US6956575B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Character provision service system, information processing apparatus, controlling method therefor, and recording medium
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2001-07-27
•
Granted: 2005-10-18
•
Expires: 2021-07-27
Abstract
Abstract In a character provision service system for providing users with characters such as interface agents and virtual characters in virtual spaces on computers or in TV games, charges for use of a provided character is computed according to a motion made by the character. This system enables each user to easily purchase with security a character capable of moving according user's need, and also enables character data providers to collect charges according to motions made by provided characters and to provide various characters without anxiety about unauthorized use of the characters.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroaki Nakazawa
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Yagisawa
- 👤 Kazue Kaneko
- 👤 Takashi Aso
- 👤 Makoto Hirota
- 👤 Kazuko Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0252; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/70; A63F13/79; A63F13/792; A63F13/30; A63F13/33; A63F13/335; A63F13/35; A63F13/50; A63F13/52; A63F13/55; A63F13/58; A63F13/71; G06Q30/0254; G06Q30/06; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/401; A63F2300/407; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/5513; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/65; A63F2300/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A character provision service system for providing characters to a user-side apparatus, said system comprising: generation means for generating a character capable of making a designated motion; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A character provision service system for providing characters to a user-side apparatus, said system comprising: generation means for generating a character capable of making a designated motion; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A character provision service system for providing characters to a user-side apparatus, said system comprising: generation means for generating a character capable of making a designated motion; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the amount of movement of the motion, and the amount of movement is the number of frames in which a moving image of the character is displayed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A character provision service system for providing characters to a user-side apparatus, said system comprising: generation means for generating a character capable of making a designated motion; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the amount of movement of the motion, and the amount of movement is the number of frames in which a moving image of the character is displayed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the period of time during which the motion is continued.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the amount of change in the motion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of a motion mode of the motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 5 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of expression of the character.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 5 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of method for a conversation held by the character.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 5 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of personality of the character.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A character provision service system for providing characters to a user-side apparatus, said system comprising: generation means for generating a character capable of making a designated motion; computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character; measuring means for measuring the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the measured motion of the character.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A character provision service system for providing characters to a user-side apparatus, said system comprising: generation means for generating a character capable of making a designated motion; computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character; measuring means for measuring the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the measured motion of the character.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein the character is encrypted and the user-side apparatus has information for decrypting the character.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein access to the character is restricted and the user-side apparatus has authentication information for enabling access to the character.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein the character is generated and moved by processing character data formed from a plurality of images by executing a character display/control program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
An information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
An information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
An information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the amount of movement of the motion, and the amount of movement is the number of frames in which a moving image of the character is displayed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
An information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the amount of movement of the motion, and the amount of movement is the number of frames in which a moving image of the character is displayed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the period of times during which the motion is continued.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the amount of change in the motion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of a motion mode of the motion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of expression of the character.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of method for a conversation held by the character.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of personality of the character.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
73 words
An information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving information designating a motion of the character; computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character; and measuring means for measuring the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the measured motion of the character.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
73 words
An information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving information designating a motion of the character; computation means for computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character; and measuring means for measuring the motion of the character, wherein said computation means performs the computation on the basis of the measured motion of the character.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the character is generated and moved by processing character data formed from a plurality of images by executing a character display/control program.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
An information processing apparatus provided with characters form a character providing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: designation means for designating a motion of the character; and display means for displaying the character moving on the basis of the designation by said designation means, wherein said designation means designates the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
An information processing apparatus provided with characters form a character providing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: designation means for designating a motion of the character; and display means for displaying the character moving on the basis of the designation by said designation means, wherein said designation means designates the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
76 words
An information processing apparatus provided with characters form a character providing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: designation means for designating a motion of the character; and display means for displaying the character moving on the basis of the designation by said designation means, wherein said designation means designates an amount of movement of the motion, and the amount of movement is the number of frames in which a moving image of the character is displayed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
76 words
An information processing apparatus provided with characters form a character providing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising: designation means for designating a motion of the character; and display means for displaying the character moving on the basis of the designation by said designation means, wherein said designation means designates an amount of movement of the motion, and the amount of movement is the number of frames in which a moving image of the character is displayed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein said designation means designates a period of time during which the motion is to be continued.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein said designation means designates an amount of change in the motion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein said designation means designates a motion mode of the motion.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of expression of the character.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of method for a conversation held by the character.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the motion mode relates to a kind of personality of the character.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the character is encrypted and said apparatus has information for decrypting the character.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein access to the character is restricted and said apparatus has authentication information for enabling access to the character.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the character is generated and moved by processing character data formed from a plurality of images by executing a character display/control program.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of controlling an information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein, in said computing step, the computing is performed on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of controlling an information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein, in said computing step, the computing is performed on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
74 words
A recording medium on which a program for controlling an information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus is stored, said program comprising the steps of: receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein, in said computing step, the computation is performed on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
74 words
A recording medium on which a program for controlling an information processing apparatus for providing a character to a user-side apparatus is stored, said program comprising the steps of: receiving information designating a motion of the character; and computing a charge for the character on the basis of the motion of the character, wherein, in said computing step, the computation is performed on the basis of the number of parts moved in the motion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5524195A
Cited
US6085256A
Cited
US6229533B1
Cited
US6244959B1
Cited
US6227974B1
Cited
US6448970B1
Cited
US6686918B1
Cited
US20010018667A1
Cited
US20030156134A1
Cited
US20020089506A1
Cited
US20020143622A1
Cited
US20020171647A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-10-17 | 2009-04-18 | 2009-10-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-10-17 | 2013-04-18 | 2013-10-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-10-17 | 2017-04-18 | 2017-10-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |