U.S. patent application number 11/210784 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for information presentation apparatus and information processing method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Fujiki, Masakazu, Kobayashi, Toshihiro.
Application Number | 20050280661 11/210784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31943075 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050280661 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kobayashi, Toshihiro ; et
al. |
December 22, 2005 |
Information presentation apparatus and information processing
method thereof
Abstract
An information presentation apparatus comprises an input unit, a
measurement unit to measure a user's viewpoint position and pose, a
model data storage unit to store virtual world model data, real
world model data, and data necessary to generate a virtual world
image, an annotation data storage unit to store data added to real
and virtual worlds and displayed, a generation unit to generate an
image of the virtual world by using information in the measurement
unit, the model data storage unit and the annotation data storage
unit, a user viewpoint image input unit to capture a real-world
image viewed from the user's viewpoint, and an image display unit
to display an image obtained by synthesizing the image from the
generation unit and the image from the user viewpoint image input
unit or the image from the user viewpoint image input unit, on a
user's image display.
Inventors: |
Kobayashi, Toshihiro;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Fujiki, Masakazu; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
31943075 |
Appl. No.: |
11/210784 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11210784 |
Aug 25, 2005 |
|
|
|
10626590 |
Jul 25, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T 15/20 20130101;
G06T 19/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/633 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00; G06T
015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2002 |
JP |
223279-2002 |
Claims
1. An information presentation apparatus comprising: user operation
input unit, adapted to input an operation of a user; user viewpoint
position and orientation measurement unit, adapted to measure a
position and orientation of a user's viewpoint; input unit, adapted
to input viewpoint position and orientation information of an other
user; model data storage unit, adapted to store virtual world model
data; annotation data storage unit, adapted to store annotation
data; virtual image generation unit, adapted to generate a virtual
world image by using measured results of the position and the
orientation of the user's viewpoint; annotation image generation
unit, adapted to generate an annotation image from the annotation
data, based on position and orientation information of the user and
the viewpoint position and orientation information of the other
user; user viewpoint image input unit, adapted to capture an image
of the real world viewed from the user's viewpoint; composite unit,
adapted to composite the image of the real world, the virtual world
image and the annotation image; and image display unit, adapted to
display a composite image acquired by said composite unit.
2. (canceled)
3. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said input unit inputs, in addition to the viewpoint
position and orientation information of the other user,
identification information of the other user and operation
information of the other user.
4. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the virtual world model data includes three-dimensional
coordinates of vertices of a polygon of a virtual computer graphics
(CG) object arranged in the virtual world, structure information of
faces of the polygon, discrimination information of the CG object,
color information, texture information, a size of the CG object,
and position and pose information indicating the arrangement of the
CG object on the virtual world.
5. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said model data storage unit stores real world model data,
and the real world model data includes three-dimensional
coordinates of vertices of a polygon of an object existing in the
real world merged with the virtual world, structure information of
faces of the polygon, discrimination information of the object, a
size of the object, and position and pose information indicating
the arrangement of the object.
6-7. (canceled)
8. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the annotation data includes position and pose information
of an object, discrimination information of the object, and text,
symbol and image information for indicating information of the
object.
9-11. (canceled)
12. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the annotation is text, symbols or images.
13. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit recognizes a target
object according to the operation of a user, and generates an
annotation concerning the recognized target object.
14. (canceled)
15. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit generates, when a
target object of the other user is outside a visual range of the
user, an annotation indicating a direction of the target.
16. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit generates an
annotation for discriminating a target object of the other
user.
17. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit generates an
annotation for indicating the other user.
18. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit has a function
capable of controlling a generated annotation, by the users
operation input to said user operation input unit.
19. (canceled)
20. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit generates, when the
other user is outside a visual range of the user, an annotation
indicating a direction of the other user.
21. An information presentation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said annotation image generation unit generates an
annotation for discriminating the other user.
22. An information processing method comprising the steps of:
inputting viewpoint information of a user; generating a virtual
world image according to the viewpoint information, by using
previously held virtual world data; inputting viewpoint information
of an other user; generating an annotation concerning an attention
target based on the viewpoint information of the user and the
viewpoint information of the other user; and generating an image
obtained by synthesizing an image of a real world, generated
virtual world image and the generated annotation.
23. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein
said annotation generation step is adapted to generate, when a
target object of the other user is outside a visual range of the
user, an annotation indicating a direction of the target.
24. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein
said annotation generation step is adapted to generate an
annotation for discriminating a target object of the other
user.
25. (canceled)
26. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein
an annotation indicating a position of other user is generated and
merged to the synthesized image.
27. A computer-executable program for causing a computer to achieve
an information processing method comprising the steps of: inputting
viewpoint information of a user; generating a virtual world image
according to the viewpoint information, by using previously held
virtual world data; inputting view point information of an other
user; generating an annotation concerning an attention target based
on the viewpoint information of the user and the viewpoint
information of the other user; and generating an image obtained by
synthesizing an image of a real world, generated virtual world
image and the generated annotation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an information presentation
apparatus which presents an image obtained by synthesizing (or
composing) a real world and a virtual world, and an image
processing method of the information presentation apparatus.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] Recently, proposals have been made for an apparatus which
would use and apply a mixed reality (MR) technique of naturally
combining a real world and a virtual world with each other without
uncomfortableness. Among them is an apparatus which superimposes
virtual information on the real world and/or the virtual world
observed by a user wearing a head mounted display (HMD), and
presents the obtained information to the user is proposed, whereby
it is expected in this apparatus to improve working properties
concerning engineering work, maintenance and the like. For example,
a method of supporting a surveying work by superposing virtual
flags on the image of the real world and then displaying the
obtained image on the user's HMD is proposed. However, many of
these apparatuses are premised on being used by only one user,
whereby it is difficult to say that these apparatuses are suitable
for uses such as conferences, lectures, cooperation or the like
that involves sharing a single mixed reality (MR) space with plural
persons.
[0005] In other words, in a case where two or more persons are
involved in a conference, lecture or the like by sharing the single
MR space, it is necessary for these persons to observe the same
target and thus share the information concerning the target in
question.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to be able to provide
predetermined information to users, by superposing an annotation on
an image obtained by synthesizing a real world and a virtual
world.
[0007] For example, the present invention aims to provide a means
for transmitting a target that one user wishes to cause another
user to pay attention, a means for knowing position and direction
of a target that users should pay attention, or a means for knowing
whether or not a target to which one user is paying attention at
present is observed by another user.
[0008] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the
present invention is an information presentation apparatus
comprising:
[0009] a user operation input unit, adapted to input an operation
of a user;
[0010] a user viewpoint position and pose measurement unit, adapted
to measure a position and pose at a user's viewpoint;
[0011] a model data storage unit, adapted to store virtual world
model data, real world model data, and data necessary to generate a
virtual world image;
[0012] an annotation data storage unit, adapted to store data
necessary to be added to a real world and a virtual world and then
displayed;
[0013] a virtual image generation unit, adapted to generate an
image of the virtual world by using information in the user
viewpoint position and pose measurement unit, the model data
storage unit and the annotation data storage unit;
[0014] a user viewpoint image input unit, adapted to capture an
image of the real world viewed from the user's viewpoint; and
[0015] an image display unit, adapted to display an image obtained
by synthesizing the image generated by the virtual image generation
unit and the image obtained by the user viewpoint image input unit,
on an image display device of the user.
[0016] Moreover, to achieve the above object, another aspect of the
present invention is an information processing method comprising
the steps of:
[0017] inputting viewpoint information of a user;
[0018] generating a virtual world image according to the viewpoint
information, by using previously held virtual world data;
[0019] generating an annotation concerning an attention target;
and
[0020] generating an image obtained by synthesizing an image of a
real world, generated virtual world image and the generated
annotation.
[0021] Moreover, to achieve the above object, the present invention
is characterized by a program to achieve an information processing
method comprising the steps of:
[0022] inputting viewpoint information of a user;
[0023] generating a virtual world image according to the viewpoint
information, by using previously held virtual world data;
[0024] generating an annotation concerning an attention target;
and
[0025] generating an image obtained by synthesizing an image of a
real world, generated virtual world image and the generated
annotation.
[0026] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the
structure of an information presentation apparatus according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure in a case
where plural information presentation apparatuses are mutually
connected together through a transmission channel, according to the
embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a processing procedure
in the information presentation apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a means which, in a case
where a target to which a watching user is paying attention is
outside a visual range of a watched user, informs the watched user
of the position of the target, according to that embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a means which, in a case
where the target to which the watching user is paying attention is
inside the visual range of the watched user, informs the watched
user of the target and information concerning the target, according
to that embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a means which presents to
the watching user whether or not the target to which the watching
user is paying attention is inside the visual range of each watched
user, according to that embodiment; and
[0033] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a means which presents to
a user positions where other users exit, according to that
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
One Embodiment
[0035] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall
structure in which an information presentation apparatus and an
information presentation method according to this embodiment are
applied.
[0036] A user operation input unit 101 is an input device which
consists of, e.g., push button switches, a mouse, a joystick and
the like. When a user of an information presentation apparatus 100
operates or handles the user operation input unit 101, control
information according to operation(s) by the user is transferred to
a virtual image generation unit 105.
[0037] A user viewpoint position and pose measurement unit 102 is a
position and pose measurement device such as a magnetic sensor, an
optical sensor or the like. The user viewpoint position and pose
measurement unit 102 measures a position and pose at a user's
viewpoint by six degrees of freedom and transfers a measured result
to the virtual image generation unit 105. Since it is generally
difficult to set the position and pose measurement device at the
user's viewpoint, the user viewpoint position and pose measurement
unit 102 has a function to calculate the position and pose at the
user's viewpoint on the basis of the output result of the position
and pose measurement device. For example, in a case where the
position and pose measurement device is fixed to a user's head, a
relation between the output of the position and pose measurement
device and the position and pose at the user's viewpoint is always
maintained constant, whereby the relation is expressed by a certain
expression. Therefore, by obtaining the certain expression in
advance, the position and pose at the user's viewpoint is
calculated based on the output from the position and pose
measurement device. In addition, it is possible to capture an image
of a real world by using a user viewpoint image input unit 106, and
thus perform image processing on the captured image to correct an
error in the output result of the position pose measurement device.
In this image processing, for example, positions of plural feature
points of which the three-dimensional coordinates in a real space
have been known are detected from the image, the detected positions
are compared with the positions of feature points of the image
calculated from the output result of the position and pose
measurement device to calculate the error in the output result of
the position pose measurement device, and the output result of the
position and pose measurement device is corrected so as to delete
the calculated error. Moreover, it is possible to calculate the
position and pose at the user's viewpoint only from the image
processing.
[0038] A model data storage unit 103 is an auxiliary storage device
or medium such as a hard disk, a CD-ROM or the like. The model data
storage unit 103 holds and stores virtual world model data
necessary to draw a virtual world by computer graphics (CG), real
world model data necessary accurately to synthesize the real world
and the virtual world, and data necessary to generate a virtual
world image. Here, the virtual world model data includes
three-dimensional coordinates of vertices of a polygon of a virtual
CG object arranged on the virtual world, structure information of
faces of the polygon, discrimination information of the CG object,
color information of the CG object, texture information of the CG
object, size information of the CG object, position and pose
information indicating the arrangement of the CG object in the
virtual world, and the like. The real world model data includes
three-dimensional coordinates of vertices of a polygon of an object
existing in the real world merged with the virtual world, structure
information of faces of the polygon, discrimination information of
the object, size information of the object, position and pose
information indicating the arrangement of the object, and the like.
The data necessary to generate the virtual world image includes
size and angle of an image pickup element of an image pickup device
of the user viewpoint image input unit 106, and internal parameters
such as an angle of view of a lens, a lens distortion parameter and
the like. The information stored in the model data storage unit 103
is transferred to the virtual image generation unit 105. Here, the
model data storage unit 103 is not limited to one provided inside
the information presentation apparatus 100, that is, the model data
storage unit 103 may be provided outside the information
presentation apparatus 100 so as to transfer the data to the
virtual image generation unit 105 through a transmission channel
200.
[0039] An annotation data storage unit 104 is an auxiliary storage
device or medium such as a hard disk, a CD-ROM or the like. The
annotation data storage unit 104 holds and stores annotation data
which indicates additional information to be displayed on the real
world and the virtual world. The annotation data includes position
and pose information of the object in the real world and the
virtual world, discrimination information of the object, and text,
symbol and image information for indicating the object to a user.
