program interface
  • API Detailed member functions for API are as follows.
  • Open API is used to open the sessions of the image processing module, edge extracting module, component control module, and virtual object generating module on the request of the user.
  • Close API is used to close ihe session for the used application module.
  • Copy API is used to copy the virtual object data generated on the request of the user.
  • Retrieve API is used to retrieve the application module which can
  • processing module edge extracting module, component control module,
  • Initialize API has function of initialize each application to be called.
  • Register API is used to register the information of the virtual object generated on the request of the user.
  • Unregister API is used to unregister the information of the virtual
  • Read API is used to read the image data transmitted from the user.
  • the above-described APIs are executed individually according to the module used, and the virtual object generating server can generate the virtual object through the process of extracting the components used to
  • the virtual object generating server 901 generates the virtual object based on the received basic information and records it.
  • the virtual object generating server records the data for generated virtual object and transmits the data to the user terminal device to display the virtual object.
  • Generated virtual object definition data are recorded on the virtual object database 713 of the virtual object management server 711.
  • the structure of the virtual object database is the same as shown in
  • the virtual object is expressed as the form displayable on the screen
  • the graphic data may include the information to express the virtual object, for example, the information of the appearance displayable on the screen.
  • the graphic data may include the information to express the virtual object, for example, the information of the appearance displayable on the screen.
  • to display the character of the virtual object on the computer screen may be the information for ihe appearance of the virtual object.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of generating the virtual object
  • Basic information about the real object is obtained through the identification information printed on the real object of the real world (801).
  • the basic information is transmitted to the virtual object generation server to request to generate the virtual object (802).
  • the virtual object generation server generates a virtual object by referring to received basic information (803).
  • the virtual object generation server can generate the virtual object directly, it is possible to generate the virtual object through the process of requesting the generation of the virtual object to the virtual object management server which is separately arranged, generating the virtual object by the virtual object management server, and transmitting generated virtual object to the virtual object generation server.
  • the virtual object management server may register the virtual object definition data which are the data about generated virtual object,
  • a technique of making a mathematical model or graphical model for the subject such as a certain condition or object is called modeling.
  • the technique of making a model on the screen using computer is a representative example of modeling.
  • BMP(bit map format) is one of the standard image data format used in Windows, and it is a bit map format which is very wide-use. BMP format is used without any additional processing in Windows or Macintosh, and the still images of camera, fax, scan file can be the jpg, bmp
  • the step of extracting the virtual object data generates the virtual object definition data through the steps of modifying the shape of the components of the virtual object and synthesizing each component.
  • the step of extracting the components is to confine the region for
  • points are generated on the parts showing individuality and image data are generated using the data of generated
  • Bit image is used to display an image on the screen.
  • Bit image means a consecutive set of bits of the memory device indicating the image to be displayed on the screen especially of the system having graphic user
  • GUI Graphical User interface
  • image is 0 when it shows white, and 1 when it shows black.
  • Pattern of 0s and ls in bit image determines the pattern of black and white dots forming an image on the screen.
  • two or more bits are needed to indicate a pixel, and it is called pixel image.
  • graphics program is such program which can perform the processing of generating image data, saving the image as a file, modifying and transforming the image formed as file.
  • graphics program There are two types of graphics program. One is bitmap image type, and the other is vector graphics type.
  • Bitmap image type processes the image in terms of pixel, and it is suitable for expressing the natural and realistic image.
  • File size is smaller than that of vector type, but it has a shortcoming that the quality of the image becomes worse when the image is enlarged.
  • Vector graphics type expresses and processes the image as mathematical diagrams and the form is maintained if the graphic image is scaled up or down. However, the expression of various color or complex line is difficult.
  • the virtual object data can be
  • extracting the virtual object data from moving pictures are extracting the virtual object data from several still images, several images for the virtual object are generated and a process of forming a single image from those several images is needed.
  • Image is formed as 3-dimensional, or the image performing the operation according to the time is formed. Or, image data can be formed using morphing technique.
  • Morphing technique means the technique to change the shape of an object to the shape of another object gradually, and it can be used as the method of extracting the virtual object data from the image of the real object. Two images of the source image and the result image are needed, and morphing software tries to transform images by finding the corresponding points of two images to morph. It displays the image manufactured in pieces consecutively, and it is a camouflage using optical illusion.
  • the changing appearance of the real object can be formed as avatar using the above morphing technique, the form having different appearances according to the angle of view can be generated.
  • GIF graphics interchange format
  • the virtual object data can be extracted from the text information or
  • Basic information of text form can play the role or reference word or keyword for search and extracting the related information of the real object from various sources on network such as Internet.
  • the basic information may be an URL indicating a specific site related to the object concerned.
  • the virtual object definition data separately. For example, if the basic information of product name as text form is provided from the user for the real object related to the clothes, the virtual object corresponding to the product can be connected directly without extracting or generating the virtual data.
  • the computer or server 709 which want to obtain a virtual object transmits the basic information about the virtual object to be obtained to the virtual object management server 711 and requests to transmit the virtual object.
  • the virtual object management server 711 searches the
  • the information about the virtual object corresponding the basic information from the database 713 with reference to the basic information.
  • the information about the virtual object recorded on the virtual object database 713 is transmitted to the computer or server 709 which wishes to obtain the information.
  • the server 709 manages the virtual object recorded on the user database 705.
  • the user may access the server 709 and requests to manage his or her virtual object.
  • the real object 701 is a real apparel or accessory. Apparel or
  • a unique identification symbol 703 is assigned to each of the manufactured apparels or accessories.
  • the user purchases the apparel or accessory, grasps the identification symbol 703, and reads by the barcode reader 705 to input to the computer 707 or inputs directly the characters corresponding to the identification symbol.
  • the identification symbol inputted to the computer is transmitted to the chatting server 709.
  • the computer 707 transmits the chatting server login ID of the user to the server 709 as well.
  • the chatting server 709 confirms the user ID, and generates the virtual object with reference to ihe basic information corresponding to transmitted identification symbol or obtains the virtual object from the virtual object server 711.
  • the information about the virtual object obtained is recorded to the user database 715 connected to the user's account.
  • the user is displayed as wearing the virtual cloth or accessory expressed based on the information about virtual object recorded on the database connected to his or her account when he or she uses the chatting service. It is preferable that the virtual cloth or accessory displayed during chatting service has similar appearance as the real cloth or accessory in which the user actually purchased.
  • the off-line shop sells the model sword having similar appearance to the item.
  • the identification symbol 703 is printed on the model or adhered to the model as a form of sealed tag to providing from expose when the model is sold in actual shop.
  • the user purchases the model sword, grasps the identification symbol 703, and reads by the barcode reader 705 to input to the computer 707 or inputs directly the characters corresponding to the identification symbol.
  • the identification symbol inputted to the computer is transmitted to the on-line game server
  • the computer 707 transmits the login ID of the user to the server 709 as well.
  • the on-line game server 709 confirms the user ID, and generates the virtual object with reference to the basic information corresponding to transmitted identification symbol or obtains the virtual object from the virtual object server 711.
  • the information about the item obtained is recorded to the user database 715 connected to the user's account.
  • the user is displayed as possessing the item expressed based on the information about item recorded on the database connected to his or her account when he or she uses the on-line game service. It is preferable
  • the manufacturer of the game makes the virtual object related to the game machine or game
  • CD compact disc
  • game pack corresponding to the real object 701 or the
  • the identification symbol 703 may be the character, item, animation
  • the identification symbol is read to input to the computer or the characters corresponding to the identification symbol is inputted directly, inputted data are transmitted to the chatting server 709.
  • the computer 707 transmits to the server 709 of the game manufacturer.
  • the server 709 of the game manufacturer generates the character, item, animation, etc. with reference to the basic information corresponding to the identification symbol transmitted, or the virtual object is generated from the virtual object management server 711.
  • the identification symbol entering after a level is resolved is displayed on the screen in a form of code, etc. when the user resolves a level and proceeds to the next level during game process, the user read the identification symbol, records it to his or her terminal, and inputs it to the computer 707 by reading the identification symbol using barcode reader 705 or by inputting the characters corresponding to the identification symbol directly when the user plays the same game.
