WO2003050722A1

WO2003050722A1 - Internet recording method and system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2003050722A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jongmin Kim; Sunbo Jung
Original assignee: GOMID Inc
Current assignee: GOMID Inc
Priority date: 2001-11-06
Filing date: 2001-11-06
Publication date: 2003-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2004-05-06
Also published as: AU2002214368A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an Internet recording method and system capable of recording motions and acts of avatars and objects around the user's avatar, so as to allow the recorded data to be subsequently played back. The Internet recording method, which is carried out in accordance with a recording command, includes the steps of (A) storing user information about a plurality of users, space information about a virtual space, and object information about objects; (B) selecting, in response to the recording command, those of the user information, space information and object information corresponding to a position of a selected one of the users in the virtual space, and storing the selected user information, space information and object information, and (C) combining the selected and stored user information, space information and object information, thereby producing a recorded file.

Description

INTERNET RECORDING METHOD AND SYSTEM THEREOF

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an Internet recording method, and more particularly to a method and system for recording and playing back navigation data in a three-dimensional virtual space.

Background Art

In accordance with advent of techniques for composing a three- dimensional virtual space, and development of three-dimensional Web browsers, techniques have been developed which provide a three-dimensional virtual space, based on networks. On a site providing such a three- dimensional virtual space, the user can recreate his home in the three- dimensional virtual space, and chat with other persons, that is, avatars, in the three-dimensional virtual space. For instance, the user may view goods exhibited on display stands arranged in department stores or streets while walking or wandering in the department stores or streets, or have a talk with other avatars while being present at a reception or party.

Meeting of the user with other avatars in such a virtual space may be momentary, as in real space. Also, it may often occur that the area passed by the user is a transient place. In the three-dimensional virtual space where the user is present, there may be other objects in addition to many other avatars. These avatars and objects may also be movable. Each avatar or object, which is substituted for the IP address of an associated user, moves irregularly in accordance with a manipulation of the associated user.

Thus, the three-dimensional virtual space provides an environment substantially similar to real space. In the three-dimensional virtual space, the user may come into contact with many other avatars, and see peculiar acts of the other avatars, various events and various accidents, as in real space. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to completely remember phenomena occurring momentarily in a three-dimensional virtual space most similar to real space, just as a person cannot completely remember events occurring momentarily in real life, due to his limited memory.

Although it is possible to record and play back such phenomena through a video camera or VCR in real space, such functions are not provided in a three-dimensional virtual space. That is, there is no means for storing or recording and playing back various events occurring in a three-dimensional virtual space, for example, interactions between the avatar of the user and other avatars meeting the user's avatar during the wandering of the user's avatar. For this reason, it has been required to provide an apparatus capable of realizing a function for playing back the history of the acts of the user's avatar performed in a three-dimensional virtual space, when the user wants.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an Internet recording method and system capable of recording motions and acts of avatars and objects around the user's avatar, so as to allow the recorded data to be subsequently played back.

In accordance with an aspect for accomplishing this object, the present invention provides an Internet recording method carried out in accordance with a recording command, comprising the steps of: (A) storing user information about a plurality of users, space information about a virtual space, and object information about objects; (B) selecting, in response to the recording command, those of the user information, space information and object information corresponding to a position of a selected one of the users in the virtual space, and storing the selected user information, space information and object information; and (C) combining the selected and stored user information, space information and object information, thereby producing a recorded file.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an Internet recording system 100 according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a server-side process in the Internet recording method according to the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a client-side process in the Internet recording method according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, an Internet recording method and system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the annexed drawings. The following embodiment is made only for illustrative purposes. Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an Internet recording system 100 according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the Internet recording system 100 includes a server 10 connected to a plurality of clients, for example, five clients 1 to 5. Each of the clients 1 to 5 is a constitutive element used by a user to access the server 10. In accordance with the present invention, the server 10 is a device for recording data selected by the user upon receiving a recording request from a user accessing the server 10 via an associated one of the clients 1 to 5, temporarily storing the recorded data, and transmitting the temporarily stored data to the associated client. In Fig. 1, the server 10 includes an AOIM (Area Of Interest Manager) 11, a main manager 12, a recorded file manager

13, a user information manager 14, a user information storage unit 15, a user information temporary storage unit 16, a space information manager 17, a space information storage unit 18, a space information temporary storage unit 19, an object information manager 20, an object information storage unit 21, and an object information temporary storage unit 22.

The clients 1 to 5 are connected to the AOIM 11 via a network 30. The AOIM 11 is connected to the main manager 12. The main manager 12 is connected with the recorded file manager 13, user information manager 14, space information manager 17, and object information manager 20. The user information manager 14 is connected with the user information storage unit 15 and user information temporary storage unit 16, whereas the space information manager 17 is connected with the space information storage unit 18 and space information temporary storage unit 18. The object information manager 20 is connected with the object information storage unit 21 and obj ect information temporary storage unit 22.

The AOIM 11 is interfaced with the network 30 in order to perform functions for receiving and transmitting commands or data from the clients 1 to 5, that is, a gateway function associated with transmission and reception of data between the server 10 and the clients 1 to 5. That is, the AOIM 11 serves as a gateway for allowing the clients 1 to 5 to access the server 10. When any one of the clients 1 to 5 makes an access request, the AOIM 11 sends the access request to the main manager 12 of the server 10.

The main server 12 transfers commands or data from the clients 1 to 5 and commands or data from respective constitutive elements of the server 10 to constitutive elements associated with those commands or data, respectively. In particular, where an object-oriented model scheme is used, each constitutive element carries out an event independently of other constitutive elements, and then transfers the event to an associated constitutive element via the main manager 12.

The user information manager 14 manages the user information storage unit 15 and user information temporary storage unit 16 in accordance with a command or data received via the main manager 12.

The user information storage unit 15 stores user information of users accessing the server 10. For each user, the user information may include a user ID (identification), personal details, an IP (Internet protocol) address, and the shape and position data of the associated avatar.

The user information temporary storage unit 16 stores the IP address and the shape and position data of the avatar associated with a user making a recording request, and the IP address and the shape and position data of the avatar associated with each avatar of other users present within a predetermined region around the user's avatar, based on chronological sequence for a predetermined recording period.

The space information manager 17 manages the space information storage unit 18 and space information temporary storage unit 19 in accordance with a command or data received via the main manager 12.

The space information storage unit 18 stores information about spaces where respective avatars of users accessing the server 10 are movable. For each space, the space information may include a world ID, world version, and world category composed with a VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling

Language).

The space information temporary storage unit 19 stores space information associated with a virtual space where the avatar of the user making a recording request is positioned. That is, the space information temporary storage unit 19 stores space information association with virtual spaces visited by the avatar of the user making a recording request, based in chronological sequence for a predetermined recording period. The space information stored in the space information temporary storage unit 19 corresponds to a part of the space information stored in the space information storage unit 18.

The object information manager 20 manages the object information storage unit 21 and object information temporary storage unit 22 in accordance with a command or data received via the main manager 12.

The object information storage unit 21 stores information about objects, other than avatars, moving in a three-dimensional virtual space. The object information may include the shape and position data of each object.

The object information temporary storage unit 22 is a means for storing the shape and position data of each object present within a predetermined region around the position of the avatar of the user making a recording request, based on chronological sequence for a predetermined recording period. That is, the object information temporary storage unit 22 stores the shape and position data of an object positioned in a virtual space that the avatar of the user making a recording request visits.

The recoded file manager 13 receives recorded data from the space information manager 14, user information manager 15, and object information manager 16 via the main manager 12, combines the recorded data into a single recorded file, and transmits the recorded file to the client making a recording request, which client may be any one of the clients 1 to 5.

The operation of the Internet recording system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 1.

When a user using, for example, the client 1, enters a three- dimensional virtual space by running a three-dimensional browser, his avatar is displayed on the screen. This avatar can wander in the three-dimensional virtual space. For example, the avatar can enter a department store where diverse goods are displayed, or a place where a conference is held. In accordance with the present invention, the three-dimensional browser has a tool bar provided with a recording start button, a recording stop button, and a recording playback button.

While the avatar of the user wanders in the virtual space, the user information manager 14 manages the ID, IP address, avatar shape, and avatar position data of the user, along with those of other users accessing the server 10. When a user moves his avatar after accessing the server 10 using the three-dimensional browser in an associated one of the clients 1 to 5, the avatar position data varies in accordance with the movement of the avatar. The resultant avatar position data is transferred to the main manager 12 of the server 10. The user information manager 14 of the server 10 receives such avatar position data of each user from the main manager 12, and manages the received avatar position data in order to display the movement of the user's avatar along with respective movements of the avatars of other users in a simultaneous fashion.

While the avatar of the user wanders in the virtual space, the space information manager 17 manages the virtual space where the avatar is positioned. That is, the space information manager 17 receives the avatar position data of the user received from the client 1 via the main manager 12, searches for space information corresponding to the virtual space where the avatar of the user is positioned, based on the received avatar position data, and then transfers the space information to the client 1.

During the wandering of the user's avatar, the object information manager 20 manages all objects present within a predetermined region of the virtual space where the user's avatar is positioned. That is, the object information manager 20 retrieves, from the object information storage unit 20, information about all of the objects present within the predetermined region of the virtual space where the user's avatar is positioned, and transfers the retrieved information to the client 1. When the user finds a scene, desired to be recorded, during the wandering of his avatar in the virtual space, he presses the recording button on the tool bar of the three-dimensional browser.

As the recording button is pressed, a recording start command is transmitted to the AOIM 11 of the server 10 via the network 30. This recording start command received by the AOIM 11 of the server 10 is subsequently sent to the main manager 12. The main manager 12 determines that the command received from the client 1 corresponds to the recording start command, and sends the received command to the user information manager 14, space information manager 17, and object information manager 20, respectively. Each constitutive element receiving the recording start command executes a recording process for the data sent to the client 1. The recording process is carried out as follows.

In response to the recording start command from the user via the main manager 12, the user information manager 14 stores, in the user information temporary storage unit 16, the avatar shape and avatar position data of the user making the recording request, in the form of a log file. The user information manager 14 also stores, in the user information temporary storage unit 16, respective shapes and position data of all of the avatars present within a predetermined region around the position of the user, in the form of log files with different file names.

Upon receiving the recording start command from the user via the main manager 12, the space information manager 17 stores, in the space information temporary storage unit 19, the space information of the virtual space where the avatar of the user moves. For example, where the avatar of the user is positioned at a garment corner in a department store, the space information manager 17 stores the space information of the garment corner in the space information temporary storage unit 19.

In response to the recording start command from the user via the main manager 12, the object information manager 20 stores, in the object information temporary storage unit 22, the position and shape data of all of the objects positioned within the virtual space where the avatar of the user moves, in the form of a log file.

When the user desires to stop the recording process, he presses the recording stop button on the tool bar of the three-dimensional browser. As the recording stop button is pressed, a recording stop command is transmitted to the AOIM 11 of the server 10 via the network 30. This recording stop command received by the AOIM 11 of the server 10 is subsequently sent to the main manager 12. The main manager 12 determines that the command received from the client 1 corresponds to the recording stop command, and sends the received command to the recorded file manager 13, user information manager 14, space information manager 17, and object information manager 20, respectively. Respective constitutive elements receiving the recording stop command execute the following processes for the data stored therein. Upon receiving the recording stop command from the user, the user information manager 14 completes its operation for storing data in the user information temporary storage unit 16, and transfers the data stored in the user information temporary storage unit 16 to the recorded file manager 13 via the main manager 12.

In response to the recording stop command from the user, the space information manager 17 completes its operation for storing data in the space information temporary storage unit 19, and transfers the data stored in the space information temporary storage unit 19 to the recorded file manager 13 via the main manager 12.

Upon receiving the recording stop command from the user, the object information manager 20 completes its operation for storing data in the object information temporary storage unit 22, and transfers the data stored in the object information temporary storage unit 22 to the recorded file manager 13 via the main manager 12.

When the recorded file manager 13 receives the data stored in the user information temporary storage unit 16, space information temporary storage unit 19, and object information temporary storage unit 22 via the main manager 12, it combines the received data into a signal file. During the recording process, the user information temporary storage unit 16 stores user information, that is, user IDs, avatar shapes, and avatar position data. The space information temporary storage unit 19 stores the space information of the virtual space where the avatar of the user moves, that is, a world ID, world version, and world category. On the other hand, the object information temporary manager 22 stores object information, that is, a list of objects and object position data. The storage of such data is carried out based on chronological sequence. When the recording process is stopped, the recorded file manager 13 combines the user information, space information and object information received via the main manager 12, based on chronological sequence, thereby producing recorded files.

The recorded file manager 13 transmits the produced recorded files to the client 1 via the main manager 12 and AOIM 11.

The client 1 stores the recorded files received from the server 10 in a storage device (not shown) equipped therein, for example, in such a fashion that the recorded files are stored in directories built on chronological basis. In this case, each recorded file may be directly named by the user.

The user can play back the recorded files stored in the client 1, using the three-dimensional browser. For example, when the user selects a desired recorded file, and double clicks the left click switch of a mouse pointer under the condition in which the mouse cursor designates the selected recorded file, the three-dimensional browser is automatically run, thereby automatically displaying the recorded scenes of the selected recorded file on the screen.

When the user desires to play back another recorded file, he clicks the right click switch of the mouse pointer under the condition in which the mouse cursor is positioned on the recording playback button. In accordance with this operation, the list of the recorded files is displayed.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a server-side process in the Internet recording method according to the present invention. When the server 10 receives a recording start command from the client 1, it temporarily stores user information, space information, and object information, combines the temporarily stored data into a file upon subsequently receiving a recording stop command, and transmits the file to the client 1.

When the main manager 12 receives a recording start command from the client 1 via the AOIM 11, it sends the recording start command to the user information manager 14, space information manager 17, and object information manager 20 at step S201. Then, the process proceeds to step

S202.

At step S202, the user information manager 14 stores user information in the user information temporary storage unit 16. The space information manager 17 stores space information in the space information temporary storage unit 19. Also, the object information manager 20 stores object shapes and object position data in the object information temporary storage unit 22. Following step S202, the process proceeds to step S203.

When the main manager 12 receives a recording stop command from the client 1 via the AOIM 11 at step S203, it sends the recording stop command to the user information manager 14, space information manager 17, and object information manager 20. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S204.

At step S204, the recorded file manager 13 receives, from the user information manager 14, space information manager 17 and object information manager 20, the data stored in the user information temporary storage unit 16, space information temporary storage unit 19, and object information temporary storage unit 22 via the main manager 12. The recorded file manager 13 then combines the received data to produce a recorded file. The process then proceeds to step S205.

At step S205, the recorded file manager 13 transmits the produced recorded file to the client 1 via the main manager 12 and AOIM 11. Thus, the recording process is ended.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a client-side process in the Internet recording method according to the present invention. The client 1 transmits, to the server 10, a recording start command and a recording stop command inputted by the user. After transmitting the recording stop command, the client 1 receives a recorded file from the server 10, stores the recorded file, and subsequently plays back the recorded file when desired by the user. At step S301, the client 1 transmits a recording start command inputted by the user to the server 10. The process then proceeds to step S302. At step S302, the client 1 transmits a recording stop command inputted by the user to the server 10. Following step S302, the process proceeds to step S303. At step S303, the client 1 receives a recorded file from the server 10.

The process then proceeds to step S304. At step S304, the client 1 stores the recorded file in its storage device (not shown). Following step S304, the process proceeds to step S305. At step S305, the client 1 plays back the recorded file in accordance with a recording playback command inputted by the user.

Industrial Applicability

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to record scenes which the user views while moving in a three-dimensional virtual space, and which the user desires to subsequently play back. Accordingly, the user can view his avatar and avatars of other users moving in the three- dimensional virtual space. Thus, Internet users can utilize three-dimensional virtual spaces more amusingly and usefully.

Claims

1. An Internet recording method carried out in accordance with a recording command, comprising the steps of:

(A) storing user information about a plurality of users, space information about a virtual space, and object information about objects;

(B) selecting, in response to the recording command, those of the user information, space information and object information corresponding to a position of a selected one of the users in the virtual space, and storing the selected user information, space information and object information; and (C) combining the selected and stored user information, space information and object information, thereby producing a recorded file.

2. The Internet recording method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(D) supplying the recorded file to the selected user in response to a request made by the selected user for the recorded file.

3. The Internet recording method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual space is a three-dimensional virtual space, and the space information comprises a world identification (ID), a world version, and a world category.

4. The Internet recording method according to claim 3, wherein the user information comprises, for each of the users, an identification (ID), an

Internet protocol (IP), an avatar shape and an avatar position data.

5. The Internet recording method according to claim 4, wherein the object information comprises, for each of the objects, an object shape and an object position data.

6. The Internet recording method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

(E) storing user information about other users positioned within a predetermined region of the virtual space where the selected user is positioned, wherein the combined user information, space information and object information are further combined with the user information about the other users at the step (C), thereby producing a recorded file.

7. An Internet recording system operating in accordance with a recording command, comprising: first means for storing user information about a plurality of users; second means for storing space information about a virtual space; third means for storing object information about objects; fourth means for selecting, in response to the recording command, those of the user information, space information and object information corresponding to a position of a selected one of the users in the virtual space, and storing the selected user information, space information and object information, the recording command being generated from the selected user; and fifth means for combining the selected and stored user information, space information and object information, thereby producing a recorded file.

8. The Internet recording system according to claim 7, wherein the virtual space is a three-dimensional virtual space, and the space information comprises a world identification (ID), a world version, and a world category.

9. The Internet recording method according to claim 8, wherein the user information comprises, for each of the users, an identification (ID), an

Internet protocol (IP), an avatar shape and an avatar position data.

10. The Internet recording system according to claim 9, wherein the object information comprises, for each of the objects, an object shape and an object position data.

11. The Internet recording method according to claim 10, further comprising: sixth means for storing user information about other users positioned within a predetermined region in the virtual space where the selected user is positioned, wherein the fifth means further combines the combined user information, space information and object information with the user information about the other users, thereby producing a recorded file.