Information processing apparatus, information processing method, service providing system, and computer program thereof

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for exchanging information with other information processing apparatuses over a network, said method comprising:

• a first recording control step for controlling the recording of information relating to said community composed of said plurality of users;
• a second recording control step for controlling the recording of information relating to said plurality of users;
• a first generation step for generating a first set of information corresponding to a virtual space utilizable by a plurality of said users using other said information processing apparatuses;
• a second generation step for generating a second set of information corresponding to information on a table showing said community participated in by said first user, from information relating to a plurality of said users whose recording is controlled by the processing in said second recording control step;
• an output control step for controlling the output to said other information processing apparatuses, of said first set of information generated by processing in said first generation step, and said second set of information generated by processing in said second generation step;
• an input control step for controlling the input from said other information processing apparatuses, of a fourth set of information showing the operation by a said first user for giving a third set of information showing a specified community to a second user, from among said second set of information generated by said second generation means, within said virtual space generated by the processing in said first generation step, wherein
• said first recording control step controls the recording of information relating to said community shown by said third set of information, on the basis of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by said input control means and,
• said second recording control step controls the recording of information relating to said first user and said second user, on the basis of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by the processing in said input control step.

An information processing computer program for exchanging information with other information processing apparatuses over a network, said computer program comprising:

• a first recording control step for controlling the recording of information relating to said community composed of said plurality of users;
• a second recording control step for controlling the recording of information relating to said plurality of users;
• a first generation step for generating a first set of information corresponding to a virtual space utilizable by a plurality of said users using other said information processing apparatuses;
• a second generation step for generating a second set of information corresponding to information on a table showing said community participated in by said first user, from information relating to a plurality of said users whose recording is controlled by the processing in said second recording control step;
• an output control step for controlling the output to said other information processing apparatuses, of said first set of information generated by processing in said first generation step, and said second set of information generated by processing in said second generation step;
• and
• an input control step for controlling the input from said other information processing apparatuses, of a fourth set of information showing the operation by a said first user for giving a third set of information showing a specified community to a second user, from among said second set of information generated by said second generation means, within said virtual space generated by the processing in said first generation step;
• wherein
• said first recording control step controls the recording of information relating to said community shown by said third set of information, on the basis of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by said input control means, and
• said second recording control step controls the recording of information relating to said first user and said second user, on the basis of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by the processing in said input control step.

A service providing system which comprises a first information processing apparatus for exchanging information with other information processing apparatuses over a network, and a second information processing apparatus possessed by a user,

• said first information processing apparatus comprising:
• first record control means for controlling the recording of information relating to a community composed of a plurality of users;
• second record control means for controlling the recording of information relating to said plurality of users;
• first generation means for generating a first set of information corresponding to a virtual space capable of being utilized by said plurality of users using said other information processing apparatuses;
• second generation means for generating a second set of information corresponding to an information list showing said community a first user participates in, from information relating to said plurality of users with recording controlled by said second generation means;
• first output control means for controlling the output to said second set of information processing apparatus, of said first set of information generated from said first generation means, and said second set of information generated by said second generation means;
• first input control means for controlling the input from said second set of information processing apparatus, of a fourth set of information showing the operation by said first user for giving a third set of information showing a specified community to a second user, from among a second set of information generated by said second generation means, within said virtual space generated by said first generation means;
• wherein
• said first record control means controls the recording of information relating to said community shown by said third set of information, on the basis of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by said first input control means, and
• said second record control means controls the recording of information relating to said first user and said second user, on the basis of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by said first input control means, and
• said second information processing apparatus comprising:
• second input control means for controlling the input of said first set of information and said second set of information with outputs controlled by said first output control means;
• display control means for controlling the display of said first set of information and said second set of information with outputs controlled by said second input control means;
• third input control means for controlling the input of said fourth set of information showing the operation for supplying to said second user said third set of information showing a specified community from among said second set of information within said virtual space showing said first set of information, and said third set of information was supplied by said first user after referring to said first set of information and said second set of information whose display is controlled by said display control means;
• and
• second output control means for controlling the output to said first set of information processing apparatus, of said fourth set of information with inputs controlled by said third input control means.