U.S. patent application number 09/808119 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for method of breeding robot pet using on-line and off-line systems simultaneously.
Invention is credited to Rheey, Jin Sung.
Application Number | 20020094851 09/808119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19704675 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020094851 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rheey, Jin Sung |
July 18, 2002 |
Method of breeding robot pet using on-line and off-line systems
simultaneously
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of breeding robot pet
using on-line and off-line systems simultaneously, in which digital
food, ampule, or game data are downloaded from the game server
through the Internet for breeding a robot pet, playing games using
a robot pet, and mating a robot pet. A user who owns a robot pet
can access to the game server of breeding robot pet of the present
invention through the Internet using a user terminal such as
personal computer and then download food, ampule for curing
sickness, games playable using the robot pet, songs, etc. from the
game server through the user terminal. The robot pet grows older
with time if the robot pet is timely supplied with a predetermined
amount of food With increase of its age, the robot pet would serve
a better function and can download new and age-limited games. The
game server further provides a community service which enables the
owners of robot pet to exchange information with each other.
Inventors: |
Rheey, Jin Sung; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
19704675 |
Appl. No.: |
09/808119 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/1 ;
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/335 20140902;
A63F 13/87 20140902; A63F 13/825 20140902; A63F 13/537 20140902;
A63F 13/533 20140902; A63F 2300/552 20130101; A63F 13/355 20140902;
A63F 13/795 20140902; A63F 13/95 20140902; A63F 13/58 20140902;
G16Z 99/00 20190201; A63H 11/00 20130101; A63F 13/792 20140902;
A63F 13/75 20140902; A63F 2300/407 20130101; A63F 2300/8058
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/1 ;
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 2001 |
KR |
01-2340 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of breeding robot pet using a robot pet comprising a
data interface for data communication with external devices and a
memory in which the data and program about growth and behavior can
be stored, an Internet compatible user terminal which allows
communication with said robot pet; and a game server of breeding
robot pet which is accessible through the Internet using said user
terminal and allows specific data which is relevant to breeding
robot pet to be transmitted to said robot pet through the Internet
and said user terminal, the method comprising the steps of a)
accessing said game server using said user terminal, b)
initializing said robot pet by transmitting initialization data
from said game server to said robot pet through said user terminal;
c) requesting download of data for breeding robot pet from said
game server using said user terminal, d) transmitting said
requested data from said game server to said robot pet via said
user terminal; and, e) activating said robot pet's specific
function associated with said data, in compliance with the receipt
of said data.
2. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said data for breeding robot pet are food data and said
robot pet's power which enables said robot pet to remain vitalized
is increased by a predetermined amount by receiving said food
data.
3. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said data for breeding robot pet are ampule data for curing
disease of said robot pet and the affected state of said robot pet
is removed by receiving said ampule data.
4. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said data for breeding robot pet are game data which allow
said robot pet to carry out specific games and said robot pet's
specific functions associated with said game data are activated by
receiving said game data.
5. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the digital data are transmitted by the way that a specific
area in the display part of said user terminal is made to blink
with a predetermined brightness and said robot pet can recognize
said digital data in said step d).
6. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 1,
wherein a certain rate of commission is charged for the
transmission of data in said step d).
7. A method of breeding robot pet using a robot pet comprising a
data interface for data communication with external devices and a
memory in which the data and pro-ram about growth and behavior can
be stored; an Internet compatible user terminal which allows
communication with robot pet, a game server of breeding robot pet
which is accessible through the Internet using said user terminal
and allows specific data which is relevant to breeding robot pet to
be transmitted to said robot pet through the Internet and said user
terminal, and, a database which is linked to said game server and
stores information of said robot pet, said information including
said robot pet's age and power which indicates the state of said
robot pet, wherein said specific data are food data which enable
said robot pet to remain vitalized and ampule data which can cure
disease of said robot pet, the method comprising the steps of: a)
said game server varies the power of said robot pet at every
transmission of said food or ampule data by making said power be a
function whose parameters are frequencies of transmission of said
food and ampule data, and then stores the varied value of power in
said database, and, b) said game server increases the age of said
robot pet and stores the increased age in said database if said
power value of robot pet is not less than a predetermined
value.
8. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 7, which
further comprises a step following said step b), wherein said
increased value of age is transmitted from said game server to said
robot pet.
9. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 7,
wherein said database stores the latest time of transmission of
food data, the method further comprising a step following said step
a), wherein said game server varies the power of said robot pet at
every transmission of food data by making said power be a function
whose parameter is the time difference between the current time and
said latest time of transmission of food data, and then stores the
varied value of power in said database.
10. A method of breeding robot pet using a robot pet comprising a
data interface for data communication with external devices and a
memory in which the data and program about growth and behavior can
be stored; an Internet compatible user terminal which allows
communication with robot pet, a game server of breeding robot pet
which is accessible through the Internet using said user terminal
and allows specific data associated with the functions of said
robot pet to be transmitted to said robot pet through the Internet
and said user terminal, and, a database which is linked to said
game server and stores information of said robot pet including age
and sexuality, wherein said specific data associated with the
functions of said robot pet are game data which allow said robot
pet to carry out a specific game, and said game data include such
information as the age and/or sexuality permitted for carrying out
said game, the method comprising the steps of a) requesting
download of said game data after having accessed said game server
using said user terminal; b) comparing the information of the
permitted age and/or sexuality involved in said requested game data
with the information of said robot pet's age and/or sexuality
stored in said database; c) transmitting said game data from said
game server to said robot pet through said user terminal if said
information of robot pet's age and/or sexuality meets conditions
from said information of the permitted age and/or sexuality as a
result of said comparison; and, d) activating specific functions of
said robot pet which are associated with said game data, in
compliance with the receipt of said game data.
11. The method of breeding robot pet as set forth in claim 10,
further comprising a step of displaying a message that said game
data cannot be downloaded through said user terminal if said
information of robot pet's age and/or sexuality does not meet
conditions from said information of the permitted age and/or
sexuality as a result of said comparison.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of breeding a
robot pet using on-line and off-line systems simultaneously
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In recent years, games in which a digital pet is bred up
like a real pet have been developed. A game called `Tamagotchi` is
one of the front-runners, which is a digital pet housed in a game
machine and supposed to be raised by its owner, who should feed it
well and play with it as if breeding a real pet Tamagotchi makes
responses as a real pet does in various situations and has
functions in which it might fall sick or even die if it is not
carefully looked after.
[0005] Following Tamagotchi, such games in which a digital pet is
raised not on a game machine but on the Internet have been
developed To elaborate, users raise a digital pet like a real pet
after having made the digital pet in a specific site on the
Internet. In such games, multiple users each raise a digital pet in
the same site on the Internet, so that the users can play games
with their pets or make their pets run a race with other pets.
[0006] Further, the lately-developed Digimon which is a game of
breeding cyber character using a game machine is similar to
Tamagotchi in the light of breeding a cyber character using a game
machine However, Digimon is equipped with an additional function in
which a battle game or the like can be played between two cyber
characters using two game machines
[0007] The present invention has been conceived by considering the
above, the object of which is to provide a method of breeding robot
pet using on-line and off-line systems simultaneously
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
method of breeding robot pet in which a variety of functions can be
added continuously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a method of breeding robot
pet using on-line and off-line systems simultaneously, wherein
digital food, ampule, or game data are downloaded from the game
server through the Internet for breeding a robot pet, playing games
using a robot pet, and mating a robot pet.
[0010] The method of breeding robot pet according to the present
invention uses a robot pet comprising a data interface for
communication of data with external devices and a memory in which
the data and program about growth and behavior can be stored, an
Internet compatible user terminal which allows communication with
robot pet; and, a game server of breeding robot pet which is
accessible through the Internet using the user terminal and allows
specific data which is relevant to breeding robot pet to be
transmitted to the robot pet through the Internet and the user
terminal. The method comprises the step of accessing the game
server using a user terminal; the step of initializing the robot
pet by transmitting initialization data from the game server to the
robot pet through the user terminal; the step of requesting
download of data for breeding robot pet from the game server using
the user terminal; the step of transmitting the requested data from
the game server to the robot pet via the user terminal; and the
step of activating the robot pet's specific functions associated
with the data, in compliance with the receipt of the data.
[0011] Here, the data for breeding robot pet can be the robot pet's
food data and the power of robot pet which keeps the robot pet
being vitalized can be increased by a predetermined amount by
receiving the food data. Further, the data for breeding robot pet
can be the ampule data for curing sickness of robot pet and the
affected state of robot pet can be removed by receiving the ampule
data Still further, the data for breeding robot pet can be the game
data which allow the robot pet to carry out a specific game and the
functions of robot pet associated with the game data can be
activated by receiving the game data.
[0012] In the step of transmitting data for breeding robot pet from
the game server to the robot pet, it is preferred that the digital
data are transmitted by the way that a specific area in the display
part of user terminal is made to blink with a predetermined
brightness and the robot pet recognize the digital data by sensing
the blinking.
[0013] Further, in the step of transmitting data for breeding robot
pet from the game server to the robot pet, a certain rate of
commission can be charged for the transmission of data.
[0014] Another method of breeding robot pet according to the
present invention uses a robot pet comprising a data interface for
data communication with external devices and a memory in which the
data and program about growth and behavior can be stored, an
Internet compatible user terminal which allows communication with
robot pet; a game server of breeding robot pet which is accessible
through the Internet using the user terminal and allows specific
data which is relevant to breeding robot pet to be transmitted to
the robot pet through the Internet and the user terminal; and, a
database which is linked to the game server and stores information
of the robot pet, the information including the robot pet's age and
power which indicates the state of the robot pet The specific data
imply food data which keep the robot pet vitalized and ampule data
which heal disease of the robot pet And, the method comprises the
step of varying the power of the robot pet at every transmission of
food or ampule data by letting the power be a function whose
parameters are frequencies of transmission of food and ampule data
and then storing the varied value of power in the database, and,
the step of increasing age of the robot pet if the power value of
the robot pet is not less than a predetermined one and then storing
the increased age in the database
[0015] Here, the method can further comprise a step wherein the
game server transmits the increased age to the robot pet after
storing the age in the database
[0016] Furthermore, the database stores the latest time when the
food data have been transmitted, so that, after the step of varying
the power of the robot pet and storing the varied value of power in
the database, a further step can be included wherein the game
server varies the power of robot pet at every transmission of food
data, by letting the power be a function whose parameter is the
time difference between the current time and the latest time of
food transmission, and then stores the varied value of power in the
database.
[0017] Another method of breeding robot pet according to the
present invention uses a robot pet comprising a data interface for
communication of data with external devices and a memory in which
the data and program about growth and behavior can be stored; an
Internet compatible user terminal which allows communication with
robot pet; a game server of breeding robot pet which is accessible
through the Internet using the user terminal and allows specific
data associated with the functions of the robot pet to be
transmitted to the robot pet through the Internet and the user
terminal, and, a database which is linked to the game server and
stores information of the robot pet including age and sexuality of
the robot pet. The specific data associated with the functions of
robot pet imply game data which allow the robot pet to carry out a
specific game and the game data include such information as the age
and/or sexuality which is permitted for playing a specific game.
And, the method comprises the step of accessing the game server
using the user terminal and then requesting download of game data;
the step of comparing the information of the permitted age and/or
sexuality involved in the requested game data with the information
of the robot pet's age and/or sexuality stored in the database; the
step of transmitting game data from the game server to the robot
pet through the user terminal if the information of robot pet's age
and/or sexuality meets conditions from the information of the
permitted age and/or sexuality, and the step of activating specific
functions of the robot pet which are associated with the game data,
in compliance with the receipt of the game data
[0018] Here, the method can further comprise a step wherein a
message implying that the requested game data cannot be downloaded
is displayed through the user terminal if the information of the
robot pet's age and/or sexuality does not meet conditions from the
information of the permitted age and/or sexuality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows overall network connection of the system for
embodying the method according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating hardware construction
of the robot pet according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an example of initial screen which is provided to
the user in the game service according to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention
[0022] FIG. 4 is an example of download screen which is provided to
the user in the game service according to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention
[0023] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the process of growth of
robot pet in the method according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the process in which the
age-limited and the sex-limited games are downloaded in the method
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention
[0025] FIG. 7 is an exemplified screen of the community service
which is provided to users in the game service according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Below, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in detail, making reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows overall network connection of the system for
embodying the method of breeding robot pet in the preferred
embodiment according to the present invention.
[0028] The system for breeding robot pet according to the present
invention comprises game server 300 which provides a game service
of breeding robot pet and database 400 which stores information of
each robot pet. A user can access to game server 300 through the
Internet 500 using his terminal 200 Such user terminal 200 as is
capable of accessing game server 300 may include a personal
computer, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), mobile phone, etc The
user can make his robot pet 100 communicate with game server 300
through his terminal 200.
[0029] Now, a description of construction of robot pet 100 will be
given in detail, referring to FIG. 2 First, robot pet 100 comprises
a data communication interface 180 for data communication with game
server 300. A variety of means can be used for data communication
interface 180, including infrared communication interface,
acousticcoupled communication interface, wireless communication
interface such as Blue tooth, wired communication interface such as
RS-232C or USB which uses a wired connection means, and a
communication interface using light sense Game server 300 can be
accessible through user terminal 200 such as computer, cellular
telephone, PDA, etc. which is connectable to the Internet by using
the above means
[0030] Further, without using computer, cellular telephone, PDA,
etc, a communication means such as modem, LAN interface, etc. can
be provided to robot pet 100 so as to directly access to game
server 300 through the Internet.
[0031] In case of using an infrared communication interface,
wireless communication interface or the like, the infrared
communication interface, wireless communication interface, etc.
should be pre-provided to user terminal 200 which is computer,
cellular telephone, PDA, etc. Then, a user can make transmission
and reception of data between his terminal 200 and robot pet 100
via data communication interface 180 after having accessed to game
server 300 through the Internet using his terminal 200 The user can
further make data communication with game server 300 using his
terminal 200 in the Internet environment.
[0032] Robot pet 100 further comprises a memory 190 for storing
various programs, ID of robot pet 100, current power of robot pet
100, etc Such memory 190 may include a nonvolatile memory such as
ROM (Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable
ROM), flash memory, etc and a volatile memory such as DRAM (Dynamic
Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), etc.
Further, CD-ROM or magnetic memory device can be used as a
subordinate memory device.
[0033] Further, robot pet 100 is provided with a motor driving part
120, which enables robot pet 100 to move back and forth, left and
right. Infrared generating and sensing part 130 is used for robot
pet 100 to avoid impact by sensing objects automatically while
moving or to move where it intends to go. In case that it is
unnecessary to sense objects automatically for modification of the
racing track, Infrared generating and sensing part 130 is not
provided.
[0034] Sound sensing part 140 is provided so as for robot pet 100
to detect sounds and to make a response consistent therewith. For
example, robot pet 100 can be made to move or to stop when a person
claps. Further, if sound sensing part 140 is provided together with
the function of voice recognition, it is possible to make robot pet
100 respond to a human command
[0035] Mode setting part 150 is used for setting a behavior mode of
robot pet 100. For example, robot pet 100 can be made to play a
competition game with another robot pet by setting a competition
game mode, or can be made to play about by itself by setting an
exercise mode. Mode setting part 150 can be embodied by using a
typical button, a touch-screen with display part 160, or an
infrared-employing remote controller, but its embodiment is not
limited to a specific method.
[0036] Display part 160 shows the state of robot pet 100 by using
LED (Light Emitting Diode) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc. or
sends user a message which is helpful to user with respect to using
functions of robot pet 100 Further, display part 160 can also be
used when the user wants to chat with robot pet 100.
[0037] Sound generating part 170 is used for robot pet 100 to send
a message to its user. For example, when robot pet 100 is hungry,
it begins whining or it will sing a song when happy. Sound
generating part 170 comprises a sound generating device such as
buzzer, piezo device, speaker, etc and a sound source device such
as melody IC, etc
[0038] Control part 110 is preprogrammed to control each of the
parts of robot pet 100 Control part 110 can be embodied by software
using microprocessor or by hardware using logic device.
[0039] Robot pet 100 grows and behaves by receiving food or ampule
from game server 300. In addition, game server 300 stores a variety
of games which are playable using robot pet 100 and the user can
play such games by downloading the games to his robot pet 100
through his terminal 200 after having accessed game server 300
using his terminal 200. There are ball-rolling, pushing, racing,
etc which can be played using robot pet 100. Further, game server
300 can establish additional behaviors of robot pet 100 or
permissible ranges of games depending on age or power, by using
such information which are stored in database 400 as the age or the
power of robot pet 100.
[0040] Such information as stored in database 400 may further
comprise the information of user who is the owner of robot pet or
the detailed information of robot pet, etc. including the
above-mentioned information Personal information such as user ID,
password, name, identification card number, address, e-mail
address, telephone number, etc may be included in the information
of user As for the detailed information of robot pet, such
information as serial no. (product no ) of robot pet, ID, age,
sexuality, name, power, time of the latest download of food/ampule,
games or songs housed in robot pet, etc. may be included.
[0041] Now, the process of breeding robot pet and of playing games
with robot pet using the method pursuant to the present invention
will be described in detail below
[0042] First, a user who owns robot pet registers himself as a
member after having accessed the game server which provides the
method as per the present invention. The robot pet has a
predetermined amount of food therein at the time of purchase
However, the robot pet should obtain the necessary food by
downloading it from the game server because it consumes food as it
behaves. Accordingly, in order to make his robot pet grow
continuously and to enjoy off-line games using his robot pet, the
user should download the necessary food data or other data from the
game server, for which, the user should first register himself as a
member after having accessed the game server. Then, he can use such
download service. On the other hand, it is common that owners of
real pet organize a circle, in which they exchange information of
their pets or make their pets have a mate. Likewise, the present
invention can provide a community service in which the owners of
robot pet can meet together to exchange information. For the
community service, members-only system is an indispensable
requirement.
[0043] In order to join in, a user should first register his user
ID and a password and then register his robot pet. If a user who
owns plural robot pets wishes to join, he may have two user IDs, or
join with one user ID and then register plural robot pets. In case
of choosing the former method, one user ID corresponds to one robot
pet, so that the robot pets can be identified by using the user
IDs
[0044] It is also possible to employ a method such as to make
pre-registration not obligatory on users and allow non-members to
download necessary data, while at the same time providing
additional service such as community service for members. In this
case, the game server only stores the information of robot pet
using serial no. (product no.) of each robot pet or its ID, with no
storage of user information.
[0045] An exemplified initial screen of service which briefly shows
functions provided by the game server according to the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 As can be seen in FIG. 3,
`register` menu 310 and `how to use` menu 320 are provided, and
also, 'shopping menu 330 is provided so that a user can access the
game server for online purchase of robot pet or its peripheral
devices (game tools, etc.) The most important function that can be
provided by the game server is `download` 340 service, of which a
detailed description will be given below. A `community` menu 350 is
also provided for community activities as aforementioned
[0046] After having registered himself as a member by accessing the
game server, a user can download food, ampule, or games from the
game server.
[0047] An exemplified screen provided to user when he selects
`download` 340 menu in FIG. 3, is illustrated in FIG. 4. First, the
robot pet should be initialized prior to the first download The
initialization can be carried out by clicking `initialization`
button 410 provided in a screen as in FIG. 4. When clicking the
button, robot pet 100 and game server 300 communicate with each
other through user terminal 200 and game server 300 receives
information of robot pet 100 and stores them in database 400. Then,
game server establishes an environment in which robot pet 100 can
download food or games, etc. In addition to the first
initialization, further initialization should be carried out in a
case where the specification of user terminal 200 is changed or the
communication method is changed between user terminal 200 and robot
pet 100
[0048] Once the download environment has been established by
completion of initialization, the user can download food or games
to his robot pet. If the desired item is clicked in FIG. 4, the
selected item is to be ready for download.
[0049] It is feasible to prevent the selected item from being
downloaded in case that the robot pet cannot accommodate the item.
For example, the amount of food that a robot pet can possess at a
time is limited. Hence, no more food can be downloaded in a state
that the robot pet already has the maximum amount of food As to
songs, the songs that are already stored in the robot pet can be
prevented from being downloaded since such songs are unnecessary to
download. As for games, some games can be prevented from
downloading depending on age of robot pet since games can be
provided in a limitative manner depending on age of robot pet
Ampules may be downloaded only when the robot pet has caught a
disease (for example, when a robot pet has become sick with no food
provided).
[0050] Such restrictions with downloading as aforementioned can be
placed after finding out about the state of robot pet by
communicating with the robot pet Or else, the restrictions can be
placed on the part of recipient, to wit, on the part of the robot
pet after the game server transmits the requested data to the robot
pet with no restriction
[0051] Among the download items in FIG. 4, "Love Diti" item
provides a mating service for the robot pets of different sexuality
with each other.
[0052] On the other hand, a predetermined rate of commission can be
charged for each download item whenever the food, ampule, new
functions, songs, etc are requested for download.
[0053] As described above, a user accesses the game server to
initialize, raise, and cure his robot pet and to enjoy
online/offline games using his robot pet by downloading the
necessary items. Since the robot pet consumes food as it behaves,
the user should access the game server and download the food
whenever needed. Further, the game server continues to register new
games or songs and then provides them to users, so that their robot
pets can continuously be equipped with additional functions.
[0054] Further, a robot pet can grow through care administered to
the robot pet by its caretaker such as feeding, playing, etc. Now,
the growth algorithm of robot pet will be described below A robot
pet can have its own growth algorithm in which it grows
automatically using hardware or software housed therein. However,
it is preferred that the game server controls the growth of robot
pet using the information of robot pet. Below, a description of the
latter will be given
[0055] A flow chart showing growth of robot pet is illustrated in
FIG. 5 Robot pets can grow in various manners, but basically, the
growth of robot pet is associated with the amount of food
downloaded If a robot pet is not fed in a timely manner, it will
catch a disease. Once affected by a disease, the robot pet should
first be cured using ampule prior to being fed. As such, growth of
robot pet is further associated with the amount of ampule
downloaded. To elaborate, the age of robot pet can be controlled by
such a method wherein the power of robot pet which is the function
of the downloaded amount of food and ampule is first set, and then,
whenever the power reaches a predetermined value k, the age of
robot pet is increased; here, if food is successfully downloaded,
the power is increased by a predetermined amount .DELTA.n, and if
ampule is downloaded, the power is decreased by a predetermined
amount .DELTA.m.
[0056] As seen in FIG. 5, a user initializes (S520) his robot pet
as the need arises after having accessed (S510) the game server and
then downloads (S530) food Here, if the food is successfully
downloaded, a predetermined amount .DELTA.n is added (S540) to the
power `Successful download of food` means that the food is
downloaded to the robot pet in a timely manner Namely, the power
will not be increased despite the download of food if the robot pet
already has the maximum amount of food or it cannot eat food due to
sickness.
[0057] Next, if the user succeeds (S550) in downloading ampule, a
predetermined amount .DELTA.m is subtracted (S560) from the power.
Here, the subtracted amount .DELTA.m is preferred to be larger than
the added amount .DELTA.n. The same rule is applied to the case of
ampule download, so that the power value is decreased only when the
ampule is successfully downloaded. That is, the downloading of
ampule is basically impossible, or, if ever done, cannot decrease
the power if the robot pet is in good state of health.
[0058] Then, the modified value of power is compared (S570) with
the predetermined value k which is the requirement for increasing
the age As a result of comparison, if the power value is not less
than the predetermined value k, the age of robot pet is increased
(S580) by one year; otherwise, the former steps are repeatedly
taken
[0059] In case that the age is increased, the robot pet can be made
to behave a specific motion consistent with the increase of age.
While at the same time increasing the age by one year, the game
server transmits the result of such increase to the robot pet for
modifying the age inside the robot pet and making it sing a
birthday song or dance for joy, etc.
[0060] Further, with respect to making robot pet grow, it is
desirable that the more the interaction occurs between the robot
pet and its caretaker, the faster the robot pet grows. Therefore,
in addition to the amount of food download, the time interval of
food download can be used as a parameter for increasing the age of
robot pet To do this, the game server stores the latest time of
food download for each robot pet and counts the time interval to
the next download In this regard, however, since robot pets consume
their food as their operation, a frequently-behaving robot pet, to
wit, the robot pet whose caretaker plays with it frequently,
consumes larger amount of food, and accordingly, the time interval
of food download should naturally shorten in comparison with such
robot pet as neglected by its caretaker and rarely behaving
Therefore, a robot pet in a good deal of behavior has a shorter
length of time than a robot pet in no behavior Here, the length of
time indicates such time as taken to reach a predetermined value of
power after same amount of food has been downloaded. Accordingly,
although the growth of robot pet is controlled only by using the
frequencies of food and ampule download as aforementioned, it is
appreciated that the growth of robot pet so controlled reflects the
interaction of robot pet with its caretaker.
[0061] Further, the game server provides a variety of
online/offline games playable using robot pet, some of which are
provided in a limitative manner depending on age or sexuality of
robot pet. To elaborate, a robot pet comes to behave more agilely
and improve its capability of accommodating inputs from outside as
it grows older, so that there should be provided such games as
cannot be played till the robot pet reaches a certain level of
capability. Especially, the games with respect to mating should not
be made usable before the robot pet reaches a certain age.
Furthermore, robot pets can be made to use different programs
depending on their sexuality A description of method in which
download of game is restricted or allowed will be given below. A
flow chart of this method is illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0062] First, as in the conventional method of downloading, a user
initializes (S620) his robot pet if necessary after having accessed
(S610) the game server Next, the user requests (S630) download of
games using his terminal, and the game server checks (S640) if
there is age limit or sex limit involved in the requested games If
there is any limitation, the game server confirms (S650) the age
and sexuality of the robot pet whose owner requested download of
games, referring to the database. As a result of confirmation, if
the robot pet is qualified to download the games, the game server
allows (S660) download of the games Otherwise, the game server
sends (S670) a message to the effect that the requested games
cannot be downloaded (for example, "This game is not allowed to a
pet under age 3." Or "This game is available only to female
Titis.", etc.).
[0063] In a case where the age or sexuality of robot pet is not
stored in the database, the game server can do the same way as
aforementioned, after finding out the age and sexuality of robot
pet by communicating with the robot pet
[0064] Further, the game server of the present invention can
provide a community service in which the owners of robot pet can
exchange information of their pets or make them mate with other
pets
[0065] The community service is available to members of the game
server of the present invention The services provided through
community may encompass news 710, finding a friend 720, finding a
mate 730, note 740 and chatting 750, etc, as illustrated in FIG.
7.
[0066] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended
claims
[0067] So far as has been described, according to the present
invention, a user can online download food or games, etc, breed an
offline robot pet, and play games using the robot pet, whereby the
interest of users can be stimulated and the continuous provision of
new games and functions is possible.
[0068] Further, the profit of the service provider can be secured
by carrying an advertisement, etc, since the growth of robot pet
should indispensably involve online access to the game server
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