Abstract: A movement determining map is stored in addition to a field display map. The field display map is a three-dimensional map for displaying a field of the video game on the image display screen. The movement determining map is a two-dimensional map in which an enterable region. An unenterable region is distinguishably provided for the characters existing in the field. A control section determines a movement route of the sub character, in which no unenterable region exists, using the movement determining map when a predetermined movement route determining condition is met. The sub character is caused to move in accordance with the determined movement route. The predetermined movement route determining condition is met every predetermined period of time or in the case where the main character moves apart from the sub character in a predetermined distance or more.

Abstract: A terminal receives service provided by a server while using any one of a group of user-names stored in the server for each user and while using a character associated with the user-name. When a character currently in use is switched to another character according to a user instruction, the terminal compares a user-name associated with the switched character with a user-name currently in use. When the compared user-name is different from the user-name currently in use, the terminal switches the user-name on the terminal side to a user-name associated with the switched character, and transmits information, indicating the user-name associated with the switched character, to the server.

Abstract: The present invention enables restriction of content of information in a message, which has been prepared by a user and is provided in an information service system for the viewing by a group of users, in accordance with a use purpose. The message information is prepared by selecting and combining words from a word group prepared in advance. The information for viewing is prepared by a game device.

Abstract: A right link of each button to be displayed on a display device is set in such a way that the position of an anchor moves through all the buttons from the left to the right. In response to an initial input of the right direction key, the position of the anchor moves from the button currently pointed to by the anchor to a button of the right link destination. In response to a continuous input of the right direction key, the position of the anchor moves to the button of the right link destination when one of buttons other than a button at the right end is currently pointed to by the anchor, but does not move when the button at the right end is currently pointed to by the anchor.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is capable of translating semantic contents of a received message and entering a schedule specified by such a message into a scheduler. A user terminal on the sending side makes a list of words or phrases in a data table and accepts the selection of such words or phrases. The user terminal sends a set of identifiers corresponding to selected words or phrases to a user terminal on the receiving side. The user terminal on the receiving side extracts a set of words or phrases corresponding to the received set of the identifiers from a data table. A display device on the receiving side displays a menu screen for accepting the entry of a schedule including the extracted words or phrases. If the user terminal on the receiving side accepts the entry of the schedule, the message displayed on the screen is entered in the scheduler.

Abstract: A movement determining map is stored in addition to a field display map. The field display map is a three-dimensional map for displaying a field of the video game on the image display screen. The movement determining map is a two-dimensional map in which an enterable region. An unenterable region is distinguishably provided for the characters existing in the field. A control section determines a movement route of the sub character, in which no unenterable region exists, using the movement determining map when a predetermined movement route determining condition is met. The sub character is caused to move in accordance with the determined movement route. The predetermined movement route determining condition is met every predetermined period of time or in the case where the main character moves apart from the sub character in a predetermined distance or more.

Abstract: When an action content command and an action target character is received, a control section and a graphics processor identify action executing standby time in accordance with a predetermined time identifying rule. The control section and the graphics processor then identify an action executable range in which a player character can execute the received action content in accordance with a predetermined range identifying rule, and determines whether or not an action target character that is a target of the received action content exists within the identified action executable range. The control section and the graphic processor execute the received action content against the action target character in the case where it is determined that the action target character exists within the action executable range when action executing standby time is clocked.

Abstract: A server properly manages user names which users use in services. Based upon communication with a user terminal, a handle name and a character are selected. The information of the selected character is stored in association with the selected user name. The character profile of the character is stored as information of each associated character. Information relating to the user is also stored, and the information relating to the user is blurred when sent to a user terminal used by another user to maintain privacy.

Abstract: Multiple characters in a video game can be displayed in a field so as to be easily distinguished, allowing the video game to proceed smoothly while maintaining realism. When an action content command and an action target character are received, a control section and a graphics processor carry out the control to display a target line for notifying the category of action in an action content specified by the action content command and a character that a player character specifies as the action target. In this way, by viewing an image in which a target line is in turn drawn from the player character to the target character, a player of the video game can quickly and easily recognize an action entity and an action target. This makes it possible to display the multiple characters in a field so as to be easily distinguished, and therefore, the video game can proceed smoothly while maintaining realism.

Abstract: A right link of each button to be displayed on a display device is set in such a way that the position of an anchor moves through all the buttons from the left to the right. In response to an initial input of the right direction key, the position of the anchor moves from the button currently pointed to by the anchor to a button of the right link destination. In response to a continuous input of the right direction key, the position of the anchor moves to the button of the right link destination when one of buttons other than a button at the right end is currently pointed to by the anchor, but does not move when the button at the right end is currently pointed to by the anchor.

Abstract: In a main area of a display device, buttons and a map display area where a map is scrolled are provided. A cursor can be moved to an arbitrary position of the main area according to directional input received from an input device. When a decision input is performed with the input device when the cursor points to each button, processing signed to the button to which the cursor points is performed. When a user inputs a direction and a special input button is not selected, the cursor is moved throughout the main area. When the user inputs a direction while the special input button is selected, the cursor is moved only within the map display area and the map is scrolled as required.

Abstract: A message exchanging method enables simple interactions between two users during message exchanges and enables one-to-one interactions to shift to interactions between three or more users. Upon receiving a message from a third person while two users are exchanging messages using a messenger, a client machine requests a server to open a chat room. The client that connects to a chat room activates a chat application using the messenger to allow the users to engage in a chat.

Abstract: In a message exchange system, a first user and a second user mutually register their handle names (HNs) to their friend lists each provided in a server. When the first user deletes the registration of HN of the second user from the first user's friend list, the first user notifies the second user of the deletion of the HN via the server to request the second user to delete the registration of the first user's HN from the second user's friend list. The HN of the first user is deleted from the second user's friend list.

Abstract: The present invention enables restriction of content of information in a message, which has been prepared by a user and is provided in an information service system for the viewing by a group of users, in accordance with a use purpose. The message information is prepared by selecting and combining words from a word group prepared in advance. The information for viewing is prepared by a game device.

Abstract: When an upper part of a cross key is operated with a controller, a cursor is moved to an object name above an initial position where the cursor was located in a list, and an icon is moved to a corresponding object in an object display area. When a lower part of the cross key is operated, the cursor is moved to an object name below the initial position, and the icon is moved to the corresponding object in the object display area. When a right part of the cross key is operated, the icon is moved to the object to the right of an initial position where the icon was in the object display area, and the cursor is moved to the corresponding object name in the list. When a left part of the cross key is operated, the icon is moved to the object to the left of the initial position in the object display area, and the cursor is moved to the corresponding object name in the list.

Abstract: Multiple shops exist in a virtual space of a game. Each shop belongs to any one of multiple unions. When a player character buys or sells a game item at any of the shops, a power point value of the union to which the shop belongs is increased according to the sales amount. The higher the power rank of the union to which the shop belongs becomes, the more the types of sellable and buyable game items are increased. The higher the power rank of the union to which the shop belongs becomes, the more cheaply the player can buy the game item and the higher the amount the player can sell the game item. The higher the power rank of the union where the shop belongs becomes, the more points that are given to a point card according to the buying or selling of the game items.

Abstract: The present invention allows users to open and join a chat by means of a simple procedure from a video game machine, the present invention includes creating an opening message for opening an electronic conference and creating an opening request signal for setting an area in a database, based on the opening message. Also included is transmitting the opening request signal to the database and creating an invitation message prompting particular users to join the electronic conference, based on the opening message. Finally, the present invention further includes transmitting the invitation signal to the particular users.

Abstract: A video game machine monitors whether a cursor is stopped at the same dot position for a certain period of time based on the execution of a window manager. When the cursor stays at the same position, which cell the cursor is in is calculated. The cursor is automatically moved to a distinct place (e.g., the center) indicating the target cell. After moving the cursor, the cursor position stored in driver software is changed to the center of the cell.

Abstract: A message exchange method can realize a chat easily in an interface with users who are on-line using a chat window. First status information of a receiving client that will receive a message is confirmed. Then, when the receiving client is connected to a message server, a sender is asked whether chat should be carried out. A chat window is displayed in accordance with a chat instruction received from the sender, and then, the message is stored in a message log, displayed on the chat window and sent to the receiving client.

Abstract: A server properly manages user names which users use in services. Based upon communication with a user terminal, a handle name and a character are selected. The information of the selected character is stored in association with the selected user name. The character profile of the character is stored as information of each associated character. Information relating to the user is also stored, and the information relating to the user is blurred when sent to a user terminal used by another user.