Here, the annotation data storage unit 104 is not limited to one
provided inside the information presentation apparatus 100, that
is, the annotation data storage unit 104 may be provided outside
the information presentation apparatus 100 so as to transfer the
data to the virtual image generation unit 105 through the
transmission channel 200.
[0040] The virtual image generation unit 105 is actualized by a
CPU, a microprocessor unit (MPU) or the like mounted in a computer.
On the basis of position and pose information indicating the
position and pose at the user's viewpoint obtained from the user
viewpoint position and pose measurement unit 102, the virtual image
generation unit 105 sets the user's viewpoint in the virtual world,
draws the model data stored in the model data storage unit 103 by
the CG from the set viewpoint, and thus generates the image of the
virtual world viewed from the user's viewpoint. Moreover, as shown
in FIG. 2, the virtual image generation unit 105 which has a
function to transmit the data to the transmission channel 200 and
receive the data from the transmission channel 200 is connected
mutually to a virtual image generation unit 105 of another
information presentation apparatus 100 through the transmission
channel 200 so as to exchange necessary information between them.
Thus, plural users use the respective information presentation
apparatuses 100, whereby they can share the same (or identical) MR
space. FIG. 2 is the block diagram showing the structure in the
case where the plural information presentation apparatuses 100
mutually connected together through the transmission channel 200
are used by the plural users. In accordance with the position and
pose at the user's viewpoint obtained from the user viewpoint
position and pose measurement unit 102 and the position and pose of
another user's viewpoint obtained through the transmission channel
200, the virtual image generation unit 105 generates an annotation
to be presented to the user, on the basis of the annotation data
stored in the annotation data storage unit 104. Then, the virtual
image generation unit 105 superimposes the generated annotation on
the image of the virtual world, and further displays the obtained
image. Here, the generated annotation is not limited to a
two-dimensional annotation. That is, the virtual image generation
unit 105 may generate a three-dimensional annotation and draw the
generated annotation by the CG together with the virtual world
model stored in the model data storage unit 103. Incidentally, the
virtual image generation unit 105 has a function to operate the
virtual world and control the generated annotation according to
user's operation information transferred from the user operation
input unit 101.
[0041] The user viewpoint image input unit 106 which includes one
or two image pickup devices such as a CCD camera or the like
captures an image of the real world which greets the user's eyes
and then transfers the captured image to an image display unit 107.
Here, in a case where the image display unit 107 is equipped with
an optical see-through HMD, the user can directly observe the real
world, whereby the user viewpoint image input unit 106 is
unnecessary in this case.
[0042] The image display unit 107 includes an image display device
such as the HMD, a display or the like. The image display unit 107
synthesizes the image of the real world greeting the user's eyes
and captured by the user viewpoint image input unit 106 and the
image of the virtual world generated by the virtual image
generation unit 105 together and then displays the synthesized
image right in front of the user's eyes. Here, in the case where
the image display unit 107 is equipped with the optical see-through
HMD, the image of the virtual world generated by the virtual image
generation unit 105 is displayed right in front of the user's eyes.
Here, it should be noted that the image display unit 107 also acts
as an image drawing unit according to an operation.
[0043] The transmission channel 200 is a medium which achieves a
wired or wireless computer network. The plural information
presentation apparatuses 100 are connected to the transmission
channel 200, whereby the data to be mutually exchanged among the
information presentation apparatuses 100 flows in the transmission
channel 200.
[0044] Hereinafter, control of the embodiment in which the above
structure is provided will be explained. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for
explaining a process procedure in the information presentation
apparatus according to the embodiment.
[0045] In a step S000, the information presentation apparatus is
activated, and a process necessary for initialization is
performed.
[0046] In a step S100, the user's operation with the user operation
input unit 101 is recognized and converted into a control signal
according to the operation content, and the obtained control signal
is transferred to the virtual image generation unit 105.
[0047] In a step S200, the position and pose information indicating
the position and pose at the user's viewpoint is measured by the
user viewpoint position and pose measurement unit 102, and the
obtained information is transferred to the virtual image generation
unit 105.
[0048] In a step S300, the image of the real world viewed from the
user's viewpoint is captured by the user viewpoint image input unit
106, and the captured image is then transferred to the image
display unit 107. Here, in the case where the image display unit
107 is equipped with the optical see-through HMD as the display,
the user can directly observe the real world, whereby the
processing in the step S200 is unnecessary.
[0049] In a step S400, communication data is received by the
virtual image generation unit 105 through the transmission channel
200. For example, the communication data includes identification
number information of each user using the information presentation
apparatus 100, name information capable of discriminating each
user, position and pose information of each user's viewpoint,
operation information of each user, the annotation data and the
like.
[0050] In a step S500, the annotation to be presented to the user
is determined by the virtual image generation unit 105 on the basis
of the user's operation information obtained in the step S100, the
position and pose information at the user's viewpoint obtained in
the step S200, and the information concerning other user obtained
in the step S400.
[0051] In the step S500, when a target in the real world or the
virtual world that one user pays attention is notified to other
users so that the other users pay attention to it, the plural users
resultingly share the information in the MR space, whereby it is
very useful for the plural users to perform working in which
conference, lecture, cooperation or the like is necessary.
Hereinafter, a means to achieve such an effect will be
explained.
[0052] First, the data concerning the target that the user pays
attention at present is retrieved and selected from the information
of the objects in the real world and the virtual world stored in
the annotation data storage unit 104. Incidentally, the target that
the user pays attention may be automatically recognized and
selected by the information presentation apparatus 100 or manually
selected according to the user's operation on the user operation
input unit 101.
[0053] In the method of automatically recognizing the target that
the user pays attention, it is thought to use the position and pose
information indicating the position and pose at the user's
viewpoint obtained in the step S200 and the internal parameters of
the image pickup device held in the model data storage unit
103.
[0054] Incidentally, in the step S500, all candidates of the
targets existing inside the user's visual range are captured from
the annotation data storage unit 104 on the basis of the internal
parameters of the image pickup device and the position and pose
information indicating the position and pose at the user's
viewpoint. Then, in regard to the captures candidate, a Euclidean
distance between a user's visual line and a point representative of
the target is calculated, and the candidate for which the Euclidean
distance is minimum can be considered as an attention target.
[0055] In case of judging whether or not one target is within the
user's visual range, for example, it is thought to do so by the
calculation from the position and pose information indicating the
position and pose at the user's viewpoint obtained from the user
viewpoint position and pose measurement unit 102 and the internal
parameters of the image pickup device provided in the user
viewpoint image input unit 106. That is, the target is projected on
an image screen from the position and pose at the user's viewpoint
by using the internal parameters of the image pickup device. Then,
when the coordinates of the target projected on the image screen
exist within a certain range defined by the size of the image, it
is judged that the target in question is within the user's visual
range.
[0056] It is assumed that a matrix created from the internal
parameters of the image pickup device is given as follows. 1 K = u
- u cot u 0 0 v / sin v 0 0 0 1
[0057] where each of the symbols .alpha..sub.u and .alpha..sub.v
indicates a pixel size of the image pickup device, the symbol
.theta. indicates an angle between the longitudinal and lateral
axes of the image pickup element, and the symbols u.sub.0 and
v.sub.0 indicate coordinates of the pixel center. Moreover, it is
assumed that a matrix created from the position and pose at the
user's viewpoint is P=(Rt), where the symbol R indicates a rotation
matrix of three rows and three columns representing the pose at the
user's viewpoint, and the symbol t indicates a three-dimensional
vector of the position of the user's viewpoint. Besides, it is
assumed that the three-dimensional coordinates of the target are
given as x=(X, Y, Z, 1).sup.T by using the expression of the
homogeneous coordinates, and the coordinates of the point of the
target projected on the image screen are given as u=(u, v, w).sup.T
by using the expression of the homogeneous coordinates.
[0058] The coordinates u of the point of the target projected on
the image screen can be obtained by calculation of u=KP.sup.-1x.
Then, when it is assumed that the range of the image in the u-axis
direction is [u.sub.min, u.sub.max] and the range of the image in
the v-axis direction is [v.sub.min, v.sub.max], if
u.sub.min.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.u.sub.max and
v.sub.min.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.v.sub.max are satisfied, it can be known
that the target in question is within the user's visual range.
[0059] To calculate a distance between a straight line obtained
from the position and pose at the user's viewpoint and the point
representative of the target, it is thought to obtain the vector
which passes the point representative of the target and crosses the
user's visual line and then calculate the minimum value of the
length of the vector in question.
