JP6554139B2 - Information processing method, apparatus, and program for causing computer to execute information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an information processing method, an apparatus, and a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of causing an avatar object associated with a user to operate in a virtual space based on an operation of the user.

"Facebook Mark Zuckerberg Social VR Demo OC3 Oculus Connect 3 Keynote", [online], October 6, 2016, VRvibe, [Search December 5, 2016], Internet <https://www.youtube.com / watch? v = NCpNKLXovtE>

  Providing a mechanism capable of capturing and storing a two-dimensional image (for example, a memorial photo etc.) obtained by cutting a part of the virtual space in the same way as the real space as one of methods to improve the entertainment property of the virtual experience in the virtual space Is considered. However, providing such a mechanism only provides the same mechanism as the real space, and does not lead to providing the experience unique to the virtual space.

  Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide an information processing method and apparatus capable of improving the entertainment property of a virtual experience in a virtual space, and a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method.

  According to an aspect that the present disclosure indicates, an information processing method is provided that is executed by a computer to provide a virtual experience to a user via a user terminal provided with a display unit. This information processing method generates a view image based on the step of generating virtual space data defining a virtual space for providing a virtual experience, the motion of the user terminal, and the virtual space data, and the display unit The steps of displaying a view image, generating two-dimensional image data corresponding to a part of the virtual space viewed from a predetermined position in the virtual space, associating the two-dimensional image data with the virtual space data, and two-dimensional Redefining virtual space data associated with the image data, and updating the two-dimensional image data based on the redefined virtual space data.

  According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing method and apparatus capable of improving the entertainment property of a virtual experience, and a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an HMD system 100 according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware constitutions of computer 200 according to one mode. FIG. 6 conceptually illustrates an uvw view coordinate system set in the HMD device 110 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates an aspect of representing a virtual space 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a top view of a head of a user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a YZ cross section in which a view area 23 is viewed from the X direction in a virtual space 2; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an XZ cross section in which a visibility region 23 in the virtual space 2 is viewed from the Y direction. It is a figure showing schematic structure of the controller 160 according to a certain embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a computer 200 according to an embodiment as a module configuration. It is a flowchart showing the process which HMD system 100A performs. It is a figure showing typically virtual space 2 shared by a plurality of users. It is a figure showing an example of view image M provided to user 190A. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process which the HMD system 100A, the HMD system 100B, the HMD system 100C, and the server 150 perform. It is a flowchart showing the process regarding the production | generation and edit of two-dimensional image data. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of motion information. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display object D. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing an editing process for a display object D.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description about them will not be repeated.

[Configuration of HMD system]
The configuration of an HMD (Head Mount Device) system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an HMD system 100 according to an embodiment. In one aspect, the HMD system 100 is provided as a home system or a business system.

  The HMD system 100 includes an HMD device 110 (user terminal), an HMD sensor 120, a controller 160, and a computer 200. The HMD device 110 includes a display 112 (display unit), a camera 116, a microphone 118, and a gaze sensor 140. The controller 160 can include a motion sensor 130.

  In one aspect, the computer 200 can be connected to the Internet and other networks 19, and can communicate with the server 150 and other computers connected to the network 19. In another aspect, the HMD device 110 may include a sensor 114 instead of the HMD sensor 120.

  The HMD device 110 may be worn on the user's head and provide the user with virtual space during operation. More specifically, the HMD device 110 displays the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye on the display 112, respectively. When each eye of the user views each image, the user can recognize the image as a three-dimensional image based on the parallax of both eyes.

  The display 112 is realized as a non-transmissive display device, for example. In one aspect, the display 112 is disposed on the main body of the HMD device 110 so as to be located in front of the user's eyes. Therefore, when the user visually recognizes the three-dimensional image displayed on the display 112, the user can be immersed in the virtual space. In one embodiment, the virtual space includes, for example, a background, an object that can be operated by the user, an image of a menu that can be selected by the user, and the like. In one embodiment, the display 112 can be realized as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display included in a so-called smart phone or other information display terminal. The display 112 may be configured integrally with the main body of the HMD device 110 or may be configured separately.

  In one aspect, the display 112 may include a sub-display for displaying an image for the right eye and a sub-display for displaying an image for the left eye. In another aspect, the display 112 may be configured to display a right-eye image and a left-eye image together. In this case, the display 112 includes a high-speed shutter. The high speed shutter operates so as to alternately display the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye so that the image is recognized only for one of the eyes.

  The camera 116 acquires a face image of the user wearing the HMD device 110. The face image acquired by the camera 116 can be used to detect the user's facial expression through image analysis processing. The camera 116 may be, for example, an infrared camera built in the HMD device 110 in order to detect movement of the pupil, opening and closing of the eyelid, movement of the eyebrows, and the like. Alternatively, the camera 116 may be an external camera disposed outside the HMD device 110 as shown in FIG. 1 in order to detect movements of the user's mouth, cheeks, and jaws. Also, the camera 116 may be configured by both the infrared camera and the external camera described above.

  The microphone 118 acquires the voice uttered by the user. The voice acquired by the microphone 118 can be used to detect a user's emotion by voice analysis processing. The voice can also be used to give a voice instruction to the virtual space 2. Further, the voice may be sent to the HMD system used by another user via the network 19 and the server 150 or the like, and may be output from a speaker or the like connected to the HMD system. Thereby, conversation (chat) between users sharing the virtual space is realized.

  The HMD sensor 120 includes a plurality of light sources (not shown). Each light source is realized by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits infrared rays. The HMD sensor 120 has a position tracking function for detecting the movement of the HMD device 110. The HMD sensor 120 uses this function to detect the position and tilt of the HMD device 110 in the physical space.

  In another aspect, HMD sensor 120 may be realized by a camera. In this case, the HMD sensor 120 can detect the position and the inclination of the HMD device 110 by executing the image analysis process using the image information of the HMD device 110 output from the camera.

  In another aspect, the HMD device 110 may include a sensor 114 instead of the HMD sensor 120 as a position detector. The HMD device 110 can detect the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 itself using the sensor 114. For example, when the sensor 114 is an angular velocity sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor or the like, the HMD device 110 uses one of these sensors instead of the HMD sensor 120 to position and tilt itself. Can be detected. As an example, when the sensor 114 is an angular velocity sensor, the angular velocity sensor detects the angular velocity around three axes of the HMD device 110 in real space over time. The HMD device 110 calculates the temporal change of the angle around the three axes of the HMD device 110 based on each angular velocity, and further calculates the inclination of the HMD device 110 based on the temporal change of the angle. The HMD device 110 may also include a transmissive display device. In this case, the transmissive display device may be temporarily configured as a non-transmissive display device by adjusting the transmittance thereof. Further, the view field image may include a configuration for presenting the real space in a part of the image configuring the virtual space. For example, an image captured by a camera mounted on the HMD device 110 may be displayed so as to be superimposed on a part of the field-of-view image, or a part of the transmission-type display device may be set to have a high transmittance. The real space may be visible from a part of the image.

  The gaze sensor 140 detects the direction (gaze direction) in which the gaze of the right eye and the left eye of the user 190 is directed. The detection of the direction is realized by, for example, a known eye tracking function. The gaze sensor 140 is realized by a sensor having the eye tracking function. In one aspect, the gaze sensor 140 preferably includes a sensor for the right eye and a sensor for the left eye. The gaze sensor 140 may be, for example, a sensor that irradiates the right eye and the left eye of the user 190 with infrared light and detects the rotation angle of each eyeball by receiving reflected light from the cornea and iris with respect to the irradiated light. . The gaze sensor 140 can detect the line-of-sight direction of the user 190 based on each detected rotation angle.

  Server 150 may send a program to computer 200. In another aspect, the server 150 may communicate with other computers 200 for providing virtual reality to HMD devices used by other users. For example, when a plurality of users play a participatory game in an amusement facility, each computer 200 communicates a signal based on each user's operation with another computer 200 to share a plurality of users in the same virtual space. Allows you to enjoy the game. The server 150 can be composed of one or more computer devices. The server 150 may have the same hardware configuration (processor, memory, storage, etc.) as the hardware configuration of the computer 200 described later.

  The controller 160 receives input of commands from the user 190 to the computer 200. In one aspect, the controller 160 is configured to be gripped by the user 190. In another aspect, the controller 160 is configured to be attachable to the body of the user 190 or a part of the clothing. In another aspect, the controller 160 may be configured to output vibration, sound, light, and / or light based on a signal sent from the computer 200. In another aspect, the controller 160 receives an operation given by the user 190 in order to control the position and movement of an object arranged in the virtual space.

  The motion sensor 130 is attached to the user's hand and detects movement of the user's hand in one aspect. For example, the motion sensor 130 detects the rotation speed, rotation speed, etc. of the hand. The detected signal is sent to the computer 200. The motion sensor 130 is provided in a glove-type controller 160, for example. In one embodiment, for security in real space, the controller 160 is preferably worn like a glove type that does not easily fly by being worn on the hand of the user 190. In another aspect, a sensor not attached to the user 190 may detect hand movement of the user 190. For example, a signal from a camera that captures the user 190 may be input to the computer 200 as a signal representing the operation of the user 190. The motion sensor 130 and the computer 200 are connected to each other by wire or wirelessly. In the case of wireless communication, the communication form is not particularly limited, and for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or other known communication methods are used.

[Hardware configuration]
A computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 200 according to an aspect. The computer 200 includes a processor 10, a memory 11, a storage 12, an input / output interface 13, and a communication interface 14 as main components. Each component is connected to the bus 15.

  The processor 10 executes a series of instructions included in a program stored in the memory 11 or the storage 12 based on a signal supplied to the computer 200 or based on the establishment of a predetermined condition. In one aspect, the processor 10 is realized as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processor unit (MPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other devices.

  The memory 11 temporarily stores programs and data. The program is loaded from the storage 12, for example. Data stored in the memory 11 includes data input to the computer 200 and data generated by the processor 10. In one aspect, the memory 11 is implemented as a random access memory (RAM) or another volatile memory.

  The storage 12 holds programs and data permanently. The storage 12 is realized as, for example, a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a hard disk device, a flash memory, and other nonvolatile storage devices. The programs stored in the storage 12 include a program for providing a virtual space in the HMD system 100, a simulation program, a game program, a user authentication program, a program for realizing communication with another computer 200, and the like. The data stored in the storage 12 includes data, objects, etc. for defining a virtual space.

  In another aspect, the storage 12 may be realized as a removable storage device such as a memory card. In still another aspect, a configuration using programs and data stored in an external storage device may be used instead of the storage 12 built in the computer 200. According to such a configuration, for example, in a scene where a plurality of HMD systems 100 are used, such as an amusement facility, it is possible to perform updating of programs, data, etc. collectively.

  In one embodiment, input / output interface 13 communicates signals with HMD device 110, HMD sensor 120 or motion sensor 130. In one aspect, the input / output interface 13 is realized using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a DVI (Digital Visual Interface), an HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), or other terminals. The input / output interface 13 is not limited to the above. For example, the input / output interface 13 may include a wireless communication interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  In certain embodiments, the input / output interface 13 may further communicate with the controller 160. For example, the input / output interface 13 receives an input of a signal output from the motion sensor 130. In another aspect, the input / output interface 13 sends an instruction output from the processor 10 to the controller 160. The command instructs the controller 160 to vibrate, output sound, emit light, and the like. When the controller 160 receives the command, the controller 160 executes vibration, voice output or light emission according to the command.

  The communication interface 14 is connected to the network 19 to communicate with other computers (for example, the server 150) connected to the network 19. In one aspect, the communication interface 14 is implemented as, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or other wired communication interface, or a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), an NFC (Near Field Communication) or other wireless communication interface. Be done. The communication interface 14 is not limited to the above.

  In one aspect, the processor 10 accesses the storage 12, loads one or more programs stored in the storage 12 into the memory 11, and executes a series of instructions included in the program. The one or more programs may include an operating system of the computer 200, an application program for providing a virtual space, game software executable in the virtual space using the controller 160, and the like. The processor 10 sends a signal for providing a virtual space to the HMD device 110 via the input / output interface 13. The HMD device 110 displays an image on the display 112 based on the signal.

  The server 150 is connected to the control devices of each of the plurality of HMD systems 100 via the network 19. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the server 150 connects a plurality of HMD systems 100 including an HMD system 100A having an HMD device 110A, an HMD system 100B having an HMD device 110B, and an HMD system 100C having an HMD device 110C to each other. Connect to enable communication. As a result, virtual experiences using a common virtual space are provided to users using each HMD system. The HMD system 100A, the HMD system 100B, the HMD system 100C, and the other HMD systems 100 all have the same configuration. However, the HMD systems 100 may be of different model types, or may have different performances (processing performance, detection performance regarding detection of user operation, etc.).

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the configuration in which the computer 200 is provided outside the HMD device 110 is illustrated. However, in another aspect, the computer 200 may be incorporated in the HMD device 110. As an example, a portable information communication terminal (for example, a smartphone) including the display 112 may function as the computer 200.

  In addition, the computer 200 may be configured to be commonly used by a plurality of HMD devices 110. According to such a configuration, for example, since the same virtual space can be provided to a plurality of users, each user can enjoy the same application as other users in the same virtual space. In such a case, the plurality of HMD systems 100 in the present embodiment may be directly connected to the computer 200 by the input / output interface 13. In addition, each function (for example, synchronization processing described later) of the server 150 in the present embodiment may be implemented in the computer 200.

  In an embodiment, in the HMD system 100, a global coordinate system is set in advance. The global coordinate system has three reference directions (axes) parallel to the vertical direction in the real space, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the global coordinate system is one of the viewpoint coordinate systems. Therefore, the horizontal direction, the vertical direction (up-down direction), and the front-rear direction in the global coordinate system are defined as an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis, respectively. More specifically, in the global coordinate system, the x-axis is parallel to the horizontal direction of the real space. The y axis is parallel to the vertical direction of the real space. The z axis is parallel to the front-rear direction of the real space.

  In one aspect, HMD sensor 120 includes an infrared sensor. When an infrared sensor detects infrared light emitted from each light source of the HMD device 110, the presence of the HMD device 110 is detected. The HMD sensor 120 further determines the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 in the real space according to the movement of the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 based on the value of each point (each coordinate value in the global coordinate system). To detect. More specifically, the HMD sensor 120 can detect temporal changes in the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 using each value detected over time.

  The global coordinate system is parallel to the real space coordinate system. Therefore, each inclination of the HMD device 110 detected by the HMD sensor 120 corresponds to each inclination around the three axes of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system. The HMD sensor 120 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system to the HMD device 110 based on the inclination of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system. The uvw visual field coordinate system set in the HMD device 110 corresponds to the visual point coordinate system when the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 views an object in the virtual space.

[Uvw view coordinate system]
The uvw view coordinate system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the uvw visual field coordinate system set in the HMD device 110 according to an embodiment. The HMD sensor 120 detects the position and tilt of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system when the HMD device 110 is activated. The processor 10 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD device 110 based on the detected value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the HMD device 110 sets a three-dimensional uvw visual field coordinate system centered on the head of the user wearing the HMD device 110 (origin). More specifically, the HMD device 110 uses the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction (x axis, y axis, z axis) that define the global coordinate system around each axis of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system. The three new directions obtained by inclining around the respective axes by the inclination of the pitch are the pitch direction (u-axis), yaw direction (v-axis), and roll direction (w-axis) of the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD device 110. Set as.

  In one aspect, when the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 stands upright and views the front, the processor 10 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system parallel to the global coordinate system to the HMD device 110. In this case, the horizontal direction (x-axis), vertical direction (y-axis), and front-rear direction (z-axis) in the global coordinate system are the pitch direction (u-axis) and yaw direction (v Axis) and the roll direction (w-axis).

  After the uvw visual field coordinate system is set in the HMD device 110, the HMD sensor 120 can detect the inclination (the amount of change in the inclination) of the HMD device 110 in the set uvw visual field coordinate system based on the movement of the HMD device 110. . In this case, the HMD sensor 120 detects the pitch angle (θu), the yaw angle (θv), and the roll angle (θw) of the HMD device 110 in the uvw view coordinate system as the inclination of the HMD device 110. The pitch angle (θu) represents the tilt angle of the HMD device 110 around the pitch direction in the uvw view coordinate system. The yaw angle (θv) represents the tilt angle of the HMD device 110 around the yaw direction in the uvw visual field coordinate system. The roll angle (θw) represents the tilt angle of the HMD device 110 around the roll direction in the uvw visual field coordinate system.

  Based on the detected tilt angle of the HMD device 110, the HMD sensor 120 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD device 110 after the HMD device 110 has moved to the HMD device 110. The relationship between the HMD device 110 and the uvw view coordinate system of the HMD device 110 is always constant regardless of the position and tilt of the HMD device 110. When the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 change, the position and inclination of the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system change in conjunction with the change of the position and inclination.

  In one aspect, the HMD sensor 120 is based on the infrared light intensity acquired based on the output from the infrared sensor and the relative positional relationship between a plurality of points (for example, the distance between the points). The position of the device 110 in the physical space may be identified as a relative position to the HMD sensor 120. Also, the processor 10 may determine the origin of the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110 in the real space (global coordinate system) based on the identified relative position.

[Virtual space]
The virtual space will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an aspect of representing virtual space 2 according to an embodiment. The virtual space 2 has an all-sky spherical structure that covers the entire 360-degree direction of the center 21. In FIG. 4, the celestial sphere in the upper half of the virtual space 2 is illustrated so as not to complicate the description. In the virtual space 2, each mesh is defined. The position of each mesh is previously defined as coordinate values in the XYZ coordinate system defined in the virtual space 2. The computer 200 associates each partial image constituting content (a still image, a moving image, etc.) that can be expanded in the virtual space 2 with each corresponding mesh in the virtual space 2 to make the virtual space image 22 visible by the user. Is provided to the user.

  In one aspect, in the virtual space 2, an XYZ coordinate system having a center 21 as an origin is defined. The XYZ coordinate system is, for example, parallel to the global coordinate system. Since the XYZ coordinate system is a kind of viewpoint coordinate system, the horizontal direction, vertical direction (vertical direction), and front-rear direction in the XYZ coordinate system are defined as an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, respectively. Therefore, the X axis (horizontal direction) of the XYZ coordinate system is parallel to the x axis of the global coordinate system, the Y axis (vertical direction) of the XYZ coordinate system is parallel to the y axis of the global coordinate system, and The Z axis (front-rear direction) is parallel to the z axis of the global coordinate system. Each position in the virtual space 2 is uniquely identified by coordinate values in the XYZ coordinate system.

  When the HMD device 110 is activated, that is, in the initial state of the HMD device 110, the virtual camera 1 is disposed, for example, at the center 21 of the virtual space 2. The virtual camera 1 similarly moves in the virtual space 2 in conjunction with the movement of the HMD device 110 in the real space. Thereby, changes in the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 in the real space are similarly reproduced in the virtual space 2.

  As in the case of the HMD device 110, the uvw visual field coordinate system is defined for the virtual camera 1. The uvw view coordinate system of the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 is defined to interlock with the uvw view coordinate system of the HMD device 110 in the real space (global coordinate system). Therefore, when the inclination of the HMD device 110 changes, the inclination of the virtual camera 1 also changes accordingly. The virtual camera 1 can also move in the virtual space 2 in conjunction with the movement of the user wearing the HMD device 110 in the real space.

  Since the orientation of the virtual camera 1 is determined according to the position and inclination of the virtual camera 1, the reference line of sight (reference line of sight 5) when the user visually recognizes the virtual space image 22 depends on the orientation of the virtual camera 1. It is decided. The processor 10 of the computer 200 defines a view area 23 in the virtual space 2 based on the reference line of sight 5. The view area 23 corresponds to the view of the user wearing the HMD device 110 in the virtual space 2.

  The gaze direction of the user 190 detected by the gaze sensor 140 is a direction in the viewpoint coordinate system when the user 190 visually recognizes an object. The uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110 is equal to the viewpoint coordinate system when the user 190 visually recognizes the display 112. Further, the uvw visual field coordinate system of the virtual camera 1 is interlocked with the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110. Therefore, the HMD system 100 according to a certain aspect can regard the line-of-sight direction of the user 190 detected by the gaze sensor 140 as the line-of-sight direction of the user in the uvw visual field coordinate system of the virtual camera 1.

[User's gaze]
The determination of the user's gaze direction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a top view of the head of a user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 according to one embodiment.

  In one aspect, the gaze sensor 140 detects the gaze of each of the right eye and the left eye of the user 190. In one aspect, when the user 190 is looking close, the gaze sensor 140 detects the sight lines R1 and L1. In another aspect, if the user 190 is looking far, the gaze sensor 140 detects the gazes R2 and L2. In this case, the angle between the lines of sight R2 and L2 with respect to the roll direction w is smaller than the angle between the lines of sight R1 and L1 with respect to the direction of roll w. The gaze sensor 140 transmits the detection result to the computer 200.

  When the computer 200 receives the detection values of the lines of sight R1 and L1 from the gaze sensor 140 as the line-of-sight detection result, the computer 200 identifies the point of sight N1 that is the intersection of the lines of sight R1 and L1 based on the detection value. On the other hand, when the computer 200 receives the detection values of the sight lines R2 and L2 from the gaze sensor 140, the computer 200 specifies the intersection of the sight lines R2 and L2 as the gaze point. The computer 200 specifies the line-of-sight direction N0 of the user 190 based on the specified position of the gazing point N1. The computer 200 detects, for example, the direction in which the straight line passing through the midpoint of the straight line connecting the right eye R and the left eye L of the user 190 and the gaze point N1 is the line of sight direction N0. The line-of-sight direction N0 is a direction in which the user 190 is actually pointing the line of sight with both eyes. Further, the line-of-sight direction N0 corresponds to the direction in which the user 190 actually directs the line of sight to the view field 23.

  Also, in another aspect, the HMD system 100 may include a television broadcast receiver tuner. According to such a configuration, the HMD system 100 can display a television program in the virtual space 2.

  In still another aspect, the HMD system 100 may be provided with a communication circuit for connecting to the Internet, or a call function for connecting to a telephone line.

[View area]
The view area 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a YZ cross section of the virtual space 2 when the field of view 23 is viewed from the X direction. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an XZ cross section in which the visibility region 23 is viewed from the Y direction in the virtual space 2.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the view area 23 in the YZ cross section includes the area 24. The area 24 is defined by the reference line of sight 5 of the virtual camera 1 and the YZ cross section of the virtual space 2. The processor 10 defines a range including the polar angle α around the reference line of sight 5 in the virtual space 2 as the region 24.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the view area 23 in the XZ cross section includes the area 25. The area 25 is defined by the reference line of sight 5 and the XZ cross section of the virtual space 2. The processor 10 defines a range including the azimuth angle β centered on the reference gaze 5 in the virtual space 2 as a region 25.

  In one aspect, the HMD system 100 provides the virtual space to the user 190 by causing the display 112 to display a view image based on a signal from the computer 200. The visual field image corresponds to a portion of the virtual space image 22 that is superimposed on the visual field region 23. When a virtual object described later is disposed between the virtual camera 1 and the virtual space image 22 in the field of view area 23, the field of view image includes the virtual object. That is, in the view field image, the virtual object on the near side of the virtual space image 22 is displayed superimposed on the virtual space image 22. When the user 190 moves the HMD device 110 worn on the head, the virtual camera 1 also moves in conjunction with the movement. As a result, the position of the visual field area 23 in the virtual space 2 changes. As a result, the view image displayed on the display 112 is updated to an image of the virtual space image 22 superimposed on the view area 23 in the direction to which the user turned in the virtual space 2. The user can visually recognize a desired direction in the virtual space 2.

  While wearing the HMD device 110, the user 190 can view only the virtual space image 22 developed in the virtual space 2 without viewing the real world. Therefore, the HMD system 100 can give the user a high sense of immersion in the virtual space 2.

  In one aspect, the processor 10 may move the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 in conjunction with the movement of the user 190 equipped with the HMD device 110 in the real space. In this case, the processor 10 specifies an image area to be projected on the display 112 of the HMD device 110 (that is, the view area 23 in the virtual space 2) based on the position and the tilt of the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2. That is, the visual field (view) of the user 190 in the virtual space 2 is defined by the virtual camera 1.

  According to an embodiment, the virtual camera 1 preferably includes two virtual cameras, that is, a virtual camera for providing an image for the right eye and a virtual camera for providing an image for the left eye. Further, it is preferable that appropriate parallaxes be set to two virtual cameras so that the user 190 can recognize the three-dimensional virtual space 2. In the present embodiment, the virtual camera 1 includes two virtual cameras, and the roll direction (w) generated by combining the roll directions of the two virtual cameras is the roll direction (w) of the HMD device 110. The technical idea concerning this indication is illustrated as what is constituted so that it may be adapted.

[controller]
An example of the controller 160 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram representing a schematic configuration of the controller 160 according to an embodiment.

  As shown in the state (A) of FIG. 8, in one aspect, the controller 160 may include a right controller 160R and a left controller (not shown). The right controller 160R is operated with the right hand of the user 190. The left controller is operated with the left hand of the user 190. In one aspect, the right controller 160R and the left controller are configured symmetrically as separate devices. Therefore, the user 190 can freely move the right hand holding the right controller 160R and the left hand holding the left controller. In another aspect, the controller 160 may be an integrated controller that receives the operation of both hands. Hereinafter, the right controller 160R will be described.

  The right controller 160R comprises a grip 30, a frame 31, and a top surface 32. The grip 30 is configured to be held by the right hand of the user 190. For example, the grip 30 can be held by the palm of the right hand of the user 190 and three fingers (middle finger, ring finger, little finger).

  The grip 30 includes buttons 33 and 34 and a motion sensor 130. The button 33 is disposed on the side surface of the grip 30 and receives an operation with the middle finger of the right hand. The button 34 is disposed on the front of the grip 30 and accepts an operation by the index finger of the right hand. In one aspect, the buttons 33 and 34 are configured as trigger buttons. The motion sensor 130 is built in the housing of the grip 30. It should be noted that the grip 30 may not include the motion sensor 130 if the motion of the user 190 can be detected from around the user 190 by a camera or other device.

  The frame 31 includes a plurality of infrared LEDs 35 disposed along the circumferential direction. The infrared LED 35 emits infrared light in accordance with the progress of the program while the program using the controller 160 is being executed. The infrared rays emitted from the infrared LED 35 can be used to detect the position and attitude (tilt, orientation) of the right controller 160R and the left controller. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the infrared LEDs 35 arranged in two rows are shown, but the number of arrays is not limited to that shown in FIG. An array of one or more columns may be used.

  The top surface 32 includes buttons 36 and 37 and an analog stick 38. The buttons 36 and 37 are configured as push buttons. The buttons 36 and 37 receive an operation with the thumb of the right hand of the user 190. In one aspect, the analog stick 38 accepts an operation in an arbitrary direction of 360 degrees from the initial position (neutral position). The operation includes, for example, an operation for moving an object arranged in the virtual space 2.

  In one aspect, the right controller 160R and the left controller include batteries for driving the infrared LED 35 and other members. The battery includes, but is not limited to, a rechargeable type, a button type, a dry battery type, and the like. In another aspect, the right controller 160R and the left controller may be connected to, for example, a USB interface of the computer 200. In this case, the right controller 160R and the left controller do not require batteries.

  As shown in state (A) and state (B) of FIG. 8, for example, with respect to the right hand 810 of the user 190, yaw, roll, and pitch directions are defined. When the user 190 stretches the thumb and forefinger, the extension direction of the thumb is the yaw direction, the extension direction of the forefinger is the roll direction, and the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the yaw and roll axes is the pitch direction Is defined as

[Control device of HMD device]
The control device of the HMD device 110 will be described with reference to FIG. In one embodiment, the controller is implemented by a computer 200 having a known configuration. FIG. 9 is a block diagram representing a computer 200 as a modular configuration according to one embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the computer 200 includes a display control module 220, a virtual space control module 230, a memory module 240, and a communication control module 250. The display control module 220 includes, as sub-modules, a virtual camera control module 221, a view area determination module 222, a view image generation module 223, and a reference gaze specification module 224. The virtual space control module 230 includes, as sub-modules, a virtual space definition module 231, a virtual object control module 232, a chat control module 233, and a virtual space recording module 234.

  In one embodiment, display control module 220 and virtual space control module 230 are implemented by processor 10. In another embodiment, multiple processors 10 may operate as the display control module 220 and the virtual space control module 230. The memory module 240 is realized by the memory 11 or the storage 12. The communication control module 250 is realized by the communication interface 14.

  In one aspect, display control module 220 controls image display on display 112 of HMD device 110. The virtual camera control module 221 places the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 and controls the behavior, direction, and the like of the virtual camera 1. The view area determination module 222 defines the view area 23 according to the orientation of the head of the user wearing the HMD device 110. The view image generation module 223 generates a view image to be displayed on the display 112 based on the determined view area 23. The reference gaze identification module 224 identifies the gaze of the user 190 based on the signal from the gaze sensor 140.

  The virtual space control module 230 controls the virtual space 2 provided to the user 190. The virtual space definition module 231 defines virtual space 2 in the HMD system 100 by generating virtual space data representing the virtual space 2.

