U.S. patent application number 09/974270 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-21 for storage medium, robot, information processing device and electronic pet system.
Invention is credited to Fujita, Masahiro, Hattori, Masakazu, Kato, Yasuhiko, Kitano, Hiroaki, Yokoo, Naohiro.
Application Number | 20020035405 09/974270 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26369206 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020035405 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yokoo, Naohiro ; et
al. |
March 21, 2002 |
Storage medium, robot, information processing device and electronic
pet system
Abstract
An electronic pet having reality by various machines is
implemented. An IC card stores a matter to be renewed in accordance
with an action when an electronic pet takes the action on the basis
of an internal status parameter which contains the feeling of the
electronic pet and represents the internal status thereof, and it
is detachably mounted in a device functioning as the body of the
electronic pet. A virtual pet device functions as the body of the
electronic pet and performs processing to display the electronic
pet, and it has a slot in which the IC card is detachably mounted.
A pet type robot functions as the body of the electronic pet, and
it has a slot in which the IC card is detachably mounted.
Inventors: |
Yokoo, Naohiro; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Kato, Yasuhiko; (Tokyo, JP) ; Hattori,
Masakazu; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Fujita, Masahiro;
(Saitama, JP) ; Kitano, Hiroaki; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC
P.O. Box 1135
Chicago
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
26369206 |
Appl. No.: |
09/974270 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09974270 |
Oct 10, 2001 |
|
|
|
09135830 |
Aug 18, 1998 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/206 20130101;
A63F 2300/65 20130101; A63F 13/005 20130101; A63F 13/825 20140902;
A63F 13/12 20130101; A63F 2300/8058 20130101; A63F 2300/807
20130101; A63F 2300/63 20130101; Y10S 707/99955 20130101; A63F
13/95 20140902; A63F 2300/204 20130101; G06N 3/006 20130101; A63F
2300/1081 20130101; Y10S 707/99953 20130101; G06N 3/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/86 |
International
Class: |
G05B 019/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 22, 1997 |
JP |
P09-226055 |
Feb 13, 1998 |
JP |
P10-030793 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A storage medium characterized in that said storage medium
stores a matter to be renewed in accordance with an action when a
living-body object which is an object of a living body takes the
action on the basis of an internal status parameter representing
the internal status of said living-body object, which contains the
feeling of said living-body object, and is detachably mounted in a
body machine serving as the body of said living-body object.
2. The storage medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body
machine is a robot or an information processing device for
performing processing to display said living-body object.
3. The storage medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal
status parameter is also renewed in accordance with an input from
the external.
4. The storage medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal
status parameter is also renewed in accordance with time lapse.
5. The storage medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
character/action tendency information for defining the character or
action tendency of said living-body object is also stored, and said
living-body object takes an action on the basis of the
character/action tendency information and the internal status
parameter.
6. The storage medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
character/action tendency information has renewal amount
information on an renewal amount when the internal status parameter
is renewed in accordance with the action of the living-body
object.
7. The storage medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
character/action tendency information has condition information on
a condition which the internal status parameter should satisfy when
said living-body object takes a prescribed action.
8. The storage medium as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
living-body object takes a prescribed action when the internal
status parameter satisfies the condition information corresponding
to the prescribed action.
9. The storage medium as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
character/action tendency information has renewal amount
information on a renewal amount when the internal status parameter
is renewed in accordance with the action of said living-body
object, and when said living-body object takes the action because
the internal status parameter satisfies the condition information
corresponding to the prescribed action, the internal status
parameter is renewed on the basis of the renewal information
corresponding to the action which is taken by said living-body
object.
10. The storage medium as claimed in claim 8, wherein when said
internal status parameter satisfies the condition information
corresponding to plural actions, said living-body object selects
one of the plural actions and takes the selected action.
11. The storage medium as claimed in claim 8, wherein in the case
where the internal status parameter satisfies the condition
information corresponding to plural actions, when two or more of
the plural actions can be taken at the same time, said living-body
object takes two or more of the actions at the same time.
12. The storage medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
character/action information tendency information is renewed in
accordance with an input from the external.
13. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
character/action tendency information has condition information on
a condition which the internal status parameter should satisfy to
make said living-body object take a prescribed action, and
information of the condition information which is associated with
an action as a trick is renewed in accordance with an input from
the external.
14. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
character/action tendency information has condition information
which the internal status parameter should satisfy to make said
living-body object take a prescribed action, and the condition
information corresponding to a new action is added in accordance
with an input from the external.
15. The storage medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
character/action tendency information used to make said living-body
object take an action is renewed in accordance with the time
lapse.
16. The storage medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein plural
character/action tendency information pieces are stored, and an
information piece used to make said living-body object take an
action is selected from the plural character/action tendency
information pieces in accordance with the time lapse.
17. The storage medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein plural
character/action tendency information pieces are stored, and an
interpolation is performed on the basis of the plural
character/action tendency information to generate character/action
tendency information used at each time.
18. The storage medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage
medium comprises an IC (integrated circuit) card or a magnetic
disk.
19. A robot functioning as the body of a living-body object which
is an object of a living body, characterized in that in said robot
is detachably mounted a storage medium which stores a matter to be
renewed in accordance with an action when a living-body object
which is an object of a living body takes the action on the basis
of an internal status parameter representing the internal status of
said living-body object, which contains the feeling of said
living-body object.
20. The robot as claimed in claim 19, wherein the internal status
parameter is renewed in accordance with an input from the
external.
21. The robot as claimed in claim 19, wherein the internal status
parameter is renewed in accordance with the time lapse.
22. The robot as claimed in claim 19, wherein said storage medium
stores character/action tendency information for defining the
character or action tendency of said living-body object, and said
living-body object takes an action on the basis of the
character/action tendency information and the internal status
parameter.
23. The robot as claimed in claim 22, wherein the character/action
tendency information has renewal amount information on a renewal
amount when the internal status parameter is renewed in accordance
with the action of said living-body object.
24. The robot as claimed in claim 22, wherein the character/action
tendency information has condition information on a condition which
the internal status parameter should satisfy to make said
living-body object take a prescribed action.
25. The robot as claimed in claim 24, wherein said living-body
object takes a prescribed action when the internal status parameter
satisfies the condition information corresponding to the prescribed
action.
26. The robot as claimed in claim 25, wherein the character/action
tendency information has renewal amount information on a renewal
amount when the internal status parameter is renewed in accordance
with the action of said living-body action, and the internal status
parameter satisfies the condition information corresponding to a
prescribed action and thus said living-body object takes the
action, the internal status parameter is renewed on the basis of
the renewal amount information corresponding to the action which
said living-body object takes.
27. The robot as claimed n claim 25, wherein when the internal
status parameter satisfies the condition information corresponding
to plural actions, said living-body object selects one of the
plural actions and takes the selected action.
28. The robot as claimed in claim 25, wherein in the case where the
internal status parameter satisfies the condition information
corresponding to the plural actions, when two or more of the plural
actions can be simultaneously performed, said living-body object
takes the two or more actions at the same time.
29. The robot as claimed in claim 22, wherein the character/action
tendency information is renewed in accordance with an input from
the external.
30. The robot as claimed in claim 29, wherein the character/action
tendency information has condition information on a condition which
the internal status parameter satisfies to make the living-body
object take a prescribed action, and information on actions as
tricks in the condition information is renewed in accordance with
an input from the external.
31. The robot as claimed in claim 29, wherein the character/action
tendency information has condition information on a condition which
the internal status parameter should satisfy to make the
living-body take a prescribed action, and the condition information
corresponding to a new action is added in accordance with an input
from the external.
32. The robot as claimed in claim 22, wherein the character/action
tendency information used to make the living-body object take an
action is renewed in accordance with the time lapse.
33. The robot as claimed in claim 32, wherein said storage medium
stores plural character/action tendency information, and
information to make said living-body object take an action is
selected from the plural character/action tendency information in
accordance with the time lapse.
34. The robot as claimed in claim 32, wherein said storage medium
stores plural character/action tendency information, and
character/action tendency information used at each time is
generated by performing interpolation on the basis of the plural
character/action tendency information.
35. The robot as claimed in claim 19, wherein said storage medium
comprises an IC (integrated circuit) card or a magnetic disk.
36. An information processing device which functions as the body of
a living-body object which is an object of a living body, and
performs processing to display said living-body object,
characterized in that in said information processing device is
detachably mounted a storage medium which stores a matter to be
renewed in accordance with an action when a living-body object
which is an object of a living body takes the action on the basis
of an internal status parameter representing the internal status of
said living-body object, which contains the feeling of said
living-body object.
37. The information processing device as claimed in claim 36,
wherein the internal status parameter is renewed in accordance with
an input from the external.
38. The information processing as claimed in claim 36, wherein the
internal status parameter is renewed in accordance with the time
lapse.
39. The information processing device as claimed in claim 36,
wherein said storage medium stores character/action tendency
information for defining the character or action tendency of said
living-body object, and said living-body object takes an action on
the basis of the character/action tendency information and the
internal status parameter.
40. The information processing device as claimed in claim 39,
wherein the character/action tendency information has renewal
amount information on a renewal amount when the internal status
parameter is renewed in accordance with the action of said
living-body object.
41. The information processing device as claimed in claim 39,
wherein the character/action tendency information has condition
information on a condition which the internal status parameter
should satisfy to make said living-body object take a prescribed
action.
42. The information processing device as claimed in claim 41,
wherein said living-body object takes a prescribed action when the
internal status parameter satisfies the condition information
corresponding to the prescribed action.
43. The information processing device as claimed in claim 42,
wherein the character/action tendency information has renewal
amount information on a renewal amount when the internal status
parameter is renewed in accordance with the action of said
living-body action, and the internal status parameter satisfies the
condition information corresponding to a prescribed action and thus
said living-body object takes the action, the internal status
parameter is renewed on the basis of the renewal amount information
corresponding to the action which said living-body object
takes.
44. The information processing device as claimed in claim 42,
wherein when the internal status parameter satisfies the condition
information corresponding to plural actions, said living-body
object selects one of the plural actions and takes the selected
action.
45. The information processing device as claimed in claim 42,
wherein in the case where the internal status parameter satisfies
the condition information corresponding to the plural actions, when
two or more of the plural actions can be simultaneously performed,
said living-body object takes the two or more actions at the same
time.
46. The information processing device as claimed in claim 39,
wherein the character/action tendency information is renewed in
accordance with an input from the external.
47. The information processing device as claimed in claim 46,
wherein the character/action tendency information has condition
information on a condition which the internal status parameter
satisfies to make the living-body object take a prescribed action,
and information on actions as tricks in the condition information
is renewed in accordance with an input from the external.
48. The information processing device as claimed in claim 46,
wherein the character/action tendency information has condition
information on a condition which the internal status parameter
should satisfy to make the living-body take a prescribed action,
and the condition information corresponding to a new action is
added in accordance with an input from the external.
49. The information processing device as claimed in claim 39,
wherein the character/action tendency information used to make the
living-body object take an action is renewed in accordance with the
time lapse.
50. The information processing device as claimed in claim 49,
wherein said storage medium stores plural character/action tendency
information, and information to make said living-body object take
an action is selected from the plural character/action tendency
information in accordance with the time lapse.
51. The information processing device as claimed in claim 49,
wherein said storage medium stores plural character/action tendency
information, and character/action tendency information used at each
time is generated by performing interpolation on the basis of the
plural character/action tendency information.
52. The information processing device as claimed in claim 36,
wherein said storage medium comprises an IC (integrated circuit)
card or a magnetic disk.
53. An electronic pet system, characterized by comprising: a
storage medium for storing a matter to be renewed in accordance
with an action when an electronic pet takes the action on the basis
of an internal status parameter which represents the internal
status thereof and contains the feeling of the electronic pet, said
storage medium being detachably mounted in a device functioning as
the body of the electronic pet; a robot which functions as the body
of the electronic pet, and in which said storage medium is
detachably mounted; and an information processing device which
functions as the body of the electronic pet, and performs
processing to display the electronic pet and in which said storage
medium is detachably mounted.
54. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 53, wherein the
internal status parameter is renewed in accordance with an input
from the external.
55. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 53, wherein the
internal status parameter is also renewed in accordance with the
time lapse.
56. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 53, wherein said
storage medium stores character/action tendency information for
defining the character or action tendency of said living-body
object, and said living-body object takes an action on the basis of
the character/action tendency information and the internal status
parameter.
57. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 56, wherein the
character/action tendency information has renewal amount
information on a renewal amount in accordance with the action of
said living-body object.
58. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 56, wherein said
character/action tendency information has condition information on
a condition which the internal status parameter satisfies t make
said living-body object take an action.
59. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 58, wherein said
living-body object takes a prescribed action when the internal
status parameter satisfies the condition information corresponding
to the prescribed action.
60. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 59, wherein the
character/action tendency information has renewal amount
information on a renewal amount when the internal status parameter
is renewed in accordance with the action of said living-body
object, and when the internal status parameter satisfies the
condition information corresponding to a prescribed action and thus
said living-body object takes the action, the internal status
parameter is renewed on the basis of the renewal amount information
corresponding to the action which said living-body object
takes.
61. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 59, wherein when
the internal status parameter satisfies the condition information
corresponding to plural actions, said living-body object selects
one of the plural actions, and takes the selected action.
62. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 59, wherein in
the case where the internal status parameter satisfies the
condition information corresponding to plural actions, if two or
more of the plural actions can be simultaneously performed, said
living-body object takes the two ore more actions at the same
time.
63. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 56, wherein the
character/action tendency information is renewed in accordance with
an input from the external.
64. The electronic pet system as claim in claim 63, wherein the
character/action tendency information has condition information on
a condition which the internal status parameter should satisfy to
make said living-body object take a prescribed action, and
information on actions as tricks in the condition information is
renewed in accordance with an input from the external.
65. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 63, wherein the
character/action tendency information has condition information on
a condition which the internal status parameter should satisfy to
make said living-body object take a prescribed action.
66. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 56, wherein the
character/action tendency information used to make said living-body
object take an action is renewed in accordance with the time
lapse.
67. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 66, wherein said
storage medium stores plural character/action tendency information
pieces, and an information piece used to make said living-body
object take an action is selected from the plural character/action
tendency information pieces in accordance with the time lapse.
68. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 66, wherein said
storage medium stores plural character/action tendency information,
and character/action tendency information at each time is generated
by performing interpolation on the plural character/action tendency
information.
69. The electronic pet system as claimed in claim 53, wherein said
storage medium comprises an IC (integrated circuit) card or a
magnetic disk.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a storage medium, a robot,
an information processing device and an electronic pet system, and
particularly to a storage medium which can implement an electronic
pets by each of various devices, a robot, an information processing
device and an electronic pet system.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Recently, a so-called electronic pet machine (or, a bring-up
simulation game machine) has been in fashion because it is easier
than to bring up an actual animal as a pet, etc.
[0005] In an electronic pet machine, a living-body object which is
an object of a living body serving as a pet is displayed as an
electronic pet, and the status of the electronic pet such as
starvation (hunger), the degree of fatigue, etc. is notified with a
picture or voice to a pet owner (user of the electronic pet
machine). The pet owner operates the electronic pet machine in
accordance with the status of the electronic pet to feed the pet or
play with the pet. On the basis of the pet owner's action, the
status of the electronic pet is varied, and brought up. The
electronic pet grows up with time lapse, and the status thereof is
also varied.
[0006] In the electronic pet machine, an electronic pet is merely
displayed, and thus it is a so-called virtual being.
[0007] On the other hand, when an electronic pet is implemented,
for example, by a robot as an actual being, it enables a user to
feel more closely as if he actually brings up a pet than the
electronic pet machine because a robot as an electronic pet
exists.
[0008] However, in the case where the electronic pet is implemented
by the robot, it is inconvenient to carry it in a travel, for
example. Accordingly, if it can be realized that an electronic pet
is implemented by a robot serving as an actual being in some cases
while it is implemented by a virtual being in a portable electronic
pet machine in the other cases, this would be convenient.
[0009] Further, an electronic pet which is implemented by a
conventional electronic pet device or the like generally changes
its status in accordance with an input from a user or time lapse,
and takes an action, so that it lacks reality.