[0060] The user's visual line is expressed as v=t+kp, where the
symbol t indicates the three-dimensional vector of the position of
the user's viewpoint, the symbol p indicates a three-dimensional
vector of the pose at the user's viewpoint, and the symbol k is a
real number other than "0."
[0061] Moreover, the point representative of the target is
expressed by a three-dimensional vector b. Then, when it is assumed
that the point where the vector passing the three-dimensional
vector b and orthogonal to the visual line crosses the visual line
is given as t+mp, the value m which minimizes the distance between
the point t+mp and the three-dimensional vector b may be obtained.
That is, .parallel.t+mp-b.parallel. is the distance between the
visual line and the point representative of the target.
[0062] When this distance is calculated,
.parallel.t-b+(p.cndot.(b-t)/.par-
allel.b.parallel..sup.2)p.parallel. is obtained.
[0063] Incidentally, as a method of selecting the target that the
user pays attention by handling and operating the input device of
the user operation input unit 101, it is thought that the watching
user operates the input device by using the mouse or the joystick
as watching the synthesized image displayed on the image display
unit 107. For example, the user handles and moves the mouse to the
position where the attention target is being displayed, and then
depresses the button of the mouse at that position, thereby
selecting the desired target. Then, when the cursor handled by the
user reaches the position where the object stored in the annotation
data storage unit 104 is being displayed, the user can confirm
whether or not the data concerning the object is being stored in
the annotation data storage unit 104 by generating the annotation
concerning the object.
[0064] An identification number of the target that the user pays
attention is transferred to the transmission channel 200 in a step
S600. At the same time, a user identification number and the
position and pose information are also transferred to the
transmission channel 200. Moreover, in the step S400, the
identification number information of the target to which another
user is paying attention, the user's identification number and the
position and pose information are received from the transmission
channel 200.
[0065] In the virtual image generation unit 105 of the information
presentation apparatus 100 which is used by one user (called a
watched user hereinafter), when it is judged that the target that
another user (called a watching user hereinafter) pays attention is
outside the visual range of the watched user, the annotation
indicating the direction of the target is generated. This
annotation includes symbols, characters, images and the like. To
enable to easily recognize the target that which watching user is
paying attention, it is possible to generate an annotation of which
the attributes such as a color, a shape, a character type and the
like have been changed in regard to each watching user, or an
annotation which indicates a name capable of discriminating the
watching user. Thus, when the watched user turns toward the
direction indicated by the annotation, he can watch the target that
the watching user is observing.
[0066] When the target that the watching user is paying attention
is inside the visual range of the watched user, the annotation
indicating the information of the target in question is generated.
At that time, the attributes of the generated annotation such as
the color, the shape, the character type and the like are made
different from those of other annotation so as to make the
generated annotation remarkable.
[0067] Moreover, when the watched user uses the input device of the
user operation input unit 101, he or she can control the target of
the generated annotation. For example, it is possible to select the
specific watching user and then generate only the annotation
concerning the target that the selected specific watching user pays
attention. On the contrary, it is possible to generate the
annotation concerning the target to which all the watching users
are paying attention. In this case, such a selection is performed
not only by the watched user's operation with use of the input
device but also by the previous input before step S000.
[0068] FIG. 4 shows a situation that, in a case where a user 1 who
is the watching user observes a certain building and the building
is outside the visual range of a user 2 who is the watched user,
the arrow indicating the direction of the building and the
annotation indicating the name of the user 1 are generated and
displayed on the screen to be presented to the user 2.
[0069] FIG. 5 shows a situation in which, in a case where the user
1 who is the watching user is paying attention to the certain
building and the building is inside the visual range of the user 2
who is the watched user, the annotation (black background and white
text) indicating the name of the building is generated and
displayed on the screen to be presented to the user 2. In this
situation, the attributes (black background and white text) of the
generated annotation are made different from the attributes (white
background and black text) of another annotation, so as to make the
generated annotation remarkable.
[0070] In the information presentation apparatus 100 which is used
by the watching user, in a case of generating the annotation of the
information concerning the attention target, the attributes (color,
shape, character type, etc.) of the annotation to be generated are
made different from those of other annotations so as to make the
annotation currently being generated remarkable, that is, to make
it easy to distinguish. Moreover, the annotation of the information
indicating whether or not the attention target is being observed by
the watched user is generated and is presented to the watching
user.
