US5894307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communications apparatus which provides a view of oneself in a virtual space
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1996-12-19
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Granted: 1999-04-13
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Expires: 2016-12-19
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a communication apparatus for exchanging messages while a virtual space and avatars (symbols) of users are displayed on a display screen. The communication apparatus has a viewpoint element inputting unit for inputting a viewpoint element (a viewpoint position and a viewpoint direction). An image of the virtual space is produced on the basis of the viewpoint element inputted from the viewpoint element inputting unit. According to the communication apparatus, it is possible to increase a degree of freedom in plotting the virtual space.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Ohno
- 👤 Kazuki Matsui
- 👤 Akinori Iwakawa
- 👤 Naohisa Kawaguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; G06T; G06T11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A communication apparatus acting as one of a plurality of user terminals connected to a message communication system, the plurality of user terminals sharing a virtual space using symbols defined for each user terminal, said communication apparatus comprising: a display having a display screen for displaying images; image producing means for producing a plurality of images representative of the virtual space, each image based on one of a plurality of viewpoint elements, each viewpoint element having a viewpoint position and a viewpoint direction; and plotting means for simultaneously plotting the plurality of images produced by said image producing means on the display screen of said display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A communication apparatus acting as one of a plurality of user terminals connected to a message communication system, the plurality of user terminals sharing a virtual space using symbols defined for each user terminal, said communication apparatus comprising: a display having a display screen for displaying images; image producing means for producing a plurality of images representative of the virtual space, each image based on one of a plurality of viewpoint elements, each viewpoint element having a viewpoint position and a viewpoint direction; and plotting means for simultaneously plotting the plurality of images produced by said image producing means on the display screen of said display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
A communication apparatus acting as one of a plurality of user terminals connected to a message communication system, the plurality of user terminals sharing a virtual space using symbols defined for each user terminal, said communication apparatus comprising: a display having a display screen for displaying images; image producing means for producing an image representative of the virtual space when looking at a viewpoint direction from a viewpoint position where the symbol of the communication apparatus exists in the virtual space; and plotting means for simultaneously plotting both the image produced by said image producing means and the symbol of the communication apparatus on the display screen of said display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
A communication apparatus acting as one of a plurality of user terminals connected to a message communication system, the plurality of user terminals sharing a virtual space using symbols defined for each user terminal, said communication apparatus comprising: a display having a display screen for displaying images; image producing means for producing an image representative of the virtual space when looking at a viewpoint direction from a viewpoint position where the symbol of the communication apparatus exists in the virtual space; and plotting means for simultaneously plotting both the image produced by said image producing means and the symbol of the communication apparatus on the display screen of said display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A communication apparatus acting as one of a plurality of user terminals, connected to a message communication system, the plurality of user terminals sharing a virtual space using symbols defined for each user terminal including a first symbol defined for the communication apparatus, said communication apparatus comprising: a display having a display screen for displaying images, image producing means for producing an image representative of the virtual space as seen by anyone of the symbols arranged in the virtual space except for the first symbol; and plotting means for plotting the image produced by said image producing means on the display screen of said display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
A communication apparatus acting as one of a plurality of user terminals, connected to a message communication system, the plurality of user terminals sharing a virtual space using symbols defined for each user terminal including a first symbol defined for the communication apparatus, said communication apparatus comprising: a display having a display screen for displaying images, image producing means for producing an image representative of the virtual space as seen by anyone of the symbols arranged in the virtual space except for the first symbol; and plotting means for plotting the image produced by said image producing means on the display screen of said display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plotting means plots on the display screen of said display both the image produced by said image producing means and the symbol involved in producing the image produced by said image producing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5359703A
Cited
JPH06121311A
Cited
US5590268A
Cited
US5347306A
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JPH0863416A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-12 | 2002-10-12 | 2003-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-12 | 2006-10-12 | 2007-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-12 | 2010-10-12 | 2011-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |