JP2002268901A - Agent system, agent handling method, information providing device and program, and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel agent system, an agent buying and selling method, and an agent capable of providing an electronic pet as an agent having desired conditions only to a specific user. A system and a data recording medium are provided. SOLUTION: A client computer connected to at least one communication line means and having a display device, and at least one server computer connected to the client computer through the communication line means and having an area forming a community for handling agents And an agent market provided in the community and handling the agent including at least one of transfer and lending of the ownership of the agent, wherein the agent market is specified for characteristics of the agent. An agent system for performing processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an agent system, an agent handling method, an information providing apparatus, a program, and an information recording medium, and more particularly to an agent capable of displaying an agent as an electronic pet and transferring and exchanging a grown electronic pet agent in a community. The present invention relates to a possible agent system, an agent handling method, an information providing device, a program, and an information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An "agent" system, which is a computer program for simulating a human relationship by acting for a job online, is generally known.

This agent has an agent program acting as a user's agent resident in a computer,
It is started in response to an event and takes the desired action in the network.It is an autonomous program that interacts with a character string on the screen and works on the network as a user's agent. Works.

For example, "find where a certain product is"
When the agent orders, the agent will automatically access the product inventory from the resident computer, otherwise access the virtual mall etc. It is. Further, a mobile agent (moving scripter) that works while moving on a network is also known.

[0005] As an agent, a technique is known in which an agent program is sent to a WWW server computer, and a program such as information search is executed by the WWW server computer. In this case, the client computer controls the progress and receives the result when processing is performed on the WWW server computer.

On the other hand, when the client computer
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a technique of acquiring various application programs from a W server computer and charging the time when the application is used.

[0007]

In the technique of sending an agent program to a WWW server computer and executing a program such as information search on the WWW server computer, it is necessary to obtain an agent having a predetermined capability in advance. However, it is difficult for the user to know the location of the agent having the predetermined ability.

[0008] Further, the user is not limited to a case where the user always needs an agent having the same ability. For example, agents who are familiar with financial information, agents who are familiar with political situations, agents who are familiar with games, agents who are familiar with games, etc., sometimes require agents who are capable of responding to work and interests. It was difficult to easily secure an agent suitable for the job.

Conventionally, users can use
Because of being limited to agents developed by a particular software company, the software programs executable by the agents were not only limited to some patterns, but the selection of the agents themselves was not fun.

In addition, even if an agent is selected once as matching the user's taste, it is apparent that the predetermined ability provided in the agent after the actual use was not useful to the user. Sometimes it was. In particular, the user may be provided with an agent specializing in processing information in a field that the user does not originally want or information in a field that is not suitable for the characteristics of the user.

[0011] Further, regarding an agent having a peculiarity, not only the user does not want to purchase from the beginning, but also
Sometimes I didn't want to display the screen as an option.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel agent system, an agent handling method, and an information providing device capable of handling an electronic pet as an agent when the ownership or transfer of the ownership of the electronic pet meets predetermined conditions. And a program and an information recording medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel agent system, an agent handling method, an information providing apparatus, a program, and a program which satisfy desired conditions and can easily handle a characterized and friendly electronic pet as an agent. An object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium.

[0014]

According to an agent system according to the present invention, a client computer connected to at least one communication line means and having a display device, and the client computer and the communication line means are connected to each other. At least one server computer that is connected to the server and has an area forming a community that handles the agent, and an agent that is provided in the community and handles the agent including at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agent And a market, which is solved by performing a specific process on the characteristics of the agent.

[0015] In particular, the characteristics of the agent include at least one of an amount of stored information, an information processing field that can be handled, an information processing speed, an accuracy of information processing, and a performance evaluation performed by an operator. The specific process includes a process of restricting handling of the agent according to characteristics of a user using the client computer, a process based on information of a breeder who trains the agent, and a process of history of the agent. Preferably, at least one of the processes is included.

As described above, by performing processing for restricting the handling of the agent according to the characteristics of the user with respect to the characteristics of the agent, the transfer of the ownership or the lending of the electronic pet as an agent can be performed in a predetermined manner. Can be handled.

Further, for the characteristics of the agent,
By performing the processing based on the information of the bleeder, the bleeders can mutually perform the knowledge and the contents of the agent. As a result, information on the bleeder is stored with respect to the characteristics of the agent, and the user can refer to the information to use the information as a criterion when handling the agent.

Further, by processing the history of the agent for the characteristics of the agent,
It is possible to change the characteristics to meet the predetermined conditions of the user. This makes it impossible to handle information unnecessary for the user or information that does not satisfy the predetermined conditions.

Further, a user having predetermined characteristics can easily handle an electronic pet as a characterized and friendly agent having desired conditions.

Therefore, the breeding of agents by agent breeders and software companies is activated, and more elaborate agents such as agents having various personalities and agents very strong in information in a specific field are cultivated. For the user, the choice of agents is expanded, and for software companies and breeders, if high value-added agents are cultivated, they can be sold at high prices, and new business opportunities can be obtained.

At this time, it is preferable that the agent is configured so that the client computer or the server computer includes a processing program for performing at least one of an information collection process and a proxy process.

[0022] Thus, the market can provide useful agents having a transaction value.

It is preferable that the agent is configured so that the client computer or the server computer includes an electronic pet agent display program that can be displayed on the display device as an electronic pet.

According to this, the agent makes the server computer or the client computer
Since it is displayed on the screen as an electronic pet, the user can
It becomes possible to use the agent system while having fun.

[0025] In the community, at least one of the setting process regarding the agent and the user information processing is performed by the owner registration unit, and the owner of the agent is registered. It is suitable. This makes it possible to transfer ownership of the agent.

[0026] It is preferable that the agent is configured to be released to an information acquisition area partitioned by a specific concept and to be able to construct a database by accumulating information autonomously collected in the information acquisition area. .

With such a configuration, the agent can store only useful information for the user from a very large amount of information. In other words, the agent does not need to collect information from randomly distributed information, but only needs to collect information from an information acquisition area delimited by a specific concept. It becomes possible.

Preferably, the agent is characterized for each specialty in a predetermined field. With such a configuration, it is possible to develop agents who are strong in a specific specialty field, and the market can provide various agents with their individual characteristics.
In other words, agents who have a lot of knowledge in specialized fields are bought and sold, and agents with high use value for users can be provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agent handling method, comprising: forming a region for forming a community for handling an agent in a computer connected to another information device via communication line means; Forming an agent market that handles agents including at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agents in the community, and performing a specific process on characteristics of the agents, Will be resolved.

The agent handling method of the present invention includes a processing program for performing at least one of information collection processing and proxy processing, and the processing program is handled as an agent.

In the agent handling method according to the present invention, the agent is provided with an electronic pet agent display program that can be displayed as an electronic pet on the server computer or the client computer. Each is displayed with a personality in the form of a pet.

Therefore, even when there are a plurality of agents in the market, it is easy to identify each agent, and the user can intuitively determine the agent required for himself. In addition, it is possible to make selection while enjoying the aspect of each agent.

According to the agent handling method of the present invention, at least one of the processing relating to the agent and the information processing of the user is performed in the community by using the owner registration means, and the processing of the agent is performed. By registering the owner, the ownership is transferred.

According to the above method of transferring ownership, the user can become the owner of the agent only by registering the ID number, for example, so that the ownership can be easily transferred.

Further, since data relating to agent handling can be accumulated, it is possible to grasp the market tendency of the community by analyzing the handling data for each agent.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing apparatus comprising: an input receiving unit; an information processing unit; and an output unit. Means for forming a community that handles agents, and an agent market that handles agents including at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agents in the community. This problem is solved by providing means for performing a specific process on the characteristics of the agent.

That is, the information providing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments described in the embodiments. The WWW server computer 1-1 as the information providing apparatus will be described as another information apparatus. Is connected via the communication network 2 to the user computer 3-1. A community 67 is provided on the WWW server computer 1-1.

The community 67 is provided with an agent market 65z. In the agent market, the ownership of the agent 63 is transferred.
Note that the agent 63 is a software program that autonomously performs appropriate processing based on its own knowledge base.

It is preferable that the agent is provided with a processing program for performing at least one of information collection processing and proxy processing in a predetermined area.

Further, the agent has an electronic pet agent display program, and the electronic pet agent display program allows the agent to be used as an electronic pet and displayed on the user computer 3-1 as the other information device. It is good to make it possible to display on the device 17.

The transfer of the ownership is performed by the agent sales information storage unit 69c as the owner registration means.
It is preferable to perform the registration by registering the owner of the agent.

In the WWW server computer 1-1 as an information providing device, the agent is a place 6 as an information acquisition area divided by a specific concept.
5a to 65z, the database can be constructed by storing information autonomously collected in the places 65a to 65z. Further, the agents are characterized for each specialty in a predetermined field.

A program for executing the agent system of the present invention is stored in an information recording medium. The program comprises: a computer having a display device, means for forming an area forming a community for handling agents; and
Means for forming an agent market that handles agents including at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agent, and means for performing specific processing on characteristics of the agent, and configured to function as: I have.

[0044]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description example, the agent system according to the present invention is described. In this description example, the agent system, the agent handling method, the information providing device, and the program for causing a computer related thereto to perform predetermined processing are described. Of course, the processing procedure of the information recording medium in which is stored is naturally included.

An "agent" is a software program that is activated when an event occurs and autonomously performs appropriate processing based on its own knowledge base, and is expressed as an electronic pet.

The configuration of the agent system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of an agent system according to the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, WWW server computers 1-1 to 1- as server computers are used.
Reference numeral 3 is connected to the communication network 2, and user computers 3-1 to 3-3 as a plurality of client computers are connected to the communication network 2. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the user computers 3-1 to 3-3
And the WWW server computer are directly connected to the communication line network 2.
W server computer configuration and some W servers
The configuration may be such that a WW server computer is interposed.

[0048] WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-
Reference numeral 3 denotes a WWW server computer or the like of each provider. The communication network 2 is the Internet,
It includes personal computer communication, various networks, cable lines, dedicated channels, etc., and also includes packet communication networks regardless of wired or wireless.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the user computer 3-1 (the same applies to the other user computers 3-2 and 3-3). The computer device includes a CPU 11 as a data calculation / control processing device and a RAM 1 as a storage device.
3, a ROM 12, a HDD 14, and a storage medium device 19. The CPU 11 executes various processes in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 12, the HDD 14, or the like. The RAM 13 has a CPU
Data and the like necessary for the 11 to execute various processes are appropriately stored. The terminal ID is stored in the EEPROM 10.
For example, data that needs to be stored even after the power is turned off is stored.

Keyboard 15 and mouse 1 as input devices
5A is appropriately operated when a predetermined command is input to the CPU 11. The microphone 16 is used when inputting an audio signal. Further, a predetermined image is output and displayed on the display device 17, and a predetermined audio signal is output from the speaker 18.

The storage medium device 19 comprises an external hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a DVD, a memory stick, etc., and stores data transmitted via the communication network 2 as appropriate. It can be read out. The communication device 20 transmits data to the communication network 2 and receives data supplied via the communication network 2.
Interface IF is mouse 15A, keyboard 15
~ Is disposed between each peripheral device such as the communication device 20 and the CPU 11 and executes interface processing.

Although the configuration of the WWW server computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted, the configuration is basically the same as that of the terminal 3-1. On a predetermined area of a specific WWW server computer 1-1, as shown in a community configuration shown in FIG.
A community 67 is provided. Here, the community 67 of the present embodiment is a work area in which the creature 64 including the agent 63 is stored. The information storage unit 69 stores a plurality of partitioned places 65a to 65z, a program of the creature 64, and the like. And

In this embodiment, the community 6
7 is provided in the single WWW server computer 1-1, but is not limited to this.
The virtual space may be created as a virtual space partitioned by a space specified by a certain concept.

