Patent ID: 6943794

Claim:
A communication system for performing a conversation with an actual or fictional human, animal, doll, character or the like virtualized by using a computer, comprising: a client and a server, wherein the client includes: an input portion for inputting a first message addressed from a user to the human or the like; a transmitting portion for transmitting the first message; a receiving portion for receiving a second message and facial animation of the human or the like, the second message being addressed from the human or the like to the user as a response to the first message; an output portion for outputting the second message to the user; and a display portion for displaying the facial animation, and the server includes: a storing portion for storing facial image data of the human or the like; a receiving portion for receiving the first message; a first generating portion for generating the second message in response to the reception of the first message; a second generating portion for generating motion control data for causing the facial image data to move in accordance with the second message; a third generating portion for generating the facial animation based on the motion control data and the facial image data; and a transmitting portion for transmitting the second message and the facial animation, wherein the first message inputted from the user is a voice message of the user; the second message generated in the server is a message that is established as the conversation in response to the first message inputted from the user; and the motion control data are data used for causing the facial image data to move in synchronization with a timing when a voice is outputted at the time of pronunciation of the message.