[0010] That is, for example, a dog which is an actual pet may
attract master's attention by barking or wagging its tail when the
dog wants to play with its master. In this case, if the master
neglects the dog, the pet is tired and stops barking or wagging its
tail, for example, takes an action such as sleeping. The pet may be
restored to good humor by sleeping.
[0011] On the other hand, according to the conventional electronic
pet device, for example when he wants to play with its master, the
dog merely continues to take such an action as barking or wagging
its tail, or stops taking such an action because of the time lapse,
so that there is no case where the dog sleeps because it is tired
with barking or wagging its tail. That is, in the prior art, the
status of the electronic pet is not varied in accordance with such
an action as barking or wagging its tail which is taken by the
electronic pet itself, and thus there is no case where the
electronic pet takes no conduction (action) in accordance with the
variation of the status due to the action taken by itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention has been implemented in view of the
foregoing situation, and it aims to implement an electronic pet by
each of various devices with higher reality.
[0013] A storage medium according to the present invention is
characterized in that the storage medium stores a matter to be
renewed in accordance with an action when a living-body object
which is an object of a living body takes the action on the basis
of an internal status parameter which contains the feeling of the
living-body object and represents the internal status of the
living-body object, and it is detachably mounted in a body machine
serving as the body of the living-body object. Accordingly, it is
possible to mount the storage medium to various body machines,
thereby making the body machines function as living-body
object.
[0014] A robot according to the present invention is characterized
in that in the robot is detachably mounted a storage medium which
stores a matter to be renewed in accordance with an action when a
living-body object takes the action on the basis of an internal
status parameter which contains the feeling of the living-body
object and represents the internal status of the living-body
object. Accordingly, the living-body object which takes an action
in accordance with the storage medium can be implemented by the
robot.
[0015] An information processing device according to the present
invention is characterized in that in the information processing
device is detachably mounted a storage medium which stores a matter
to be renewed in accordance with an action when a living-body
object takes the action on the basis of an internal status
parameter which contains the feeling of the living-body object and
represents the internal status of the living-body object.
Accordingly, the living-body object which takes an action in
accordance with the storage medium can be implemented by the
information processing device.
[0016] An electronic pet system according to the present invention
is characterized by including: a storage medium which stores a
matter to be renewed in accordance with an action when an
electronic pet takes the action on the basis of an internal status
parameter which represents the internal status thereof and contains
the feeling of the electronic pet, and is detachably mounted in a
device functioning as the body of the electronic pet; a robot which
functions as the body of the electronic pet and in which the
storage medium is detachably mounted; and an information processing
device which functions as the body of the electronic pet and
performs processing to display the electronic pet and in which the
storage medium is detachably mounted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an
embodiment of an electronic pet system to which the present
invention is applied;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a more specific construction of
the electronic pet system;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second construction of a
body portion of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the format of gene data stored
in a spirit portion 1 (IC card 21);
[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the details of the internal
status in the gene data of FIG. 4;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the details of feedback data in
the gene data of FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the details of an action
ignition condition in the gene data of FIG. 4;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the body
portion 2 of FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hardware construction
of a virtual pet device 22 of FIG. 2;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the hardware construction
of a pet type robot 23 of FIG. 2;
[0027] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a ion control processing
which is performed by CPU 31 of FIGS. 9 and 10;
[0028] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing learning processing which is
performed by CPU 31 of FIGS. 9 and 10;
[0029] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the discipline of an
electronic pet by the learning processing;
[0030] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the details of the internal
status in the gene data of FIG. 4;
[0031] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the details of feedback data in
the gene data of FIG. 4;
[0032] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the details of an action
ignition condition in the gene data of FIG. 4;
[0033] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a hybridization method;
[0034] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a method for performing
hybridization; and
[0035] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a method for performing
hybridization.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an electronic
pet system (in this specification, the system is defined as a
logical assembly of plural devices, and there is no limitation as
to whether the respective devices are placed in the same housing or
not) to which the present invention is applied.
[0037] For example, according to another view, an animal which is a
living body is believed as having the body and the spirit which
dwells within the body and presides over the function of mind. The
electronic pet system of FIG. 1 comprises a spirit portion 1 and a
body portion 2 which correspond to the spirit and the body,
respectively.
[0038] That is, the spirit portion 1 functions as the spirit of the
electronic pet, and represents the features of the electronic pet.
The body portion 2 functions as the body of the electronic pet, and
represents the action (conduct) of the electronic pet. The action
of the body portion 2 is taken on the basis of the features of the
electronic pet which are owned by the spirit portion 1, and thus
the spirit portion 1 may be called as the core of the electronic
pet (core).
[0039] The spirit portion 1 can be extracted from the body portion
2, and can dwell within other body portions 2.sub.1, 2.sub.2, . . .
. In this case, the body portion 2 from which the spirit portion 1
is extracted is so-called cast-off skin, and it does not function
as the electronic pet. On the other hand, another body portion in
which the spirit portion 1 dwells functions as an electronic pet
having the original features. That is, the spirit of the electronic
pet can change bodies.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a specific construction of the electronic pet
system shown in FIG. 1.
[0041] The spirit portion 1 of FIG. 1 is implemented by an IC
(integrated circuit) card (spirit card) 21 or the like, for
example. The IC card 21 contains, for example, a flush memory or
the like, and stores gene data as described later.
[0042] The body portion 2 of FIG. 1 is implemented by a virtual pet
device 22, a pet-type robot 23 or the like, for example. The
virtual pet device 22 comprises a portable information processing
device for performing processing to display a virtual electronic
pet, and it has a slot 22A in which the IC card 21 is mounted. The
pet-type robot 23 is a robot having the shape of the electronic
pet, and has a slot 23A in which the IC card 21 is mounted.
[0043] Each of the virtual pet device 22 and the pet-type robot 23
is a machine (body machine) which functions as the body of the
electronic pet, and thus it takes no action for itself. That is,
each of the virtual pet device 22 and the pet-type robot 23 which
serves as a body functions as an electronic pet by inserting the IC
card 21 serving as the spirit. That is, in the virtual pet device
22, the electronic pet is displayed on the monitor thereof, and
action is taken on the basis of the gene data stored in the IC card
21. Further, the pet-type robot 23 also takes an action on the
basis of the gene data stored in the IC card 21.
[0044] Accordingly, by inserting the IC card 21 in the slot 23A of
the pet-type robot 23, a user can feel more closely as if the user
actually brings up a pet. Further, during a travel, a user removes
the IC card 21 from the pet-type robot 23 and mounts it in the
virtual pet device 22, whereby the user can easily carry it to a
travel destination.
[0045] Next, FIG. 3 shows an electrical construction of the body
portion 2 of FIG. 1.
[0046] An I/F (interface) 10 corresponds to the slot 22A of the
virtual pet device 22 or the slot 23A of the pet-type robot 23 in
FIG. 2, and it functions as an interface for communicating data
between the spirit portion 1 and the body portion 2. That is, I/F
10 reads out information representing the features of the
electronic pet (gene data) from the spirit portion 1, and supplies
the data to an internal status calculation portion 11. Further, I/F
10 writes into the spirit portion 1 information which is obtained
as a result of a predetermined calculation in the internal status
calculation portion 11, and renews the storage content thereof.
[0047] As described above, the internal status calculation portion
11 is supplied with the gene data from I/F 10, and also with inputs
from an external input portion 12 and a time input portion 13.
Further, a specific action of the electronic pet which is obtained
in an action conversion portion 15 is also fed back to the internal
status calculation portion 11. The internal status calculation
portion 11 drives models of the feeling and status models stored in
a model storage portion 14 in accordance with the input from I/F
10, the external input portion 12, the time input portion 13 or the
action conversion portion 15 to renew the internal status of the
electronic pet. The internal status of the electronic pet is
contained in the gene data from I/F 10 as described later, and the
renewed internal status is written into the spirit portion 1
through I/F 10. The internal status calculation portion 11
determines conceptual action which is taken by the electronic pet,
and outputs to the action conversion portion 15 a command (action
command) for instructing to take the conceptual action.
[0048] The external input portion 12 supplies a stimulus which is
supplied from the external such as a user, an environment or the
like to the internal status calculation portion 11. That is, for
example, when the body portion 2 is the virtual pet device 22, the
external input portion 12 comprises a keyboard (or switch or
bottom), or a mike (microphone) and a voice recognizer, and an
operation which is carried out by the user, for example, in order
to take care of an electronic pet, or a voice which is made by the
user, is converted to an electrical signal and supplied to the
internal status calculation portion 11. Further, when the body
portion 2 is, for example, the pet-type robot 23, the external
input portion 12 comprises a keyboard, or a microphone and a voice
recognizer, a photoelectric conversion element and an image
recognizer, a sensor (for example, temperature sensor). Likewise,
an operation which is carried out by the user in order to take care
of an electronic pet or a voice which is made is converted to an
electrical signal and supplied to the internal status calculation
portion 11. In addition, information on surrounding objects,
temperature, etc. is supplied to the internal status calculation
portion 11.
[0049] The time input portion 13 counts the time (containing the
date, month and year) and supplies the time (present time) to the
internal status calculation portion 11.
[0050] The model storage portion 14 stores models for the feelings
and the statuses of the electronic pet. That is, as the feelings of
the electronic pet are set anger, sadness, pleasure, fear,
surprise, dislike, etc. The model storage portion 14 stores these
feeling models (for example, calculation equations for determining
parameters representing these feelings). Further, as the statuses
of the electronic pet are set fatigue, starvation, thirst,
sleepiness, the feeling of excretion, etc., and the model storage
portion 14 stores these status models.
[0051] The body portion 2 has the same feeling and status models
regardless of whether it is the virtual pet device 22 or the
pet-type robot 23. Accordingly, the feature and action of the
electronic pet are not changed to those of a different electronic
pet even when the IC card 21 is mutually replaced between the
virtual pet device 22 and the pet type robot 23.
[0052] Here, in this embodiment, both the feeling and status of the
electronic pet is referred to as the internal status of the
electronic pet.
[0053] The action conversion portion 15 converts the conceptual
action command from the internal status calculation portion 11 to a
command (action command) for instruction specific action, and
supplies it to an output portion 16. In addition, it is fed back to
the internal status calculation portion 11.
[0054] The output portion 16 is designed to make an output in
accordance with the action command from the action conversion
portion 15 (makes the electronic pet take the action corresponding
to the action command from the action conversion portion 15). That
is, for example when the body portion 2 is the virtual pet device
22, the output portion 16 comprises a monitor, a voice synthesizer
(for example, a regular voice synthesizer) and a speaker, and it
varies a display of the electronic pet and outputs a cry. Further,
when the body portion 2 is the pet type robot 23, the output
portion 16 comprises motors for driving the members corresponding
to hands, feet, body, head, etc., a voice synthesizer, a speaker,
etc., and it rotates a desired motor and outputs a cry.
[0055] Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of the format of the gene data
stored in the spirit portion 1 (IC card 21).
[0056] The name of an electronic pet and the name of a master (the
name of a pet owner (user)) are arranged at first 32 bytes of the
gene data. A growth time of 4 bytes is disposed subsequently to the
name of the master. At that place is disposed a lapse time from the
time of electronic-pet's birth until now. After that, an internal
status of 60 bytes is disposed. In this internal status is disposed
parameters on the current status and feeling of the electronic pet
(which are obtained by representing the status and the feeling with
numeral values).
[0057] A resuscitation residual frequency of one byte is disposed
after the internal status. That is, in this embodiment, (the spirit
of) the electronic pet can be resuscitated even when it dies, and a
residual frequency at which it can be resuscitated is disposed in
the resuscitation residual frequency. After that, the tribe of one
byte is disposed, and the kind of the electronic pet, such as dog,
cat, bird or the like is disposed at that place. The kind of the
electronic pet is not necessarily limited to those of the
actually-existing animals.
[0058] Further, feedback data of 660 bytes are disposed after that
place. Here, as described above, in the body portion 2 (FIG. 3),
(the parameter on) the internal status is renewed in accordance
with the feedback from the action conversion portion 15 in the
internal status calculation portion 11, and the renewal amount when
the internal status is renewed is disposed at the feedback data. In
the internal status calculation portion 11, the internal status is
also renewed in accordance with the inputs from the external input
portion 12 and the time input portion 13, and in this case, the
renewal amount is also disposed as the feedback data.
[0059] Subsequently to the feedback data are successively disposed
a lifetime factor of 2 bits, a color of 2 bits, the maximum value
of the size of 8 bits, an operation speed of 8 bits and learning
information of 2000 bits. S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 are provided as the
lifetime factor, and the lifetime of the spirit portion 1, that is,
the use term of the IC card 21 is determined by these two lifetime
factors S.sub.1, S.sub.2. Here, the passage of the time over the
use term of the IC card 21 corresponds to the death of (the spirit
of) the electronic pet. The color of the electronic pet is disposed
in the color. In the maximum value of the size is disposed a value
which limits the size of the electronic pet when it grows up. A
value for determining the operation speed of the electronic pet is
disposed in the operation speed. Information as to whether the
electronic pet can do tricks is disposed in the learning
information. That is, in this embodiment, the electronic pet can be
made to learn some tricks, and a flag indicating whether the
electronic pet can do each trick is disposed in the learning
information.
[0060] Action ignition conditions of N each comprising 240 bits
(condition information) are disposed subsequently to the learning
information. That is, in this embodiment, when the parameter of the
internal status satisfies a predetermined condition, the electronic
pet takes predetermined action, and the condition thereof is
described in the action ignition condition. Further, in this
embodiment, actions k.sub.1, k.sub.2, . . . , k.sub.N of N are set,
and an action ignition condition for each action is disposed.
[0061] Subsequently to the N action ignition conditions are
successively disposed a voice continuing time of 8 bits, a pitch of
16 bits, an accent of 8 bits, an action voice flag of 3N bits and
an action image flag of 3N bits. Information setting the maximum
continuing time, pitch and accent of the cry of the electronic pet
are set in the voice continuing time, the pitch and the accent,
respectively. Flags representing whether the actions of N can be
representatively taken are disposed in the action voice flag and
the action image flag. That is, in this case, a flag representing
that a dog can run, but cannot fly, etc. are disposed.
[0062] FIG. 5 shows the details of the internal status in the gene
data of FIG. 4.
[0063] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the internal status comprises
totally fifteen parameters of five parameters representing the
feelings of anger, pleasure, surprise, fear and sadness and 10
parameters representing the statuses of starvation, evacuation,
obedience, fatigue, thirst, sleepiness, food, drink, trick and
growth. Here, starvation, evacuation, obedience, fatigue, thirst,
sleepiness, trick and growth represent physical statuses in the
statuses of an electronic pet, and food and drink represent
environmental statuses in the statuses of the electronic pet. That
is, in this embodiment, the electronic pet can be placed under such
an environment that food or drink is provided, and the statuses of
food and drink are varied in accordance with the environment under
which the electronic pet is placed. Further, in the environment
where food or drink is provided, the electronic pet is set to each
food or drinks by itself (although neither food nor drink are
provided by the operation of a user).
[0064] In this embodiment, each of the parameters on the internal
status is set so that the minimum value thereof is equal to
zero.
[0065] The parameters representing the internal statuses are not
limited to the above 15.
[0066] FIG. 6 shows the details of the feedback data in the gene
data of FIG. 4.
[0067] As the feedback data, in accordance with the external input
(user's operation or voice) given from the external input portion
12, the time input (time lapse) given from the time input portion
13 and the internal input given from the action conversion portion
15, the renewal amount when the internal status is renewed is set
every input for each item of the internal status. The renewal
amount corresponding to the time lapse is set to an amount
corresponding to lapse of prescribed unit time.
[0068] Accordingly, when the feeling of "anger" in the internal
statuses of the electronic pet is considered, if the input
corresponding to "praise" (for example, the user makes such a voice
as praises the electronic pet) is given, the "anger" of the
electronic pet is incremented by -200,000, that is, reduced by
200,000 (here, the reduction of the numerical value of "anger"
corresponds to suppression of the feeling of anger). Further, for
example, when an unit time elapses, the "anger" of the electronic
pet is reduced by 1,000. Further, for example when the input
corresponding to "barking" is given as the internal input (when the
electronic pet takes a barking action), the "anger" of the
electronic pet is reduced by 10,000.
[0069] That is, the feeling of "anger" of the electronic pet
subsides when the master praises it or time elapses. Further, the
feeling of "anger" of the electronic pet also subsides when it
barks, that is, in accordance with the action of the electronic pet
itself. This means that when the electronic pet is angry, the anger
thereof is discharged by barking and the feeling of anger is
suppressed.
[0070] FIG. 7 shows the details of the action ignition condition of
the gene data of FIG. 4.
[0071] The action ignition condition defines an action to be taken
when the parameter of the internal status satisfies a prescribed
condition (for example, "bite", "bark", "run", "walk", "cry",
"absentminded", "sleep" or the like, and a condition therefor. That
is, the action ignition condition on an action defines the lower
limit value (Min) and the upper limit value (Max) of each parameter
of the internal statue to be satisfied when the action is taken.
Specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the action of "bite"
occurs when the feeling of "anger" of the internal status of the
electronic pet is set to 90 to 100, the feeling of "pleasure" is
set to 0 to 100, . . . , the status of "starvation" is set to 0 to
100, and the status of "obedience" is set to 0 to 20, . . . .
[0072] Next, the operation of the body portion 2 of FIG. 3 will be
described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8.
[0073] First, in step S1, the internal status calculation portion
11 renews the internal status stored in the spirit portion 1.
[0074] That is, when parameters E.sub.1, E.sub.2, . . . , E.sub.P
are provided as the parameters representing the internal status,
the internal status calculation portion 11 renews the internal
status according to the following equation, where the parameter of
an internal status at a time t (here, a time with respect to the
time at which the electronic pet was born (the elapse time from the
time of birth of the electronic pet) is represented by E.sub.p(t)
(p=1, 2, . . . , p).
E.sub.p(t)=E.sub.p(t-1)+A.sub.k(p,t)+I.sub.j(p,t) (1)
[0075] Here, A.sub.k(p,t) is a renewal value of the parameter
E.sub.p when an action k is taken. This is determined according to
the feedback data (FIG. 4) stored in the spirit portion 1 on the
basis of the feedback from the action conversion portion 15.
Further, I.sub.j (p,t) is a renewal value of the parameter E.sub.p
when an input j is given from the external input portion 12, and
this is determined according to the feedback data stored in the
spirit portion 1 on the basis of the input.
[0076] In this case, the renewal amount A.sub.k(p,t) is a function
of time t, and this is to make the renewal amount A.sub.k(p,t)
variable as the electronic pet grows up. Specifically, for example,
there is a case where the electronic pet sensitively reacts to a
stimulus when it is a baby, but it reacts more slowly as it grows
up. In order to realize such a growth-dependent variation, the
renewal amount A.sub.k(p,t) is set to a function of time t. The
renewal amount A.sub.k(p,t) at a time t can be calculated
(generated) without directly storing the value thereof into the
spirit portion 1 by storing the renewal amounts A.sub.k(p,T1),
A.sub.k(p,T2), . . . at some predetermined times T1, T2, . . . into
the spirit portion 1 and performing linear interpolation with these
values. Further, when it is unnecessary to continuously vary the
renewal amount A.sub.k(p,t) with respect to t, A.sub.k(p,T1) is
used as the renewal amount for the time period from 0 to T1, and
A.sub.k(p,T2) is used as the renewal amount for the time period
from T1 to T2. Subsequently, the renewal amount being used may be
selected in accordance with the time and varied in the same
manner.
[0077] The renewal amount I.sub.j(p,t) is also a function of time
t, and this is for the same reason as the renewal amount
A.sub.k(p,t) is a function of time t.
[0078] In this embodiment, the time t is varied with 100 ms set to
1.
[0079] When renewing the internal status stored in the spirit
portion 1, the internal status calculation portion 11 goes to step
S2 to judge whether the internal status after the renewal satisfies
any one of the action ignition conditions of N stored in the spirit
portion 1. At this time, the judgment is performed as follows.
[0080] That is, in the action ignition condition stored in the
spirit portion 1 are set the minimum value and the maximum value of
the internal status for taking the action as shown in FIG. 7. Now,
representing the minimum value or the initial value for the
parameter E.sub.p of the internal status defined in the action
ignition condition for an action k by cmin.sub.p(k) or
cmax.sub.p(k), the action ignition condition for the action k is
satisfied, for example when the function f(E.sub.1, E.sub.2, . . .
, E.sub.p) represented by the following equation is equal to 1. 1 f
( E 1 , E 2 , , E p ) = ( c min 1 ( k ) < E 1 < c max 1 ( k )
) & ( c min 2 ( k ) < E 2 < c max 2 ( k ) ) & ( c min
p ( k ) < E p < c max p ( k ) ) ( 2 )
[0081] Here, in the above equation, & represents logical
product. The right side of the above equation
(cmin.sub.p(k)<E.sub.1<cmax.sub.p(- k)) is equal to 1 or 0
when the condition in parentheses is satisfied or not
satisfied.
[0082] In step S2, when it is judged that there is an action
ignition condition under which the equation (2) is equal to 1, the
internal status calculation portion 11 goes to step S3 so as to
output an command to the action conversion portion 15 so that the
electronic pet takes the action corresponding to the action
ignition condition, and then returns to step S1. If there are
plural action ignition conditions under which the equation (2) is
equal to 1, one of them is randomly selected, and a command for
instructing to take the action corresponding to the action ignition
condition thus selected is output to the action conversion portion
15. However, when two or more of the actions corresponding to the
plural action ignition conditions can be simultaneously performed,
a command for instructing to take the two or more actions can be
output to the action conversion portion 15. Specifically, with
respect to the actions of "walk" and "barking" for example, not
only any one of them, but also both of them can be performed
simultaneously.
[0083] On the other hand, if it is judged in step S2 that there is
no action ignition condition under which the equation (2) is equal
to 1, the processing skips step S3 and returns to step S1 to repeat
the processing from step S1. That is, in this case, the electronic
pet takes no action (a command to make the electronic pet take a
waiting action is output from the internal status calculation
portion 11 to the action conversion portion 15).
[0084] Here, as described above, the internal status is renewed on
the basis of the feedback data, and the action of the electronic
pet is determined on the basis of whether the internal status after
the renewal satisfies the action ignition condition. Therefore, if
the feedback data is different or the action ignition condition is
different although the internal status before the renewal is the
same, the electronic pet takes a different action. Accordingly, the
feedback data and the action ignition condition can be regarded as
information for setting the character of the electronic pet
(character/action tendency setting information).
[0085] As in the case of the above renewal amount A.sub.k(p,t) and
I.sub.j(p,t), the action ignition condition may be set as a
function of time t, and varied as the electronic pet grows up.
[0086] Next, FIG. 9 shows the hardware construction of the virtual
pet device 22 of FIG. 2.
[0087] CPU (central processing unit) 31 performs various processing
in accordance with programs stored in ROM (read only memory) 32. A
timer circuit 31A counts clocks not shown, and generates a timer
interrupt of CPU 31 every predetermined unit time (for example, as
described above, 100 ms) on the basis of its count value.
[0088] ROM 32 stores programs to be executed by CPU 31 and data
required to execute the programs. RAM (random access memory) 33
stores data which are required for the operation of the CPU 31. I/F
34 functions as an interface among an A/D converter 36, an
operation portion 37, an IC card connector 38, a D/A converter 39
and a liquid crystal controller 41.
[0089] CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33 and I/F 34 of the above elements are
mutually connected to one another through buses (address bus, data
bus, etc.).
[0090] A mike (microphone) 35 converts a voice input thereto (for
example, contains a whistle sound and other sounds) to an audio
signal as an analog electrical signal and supplies it to the A/D
converter 36. The A/D converter 36 subjects subjects the analog
audio signal from the mike 35 to A/D conversion, and outputs it as
a digital audio signal through I/F 34 to CPU 31. Here, when
receiving the audio signal as described above, CPU 31 subjects the
audio signal to a linear prediction analysis to extract the feature
amount thereof and further performs voice recognition on the basis
of HMM (Hidden Markov Model) method. Here, a program which is
executed for the voice recognition of CPU 31 and a word model which
is targeted for the voice recognition are stored in ROM 32, for
example. In this case, as the word model targeted for the voice
recognition are stored word models with which the master speaks to
a pet (for example, "Hey", "Good child", "Good Morning", "Good
Night", "Give me your foot", "Sit down", "What are you doing",
etc.).
[0091] The acoustic analysis method is not limited to the linear
prediction analysis and the voice recognition method is not limited
to the HMM method.
[0092] The operation portion 37 comprises various buttons and keys,
and upon user's operation, the signal corresponding to the
operation is supplied from I/F 34 to CPU 31, whereby the buttons or
keys which the user operates can be recognized in CPU 31. The
operation portion 37 has buttons for input various types of inputs
to the electronic pet, such as a "scold" button operated to scold
the electronic pet, a "praise" button to praise the electronic pet,
a "greeting" button corresponding to speaking of "good morning" or
"good night", a "give me your foot" button and a "sit" button which
are operated to command "give me your foot" and "sit" as
tricks.
[0093] The IC card connector 38 is provided in the slot 22A (FIG.
2) of the virtual pet device 22, and when the IC card 21 is mounted
in the slot 22A, the IC card 21 and CPU 31 are electrically
connected to each other through I/F 34. Here, CPU 31 reads out and
writes in data to the IC card 21 through I/F 34 and the IC card
connector 38. CPU 31 can detect the mount or non-mount of the IC
card 21.
[0094] The D/A converter 39 performs D/A conversion on the digital
audio signal supplied from CPU 31 through I/F 34, and supplies it
as an analog audio signal to a speaker 40. The speaker 40 contains
an amplifier therein, and amplifies and outputs the voice from the
D/A converter 39. Here, if necessary, CPU 31 generates the cry of
the electronic pet or other necessary sounds by voice
synthesization, and outputs it through I/F 34 to the D/A converter
39. The program to perform the voice synthesization and the data
required to the voice synthesization are stored in ROM 32, for
example.
[0095] The liquid crystal controller 41 is controlled by CPU 31
through I/F 34 to display various images (for example, the image of
the electronic pet, etc.) and characters on a liquid crystal
display portion 42. The liquid crystal display portion 42 displays
images and characters under the control of the liquid crystal
controller 41. ROM 32 stores a program for controlling the liquid
crystal controller 41 to make the liquid crystal display portion 42
display the images and the characters, and CPU 31 executes this
program to make the liquid crystal display portion 42 display the
images and the characters.
[0096] Next, FIG. 10 shows the hardware construction of the pet
type robot 23 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 10, the portions corresponding to
those of the virtual pet device 22 of FIG. 9 are represented by the
same reference numerals. That is, the pet type robot 23 has
basically the same construction as the virtual pet device 22 except
that a motor 51 and a driving mechanism 52 are provided in place of
the liquid crystal controller 41 and the liquid crystal display
portion 42.
[0097] The motor 51 is controlled through I/F 34 by CPU 31 to drive
the driving mechanism 52. The driving mechanism 52 constitutes the
head, the hands, the feet and the body as movable portions of the
pet type robot 23, and it is driven by the motor 51.
[0098] The I/F 10 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the I/F 34 of FIGS. 9
and 10 and the IC card connector 38, and the internal status
calculation portion 11 and the action conversion portion 15 of FIG.
3 correspond to CPU 31 and ROM 32 of FIGS. 9 and 10. The external
input portion 12 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the mike 35 and the A/D
converter 36 and the operation portion 37 of FIGS. 9 and 10.
Further, the time input portion 13 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the
timer circuit 31A of FIGS. 9 and 10, and the model storage portion
14 of FIG. 3 corresponds to ROM 32 of FIGS. 9 and 10. The output
portion 16 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the D/A converter 39 and the
speaker 40 of FIGS. 9 and 10, the liquid crystal controller 41 and
the liquid crystal display portion 42 of FIG. 9 and the motor 51
and the driving mechanism 52 of FIG. 10.
[0099] Next, the processing of CPU 31 which constitutes the virtual
pet device 22 shown in FIG. 9 and the pet type robot 23 shown in
FIG. 10 as the body portion will be described with reference to the
flowchart of FIG. 11.
[0100] When the IC card 21 is mounted in the IC card connector 38
and a power source is turned on, action control processing to
control the action of the electronic pet is carried out in the CPU
31.
[0101] That is, CPU 31 resets each block to the initial state,
whereby the storage value of RAM 33 is cleared and the count value
of the timer circuit 31A is reset, for example.
[0102] Thereafter, the count of the clock by the timer circuit 31A
is started, and in step S11 it is judged whether a prescribed unit
time (as described above, 100 ms) elapses. Here, the timer circuit
31A counts the clock, and generates a timer interrupt to CPU 31
when the count value is equal to the value corresponding to the
prescribed unit time, and further it resets the count value and
repeats the counting of the clock. In step S11 it is judged on the
basis of the timer interrupt by the timer circuit 31A whether the
prescribed unit time elapses.
[0103] If it is judged in step S11 that the prescribed unit time
does not elapse, the processing returns to step S11. If it is
judged in step S11 that the prescribed unit time elapses, the
processing goes to step S12 in which CPU 31 recognizes the external
input and the internal input.
[0104] That is, when a voice is input to the mike 35, the audio
signal thereof is subjected to A/D conversion in the A/D converter
36, and supplied as an external input through I/F 34 to CPU 31. CPU
31 receives the audio signal thereof and performs the voice
recognition in step S12 as described above. When any button
constituting the operation portion 37 is operated, the operation
signal corresponding to the operation is supplied from I/F 34 to
CPU 31 as an external input. CPU 31 receives the operation signal
thereof, and recognizes in step S12 which button is operated.
[0105] Here, the word which is targeted for the voice recognition
and each button constituting the operation portion 37 are
associated with each other by its concept. That is, when "Hey",
"Good child", "Good morning", "Good night", "Give me your foot",
"Sit", "What are you doing" are targeted for the voice recognition
as described above and the operation portion 37 contains a "scold"
button, a "praise" button, a "greeting" button, a "give me your
foot" button and a "sit" button, the word "hey" and the "scold"
button, the word "good child" and the "praise" button, the words
"good morning" and "good night" and the "greeting" button, the word
"give me your foot" and the "give me your foot" button, and the
word "sit" and the "sit" button, which are respectively to input
the respective equivalent concepts, are associated with each other.
With respect to the word and the button which are associated with
each other, it is recognized that the same input is given when the
word is input or when the button is operated. That is, in CPU 31,
even when the voice "hey" is input or even when the "scold" button
is operated, it is recognized that an input to scold the electronic
pet is given in any case.
[0106] In step S12, in addition to the recognition of the external
input as described above, the internal input is also recognized.
That is, in step S19 as described later, when the electronic pet
takes an action, identification information to identify the action
is written in a prescribed address of RAM 33, and CPU 31 accesses
the address to receive the identification information, and
recognizes as the internal input the action taken by the electronic
pet on the basis of the identification information.
[0107] In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the flowchart is illustrated
as the respective processing is sequentially performed in CPU 31
for convenience's sake of description. Actually, in CPU 31, various
kinds of processing are performed in parallel in the sled which is
allocated to the processing, so that the input of the voice and the
operation of the operation portion 37 can be performed at all
times, and the recognition processing of the external input and the
internal input in step S12.
[0108] After the recognition of the external input and the internal
input, the processing goes to step S13 to renew the internal status
(FIG. 5) in accordance with the external input, the internal input
and the time input.
[0109] That is, CPU 31 refers to gene data stored in the IC card 21
through I/F 34 and the IC card connector 38 to recognize the
feedback data for each item of the internal status which
corresponds to each of the external input and the internal input
recognized in step S12. Further, CPU 31 recognizes the feedback
data for each item of the internal status which corresponds to the
time input. CPU 31 adds the feedback data (FIG. 6) for each item of
the internal status corresponding to each of the external input,
the internal input and the time input to the parameter of the item
of the corresponding internal status, and supplies the addition
value as a renewal value of the parameter of each item of the
internal status to the IC card 21 and stores it therein.