  • the present invention is applied to an application such as the accumulated in ormation about the game process of the user becomes the
  • the idea of the present invention is applicable to the service which is totally administrating the virtual objects generated in virtual space.
  • virtual objects connected to the real objects inputted through two processes can be managed in the virtual space in which each character has.
  • the user makes a virtual room where characters gather during chatting service.
  • the room is a virtual room in which the user opened the chatting room at first possesses, and the user can decorate the room according to user's taste when the user connects the service in ordinary times. If the user transmits the codes of the objects present in user's room when the user decorates the room, the server let him exhibit
  • the user only grasps the identification symbol without purchasing the real object.
  • the virtual object corresponding to the real object is generated or obtained in virtual space based on the identification symbol in which the user understands.
  • the user reads the identification symbol by approaching the real object corresponding to the item to obtain the item to be used in the on-line game.
  • the item generated from the identification symbol read by user is displayed with the manufacturer or product name of the real object in which the user read the identification symbol in person. Accordingly, the manufacturer can achieve the advertising effect through the on-line game.
  • the user keeps in contact with
  • the object in real world can be provided with various information about
  • the object in virtual space without any time consumption.
  • the user can get help from
  • the user can examine the least price in

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Abstract

Method and system for generating virtual object with reference to identification symbol which is physically printed on an real object. The method and system are based on a virtual space environment, where a network is provided to which a server and user terminal may access. The method comprises the steps of: making relationship between identification symbol and basic information for a real object; reading the identification symbol on the real object; searching basic information to which the identification symbol is related; and generating a virtual object with reference to the basic information.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]
[TITLE OF THE INVENTION]
Method and System for Generating Virtual Object with Reference to
an Identification Symbol Which Is Physically Readable and Printed on an
Real Object
[ FIELD OF THE ART ]
The present invention relates to decipherment and processing the identifiers printed on the objects, more specifically to the method of deciphering the identifiers printed on the objects and obtaining additional information and virtual objects using deciphered identifiers.
[BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION]
The information about various objects existing in real world, especially the commodities, can be obtained from the books which is the conventional information provider or internet which becomes the most extensive information provider recently.
For example, the consumer looks for information about goods via books or Internet in advance of purchase. At this time, information which can discriminate goods, for example, the name of the goods or product number provided by the manufacturer is referenced for searching information via books or Internet. For example, the consumer records the information which discriminates goods, for example, the name of the goods or product number in advance, goes to the library in person, and searches information via books. Or, the consumer goes to the terminal
accessible to internet in person, and searches the related information using
a computer of the library or internet search engine with reference to
information which discriminates goods recorded in advance.
To get various information related to the article of broadcasting program with which the user keeps in contact via newspaper or broadcasting, the user should record the information which discriminates the article or broadcasting program, i.e. the title or keyword of the article or broadcasting program, and search information in library or via internet as same as the previous example.
Recently, services of generating virtual object copying after the real object and circulating the character representing such virtual object on-line
are revitalized in on-line game service or chatting service using internet. Examples of the circulation of virtual object existing in virtual world include "character apparel marketing" service of sayclub (http://www.sayclub.com) which is an internet chatting service of Neowiz and character circulation of NC soft.
In chatting service of sayclub, character-avatar representing chatting participant is generated and the chatting participant is expressed in virtual space. In addition, sayclub sells the clothes and accessories for character-avatar to wear to realize a profit. These clothes are not real clothes but imaginary clothes which exist only in sayclub. These clothes can be provided in virtual world by paying cash to the service provider in real world, and re-sale between purchasers is available. In "lineage" which is an on-line game of NC soft, the items such as
armor in which character in game can wear is obtained through the virtual activity in virtual space in the game in principle. However, users
frequently purchase good items by paying actual cash to another user in
spite of dissuasion of service provider. As it is known from the above- described examples, interest and demand of the users for the circulation of
virtual objects are on a high level.
[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION] The object of the present invention is to provide a method of searching the information about the object existing in real world from virtual world through network and providing the information to the user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of searching the information about the selling goods existing in real world from virtual world through network, providing the information to the user, and helping the user to purchase the goods in optimum condition based on the information provided.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of generating virtual objects corresponding to the goods in real world using the information about the goods existing in real world and distributing the virtual objects.
To achieve the object of the present invention, according to the present invention, a method of generating a virtual object corresponding an object on which an identification symbol which can be read physically is marked in a virtual space where a network is provided to which a server and user terminal may access is provided. The method comprises the steps
of: making relationship between identification symbol of said object and
basic information of said object; reading said identification symbol by a
physical operation through user terminal device; searching basic information of said object with reference to said read identification symbol; and generating a virtual object corresponding to said object with reference to basic information of said object.
To achieve the object of the present invention, according to another embodiment, a method of generating a virtual object corresponding an object on which an identification symbol which can be read physically is marked in a virtual space where a network is provided to which a server including a database on which virtual object definition data which define said virtual object are recorded and user terminal may access is provided. The method comprises the steps of: making relationship between identification symbol of said object and basic information of said object; reading said identification symbol by a physical operation through user terminal device; searching basic information of said object with reference to said read identification symbol; transmitting basic information of said object to said server; and generating a virtual object corresponding to said object with reference to basic information of said object by said server.
To achieve the object of the present invention, according to more another embodiment, a system for searching related information related to an object on which an identification symbol which can be read physically is
marked through network and providing searched information to user, the
system comprising: a host computer including a first recording area for
recording said identification symbol, basic information of object, and
relationship between identification symbol of said object and basic
information of said object, means for generating a virtual object
corresponding to said object with reference to basic information of said
object, and a second recording area for recording virtual object definition
data defining said generated virtual object; and a user terminal device
including reading means for reading said identification symbol by a
physical operation, temporary recording means for recording said read
identification symbol temporarily, and transmitting means for transmitting
said temporarily recorded identification symbol to said host computer
through network, and wherein said host computer further includes
receiving means for receiving identification symbol to which said user
terminal device transmitted; and said host computer extracts basic
information of said object with reference to identification symbol received
by said receiving means, generating virtual object definition data defining
said virtual object with reference to said extracted basic information of said
object, and records virtual object definition data to said second recording
area is provided.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the process of an embodiment of the present invention is performed.
Fig. 2 shows the structure of the database in the server according to
an embodiment of the present invention schematically.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example providing related
information to the user.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process in which the
user who was provided with the related information according to ihe
present invention requests a specific service.
Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for
amending and editing parts of the related information by the user
provided with the related information according to the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the process of an embodiment of
the present invention is performed.
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating communication environment
in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of generating the virtual
object according to the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing another communication
environment in which the present invention is applied.
Fig. 10 shows the structure of the database about the basic
information and the related information of the real object schematically.
Fig. 11 shows the structure of the database of the virtual object
definition data generated based on the basic information schematically.
Fig. 12 shows the structure of the database of the virtual object definition data generated based on the basic information and the related
information schematically.
[BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION] An embodiment of the method of searching the related information related to the object in the real world through network and providing the related information to the user according to the present invention is
described. 1. Definition of the terms, and system and environment in which the
present invention is applied
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating minimum environment in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Figs. 1 and 6 are block diagrams showing the processes of embodiments of the present invention are performed. The method shown in Fig. 1 is about the processes of searching the information about the objects 101 existing in real world in the virtual world via network and providing searched rnf ormation to the user. The method shown in Fig. 6 is about the processes of transmitting the information about the objects 101 existing in real world to the virtual world via network and generating virtual object 607
corresponding to the real object.
As shown in Fig. 7, a real object 701, identification symbol 703 printed on the real object 703, a reader 705 to decode the identification symbol 703, a terminal device 707 to receive the identification information deciphered by the decoder 707 and transmit it to a network, a server 709 to receive the identification symbol in which the terminal device 707
transmitted and search basic information and related information from various computers connected to the network based on basic information,
and user database 715 in which the information about users are recorded
are needed to embody a method according to the present invention. According to another embodiment, a virtual object management server 711 to generate virtual objects based on basic information and manage them and a virtual object database 713 to record the generated virtual object information are further included. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a virtual object generating server 901 can be arranged separately. Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the operational environment in which a separate virtual object generating server 901 is equipped according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, the operational environment to practice the method according to the present invention comprises a virtual object generating server 901 to generate virtual objects, a virtual object management server 711 to manage generated virtual objects, and a virtual object database 713 to record the information about generated virtual objects. Here, the virtual object generating server 901, the virtual object management server 711, and the virtual object database 713 constitute a virtual object generating system.
