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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space among a
plurality of users of a plurality of client terminals, the client
terminals being unspecified and each displaying the three-dimensional
virtual reality space and being interconnected with each other and with a
shared server terminal via a global communication network, the method
comprising the steps of:
acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to
be used by the plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object
whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of
the plurality of users;
controlling at the shared server terminal update data associated with an
update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of
client terminals via the global communication network;
if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality
space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, sending to
the shared server terminal via the global communication network from the
client terminal that made the update, the update data associated with the
update and sending via the global communication network from the shared
server terminal to the other client terminals of the plurality of client
terminals, the update data about the update;
controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network, address information for addressing the shared
server terminal for controlling the update data;
supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address
information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the
address information to the requesting client terminal via the global
communication network;
accessing, from the requesting client terminal, the shared server terminal
using the address information;
controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals
connected to the global communication network;
controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing
each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server
terminal connected to the global communication network;
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network;
selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server
terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of
shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality
of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the
requesting client terminal;
supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network; and
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
corresponding to the selected optimum address information.
2. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 1, wherein the global communication network transfers
the update data between unspecified ones of the plurality of client
terminals and the shared server terminal based on a communication protocol
called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
3. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:
storing the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic
object and the update object for displaying the three-dimensional virtual
reality space in an information server terminal connected to the global
communication network in a state described in Virtual Reality Modeling
Language (VRML); and
transferring from the information server terminal, upon request from any of
the plurality of client terminals, the three-dimensional graphics data
described in the VRML to the requesting client terminal based on a
communication protocol called Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
4. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 3, further comprising further steps of:
storing in the information server terminal the three-dimensional graphics
data associated with the basic object and the update object for displaying
the three-dimensional virtual reality space by making the
three-dimensional graphics data correspond to specification information
for uniquely specifying a storage location of the three-dimensional
graphics data;
sending from the client terminal to the information server terminal the
specification information via the global communication network; and
transferring from the information server terminal the three-dimensional
graphics data for displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality space
specified in the specification information by the plurality of client
terminals via the global communication network to the plurality of client
terminals via the global communication network.
5. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
supplying the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic
object and the update object for displaying the three-dimensional virtual
reality space to the plurality of client terminals via separate recording
media readable by the plurality of client terminals.
6. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 1 wherein the update data associated with an update of
the state of the update object indicate movement of the update object
inside the three-dimensional virtual reality space.
7. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
sending, if another update object is added by any of the plurality of
client terminals to the three-dimensional virtual reality space,
three-dimensional graphics data about the another update object to the
shared server terminal and sending the three-dimensional graphics data
about the another update object to the other client terminals of the
plurality of client terminals.
8. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request from any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network for the
address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server
terminals;
identifying at the mapping server terminal, based on a source address of
the requesting client terminal, a geographical area in which the
requesting client terminal is installed;
selecting an address information from among the plurality of pieces of
address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server
terminals that is installed in the geographical proximity of the
identified area; and
supplying the selected address information from the mapping server terminal
to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network.
9. The method of sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
in response to a request to the mapping server terminal from any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network for the
address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server
terminals, sending from the mapping server terminal an inquiry for a
domain name corresponding to the requesting client terminal to a domain
name server that controls a table listing relationship between source
addresses of the client terminals and domain names to which the source
addresses are assigned;
identifying a geographical area in which the requesting client terminal is
installed based on the corresponding domain name;
selecting an address information from among the plurality of pieces of
address information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server
terminals that is installed in the geographical proximity of the
identified area; and
supplying from the mapping server terminal the selected address information
to the requesting client terminal via the global communication network.
10. A system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space
comprising:
a global communication network interconnected with a plurality of
unspecified terminals for supplying three-dimensional graphics data
associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of users in a
shared manner and an update object whose state is updated according to an
operation performable by each of the plurality of users;
a plurality of user operated client terminals interconnected by the global
communication network for displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality
space;
a shared server terminal, connected via the global communication network to
the plurality of client terminals, for controlling update data associated
with an update of the state of the update object sent from any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;
wherein if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual
reality space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, the
client terminal that made the update sends the shared server terminal the
update data associated with the update via the global communication
network and the shared server terminal sends the other client terminals of
the plurality of client terminals the update data about the update via the
global communication network;
a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network for
controlling address information for addressing the shared server terminal
to control the update data;
a first address information supply program code operative to supply, upon
request, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal
by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network, from the mapping server terminal to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network;
a first terminal access program code operative to access the shared server
terminal from the requesting client terminal using the address
information;
a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global
communication network for controlling the update data;
an address control program code operable to control a plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared
server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network;
an address information request program code operative to receive at the
mapping server terminal a request for the address information for
addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;
a terminal selector program code operative to select at the mapping server
terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for
addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than
others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client
terminal;
a second address information supply program code operative to supply the
selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via
the global communication network; and
a second terminal access program code operative to access from the
requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the
selected optimum address information.
11. An information recording medium for use in a system for sharing a
three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information recording medium
recording a computer program comprising the steps of:
acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to
be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object
whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of
the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for
displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server
terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the
state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client
terminals via a global communication network interconnected with
unspecified terminals;
if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality
space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying
the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via
the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals
of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update
from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;
wherein the computer program is readable and executable by at least one of
the client terminals and the shared server terminal;
controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network, address information for addressing the shared
server terminal for controlling the update data;
supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address
information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the
address information to the requesting client terminal via the global
communication network;
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
using the address information;
controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals
connected to the global communication network;
controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing
each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server
terminal connected to the global communication network;
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network;
selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server
terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of
shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality
of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the
requesting client terminal;
supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network; and
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
corresponding to the selected optimum address information.
12. An information recording method for use in a system for sharing a
three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information recording method
recording a computer program on a recording medium, the computer program
comprising the steps of:
acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to
be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object
whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of
the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for
displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server
terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the
state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client
terminals via a global communication network interconnected with
unspecified terminals;
if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality
space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying
the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via
the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals
of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update
from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;
wherein the computer program is readable and executable by at least one of
the client terminal and the shared server terminal;
controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network, address information for addressing the shared
server terminal for controlling the update data;
supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address
information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the
address information to the requesting client terminal via the global
communication network;
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
using the address information;
controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals
connected to the global communication network;
controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing
each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server
terminal connected to the global communication network;
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network;
selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server
terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of
shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality
of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the
requesting client terminal;
supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network; and
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
corresponding to the selected optimum address information.
13. An information transmission medium for use in a system for sharing a
three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information transmission
medium transmitting a computer program comprising the steps of:
acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to
be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object
whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of
the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for
displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server
terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the
state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client
terminals via a global communication network interconnected with
unspecified terminals;
if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality
space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying
the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via
the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals
of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update
from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;
wherein the computer program is receivable and executable by at least one
of the shared server terminal and the client terminal and transmitted to
at least one of the shared server terminal and the client terminal;
controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network, address information for addressing the shared
server terminal for controlling the update data;
supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address
information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the
address information to the requesting client terminal via the global
communication network;
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
using the address information;
controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals
connected to the global communication network;
controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing
each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server
terminal connected to the global communication network;
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network;
selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server
terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of
shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality
of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the
requesting client terminal;
supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network; and
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
corresponding to the selected optimum address information.
14. An information transmission method for use in a system for sharing a
three-dimensional virtual reality space, the information transmission
method transmitting a computer program comprising the steps of:
acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to
be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object
whose state is updated according to an operation performable by each of
the plurality of users and connecting a plurality of client terminals for
displaying a three-dimensional virtual reality space to a shared server
terminal for controlling update data associated with an update of the
state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of client
terminals via a global communication network interconnected with
unspecified terminals;
if the state of the update object in the three-dimensional virtual reality
space is updated by any of the plurality of client terminals, notifying
the shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via
the global communication network and notifying the other client terminals
of the plurality of client terminals of the update data about the update
from the shared server terminal via the global communication network;
wherein the computer program is receivable and executable by at least one
of the shared server terminal and the client terminal and transmitted to
at least one of the shared server terminal and the client terminal;
controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network, address information for addressing the shared
server terminal for controlling the update data;
supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address
information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the
address information to the requesting client terminal via the global
communication network;
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
using the address information;
controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals
connected to the global communication network;
controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing
each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server
terminal connected to the global communication network;
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network;
selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server
terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of
shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality
of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the
requesting client terminal;
supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network; and
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
corresponding to the selected optimum address information.
