Interaction processing system and interaction processing method

Abstract

To facilitate start of intended interaction processing for a user who operates characters.SOLUTION: An interaction processing system 1 comprises: a display control section 21 for controlling a position of an own character in a virtual space corresponding to a user terminal device 10 and a position of the other character in the virtual space; an avatar information storage section 25 for storing the position of the own character in the virtual space and the position of the other character in the virtual space, the positions changing with time; and an intersection control section 23. Therein based on a temporal change of a relative relation between the position of the own character in the virtual space and the position of the other character in the virtual space, in a case where conditions are established that the own character and the other character get close to each other and one of characters that are the own character and the other character enters a predetermined range defined based on the other of the characters, the intersection control section 23 starts interaction processing between a user terminal and the user terminal device 10 corresponding to the other character or an interaction function.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dialogue processing system and a dialogue processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that enables the control of the movement of avatars in a virtual space. In this system, when two avatars come within a certain distance of each other, a conversational relationship is automatically established between them. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-312295 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, when a character in a virtual space is moved by a user's operation, an interactive process may be started unintentionally by the user.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dialogue processing system and a dialogue processing method that make it easy for a user operating a character to start dialogue processing intentionally. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The dialogue processing system of the present invention comprises a position control unit that controls the position in the virtual space of the player's character, which is a character corresponding to a user terminal, and the positions in the virtual space of other characters, which are other characters; a memory unit that stores the position in the virtual space of the player's character and the positions in the virtual space of the other characters, which change over time under the control of the position control unit; and a dialogue control unit that starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a dialogue device or dialogue function corresponding to the other characters when the following conditions are met: the player's character and the other characters approach each other and one of the player's character and the other characters enters a predetermined range based on the other character, based on the change over time in the relative relationship between the player's character's position in the virtual space and the other character's position in the virtual space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it becomes easy for a user operating a character to start an intentional dialogue process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a dialogue processing system 1 according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image of a virtual space generated by the display control unit 21 of FIG. 1 and displayed on the user terminal device 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of position information relating to the positions of a plurality of avatars in the virtual space stored in avatar information storage unit 25 of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the approach detection process by the approach detection unit 22 of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the approach detection process by the approach detection unit 22 of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows an example of a dialogue function based on character exchange realized by the chat box in the user terminal device 10 of FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image generation process by the image generation system 100. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the servers 11 and 12 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a dialogue processing system 1 according to the present disclosure. The dialogue processing system 1 is configured to enable data communication between a plurality of user terminal devices 10, which are terminals (user terminals) used by a plurality of users, and a plurality of server devices, namely, a virtual space providing server 11 and a server 12, via a communication network (not shown). For convenience, only one of the user terminal devices 10 used by a plurality of users is illustrated in the figure. As will be described later, the dialogue processing system 1 is a communication system that provides a user using the user terminal device 10 with a dialogue function between a user's own character, which is a character corresponding to the user in a virtual space, and other characters existing in the virtual space. The dialogue functions provided by the dialogue processing system include various dialogue functions, such as a voice dialogue function, a dialogue function based on character exchange, code exchange, or picture exchange, and a dialogue function based on gesture expression by a character in a virtual space, or a combination of these.

[0011] In the present disclosure, the user terminal device 10 is a terminal used by a user who wishes to receive interactive functions, and is a device such as a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, smart glasses, VR (Virtual Reality) glasses, a feature phone, a server device, or a game machine.

[0012] The virtual space providing server 11 provides interactive functions to users of multiple user terminal devices 10, and transmits and receives various data between the multiple user terminal devices 10 and the server 12. The server 12 transmits and receives various data to and from the virtual space providing server 11 for the purpose of realizing the interactive functions in the virtual space. The virtual space providing server 11 and the server 12 are a group of server devices operated by a business operator (e.g., a telecommunications carrier, an internet service provider, etc.) that provides the interactive functions.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the user terminal device 10 includes, as functional components, a display unit 31, an ID setting unit 32, a transmitting unit 33, and a receiving unit .

[0014] The display unit 31 is a display control unit that displays an image representing the virtual space generated by the virtual space providing server 11 on an information display device, such as a display device or video projection device built into the user terminal device 10, or an external display device connected to the user terminal device 10. The ID setting unit 32 sets an ID (identifier) ​​of the user of the user terminal device 10 to the virtual space providing server 11 when the user terminal device 10 connects to the virtual space providing server 11 and receives an interactive function in the virtual space. The ID setting unit 32 connects to the virtual space providing server 11 in advance and stores the user's ID and the type of avatar, which is a character corresponding to the ID, in the virtual space providing server 11 in association with each other. The transmission unit 33 transmits transmission data, such as the ID, avatar operation information (details of which will be described later), and interaction data (details of which will be described later), to the virtual space providing server 11 when the user terminal device 10 connects to the virtual space providing server 11 and receives an interactive function in the virtual space. When the receiving unit 34 connects to the virtual space providing server 11 and receives interactive functions in the virtual space, it receives received data such as images representing the virtual space and interactive data (details of which will be described later) from the virtual space providing server 11.

[0015] The virtual space providing server 11 is configured to include, as functional components, a display control unit (position control unit) 21, an approach detection unit (interaction control unit) 22, an interaction control unit 23, a virtual space information storage unit 24, and an avatar information storage unit (memory unit) 25.

[0016] When the display control unit 21 receives a connection request (login request) from the user terminal device 10, including the ID of the user terminal device 10, the display control unit 21 transmits image data representing a virtual space to the user terminal device 10. As a result, an image of the virtual space is displayed on the display unit 31 of the user terminal device 10. At this time, the display control unit 21 generates the image representing the virtual space by virtually arranging, within the virtual space, component images (images of the ground, trees, rocks, etc.) stored in the virtual space information storage unit 24. In addition, the display control unit 21 generates the image of the virtual space such that an avatar image corresponding to the ID included in the login request is placed at an initial position within the virtual space. Similarly, the display control unit 21 can arrange, within the virtual space, avatar images corresponding to the IDs of other users who are simultaneously logged in using other user terminal devices 10, or avatar images corresponding to the IDs of other users who are simultaneously logged in using the server 12, etc.

[0017] 2 is an example of an image of a virtual space generated by the display control unit 21 and displayed on the user terminal device 10. As shown in Fig. 2, an image VS of an open space with trees, rocks, etc. virtually arranged around it is displayed as an image of the virtual space, and an image CH1 of an avatar corresponding to the ID is superimposed and displayed at an initial position in the virtual space represented by the image VS.

[0018] Furthermore, when the user terminal device 10 is logged in, the display control unit 21 receives operation information related to the user's own avatar (own character) corresponding to the user's own ID from the user terminal device 10. Then, at the timing when the display control unit 21 receives the operation information from the user terminal device 10, the display control unit 21 generates an image of the virtual space so that an operation corresponding to the operation information is virtually performed on the user's own avatar displayed in the virtual space, and transmits the generated image to the user terminal device 10 each time (for example, in real time as a video). For example, when the display control unit 21 receives movement control information to move the user's own avatar in a predetermined direction in the virtual space, the display control unit 21 generates an image of the virtual space so as to represent a state in which the user's own avatar has moved in the predetermined direction in the virtual space. On the other hand, when the display control unit 21 receives action control information to cause the user's own avatar to perform a predetermined action, such as a predetermined gesture, in the virtual space, the display control unit 21 generates an image of the virtual space so as to represent a state in which the user's own avatar has performed the predetermined action in the virtual space. Similarly, the display control unit 21 receives operation information related to another avatar (another character) corresponding to another ID from another user terminal device 10 or the server 12. An image of the virtual space is generated so that an operation corresponding to the operation information is virtually executed on another avatar displayed in the virtual space.

[0019] Furthermore, display control unit 21 stores, in avatar information storage unit 25, the positions of multiple avatars, including the user's own avatar and other avatars, which change over time due to movement control within the virtual space, each time (e.g., periodically). FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of position information relating to the positions of multiple avatars within the virtual space stored in avatar information storage unit 25. For example, display control unit 21 stores, at regular intervals of one second, position information in avatar information storage unit 25, which associates an ID "ID1" corresponding to the user's own avatar, a time "20240130 10:00:00," and a virtual space position "X1, Y1" indicating the user's own avatar's two-dimensional position in the virtual space at that time. Similarly, display control unit 21 stores, in avatar information storage unit 25, the position information of the user's own avatar at each regular interval and the position information of multiple other avatars at each regular interval. In this example, the avatar information storage unit 25 stores two-dimensional positions as position information, but it may also store three-dimensional positions in a virtual space.

[0020] The proximity detection unit 22 detects proximity between two avatars among a plurality of avatars, including the user's own avatar and another avatar, in the virtual space. That is, the proximity detection unit 22 extracts time-series position information of the two avatars from the avatar information storage unit 25, detects a temporal change in the relative positional relationship between the two avatars based on the time-series position information of the two avatars, and detects that the two avatars have approached each other if the following conditions are met at the time of detection: the two avatars have approached each other and one avatar has entered a predetermined range based on the other avatar.

[0021] More specifically, the proximity detection unit 22 detects "proximity of two avatars" by the following two-stage condition determination. First, as the first-stage determination, the proximity detection unit 22 determines whether one of the two avatars has entered within a preset first distance D1 from the other avatar. Then, when the proximity detection unit 22 determines that an intrusion has occurred in the first-stage determination, it proceeds to the second-stage determination. As a result, as the second-stage determination, the proximity detection unit 22 determines whether one avatar has entered within a second distance D2 shorter than the preset first distance D1 from the other avatar. When it is determined that an intrusion has occurred in the second-stage determination, "proximity of two avatars" is finally detected as "yes". The proximity detection unit 22 repeatedly performs the detection process for the proximity between two avatars among a plurality of avatars in the virtual space as described above, and passes the user IDs of the two avatars detected as having "proximity" to the dialogue control unit 23.

[0022] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams for explaining the proximity detection process by the proximity detection unit 22. In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the virtual space, the movement of avatar CH2 is controlled to approach avatar CH1 linearly, and the movement of avatar CH3 is controlled to pass by the vicinity of avatar CH1. At this time, the proximity detection unit 22 detects that avatar CH2 has entered the range Area1 of distance D1 centered on avatar CH1 and then entered the range Area2 of distance D2 (<D1) centered on avatar CH1, and detects that the proximity of the two avatars CH1 and CH2 is "yes". On the other hand, the proximity detection unit 22 detects that avatar CH3 has entered the range Area1 of distance D1 centered on avatar CH1, but does not detect that it has entered the range Area2 of distance D2 centered on avatar CH1 thereafter, so it is detected that the proximity of the two avatars CH1 and CH3 is "no".

[0023] In the example shown in Fig. 5, two avatars CH4 and CH5 are controlled to move linearly toward avatar CH1 within a predetermined time interval in the virtual space. At this time, the approach detection unit 22 detects that two avatars CH4 and CH5 have "approached" one avatar CH1 consecutively within the predetermined time interval. In this case, the approach detection unit 22 detects that three avatars CH1, CH4, and CH5 have "approached" simultaneously in a pseudo-simultaneous manner. At this time, the approach detection unit 22 passes the user IDs identifying the three avatars CH1, CH4, and CH5 to the dialogue control unit 23.

[0024] When the approach detection unit 22 detects that two avatars are approaching each other, the dialogue control unit 23 starts dialogue processing between the users corresponding to the two avatars. Furthermore, when the approach detection unit 22 detects that three or more avatars are approaching each other, the dialogue control unit 23 can also start dialogue processing between multiple users corresponding to the multiple avatars. Specifically, when an avatar corresponding to the user of the user terminal device 10 is included among the multiple avatars for which approach is detected, the dialogue control unit 23 starts dialogue processing between the user of the user terminal device 10 and the user terminal device 10 corresponding to the other avatars or using a dialogue function. When an avatar set by logging in to the server 12 is included among the multiple avatars for which approach is detected, the dialogue control unit 23 starts dialogue processing using an automatic dialogue function provided in the server 12 corresponding to that avatar. The automatic dialogue function provided in the server 12 may be, for example, a dialogue AI using machine learning.

[0025] The dialogue processing initiated by the dialogue control unit 23 may be a voice dialogue function, a character exchange, a code exchange, a picture exchange, a gesture expression by a character in a virtual space, or a combination of these. Figure 6 shows an example of a character exchange dialogue function realized by a chat box in the user terminal device 10. In this example, when approach between three avatars CH1, CH4, and CH5 is detected as "yes" and dialogue processing is initiated, a chat box CS for the dialogue function, which allows characters to be exchanged with the other avatars CH4 and CH5, is superimposed on the virtual space image VS displayed on the user terminal device 10 corresponding to avatar CH1.

[0026] The procedure of the dialogue processing by the dialogue processing system 1 configured as above, that is, the flow of the dialogue processing method according to this embodiment, will be described below. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the dialogue processing by the dialogue processing system 1.

[0027] First, the process of generating a virtual space to be provided to the user terminal device 10 is initiated in response to the transmission of a login request from the user terminal device 10 to the virtual space providing server 11 (step S1). When the process of generating the virtual space is initiated, the virtual space providing server 11 generates an initial image representing the virtual space in which an avatar corresponding to the ID of the user of the user terminal device 10 is virtually placed, and transmits the initial image to the user terminal device 10 (step S2). Next, in response to receiving operation information from the user terminal device 10 or the server 12, the virtual space providing server 11 generates an image of the virtual space such that operations corresponding to the operation information are virtually performed on multiple avatars in the virtual space, and transmits the generated image to the user terminal device 10 (step S3).

[0028] Thereafter, virtual space providing server 11 periodically detects position information regarding the multiple avatars in the virtual space and stores the detected position information in avatar information storage unit 25 (step S4). Virtual space providing server 11 then references the position information of the multiple avatars stored in avatar information storage unit 25 and detects whether the multiple avatars are approaching each other (step S5). Virtual space providing server 11 then controls the start of interaction processing between the multiple users or interaction functions corresponding to the multiple avatars whose approach has been detected (step S6). The above steps S3 to S6 are periodically repeated until an end request (logout request) is received from the user of user terminal device 10 or the like (step S7).

[0029] Next, a modified example of the present disclosure will be described.

[0030] Furthermore, the device configuration of the dialogue processing system 1 described above is not limited to a configuration including the above-mentioned servers 11 and 12, and the dialogue processing system 1 can be configured with any number of devices greater than or equal to one. Furthermore, the functional units provided in the above-mentioned virtual space providing server 11 may be provided in any of the devices included in the dialogue processing system 1. Furthermore, some of the functional units may be provided in the user terminal device 10.

[0031] In addition, when starting an interaction process between an avatar corresponding to a user terminal device 10 and another avatar, the interaction control unit 23 of the virtual space providing server 11 may send an acceptance request to the user terminal device 10 (for example, by displaying an acceptance request message or gesture on an image in the virtual space), and may control the interaction process to start when acceptance input is received from the user terminal device 10 in response to the acceptance request (when a button press, etc. is detected in the virtual space).

[0032] Next, the effects of the dialogue processing system of the present disclosure will be described. The dialogue processing system 1 of the present disclosure includes a display control unit 21 that controls the position in virtual space of a user's own avatar, which is an avatar corresponding to a user terminal device 10, and the positions in virtual space of other avatars, which are other avatars, an avatar information storage unit 25 that stores the positions of the user's own avatar and the other avatars in virtual space that change over time under the control of the display control unit 21, and a dialogue control unit 23 that starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and the user terminal device 10 or a dialogue function corresponding to the other avatar when a condition is met that the user's avatar and the other avatar have approached each other and one of the user's avatar and the other avatar has entered a predetermined range based on the other avatar, based on a change over time in the relative relationship between the user's avatar's position in virtual space and the other avatar's position in virtual space.

[0033] With this configuration, when a user's own avatar corresponding to a user terminal device 10 and another avatar approach each other in the virtual space and one avatar enters within a predetermined range based on the other, the user terminal device 10 can start a dialogue process with the user terminal device 10 corresponding to the other avatar or the dialogue function. This prevents the dialogue process from being started unintentionally by the user when, for example, the user's own avatar is suddenly positioned near the other avatar or the user's avatar passes by the other avatar. As a result, it becomes easier for the user operating the avatar to intentionally start a dialogue process.

[0034] Here, in the dialogue processing system 1 of the present disclosure, the dialogue control unit 23 starts dialogue processing when the following condition is met: one avatar enters a predetermined range Area1 at a first distance D1 from the other avatar, and then enters a predetermined range Area2 at a second distance D2 from the other avatar that is shorter than the first distance D1.

[0035] This makes it possible to easily and timely detect when the user's own avatar and another avatar corresponding to the user terminal device 10 approach each other in the virtual space and one of them enters a predetermined range based on the other, making it easier to start intentional dialogue processing.

[0036] In the dialogue processing system 1 of the present disclosure, the avatar information storage unit 25 stores the time-varying position of the user's own avatar in the virtual space and the positions of multiple other avatars in the virtual space, and the dialogue control unit 23 starts dialogue processing between the user terminal device 10 and the multiple user terminal devices 10 or multiple dialogue functions corresponding to the multiple other avatars when conditions are met for the multiple other avatars based on the time-varying changes in the relative relationships between the user's own avatar's position in the virtual space and the positions of the multiple other avatars in the virtual space. This makes it easy to intentionally start dialogue processing between the user terminal device 10 held by the user and the multiple user terminal devices 10 or multiple dialogue functions corresponding to the multiple avatars.

[0037] Furthermore, in the dialogue processing system 1 of the present disclosure, the dialogue control unit 23 executes dialogue processing between the user terminal device 10 and an automatic dialogue function using machine learning corresponding to another avatar, thereby efficiently realizing natural dialogue processing between the user and another avatar.

[0038] The dialogue processing system 1 and dialogue processing method of the present invention have the following configuration.

[0039] [1] a position control unit that controls the position in a virtual space of a player's own character, which is a character corresponding to a user terminal, and the positions in the virtual space of other characters, which are other characters; a storage unit that stores the position of the player's character in the virtual space and the positions of the other characters in the virtual space that change over time under control of the position control unit; and a dialogue control unit that starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a dialogue device or dialogue function corresponding to the other character when a condition is satisfied that the player character and the other character approach each other and one of the player character and the other character enters a predetermined range based on the other character, based on a temporal change in the relative relationship between the player character's position in the virtual space and the other character's position in the virtual space. Interactive processing system.

[0040] [2] the dialogue control unit starts the dialogue processing when a condition is satisfied that the one character enters within a first predetermined range of a first distance from the other character and then enters within a second predetermined range of a second distance from the other character that is shorter than the first distance; The dialogue processing system according to [1] above.

[0041] [3] the storage unit stores a time-varying position of the player's character in the virtual space and positions of the other characters in the virtual space; the dialogue control unit starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a plurality of dialogue devices or a plurality of dialogue functions corresponding to the plurality of other characters when the conditions are satisfied for the plurality of other characters based on a temporal change in the relative relationship between the position of the player character in the virtual space and the positions of the plurality of other characters in the virtual space; The dialogue processing system according to [1] or [2] above.

[0042] [4] the dialogue control unit executes dialogue processing between the user terminal and an automatic dialogue function using machine learning corresponding to the other character; The dialogue processing system according to any one of [1] to [3] above.

[0043] [5] a position control step in which a position control unit controls a position in a virtual space of a player's own character, which is a character corresponding to a user terminal, and a position in the virtual space of another character, which is another character; a storage step in which a storage unit stores the position of the player's character in the virtual space and the positions of the other characters in the virtual space that change over time under control of the position control unit; a dialogue control step in which, based on a temporal change in the relative relationship between the position of the player character in the virtual space and the position of the other character in the virtual space, a dialogue control unit starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a dialogue device or dialogue function corresponding to the other character when a condition is satisfied that the player character and the other character approach each other and one of the player character and the other character has entered a predetermined range based on the other character; An interactive processing method comprising:

[0044] The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (for example, by wire, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may also be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0045] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, election, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocation, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

[0046] For example, the servers 11 and 12 constituting the dialogue processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as computers that perform processing of the dialogue processing method of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the servers 11 and 12 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The above-described servers 11 and 12 may be physically configured as computer devices including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, and the like. Note that the servers 11 and 12 may be configured as computer devices including at least one processor such as a CPU or a GPU, or may be configured as computer devices including multiple processors or may be configured to include multiple computer devices. The user terminal device 10 may also have a similar hardware configuration.

[0047] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the servers 11 and 12 may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the drawings, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0048] Each function of servers 11 and 12 is realized by loading specified software (programs) onto hardware such as processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication via communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0049] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system. The processor 1001 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. For example, the above-mentioned display control unit 21, approach detection unit 22, dialogue control unit 23, etc. may be realized by the processor 1001.

[0050] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with the programs. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. For example, the display control unit 21, the approach detection unit 22, and the dialogue control unit 23 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and similar implementations may be made for other functional blocks. While the above-described various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may also be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may also be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0051] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured, for example, by at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing an image generation method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other appropriate medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0053] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the display control unit 21, the dialogue control unit 23, etc. described above may be realized by the communication device 1004.

[0054] The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (for example, a touch panel).

[0055] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0056] Furthermore, the servers 11 and 12 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0057] The notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0058] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0059] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0060] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0061] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the predetermined information).

[0062] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0063] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0064] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0065] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0066] Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0067] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0068] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0069] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0070] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0071] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0072] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0073] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0074] Any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0075] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0076] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0077] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different." [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1...interactive processing system, 10...user terminal device, 11...virtual space providing server, 12...server, 21...display control unit (position control unit), 22...approach detection unit (interactive control unit), 23...interactive control unit, 25...avatar information storage unit (memory unit), Area1...range (first specified range), Area2...range (second specified range), D1...distance (first distance), D2...distance (second distance), VS...image of virtual space, CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, CH5...avatar image.

Claims

1. a position control unit that controls the position in a virtual space of a player's own character, which is a character corresponding to a user terminal, and the positions in the virtual space of other characters, which are other characters; a storage unit that stores the position of the player's character in the virtual space and the positions of the other characters in the virtual space that change over time under control of the position control unit; and a dialogue control unit that starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a dialogue device or dialogue function corresponding to the other character when a condition is satisfied that the player character and the other character approach each other and one of the player character and the other character enters a predetermined range based on the other character, based on a temporal change in the relative relationship between the player character's position in the virtual space and the other character's position in the virtual space. Interactive processing system.

2. the dialogue control unit starts the dialogue processing when a condition is satisfied that the one character enters within a first predetermined range of a first distance from the other character and then enters within a second predetermined range of a second distance from the other character, the second distance being shorter than the first distance; The dialogue processing system according to claim 1 .

3. the storage unit stores a time-varying position of the player's character in the virtual space and positions of the other characters in the virtual space; the dialogue control unit starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a plurality of dialogue devices or a plurality of dialogue functions corresponding to the plurality of other characters when the conditions are satisfied for the plurality of other characters based on a temporal change in the relative relationship between the position of the player character in the virtual space and the positions of the plurality of other characters in the virtual space; The dialogue processing system according to claim 1 .

4. the dialogue control unit executes dialogue processing between the user terminal and an automatic dialogue function using machine learning corresponding to the other character; The dialogue processing system according to claim 1 .

5. a position control step in which a position control unit controls a position in a virtual space of a player's own character, which is a character corresponding to a user terminal, and a position in the virtual space of another character, which is another character; a storage step in which a storage unit stores the position of the player's character in the virtual space and the positions of the other characters in the virtual space that change over time under control of the position control unit; a dialogue control step in which, based on a temporal change in the relative relationship between the position of the player character in the virtual space and the position of the other character in the virtual space, a dialogue control unit starts dialogue processing between the user terminal and a dialogue device or dialogue function corresponding to the other character when a condition is satisfied that the player character and the other character approach each other and one of the player character and the other character has entered a predetermined range based on the other character; An interactive processing method comprising:

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