The network connects users to the server, and it may be a voice telephone network, ARS, wired/wireless Internet, or etc. The idea of the present invention is not confined to a specific kind of network, but the network should be interpreted to a broad meaning including all
communicating means.
To execute the method shown in Fig. 1, object identification
information 103, basic information 105, and related information 107
accessible to the network should be defined with reference to the real object 101 of the real world. To execute the method shown in Fig. 6, virtual object 607 corresponding to the real object 101 of the real world should be defined.
The identification information 103 means a symbol used to discriminate the object. The object identification information 103 is the information to be printed on the real object 101 of the real world.
The basic information 105 is the information showing characteristics of the object. The basic information 105 is preferably recorded on the server on the network. Or the basic information 105 can be recorded on the terminal device. From the relationship between the identification information 103 and the basic information 105, the characteristics of the objects 101 in which the corresponding identification information is printed can be searched.
The related information 107 is the information accessible via network, and it means various information on network which can be referenced using the basic information 105. The related information 107 can be present on the server or another sources on the network.
The virtual object 607 exists in a virtual world and it is a symbol standing for the real object 101. Characters which can be displayed using computer may be used to represent the virtual object 607. The virtual object
607 and the real object 101 can be related to each other using the basic
information 105 about the real object 101. In addition, the virtual object 607
can be described more specifically the related information 105 about the
real object 101. In this specification, the virtual world means the virtual space defined from the network, server, user terminal device, etc. and the space accessible by the network in which the virtual object 607 is generated. The virtual object 607 is conventionally called as the names of avatar, character, or etc. According to the method shown in Fig. 1, a physically readable
identification symbol 103 is printed in advance on the object 101 of the real world. Or, a separate step 151 of printing the identification symbol to identify the object concerned on the object 101 of the real world can be used as shown in Fig. 1. Next, the basic information 105 about the object 101 of the real world is connected to the identification symbol 103 printed on the object 101 (152).
According to user's manipulation, the user terminal device reads the identification symbol 103 by a physical operation (153). Then, the basic information 105 of the object 101 is searched with
reference to decoded identification symbol 103 (154). As described above, the user terminal device transmits decoded identification symbol 103 to server through the network and the server searches the basic information 105 connected to the identification symbol 103 concerned in case that the basic information 105 is recorded on the server. On the other hand, the user
terminal device itself searches the basic information 105 when the basic
information 105 is recorded on the terminal device.
The related information 107 which is related to the object is
searched through network based on searched basic information. Next, searched related information of the object is connected to the basic information 105 of the object.
The related information 107 connected to the basic information 105 is provided to the user by referring the basic information 105 which is searched in advance (156).
The user may utilize provided related information 107 as a reference material to various activities in the real world (157).
Additionally, the user may update the basic information 105 by referring the related information provided. The user sends an update instruction to the server using the user terminal device in the case that the basic information 105 is present in the server on the network. The user may update the basic information 105 directly using the user terminal device when the basic information 105 is present in the user terminal device.
The user may wish to select a part of the related information 107 provided and to record on separate recording area. The selected information from the user may be recorded to the recording media of the server or the user terminal device.
It is preferable that the server monitors the process in which the user reads the identification symbol 103 of the object 101 using the user l terminal device and measures the user's behaviors and server use statistics. Now, each step of the embodiments according to the present
invention shown in Figs. 1 and 6 is described in detail.
2. Method of obtaining the related information of the object through the
identification symbol of the object
(1) process of assigning and printing an identification symbol to an
object
First, symbols which can identify each object are assigned to each of the objects according to an appointed rule. For example, a unique identification symbol system for identifying prescribed objects is newly prepared. Or, existing barcode system such as UPC/ E AN barcode which has attached to the goods already can be used as it is. When existing barcode system is used, the barcode printed on the product or the package of the product is utilized as the identification symbol of the product concerned.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a unique user identification number may be assigned to each user. According to this embodiment, an identification symbol including user identification number is assigned to the object in which the user requests to assign. Therefore, the identification symbol of the object includes a part of user identification symbol and a part of object identification symbol. In this case, the user related to the object concerned, for example, the owner or provider of the object can be identified as well as the object by the identification symbol. After assigning the identification symbol to the object, the
identification symbol is printed to the object as a physically readable form.
The printing process may be performed as printing one-dimensional or
two-dimensional barcode on the object or on the package of the object.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, unique characteristics of the object such as appearance, color, taste, fragrance, etc. can be used as the identification symbol. In this case, the process of assigning the identification symbol of the objects separately and printing the identification symbol on the objects is omitted. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the identification symbol can be made available only if the real object is purchased. For doing this, it is preferable that the identification becomes readable only after the package of the object is opened or the film or the package shielding the identification symbol of the object is removed. In this case, the identification symbol is preferably constituted of a complex combination which is not presumed easily by the arbitrary combination. A unique identification symbol different from any other identification symbol for each of the products should be assigned whenever the product is packaged or the identification symbol is attached. The identification symbol printed in this way is not readable before non-reversibly removing the package sealing the code physically, electronically, optically, or in
another way. It is preferable that the user may check easily with the naked eye whether the sealing package is removed or not. For example, a sheet of paper may be posted, or a special coat may be covered such as that of instant lottery ticket.
The server of the agency issuing the identification symbols manages the list of the identification symbols using database. The server
also records whether the user had transmitted the identification symbol to
the server through network before for each of the identification symbols. In addition, the server may store the additional information about the identification symbols. The additional information will be explained later. (2) process of connecting the identification symbol of the object with the basic information of the object The basic information 105 of the object is basic information showing the characteristics of the object concerned. From the relationship between the identification information 103 and the basic information 105, the basic characteristics of ihe object 101 in which the identification information 105 concerned is printed. Such basic information 105 plays a role as a reference word or keyword to search the related information of the object concerned from various sources on the network. The basic information may be a URL designating a specific site in the Internet related to the object concerned.
The basic information 105 is preferably recorded on the server on the network. That is, the server stores the basic information 105 for various
objects and the relationship between the basic information 105 and the identification information printed on the object. The server establishes a separate database and records the basic information and the relationship between the basic information and the identification information to the database. Fig. 2 shows the structure of the database in the server according to
an embodiment of the present invention schematically. The database
shown in Fig. 2 is an example of records of the identification information, basic information and the relationship therebetween for the products such
as CD, DVD, books, etc. In the example shown in Fig. 2, barcodes of EAN type are used as identification symbols.
In Fig. 2, "Field" item 201 indicates a data item in ihe database. "CD" item 202, "DVD" item 203, and "Book" item show the contents of each data item in case that the product name is CD, DVD, and books, respectively.
Barcode of maximum 20 characters size is recorded in "GOD_CD" item 212 with 13 digits. For example, barcodes of 13 digits are recorded in case that the products recorded in the server are CD, DVD, and books. A flag of 1 character size indicating whether the barcode follows the standard barcode system is recorded in "GOD_GB" item 213. In the example of Fig. 2, all "GOD_GB" items are recorded as A because CD, DVD, and book follow the EAN standard barcode system. Product name of maximum 100 characters size is recorded in "GOD_NMl" item 214. The second product name of maximum 100 characters size is recorded in "GOD_NM2" item 215. When the product is CD, for example, album title is recorded in "GOD_NMl" item 214, and artist name is recorded in "GODJSTM2" item 215. A specific code of maximum 6 characters size for classifying the kind of goods is recorded in "DIS_CD4" item 216. Manufactured country information for the product is recorded in "COUNTRY_CD" item 217. Manufacturer code of maximum 8 characters size for the product is
recorded in "VENDOR_CD" item 218. Manufacturer URL of maximum 8
characters size for the product is recorded in "VENDOR_URL" item 219.
Product classifying information of maximum 50 characters size is recorded
in "DIS_NM" item 220.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
basic information 105 may be recorded on ihe terminal device. In this case,
the relationship between the basic information 105 and the identification
information is also recorded to the terminal device, preferably. In this case,
the relationship between the basic information and the identification
information is recorded on the recording medium of the terminal device.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
basic information for the user is preferably recorded on the server when
ihe identification symbol includes user identification symbol. In this case, it
is desirable that the relationship between the user identification symbol
and ihe basic information for the user concerned is recorded. When user
identification symbol is assigned to the user, the server makes the user
input basic information about user and records the information to the
database.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the case
that barcodes printed on existing various products are used as
identification symbols, the connection between the identification symbol
and the basic information is performed by link to the database of the
agency issued the barcode concerned. Or, a separate program, for example, an agent program is operated to automatically update the link to the basic information related to the barcode concerned. If the identification symbol
is the barcode of the product, ihe basic information may include the
characteristic information such as product name, manufacturer, date of
made, form, taste, color, and etc.
(3) process of reading the identification symbol by physical operation
The user terminal device reads the identification symbol printed on the object by a physical operation. In the case that the identification symbol is the conventional barcode, a barcode scanner is furnished to the user terminal device and performs reading.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the identification symbol is printed on the object or the package of the object in the form in which the user may recognize. In this case, the user recognizes the identification symbol, and inputs recognized value to the terminal device in person. Next, the terminal device decodes the value inputted by the user to find out the identification symbol using internal software. If the identification symbol is a conventional barcode, for example, the user may input the numbers printed with ihe barcode to the terminal device in person. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device is a cellular phone. In this case, the user recognizes the identification symbol, and inputs the number corresponding to the identification symbol to the cellular phone directly. If the terminal device is a cellular phone, a barcode reader may be attached to the cellular phone for the cellular phone to read the barcode directly. According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Fig. 7, the user terminal device may have a barcode reader 705 to read the barcode and a controller 707 to process the barcode read. At this time, 1-
dimensional or 2-dimensioinal barcode reader can be used as the barcode reader 705. It is preferable that the barcode reader 705 has the functions of reading barcode and temporarily memorizing the barcode read. A general- purpose computer may used as the controller 707.
The barcode reader 705 may record the barcode read to the memory of the barcode reader 705 temporarily. In this case, the barcode inputted to the barcode reader 705 may be transmitted later to a PC by connecting with wire of wireless to the PC through a serial, USB, infrared, or bluetooth terminal.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the barcode recorded on the memory of the barcode reader 705 is transmitted to the controller 707 with wire or wireless. In the case that the barcode reader 705 and the controller 707 transceive the barcode with wire, barcode may be transmitted through the serial, USB, or parallel port. In the case that the barcode reader 705 and the controller 707 transceive the barcode wireless, barcode may be transmitted using short-distance wireless communication such as infrared communication or bluetooth.
(4) process of searching basic information of the object by referring to the identi ication symbol
First, the user terrninal device transmits the decoded identification symbol to the server on ihe network. Next, the server inquires the database to search the basic information related to the transmitted identification
symbol.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
basic information of various products is recorded on the recording
medium of the terminal device. In this case, the search for the basic information related to the identification symbol is performed in the
terminal device.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the server drives the agent program to call the basic information recorded on a different server on the network after transmission of the identification
symbol read to the server on the network.
(5) process of searching and connecting the related information distributed on various sources on the network based on basic
information The server transforms the basic information to the form available to search the related information distributed on various sources on the network. That is, the server extracts the search word or keyword available to search the related information from the basic information. The related information is various information related to the object concerned which exists in any source on the network. This related information includes the sale price, review, vendor, etc.
The server search the related information related to the object concerned from various sources on the network with reference to the search word or keyword extracted from ihe basic information. According to another embodiment of the present invention, search
word or keyword is transmitted to a different server on the network using a program such as agent, and the different server searches the related
information with reference to the search word or keyword. It is desirable
that such different server has search engine function which can search various related information. Next, the program such as agent receives the
search results from the different server.
Then, the server connects the basic information and the related information on the network. Only such connection information, for example, link information is recorded in the database of the server.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the related information searched can be recorded to the database of the server
temporarily. It is to perform search operation more promptly and efficiently for the search request for the same object of the same user. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the server searches automatically the related information based on the basic information periodically and updates the database on the server successively without the search request from the user terminal device. In this case, the required time to finish the search of the related information after the user terminal device reads the identification symbol of the object is reduced.
According to another embodiment in which the identification symbol is available only if ihe real object is purchased as shown in the above, the server of the agency issuing the identification symbol determines whether the identification symbol of the real object in which
the user purchased is a genuine identification symbol which is issued by
the server in advance based on the basic information transmitted from the
user. In addition, the server of the agency issuing the identification symbol determines whether another user has transmit the basic information related to the same identification symbol before the user transmits the basic information when the identification symbol is determined to be genuine to prevent the identification information of the same real object from being transmitted twice or more. By doing this, it is guaranteed that the identification symbol is that printed on the genuine real object in which the user purchased and the identification symbol is not the one printed on the real object purchased
previously. (6) process of providing related information connected to the basic information of the object
The server provides various related information connected to the basic information to the user. That is, the server transmits the relate information to the user terminal device, and the user terminal device displays to the user the related information transmitted from the server using display means.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example providing related information to the user. If the process of providing related information is started (301), the server draws up a list of servers for searching related information related to the basic information (302). Next, the server transforms the basic information to the form used to search for the search
server and transmits the transformed basic information (303). The search
server searches related information using transformed basic information
which is received from the server (304). The server provides searched
related information to the user with or without additional processing (306).
The related information provided to the user includes market price
information of the object, reviews from another users, auction or reverse auction information on Internet, etc.
The user may utilize the related information which is provided from the server to various activities such as purchase of the product, participation to ihe auction or reverse auction, sending searched information to a community, or sending searched information by e-mail,
etc.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the user wishes to do a specific action after reading the related information, the request of the user for the action is transmitted to the server who provided the related information. The related server performs various additional processes satisfying user's request. For example, if a user wishes to purchase a product by connecting ihe Internet shopping mall after being
provided with the information about the Internet shopping mall of the object concerned, such request from user is transmitted to the Internet
shopping mall directly through the network and the purchase is performed.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process in which the user who was provided with the related information according to the present invention requests a specific service. First, if the user requests an additional service or an additional service is available according to the
user's action, a button is displayed or provided to the user terminal device
to ask the user whether he or she wish to proceed the additional service (402). If the user requests an additional service by pushing the button (403), the request of the user is transmitted to the server which provided the related information concerned, and the server which provided the related information performs the service requested by the user (404). Next, the server provides the result of ihe service provided from the server which provided the related information concerned to the user with or without additional processing (405).
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the user provided with the related information may request an additional processing to the information based on the related information concerned. For example, if the user provided with two or more price information, the user may wish to get information about the shopping mall which guarantees the lowest price among the price information provided. In this case, the server analyzes the related information and provides the user with related information about the shopping mall which guarantees ihe
lowest price the information only. If the relate information is price information, transaction information, auction or reverse auction
information, the user may request an optimum purchase to a server. In this case, the server automatically participates to auction or reverse auction, analyzes the transaction information and price information, and performs the request for opiimum purchase.
(7) process of adding or editing basic information by user
The user provided with the related information may amend or edit
parts of the related information. Through this process, the user may update
the basic information of the server. This process is very useful when the basic information in which the user requests to search is not present or has errors. If the basic information is not present or has errors, the search for the related information is not correctly performed. Therefore, the basic information should be updated by the user after receiving the result.
Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for amending and editing parts of the related information by the user provided with ihe related information according to the present invention.
First, the user terminal device searches the basic information using read identification number (502). Then, it determines whether the basic information exists (503). If there is the basic information, it determines whether the basic information is correct (504). If it is determined that the basic information is correct, the search for the related information based on the basic information is performed (505). If the basic information is not correct, the user is asked if he or she wishes to change the basic information (506). If the user does not wish to modify the basic information, the search for the related information is performed based on the existing basic information. If the user wished to modify the basic information, it branches to the basic information adding routine which shall be described later. If it is determined that ihe basic information is not present in the above-described step of determining the presence of the basic information
(503), the user is asked whether he or she wishes to add the basic information (508). If the user does not wish to add the basic information,
the search is not completed and the result is informed to the user (509). If
the user wished to add basic information, the user inputs the basic information (510). The administration server determines whether the basic information inputted by the user is genuine (511). If it is determined that
inputted basic information by the user is genuine, ihe basic information database is updated based on it (513). If it is determined that inputted basic information by the user is not genuine, the process ends.
(8) process of recording rate information of the user for the object
The user may record subjective rate information for the specific object to the server. For example, if the specific object is an item on sale, the user may record the rate of the item to the server. The rate information of the user is recorded with the basic information for the object as evaluating information.
Such rate information of the user is provided to another user as well as the basic information of the object concerned in the case that another user requests to search the related information for the object concerned. Therefore, the user may read the rate information for the object from various users.
The rate information of another user for the rate information of the user itself can be recorded on the server. Thus, the reliability of the rate information itself is provided to another users as well as the user's rate information for the object concerned.
(9) process of recording the search result data of the user
The method according to the present invention may include the
process of recording the history of reading the object identification code of
the user. In this case, a user identification number is issued to the user who wishes to use the server, a separate recording area for recording the history of reading the object identification code of the user is prepared on the server, and the object identification code is recorded in real time whenever it is transmitted from the user terminal device. Such user search history is utilized as reference data to search and process the related information to
provide to the user.
In addition, the user may wish to selectively record the related information after provided with the related information. In this case, recording area for related information is prepared on the server, and selected related information is recorded on the recording area for related information. A case that ihe read object by the user is a media where information is recorded such as newspapers, magazines, or etc. is described as an example. In this case, the user reads the identification symbol assigned to the article of the newspaper or magazine to be provided with ihe related information related to the article carried in the newspaper or magazine using terminal device. When relate information is
provided to the user from various sources on the network through the process described above, the user sends an instruction to record selected information among related information to the server. The server records selected related information on the recording area prepared on the server.
Therefore, ihe user can easily scrap articles of the newspapers or
magazines with which the user is in contact in real world to a virtual space.
(10) Application examples
In the following, the application examples of the present invention are described in detail.
First, the case that an item on sale is ihe object whose related information is asked to search is explained as an example. In this case, the identification symbol is printed one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on the product or the package of the product. The basic information may
include the basic characteristics of the product such as manufacturer, consumers' price, size, taste, fragrance, nature, or etc. The related information may include the users' review, market information, auction or reverse auction information, etc. from various servers. Therefore, the user who keeps in contact with ihe product in real world can be provided with the information helpful to the purchase of the product by reading the related information for the product concerned.
The case that a medium providing various multimedia contents is the object whose related information is asked to search is explained. In this case, the object whose related information is asked to search is a medium where multimedia contents are recorded such as videotape, DVD, CD, or
etc. The identification symbol is printed one-dimensionally or two- dimensionally on the package or the exterior surface of the multimedia medium concerned. The basic information may include the copyright holder, manufacturer, genre, and/ or brief content. The related information
may include the users' review, zip file of the multimedia contents
concerned available from network, and/ or performing information.
Therefore, in the shop selling media where multimedia data are recorded, for example, DVD, ihe user may appreciate directly the multimedia contents recorded on the DVD concerned by being provided the contents via network after the user reads the identification symbol of desired DVD using terminal device.
The case that an article of the newspaper or a broadcast program is the object whose related information is asked to search is explained. In this case, the identification symbol is printed on the newspaper with the article concerned. In case of the broadcast program, the identification symbol is
provided with the broadcasting or printed on the newspaper introducing the contents of the broadcast programs. The basic information may include the title of the article or program and brief content. The related information may include related detailed information of ihe article or program and related articles, etc. Thus, the user can scrap the article or program on the server on the network or search the related information by reading the identification symbol of desired article or program when watching the concerned article or program while keeping in contact with the newspaper or broadcasting.
According to the embodiment in which the identification symbol transmitted from the user is guaranteed as one read from the genuine real object in which the user purchased, the identification symbol in which the user transmitted and the related information related thereto can be utilized
to determine whether the real object in which the user purchased is a
genuine product. For example, in the case that the real object in which the
user purchased is jewelry or other product whose genuineness should be
examined, the identification symbol is issued only to the genuine product. The identification symbol issuing agency records the identification symbols issued to the genuine products to the database and manages them. Only if the identification symbol printed on the object in which the user purchased is equal to any one of tire identification symbols recorded on the database of the identification symbol issuing agency, and only if the identification symbol has not transmitted before, the object is determined to be genuine. By informing the result of examination of genuineness to the user, the user can determine whether the purchased item is genuine or not.
The case that the network is a phone network, especially the phone network to which an ARS (automatic response system) is connected in the communication environment shown in Fig. 7 is described. The user calls to the ARS through the phone network, and sends the identification symbol of the purchased real object by voice or by generating dial tone by pressing the electronic buttons. The ARS receives the identification symbol from the user and transmits it to the identification symbol issuing agency. The identification symbol issuing agency determines whether received identification symbol is the one of the genuine real object, and transmits
the result of determination to the ARS. Next, the ARS informs the result of determination to the user's phone by voice via phone network. Thus, the user can easily examine the genuineness of the real object in which he or
she purchase using only a phone.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
user purchased the real object transmits the identification symbol of the
real object concerned to the identification symbol management server
through network, and make the server record a specific data, for example,
a voice message, to the recording area which is referred from the
identification symbol of the real object concerned according to the
instruction of the identification symbol management server. Thus, the
purchaser of the real object gives the real object to a third party and
informs him/her the identification symbol simultaneously. The third party
took the real object and the identification symbol transmits the
identification symbol concerned to the identification symbol management
server through network, and receives the specific data recorded on the
recording area referred from the identification symbol, for example, the
voice message in which the purchaser of the real object records.
3. process of generating, obtaining, and connecting a virtual object
through the identification symbol of the object
(1) process of assigning and printing the identification symbol to the
object
Detailed description of this process is omitted because this process
is similar to that of the embodiment about the method of obtaining the
related information about the object using the identification symbol of the object. According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible
to make the identification symbol available only after the purchase of the real object. For this, it is preferable that the identification symbol becomes
readable only if the package of the object is opened or the film or package
shielding the identification symbol of the object is destroyed after the purchase of the object.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to make the identification symbol of the object available without purchasing ihe real object. In this case, the identification symbol is printed on the real object in the form understandable with the naked eye or readable with the reader.
If the real object is a game machine or medium for game, the identification symbol can be printed on the package or exterior of the game machine or medium for game. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the identification symbol may be printed as the identification symbol is displayed on the screen of the game machine or computer when the game machine or medium for game is operated.
As described above, if a game machine or a medium for game is the real object, the character, item, animation or music can be the virtual object. That is, such virtual object sometimes gains popularity in the real world, and in this case, the user may want to display the virtual object on his or her terminal device. For example, the character, item, animation can be displayed on the mobile phone which is a representative example of the terminal device, the music can be used as the ringing sound, and mini game can be operated on ihe mobile phone. Such identification symbol of
the object can be printed on the exterior or ihe package of the real object, or
printed as a form of program.
The identification symbol is printed as a form of code displayed during game, and the user records ihe code on his or her terminal device and inputs the code to obtain the virtual object.
(2) process of connecting the identification symbol and the basic information
Detailed description of this process is omitted because this process is similar to that of the embodiment about the method of obtaining the related information about the object using the identification symbol of the object.
(3) process of reading the identification symbol with a physical operation on the object Detailed description of this process is omitted because this process is similar to that of the embodiment about the method of obtaining the related information about the object using the identification symbol of the object.
(4) process of searching the basic information with reference to the
identification symbol
Detailed description of this process is omitted because this process is similar to that of the embodiment about the method of obtaining the
related information about the object using the identification symbol of the object. According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible
to make only one user who purchased the real object obtain the virtual
object. In this case, the authentication process for the identification symbol in which the user transmitted is performed.