As described above, in the case of a virtual space partitioned by the space specified by the predetermined concept, the community 67 includes a plurality of WWW server computers 1-1 as shown in FIG.
1 to 1-n. However, in order to apply the agent system of the present embodiment, the owner of the agent (electronic pet) 63 existing in the community 67 participates in the system of the present embodiment, and these agents 63 can buy, sell, or exchange. Is a condition. For this reason, the community has a plurality of WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-1.
n, the location of the agent (electronic pet) is set in advance in any one of the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n.

The creature 64 is a program imitating a creature. The creature 64 is a display device of the user computer 3-1 as a "client computer" and "another information device", and has an electronic pet display program that can be displayed as a character. ing. The creature 64 can grow as an agent, but in most cases, it is initially displayed on the display device as an immature electronic pet that is not an agent.

Information about the creature 64, under what circumstances, how it behaves, and what kind of sound (language) it emits, is stored in a creature storage unit 69a described later of the community 67. I have. For example,
General wisdom information such as "living wisdom information" and "trivial information", and frequency information appearing on the screen such as date information, the frequency of questions asked to the user, the type of character voice, the type of character (for example, Information on aliens, animals, plants, robots, etc.) is stored.

The creature storage section 69a stores
Surrounding creatures, internal parameters such as emotion, hunger, curiosity, etc. (unknown from other electronic pets), external parameters such as creature position, orientation, color, etc. (known from other electronic pets) Environmental information including the physical environment (objects other than the electronic pet, temperature, gravity, date, etc.) is stored.

In this embodiment, the creature storage section 69a stores information on the behavior of the creature 64, but the creature 64 itself has an information storage means for storing such information. May be configured.

The creature 64 has various programs, and the creature 64 includes an agent (electronic pet) 63. In short, the "agent" can be said to be one of the occupations of the creature 64. In the following description examples, “agent” and “electronic pet” are used as words having the same meaning.

The creature 64 generally has no data that can initially operate as the agent 63, and is trained while participating in an event in the community 67 or by being a breeder.
Data and programs are accumulated and grow into the agent 63.

The agent 63 has several storage areas, and in a predetermined area thereof, an agent program capable of executing various processes is provided. The executable program differs for each agent 63.
The agent includes a processing program that performs at least one of information collection processing and proxy processing. Some agents have a processing program for performing processing such as image processing, translation processing, music compression processing, dictionary search processing, map search processing, and game processing.

The information collecting process is a process in which the agent 63 autonomously walks the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n connected to the communication network 2 based on a predetermined keyword. Refers to the process of collecting.

For example, if the keyword is "Hokkaido trip", the user moves or accesses a WWW server computer which is searched and hit with the keywords "Hokkaido" and "Travel" to collect information on "Hokkaido trip". Then, a database relating to “Hokkaido trip” is constructed in a storage area provided in a computer that manages the agent 63. At this time, the configuration may be such that the agent 63 is constructed as a database provided in the agent 63 itself, instead of a storage area provided in the computer.

Also, the proxy processing means that the agent 63
Refers to a process for acting on behalf of a user, such as a flow of information collection, selection of information, reservation, registration, settlement, and the like. For example, this means that a travel product that best suits the user's preference is selected from travel products provided by a plurality of travel companies, and reservation and settlement are performed.

The agent 63 is connected to the WWW server computer 1-1 connected to the communication network 2 based on the user's job request information and keywords related to user preferences.
One-way proxy processing is performed by, for example, autonomously walking through 1-n.

Since the agent (that is, the electronic pet) 63 is also a creature 64, the agent 63 uses the display device 1 of the user computer 3-1.
It goes without saying that an electronic pet agent display program capable of displaying the appearance, language, and behavior as a character at 7 is also provided. This electronic pet agent display program has a different name, but corresponds to the electronic pet display program of the creature 64.

Each of the agents 63 has a special field of specialty, and is characterized by a specific field, for example, a field of travel, a field of music, a field of language, a field of science and technology, a field of animation, and the like. ing. This discipline may be further subdivided within each discipline. For example,
In the field of science and technology, information technology, semiconductor-related, fuel-related, pharmaceutical-related, and the like are included.

Thus, for example, an agent that is strong in travel-related information, an agent that is strong in music-related information,
There will be agents and others that are strong in building-related information. In addition, an agent 63 having various characteristics that is strong against subculture information such as an agent strong against so-called adult information and an agent strong against violent information, which can easily obtain the information on the Internet. Exists, and the user can select an agent 6 that is strong in the target field according to his / her request.
3 can be selected.

The places 65a to 65z are work areas of the creature 64, and are divided into categories as shown in FIG. The category is Agent 6
It is divided into three jobs. For example, in addition to an image processing place 65a, a translation place 65b, a music compression place 65c such as MP3, a dictionary place 65d, a map search place 65e, other search places 65f, and a game place 65g, information 1 place 6 includes various information.
5h to information n place 65v are formed.

Information 1 place 65h to Information n place 6
The 5v category includes, for example, cars, drive route maps, domestic travel, overseas travel, sports, music, animation, movies, and the like. In each category, related items are set. For example, in the place of a car, items such as a vehicle type, a driving route, parts, and a manufacturer are listed as related items of the category, and a place of a movie is included. In this section, items such as genre, actor, production country, and era are listed as related items of the category. A pointer to a related item of the category is registered for one category.

The area of the creature 64 that has a small amount of data and has not yet grown into the agent 63 is:
In addition, a place 65w is formed. These places 65a to 65w are each further subdivided as necessary. The place 65 includes an electronic mail box 65x, a calendar clock 65y, and a market 65z as an agent market, and is a work area for controlling information transmission, time management, agent trading management, and the like.

The market 65z as an agent market is a work area for transferring ownership of the agent 63. Display device 1 of user computer 3-1
7, the agent 63 is displayed as a selectable state in the community 67 in the market 65z.

The market 65 according to the present embodiment
In z, as an example of the transfer of the ownership of the agent, the agent 63 is configured to buy and sell the agent 63. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the agent 63 may be configured to perform transfer without exchanging the agent 63 or transferring money. Good.

The information storage section 69 of the community 67 includes a creature basic information storage section 69a, a community management program 69b for managing the entire community 67, a sales information storage section 69c of the agent 63, and a creature characteristic information storage section 69d. You.

The creature 64 including the agent 63 is stored in the creature basic information storage section 69a. Note that the creatures 64 include not only movable mobile agents but also resident agents resident in the community 67.

The creature basic information storage section 69a stores the RA
M and stores a creature basic information table. The creature basic information table describes basic information of the creature 64 including the agent 63.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the creature basic information table. The creature basic information table includes a creature ID column 111, a place column 112, an agent column 113, an agent age column 114, a creature creation date column 115, a basic appearance column 116, a trade column 117, and a selling price column. 118 and an owner ID column 120.

In the creature ID column 111, the ID of the creature 64 is described. The creature ID is assigned without distinguishing between the agent 63 and the creature 64.

The place column 112 contains the agent 63
The place where the creature 64 including is stored is described. The agent column 113 shows that creature 6
It is described whether 4 is an agent 63 or not. In this column, "1" is displayed for an agent, and "0" is displayed for a creature that has not grown into an agent.
Is described.

In the agent age column 114, when the creature 64 is an agent, the date that has elapsed since the creature became an agent is described. This agent age can be used as a material for estimating whether the agent's processing program or the amount of data possessed is large. That is, although there are individual differences among the agents, if the age of the agent is high, it can be inferred that the processing program and the amount of data owned by the agent are large.

The creature creation date column 115 describes the date when the creature 64 including the agent 63 occurred. The basic appearance column 116 includes the agent 63
Are described in the memory map 27a having the basic appearance of the above. The memory map 27a will be described later.

The sales column 117 describes whether the agent 63 is on sale in the agent market 65z. In this column, “1” is described when the agent 63 is sold at the agent market 65z, and “0” is described when the agent 63 is not sold at the agent market 65z.

The selling price column 118 contains the agent 63
Is sold in the agent market 65z. In the owner ID column 120,
The ID of the user who owns the creature 64 including the agent 63 is described. Even when the provider of the agent system is the owner, the ID of the provider is described.

The owner of the creature 64 includes an agent seller who sells the agent 63 at the market 65z of the community 67. Here, the agent seller includes a software company, a trading company, a bleeder of an agent, and the like.

This creature basic information table is configured to be rewritable as needed. For example,
When a new creature 64 is stored in the community 67, when the owner (owner) of the agent 63 changes, when the creature 64 grows and becomes the agent 63, when the basic appearance is changed, etc., recording is performed. Rewrite and update. The data described in the creature table may be in any of a variable-length and fixed-length data format.

[0086] The agent characteristic information storage section 69d stores a creature characteristic information table. In the creature characteristic information table, characteristic information of the creature 64 including the agent 63 is described.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the creature characteristic information table. The creature characteristic information table is
It includes a creature ID column 121, a general performance column 122, a specialized performance column 123, and a comment column 124.

In the creature ID 121 column, the ID of the creature 64 corresponding to the ID described in the creature ID column 111 of the creature basic information table is described. The creature ID is assigned without distinguishing between the agent 63 and the creature 64.

In the general performance column 122, the agent 63
The general characteristics of the creature 64 are described. The general performance expresses an item relating to basic performance when the creature 64 handles information by an evaluation scale. The item column 125 has accuracy, abundance of contents, speed, and the like. The evaluation scale column 125 is represented by an evaluation scale of 1 to 9 for each item (a high evaluation scale indicates a high evaluation). For example, if "accuracy: 9", "content richness: 9", and "speed: 1", the basic performance of the creature 64 is:
It can be said that "the information to be handled is rich and accurate, but the search time is slow."

The special performance column 123 contains the agent 63
The professional performance of the creature 64 is described. The professional performance is represented by an evaluation scale for specific items in a field that the creature 64 is good at handling. The specific item column 127 is set for each field that the creature is good at handling, and the evaluation scale column 128 is
Each item is represented by an evaluation scale from 1 to 9 (a higher evaluation scale indicates a higher evaluation). For example, in the case of a creature that specializes in movies for adults, specific items are set as adultness, subculture, violence, and the like. If the professional performance is "Adult degree: 8", "Subculture degree: 6", "Violence degree: 2", it is said that "Adult movies and movies in the subculture field are detailed, but violent movies are not so detailed." Can be understood.

In the comment section 124, additional information such as "words recommended by the user" and "ranking evaluation" can be input.

This creature characteristic information table is also configured to be rewritable as needed.
For example, when the information handled by agents becomes more sophisticated,
When the personality of the agent changes, when the evaluation by the user changes, or when it is desired to recommend to other users, the ranking and the like rewrites and updates the record. The data described in the creature characteristic information table may be in any of a variable-length data format and a fixed-length data format.

The general performance column, the specialized performance column, and the comment column are set by a person who has a qualification for evaluating and setting performance, such as a breeder, a software company, or a user.
Details will be described later.

In the present invention, a bleeder is a person who fosters an agent. These individuals train agents for hobbies or for business. here,
“Training” means to own or lend an agent to create an agent having desired data.

Further, when the community 67 is provided as a virtual space specified by a predetermined concept across a plurality of WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n,
The creature table may have a column for describing the URL where the creature 64 including the agent 63 exists.

The agent sales information storage section 69c
The agent 63 sold from the creature basic information table and the creature characteristic information table
The data which extracted the information about is stored. That is, information on the agent 63 in which the sales column 117 of the creature table is described as “1” (from the creature basic information table, the creature ID column 111
, Place field 112 and agent age field 114
Creature creation date column 115 and basic appearance column 116
, The selling price column 118, the owner ID column 120, and only the general performance, the specialized performance, and the comment column) are extracted from the creature characteristic information table, and the extracted data is stored.

