JP2007188310A - Virtual chat space system, terminal, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a virtual chat space system where a plurality of avatars in a virtual space exchange their messages, in which screen operation for retrieving a transmitter avatar corresponding to a user who has transmitted a chat message inside the virtual space is facilitated. <P>SOLUTION: In the virtual chat space system 10, when a terminal 30 used by a user participating in a chat receives a chat message, a chat message window 3433 of a screen of the terminal displays the chat message and a direction designation window 3434 of the terminal 30 displays information in a direction in which the transmitter avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message is present in the virtual chat space. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a virtual chat space system in which a plurality of avatars in a virtual space exchange messages by chat, in addition to a virtual chat space window in which avatars are displayed and a chat message window in which chat messages are displayed. The present invention relates to a virtual chat space system, a terminal, a method, and a program that display a direction indication window indicating a direction in which an avatar that has sent a message is present.

  An avatar that is a user's alternation appears in a virtual chat hall or game scene to produce a more realistic virtual space.

  Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-154243 (Patent Document 1) discloses a radar map showing the positional relationship between the position of an avatar in a virtual space shared by a plurality of users and the avatars of other users around the user. A system for displaying is disclosed.

JP-A-10-154243

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, an image displaying a viewable region in a virtual space and a radar map displaying the positions of avatars of a plurality of users sharing the virtual space are displayed in an overlapping manner. Thus, the positional relationship between the own avatar and the avatars of other users can be easily recognized.

  Further, Patent Document 1 describes that a window for displaying an image of a viewable area in the virtual space and a window for chatting can be displayed ([0233] column).

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, even if a user's avatar sharing a virtual space transmits a message by chat, it recognizes which user's avatar in the virtual space has transmitted the message. There is a problem that can not be.

  The reason for this is that there is a complete linkage between the control function for messages sent in chat and the function for displaying the viewable area in the virtual space or the function for displaying the position of the user's avatar in the virtual space on the radar map. Because it is not.

  For example, a game is assumed in which processing proceeds while a plurality of avatars exchange messages by chat on a screen displaying a virtual space. In such a game, if the sender avatar that sends a message is not sure in which direction in the virtual space it is seen from the receiver avatar, the message is sent from which avatar in the viewable area in the virtual space. In which direction the receiver avatar moves in the virtual space to reach the viewable area where the source avatar is located, especially if the source avatar is outside the viewable area Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to produce a scene in which avatars perform some kind of exchange within the viewable area.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a virtual chat space system in which a plurality of avatars in a virtual space exchange messages by chat, separately from a virtual chat space window in which avatars are displayed and a chat message window in which chat messages are displayed. A direction indication window indicating the direction in which the avatar that sent the chat message (hereinafter referred to as a source avatar) is present is set, and a chat message display function for the chat message display window and a source avatar for the direction indication window exist. Linking with the direction information display function facilitates screen operations for searching for a source avatar corresponding to the user who sent the chat message in the virtual space (capturing the source avatar in the viewable area) Virtual chat to realize To provide between systems.

  In the first virtual chat space system of the present invention, a direction indication window for displaying information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to a user who has sent a chat message exists in the virtual chat space is displayed on the terminal that has received the chat message. It is displayed on the screen.

  In the second virtual chat space system of the present invention, when a terminal used by a user participating in chat receives a chat message, the chat message is displayed in a chat message window on the screen of the terminal, and the chat message is displayed. Information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to a user who has made a call exists in the virtual chat space is displayed in a direction indication window of the terminal.

  According to a third virtual chat space system of the present invention, in the first or second virtual chat space system, a virtual chat space window that displays an image of a viewable region that is a partial region of the virtual chat space is displayed on the terminal. If the caller avatar does not exist in the viewable area, information on the direction in which the caller avatar exists in the virtual chat space is displayed in the direction indication window. When the original avatar exists in the viewable area, the virtual avatar is highlighted in the virtual chat space window so that the source avatar can be identified, and the source avatar is displayed in the direction indication window. It is characterized by displaying information on the direction existing in the space.

  According to a fourth virtual chat space system of the present invention, in the third virtual chat space system, information on a direction in which the caller avatar displayed in the direction indication window exists in the virtual chat space is a chat message. The avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal is determined based on the coordinates where the avatar exists in the virtual chat space and the coordinates where the sender avatar exists in the virtual space.

