Image distribution method, image distribution server device and chat system

Abstract

An image distribution device receives, from a terminal device, a handwritten and input image including a trajectory handwritten and inputted by a first user in a state where a virtual space, in which characters of the first and a second user are present, is set as a background, to a display view of the terminal device on which the virtual space is displayed. By transmitting, to the terminal device, the received handwritten and input image as a message from the first user, the image distribution device displays the handwritten and input image on the display view of the terminal device on which the virtual space is displayed while associating the handwritten and input image with the character of the first user.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A virtual space distribution method comprising:
 receiving, by a first terminal device and a second terminal device, a shared virtual room for display, wherein a first character of a first user of the first terminal device and a second character of a second user of the second terminal device are present in the virtual room;   in response to a handwritten input being received upon a first display view of a touch panel display of the first terminal device displaying the virtual room, sending, by the first terminal device to a server, an input image corresponding to the handwritten input, the handwritten input being input directly on the virtual room displayed in the first display view when the virtual room is displayed in the first display view and the first character of the first user is present in the virtual room; and   receiving, by the second terminal device, the input image corresponding to the handwritten input for display in the virtual room, wherein
 the input image is displayed in the virtual room in positional association with the first character. 
   
     
     
         14 . The virtual space distribution method according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 a size of the input image displayed on the second terminal device changes over time.   
     
     
         15 . The virtual space distribution method according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 display of the input image on the second terminal device is ended after a predetermined time elapses.   
     
     
         16 . The virtual space distribution method according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 the first display view on the first terminal device showing the input image in the virtual room in positional association with the first character is the same as a second display view on the second terminal device showing the input image in the virtual room in positional association with the first character.   
     
     
         17 . A terminal device comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 receive a shared virtual room, that is shared by the terminal device and another terminal device, for display, wherein a first character of a first user of the other terminal device and a second character of a second user of the terminal device are present in the virtual room; and 
 in response to a handwritten input being received upon a first display view of a touch panel display of the other terminal device displaying the virtual room, receive an input image corresponding to the handwritten input to the other terminal device for display, the handwritten input being input directly on the virtual room displayed in the first display view when the virtual room is displayed in the first display view and the first character of the first user is present in the virtual room, wherein 
 the input image is displayed in the virtual room in positional association with the first character. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The terminal device according to  claim 17 , wherein 
 a size of the input image displayed on the terminal device changes over time.   
     
     
         19 . The terminal device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 display of the input image on the terminal device is ended after a predetermined time elapses.   
     
     
         20 . The terminal device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the first display view on the other terminal device showing the input image in the virtual room in positional association with the first character is the same as a second display view on the terminal device showing the input image in the virtual room in positional association with the first character.   
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a server;   a first terminal device; and   a second terminal device, wherein 
 the first terminal device and the second terminal device are configured to receive, from the server, a shared virtual room for display, a first character of a first user of the first terminal device and a second character of a second user of the second terminal device being present in the virtual room, 
 in response to a handwritten input being received upon a first display view of a touch panel display of the first terminal device displaying the virtual room, the first terminal device is configured to send to a server an input image corresponding to the handwritten input, the handwritten input being input directly on the virtual room displayed in the first display view when the virtual room is displayed in the first display view and the first character of the first user is present in the virtual room, 
 the second terminal device is configured to receive, from the server, the input image corresponding to the handwritten input for display in the virtual room, and 
 the input image is displayed in the virtual room in positional association with the first character. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 a size of the input image displayed on the second terminal device changes over time.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 display of the input image on the second terminal device is ended after a predetermined time elapses.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 the first display view on the first terminal device showing the input image in the virtual room in positional association with the first character is the same as a second display view on the second terminal device showing the input image in the virtual room in positional association with the first character.   
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the server is configured to determine a third terminal device, among a plurality of terminal devices displaying a plurality of virtual rooms, to which to send the input image corresponding to the handwritten input for display, and   the server determines the third terminal device based on information of the first user.   
     
     
         26 . The virtual space distribution method according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 an input indicator is displayed in the shared virtual room during the handwritten input.   
     
     
         27 . The virtual space distribution method according to  claim 26 , wherein 
 the input indicator is displayed adjacent to the first character of the first user that is making the handwritten input.   
     
     
         28 . The virtual space distribution method according to  claim 26 , wherein
 the input indicator is displayed in response to an input start operation by the first user.   
     
     
         29 . The terminal device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 an input indicator is displayed in the shared virtual room during the handwritten input.   
     
     
         30 . The terminal device according to  claim 29 , wherein
 the input indicator is displayed adjacent to the first character of the first user that is making the handwritten input.   
     
     
         31 . The terminal device according to  claim 29 , wherein 
 the input indicator is displayed in response to an input start operation by the first user.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 an input indicator is displayed in the shared virtual room during the handwritten input.