Avatar transport device

Abstract

According to the present invention, a virtual space server comprises: a changing unit that, if there are two or more facilities of an identical facility name at a location designated by a user to which an avatar of the user moves, changes the identical facility name corresponding to the two or more facilities to two or more facility names that correspond to the two or more facilities one-to-one and are mutually different; a display control unit that causes a user device being used by the user to display a display image including the mutually different two or more facility names produced by the change made by the changing unit; and a moving unit that, if the user designates a first facility name included in the display image, causes the avatar of the user to be moved instantaneously to a position corresponding to the first facility name.

Description

【Technical Field】 , , 【0004】 , , 【0005】 , 【0001】 The present invention relates to an avatar movement device that instantaneously moves an avatar in a virtual space. 【Background Art】 【0002】 The wearable system described in Patent Document 1 uses a combination of multiple inputs such as head posture, eye gaze, hand gestures, voice commands, and environmental factors in a wearable device to control virtual objects in the user's environment. Further, the wearable system controls virtual objects using voice commands based on the user's utterance. For example, when the user says, "Move that over there," the wearable system determines the object to be moved and the intended destination. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0003】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-121592 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0004】 By the way, in a virtual space such as a metaverse space, a user may open a private room in the virtual space or a system administrator may install a building in the virtual space. Private rooms and buildings are examples of facilities through which an avatar enters and exits in the virtual space. The name of a new facility installed in the virtual space is usually determined by the person who installed the new facility. Therefore, there may be a plurality of facilities having the same facility name in the virtual space. 【0005】 When there are a plurality of facilities having the same name in the virtual space, there is a problem that the destination of movement of a virtual object cannot be uniquely specified by a conventional voice command. 【0006】 This disclosure aims to provide an avatar movement device that allows users to easily specify the destination of their avatar when multiple facilities with the same facility name exist in a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 The avatar movement device according to this disclosure includes: a modification unit that, when there are two or more facilities with the same facility name at the location to which the user's avatar is to be moved as specified by the user, changes the same facility name corresponding to the two or more facilities to two or more facility names that correspond one-to-one with the two or more facilities and are different from each other; a display control unit that displays a display image including the two or more different facility names modified by the modification unit on a display device used by the user; and a movement unit that, when the user specifies a first facility name included in the display image, instantaneously moves the user's avatar to a location corresponding to the first facility name. [Effects of the Invention] 【0008】 According to this disclosure, when multiple facilities with the same facility name exist in a virtual space, users can easily specify the facility to which their avatar will move. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0009】 [Figure 1] A block diagram showing the overall configuration of the virtual space system 1 according to this embodiment. [Figure 2A] An explanatory diagram illustrating an example of avatar placement in a virtual space. [Figure 2B] An explanatory diagram illustrating another example of avatar placement in a virtual space. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing an example configuration of virtual space server 10. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of user table TBL1. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the first facility table TBL2. [Figure 6] An explanatory diagram showing an example of a map. [Figure 7A] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the second facility table TBL3 before the update. [Figure 7B] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the updated second facility table TBL3. [Figure 8] A block diagram showing an example configuration of user device 20-k. [Figure 9] A flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of virtual space server 10. [Figure 10] An explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image generated by the display control unit 116 according to Modification Example 3. [Figure 11] An explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image generated by the display control unit 116 according to Modification 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0010】 1: Embodiment The following describes the virtual space system 1 with reference to the diagrams. 【0011】 1.1: Configuration of the Embodiment 1.1.1: Overall Structure Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the virtual space system 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the virtual space system 1 comprises a virtual space server 10 and user devices 20-1, 20-2, ... 20-k, ... 20-j, where k is any integer between 1 and j. User devices 20-1, 20-2, ... 20-k, ... 20-j are used by users U[1], U[2], ... U[k], ... U[j]. The virtual space server 10 is connected to the user devices 20-1, 20-2, ... 20-j via a communication network NW, enabling them to communicate with each other. 【0012】 The user device 20-k is composed of an information processing device having a function of displaying an image such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a head-mounted display. The user device 20-k may be configured by combining a tablet terminal or a smartphone and a head-mounted display. 【0013】 When the user device 20-k includes a head-mounted display, the user device 20-k provides an image showing a part of a three-dimensional virtual space to the user U[k]. When the user device 20-k does not include a head-mounted display, the user device 20-k provides an image showing a part of a two-dimensional virtual space to the user U[k]. 