  A fifth virtual chat space system of the present invention stores image data of a virtual chat space and image data of an avatar corresponding to a user who participates in a chat in either the third or fourth virtual chat space system. In response to an instruction to start chatting by a user who has a shared virtual chat space file and participates in chat, the shared virtual chat space file is read out, and the terminal from the virtual chat space image data included in the shared virtual chat space file Image data of a space of a predetermined size including coordinates where an avatar corresponding to the user exists is extracted as the viewable area, image data of the viewable area, and image data of the avatar existing in the viewable area; Is displayed in the virtual chat space window.

  The first terminal of the present invention includes means for receiving a chat message, means for displaying information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message exists in the virtual chat space, in a direction indication window. It is provided with.

  The second terminal of the present invention has means for receiving a chat message, means for displaying the chat message in a chat message window, and a source avatar corresponding to the user who sent the chat message exists in the virtual chat space. Means for displaying information on the direction to be displayed in a direction indication window.

  According to a third terminal of the present invention, in the first or second terminal, a means for displaying an image of a viewable area that is a partial area of the virtual chat space on a virtual chat space window; Means for determining whether or not it exists in the viewable area, and means for highlighting so as to identify the sender avatar in the image of the virtual chat space window when it is determined that it exists. It is characterized by that.

  In the fourth terminal of the present invention, in the third terminal, the information on the direction in which the caller avatar displayed in the direction indication window exists in the virtual chat space is obtained by the avatar corresponding to the user of the own terminal. The present invention is characterized in that the coordinates existing in the chat space and the originator avatar are determined based on the coordinates existing in the virtual chat space.

  According to a fifth terminal of the present invention, in any one of the third and fourth terminals, a means for inputting a chat start instruction, image data in a virtual chat space, and image data of an avatar corresponding to a user participating in the chat And a space of a predetermined size including coordinates where an avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal exists from image data of the virtual chat space included in the shared virtual chat space file. Means for extracting the image data as the viewable area, and means for displaying the image data of the viewable area and the image data of the avatar existing in the viewable area in the virtual chat space window. Features.

  According to a first method of the present invention, a terminal receives a chat message, and displays information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message exists in the virtual chat space in the direction indication window. And the step of performing.

  According to a second method of the present invention, a terminal receives a chat message, a step of displaying the chat message in a chat message window, and a source avatar corresponding to a user who has transmitted the chat message is a virtual chat space. And displaying information on the direction existing in the direction indication window.

  The first program of the present invention includes a process of receiving a chat message, a process of displaying information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to a user who has transmitted the chat message exists in the virtual chat space in a direction indication window To the terminal.

  The second program of the present invention includes a process for receiving a chat message, a process for displaying the chat message in a chat message window, and a source avatar corresponding to the user who sent the chat message exists in the virtual chat space. The terminal is caused to perform processing for displaying information on the direction to be displayed in the direction indication window.

  According to the present invention, in a virtual chat space system in which a plurality of avatars in a virtual chat space exchange messages by chat, a screen operation for searching in the virtual chat space for a caller avatar corresponding to the user who sent the chat message (The source avatar is captured in the visible area). The reason for this is a direction indication indicating the direction of the avatar that sent the chat message (hereinafter referred to as the sender avatar) separately from the virtual chat space window in which the avatar is displayed and the chat message window in which the chat message is displayed. This is because a window is set and a chat message display function with respect to the chat message display window is linked to a direction information display function with a source avatar for the direction indication window.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the virtual chat space system 10 displays a direction indication window that displays information on a direction in a virtual chat space where a source avatar corresponding to a user who has transmitted a chat message is present, and a terminal that has received the chat message. A virtual chat space site 20 that provides a shared virtual chat space to users who participate in the chat, and allows each user terminal to share the virtual chat space in which the avatar appears in the space. A terminal 30 that generates image data of a virtual chat space that is a visible area of a predetermined size in which an avatar corresponding to a participating user is positioned at the center of the screen, displays the image data on a display, and sends and receives chat messages. And the network 40 connecting the virtual chat space site 20 and the terminal 30 It is configured to include a.

  Further, referring to FIG. 1, the virtual chat space site 20 has a shared virtual chat space file 21 in order to provide the terminal 30 with image data of the virtual chat space. In the shared virtual chat space file 21, update data of the avatar corresponding to the user participating in the chat is registered in the image data in the (initial) state of the virtual chat space in which the avatar corresponding to the user participating in the chat is not registered. Is done.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the virtual chat space site 20 uses the image data of the shared virtual chat space stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21 as data related to the avatar corresponding to the user participating in the chat transmitted from the terminal 30. The shared virtual chat space file update unit 201 that stores the virtual chat space image data in the shared virtual chat space file 21 as virtual chat space image data that is updated and shared among a plurality of terminals 30, and provides the terminal 30 with image data of the shared virtual chat space In order to send and receive chat messages, the shared virtual chat space file that receives the chat participation request from the terminal 30 and downloads the image data of the shared virtual chat space stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21 to the terminal 30 From download unit 202 and terminal 30 Chat messages and a chat message delivery unit 203 to be delivered to another terminal 30.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the terminal 30 receives a chat message, and displays information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message is present in the virtual chat space in the direction indication window. A web browser unit 31 connected to the network 40 and communicating with the virtual chat space site 20, an application unit 32 for displaying image data of the virtual chat space for each terminal 30 on the display, and sending and receiving chat messages, and each terminal 30 The database management unit 33 of the database to be held, the input / output processing device 34 that inputs / outputs to / from the input / output device, and the internal storage unit 35 that executes the processing of the application unit 32 are included.

  The database held by each terminal 30 includes a virtual chat space image file 331 for generating a virtual chat space image and a chat message file 332 for logging a chat message transmitted and received by the terminal 30.

  Further, the terminal 30 includes a keyboard 341, a pointing device 342 such as a mouse and a tablet, and a display 343 for performing screen operations on the virtual chat space image and receiving / sending chat messages, and inputs / outputs to / from them. The input / output processing unit 34 for performing the processing and the internal storage unit 35 for executing processing by the application unit 32 are provided.

  The application unit 32 inputs an instruction to start chatting, reads out the shared virtual chat space file 21 that stores the image data of the virtual chat space and the image data of the avatar corresponding to the user participating in the chat, and the shared virtual chat space Image data of a predetermined size space including coordinates where the avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal is present is extracted as a viewable area from the image data of the virtual chat space included in the file 21, and the image data of the viewable area is displayed. And the image data of the avatar existing in the viewable area are displayed in the virtual chat space window, and it is determined whether or not the caller avatar is present. Is highlighted so that the source avatar can be identified. Therefore, the shared virtual chat space file download request unit 321 that requests the virtual chat space site 20 to download the image data of the shared virtual chat space stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21 and the data related to its own avatar are stored. Based on the shared virtual chat space file update request unit 322 that uploads to the virtual chat space site 20 and updates the shared virtual chat space file 21 and the shared virtual chat space file 21, the user's avatar is positioned at the center. A virtual chat space image generation / display unit 323 that generates image data of a viewable area in the virtual chat space and outputs the image data to the display 343, and shared update data by moving the avatar on the image of the display 343 Phi 21 and an avatar position updating unit 324 to be reflected in the virtual chat space file 331, and a chat message including a user identifier and a message body transmitted from the terminal 30 are transmitted to the virtual chat space site 20, and the chat message is transmitted to the virtual chat space site. 20, the chat message processing unit 325 that logs the chat message to the chat message file 332, and the chat message of the other terminal 30 is received and displayed on the chat message window of the self-display screen. The chat message is displayed and output in the chat message window, the chat reception processing unit 326 that records the log of the chat message in the chat message file, and the sender avatar that sent the chat message is highlighted. Rui includes the avatar location direction and highlighting unit 327 outputs displays the direction indicating the location, the.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the display 343 includes a display screen 3431, a virtual chat space window 3432 that displays a virtual chat space image, a chat message window 3433 that outputs chat messages in a time series of transmission / reception, and a virtual chat space A direction indication window 3434 for outputting a direction indicating the location of the source avatar, and an input monitor window 3435 for chat messages.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the configuration of the virtual chat space file 331 that the terminal 30 has is illustrated. A virtual chat space file 331 that downloads and stores image data stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21 from the virtual chat space site 20 is image data such as a background obtained by downloading the shared virtual chat space file 21. It includes certain shared virtual chat space data 3310 and a registered object 3320 in which the terminal 30 has registered an avatar. The registered object 3320 includes, for each avatar, identifiers a3321 to n332n that are identifiers of the terminals 30 that have registered the avatar, symbols a to n, and coordinate data (X, Y, Z) in the virtual chat space. . X, Y, and Z correspond to, for example, the east-west axis, the north-south axis, and the height axis, respectively, and the position and direction of the avatar in the virtual chat space can be calculated from the coordinate data. The image data of the virtual chat space displayed in the virtual chat space window 3432 is image data of a viewable area obtained by cutting out a part of the virtual chat space into a predetermined size.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 6 of the flowchart showing the overall operation of this virtual chat space system, in this virtual chat space system 10, the terminal 30 of the user participating in the chat receives the chat message and displays the chat message in the chat message window. In order to display information on the direction in which the originator avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message in the virtual chat space is displayed in the direction indication window 3434, the terminal 30 first displays the virtual chat space site. A chat participation request is sent to 20, and the shared virtual chat space file download request unit 321 requests download of image data of the shared virtual chat space stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21. The image data includes the avatar data (if any) registered by other users in the initial image data (step 361 in FIG. 6). The virtual chat space site 20 downloads the image data of the shared virtual chat space stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21 to the terminal 30 by the shared virtual chat space file download request unit 321 and registers the initial virtual chat space data 3310 and registration. The object 3320 is stored in the virtual chat space file 331 (step 362). The initial virtual chat space data 3310 is image data such as the background of the virtual chat space described in virtual reality modeling language (VRML). Avatar data corresponding to the user participating in the chat is registered in the registration object 3320.

  The terminal 30 displays the initial virtual chat space data 3310 on the virtual chat space window 3432 of the display 343 by the virtual chat space image generation display unit 323, inputs update data regarding the avatar corresponding to the user to the screen, and the registration object 3320. (Step 363). The terminal 30 uploads the update data to the virtual chat space site 20 through the shared virtual chat space file update request unit 322 (step 364). The virtual chat space site 20 updates the shared virtual chat space file 21 shared between the terminals 30 with the update data (step 365). The virtual chat space site 20 distributes the image data (including the update data) of the shared virtual chat space stored in the shared virtual chat space file 21 to the terminal 30 (step 366). The terminal 30 stores the distributed shared virtual chat space image data in the virtual chat space file 331, generates a virtual chat space image based on the image data by the virtual chat space image generation display unit 323, and generates a virtual chat space. The information is displayed on the window 3432 (step 367).

  The terminal 30 transmits a chat message to the avatar present in the virtual chat space by the chat message transmission processing unit 325 (step 368). The virtual chat space site 20 distributes the chat message to the terminal devices 30 excluding the caller terminal 30 among all the terminals 30 participating in the chat (all terminals without removing the caller terminal 30). 30 may be delivered to the chat message, or a destination may be attached to the chat message, and the chat message may be delivered only to a specific destination) (step 369). The terminal 30 receives a chat message distributed via the virtual chat space site 20 by the chat message reception processing unit 326 (step 370).

  When receiving the chat message, the terminal 30 searches the location of the originator avatar of the chat message by the avatar location direction and highlighting unit 327, and indicates the direction in which the originator avatar exists in the virtual chat space in the direction indication window 3434. If the caller avatar is displayed in the virtual chat space window 3432, the caller avatar is highlighted (step 371).

  The terminal 30 performs a screen operation in which the position of the avatar is changed, such as moving the avatar in the direction indicated by the direction instruction window 3434 or changing the direction of the avatar. For example, when the sender avatar of the chat message is outside the viewable area of the virtual chat space, that is, when it is not displayed in the virtual chat space window 3432, the chat message sender avatar is searched for in the designated direction. Is the action. When the position of the avatar is changed, the terminal 30 updates the registered object 3320 in the virtual chat space file 331 (step 372). The update data of the registered object 3320 in the virtual chat space file 331 is uploaded to the virtual chat space site 20 (step 373), and the virtual chat space site 20 updates the shared virtual chat space file 21 with the update data (step 374). ).

  The details of the chat message delivery processing 369 in step 369 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. The terminal 30 inputs a chat message including the identifier of the terminal 30 as the caller name and the chat text from the keyboard 341. Then (step 3691), the chat message is transmitted (step 3692). The virtual chat space site 20 receives the chat message, and distributes the chat message to the terminals 30 except for the terminal 30 that is the sender (all the terminals 30 that are participating in the chat) The message may be distributed to all terminals 30. Alternatively, a destination may be attached to the chat message, and the message may be distributed only to a specific destination) (step 3693). The terminal 30 that has transmitted the chat message logs the chat message in the chat message file 332 (step 3694) and displays the chat message in the chat message window 3433 (step 3695) (the virtual chat space site 20 is the source) When the chat message is distributed to all the terminals 30 without removing the terminal 30, the terminal 30 logs the received chat message in the chat message file 332 and displays it in the chat message window 3433).

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, details of the process of displaying the direction in which the caller avatar exists in the virtual chat space in step 371 in the direction indication window 3434 and the highlighting process 371 in the virtual chat space window 3432 will be described. Then, when the terminal 30 receives the chat message, the terminal 30 searches the virtual chat space file 331 with the identifier of the terminal 30 that is the sender name included in the chat message, and stores the registration object 3320 of the corresponding avatar (sender avatar). It is specified (step 3711). When the terminal 30 specifies the registration object 3320 of the transmission source avatar, the terminal 30 specifies the coordinate data of the transmission source avatar included in the registration object 3320 and the coordinate data of the avatar corresponding to the terminal 30 (referred to as a reception destination avatar). (Step 3712). Assuming that the receiver avatar is at the coordinate center, calculate the azimuth from the receiver avatar to the coordinates of the sender avatar (calculate the azimuth clockwise based on the Y-axis direction of the receiver avatar) (step 3713). ). If the originator avatar is displayed in the virtual chat space window 3432, the terminal 30 highlights the originator avatar and displays the orientation of the originator avatar calculated in step 3713 in the direction indication window 3434 (step 3714). ). For example, assuming that the receiving avatar is at the center of the circle, the direction is represented by a mark on the circumference. Finally, the terminal 30 outputs the received chat message to the chat message window 3433 (step 3715). In the calculation of the azimuth described above, the direction from the destination avatar b to the source avatar a is the coordinates of the avatar a (Xa, Ya, Za) and the coordinates of the avatar b (Xb, Yb, Zb) in the virtual chat space. ) In the three-dimensional coordinate system calculated on the basis of (2) is converted into a two-dimensional screen of the direction indication window 3434 and displayed. At this time, it is assumed that the receiving destination avatar is positioned at the center of the circle in the direction indication window 3434, and the viewpoint is calculated assuming that the viewpoint is directed in the Y-axis direction.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the virtual chat space image output to the display screen 3431 of the display 343 is illustrated. On the display screen 3431, a virtual chat space window 3432, a chat message window 3433, a direction display window 3434, and a message input monitor window 3435 are displayed. The virtual chat space window 3432 displays the image data of the background 34321 and the grove 34326 described in the shared virtual chat space fill 21, and the image data of the avatar such as the avatar 34322, the avatar 34323, and the avatar 34325. The avatar registered by the user participating in the chat is always located at the center of the virtual chat space image, and when the avatar changes its position and viewpoint, the background in the image other than the avatar and the positional relationship of other avatars change. To do.

  In the chat message window 3433, chat messages 34331 and 33442 to which the received chat message is attached are output in time series.

  In the direction display window 3434, it is assumed that the receiving destination avatar 34323 is at the center 343230 of the circle, and the direction in which the transmission source avatar is located is highlighted with a mark 34327 on the circumference.

  By adding a voice input / output function to the above-described embodiment, the chat message may be a virtual chat space system 10 used in combination with a voice message as well as a text message. That is, a function of delivering voice packets to the chat message delivery unit 203 of the virtual chat space site 20 is added, and further, for example, a headset (not shown) is connected to the input / output processing unit 34 of the terminal 30 to add a voice communication function. . A voice packet generated by converting voice into a digital voice signal by the voice packet communication function of the voice communication function is transmitted to the virtual chat space site 20 by the chat message transmission processing unit 325. Further, the voice communication function has a voice text conversion function for converting a digital voice signal into text, generates a voice text message, and sends it by the chat message transmission processing unit 325 in the same manner as the chat message input from the keyboard 341.

  The voice packet received by the chat message reception processing unit 326 is voice-converted by the input / output processing unit 34 and output to the earphone of the headset. The voice packet is attached with a transmission source and a delivery destination, and is processed by the chat message reception processing unit 326 in the same manner as a normal text message. The source is identified, the corresponding source avatar in the virtual chat space window 3432 is highlighted, and the location direction of the source avatar is displayed in the direction indication window 3434. Note that the voice packet by the voice communication function and the text message converted from the voice packet can be used alone or in combination.

  The present invention can be applied to an application program such as a game in which a plurality of avatars process messages while chatting on a screen displaying a virtual space.

It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process part which a virtual chat space site has. It is a figure which shows the structure of a user terminal. It is a figure which shows the window structure of a display. It is a figure which illustrates a virtual chat space file. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a virtual chat space system. It is a flowchart which shows a chat message transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows a chat message reception process. It is a figure which illustrates the screen of a virtual chat space image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Virtual chat space system 20 Virtual chat space site 21 Shared virtual chat space file 30 Terminal 31 Web browser part 32 Application part 33 Database management part 34 Input / output processing part 35 Internal storage part 40 Network

Claims (14)

A virtual chat space characterized in that a direction indication window for displaying information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to a user who has sent a chat message exists in the virtual chat space is displayed on the screen of the terminal that has received the chat message. system. When a terminal used by a user participating in a chat receives a chat message, the chat message is displayed in the chat message window on the screen of the terminal, and a source avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message is virtual chat A virtual chat space system, wherein information on a direction existing in a space is displayed in a direction indication window of the terminal. Displaying a virtual chat space window on the screen of the terminal that displays an image of a viewable area that is a partial area of the virtual chat space;
If the source avatar does not exist in the viewable area, the direction indication window displays information on the direction in which the source avatar exists in the virtual chat space,
When the source avatar is present in the viewable area, the source avatar is highlighted on the image of the virtual chat space window so that the source avatar can be identified, and the source avatar is displayed on the direction indication window. The virtual chat space system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information on a direction existing in the virtual chat space is displayed. Information on the direction in which the originator avatar displayed in the direction indication window exists in the virtual chat space is the coordinates of the avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal that received the chat message in the virtual chat space and the originator. 4. The virtual chat space system according to claim 3, wherein an avatar is determined based on coordinates existing in the virtual chat space. Having a shared virtual chat space file that stores the image data of the virtual chat space and the image data of the avatar corresponding to the user participating in the chat;
The shared virtual chat space file is read in response to a chat start instruction by a user participating in the chat, and an avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal exists from the image data of the virtual chat space included in the shared virtual chat space file Image data of a space having a predetermined size including coordinates is extracted as the viewable area, and the image data of the viewable area and the image data of the avatar existing in the viewable area are displayed in the virtual chat space window. The virtual chat space system according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the virtual chat space system is provided. A terminal comprising: means for receiving a chat message; and means for displaying information on a direction in which a caller avatar corresponding to a user who has transmitted the chat message is present in a virtual chat space in a direction indication window. . Means for receiving a chat message, means for displaying the chat message in the chat message window, and information on the direction in which the originator avatar corresponding to the user who sent the chat message exists in the virtual chat space is displayed in the direction indication window. A terminal comprising: means for displaying. Means for displaying an image of a viewable area which is a partial area of the virtual chat space in a virtual chat space window; means for determining whether or not the caller avatar exists in the viewable area; 8. The terminal according to claim 6, further comprising means for highlighting the sender avatar so that the sender avatar can be identified in the image of the virtual chat space window when it is determined. The information on the direction in which the originator avatar displayed in the direction indication window exists in the virtual chat space is the coordinates of the avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal in the virtual chat space, and the originator avatar is in the virtual chat space. 9. The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the terminal is determined based on coordinates existing in the chat space. Means for inputting an instruction to start chatting, means for reading out a shared virtual chat space file storing image data of the virtual chat space and image data of an avatar corresponding to the user participating in the chat, and the shared virtual chat space file Means for extracting, as the viewable area, image data of a space having a predetermined size including coordinates where the avatar corresponding to the user of the terminal exists from the image data of the virtual chat space included, and image data of the viewable area 10. The terminal according to claim 8, further comprising: means for displaying the image data of the avatar existing in the viewable area in the virtual chat space window. The terminal includes a step of receiving a chat message, and a step of displaying information on a direction in which a transmission source avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message is present in the virtual chat space in a direction indication window. how to. A step in which the terminal receives a chat message, a step of displaying the chat message in a chat message window, and information on a direction in which a source avatar corresponding to the user who has transmitted the chat message exists in the virtual chat space. And displaying in an instruction window. The terminal is configured to perform processing for receiving a chat message and processing for displaying information on a direction in which a source avatar corresponding to a user who has transmitted the chat message exists in a virtual chat space in a direction indication window. Program to do. A process for receiving a chat message, a process for displaying the chat message in the chat message window, and information on the direction in which the source avatar corresponding to the user who sent the chat message exists in the virtual chat space is displayed in the direction indication window. A program that causes a terminal to perform a process of displaying.

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