An agent seller is an agent 6
3 refers to a person who sells 3 in the market 65z of the community 67, and includes software companies, trading companies, breeders of agents, and the like.

The agent sales information storage section 69c stores
The agent's seller is responsible for each area of the market 65za
The ID numbers and the prices of the agents 63 sold by the sellers are classified and registered for each seller.

The information stored in the agent sales information storage section 69c is configured to be searchable by a keyword using a search program. Therefore, even when information related to one keyword is stored in a plurality of areas, it is possible to extract necessary information from a plurality of areas by performing a keyword search.

The agent sales information storage section 69c
By extracting the creature 64 to be sold,
A creature 64 that has not grown into an agent may also be tradeable.

The agent sales information storage section 69c
Serves as a means of owner registration,
The owner list of each agent 63 is stored.
Therefore, each time the ownership of each agent 63 is transferred by the agent trading in the market 65z, the ID of the owner of the agent is stored in the agent sales information storage unit 69c.

The community management program 69b includes:
In response to a request from each user computer 3-1, WW
W server computer 1-1 and user computer 3-
Also, a software program for controlling transmission and reception of the agent 63 to / from the server 1 is included. This function is
This is realized by the PU 11 executing the program.

The community 67 is the agent 6
3 is stored in the community 67, the creature 64 including
Mutual information exchange is possible.

Next, the agent system of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The agent system is a WWW in which a community 67 is formed.
Server computer 1-1 and user computer 3-
And 1. Although a plurality of WWW server computers and user computers exist as shown in FIG. 1, here, for convenience, the WWW server computer 1-1 is used.
And the corresponding relationship with the user computer 3-1.

The user computer 3-1 has an agent management program 61-1, a browser 62, a knowledge database 26, and an electronic pet state quantity storage unit 32 for storing the internal state, external state, and environment information of the electronic pet agent 63. And an agent management system 3-1a including a drawing system 36, a voice generation system 37, an input device 38, and an output device 39.

The WWW servers 1-1 to 1-n play a role as an information provider when the agent 63 walks over an external computer and acquires information when the user computer 3-1 is located. It is.

When obtaining information, the agent 63
Is a WW having information desired to be obtained through the information communication network 2.
Access or move to W server computer 1-n.
WWW server computer 1 having information to be obtained 1
To select n, the agent 63 autonomously performs a keyword search. At this time, a search is performed using a predetermined keyword, and a hit site is accessed to collect information. Here, the predetermined keyword corresponds to a “specific concept”, and a set of sites hit by the predetermined keyword corresponds to a “space separated by a specific concept”.

Here, the "specific concept" corresponds to not only a keyword but also a classification when information is classified and arranged.

The agent management program 61-1 is:
Based on the knowledge information of the agent 63 given from the knowledge database 26 and the internal state / external state / environment information of the agent 63 stored in the electronic pet state quantity storage unit 32, the intention and behavior of the agent 63 as an electronic pet are determined. The control is performed, and the control result is stored in the electronic pet state quantity storage unit 32.

The agent management program 61-1
Thereby, the agent 63 is constructed as an agent that can act autonomously and as an electronic pet characterized on a display device such as a television screen. The number of agents 63 controlled for one agent management system 3-1a is not limited to one, but may be plural.

The agent management program 61-1 is
It includes an information collecting unit 61-1a, an information analyzing unit 61-1b, an information providing unit 61-1c, and an agent information exchange system 80. The information collecting unit 61-1a first collects user information, and then selects and collects information from a medium such as a television broadcast or a radio broadcast for the user.

The selection of information from media such as television broadcasting and radio broadcasting for the user is performed according to the user information. That is, it is possible not to collect information on the restricted keywords set in advance according to the user information.

Thus, only the selected information is taken in. The fetched user information and the selected information are stored in an acquired information storage unit 60-2 described later.

Note that the agent management program 61-
Numeral 1 is stored in the HDD 14, and is configured to fetch the constant monitoring program data into the RAM 13 and perform arithmetic processing with the CPU 11 as the constant monitoring program.

Therefore, even when the electronic pet agent 63 is not displayed on a display device such as a television screen (when the agent management program is not executed), the execution history of the user can be constantly obtained as log data.

The information analyzer 61-1b analyzes the user's preferences and preferences based on the user information, and generates a keyword. That is, the information analysis unit 61-1b
The program data of the agent management program 61-1 previously stored in the HDD 14 and the user information are stored in the RA.
By taking it into M13 and performing arithmetic processing with the CPU 11, preference analysis is performed to generate a keyword. The keywords are stored in a keyword storage unit 30 described later.

The keywords are read from the keyword storage unit 30 into the RAM 12 and subjected to arithmetic processing with the CPU 11, whereby the agent 63 autonomously operates on the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-1 for timely topics. From -n, a topic that matches the user's preference can be found and provided to the user. For example, weather forecast information, traffic congestion information, current affairs news, entertainment news, music-related new music information at the time of connection, and the like can be given.

At this time, the information analysis section 61-1b can prevent the generation of the preset restricted keyword according to the user information. For example, for a user under the age of 18, keywords such as "adult information", "violence", and "subculture" may not be generated. This is because a so-called “R
The designated movie will not be offered to children under the age of 18 ", so that even if adult information has been collected, the information analysis unit 61-1b allows the information analysis unit 61-1b to determine the age and gender of the user. In order to determine the characteristics and limit the provision of information within the set conditions, the history can be modified to delete the collected information.

In addition to the above, the agent 63 provides the information autonomously as described above, and also obtains information on the contents specified by the user by specifying the time and the address of the information site on the user side. Can be. For example,
If you are worried about the results of baseball being played at that time while you are doing other work on your computer, specify the address of the site that publishes the baseball bulletin and the time you want to know the information. Keep it.

Then, a message such as "Tell me the result of the match" is transmitted to the agent 63. The agent 63 includes WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n
From the predetermined site, and notifies the user of the result of the match. In this case, the electronic pet (the agent 63) is provided at the corner of the screen of the display device 17 of the user computer 3-1.
Appears and displays messages such as "Team A has won 1-0" and "It was a goodbye game".

Alternatively, it may be specified so that the top news is notified from the news site. For example, from a news bulletin site, search for content related to the weather by using keywords, and then send a message such as "It seems that there was an earthquake in the Kanto region today."
It is displayed as a message of the electronic pet (agent 63). These conversations are performed by the agent management program 61-1.

The information providing unit 61-1c selects information for the user and determines the intention and action of the electronic pet agent 63 based on the instinct and knowledge of the electronic pet agent 63 stored in the computer. , For providing information to the user.

That is, the information providing unit 61-1c operates the WW
From the W server computers 1-1 to 1-n, information that is highly likely to be required by the user is caught using the generated search keyword, and the information obtained as a result is provided to the user.

The information providing unit 61-1c determines, based on the common rule storage unit 27 of the knowledge database 26 described below, what kind of expression the electronic pet agent 63 presents information on, or what kind of expression. Decide whether to present information in costumes.

The information provision mode of the electronic pet agent 63 determined by the information provision section 61-1c is sent to the electronic pet state quantity storage section 32 described below, and updates the internal data of the electronic pet state quantity storage section 32. .

The information providing mode determined by the information providing unit 61-1c is input to the drawing system 36 and the voice generating system 37 described below, and is based on the information providing mode determined by the information providing unit 61-1c. Thus, video and audio are generated according to the behavior of the electronic pet agent 63 (if there is no display device, only audio output may be used).

Further, a restricted keyword corresponding to the user information is set in the information providing unit 61-1c in advance.
Even if the user requests the provision of the information on the restricted keyword, it is possible to restrict the information provision and not to provide the restricted keyword.

The knowledge database 26 is stored in the HDD
14 and the like. The knowledge database 26 stores information about the electronic pet (the agent 6), such as how the electronic pet (the agent 63) behaves and under what kind of sound (language).
Data related to the ecology of 3), attribute information of the user, various keyword data, and data related to information provided to the user are stored.

The knowledge database 26 includes a WWW server information storage unit 60-1, an acquisition information storage unit 60-2, an agent storage unit 60-3, a common rule storage unit 27, a unique rule storage unit 28, and an attribute information storage unit 29. , A keyword storage unit 30 are provided. WWW server information storage unit 6
0-1 stores information on the WWW server computer 1-1. For example, the WWW server computer 1 accessed by the transmission and reception of the agent 63
-1 and information resources such as a place 65 area of the community 67 are stored.

The obtained information storage unit 60 described below
−2, common rule storage unit 27, unique rule storage unit 28,
The information is read from and read into the attribute information storage unit 29 and the keyword storage unit 30 by the agent 63 of the present embodiment, but is also performed by other agents resident on the user computer 3-1 and other mobile agents. Therefore,
These acquired information storage unit 60-2 and common rule storage unit 2
7. The unique rule storage unit 28, the attribute information storage unit 29, and the keyword storage unit 30 are shared by a plurality of agents. Hereinafter, the acquired information storage unit 60-2, the common rule storage unit 27, the unique rule storage unit 28, and the attribute information storage unit 2
9. The description of the keyword storage unit 30 is common to all the electronic pet agents that can be stored in the user computer 3-1 as well as the agent of the present embodiment.

The knowledge database 26 is read into the RAM 13 when the agent management program 61-1 is activated, and the CPU 11 performs arithmetic processing.
As a result, the electronic pet agent 63 is displayed as an animated moving image such as moving or changing a facial expression on the display device, and performs “talking” with the user such as an autonomous conversation or a question (note that the user is talking). If there is no display device, sound is made from a speaker or the like).

As the electronic pet (the agent 63) talks, there is a case where the electronic pet (the agent 63) keeps talking unilaterally, or a case where a question requesting an answer from the user is made. On the other hand manner as if the electronic pet (Agent 63) continue to talk, for example, at the start of agent management system 3-1a, "Hello", "rain today. Do not forget the umbrella" message displayed line such as Will be

The contents of the message include news such as present, near future or past news, etc., and in addition to the information previously stored in the acquired information storage unit 60-2, as described above, the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-1 1-n or information obtained from another agent.

When asking a question requesting an answer from the user, a question such as "Do you like sports?" Or "Do you like baseball?", And the user arbitrarily answers the question. . The answer from the user to the question of the electronic pet agent 63 is stored as user information in the user profile of the attribute information storage unit 29 as described later.

The common rule storage unit 27 stores common data corresponding to the instinct of the electronic pet agent 63. For example, the expression of the electronic pet, how to move the body,
Data for setting utterance, reaction to the movement of the user or the electric device, and the like are stored.

In the common rule storage unit 27, a memory map 27a is created for data for determining the display mode of the electronic pet agent 63 on the screen. As shown in FIG. 6, the memory map includes "basic appearance" and "operation".
It is configured to record “expression”, “expression” and the like at a predetermined address in the user use area. By reading data from these recorded addresses, various aspects of each category such as the basic appearance, facial expression, costume, body movement, vocalization, and reaction of the electronic pet agent 63 are expressed.

For example, regarding the basic appearance of the electronic pet agent 63, a dog is used as the basic appearance 1, a human is used as the basic appearance 2, a virtual animal is used as the basic appearance 3, a fish is used as the basic appearance 4, and a basic appearance 5 is used as the basic appearance 5. Data such as an alien, a dinosaur as the basic appearance 6, and a gay as the basic appearance 7 are stored.

Regarding the facial expressions of the electronic pet agent 63, the facial expression 1 is a smile, the facial expression 2 is an angry facial expression, the facial expression 3 is a sad facial expression, the facial expression 4 is a relaxed facial expression, and the facial expression 5 is a moving facial expression. Data such as a facial expression 6 which does not particularly express an emotion and a facial expression 7 which is disappointed are stored as 6.

[0139] Regarding the costume as the expression of the electronic pet agent 63, the expression 1 is a state in which a business suit is worn, the expression 2 is a state where a camera is held,
Expression 3, wearing headphones, Expression 4, wearing a uniform, Expression 5, eating, Expression 6, holding a personal computer, Expression 7, violent, etc. Also stores data for displaying various states.

As for the operation of the electronic pet agent 63, a standing state as an operation 1, a dancing state as an operation 2, a state of working at a desk as an operation 3, and a music editing as an operation 4. State,
The data for displaying the operation, such as a state in which the operation 5 is negotiating with a travel agency by telephone, the operation 6 is a state in which the user is searching for the Internet at a personal computer, and the operation 7 is a state in which the user is fighting with a weapon, etc. It is remembered.

The basic appearance of the data in the memory map 27a is selected each time the agent 63 is displayed on the screen in order to display the agent 63 as an electronic pet. The predetermined basic appearance is determined so as to correspond to the agent 63. However, Agent 6
The basic appearance of 3 can be changed by the user or breeder from the input device.

For example, in the community 67, the basic appearance is set to fish, and when purchasing the agent 63 displayed in the appearance of the fish, the user may change the basic appearance of the agent 63 to a rabbit. It is possible.

However, for a user under the age of 18, a change to make the basic appearance gay or a change to make the woman glossy is restricted in the information providing section 61-1c, and the input is rejected.

The operation, expression, and expression of the data in the memory map 27a are stored in the electronic pet agent 63.
When the electronic pet agent 63 is displayed on the screen,
In order to adapt the form to the situation to be displayed,
It is selected each time the agent 63 is displayed.

For example, the expression of the electronic pet agent 63 is determined in advance corresponding to a predetermined language. For example, words such as "sunny", "celebration", "achieved", and "bright" are set to have a bright expression and active action, and conversely, "rain", "accident", "worry" , "Scared" and other expressions that are sad or passive. (Note that when the speaker is used instead of the expression, The message may be output together with dark music, artificial sounds such as rain, etc.).

When the user accesses the community 67 at night, the agent 63 of the community 67 is displayed in pajamas. When the user accesses the community 67 at 3:00 pm, a relaxed operation and facial expression are performed. It may be displayed as a state of rest.

The unique rule storage unit 28 stores rules specific to the user who operates the agent management system 3-1a. For example, the appearance frequency of the electronic pet (the agent 63) appearing on the screen, the frequency of questions asked to the user, the number of characters displayed by the agent management system 3-1a, the type of each character voice, and the The type (for example, alien, animal, plant, robot, etc.) is set.

In addition, the unique rule storage unit 28 stores, for example, whether or not “speech balloon” is displayed when the electronic pet (the agent 63) talks, and how fast the character display is performed when the balloon is displayed. For example, the display language or the input language is set to what language, and the audio output is set to stereo or monaural.

The attribute information storage unit 29 stores a user profile as user attribute information. User profiles include the user ’s date of birth, age, gender,
A family structure, a family birthday, a hobby, a lifestyle, and the like are input.

The information stored in the attribute information storage unit 29 includes, in addition to the above-mentioned user profile, answers to questions from agents, and connection to an arbitrary WWW server computer 1-n or the like via the communication network 2. At this time, there are input data and the like input to an input form such as a questionnaire. The information collection unit 61-1a collects these pieces of information input to the user computer 3-1 via the input device 38, and sequentially accumulates them in the attribute information storage unit 29. The information capacity stored in the attribute information storage unit 29 is set to a predetermined size in advance, and when the information size exceeds the set capacity, the latest information is preferentially stored in the attribute information storage unit 29 and the information with the oldest date is stored. Make sure to remove overflow.

However, regarding the user profile,
Since it is rarely changed, it may be protected so as not to be deleted.

The agent 63 has the attribute information storage unit 29
These information stored in the as user preference information,
Use. That is, a keyword or a dictionary is created by analyzing the user preference information, and information collection processing is autonomously performed based on the keyword or the dictionary. The agent 63 always performs this autonomous information collection processing.

The registration of the user profile in the unique rule storage unit 28 and the attribute information storage unit 29 is performed at the time of installing the program or at the time of initial setting at the time of starting the program for the first time.

The keyword storage unit 30 stores keywords stored as basic data in advance and keywords created by the information analysis unit 61-1b of the agent management program 61-1. It is preferable to store the keywords by classifying them into categories, so that the keyword can be searched efficiently.

The information source provided to the user is stored in the acquired information storage unit 60-2. For example, a question to the user, an answer when talking with the user, casual casual talk, wisdom information of life, trivia information, and the like are stored. In these, the electronic pet (agent 63) appears on the computer autonomously, asks the user a question, displays "How to make delicious tea ...", and stores environmental information described later. Based on the date information obtained from the unit 35, this is the source information when displaying a message such as "Today is President XX's birthday."

The acquired information storage unit 60-2 has an information collection unit 61-1 of the agent management program 61-1.
a, the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n
The information selected and collected for the user from the above information is also stored.

That is, the acquired information storage unit 60-2 stores information in the user computer 3 by the agent 63 autonomously collecting information by walking across the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n via the communication network 2. -1 is stored. In addition, when a mobile or resident agent different from the agent 63 exists in the user computer 3-1, the acquired information storage unit 60-2 also stores information collected by other agents. Also, information acquired by other means is stored.

Therefore, not only the information obtained by the agent 63 but also the information obtained by another agent, and the case where a plurality of agents 63 are employed by the user computer 3-1 are stored in the obtained information storage unit 60-2. The information acquired by each of the agents 63 is stored. Therefore, when there are a plurality of agents, it is possible to exchange the acquired information with each other via the acquired information storage unit 60-2.

The electronic pet status storage unit 32 stores the status of the electronic pet, which is a display mode on the screen of the agent 63, which changes sequentially as time elapses or an event occurs. Among these, internal parameters such as emotions, hunger, curiosity, and the like of the electronic pet (which are unknown from other electronic pets) are stored in the internal state storage unit 33.

The external parameters such as the position, the direction, and the color of the electronic pet (which are known from other electronic pets) are as follows.
It is stored in the external state storage unit 34. Further, parameters (objects other than the electronic pet, weather, temperature, gravity, date, etc.) indicating the physical environment surrounding the electronic pet agent 63 are stored in the environment information storage unit 35.

The information stored in the environment information storage unit 35 is taken from the contents obtained by the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n. Information includes, for example, weather information (rain, sunny, hot, cold, etc.), current affairs news (earthquake, major incident, etc.), entertainment news (famous talent is engaged, new music information, etc.), and other information. This is the operating state of the electrical equipment.

Based on the information stored in the internal state storage section 33, the electronic pet (agent 63) appears on the computer autonomously and says "I am hungry." On the basis of the information stored in the storage unit 35, a message such as "It is raining today, so I am in a bad mood."

Further, based on the information stored in the external state storage section 34, various aspects such as the costume and attitude of the electronic pet (agent 63) are displayed. For example, when the information that "it is raining today" is obtained from the environment information storage unit 35, the electronic pet (the agent 63) appears in a raincoat, and
As described above, since the information that “the weather is bad on a rainy day” is stored in the internal state storage unit 33, the electronic pet (the agent 63) with a bad mood expression is expressed on the display screen by voice or the like. Is done.

These displays are performed by setting the data stored in the common rule storage unit 27 described above in accordance with the information in the internal state storage unit 33.

The agent storage section 60-3 stores various mobile agents and resident agents. When the agent 63 itself is transmitted from the WWW server computer 1-1 to the user computer 3-1, each processing program of the agent 63 is stored. When the agent 63 is transmitted from the WWW server computer 1-1 to the user computer 3-1, the user purchases and owns the agent 63, and the user transmits the agent 63 to the user computer 3-1. By issuing a command to -1, the agent 63 may be transmitted.

Therefore, the agent storage unit 60-3
When the agent 63 exists, the program of the agent 63 is executed on the user computer 3-1.

That is, when the agent 63 exists in the agent storage unit 60-3, the user inputs an instruction from the input device 38 or the C of the user computer 3-1.
In accordance with an instruction from the PU 11, an information collection program, a substitute program, and the like are executed. When instructions such as translation and music compression are issued, these programs may be executed by the user computer 3-1.

Note that from the user computer 3-1 side,
When the community 67 is instructed to perform program processing or the like autonomously, various processes are autonomously performed without receiving an instruction from the user computer 3-1. At this time, based on the user's preference information and the like taken in by the user, the agent 63 itself performs a collection process of information or the like that matches the user's preference, etc.

The input device 38 is used when the user inputs information for processing by the agent management program 61-1. The input device 38 is typically used when inputting data or the like into a computer. , A touch panel, a joystick, an input device such as a data glove, or an external storage device such as an FD device.

The drawing system 36 includes an agent 63
The display data of the appearance, behavior, and language of the electronic pet, which is a form on the screen, is stored. The drawing system 36 receives the electronic pet action instruction signal created by the agent management program 61-1 based on the information stored in the knowledge database 26, and receives the electronic pet (agent 6
3) Create and temporarily store electronic pet image data for displaying intentions, actions, and the like.

The appearance stored in the drawing system 36 in advance
Behavior / language display data includes electronic pet overall image data, electronic pet expression data, costume data,
There are limb movement data, mouth movement data according to conversation, balloon display data, and the like.

The sound generation system 37 stores sound data which is one of the expression forms of the agent 63. The voice generation system 37 is used for the knowledge database 2
The electronic pet action instruction signal generated by the agent management program 61-1 based on the information stored in the electronic pet 6 is received, and electronic pet voice data for displaying the intention, action, and the like of the electronic pet is generated, and temporarily stored. save. The voice data previously stored in the drawing system 36 includes voice pitch data, conversation speed data, intonation data, and the like of the electronic pet.

These electronic pet image / audio data are
Output device 3 such as a display device and a speaker as output data
9 is output. In addition, by installing an application program for automatically making a call in advance on the HDD, the electronic pet (the agent 63)
However, it is possible to make a call to a user's mobile phone or the like and to chat by voice.

Next, the agent 63 is connected to another mobile / resident agent existing in the community 67 or the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n or another mobile agent / resident agent existing in the user computer 3-1. A description will be given of an agent information exchange system for exchanging information with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

The agent information exchange system 80 shown in FIG.
Is a system mounted in an environment where agents exist such as WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n and user computers 3-1 to 3-n, and plays a role in exchanging information between agents. Agents can exchange information due to the presence of this system. The agent information exchange system 80 of FIG. 7 is provided in the agent management program 61-1 in the user computer 3-1.

The agent 63 is a mobile agent sent to the corresponding server computer or user computer, or a resident agent resident on the corresponding server computer or user computer. The agent 63 sends or receives a message packet to establish a dialog with the agent information exchange system 80.

Here, the message packet includes a message type, a message sending address, a message receiving address, a conversation (question / answer) ID for associating a question with an answer, and a language to be used. It includes program type specifying information for specifying the type of a program such as language type information, an agent information collection program, a substitute program, etc., and contents as specific contents of information to be transmitted and received. This content also includes software for forming instructions after moving to another place.

The information transmitting / receiving component 80-1 is a component for receiving a message sent from the agent 63, the existing system, and the network, and transmitting the message to the agent 63, the existing system, and the network.

[0179] The conversation thread control unit 80-2 controls the conversation thread 8 corresponding to each conversation with the agent 63 or the like.
A component that manages 0-8, creates an appropriate thread according to the flow of a conversation, or passes control to an already created thread. A plurality of conversation threads 80-8 may be generated, and conversation may be performed with a plurality of agents in parallel and asynchronously.

The message storage section 80-3 is a component for storing a conversation. Conversation monitoring unit 80-5
Is a component that performs a policy check on whether or not a conversation is established based on the conversation log stored in the message storage unit 80-3 and the current uttered content.

The language translator 80-6 is a component for translating the language used in the conversation into another language as needed. The interpreter 80-7 is a component for understanding and executing the content of the conversation.

Next, the operation state of each component when speaking will be described with reference to the solid arrows in FIG. The agent 63 sends a message packet to the agent information exchange system 80. Upon receiving the message packet, the agent information exchange system 80 determines whether the message packet is a message packet for speech or a message packet for speech reception. If it is determined that the packet is a message packet for utterance, a request is made to the conversation thread control unit 80-2 for processing.

The conversation thread control unit 80-2 refers to the reply ID included in the message packet, and if a conversation thread has already been generated, shifts the processing to the corresponding conversation thread 80-8. If it is determined that the conversation is a new conversation, a conversation thread 80-8 is newly generated and the ID
Instruct the generator 80-4 to allocate a new conversation ID via the conversation thread 80-8, and shift the processing to the conversation thread 80-8.

The message storage unit 80-3 stores the message packet sent to the conversation thread 80-8.

[0185] The conversation content monitoring unit 80-5 outputs the message
Upon receiving the packet, a policy check is performed to determine whether or not the conversation is established based on the conversation log stored in the message log and the current uttered content. If the conversation has not been established, it is determined that an error has occurred, and processing such as sending an "error" message packet to the message packet is performed.

When it is determined that the conversation has been established, the message packet is transmitted from the conversation thread 80-8 to another designated agent (node) via the protocol manager 80-9. At this time, the protocol manager 80-9 converts the message packet into a protocol according to the destination.

The transmission may be any of transmission within the same community 67, user computers 3-1 to 3-n, and transmission to another computer via a network.

Next, the operation state of each component in another character (node) that has received the transmitted message packet will be described with reference to the dotted arrow in FIG.

Information transmitting / receiving component 8 that has received a message packet from protocol manager 80-9.
0-1 determines whether this message packet is a message packet for speech or a message packet for reception. If it is determined that the message packet is for receiving a conversation, the conversation thread control unit 80-2
Request processing.

The conversation thread control unit 80-2 refers to the answer ID included in the message packet, and if a conversation thread has already been generated, shifts the processing to the corresponding conversation thread 80-8. If it is determined that the conversation is a new conversation, a conversation thread 80-8 is newly generated and the ID
Instruct the generator 80-4 to allocate a new conversation ID via the conversation thread 80-8, and shift the processing to the conversation thread 80-8.

The message storage unit 80-3 stores the message packet sent to the conversation thread 80-8.

[0192] The conversation content monitoring unit 80-5 outputs the message
Upon receiving the packet, a policy check is performed to determine whether or not the conversation is established based on the conversation log stored in the message storage unit 80-3 and the current uttered content. If the conversation has not been established, an error is determined and the message
Processing such as sending an "error" message packet to the packet is performed.

When it is determined that the conversation is established, the conversation thread 80-8 transfers the processing to the interpreter 80-7. If the interpreter 80-7 corresponding to the language type, program type specifying information, etc. of the received message packet is registered, the content is interpreted using the interpreter 80-7. If the interpreter corresponding to the language type, program type specifying information, etc. of the received message packet is not registered, it is determined whether or not an interpreter corresponding to the combination exists in an interpreter library accessible by the system.

If not, it is determined that processing is impossible. When an interpreter corresponding to the combination exists in the accessible interpreter library, the interpreter 80-7 is registered, and the interpretation is performed using the interpreter 80-7. At this time, if necessary, the language translator 80-6 translates the message packet.

The result interpreted by the interpreter 80-7 is
The information is transmitted to the agent 63, and the agent 63 performs a process according to the content of the instruction described in the content. For example, if the received message requests transmission of information, the requested information is transmitted. Conversation thread 80-8 waits until receiving the next message packet.

Thus, the agent 63, the community 67, and the WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-1
-N, it is possible to exchange information with another mobile agent or resident agent existing in the user computer 3-1 or another mobile agent or resident agent existing in the user computer 3-1.

[0197] The partner of the information exchange is not limited to the agent. For example, an electronic pet state quantity storage unit (not shown) of the user computer 3-1 or an information storage unit (not shown) included in the knowledge database 26 may be used. It is also possible to exchange information according to the flow of FIG. As a result, it is possible to exchange information such that the mobile agent leaves information on the user computer 1-1 and other agents use the information.

Note that information exchange between agents is not limited to the above-described system, and may be performed by a method call (subroutine call), (message passing), or the like.

Here, a program according to the agent system of the present embodiment will be described. The program is
The WWW server computer 1-1 performs the processes shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 to realize an agent system.

[0200] The program is stored in a data recording medium such as an HDD or a CD-ROM. The program is read from the data recording medium into a control device such as a CPU and performs predetermined processing.

The outline of the program processing according to the agent system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the community 67 is set as a predetermined area in which the agent 63 can be stored, and the WWW server computer 1-
1 is performed in the HDD 1 (process 10).
1). This processing is specifically performed by the community formation program processing (A) shown in FIG.

The community 67 may be provided on a single WWW server computer 1-1, or may be provided as a virtual space specified by a predetermined concept across a plurality of WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-n. You may.

When the community 67 is provided, a process for forming an agent market 65z in the community 67 is performed (process 102). In this process, first, the area of the agent market 65z is
7 is formed. Next, a process of specifying a user who uses the community is performed. Next, an agent extraction process is performed to extract data relating to the agent 63 to be bought and sold from the creature basic information table of FIG. 5 and performance information relating to the agent from the creature characteristic information table shown in FIG. Will be Next, a sales agent storage unit is formed in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67. The sales agent storage unit stores the extracted agent and the creature basic information table and the creature characteristic information table corresponding to the extracted agent. A saving process for saving data is performed.

Next, a process for causing the agent market 65z to be displayed on the screen is performed (Process 1).
03). In this process, first, town screen data of the community 67 including the image of the agent market building 91 is created, and this data is stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67. Agent market 65z In-store screen data is created, and information storage unit 69 of community 67 is created.
To save.

Next, a pointer to the agent market 65z in-store screen data is registered in the image data of the agent market building 91 in the town screen data of the community 67.

Next, a community management program 69b capable of displaying the town screen data of the community 67 and the in-store screen data of the agent market 65z is created and stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67.

By this processing 103, the streets of the community 67, the agents 63 and creatures 64 active in the streets of the community 67, and the in-store scene of the agent market 65z can be displayed on the screen.

Next, when the agent market 65z is displayed on the screen, a process of displaying the agent 63 as a selectable state in the agent market 65z is performed (process 104). However, an agent specializing in processing information in a field that the user does not originally desire or information in a field that the user does not have aptitude is not displayed in a selectable state. This process is specifically performed by an agent display program process (C) shown in FIG.

Thereafter, a process for specifying the agent 63 is performed according to a user's instruction (process 105). This process is performed by specifying the predetermined agent 63 in response to the user performing a process of selecting the predetermined agent 63 from the plurality of agents 63 whose contents are displayed on the screen. .

Next, processing for transferring the ownership of the specified agent 63 is performed (processing 106). This processing 106 is, specifically, the processing (B) of the electronic pet agent owner registration program of FIGS.
It is performed by Thereafter, the program processing related to the agent system of the present embodiment ends.

Next, the processing of the community formation program processing (A) relating to the processing 101 will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, first, the WWW server computer 1-
An area of the community 67 is formed in one storage area (step S1). As the storage area, for example, a hard disk or the like can be used.

Next, the area of this community 67 is 6
It is divided into places (addresses) 5a to 65w (step S2). Next, field categories such as image processing and translation are assigned to the divided places (addresses) of 65a to 65w (step S3). As a result, each place becomes a data group for each field.

Next, a creature basic information table shown in FIG. 5 and a creature characteristic information table shown in FIG. 21 are created (step S4). The creature basic information table and the creature characteristic information table include data on the creature and data associating the creature with the place.

Next, the information storage unit 6 is stored in the community 67.
9, a creature, a creature basic information table, and a creature characteristic information table are stored in the information storage unit 69 (step S5). After that, the process ends.

The creature basic information table is rewritten and updated whenever necessary. For example, when storing a new creature 64 in the community 67, the data of the new creature 64 is added and updated. The data is also updated when the creature 64 grows and evolves into the agent 63, or when the agent 63 is bought and sold and the owner changes.

This creature characteristic information table is also configured to be rewritable as needed.
For example, when the information handled by agents becomes more sophisticated,
When the personality of the agent changes, when the evaluation by the user changes, or when it is desired to recommend to other users, the ranking and the like rewrites and updates the record. The data described in the creature characteristic information table may be in any of a variable-length data format and a fixed-length data format.

Next, the processing of the agent selection program processing (C) relating to the processing 104 will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, the selectable state is, for example, a state in which a list of contents of the program processing contents, functions, and the like of the agent 63 to be sold is displayed in a text format. Alternatively, on the in-store screen of the agent market 65z, selection may be made by clicking an electronic pet image portion which is a display mode of the agent 63.

In this process, first, format data for displaying the contents of the agent 63 to be sold on the screen is created and stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67 (step S39).

Next, a user authentication program for authenticating the use of the agent system of the present invention is created and stored in the community information storage unit 69. The user authentication is performed by collating user list information separately stored on the server side from a user ID and a password properly input when logging on on a community site screen described later. When the verification is properly performed and the authentication is performed, only necessary information such as the age, date of birth, and gender of the user is stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67 from the user list information (step S40).

Next, a selection display condition setting program for selecting an agent in a field that the user desires to purchase, ie, an agent to be displayed as a selectable state, is created and stored in the community information storage unit 69.
This program extracts item data related to the item 127 from the creature characteristic information table, and stores the setting condition value for each item data input by the user in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67 (step S4).
1).

Next, the sold agent group 63
A sales agent extraction program for extracting the information is created and stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67.
This program extracts the group of sold agents 63 by searching the sales column 117, owner ID, and the like of the creature basic information table shown in FIG. 5, and saves them in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67 (step S).
42).

Next, an agent group 63 conforming to the user information or an agent group 6 in a field for which purchase is desired
Then, a sales matching agent extraction program for extracting 3 is created and stored in the information storage section 69 of the community 67. This program extracts necessary information such as the user's age, date of birth, and gender stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67, setting condition values for item data, and a group of sold agents 63. The agent 63 according to the information and the setting condition is selected and stored in the information storage unit 69 of the community 67 (step S4).
3).

The extraction program has various functions such as a function of extracting all the agents 63 sold, a function of extracting each processing program of the agent 63, and a function of extracting each similar appearance of the agent 63. It is good to make it the program which has.

Next, a display program for displaying the group of agents 63 extracted by the sales compatible agent extraction program on the display device is created, and the community 6
7 in the information storage unit 69. Only the agents 63 which are adapted for sale by this program are displayed on the display device in a selectable state (step 44).

By this process 104, the user can search for and select an agent 63 having a desired program or appearance. Also, an agent specializing in processing information in a field that the user does not originally want or information in a field that the user does not have aptitude is not displayed in a selectable state.

Next, based on FIGS.
(B) of the electronic pet agent owner registration program according to the above. In order to transfer the ownership of the agent, the community 67 is provided with an agent owner registration program. The following processes are performed by the agent owner registration program.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the basic appearance is set for the agent 63 specified in the above process 105 (step S11). The user
When the basic appearance of the agent is set by inputting that the basic appearance of the agent is to be set (Step S11; Yes), the basic appearance setting processing of the agent is performed (Step S12).

In the basic appearance setting process of the agent, first, a basic appearance setting screen of the specified agent 63 is displayed. On this screen, the user who wants to purchase the agent 63 sets the basic appearance. The setting of the basic appearance may be set as it is with the appearance preset for the agent 63, or may be set as an appearance different from the appearance preset for the agent 63.

That is, when the user selects the agent 63 in the agent market 65z, the agent 63 has a predetermined basic appearance. In this step S12, the appearance can be changed or not changed. It is. For example, if the preset appearance is a fish, the basic appearance may be set as a fish or may be changed to a rabbit. As described above, the predetermined agent is not displayed according to the user. However, this is also a purpose including the appearance of the agent. The appearance of can not be changed. After the basic appearance setting process of the agent is completed, it is determined whether the content setting of the agent is completed (step S13).

If the basic appearance of the agent is not set (step S11; No), it is determined whether the content setting of the agent has been completed (step S13).

At step S13, for example,
When the content setting of the agent has been completed, such as when returning to step S11 from steps 14 and 15 (step S13; Yes), it is determined whether the setting of the basic appearance has already been completed (step S17). Already step S1
If the setting of the basic appearance has been completed in Step 2 (Step S17; Yes), the basic appearance and contents of the agent are saved (Step S16).

If it is determined in step S17 that the setting of the basic appearance has not been completed (step S17; N
o) Assuming that the user considers the appearance of the agent 63 to be anything, the basic appearance previously provided by the agent 63 is given (step S18). afterwards,
The basic appearance and contents of the agent are stored (step S16).

If the content setting of the agent has not been completed (step S13; No), the content setting process of the agent is performed (step S14). Here, the contents of the agent include detailed settings such as the processing speed, accuracy, and language used (Japanese, English, French, Chinese, etc.) of the processing program provided in the agent 63, and the agent 63 executes the search program. Refers to the content of a search keyword or the like when it is provided. Further, when the agent 63 has a plurality of processing programs, the content includes a setting for performing the processing of one of the programs with priority.

In the agent content setting processing, first, a content setting screen of the specified agent 63 is displayed. On this screen, the user who wants to purchase the agent 63 sets the contents of the agent.

Next, it is determined whether the setting of the basic appearance of the agent has been completed (step S15). If the setting of the basic appearance has been completed (step S1
5; Yes), the setting of the basic appearance and contents of the agent 63 is saved as the setting of the basic appearance and contents of the agent 63 is completed (step S1).
6).

If the setting of the basic appearance is not completed (step S15; No), the process returns to step S11,
It is determined whether to set the basic appearance of the agent (step S11).

If the basic appearance has not yet been set in step S12, steps S15 to S11
Back and you will be given the opportunity to set the basic look again.
If the basic appearance setting is not performed here, since the content setting has already been completed, the process proceeds from step S13 to steps S17 and S18, where the appearance previously provided in the agent 63 is added as it is. Step S
After 16, the process proceeds to step S19 in FIG.

When the basic appearance and contents of the agent are saved, an agent purchase screen shown in FIG. 15 is displayed (step S19). Next, it is determined whether or not the minimum necessary user information for transferring the ownership of the agent is input on the agent purchase screen (step S2).
0). Here, it is determined whether the user ID 96b, the settlement method 96f, the bank name 96g, the account number 96h, and the password 96i have been input as the minimum necessary user information for the transfer of the ownership. The purchase screen 96 shows the user name 9
6c, user address 96d, user telephone number 96e, etc., but these are not required fields.
It is configured to be processed even if it is not input.

If necessary user information has been input (step S20; Yes), the process moves to step S21. When required user information is not input (step S2
0; No), it is determined whether a predetermined time, for example, 15 minutes, has elapsed (step S25).

When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S2
5; Yes), the purchase cancel button 96m is pressed,
It is determined whether to cancel the purchase (step S26). When it is determined that the purchase is stopped (Step S26; Ye)
s) After the information stored in step 16 is deleted (step S29), the process ends.

If it is determined that the purchase is not to be canceled (Step S26; No), the process returns to Step S20, and it is determined whether the input of necessary user information is completed (Step S2).
0). That is, after the elapse of the predetermined time, steps S20 and S25 are repeated until the user information input is completed or it is determined that the purchase is stopped.

If the predetermined time has not elapsed in step S25 (step S25; No), the process returns to step S20, and it is determined whether the input of necessary user information is completed (step S20). That is, until the predetermined time elapses, step S20 is performed until the user information input is completed.
And step S25 are repeated.

If it is determined in step S20 that the input of the user information has been completed, it is determined whether the purchase button 96k has been pressed (step S21). If the purchase button has been pressed (step S21; Yes), the process proceeds to step S22. When the purchase button is not pressed (step S21; N
o), it is determined whether a predetermined time, for example, 15 minutes, has elapsed (step S27).

If the predetermined time has elapsed (step S2
7; Yes), it is determined whether or not the purchase has been canceled by pressing the purchase cancel button 96m or the like (step S).
28). When it is determined that the purchase has been canceled (step S2
8; Yes), the information stored in step 16 is deleted (step S29), and the process ends.

If it is determined not to cancel the purchase (Step S28; No), the process returns to Step S21, and it is determined whether the purchase button has been pressed (Step S21). That is, after the predetermined time has elapsed, steps S21 and S28 are repeated until the purchase button is pressed or it is determined that the purchase has been stopped.

When the purchase button is pressed (step S2)
1; Yes), the user is registered as the agent owner (step S22). Next, a payment processing procedure is performed according to the payment method input on the agent purchase screen (step S23). In the present embodiment, simultaneous settlement by online banking is performed. Therefore, when the settlement processing procedure is performed in step S23, the price is immediately transferred to the seller's account of the agent.

After that, the agent is delivered to the user (step S24). This allows the user to use the agent. After that, the process ends.

[0249] In the present embodiment, simultaneous settlement is performed by online banking. However, settlement may be performed by credit card settlement, transfer to a bank account, transfer, or the like. In the case of transfer or transfer, it may take several days from the completion of the settlement processing procedure to the payment to the agent seller, but in this case, confirm the payment and then hand over the agent It is good to do.

Next, based on FIG. 12, an agent training process (D) when a breeder trains an agent
Will be described. In order to train agents stored in the agent market 65z of the community 67, the agents are provided with an agent training program. Agent development program
The following processes are performed.

As the processing of the program, first, it is determined whether or not information of a specific concept that divides an information acquisition area for releasing an agent has been given (step S31). The information of this specific concept is given by inputting a keyword from an input device of a computer of a breeder who fosters an agent.

When the information of the specific concept is given (step S31; Yes), a process of releasing the agent to an information acquisition area partitioned by the specific concept is performed (step S32). In the present embodiment, the “information acquisition area delimited by a specific concept” is a set of sites that have been hit by a search using a keyword input by a breeder,
Usually, a plurality of WWW server computers 1-1 to 1-1
n. In the collective area of these sites,
Release the agent.

If the information of the specific concept is not given (step S31; No), it is determined whether a predetermined time, for example, 15 minutes has elapsed (step S38). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (Step S38; No), the process returns to Step S31. That is, step S31 is repeated until the predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed (step S38; Yes), the processing is automatically terminated.

In step S32, when the agent is released to the information acquisition area partitioned by a specific concept, the agent autonomously collects information in the information acquisition area (step S33). That is, the agent has a plurality of WWW server computers 1-1 to 1--1
While autonomously crossing n, information is autonomously collected in an information acquisition area divided by a specific concept.

At this time, the agent determines in step S3
In step 1, not only a specific concept such as a keyword given from the user side, but also user information stored in a user profile of the attribute information storage unit 29, a keyword is independently created, and the keyword is used supplementarily. Collect.
This makes it possible to acquire information closer to the user's request than when collecting information based only on the keyword given in step S31.

Next, unnecessary information is selected from the collected information, and the selected unnecessary information is discarded (step S).
34). As a result, the ratio of necessary information is high, and a compact database can be constructed. The selection of unnecessary information is not limited to a specific concept such as a keyword given by the user in step S31, but also to the attribute information storage unit 29.
This is also performed using a keyword created from the user information stored in.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the database of the information on the specific concept given in step 31 already exists (step S35). If a database of information on a specific concept already exists (step S
35; Yes), a process of adding the information collected in steps S33 and S34 to the database, updating and saving the data in the database is performed (step S37). After that, the process ends.

If there is no database of information relating to a specific concept (Step S35; No), the information collected in Steps S33 and S34 is stored.
A process of constructing and saving a database is performed (step S36). After that, the process ends.

Next, the operation of the agent system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 23 is a user ID input screen that appears when accessing the community site screen. This community site is a membership system, and it is necessary to register in advance necessary personal information such as name, date of birth, age, and gender on the server side. User ID column 129
Then, when the ID and the password are properly entered in the password column 130 and the user is collated, the display shifts to the display agent designation screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 shows a display agent designation screen. The display designation 131 is a setting column for switching display / non-display of the agent. The category column 133 is a column for specifying a category handled by the agent. Setting frame 13
2 is represented by characteristic items 134a, 134b, 134c and corresponding scales 135a, 135b, 135c, and can set display conditions. Display designation 131
Is set to “display”, the agents in the conditions set in the setting frame 132 are displayed, and when the display designation 131 is set to “non-display”, the agents in the conditions set in the setting frame 132 are not displayed. The category column 133 is classified into several categories in advance, and can be selected from a pull-down menu. Characteristic items 134a, 134b, 13
4c is also classified into several categories in advance.
You can select from the pull-down menu.

The characteristic items 134a, 134b, 134c represent the characteristics of the category. Here, not only are the categories classified in detail, but also in order to express the characteristics or evaluation of the category from a user's point of view, it is expressed by an evaluation scale such as a social norm. There are three characteristic item columns, each of which is "AN".
The condition can be set using a logical expression of "D" or "OR".
In addition, scales 135a and 135 are set for each characteristic item.
5b and 135c can be designated. As for the scale, “1” is the lowest degree, and “9” is the highest degree.

For example, the display designation 131 is "display", the designated field 133 is "movie", the evaluation items 134a and 134b,
If 134c is "adult degree", "violence degree" and "subculture degree", respectively, and the scale is "6 or more", "7 or more" and "8 or more", the adult degree is moderately high and somewhat violent. Agents that can handle movies with a high degree of subculture can be displayed. Among them, agents that are strong against movie information such as gay are displayed. However, in this case, it is necessary to have user information that satisfies predetermined conditions such as the user being 18 years old or older.

Thus, for example, it is possible to prevent a user under the age of 18 from displaying an agent that is strong in information about a movie for adults, which is so-called “R designation”. Can display agents that are strong in information about these movies. Therefore, a breeder or a software company that handles agents can cultivate more elaborate agents for users who are 18 years or older without worrying about regulations such as “R designation”. In addition, since a place can be actively provided for the subculture, the market can be expanded.

[0264] By designating display of only a predetermined agent, it is possible to set so that a specific agent is not displayed under conditions that the user does not like. Therefore, if the user does not want to display the disliked food, he / she may set the condition so that the disliked food is not displayed. Furthermore, the history can be modified so as to delete the collected information in order to determine the characteristics of the user such as age and gender and to restrict the provision of information within the set conditions.

Next, the screen can be shifted to a community site screen. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a community site screen, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of an agent introduction screen, showing a procedure screen for purchasing an agent 63 from a provider of an electronic pet agent system, which is a form of ownership transfer. I have.

In the community 67, there are a plurality of creatures 64 divided into places 65.
W from the user computer 3-1 via the communication network 2
The user accessing the WWW server computer 1-1 can see the creature 64 in the community 67 on the community site screen 90 shown in FIG. 13 of the WWW server computer 1-1. On the community site screen 90, the community 67 is displayed as a divided city, and the creature 64 is displayed as various forms of characters. Community site screen 90
Thus, the user can see various events such as a state where the creature 64 and the agent 63 are having a conversation.

Also, the WWW server computer 1-1
Has an agent introduction page 95. In addition,
On the community site screen 90 and the agent introduction page 95, only the agents set on the display agent designation screen or only the agents who are suitable for the user to refer to are displayed.

On the agent introduction page 95, the ID number 95a, the program content 95b, the characteristic 95c, the appearance 95d, the presence or absence of the owner, etc. are displayed for the agent 63 sold by the WWW server provider in the community 67. In the agent introduction page 95 of FIG.
The characteristic 95c and the appearance 95d are provided with a button for clicking, and by clicking this button, a transition is made to a page for displaying details.

When the property 95c is clicked, an agent property evaluation page shown in FIG. 25 is displayed. Here, regarding the agent, in addition to the general characteristics when handling information, there are described the special characteristics which represent the evaluation of how to specialize in a specialty category in terms of a scale. Further, a comment such as "I am happy to use" from another user, the name of a breeder of a software company as a recommender, a ranking determined by an event for evaluating popularity, and the like are described. By looking at this page, the user can grasp the specific character and characteristics of the agent, which can be used as a criterion for purchasing.

When the appearance button 95d is clicked, several aspects of the character and the like displayed on the screen as the agent are displayed. When purchasing, the user can freely select the appearance of the agent.

When the agent 63 is specified, the user clicks the purchase button 95e. This causes the agent purchase page 96 of FIG. 15 to be displayed.
The agent price indicated by reference numeral 96l is confirmed, and the ID number 96b of the user computer 3-1 and the personal information 96c to 96e such as the user's name, address, and telephone number, the settlement method 96f, the password 96i, the expiration date 96j, etc. Input and click the purchase button 96k. This allows
A user purchases an agent. As described above, the agent purchase page 96 performs the owner registration for registering the agent owner.

When the owner registration is completed, the process returns to the agent introduction page 95. At this time, the selected button changes color, and when each button is clicked again, the selected content is displayed. After the agent is determined in this way, the “next page” on the agent introduction page 95 is displayed.
Click the button 95f.

By purchasing the agent, the user purchases an electronic pet agent from a corporation, organization, individual, or the like providing the electronic pet agent system. The payment method of the purchase cost is online banking,
Any method such as bank transfer, bank transfer, and credit card settlement may be used.

The selling price may be determined for each electronic pet agent, or may be determined according to the processing ability and popularity of the electronic pet agent. In addition, it may be decided by conducting an auction on the homepage.

After the owner registration, simultaneous settlement by online banking is performed. After the seller of the agent 63 is paid, the purchaser of the agent 63 (new owner) can use the agent 63.

When the "Next page" button 95f on the agent introduction page 95 is clicked, an agent setting page 97 shown in FIG. 16 is opened to perform initial setting.

In the initial setting, regarding the agent 63, an input box 97a for purchase time (from what date, from what date), selection of conversation speed 97c, selection of voice pitch 97
d, language pull-down selection menu 97e, gender selection box 97f, character name input box 97g,
Fine adjustment or the like of the agent 63 is performed by various settings such as a user name input box 97h.

The agent setting page can be accessed at any time as long as the identity can be confirmed with a password from the time of purchase to the time of sale, and the initial setting value can be changed at any time.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an agent market screen, and FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an agent trading information screen. In a market 65z provided in the community 67, the ownership of the agent 63 is transferred from another breeder to the agent 63. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a case of making a purchase, which is one mode of the embodiment.

When a user who accesses the community 67 from the user computer 3-1 enters the pet market 91 on the community site screen in FIG.
The screen switches to the market screen 92 of FIG.

On the market screen 92 shown in FIG. 17, offices 92a to 92c of the breeders and purchasers are sectioned and displayed. From among them, the basket 9 of each agent 63 of the breeder's office 92a that the user wants to see.
When the cursor 63d or the agent 63a serving as the user's eye is brought before the 2d, a car 92d is displayed at the lower left of the screen.
A screen 92e asking whether to see detailed information of the agent 63 in the window appears. The screen 92e is provided with buttons for selecting whether or not to view information by "yes" or "no". When "yes" is selected on the screen 92e, which means to see, an agent information screen 93 for each bleeder shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

The bleeder agent information screen 93
It is a page created under the responsibility of each breeder. As an example, as shown in an agent information screen 93 in FIG.
3a, ID number 93b, appearance 93c, characteristics 93d, purchase button 93e, price 93f, and the like are displayed. Clicking the appearance button 93h changes the appearance of each agent 63,
Clicking the characteristic details display button 93d displays the details of the characteristics of each agent, and clicking the purchase button 93e displays an agent purchase screen.

When the characteristic detail display button 93d is clicked, an agent characteristic evaluation page similar to that shown in FIG. 25 is displayed. This page is freely written by the breeder. In addition, by being freely rewritten by a registered user or another breeder, it is possible to display the opinion of the user who has a different opinion from the breeder and the latest characteristics when the agent has evolved. Accordingly, the user can more accurately grasp the specific character and characteristics of the agent, and can use it as a criterion when purchasing.

In the agent system, the agent other than the designated one can be hidden by setting the display agent designation screen, and the predetermined agent is not displayed according to the user information collected in advance by the member registration. However, if the criteria for displaying or hiding are based on the information entered on the above-described agent characteristic evaluation page, the accuracy of the information can be improved.
This is also preferable from the viewpoint of quick information update time.

Although the agent purchase screen is also created under the responsibility of each breeder, for example, an agent purchase page 96 as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. When the agent purchase procedure is performed according to the procedure already described with reference to FIG. 15, the transaction as an example of the transfer of the ownership of the agent 63 is completed. When the agent purchase and sale is completed on the agent purchase page 96, the screen returns to the bleeder agent information screen 93 in FIG. At this time, the screen 93 is displayed with the agent 63 whose trading has been completed deleted.

As described above, by performing the agent purchase procedure from the provider of the electronic pet agent system or the breeder or the like, the agent 63 becomes that of the user.

At this time, the agent sales information storage unit 6
Agent 63 registered in 9c also has a purchase button 9
Clicking on 6k registers a new owner. The registration of the owner of the agent may be performed by an owner registration procedure different from the purchase procedure.

[0288] Thereafter, the agent 63 performs processing in accordance with a command input from the input device 38 by the user. The agent 63 operates in accordance with an instruction from the user computer 3-1 while resident in the community 67 of the WWW server computer 1-1.

Here, while the agent 63 is performing the processing, the WWW server computer 1-n where the agent 63 exists and the user computer 3-1 may be continuously connected, or the user computer 3-1 may be connected.
The WWW server computer 1-n and the user computer 3-1 may be connected only when an instruction is issued from the side and when a result of the processing is reported to the user computer 3-1.

The agent 63 may be configured to be stored in the agent storage unit 60-3 by purchasing the agent, which is a form of ownership transfer. At this time, the agent storage unit 60-3 performs a program process unique to the agent 63 to perform "agent work". This processing differs depending on the program.
The program is executed based on an instruction from the PU 11.

The agent 63 has an information collection program and an analysis program in addition to the unique program, and obtains an information storage section 60-2 of the knowledge database 26, an information storage section (not shown), and a user computer 3-1. , And collects information from other resident or mobile agents (not shown) to analyze user preferences and the like.

[0292] Thereby, to meet the user's preference,
Program processing can be performed based on an instruction from the user or the CPU 11, and efficient program processing can be performed for the user.

For example, when the agent 63 has a translation program, it translates a sentence specified by the user. At this time, at the same time, Knowledge Database 2
6, information is acquired from an acquired information storage unit 60-2, an information storage unit (not shown), and the like, and keywords and dictionaries are created from the user's specialty field, frequently used terms, and the like. This enables efficient translation.

[0294] The user's preference information may be stored in a knowledge database (not shown) on the WWW server computer 1-1 side, and proxy processing may be performed based on this preference information.

By using the user's preference information,
The agent 63 can also efficiently collect information. For example, when the agent 63 analyzes that the user is interested in a car, the agent 63 contacts another agent in the community 67 that has a lot of information about the car and acquires information about the car. The information collection at this time is performed using the user preference keywords created by the agent 63 itself using the keyword creation program. The program processing of the agent 63 in the community 67 is supported by the community management program 69b of the WWW server computer 1-1.

Also, the market 65 of the community 67
In z, there is a purchaser of the agent 63, and the agent 63 owned by the user is purchasing as one form of ownership transfer. When the user no longer needs the agent 63 owned by the user, the user can sell the agent 63 to a purchaser.

The purchaser has an agent assessment home page 94 shown in FIG. Agent 6
The user who wants to purchase the purchaser 3 can use the screen of the agent market 92 shown in FIG.
Enter 2c and request assessment by interacting with the buyer on the screen. This switches to the agent assessment home page 94 of FIG.

In the agent assessment homepage of FIG. 19, the agent ID number 94a, the user ID number 9
4b, the user's name 94c, address 94d, e-mail address 94e, telephone number 94f, date 94g of purchase of the agent, and source 94h of the agent (purchaser or bleeder name) of the agent. After that, the “submit for assessment” button 94i is clicked. As a result, 94a
Is automatically sent to the purchaser, and the purchaser checks the program contents and the data amount, and evaluates the purchase price of the agent 63.

When the assessment by the purchaser is completed, the agent 63 is sent back and the user is notified of the assessment result by e-mail. The user ultimately determines whether or not to sell the agent 63 based on the result,
When it is decided to sell, the purchaser enters the office 92e of the purchaser on the screen of the agent market 92 in FIG. 17 and requests the purchase by interacting with the purchaser on the screen. This switches to the agent purchase homepage 98 of FIG.

On the agent purchase homepage of FIG. 20, the agent ID number 98a, the evaluation number 98b attached to the evaluation result, the user's name 98c, the user's ID number 98d, the user's transfer destination 98e, and the evaluation result are shown. Purchase price 98f, authentication password 98
Enter g. Then, the "purchase" button 98h is clicked. As a result, the agent 63 is transmitted to the purchaser, and the agent is purchased. The purchase fee will be remitted to the designated transfer destination at a later date.

When the purchase button 98h is clicked, at the same time, the agent sales information storage unit 69c registers that the owner of the agent 63 is a purchaser. At this time, the configuration may be such that the owner is not registered by clicking the purchase button 98h, and the owner is registered by another procedure.

Thereafter, the purchased agent 63
Is posted on the agent information screen 93 of FIG. 18 operated by the purchaser or on the agent introduction homepage 95 of FIG. 14 of the provider of the electronic pet agent system, and is sold again.

It is also possible for the user to create an agent sales homepage as shown in FIG. 18 of his own without selling the agent 63 to the purchaser, and to sell the agent 63 as a breeder. .

As described above, the agent 63 operates between the company that provides the agent system, the user, and the software company or breeder that fosters the agent.
Since it is configured to be able to buy and sell, agents 63 having various personalities are cultivated, and the options of the agents 63 are expanded for the user.

Further, since the market 65z for buying and selling the agent 63 is constructed, the user can enjoy and search for the agent 63 full of individuality.

[0306] By designating the display of a predetermined agent, it is possible to set so that a specific agent is not displayed under conditions that the user does not like.

When the agent determines that the user has no suitability for handling the predetermined information, the agent can prevent the information from being provided to the user.

Further, in order to determine the characteristics of the user such as age and gender, and to restrict the provision of information within the set conditions, the history can be modified so as to delete the collected information. .

Also, since the breeders can mutually evaluate the personality, knowledge, amount of information, specialty field, etc. of the agent, the user can use the judgment as a criterion when purchasing the agent, so that the user can be more accurate. Then, an agent can be selected according to his / her request.

For software companies and breeders,
Since the high value-added agents 63 that have been trained can be sold at a high price, new business opportunities can be obtained.

[0311] Further, since the agent 63 is displayed on the screen as an electronic pet, the user can enjoy and use the agent system.

[0312]

As described above, according to the present invention, the processing of restricting the handling of the agent according to the characteristics of the user who handles the agent is performed on the characteristics of the agent, whereby the electronic pet as the agent is processed. It is possible to handle items that meet predetermined conditions when transferring or lending ownership of the company.

Also, for the characteristics of the agent,
By performing the processing based on the information of the breeder who nurtures the agent, the breeders can mutually perform the knowledge and the contents of the agent. As a result, information on the bleeder is stored with respect to the characteristics of the agent, and the user can refer to the information to use the information as a criterion when handling the agent.

Furthermore, by processing the history of the agent for the characteristics of the agent,
It is possible to change the characteristics to meet the predetermined conditions of the user. This makes it impossible to handle information unnecessary for the user or information that does not satisfy the predetermined conditions.

Therefore, the breeding of agents by agent breeders, software companies and the like is activated, and agents having various personalities are cultivated. The user can enjoy and select an agent full of personality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an agent system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a user computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a community according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an agent system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a creature basic information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of data for determining a display mode on a screen of an agent according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a flow of information exchange between agents according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a program process related to the agent system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a community forming program process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an electronic pet agent owner registration program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an electronic pet agent owner registration program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an agent training process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a community site screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent introduction screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent purchase screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent setting screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a market screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent sales information screen of a bleeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent assessment screen of an agent purchaser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent purchase screen by an agent purchaser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a creature characteristic information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent display program process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a user ID input screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a display agent designation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an agent characteristic evaluation page according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1-1 to 1-n WWW server computer 2 Communication line network 3,3-1 to 3-n User computer 3-1a Agent management system 10 EEPROM 11 CPU 13 RAM 12 ROM 14 HDD 15 Keyboard 15A Mouse Reference Signs List 16 microphone 17 display device 18 speaker 19 storage medium device 20 communication device 26 knowledge database 27 common rule storage unit 28 unique rule storage unit 29 attribute information storage unit 30 keyword storage unit 32 electronic pet state quantity storage unit 33 internal state storage unit 34 external State storage unit 35 Environment information storage unit 36 Drawing system 37 Voice generation system 38 Input device 39 Output device 60-1 WWW server information storage unit 60-2 Acquisition information storage unit 60-3 Agent storage unit 61-1 Agent management unit Gram 61-1a information collecting unit 61-1b information analyzing unit 61-1c information providing unit 62 browser 63, 63a agent 64 creature 65a to 65z place 67 community 69 information storage unit 80 agent information exchange system 80-1 information transmitting / receiving component 80- 2 Conversation thread control unit 80-3 Message storage unit 80-4 ID generator 80-5 Conversation monitoring unit 80-6 Language translation unit 80-7 Interpreter 80-8 Conversation thread 80-9 Protocol manager 90 Community site screen 91 Pet Market 92 Market screen 92a-c Breeder's office 92d Basket 92e Purchaser's office 93 Agent information screen 93a Contents of processing program 93b ID number 93c Appearance 93d Gender details display button 93e Purchase button 93f Price 93g Next page button 93h Appearance button 94 Agent assessment homepage 94a Agent ID number 94b User ID number 94c User name 94d Address 94e Email address 94f Phone number, 94g Date of agent purchase 94h Agent purchase source (purchased company or breeder name) 94i "Submit for assessment" button 95 Agent introduction home page 95a ID number 95b Program details 95c Character detail display button 95d Appearance display button 95e Purchase button 96 Agent purchase page 96a Agent number 96b ID Number 96c User's name 96d User's address 96e User's phone number 96f Payment method 96i Password 96j Expiration date Etc. 96k Purchase button 96l Agent price 97 Agent setting page 97a Purchase time input box 97c Conversation speed selection 97d Voice pitch selection 97e Language pull down selection menu 97f Gender selection box 97g Character name input box 97h User name Input box 98 Agent purchase home page 98a Agent ID number 98b Assessment number 98c User name 98d User ID number 98e User transfer destination 98f Purchase price 98g Authentication password 98h "Purchase" button

Claims (40)

[Claims] 1. A client computer connected to at least one communication line means and having a display device, and at least one server connected to the client computer through the communication line means and having an area forming a community for handling agents. An agent system, comprising: a computer; and an agent market provided in the community, the agent market including at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agent, the agent market comprising: An agent system for performing a specific process. 2. The characteristics of the agent include the amount of information to be saved, an information processing field that can be handled, an information processing speed,
The agent system according to claim 1, wherein the agent system includes at least one of accuracy of information processing and performance evaluation performed by a person who handles the information processing. 3. The process of limiting the handling of the agent according to the characteristics of a user who handles the agent, the process based on information of a breeder who trains the agent, and the process of the history of the agent. 2. The agent system according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following. 4. The agent includes a processing program for causing the client computer or the server computer to execute at least one of an information collecting process and a proxy process for performing the work of the user. 2. The agent system according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the agent includes an electronic pet agent display program for causing the server computer or the client computer to execute a process of displaying an electronic pet on the display device. Agent system. 6. The community performs at least one of an agent setting process and a user information process, and transfers the ownership by registering an owner of the agent. 2. The agent system according to claim 1, further comprising an owner registration unit. 7. The agent is configured to be released to an information acquisition area divided by a specific concept and to be able to construct a database by accumulating information collected autonomously in the information acquisition area. The agent system according to claim 1, wherein 8. The agent system according to claim 1, wherein the agent is characterized for each specialty in a predetermined field. 9. A step of forming an area forming a community for handling an agent on a computer connected to another information device via a communication line means, and at least one of transfer and lend of ownership of the agent in the community. An agent handling method, comprising: forming an agent market that handles an agent including one; and performing a specific process on characteristics of the agent. 10. The characteristics of the agent include at least one of a stored information amount, an information processing field that can be handled, an information processing speed, an accuracy of information processing, and a performance evaluation performed by a person who handles the information. The agent handling method according to claim 9, wherein the agent is included. 11. The processing for limiting the handling of the agent according to the characteristics of a user who handles the agent, the processing based on information of a breeder who trains the agent, and the processing for the history of the agent. 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising at least one of the following. 12. The agent according to claim 9, further comprising a step of handling, as an agent, a processing program for performing at least one of an information collection process and a proxy process for performing the work of the user. Handling method. 13. The computer according to claim 9, wherein the agent includes an electronic pet agent display program for executing a process of causing the computer or the other information device to display the electronic pet as an electronic pet on the display device. Agent handling method. 14. The community performs at least one of a setting process regarding the agent and an information processing of the user, and transfers the ownership by registering an owner of the agent. 10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising an owner registration unit.
Agent handling method described. 15. The agent is configured to be released to an information acquisition area divided by a specific concept and to be able to construct a database by accumulating information collected autonomously in the information acquisition area. The agent handling method according to claim 9, wherein 16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the agent is characterized for each specialty in a predetermined field. 17. An information providing apparatus comprising an input receiving means, an information processing means, and an output means, connected to another information device via a communication line means, and forming a community for handling agents. Means for forming an agent market that handles agents including at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agents in the community; and means for performing specific processing on characteristics of the agents. An information providing device, characterized in that: 18. The characteristics of the agent include at least one of an amount of saved information, an information processing field that can be handled, an information processing speed, an accuracy of information processing, and a performance evaluation performed by a person who handles the information. 18. The information providing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information providing apparatus includes: 19. The specific process includes a process of restricting handling of the agent according to characteristics of a user who handles the agent, a process based on information of a breeder who trains the agent, and a process of a history of the agent. 18. The information providing apparatus according to claim 17, comprising at least one of the following. 20. The information providing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said agent has a processing program for performing at least one of information collection processing and proxy processing. 21. The agent according to claim 17, wherein the agent has an electronic pet agent display program that can be displayed as an electronic pet on a display device provided in the information providing device or the other information device. Information providing device. 22. In the community, at least one of a setting process regarding the agent and an information processing of the user is performed, and the ownership is transferred by registering an owner of the agent. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an owner registration unit.
7. The information providing device according to 7. 23. The agent is configured to be released to an information acquisition area divided by a specific concept and to be able to construct a database by accumulating information collected autonomously in the information acquisition area. The information providing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein 24. The information providing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the agent is characterized for each specialty in a predetermined field. 25. A computer having a display device, comprising: means for forming an area forming a community for handling agents; and at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agent provided in the community. Means for forming an agent market for handling agents, means for performing specific processing on characteristics of the agents,
Program to function as 26. The characteristics of the agent include processing of a stored information amount, processing of an information field which can be handled, processing of information processing speed, processing of accuracy of information processing, and performance evaluation performed by a handler. 26. The program according to claim 25, wherein the program includes at least one of processing. 27. The specific process includes a process of restricting handling of the agent according to characteristics of a user who handles the agent, a process based on information of a breeder who trains the agent, and a process of a history of the agent. 26. The program according to claim 25, comprising at least one of the following. 28. The program according to claim 25, wherein the agent includes at least one of an information collection process and a proxy process. 29. The agent according to claim 29, wherein the agent is provided with a process that can be displayed as an electronic pet on a display device provided in the computer or another computer connected to the computer via communication line means. A program according to claim 25. 30. The community performs at least one of a setting process regarding the agent and an information processing of the user in the community, and performs the possession based on owner information of the agent registered in the community. 26. The program according to claim 25, further comprising an owner registration process for transferring a right. 31. A process of constructing a database, wherein the agent is released to an information acquisition area delimited by a specific concept, and accumulates information autonomously collected in the information acquisition area in the computer to construct a database. 26. The program according to claim 25, further comprising: 32. The program according to claim 25, wherein the agent performs a process characterized for each specialty in a predetermined field. 33. An information terminal device connected to the communication line means, wherein an area for forming a community for handling an agent is formed, and at least one of transfer and lending of ownership of the agent in the community is provided. A computer-readable information storage in which a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of forming an agent market that handles agents including the step of performing a specific process on the characteristics of the agent is recorded. Medium. 34. The characteristics of the agent include processing of a stored information amount, processing of an information field that can be handled, processing of information processing speed, processing of accuracy of information processing, and performance evaluation performed by a person who handles the information. 34. The computer-readable information storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute at least one of the processes is recorded. 35. The specific process includes a process of restricting the handling of the agent according to a characteristic of a user who handles the agent, a process based on information of a breeder who trains the agent, and a process of a history of the agent. 34. The computer-readable information storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute at least one of the following processes is recorded. 36. The computer-readable computer according to claim 33, wherein the agent records a program for causing a computer to execute at least one of an information collection process and a proxy process. Information storage medium. 37. A display device provided in the information terminal device or another information terminal device connected to the information terminal device via the communication line means,
34. The computer-readable information storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying on the display device as an electronic pet is recorded. 38. The community owner registration unit performs at least one of a setting process regarding the agent and an information processing of a user who handles the agent, and performs a process of registering the owner of the agent. The computer-readable information storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a program to be executed by a computer is recorded. 39. Performing a process of releasing the agent to an information acquisition area partitioned by a specific concept, a process of autonomously collecting information in the information acquisition region, and a process of storing the collected information. The computer-readable information storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute a process of constructing a database in the information terminal device is recorded. 40. The computer-readable information storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute a process characterized by a specialty of the agent in a predetermined field is recorded.