15. An information processing method for a plurality of client terminals in
a system for sharing a three-dimensional virtual reality space, the
plurality of client terminals being provided in a system for sharing the
three-dimensional virtual reality space to acquire three-dimensional
graphics data associated with a basic object to be used by a plurality of
users in a shared manner and an update object whose state is updated
according to an operation performable by each of the plurality of users to
display the three-dimensional virtual reality space and being connected to
a shared server terminal for controlling update data associated with an
update of the state of the update object sent from any of the plurality of
client terminals via a global communication network interconnected with
unspecified terminals, the information processing method comprising the
steps of:
acquiring the three-dimensional graphics data associated with the basic
object and the update object;
drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space having space
coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired three-dimensional
graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional virtual reality
space on a display device;
acquiring the update data from the shared server terminal via the global
communication network;
updating the state of the update object to be displayed on the display
device based on the acquired update data;
if the state of the update object has been updated according to the
operation of the user, notifying the shared server terminal of update data
associated with the update via the global communication network;
controlling, by means of a mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network, address information for addressing the shared
server terminal for controlling the update data;
supplying from the mapping server terminal, if requested, the address
information for addressing the shared server terminal by any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network, the
address information to the requesting client terminal via the global
communication network;
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
using the address information;
controlling the update data by using a plurality of shared server terminals
connected to the global communication network;
controlling a plurality of pieces of address information for addressing
each of the plurality of shared server terminals by the mapping server
terminal connected to the global communication network;
receiving at the mapping server terminal a request for the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
from any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network;
selecting at the mapping server terminal from among the plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing the plurality of shared server
terminals, the address information for addressing any of the plurality of
shared server terminals that is accessed less frequently by the plurality
of client terminals than others, as an optimum address information for the
requesting client terminal;
supplying the selected optimum address information to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network; and
accessing from the requesting client terminal the shared server terminal
corresponding to the selected optimum address information.
16. A client terminal in a three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing
system, the client terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals
for acquiring three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic
object to be used by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update
object whose state is updated according to an operation performable by
each of the plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual
reality space and being connected to a shared server terminal for
controlling update data associated with an update of the state of the
update object sent from any of the plurality of client terminals via a
global communication network interconnected with unspecified terminals,
the client terminal comprising:
an acquiring graphics data means for acquiring the three-dimensional
graphics data associated with the basic object and the update object;
a drawing means for drawing the three-dimensional virtual reality space
having space coordinates specified by a user based on the acquired
three-dimensional graphics data and displaying the drawn three-dimensional
virtual reality space on a display device;
an acquiring update data means for acquiring the update data from the
shared server terminal via the global communication network;
an updating means for updating the state of the update object to be
displayed on the display device based on the acquired update data;
if the state of the update object has been updated according to the
operation of the user, a notifying update data means for notifying the
shared server terminal of update data associated with the update via the
global communication network;
wherein the three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system
includes:
a mapping server terminal connected to the global communication network for
controlling address information for addressing the shared server terminal
to control the update data;
a first address information supply program code operative to supply, upon
request, the address information for addressing the shared server terminal
by any of the plurality of client terminals via the global communication
network, from the mapping server terminal to the requesting client
terminal via the global communication network;
a first terminal access program code operative to access the shared server
terminal from the requesting client terminal using the address
information;
a plurality of shared server terminals connected to the global
communication network for controlling the update data;
an address control program code operable to control a plurality of pieces
of address information for addressing each of the plurality of shared
server terminals by the mapping server terminal connected to the global
communication network;
an address information request program code operative to receive at the
mapping server terminal a request for the address information for
addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals from any of the
plurality of client terminals via the global communication network;
a terminal selector program code operative to select at the mapping server
terminal from among the plurality of pieces of address information for
addressing the plurality of shared server terminals, the address
information for addressing any of the plurality of shared server terminals
that is accessed less frequently by the plurality of client terminals than
others, as an optimum address information for the requesting client
terminal;
a second address information supply program code operative to supply the
selected optimum address information to the requesting client terminal via
the global communication network; and
a second terminal access program code operative to access from the
requesting client terminal the shared server terminal corresponding to the
selected optimum address information.
17. An information recording medium for use in a client terminal in a
three-dimensional virtual reality space sharing system, the client
terminal being one of a plurality of client terminals for acquiring
three-dimensional graphics data associated with a basic object to be used
by a plurality of users in a shared manner and an update object whose
state is updated according to an operation performable by each of the
plurality of users to display the three-dimensional virtual reality space
and being connected to a shared server terminal for controlling update
data associated with an update of the state of the update | | |