【0014】 The virtual space server 10 provides a virtual space service. The virtual space server 10 is an example of an avatar movement device. The user U[k] subscribes to the virtual space service. In the virtual space service, the avatar used by the user U[k] can teleport within the virtual space. Also, the user U[k] can specify the destination of the avatar used by himself / herself by voice. An avatar is a character used as a user's alter ego in the virtual space. The virtual space means all the spaces that can be provided by the virtual space service. That is, the space where the avatar is visible is a part of the virtual space. 【0015】 For example, assume that when the avatar Ak of the user U[k] is located at the entrance of a movie theater as shown in FIG. 2A, the user U[k] specifies the movement to Ikebukuro Station by voice. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2B, the avatar Ak of the user U[k] teleports to Ikebukuro Station. 【0016】 2: Configuration of the virtual space server 10 Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the virtual space server 10. As shown in Figure 3, the virtual space server 10 comprises a processing unit 11, a storage device 12, a communication device 13, a display device 14, and an input device 15. Each element of the virtual space server 10 is interconnected by one or more buses for communicating information. In this specification, the term "device" may be replaced with other terms such as circuit, device, or unit. 【0017】 The processing unit 11 is a processor that controls the entire virtual space server 10. The processing unit 11 is configured using, for example, one or more chips. The processing unit 11 is also configured using a central processing unit (CPU) that includes, for example, interfaces with peripheral devices, arithmetic units and registers. Some or all of the functions of the processing unit 11 may be implemented by hardware such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The processing unit 11 executes various processes in parallel or sequentially. 【0018】 The storage device 12 is a recording medium that can be read from and written to by the processing device 11. The storage device 12 includes, for example, non-volatile memory and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory is, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). Volatile memory is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory). 【0019】 The storage device 12 stores various types of data, including the control program P1 executed by the processing unit 11, the user table TBL1, the first facility table TBL2, the second facility table TBL3, map data Dm, and virtual object data Dv. The storage device 12 also functions as a work area for the processing unit 11. 【0020】 The user table TBL1 stores data about users of the virtual space service. The user table TBL1 stores the user identifier UID (hereinafter referred to as "UID") that identifies the user, the avatar identifier AID (hereinafter referred to as "AID") that identifies the avatar used by the user, the avatar's location in the virtual space, the user's attributes, and the avatar's activity history, all in association with each other. User attributes include at least one of the following: name, gender, age, hobbies, address, occupation, and workplace. 【0021】 Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the user table TBL1. By referring to the user table TBL1, the processing unit 11 can determine where the avatar of a user logged into the virtual space service is located in the virtual space. According to the user table TBL1 shown in Figure 4, it can be determined that the user with UID "U001" is logged in, the AID of the avatar used by this user is "A001b", and the avatar is located at (x0301, y0301, z0303). 【0022】 The first facility table TBL2 shown in Figure 3 manages facilities existing in the virtual space. The first facility table TBL2 stores the facility ID (hereinafter referred to as "FID") that identifies the facility, the facility name, the facility location indicating the location of the facility, the destination location, and the icon ID that identifies the icon corresponding to the facility, in association with each other. The destination location is the target location to which the avatar will instantly teleport when the facility is designated as the avatar's destination. For example, if the facility is an art museum, the destination location will be the coordinates of the plaza near the entrance of the art museum. Note that the destination location is the target location to which the avatar will teleport, and the avatar will not necessarily instantly teleport to the destination location. If another avatar is located at the destination location, the avatar targeted for instant teleportation will instantly teleport to a location near the destination location that does not overlap with the other avatar. The first facility table TBL2 is an example of first facility data that associates the facility name with the facility location for each of the multiple facilities placed in the virtual space. 【0023】 Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the first facility table TBL2. The processing unit 11 can identify facilities existing in the virtual space by referring to the first facility table TBL2. According to the first facility table TBL2 shown in Figure 5, the facility name corresponding to FID "F001" is Higashi Park, and the facility location corresponding to FID "F001" is (x0001, y0002, z0003). 【0024】 The second facility table TBL3, shown in Figure 3, is used to manage two or more facilities with the same name when there are two or more facilities with the same name in the destination location (area) specified by user U[k] for avatar Ak. The second facility table TBL3 is an example of the second facility data. Details of the second facility table TBL3 will be described later. 【0025】 Map data Dm associates place names, coordinates indicating the center location of the place names, and image data representing the map. Virtual object data Dv is data that represents virtual objects in three dimensions. Virtual objects include motion objects such as avatars and vehicles that move on their own in the virtual space, and fixed objects such as buildings that do not move on their own in the virtual space. Virtual objects also include virtual objects that represent icons used on the map. 【0026】 The communication device 13 is hardware that acts as a transmitting and receiving device for communicating with other devices. The communication device 13 is also referred to as, for example, a network device, network controller, network card, or communication module. The communication device 13 may include a connector for wired connection and a wireless communication interface. Examples of connectors and interface circuits for wired connection include those compliant with wired LAN, IEEE 1394, and USB. Examples of wireless communication interfaces include those compliant with wireless LAN and Bluetooth®. 【0027】 The display device 14 is a device that displays images. The display device 14 displays various images under the control of the processing unit 11. 【0028】 The input device 15 is a device for inputting operations from the server administrator. The input device 15 outputs an operation signal to the processing unit 11 in accordance with the administrator's operation. The input device 15 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device. 【0029】 In the above configuration, the processing unit 11 reads the control program P1 from the storage device 12. By executing the read control program P1, the processing unit 11 functions as the acquisition unit 111, management unit 112, extraction unit 113, determination unit 114, modification unit 115, movement unit 117, and display control unit 116. 【0030】 The acquisition unit 111 acquires voice data D[1], D[2], ...D[k], ...D[j] transmitted from user devices 20-1, 20-2, ...20-k, ...20-j via the communication device 13. The voice data indicates the content of the utterances of users U[1], U[2], ...U[k], ...U[j]. 【0031】 The management unit 112 manages data about users logged into the virtual space service using the user table TBL1. Specifically, the management unit 112 manages the UID of the logged-in user, the AID of the avatar used by that user, and the position of the avatar. For example, if the avatar teleports, the management unit 112 writes the avatar's position after the teleportation to the user table TBL1. Also, if a user logs out of the virtual space service, the management unit 112 deletes the record corresponding to the logged-out user from the user table TBL1. 【0032】 The management unit 112 manages multiple facilities placed in the virtual space by using the first facility table TBL2. Specifically, when a new facility is placed in the virtual space, the management unit 112 adds a record corresponding to the new facility to the first facility table TBL2. On the other hand, when a facility is deleted from the virtual space, the management unit 112 deletes the record corresponding to the deleted facility from the first facility table TBL2. 【0033】 The extraction unit 113 extracts multiple facility names associated with the destination location of avatar Ak specified by user U[k], based on the first facility table TBL2. 【0034】 When user U[k] teleports avatar Ak, it is ultimately necessary to identify the coordinates in the virtual space where the destination will be. User U[k] specifies the destination by voice. As mentioned above, the first facility table TBL2 stores facility names and destination locations in association. Therefore, if the name of the facility to which avatar Ak will be moved can be uniquely identified, the destination location of avatar Ak can be identified. However, user U[k] may not be aware of the name of the facility to which the destination is located. Also, as mentioned above, there may be multiple facilities with the same name in the virtual space. Therefore, the virtual space system 1 displays a map containing multiple facility names on user U[k]'s user device 20-k. By displaying the map, user U[k] can recognize the name of the facility to which avatar Ak will be moved by voice. Specifically, user U[k] specifies the location to which avatar Ak will be moved. The destination location may contain multiple facilities. For example, if user U[k] says "Show map of Higashi Park 1-chome," the map shown in Figure 6 will be displayed. "Higashi Park 1-chome" corresponds to the location where avatar Ak is moving. 【0035】 The extraction unit 113 shown in Figure 3 recognizes the destination of avatar Ak based on the voice data D[k] acquired by the acquisition unit 111 from the user device 20-k. The extraction unit 113 identifies the center position of the destination of avatar Ak by referring to map data Dm. The extraction unit 113 identifies a predetermined range centered on the identified center position. The predetermined range is, for example, a range of 700m along the east-west axis and a range of 500m along the north-south axis. The extraction unit 113 generates a second facility table TBL3 by extracting records of multiple facilities belonging to the predetermined range by referring to the first facility table TBL2. The second facility table TBL3 is stored in the storage device 12. It contains five icons 51-55 corresponding to five facilities. 【0036】 Figure 7A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the second facility table TBL3. The second facility table TBL3 shown in Figure 7A corresponds to the case when user U[k] says, "Show map of Higashi Park 1-chome". In this example, the extraction unit 113 extracts the following as multiple facilities associated with "Higashi Park 1-chome", which is the destination of avatar Ak: the pair of FID[F001] and the facility name "Higashi Park", the pair of FID[F002] and the facility name "Higashi Apartments", the pair of FID[F003] and the facility name "Higashi Apartments", FID[F004] and the facility name "Office 24", and FID[F005] and the facility name "Higashi Art Museum". 【0037】 The determination unit 114 shown in Figure 3 determines whether the same facility name is included among the multiple facilities extracted by the extraction unit 113. In the example described above, the facility names for FID[F002] and FID[F003] are "Higashi Apartment". Therefore, the determination result of the determination unit 114 is affirmative. 【0038】 The modification unit 115, if there are two or more facilities with the same facility name at the destination location of the user's avatar specified by the user, changes the names of the two or more facilities to two or more different facility names. Specifically, the modification unit 115 updates the contents of the second facility table TBL3 by writing the changed two or more different facility names to the second facility table TBL3 using the management unit 112. 【0039】 In the second facility table TBL3 shown in Figure 7A, the facility names for FID[F002] and FID[F003] are "Higashi Apartment". In this case, the modification unit 115 updates the stored contents of the second facility table TBL3. Figure 7B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the updated data structure of the second facility table TBL3. In the second facility table TBL3 shown in Figure 7B, the facility name corresponding to FID[F002] is changed to "Higashi Apartment[1]", and the facility name corresponding to FID[F002] is changed to "Higashi Apartment[2]". 【0040】 The display control unit 116 shown in Figure 3 causes the user device 20-k used by user U[k] to display a display image containing two or more different facility names that have been changed by the modification unit 115. The display control unit 116 generates a display image containing different facility names for each of the multiple facilities stored in the updated second facility table TBL3. The multiple facilities stored in the updated second facility table TBL3 include facilities whose facility names have been changed by the modification unit 115. Therefore, the display image contains two or more different facility names that have been changed by the modification unit 115. 【0041】 This display image is, for example, a map image. The map image includes multiple facility names that correspond one-to-one with multiple facilities stored in the second facility table TBL3, and two or more icons that correspond one-to-one with multiple facilities. The multiple facilities stored in the updated second facility table TBL3 include facilities whose facility names have been changed by the modification unit 115. Therefore, the map image includes two or more facility names that correspond one-to-one with two or more facilities that have been changed by the modification unit 115, and two or more icons that correspond one-to-one with two or more facilities. The icons are identified by the icon IDs stored in the second facility table TBL3, and the positions of the icons are identified by the facility positions stored in the second facility table TBL3. For example, if the display control unit 116 generates a map image based on the second facility table TBL3 shown in Figure 7B, the display control unit 116 generates the map image shown in Figure 6. 【0042】 The display control unit 116 transmits image data showing the generated map image to the user device 20-k via the communication device 13. By transmitting the image data, the display control unit 116 causes the display image to be displayed on the user device 20-k used by user U[k]. 【0043】 When user U[k] specifies a first facility name included in the displayed image, the movement unit 117 instantly moves user U[k]'s avatar Ak to the location corresponding to the first facility name. Specifically, the movement unit 117 recognizes the first facility name based on the audio data D[k] acquired by the acquisition unit 111 from the user device 20-k. The movement unit 117 identifies the destination location corresponding to the first facility name by referring to the updated second facility table TBL3. The movement unit 117 instantly moves user U[k]'s avatar Ak to the identified destination location. The movement unit 117 updates the avatar's position to the destination location for the record corresponding to user U[k] among the multiple records stored in the user table TBL1 by using the management unit 112. 【0044】 1.1.3: User Device Configuration Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of user device 20-k. User device 20-k comprises a processing unit 21, a storage device 22, a communication device 23, a display device 24, an input device 25, a microphone 26, and a speaker 27. Each element of user device 20-k is interconnected by one or more buses for communicating information. User device 20-k is an example of a display control device. 【0045】 The processing unit 21 is a processor that controls the entire user device 20-k. The processing unit 21 is configured using, for example, one or more chips. The processing unit 21 is configured using, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) that includes interfaces with peripheral devices, an arithmetic unit, and registers. Some or all of the functions of the processing unit 21 may be implemented by hardware such as a DSP, ASIC, PLD, FPGA, etc. The processing unit 21 executes various processes in parallel or sequentially. 【0046】 The storage device 22 is a recording medium that can be read from and written to by the processing device 21. The storage device 22 also stores multiple programs, including the control program P2 executed by the processing device 21. Furthermore, the storage device 22 functions as a work area for the processing device 21. 【0047】 The communication device 23 is hardware that acts as a transmitting and receiving device for communicating with other devices. The communication device 23 is also called, for example, a network device, network controller, network card, or communication module. The communication device 23 may be equipped with a connector for wired connection and an interface circuit corresponding to the connector. The communication device 23 may also be equipped with a wireless communication interface. 【0048】 The display device 24 is a device that displays images. The display device 24 displays various images under the control of the processing device 21. If the user device 20-k is a head-mounted display, the display device 24 includes a display for the left eye and a display for the right eye. By displaying different images corresponding to the parallax on the two displays, the user U[k] can perceive a three-dimensional image. 【0049】 The input device 25 is a device for inputting user U[k]'s operations. The input device 25 outputs an operation signal to the processing device 21 in accordance with user U[k]'s operations. The input device 25 is, for example, a touch panel. Alternatively, the input device 25 may be a controller that user U[k] holds and uses. The controller outputs an operation signal to the processing device 21 in accordance with user U[k]'s operations. The input device 25 may also include an imaging device. If the input device 25 includes an imaging device, the input device 25 detects user U[k]'s gestures based on the image captured by the imaging device and outputs an operation signal indicating the detected gesture to the processing device 21. If the input device 25 includes an imaging device, the input device 25 detects user U[k]'s gaze based on the image of user U[k]'s eyes captured by the imaging device. The system detects the gaze direction and outputs an operation signal indicating the direction of the gaze to the processing unit 21. 【0050】 The microphone 26 is a device that converts sound into electrical signals. The microphone 26 is equipped with a DA converter. The microphone 26 converts sound based on the utterance of user U[k] into an audio signal, and uses the DA converter to convert the audio signal into audio data D[k]. The audio data D[k] is output to the processing unit 21. 【0051】 Speaker 27 is a device that converts electrical signals into sound. Speaker 27 is equipped with an AD converter. Sound data output from processing unit 21 is converted into sound signals by the AD converter. Speaker 27 converts the input sound signal into sound and emits sound. Speaker 27 may be built into earphones. 【0052】 2: Operation of virtual space server 10 The operation of the virtual space server 10 is described below. In this example, we assume that user U[k] teleports avatar Ak. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the virtual space server 10. 【0053】 In step S10, the processing unit 11 determines, based on the audio data D[k] received via the communication device 13, whether user U[k] has specified that avatar Ak should be teleported. For example, if the audio data D[k] contains the words "teleport" and "avatar", the processing unit 11 determines that user U[k] has specified that avatar Ak should be teleported. The processing unit 11 repeats the determination in step S10 until the determination result in step S10 is affirmative. If the determination result in step S10 is affirmative, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S11. 【0054】 In step S11, the processing unit 11 determines whether it can uniquely identify the destination facility specified by user U[k] based on the voice data D[k]. Specifically, the processing unit 11 determines whether the facility name included in the voice indicated by the voice data D[k] is included in the multiple facility names stored in the first facility table TBL2, and whether there is one FID corresponding to the facility name included in the voice. 【0055】 If the result of the determination in step S11 is affirmative, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S18. If the result of the determination in step S11 is negative, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S12. For example, if the audio data D[k] contains the destination of avatar Ak instead of a facility name, the result of the determination in step S11 will be negative. The destination is a place name that identifies an address, such as "Higashi Park 1-chome" or "Ginza". Also, if the audio data D[k] contains a phrase such as "instantly teleport the avatar" and does not contain a destination, the result of the determination in step S11 will be negative. If the destination location is not specified, the processing unit 11 may generate a message such as "Please specify the destination for the avatar" and send the generated message to the user device 20-k. This message may be either audio or image. 【0056】 In step S12, the processing unit 11 extracts multiple facility names associated with the destination location of avatar Ak specified by user U[k]. Specifically, the processing unit 11 recognizes the destination location of avatar Ak based on the voice data D[k]. The processing unit 11 identifies the center position of the destination location of avatar Ak by referring to the map data Dm. The processing unit 11 identifies a predetermined range centered on the identified center position. The processing unit 11 extracts records of multiple facilities belonging to the predetermined range by referring to the first facility table TBL2. The processing unit 11 generates a second facility table TBL3 composed of the extracted records. The processing unit 11 stores the second facility table TBL3 in the storage device 12. 【0057】 In step S13, the processing unit 11 determines whether the same facility name is included among the extracted facilities. Specifically, the processing unit 11 determines whether there are two or more records in the second facility table TBL3 that contain the same facility name. 【0058】 If the result of the determination in step S13 is positive, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S14. If the result of the determination in step S13 is negative, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S15. 【0059】 In step S14, if there are two or more facilities with the same facility name, the processing unit 11 changes the facility name of each of the two or more facilities to two or more different facility names. Specifically, the processing unit 11 updates the contents of the second facility table TBL3 by writing the changed two or more different facility names to the second facility table TBL3. 【0060】 In step S15, the processing unit 11 displays the map image on the user device 20-k. The processing unit 11 generates a display image containing different facility names for each of the multiple facilities by referring to the updated second facility table TBL3. The updated second facility table TBL3 contains the facility names that were changed in step S14. Therefore, the map image contains two or more different changed facility names. The processing unit 11 transmits the image data showing the generated map image to the user device 20-k via the communication device 13. 【0061】 In step S16, the processing unit 11 determines whether user U[k] has specified a first facility name included in the map image by voice. Based on the voice data D[k], the processing unit 11 recognizes the first facility name. The processing unit 11 determines whether the recognized first facility name is stored in the updated second facility table TBL3. 【0062】 If the result of the determination in step S16 is negative, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S17. If user U[k] does not speak a facility name included in the map image as the first facility name, the result of the determination in step S16 will be negative. For example, if the map image shown in Figure 6 is displayed on the user device 20-k, and user U[k] speaks "move avatar to the central station," which is not included in the map, the result of the determination in step S16 will be negative. 【0063】 In step S17, the processing unit 11 displays an image on the user device 20-k prompting the user to specify the name of a facility included in the displayed image. The processing unit 11 generates image data showing text such as "Please specify the name of a facility included in the map," and transmits the generated image data to the user device 20-k via the communication device 13. When step S17 is completed, the processing unit 11 returns to step S16. 【0064】 If the result of the determination in step S16 is affirmative, the processing unit 11 proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the processing unit 11 instantly teleports avatar Ak to the location corresponding to the first facility name. The processing unit 11 identifies the facility location corresponding to the first facility name by referring to the second facility table TBL3. The processing unit 11 instantly teleports avatar Ak to the identified facility location. The processing unit 11 accesses the user table TBL1 and writes the identified facility location to the avatar location corresponding to the UID of user U[k]. Based on the virtual object data Dv, the processing unit 11 generates image data to display a part of the virtual space including the identified facility location and transmits the generated image data to the user device 20-k. Based on the received image data, the user device 20-k displays the virtual space of the identified facility location on the display device 24. This allows user U[k] to recognize that avatar Ak has instantly teleported to the destination facility. 【0065】 In the above process, the processing unit 11 functions as an acquisition unit 111 in step S10. The processing unit 11 functions as an extraction unit 113 in step S12. The processing unit 11 functions as a determination unit 114 in step S13. The processing unit 11 functions as a modification unit 115 in step S14. The processing unit 11 functions as a display control unit 116 in step S15. The processing unit 11 functions as a movement unit 117 in step S18. 【0066】 1.3 Effects of the Embodiment According to the above description, the virtual space server 10 includes a modification unit 115 that changes the names of two or more facilities with the same facility name to two or more different facility names if there are two or more facilities with the same facility name at the destination location of user U[k]'s avatar Ak specified by user U[k], a display control unit 116 that displays a display image including the two or more different facility names changed by the modification unit 115 on the user device 20-k used by user U[k], and a movement unit 117 that instantly moves user U[k]'s avatar Ak to the location corresponding to the first facility name if user U[k] specifies a first facility name included in the display image. 【0067】 Since the virtual space server 10 has the above configuration, if there are two or more facilities with the same facility name at the destination location of the avatar, the facility name of each of these facilities is changed to a different facility name, and the changed facility names are displayed on the user device 20-k. Therefore, user U[k] can visually recognize multiple different facility names that are candidates for destination. Thus, user U[k] can easily specify the facility to move to. 【0068】 Here, it is preferable that the first facility name is specified by the voice of user U[k]. In this case, the destination facility can be uniquely identified by the voice of user U[k], and avatar Ak can be instantly teleported to the identified facility. 【0069】 The displayed image may be a map image. The map image includes two or more distinct facilities modified by the modification unit 115, two or more facility names corresponding to each other on a one-to-one basis, and two or more icons corresponding to each of the two or more facilities on a one-to-one basis. 【0070】 By displaying the map image on the user device 20-k, user U[k] can visually grasp the locations of two or more facilities, even if they share the same name. Furthermore, for two or more facilities with the same name, the map displays each facility's name as two or more different names. Therefore, user U[k] can easily specify their destination facility. 【0071】 The virtual space server 10 includes an extraction unit 113 that extracts the names of multiple facilities associated with a location based on a first facility table TBL2 that associates the facility name with the location of each of the multiple facilities placed in the virtual space, and a determination unit 114 that determines whether the same facility name is included among the multiple facilities extracted by the extraction unit 113. Furthermore, if the determination result of the determination unit 114 is positive, the modification unit 115 changes the names of two or more facilities to two or more different facility names. 【0072】 The first facility table, TBL2, associates the facility name with the location of each of the multiple facilities placed in the virtual space, thus allowing for centralized management of the multiple facilities in the virtual space. Therefore, compared to managing the relationship between the facility name and location of each of the multiple facilities in a distributed manner, the processing load for extracting the facility names of multiple facilities associated with a location is reduced. 【0073】 The virtual space server 10 includes a management unit 112 that manages a second facility table TBL3, which associates one-to-one between the facility names of two or more different facilities modified by the modification unit 115 and the locations of two or more different facilities, and a first facility table TBL2. Furthermore, if the first facility name is one of two or more different facility names modified by the modification unit 115, the movement unit 117 identifies the location of the facility corresponding to the first facility name based on the second facility table TBL3. 【0074】 Since the virtual space server 10 has a second facility table TBL3, it can display multiple different facility names on the user device 20-k without changing the contents of the first facility table TBL2. In particular, if the installer who sets up a facility in the virtual space can determine the facility name, the virtual space server 10 manages the facility name using the first facility table TBL2, while providing a uniquely identifiable facility name to user U[k] by using the second facility table TBL3. 【0075】 2. Variations This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments illustrated above. Specific variations are illustrated below. Two or more embodiments may be arbitrarily selected from the following examples. 【0076】 2.1: Variation 1 In the embodiment described above, the virtual space server 10 generates an image of the virtual space and transmits the generated image to the user device 20-k, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The virtual space server 10 manages the position of user U[k]'s avatar Ak using the user table TBL1. The virtual space server 10 may first transmit data about fixed virtual objects placed in the virtual space around the avatar's position to the user device 20-k, and then transmit images of virtual objects whose positions, such as avatar Ak, move to the user device 20-k. The user device 20-k manages images of fixed virtual objects and images of variable virtual objects in different layers. Furthermore, the user device 20-k may generate an image by superimposing the layers and display the generated image on the display device 24. The virtual space server 10 can conserve communication resources by transmitting images managed in layers. 【0077】 2.2: Variation 2 It is possible that there are two or more facilities with the same facility name as the facility name specified by user U[k] as the destination, and these two or more facilities are located so far apart that they cannot be displayed on a single map. In this case, the display control unit 116 may generate two or more maps that correspond one-to-one with the two or more facilities, and transmit image data showing images including the two or more maps to the user device 20-k. 【0078】 2.3: Variation 3 In the embodiment described above, if there are two or more facilities with the same facility name at the destination of user U[k]'s avatar Ak, the modification unit 115 changes the facility name of each of the two or more facilities to two or more different facility names. The modification unit 115 may change the facility name of each of the two or more facilities to a facility name that includes the original facility name and the name of the facility manager. For example, consider a case where private rooms for each employee are placed in an office placed in a virtual space. Here, suppose the facility name of two or more private rooms placed in the office is commonly "UR (User Room)". In this case, the modification unit 115 may make the changed facility name a name that combines the original facility name and the surname of the employee (user). The employee (user) is an example of a facility manager. Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image generated by the display control unit 116 according to Modification 3. The display image shown in Figure 10 includes icons 70-77 indicating private rooms and a facility name that combines the original facility name "UR" and the surname of the employee. Since each of the two or more different facility names modified by the modification unit 115 includes the original facility name and the name of the facility manager, user U[k] can easily specify the destination facility name based on the displayed image. 【0079】 4: Modification 4 In the embodiment described above, the display image was a map image containing icons corresponding one-to-one to multiple facilities and facility names corresponding one-to-one to multiple facilities. This disclosure is not limited thereto. The display image may also be an image showing a list of facility names corresponding one-to-one to multiple facilities located at the destination of user U[k]'s avatar Ak. Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image generated by the display control unit 116 according to Modification 4. The display image shown in Figure 11 represents a list of facility names included in the display image shown in Figure 10. By representing these facility names in list format, the display area can be reduced. 【0080】 2.5: Variation 5 In the embodiment described above, user U[k] specified a first facility name to be avatar Ak by voice from among multiple facility names included in the displayed image, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The method by which user U[k] specifies the first facility name is arbitrary. The first facility name may be specified by the gaze of user U[k]. When using gaze, the user device 20-k may use the input device 25 to detect the direction of user U[k]'s gaze, identify the facility name on the display image located in the detected direction as the first facility name, and transmit the first facility name to the virtual space server 10. Alternatively, the first facility name may be specified by an operation performed by user U[k] on the controller. The controller, acting as an input device 25, may be used to detect the operation of user U[k], and the detected operation may be used to identify the facility name on the display image as the first facility name, and the first facility name may be sent to the virtual space server 10. When specifying the first facility name using the controller, the first facility name may be specified by moving the cursor left or right to select the facility name to which avatar Ak will move from among the multiple facility names included in the display image. Alternatively, the multiple facility names included in the display image may be displayed by number, and the first facility name may be specified by user U[k] inputting the number of the facility to which avatar Ak will move using the controller. 【0081】 3: Others (1) In the embodiments described above, the storage devices 12 and 22 are exemplified by ROM and RAM, but can also be flexible disks, magneto-optical disks (e.g., compact disks, digital multipurpose disks, Blu-ray® disks), smart cards, flash memory devices (e.g., cards, sticks, key drives), CD-ROMs (Compact Disc-ROMs), registers, removable disks, hard disks, floppy® disks, magnetic strips, databases, servers, and other suitable storage media. The program may also be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line. The program may also be transmitted from a communication network NW via a telecommunications line. 【0082】 (2) In the embodiments described above, the information, signals, etc. may be represented using any of the various different techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be mentioned throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof. 【0083】 (3) In the embodiments described above, the input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or managed using a management table. The input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or appended to. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to other devices. 【0084】 (4) In the embodiments described above, the determination may be made by a value represented using 1 bit (0 or 1), by a boolean value (true or false), or by a numerical comparison (for example, a comparison with a predetermined value). 【0085】 (5) The processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc., exemplified in the embodiments described above may be rearranged in order, as long as they do not contradict each other. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present various step elements using an exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented. 【0086】 (6) Each function illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 is implemented by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method of implementing each function block is not particularly limited. That is, each function block may be implemented using one device that is physically or logically coupled, or it may be implemented using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wired or wireless connections). A function block may also be implemented by combining the above one device or the above multiple devices with software. 【0087】 (7) The programs illustrated in the embodiments described above should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, etc., whether they are called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages ​​or by other names. 【0088】 Furthermore, software, instructions, information, etc., may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technology (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) and wireless technology (such as infrared or microwave), then at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included in the definition of a transmission medium. 【0089】 (8) In each of the above-mentioned forms, the terms “system” and “network” shall be used interchangeably. 【0090】 (9) The information, parameters, etc. described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a given value, or other corresponding information. 【0091】 (10) In the embodiments described above, the user equipment 20-1 to 20-j may be a mobile station (MS). 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 several other appropriate terms. In this disclosure, terms such as “mobile station,” “user terminal,” “user equipment (UE),” and “terminal” may be used interchangeably. 【0092】 (11) In the embodiments described above, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variation thereof, mean 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” with each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be a physical coupling or connection, a logical coupling or connection, or a combination thereof. For example, “connection” may be reinterpreted as “access.” As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be “connected” or “coupled” with each other using at least one of one or more wires, cables and printed electrical connections, and, in some non-limiting and non-exclusive examples, electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency domain, microwave domain and optical (both visible and invisible) domain. 【0093】 (12) In the embodiments described above, the phrase “based on” does not mean “based solely on” unless otherwise specified. In other words, the phrase “based on” means both “based solely on” and “based at least on.” 【0094】 (13) The terms “determining” and “determining” as used in this disclosure may encompass a wide variety of actions. “Determining” may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiry (e.g., searching in a table, database or other data structure), and ascertaining. “Determining” may also include, for example, receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, and accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory). Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering something as having been "judged" or "decided" after resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering something as having been "judged" or "decided" after some action. Also, "judgment (decision)" can be reinterpreted as "assuming," "expecting," or "considering." 【0095】 (14) Where the terms “include,” “including,” and variations thereof are used in the embodiments described above, these terms are intended to be inclusive, as is the term “comprising.” Furthermore, the term “or” as used in this disclosure is not intended to be exclusive OR. 【0096】 (15) In the present disclosure, if articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the present disclosure may include the fact that the noun following these articles is plural. 【0097】 (16) In this 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 “combine” may be interpreted in the same way as “different.” 【0098】 (17) Each aspect / embodiment described herein may be used individually, in combination, or switched between as needed in practice. Furthermore, notification of certain information (e.g., notification that "X is") is not limited to explicit notification, but may also be implicit (e.g., by not providing such notification). 【0099】 Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it will be 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 intent and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Accordingly, the descriptions in the present disclosure are illustrative and not restrictive in any way. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0100】 1...Virtual space system, 10...Virtual space server, 11...Processing device, 20-1~20-j...User device, 24...Display device, 111...Acquisition unit, 112...Management unit, 113...Extraction unit, 114...Determination unit, 115...Change unit, 116...Display control unit, 117...Movement unit, Ak...Avatar, TBL1...User table, TBL2...First facility table, TBL3...Second facility table.

Claims

[Claim 1] If there are two or more facilities with the same facility name at the destination location of the user's avatar specified by the user, the modification unit changes the same facility name corresponding to the two or more facilities to two or more facility names that correspond one-to-one with the two or more facilities and are different from each other. A display control unit that causes a display image containing two or more different facility names modified by the modification unit to be displayed on a display device used by the user, When the user specifies a first facility name included in the displayed image, a movement unit instantly moves the user's avatar to the location corresponding to the first facility name. An avatar movement device equipped with [a specific feature]. [Claim 2] The avatar movement device according to claim 1, wherein the first facility name is specified by the user's voice, the user's gaze, or the user's operation on the controller. [Claim 3] The aforementioned display image is a map image, The image of the map includes the names of the two or more facilities that correspond one-to-one with the two or more facilities, and the icons that correspond one-to-one with the two or more facilities. The avatar movement device according to claim 1. [Claim 4] Each of the two or more different facility names changed by the aforementioned modification includes the original facility name and the name of the facility manager. The avatar movement device according to claim 1. [Claim 5] The displayed image is an image showing a list of multiple facility names that correspond one-to-one with multiple facilities located at the destination of the user's avatar. The avatar movement device according to claim 4. [Claim 6] An extraction unit extracts the names of multiple facilities associated with a location, based on first facility data that associates the facility name with the location of each of the multiple facilities placed in the virtual space. The system further includes a determination unit that determines whether the same facility name is included among the facility names of multiple facilities extracted by the extraction unit, If the determination result of the determination unit is positive, the modification unit changes the identical facility name to two or more facility names that correspond one-to-one with the two or more facilities and are different from each other. The avatar movement device according to claim 1. [Claim 7] The system further includes a management unit that manages second facility data that associates one-to-one with the two or more different facility names modified by the modification unit and the locations of the two or more different facilities, and the first facility data, The moving unit, when the first facility name is one of the two or more different facility names changed by the changing unit, identifies the location of the facility corresponding to the first facility name based on the second facility data. The avatar movement device according to claim 6.

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