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.

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.