[0071] FIG. 6 shows a situation that the user 1 who is the watching
user is paying attention to the certain building, and the
annotation (black background and white text) indicating the name of
the building is generated and is made to have the attributes
different from those of other annotations so as to make the
generated annotation remarkable. Moreover, FIG. 6 shows a situation
in which the annotation of the information indicating whether or
not the watched users are paying attention to the building is
generated and displayed.
[0072] Moreover, in the information presentation apparatus 100 of
each user, in a case where another user exists inside the visual
range of the user in the real world, the annotation indicating the
name capable of discriminating that (other) user is generated. On
the contrary, in a case where another user does not exist inside
the visual range of the user in the real world, the annotation
including the arrow indicating the direction of each user and the
name capable of discriminating that user is generated.
[0073] FIG. 7 shows a situation that the annotation indicating the
position of a user 4 existing inside the visual range of the user 1
is generated and displayed on the image screen of the user 1, and
the annotation including the arrow indicating the direction of the
users 2 and 3 existing outside the visual range of the user 1 and
the names capable of discriminating these users is generated and
displayed on the image screen of the user 1.
[0074] In the step S600, the communication data is transferred from
the virtual image generation unit 105 to the transmission channel
200. For example, the communication data includes the
identification number information of each user using the
information presentation apparatus 100, the name information
capable of discriminating each user, the position and pose
information of each user's viewpoint, the operation information of
each user, the annotation data and the like.
[0075] In a step S700, in accordance with the model data stored in
the model data storage unit 103, the user's viewpoint is set based
on the position and pose information at the user's viewpoint
obtained in the step S200, and the virtual world which can be
viewed from that viewpoint is drawn. Moreover, the annotation
determined in the step S600 is superimposed and drawn on the image
of the virtual world.
[0076] In the step S700, the image of the real world viewed from
the user's viewpoint position and obtained in the step S200 may be
first drawn as the background, and the virtual world and the
annotation may be then superimposed and drawn on the background. At
that time, in step S800, a process of only outputting the image
obtained as the result of the drawing to the image display
device.
[0077] In the step S800, the image of the real world viewed from
the user's viewpoint position and obtained in the step S200 and the
image of the virtual world generated in the step S700 are
synthesized, and then the synthesized image is drawn and output to
the image display device. Here, in the case where the image display
device of the image display unit 107 is equipped with the optical
see-through HMD, the image of the virtual world is drawn and output
to the image display device.
[0078] In step S900, it is judged whether or not to end the
operation of the information presentation apparatus 100. When it is
judged not to end the operation, then the flow returns to step
S100, while when it is judged to end the operation, the process
ends as a whole.
[0079] According to the present embodiment, it is possible to
notify another user of the target to which one user wishes to cause
the other user to pay attention, it is possible for the user to
know the position and the direction of the target in question, and
it is further possible to know whether or not the target to which
one user is paying attention at present is observed by other user.
Therefore, it is easy to work in conferences, lectures,
collaborative work or the like in which it is necessary for the
single mixed reality space to be shared with the plural
persons.
Other Embodiment
[0080] The object of the present invention can also be achieved in
a case where a storage medium (or a recording medium) storing
therein program codes of software to realize the functions of the
above embodiment is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and thus
a computer (or CPU, MPU) in the system or the apparatus reads and
executes the program codes stored in the storage medium. In this
case, the program codes themselves read from the storage medium
realize the functions of the above embodiment, whereby the storage
medium storing these program codes constitutes the present
invention. Moreover, it is needless to say that the present
invention includes not only a case where the functions of the above
embodiment are realized by executing the program codes read by the
computer, but also a case where an operating system (OS) or the
like running on the computer performs a part or all of the actual
processes on the basis of instructions of the program codes and
thus the functions of the above embodiment are realized by such
processes.
[0081] Moreover, it is needless to say that the present invention
also includes a case where, after the program codes read from the
storage medium are written into a function expansion card inserted
in the computer or a memory in a function expansion unit connected
to the computer, a CPU or the like provided in the function
expansion card or the function expansion unit performs a part or
all of the actual processes on the basis of the instructions of the
program codes, and thus the functions of the above embodiments are
realized by such processes.
[0082] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the
present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof, it is to be understood that the present invention is
not limited to the specific embodiments thereof expect as defined
in the appended claims.
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