A method is provided for modifying an image. The method comprises displaying an image, the image comprising a portion of an object; and determining if an edge of the object is in a location within the portion. The method further comprises detecting movement, in a member direction, of an operating member with respect to the edge. The method still further comprises moving, if the edge is not in the location, the object in an object direction corresponding to the detected movement; and modifying, if the edge is in the location, the image in response to the detected movement, the modified image comprising the edge in the location.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program

A new class of avatars (“organizational avatars”) created in accordance with the present invention holds a value or a significance independent from their use in a virtual environment, unlike the generic avatars whose value is limited to their being used in a chatroom. For example, an organizational avatar may be in the image of a trademark (which may be copyrighted), such as Mickey Mouse, Colonel Sanders, or Pikachu (a Pokemon character). The organizational avatars may represent certain organizations, typically the organizations that own trademark and/or copyright rights to the images used to form the avatars in virtual environments. Therefore, users of virtual environments can interface various companies by interacting with organizational avatars. Alternatively, organizational avatars may represent users independent of the organization, but under a contract with the organization that owns the image the avatars depict. By using organizational avatars, companies of all sizes can increase their interactivity with customers, advertise cost effectively, and promote a positive image for their products. Tiles are used to provide faster download of a chatroom's background. Tiles also allow rapid generation of a chatroom's background, eliminating the need to use a graphics editor.

Graphic chatting with organizational avatars

The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

Methods and apparatus for control using control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an ip network

Personalizing communications for a first communication platform includes accessing status information for communication sessions by a communication identity that leverage a first communication platform other than an instant messaging platform. A participant list associated with the communication identity and the first communication platform is passively configured to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from communication sessions in which the communication identity recently participated using the communication platform.

Passive personalization of buddy lists

A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.

System and method for toy adoption and marketing

A terminal has a storage means for storing identification information, a transmitting means for transmitting the identification information stored in the storage means to a server, and a receiving means for receiving the identification information transmitted from the server. If no identification information is stored in the storage means, the terminal transmits information thereof to the server. The terminal receives identification information corresponding to predetermined information transmitted from the server in response to the information indicating that no identification information is stored in the storage means and stores the identification information received by the receiving means into the storage means. When an access is made from the terminal without accompanying identification information, the server generates identification information corresponding to predetermined information and registers the generated identification information to be provided to the terminal. Consequently, the user can received predetermined services from the server without inputting user identification information into the terminal.

Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system and program providing medium

An object in a virtual reality space is made perform complicated movements A user (or a keeper) who controls an object (or a pet) in a virtual reality space enters a command at the client terminal of the user by means of chat operation The entered command is sent to a server The server has a table listing the relationship between commands and movements to be performed by the object in the virtual reality space For example, the relation is between command “Jump” and movement of jumping The server interprets the received command by referencing this table The interpretation result is sent to the client terminal On the client terminal, the object (the pet) in the virtual reality space performs complicated movements such as dancing according to the received interpretation result

Information processing apparatus, method and medium using a virtual reality space

Communication between users not accessing a shared virtual reality space at the same time is realized. A client terminal sends a calling card and a mail. A hard disk drive of a mail server holds the calling card and the mail. When a user to whom the calling card and the mail are to be sent accesses the shared virtual reality space, the mail server transfers the calling card and the mail to the client terminal.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information providing medium

An information processing apparatus restricts admission to space occupied by a user in a virtual space. When a second user of a second terminal makes a request for admission to space which is in the virtual space and which is occupied by a first user of a first terminal, a space management server transmits data to the first user causing the first user to recognize that the request for admission is made by the second user. In response to an action based on the data, the first user performs an operation. If the first user performs an operation to permit the second user admission to the space, the second user can enter the space occupied by the first user.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium

The present invention relates to recommendation of items to a user for providing items more satisfying a user's request on the basis of new association. The present invention provides a data display server connected to a user terminal, which includes a posting database for storing posting data posted through the user terminal, a reference data base for storing reference data, relational metadata generating means which generates relational metadata making association between two pieces of reference data, and a relational database for storing the relational metadata. According to the arrangement, tight linking between reference data is made possible so that items more suitable for a user's preference can be recommended.

Taketo Naito

Papers

Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system and program providing medium

Information processing apparatus, method and medium using a virtual reality space

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information providing medium

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium

Data display server, data display method and program thereof