[0110] When there is no external input during the time period from
the previous timer interrupt until the current timer interrupt, the
feedback data corresponding to the external input is set to zero.
Further, when the electronic pet takes no action during the time
period from the previous timer interrupt until the current timer
interrupt, it is judged that there is no internal input instep S15
as described later, and the feedback data corresponding to the
internal input is also set to zero. However, even when there is
neither external input nor internal input, the internal status is
renewed by the feedback data corresponding to the time input. That
is, the internal status is renewed every time timer interrupt
occurs and in accordance with at least time lapse.
[0111] After the internal status is renewed, the processing goes to
step S14 in which CPU 31 refers to gene data again to judge whether
the internal status after the renewal satisfies any action ignition
condition (FIG. 7). If it is judged in step S14 that the internal
status after the renewal does not satisfy any action ignition
condition, the processing goes to step S15 to judge that there is
no internal input at the next timer interrupt time, and returns to
step S11.
[0112] Further, it is judged in step S14 that the internal status
after the renewal satisfies any action ignition condition, the
processing goes to step S16 to judged whether the internal status
after the renewal satisfies plural action ignition conditions. If
it is judged in step S16 that the internal status after the renewal
satisfies plural action ignition conditions, the processing goes to
step S17 to randomly select any one of the actions corresponding to
the plural action ignition conditions, and the processing goes to
step S18. In step S18, a necessary block is controlled so that the
selected action is taken, and the processing goes to step S19.
[0113] That is, for example, when the action selected in step S17
is "barking", CPU 31 generates the audio signal corresponding to
the cry of the electronic pet, and outputs it from the speaker 40
through I/F 34 and the D/A converter 39. Further, CPU 31 generates
the graphics data of the electronic pet under barking, and supplies
it to the liquid crystal controller 41, thereby displaying the
barking electronic pet on the liquid crystal display portion 42.
Alternatively, CPU 31 controls the motor 51 to drive the driving
mechanism 52 corresponding to the mouth as if the electronic pet
barks.
[0114] On the other hand, if it is judged in step S16 that the
internal status after the renewal does not satisfy plural action
ignition conditions, that is, if the internal status satisfies a
certain action, the processing skips step S17 and goes to step S18
to control a desired block so that the action corresponding to the
action ignition condition which is satisfied by the internal status
is taken, and then the processing goes to step S19.
[0115] In step S19, the identification information of the action of
the electronic pet which is taken in step S18 is written into a
prescribed address of RAM 33, and the processing returns to step
S11.
[0116] In the embodiment of FIG. 11, when the internal status
satisfies plural action ignition conditions, the action
corresponding to one of them is randomly selected, and the
electronic pet is made to take the action. Besides, for example,
priorities may be assigned to the actions so that the action having
the highest priority is taken. Further, in the case where the
internal status satisfies plural action ignition conditions, if two
or more of the actions corresponding to the plural action ignition
conditions can be simultaneously performed, all the actions which
can be simultaneously taken may be simultaneously performed.
[0117] In the embodiment of FIG. 11, in step S13 the internal
status after the renewal is written into the IC card 21. Besides,
for example, after the IC card 21 is mounted in the IC card
connector 38, the gene data stored therein may be copied to RAM 33
to rewrite the gene data (internal status) stored in RAM 33.
However, in this case, before the IC card 21 is detached from the
IC card connector 38, the gene data on RAM 33 are required to be
written into the IC card 21 (the gene data stored in the IC card 21
are renewed).
[0118] Next, as described above, the feedback data and the action
ignition condition are character/action tendency setting
information for setting the character or action tendency of the
electronic pet, and thus when these are renewed, the character or
action tendency of the electronic pet is also varied. That is, for
example, if the action ignition condition of the barking action is
moderated, the electronic pet barks frequently. On the other hand,
if the action ignition condition of the barking action is severe,
the electronic pet barks little.
[0119] Accordingly, for example in the case where the electronic
pet barks, when the master (user) praises, the action ignition
condition of the barking action is varied to be moderate.
Conversely, when the master angers, the action ignition condition
of the barking action is renewed to be severe. Accordingly, the
character or action tendency of the electronic pet can be varied in
accordance with the attitude of the master. That is, the electronic
pet can learn.
[0120] The flowchart of FIG. 12 shows the learning processing which
CPU 31 executes to make the electronic pet learn.
[0121] The learning processing is carried out when the electronic
pet takes an action.
[0122] That is, when the electronic pet takes an action,
specifically, the identification information of the action which is
taken by the electronic pet in step S18 of FIG. 11 is written in a
prescribed address of RAM 33 in step S19, the learning processing
is started, and in step S21 it is judged whether there is some
input (external input) from the user for the action. In step S21,
it is judged that there is no input, the learning processing is
finished.
[0123] If it is judged in step S21 that there is some input from
the user for the action taken by the electronic pet, the processing
goes to step S22 to judge whether the input is to instruct
suppression of the action. In step S22 it is judged that the input
from the user is to instruct the suppression of the action, that
is, the input from the user is the voice of "Hey" or the operation
signal corresponding to the "scold" button, the processing goes to
step S23 so that the action ignition condition corresponding to the
action taken by the electronic pet (the action specified by the
identification information stored on RAM 33) is renewed so that the
probability of the occurrence of the action is reduced (the action
ignition condition is set to be severe), and the learning
processing is finished.
[0124] On the other hand, if it is judged in step S22 that the
input from the user is not to instruct the suppression of the
action, the processing goes to step S24 to judge whether the input
is to encourage the action. If it is judged in step S24 that the
input from the user is not to encourage the action, that is, if the
input from the input is neither to suppress the action nor to
encourage the action, the learning processing is finished.
[0125] Further, if the input from the user is judged in step S24 to
encourage the action, that is, if the input from the user is the
voice of "good child" or the operation signal corresponding to the
"praise" button, the processing goes to step S25 to renew the
action ignition condition corresponding to the action taken by the
electronic pet so that the probability of the occurrence of the
action is reduced (the action ignition condition is moderated), and
the learning processing is finished.
[0126] By the learning processing as described above, the
discipline of the electronic pet can be performed.
[0127] That is, for example, when the electronic pet barks, the
external input of scolding to suppress the barking action is given
from the user, whereby it is judged in the learning processing that
there is an input from the user (step S31) as show in the flowchart
of FIG. 13. Further, the external input of the scolding from the
user is judged to suppress the action step S32). The action
ignition condition of the barking action is renewed so that the
probability of the occurrence of the action is reduced (step
S33).
[0128] As a result, the electronic pet barks little.
[0129] The judgment as to whether the external input from the user
is to suppress the action or to encourage the action may be
performed, for example, by adding a flag of 1 bit representing one
of them to each item of the external input shown in FIG. 6 and
making the judgment on the basis of the flag. The renewal of the
action ignition condition so that the probability of the occurrence
of the action is reduce or increased basically means that the
difference between the lower limit value and the upper limit value
shown in FIG. 6 is reduced or increased, and more strictly, the
renewal method of the action ignition condition is varied in
accordance with the item of the internal status and the action.
[0130] Next, according to the learning processing as described
above, the electronic pet can learn tricks.
[0131] That is, as described with reference to FIG. 5, "trick" is
provided as an item of the internal status of the electronic pet,
and the item "trick" is divided into specific trick items as shown
in FIG. 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the item "trick" is
divided into specific tricks "give me your foot", "sit", . . .
.
[0132] In association with this, in the feedback data, the items
corresponding to the specific tricks (internal status) "give me
your foot", "sit", . . . are set for each of the external input,
the time input and the internal input as shown in FIG. 15. Further,
items on the inputs of the user which are associated with the
tricks "give me your foot", "sit", etc. are provided for the
external input, and also items on the tricks (actions) "give me
your foot", "sit", etc. are provided for the internal input.
[0133] With respect to the action ignition condition, as shown in
FIG. 16, there are provided action ignition conditions when the
specific tricks (actions) "give me your foot", "sit", etc. are
taken.
[0134] According to the embodiment of FIG. 15, the parameter of the
internal status "give me your foot" is incremented by every 1000
units if there is an external input "give me your foot", that is,
if the user utters the voice "give me your foot". As shown in the
embodiment of FIG. 16, when the internal status "give me your foot"
is equal to a value above 90000 and below 100000, and the other
values are set to predetermined values, so that all the internal
statuses satisfy the actin ignition condition of the action "give
me your foot", the electronic pet takes the action "give me your
foot".
[0135] That is, assuming that the internal status is only "give me
your foot", when the user repetitively utters the voice "give me
your foot", the parameter of the internal status "give me your
foot" is incremented by every 1000, and when it reaches 90000 or
more, the electronic pet takes the action "give me your foot". If
the action "give me your foot" is continued, as shown in FIG. 15,
the parameter of the internal status "give me your foot" is reduced
by every 100 units on the basis of the feedback data corresponding
to the internal input "give me your foot". Therefore, when the
value does not satisfy the action ignition condition of the action
"give me your foot", that is, if it is less than 90000, the
electronic pet stops the action "give me your foot".
[0136] It may be adopted that the item on the trick is not
beforehand provided to the internal status, the feedback data and
the action ignition condition, but it is subsequently added by the
learning.
[0137] That is, in the virtual electronic pet device 22, the
external input "give me your foot" and the internal status, the
feedback data and the action ignition condition on "give me your
foot" are associated with each other, and registered in a
predetermined table, and also the graphics data of the electronic
pet under the state that it takes each action are registered.
Further, for example, in the virtual electronic pet device 22, when
the external input "give me your foot" is input, the graphics data
of the electronic pet which takes each action are randomly selected
and displayed. When the electronic pet taking the action "give me
your foot" is displayed, the user gives the external input for
praising it, and when the electronic pet under the other states is
displayed, the user gives the external input to scold it. In the
virtual electronic pet device 22, the learning is performed on the
basis of the external input from the user as described above, the
external input "give me your foot" and the graphics data of the
state where the electronic pet takes the action "give me your foot"
are associated with each other, and then the item on the trick
"give me your foot" is added to the internal status, the feedback
data and the action ignition condition.
[0138] In the learning processing of FIG. 12, when the electronic
pet takes an action and there is an external input from the user,
the action just before that is encouraged or suppressed. Besides,
for example, it may be adopted that the history of the actions
taken by the electronic pet is stored, and one or more of the
plural actions taken previously is selected to encourage or
suppress the action.
[0139] Next, the gene data stored in the spirit portion 1
corresponds to the gene of an active living thing. Accordingly,
electronic pets serving as parents are crossed to give birth to
(generate) an electronic pet serving as a child having the features
of the parents.
[0140] As shown in FIG. 17A, the hybridization can be performed by
picking up a part of the gene data of an electronic pet serving as
a parent (for example, father) A and a part of the gene data of an
electronic pet serving as the other parent (for example, mother) B,
and then setting these parts as the gene data of an electronic pet
serving as a child C. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 17B,
the gene data of the electronic pet serving as the parent A and the
gene data of the electronic pet serving as the parent B are
subjected to weighting addition, and the addition result can be set
as the gene data of the electronic pet serving as the child C.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 17C, a part of the gene data
of the electronic pet serving as the child C may be constructed by
the gene data of the electronic pets serving as the parents A and B
while the residual part is constructed by data which are irrelevant
to the parents A and B. In this case, the electronic pet serving as
the child C is a so-called mutation.
[0141] The hybridization can be performed as shown in FIG. 18.
[0142] That is, the virtual pet device 122 is designed in the same
construction as the virtual pet device 22 of FIG. 2. However, the
virtual pet device 122 is provided with two slots which are similar
to the slot 22A, and IC cards 121A and 121B for the parents A and B
respectively are mounted in the slots. In this case, in the virtual
pet device 122, the gene data of the child C can be formed from the
gene data stored in the IC cards 121A and 121B as described with
respect to FIG. 17. The gene data are stored in a memory which is
contained in the IC card 121B of the parent B or the virtual pet
device 122.
[0143] Thereafter, the IC card 121A serving as the parent A is
taken out from the slot of the virtual pet device 122, and the IC
card 121C serving as the spirit of the child C is mounted in the
slot, whereby the gene data of the child C stored in the memory
which is contained in the IC card 121B of the parent B or the
virtual pet device 122 are transferred to the IC card 121C and
stored.
[0144] Further, the hybridization may be performed as shown in FIG.
19, for example.
[0145] That is, in addition to the virtual pet device 122, a
virtual pet device 222 (however, the number of the slots of the
virtual pet device 222 may be equal to 1) which is designed in the
same construction is prepared. For example, the IC card 121A of the
parent A and the IC card 121C serving as the spirit of the child C
are mounted in the virtual pet device 122, and the IC card 121B of
the parent B is mounted in the virtual pet device 222. The virtual
pet devices 122 and 222 are connected to each other through a
prescribed communication line, and the gene data stored in the IC
card 121B of the parent B are transferred from the virtual pet
device 222 through the communication line 122 to the virtual pet
device 122. In the virtual pet device 122, the gene data of the
child C are formed from the gene data of the parent B which are
transferred from the virtual pet device 122 and the gene data of
the parent A stored in the IC card 121A as described with reference
to FIG. 17, and stored in the IC card 121C of the child C.
[0146] A new electronic pet succeeding to the features of the
parents can be born as described above.
[0147] The communication line of FIG. 19 may be of wire type or
wireless type. Further, the communication line may be a cable of
several meters, or a public line, internet, CATV (Cable Television)
network or the like.
[0148] In the above case, the hybridization is performed by using
the virtual pet device as the body portion 2, however, a pet type
robot may be used as the body portion 2.
[0149] As described above, the parameter corresponding to the
feeling of the electronic pet is contained in the internal status,
and thus an irritable electronic pet, a crybaby electronic pet,
etc. can be realized. The electronic pet can be made to take an
action added with such a feeling, and further the feeling of the
electronic pet can be changed by the action which is taken by
itself.
[0150] Specifically, for example when the anger feeling of the
electronic pet is highly strung because it is hungry, the
electronic pet can be made to take a crying action or a sleeping
action in order to suppress the excitation of the anger feeling of
the electronic pet through the action.
[0151] As a result, the electronic pet having reality can be
implemented.
[0152] Further, the internal status is stored in the IC card 21
which is detachably mounted in the virtual pet device 22 or the pet
type robot 23, and thus the user can enjoy the electronic pet so as
to match the user's circumstances.
[0153] In this embodiment, the IC card 21 is mounted in the virtual
pet device 22 or the pet type robot 23 to make it function as an
electronic pet. However, the IC card 21 may be mounted in a general
computer or the like, whereby the computer can function as an
electronic pet.
[0154] Further, in the above case, the renewal amounts A.sub.k(p,t)
and I.sub.j(p,t) and the action ignition condition can be varied as
the electronic pet grows up, that is, the time elapses. The other
gene data such as the voice continuing time, the pitch, the accent,
the color and the operation speed may be varied as the electronic
pet grows up.
[0155] Still further, in this embodiment, the present invention is
described by using an electronic pet as a target. The present
invention may be applied to other living body objects other than
the electronic pet (for example, plant objects, etc.).
[0156] Still further, in this embodiment, the gene data are stored
in the IC card. However, as the storage medium for storing the gene
data may be used other media such as a memory card, an optical
card, an magnetooptical disc, a magnetic disc, etc. which are
convenient to be carried and detachably mounted in a device.
[0157] Further, in this embodiment, the CPU 31 is made to execute
the action control processing (FIG. 11) and the learning processing
(FIG. 12). When the IC card 21 contains a processor therein, these
processing may be performed by the processor.
[0158] Still further, in this embodiment, the spirit portion 1 for
storing the gene data is detachably mounted in the body portion 2.
However, a memory which is undetachably mounted in the body portion
2 may be provided to store the gene data in the memory.
[0159] In the virtual pet device 22, the electronic pet is a
virtual being displayed on a monitor, and thus its appearance is
easily changed. However, it is difficult for the pet type robot 23
to change its appearance by itself. Accordingly, in the pet type
robot 23, gene data associated with the appearance is basically
neglected. However, for example in the case where the pet type
robot 23 is a dog type, if the tribe of the gene data is a bird,
the pet type robot 23 may be made to request to change its part to
bird's one (for example, make a request with a synthesized
voice).
* * * * *