An example of the authentication is to determine whether the identification symbol in which the user transmitted is the same as the identification symbol printed on the real object which is sold actually. Through this process, the virtual object is prevented from being obtained by the identification symbol in which the user inputs arbitrarily or without purchase.
Another example of the authentication is to determine whether the identification symbol in which the user transmitted is the same as the identification symbol transmitted by the other or the same user and used to obtain the virtual object. Through this process, the virtual object is prevented from being obtained again by the identification symbol already used to obtain the virtual object.
(5) process of generating or obtaining virtual object based on basic information
The server generates the virtual object corresponding the basic information concerned or obtains the virtual object generated in advance based on the basic information. The server may newly generate a virtual object based on the basic information, or obtains the virtual object generated in advance through ihe basic information. (5-1) Embodiment of generating virtual object First, the embodiment in which virtual object is newly generated is
explained. In the followings, the embodiment in which the virtual object
generating system is arranged separately is mainly explained referring Fig.
9. The system for generating virtual object is explained. The server 709 requests to generate a virtual object to ihe virtual object generating system 711, and the virtual object generating system 711 generates a virtual object and transmits it to the server 709. To generate the virtual object, the data for expressing the virtual object is generated with reference to the basic information searched through the identification information of the real object.
The virtual object generating system may include a virtual object generating server and a virtual object management server. Each of the virtual object generating server and the virtual object management server is a conventional server which comprises a memory device, control device performing arithmetic and control, input device and output device.
The virtual object generating server 901 receives ihe basic information from the server and records it. Then, the virtual object generating server 901 generates the virtual object with reference to the basic information, and records the information about the virtual object. The virtual object generating server 901 comprises virtual object generating means. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the virtual object generating server 901 generates the virtual object based on the related information as well as the basic information. The virtual object management server records the data for the
virtual object generated, and transmits the data for the virtual object to the
user terminal device. The user terminal device displays the virtual object
based on received data for the virtual object.
In the followings, the constitution and operation of the virtual
object generating server is explained in detail
Virtual object definition data
In this specification, data for representing the virtual object is called
virtual object definition data. The virtual object definition data preferably
includes the basic information for generating the virtual object. According
to another embodiment of the present invention, tire virtual object
definition data includes ihe related information as well as the basic
information.
Fig. 10 shows the structure of the database about the basic
information 1008, 1009 and 1010 and the related information 1011, 1012,
1013, 1014, 1015 and 1016of the real object schematically.
Fig. 11 shows the structure of the database of the virtual object
definition data 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125 and 1126 generated based on
the basic information 1118, 1119 and 1120 schematically.
Fig. 12 shows ihe structure of the database of the virtual object
definition data generated based on the basic information and the related
information schematically. The virtual object can be implemented through
the generated virtual object definition data (1226).
The virtual object can be made graphical form or avatar through the virtual object definition data based on the basic information or based on
both of the basic information and the related information.
Examples of the virtual object definition data for several real objects
are explained based on the structure diagram of ihe database.
For example, in the case that the real object is a cloth, the basic information of the cloth are the product name, manufacturer, designer, etc., and the virtual object definition data to make the cloth concerned to be the virtual object include the color, size, style, year of made, material, fabric, etc. of the cloth concerned. In the case that the real object is a book, the basic information of the book are the title, publisher, author, etc., and the virtual object definition data include the cover, abstract, genre, published year, etc. of the book concerned.
In the case that the real object is a music record, the basic information of the music are the album title, artist, manufacturer, etc., and the virtual object definition data include the jacket, genre, playing time, recording form, etc. of the music concerned.
In the case that the real object is an electronics, the basic information of the electronics are the product name, manufacturer, etc., and the virtual object definition data include the color, size, use, year of made, after-service (A/S), etc. of the electronics concerned.
In the case that the real object is a game machine or game medium, the basic information of the game machine or game medium are the game title, manufacturer and so on, and the virtual object definition data includes the outward appearance such as size, material and so on, game manual, year of made, etc. if the virtual object is the virtual counterpart of
the game machine concerned. According to another embodiment of the
present invention, the virtual object definition data may include
respectively the appearance, sound effect, and moving picture of the character, appearance, sound effect, moving picture, point of the item, appearance and moving picture of the animation, and sound effect itself if the virtual object is character, item, animation, or sound effect, etc of the game machine or game medium. In the case that the real object is a toy, the basic information of the toy are the product name, manufacture, class, etc., and the virtual object definition data include the character form, color, style, size; material, operation, etc. of the toy concerned.
It is possible to search the related information about the real object with reference to ihe basic information and generate the virtual object definition data based on the basic information and the related in ormation.
For example, in the case that the real object is a cloth, the basic information are the manufacturer and product name, and the related information includes the color, size, year of made, etc., the virtual object
definition data may include the change of the appearance according to the year of made, size, color, etc. with reference to the related information.
In the case that the real object is a book, the basic information of the book are the title, publisher, author, and the related information includes the cover, published year, genre, etc., the virtual object definition data may be the cover, indication of published year, indication of genre, etc. with
reference to the related information.
In the case that the real object is a music record, the basic
information of the music are the album title, artist, manufacturer, and the
related information includes the jacket, genre, playing time, recording form, etc., the virtual object definition data may be the jacket, indication of genre, indication of playing time, indication of recording form, etc.
In the case that the real object is a game machine or game medium, the basic information of the game machine or game medium are the game title, manufacturer, and there are ihe related information about the virtual counterpart including the outward appearance such as size, material and so on of the game machine or game medium, game manual, year of made, etc. and the related information about the character, item, animation, sound effect, etc. of the game machine or game medium. The virtual object definition data includes the outward appearance of the game machine or game medium such as size, material and so on, game manual, indication of year of made, etc. with reference to the related information. According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the case that the virtual object is character, item, animation, or sound effect, etc of the game machine or game medium, the virtual object definition data may include respectively the indication of the appearance, sound effect, and moving
picture of the character, indication of appearance, sound effect, moving picture, point of the item, indication of appearance and moving picture of the animation, and sound effect itself. In the case that the real object is a toy, the basic information of the
toy are the product name, manufacture, class, etc., and ihe virtual object
definition data include the character form, color, style, size, material,
operation, etc. of the toy concerned. Structure of ihe virtual object generation server
The virtual object generation server 901 may use a network operating program as the operating system (OS) of the system. For example, operating program such as UNIX, LINUX, or WINDOW NT can be used as the operating system. Such OS provides high-level instruction set to the application program interface (API) to control each operation for generating ihe virtual object.
Detailed member functions for API are as follows.
Open API is used to open the sessions of the image processing module, edge extracting module, component control module, and virtual object generating module on the request of the user.
Close API is used to close ihe session for the used application module.
Copy API is used to copy the virtual object data generated on the request of the user. Retrieve API is used to retrieve the application module which can
be called on the virtual object generating server.
Status API is used to determine the operational status of the image
processing module, edge extracting module, component control module,
and virtual object generating module. Initialize API has function of initialize each application to be called.
List API is used to confirm the list of the virtual objects generated
upon request of the user or each component used to generate the virtual
object. Register API is used to register the information of the virtual object generated on the request of the user.
Unregister API is used to unregister the information of the virtual
object generated.
Read API is used to read the image data transmitted from the user. The above-described APIs are executed individually according to the module used, and the virtual object generating server can generate the virtual object through the process of extracting the components used to
generate the virtual object, modifying and synthesizing each component.
Process of generating ihe virtual object The user requests the generation of the virtual object through the server 709, and ihe server 709 transmits the basic information to newly generate the virtual object to the virtual object generating server 901.
The virtual object generating server 901 generates the virtual object based on the received basic information and records it. The virtual object generating server records the data for generated virtual object and transmits the data to the user terminal device to display the virtual object.
Generated virtual object definition data are recorded on the virtual object database 713 of the virtual object management server 711. The structure of the virtual object database is the same as shown in
Figs. 11 and 12.
The virtual object is expressed as the form displayable on the screen
of the computer accessible to the network. The virtual object definition data
may include the information to express the virtual object, for example, the information of the appearance displayable on the screen. The graphic data
to display the character of the virtual object on the computer screen may be the information for ihe appearance of the virtual object.
Process of generating the virtual object is described in more detail. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of generating the virtual
object according to the present invention.
Basic information about the real object is obtained through the identification information printed on the real object of the real world (801).
The basic information is transmitted to the virtual object generation server to request to generate the virtual object (802).
The virtual object generation server generates a virtual object by referring to received basic information (803).
The virtual object generation server can generate the virtual object directly, it is possible to generate the virtual object through the process of requesting the generation of the virtual object to the virtual object management server which is separately arranged, generating the virtual object by the virtual object management server, and transmitting generated virtual object to the virtual object generation server.
The virtual object management server may register the virtual object definition data which are the data about generated virtual object,
manage the data in virtual space, and transmit the virtual object definition
data to the user terminal device (806).
It is possible to search the related information about the real object
with reference to the basic information and generate the virtual object definition data based on the basic information and the related information (808).
Detailed embodiment of method of extracting the virtual object definition data from the basic information Process of virtual object generating server to generate a virtual object can be summarized to the process of extracting the virtual object definition data from the basic information of the real object.
The detailed embodiment of method of extracting the virtual object definition data from ihe basic information is described in detail. A technique of making a mathematical model or graphical model for the subject such as a certain condition or object is called modeling. The technique of making a model on the screen using computer is a representative example of modeling.
A. Method of extracting and generating the virtual object data from the still image obtained by a camera, etc. (process of extracting avatar image from the image of the real object)
BMP(bit map format) is one of the standard image data format used in Windows, and it is a bit map format which is very wide-use. BMP format is used without any additional processing in Windows or Macintosh, and the still images of camera, fax, scan file can be the jpg, bmp
or png format through the process of transformation to image data.
Still images obtained using a camera, etc. are made to the image
data of the above-described formats, image data including image of the
real object is received through network, and the virtual object data are extracted from received image data. The step of extracting the virtual object data generates the virtual object definition data through the steps of modifying the shape of the components of the virtual object and synthesizing each component. The step of extracting the components is to confine the region for
generating a virtual object from the image data, remove noises of the image data confined to a specific region, and generate differential data through the successive mathematical processes from the image data whose noises are removed. Several candidate regions for components of the virtual object data are extracted according to the differential data, the sizes and the shapes are examined, and ihe components satisfying the prescribed standard are extracted.
For example, points are generated on the parts showing individuality and image data are generated using the data of generated
points to extract the virtual object data from the still image of the human face. In case of another real object, image can be extracted through similar process if the kind of the object is grasped.
Bit image is used to display an image on the screen. Bit image means a consecutive set of bits of the memory device indicating the image to be displayed on the screen especially of the system having graphic user
interface (GUI). Each bit in bit image corresponds to the 1 pixel on the
screen. On the computer having black and white screen, bit value in bit
image is 0 when it shows white, and 1 when it shows black. Pattern of 0s and ls in bit image determines the pattern of black and white dots forming an image on the screen. On the computer having color screen, two or more bits are needed to indicate a pixel, and it is called pixel image.
More specifically, a program which can perform the above- described tasks is needed, and graphics program is such program which can perform the processing of generating image data, saving the image as a file, modifying and transforming the image formed as file.
There are two types of graphics program. One is bitmap image type, and the other is vector graphics type.
Bitmap image type processes the image in terms of pixel, and it is suitable for expressing the natural and realistic image. File size is smaller than that of vector type, but it has a shortcoming that the quality of the image becomes worse when the image is enlarged.
Vector graphics type expresses and processes the image as mathematical diagrams and the form is maintained if the graphic image is scaled up or down. However, the expression of various color or complex line is difficult.
B. Method of extracting the virtual object data from the moving picture obtained by a camera, etc.
If the real object shows various appearances according to the angles of view, there are some characteristics in motions of real object, or the
appearance of the real object varies on time, the virtual object data can be
extracted using moving pictures.
Since moving pictures consist of several still frame during short
time period, the above-described method of extracting the virtual object data from the still image can be applied.
Since extracting the virtual object data from moving pictures are extracting the virtual object data from several still images, several images for the virtual object are generated and a process of forming a single image from those several images is needed. Image is formed as 3-dimensional, or the image performing the operation according to the time is formed. Or, image data can be formed using morphing technique.
Morphing technique means the technique to change the shape of an object to the shape of another object gradually, and it can be used as the method of extracting the virtual object data from the image of the real object. Two images of the source image and the result image are needed, and morphing software tries to transform images by finding the corresponding points of two images to morph. It displays the image manufactured in pieces consecutively, and it is a camouflage using optical illusion.
The changing appearance of the real object can be formed as avatar using the above morphing technique, the form having different appearances according to the angle of view can be generated.
C. Method of extracting the virtual object data from the still or moving picture obtained by Internet, etc.
The method of extracting virtual object data from the still or
moving picture obtained by web such as Internet is similar to the methods
of extracting virtual object data from the still or moving picture above
described. GIF (graphic interchange format) is mainly used for the internet home page graphics.
Detailed description is omitted since it is similar to the method of extracting virtual object data from the still or moving picture above described. D. Method of extracting the virtual object data from the basic information without image
The virtual object data can be extracted from the text information or
voice information.
Basic information of text form can play the role or reference word or keyword for search and extracting the related information of the real object from various sources on network such as Internet. The basic information may be an URL indicating a specific site related to the object concerned.
In case of the basic information without image, sometimes the service provider voluntarily connects the basic information and the related information in advance. Therefore, there is no need to generate or extract
the virtual object definition data separately. For example, if the basic information of product name as text form is provided from the user for the real object related to the clothes, the virtual object corresponding to the product can be connected directly without extracting or generating the virtual data.
(5-2) embodiment of obtaining a virtual object generated in
advance The embodiment in which the virtual object generated in advance is obtained through the basic information is described.
The computer or server 709 which want to obtain a virtual object transmits the basic information about the virtual object to be obtained to the virtual object management server 711 and requests to transmit the virtual object. The virtual object management server 711 searches the
information about the virtual object corresponding the basic information from the database 713 with reference to the basic information. The information about the virtual object recorded on the virtual object database 713 is transmitted to the computer or server 709 which wishes to obtain the information.
(6) management process of the virtual object in virtual space
The server 709 manages the virtual object recorded on the user database 705. The user may access the server 709 and requests to manage his or her virtual object. (7) application example
In the followings, the application example of the process of the present invention is described with reference to Fig. 7.
First, an application example in which apparel or accessory for character-avatar to wear is obtained as a virtual object in chatting service is explained. The real object 701 is a real apparel or accessory. Apparel or
accessory companies print the identification symbols on the apparels or accessories or adhere the identification symbol to the apparels or
accessories as a form of sealed tag to providing from expose when the
companies manufacture and sell apparels or accessories. A unique identification symbol 703 is assigned to each of the manufactured apparels or accessories. The user purchases the apparel or accessory, grasps the identification symbol 703, and reads by the barcode reader 705 to input to the computer 707 or inputs directly the characters corresponding to the identification symbol. The identification symbol inputted to the computer is transmitted to the chatting server 709. At this time, the computer 707 transmits the chatting server login ID of the user to the server 709 as well. The chatting server 709 confirms the user ID, and generates the virtual object with reference to ihe basic information corresponding to transmitted identification symbol or obtains the virtual object from the virtual object server 711. The information about the virtual object obtained is recorded to the user database 715 connected to the user's account. Then, the user is displayed as wearing the virtual cloth or accessory expressed based on the information about virtual object recorded on the database connected to his or her account when he or she uses the chatting service. It is preferable that the virtual cloth or accessory displayed during chatting service has similar appearance as the real cloth or accessory in which the user actually purchased.
n application example in which item for character of the game to wear is obtained as a virtual object in on-line game service is explained.
On-line game companies or related companies sell models having similar
appearance as the item entering on the game in which the on-line game
company services in the real shop. For example, if the item entering on the on-line game is a sword, the off-line shop sells the model sword having similar appearance to the item. The identification symbol 703 is printed on the model or adhered to the model as a form of sealed tag to providing from expose when the model is sold in actual shop. The user purchases the model sword, grasps the identification symbol 703, and reads by the barcode reader 705 to input to the computer 707 or inputs directly the characters corresponding to the identification symbol. The identification symbol inputted to the computer is transmitted to the on-line game server
709. At this time, the computer 707 transmits the login ID of the user to the server 709 as well. The on-line game server 709 confirms the user ID, and generates the virtual object with reference to the basic information corresponding to transmitted identification symbol or obtains the virtual object from the virtual object server 711. The information about the item obtained is recorded to the user database 715 connected to the user's account. Then, the user is displayed as possessing the item expressed based on the information about item recorded on the database connected to his or her account when he or she uses the on-line game service. It is preferable
that the item displayed during on-line game service has similar appearance as the real model in which the user actually purchased.
An application example in which virtual object related to game or virtual object according to the game process is obtained in service related
to the game machine or game medium is explained. The manufacturer of the game makes the virtual object related to the game machine or game
medium (CD, game pack) corresponding to the real object 701 or the
information corresponding to processing or resolution of a specific level during game processing to be the identification symbol 703.
The identification symbol 703 may be the character, item, animation
entering in the game, or the information about each level of the game itself.
The identification symbol is read to input to the computer or the characters corresponding to the identification symbol is inputted directly, inputted data are transmitted to the chatting server 709. At this time, the computer 707 transmits to the server 709 of the game manufacturer. The server 709 of the game manufacturer generates the character, item, animation, etc. with reference to the basic information corresponding to the identification symbol transmitted, or the virtual object is generated from the virtual object management server 711.
Another application example related to the game machine or game medium is explained.
If the identification symbol entering after a level is resolved is displayed on the screen in a form of code, etc. when the user resolves a level and proceeds to the next level during game process, the user read the identification symbol, records it to his or her terminal, and inputs it to the computer 707 by reading the identification symbol using barcode reader 705 or by inputting the characters corresponding to the identification symbol directly when the user plays the same game. The identification
symbol inputted to the computer becomes the login ID to the game machine or game medium, and the user is empowered to play the next
level with reference to the information accumulated on the database. That
is, the present invention is applied to an application such as the accumulated in ormation about the game process of the user becomes the
virtual object.
The idea of the present invention is applicable to the service which is totally administrating the virtual objects generated in virtual space. For example, in on-line chatting service and on-line game service, virtual objects connected to the real objects inputted through two processes can be managed in the virtual space in which each character has.
For example, the user makes a virtual room where characters gather during chatting service. The room is a virtual room in which the user opened the chatting room at first possesses, and the user can decorate the room according to user's taste when the user connects the service in ordinary times. If the user transmits the codes of the objects present in user's room when the user decorates the room, the server let him exhibit
the virtual objects having the same appearances of the objects after searching the objects.
In the embodiment that the identification symbol is understood without purchase of the real object, the user only grasps the identification symbol without purchasing the real object. The virtual object corresponding to the real object is generated or obtained in virtual space based on the identification symbol in which the user understands.
Accordingly, users try to approach the real object to read the identification symbol from the real object to obtain the virtual object. Therefore, the real
object is advertised to lots of users. It is possible to display the
manufacturer or the product name of the real object on which the identification symbol in which the user read is printed simultaneously when the virtual object obtained as such is displayed on the user's terminal. For example, if the embodiment is applied to the on-line game, the user reads the identification symbol by approaching the real object corresponding to the item to obtain the item to be used in the on-line game. The item generated from the identification symbol read by user is displayed with the manufacturer or product name of the real object in which the user read the identification symbol in person. Accordingly, the manufacturer can achieve the advertising effect through the on-line game.
[INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]
According to the present invention, the user keeps in contact with
the object in real world can be provided with various information about
the object in virtual space without any time consumption.
If the object is a selling commodity, the user can get help from
various price and market information about the commodity in virtual
space to purchase the commodity. The user can examine the least price in
real time to purchase the goods in optimum condition. In addition, the user
can be provided with the link information about the internet shopping mall which sells the commodity as well as the price information about the
commodity, therefore the user can purchase the commodity on-line in real
time.

Claims

[CLAIMS]
1. A method of generating a virtual object corresponding an object on
which an identification symbol which can be read physically is
marked in a virtual space where a network is provided to which a
server and user terminal may access, the method comprising the
steps of:
making relationship between identification symbol of said object
and basic information of said object;
reading said identification symbol by a physical operation through
user terminal device;
searching basic information of said object with reference to said
read identification symbol; and
generating a virtual object corresponding to said object with
reference to basic information of said object.
2. A method of generating a virtual object corresponding an object on
which an identification symbol which can be read physically is
marked in a virtual space where a network is provided to which a
server including a database on which virtual object definition data
which define said virtual object are recorded and user terminal may
access, the method comprising the steps of:
making relationship between identification symbol of said object
and basic information of said object;
reading said identification symbol by a physical operation through
user terminal device; searching basic information of said object with reference to said
read identification symbol; transmitting basic information of said object to said server; and
generating a virtual object corresponding to said object with
reference to basic information of said object by said server.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein basic information of said object is recorded on database of said server connected to said network; and said step of searching includes the steps of: transmitting said identification symbol to the server through network by said user terminal device; and searching basic information connected to said transmitted identification symbol by examining said database by server.
4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein
basic information of said object is recorded on recording region of
said user terminal device; and
said step of searching is the step of searching basic information
connected to said transmitted identification symbol by examining
recording region by said user terminal device.
5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein
said identification symbol is printed on the surface or the package of said object in the form readable by barcode scanner;
said user terminal device includes a barcode scanner; and
said step of reading said identification symbol includes a step of reading identification symbol printed on the surface or the package
of said object in the form readable by said barcode scanner.
6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein
said identification symbol is printed on the surface or the package of said object; said identification symbol is available only after opening the package of said object or destroying the film or package shielding identification symbol of said object; said identification symbol is assigned uniquely to each of said object; said server includes a database recording identification symbol assigned to said object; said step of generating virtual object is to determine identification symbol corresponding to said transmitted basic information is recorded on said database and to generate said virtual object only if the identification symbol is recorded on said database in result of said determination.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of generating virtual
object comprises the steps of:
generating virtual object definition data for generating said virtual
object in virtual space on said network based on said basic
information; and
recording said generated data on database of the server connected
to said network.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: searching related information related to said object through said
network based on said searched basic information; and wherein
said step of generating virtual object is to generate said virtual object with reference to said basic information and said related information.
9. The method of claim 7, said step of generating virtual object comprises the steps of: generating virtual object definition data for generating said virtual object in virtual space on said network based on said basic information and said related information ; and recording said generated data on database of the server connected to said network.
10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said virtual object is a virtual item in which an avatar-character may possess in on-line chatting service.
11. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein
said virtual object is a virtual item in which a character may possess
in on-line game service.
12. A system for searching related information related to an object on
which an identification symbol which can be read physically is
marked through network and providing searched information to
user, the system comprising: a host computer including a first recording area for recording said identification symbol, basic information of object, and relationship
between identification symbol of said object and basic information
of said object, means for generating a virtual object corresponding
to said object with reference to basic information of said object, and
a second recording area for recording virtual object definition data
defining said generated virtual object; and
a user terminal device including reading means for reading said
identification symbol by a physical operation, temporary recording
means for recording said read identification symbol temporarily,
and transmitting means for transmitting said temporarily recorded
identification symbol to said host computer through network, and
wherein
said host computer further includes receiving means for receiving
identification symbol to which said user terminal device
transmitted; and
said host computer extracts basic information of said object with
reference to identification symbol received by said receiving means,
generating virtual object definition data defining said virtual object
with reference to said extracted basic information of said object, and
records virtual object definition data to said second recording area.
PCT/KR2002/000675 2001-04-12 2002-04-12 Method and system for generating virtual object with reference to an identification symbol which is physically readable and printed on an real object WO2002084571A1 (en)

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KR20010092464A (en) 2001-10-26

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