  The virtual object control module 232 generates a virtual object to be arranged in the virtual space 2 based on content information 241 and object information 242 described later. The virtual object control module 232 also controls the movement (movement, state change, etc.) of the virtual object in the virtual space 2.

  The virtual object is an entire object arranged in the virtual space 2. The virtual objects may include, for example, forests, mountains and other landscapes, animals, etc. that are arranged according to the progress of the game story. In addition, the virtual object may include a character object such as an avatar, which is a part of the user in the virtual space, and a game character (player character) operated by the user. Furthermore, the virtual object may include an operation object that is an object that moves in response to the movement of a part (for example, a hand) of the user 190. The operation object may include, for example, a hand object corresponding to the hand of the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110, a finger object corresponding to the finger of the user 190, and the like. In addition, an object operated in association with the hand object may also function as an operation object that moves in response to the movement of the user 190. For example, a stick-like object such as a touch pen gripped by a hand object can function as an operation object. In the following description, if no misunderstanding occurs, the virtual object is simply referred to as “object”.

  The chat control module 233 performs control to chat with avatars of other users staying in the same virtual space 2. For example, the chat control module 233 transmits, to the server 150, data (eg, voice data input to the microphone 118, etc.) necessary for performing a chat via the virtual space 2. The chat control module 233 outputs the other user's voice data received from the server 150 to a speaker (not shown). As a result, voice chat is realized. The chat control module 233 also transmits and receives data to be shared among other users with the HMD system 100 of other users via the server 150. The data to be shared includes motion detection data for controlling the movement of a part of the avatar's body.

  The motion detection data is, for example, direction data, eye tracking data, face tracking data, hand tracking data, and the like. The orientation data is information indicating the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 detected by the HMD sensor 120 or the like. Eye tracking data is information indicating a gaze direction detected by the gaze sensor 140 or the like. The face tracking data is, for example, data generated by an image analysis process on image information acquired by the camera 116 of the HMD device 110A. The face tracking data is information indicating changes with time in the position and size of each part of the face of the user 190A. The hand tracking data is information indicating the movement of the hand of the user 190A detected by, for example, the motion sensor 130 or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the chat control module 233 uses information including voice data and motion detection data (hereinafter referred to as “player information”) as information to be shared among users via the server 150. Data is transmitted to and received from the HMD system 100. Transmission and reception of player information is realized by using the function of the communication control module 250.

  The virtual space recording module 234 performs control such as generation and editing of two-dimensional image data. Detailed processing by the virtual space recording module 234 will be described later.

  The virtual space control module 230 detects the collision when each of the objects arranged in the virtual space 2 collides with another object. The virtual space control module 230 can detect, for example, the timing at which an object touches another object, and performs predetermined processing when the detection is performed. The virtual space control module 230 can detect the timing at which the object and the object are away from the touch, and performs predetermined processing when the detection is performed. The virtual space control module 230 can detect that the object is in contact with the object by executing a known collision determination based on, for example, a collision area set for each object.

  Memory module 240 holds data used by computer 200 to provide virtual space 2 to user 190. In one aspect, the memory module 240 holds content information 241, object information 242, and user information 243.

  The content information 241 includes, for example, content that is reproduced in the virtual space 2, information for arranging objects used in the content, and the like. The content can include, for example, content representing a scene similar to a game or a real society. Specifically, the content information 241 may include virtual space image data (virtual space image 22) defining the background of the virtual space 2 and definition information of an object arranged in the virtual space 2. The definition information of the object may include drawing information for drawing the object (for example, information representing a design such as a shape and a color of the object), information indicating an initial arrangement of the object, and the like. Further, the definition information of an object that operates autonomously based on a preset operation pattern may include information (program or the like) indicating the operation pattern. An example of the motion based on the predetermined motion pattern is a simple repetitive motion such as a motion in which an object resembling a grass shakes in a constant pattern.

  The object information 242 includes information indicating the state of each object arranged in the virtual space 2 (a state that can change according to the progress of the game, the operation of the user 190, and the like). Specifically, the object information 242 may include position information indicating the position of each object (e.g., the position of the center of gravity set for the object). Also, the object information 242 may further include motion information (i.e., information for specifying the shape of the object) indicating the movement of the deformable object. Examples of deformable objects include parts such as the above-mentioned avatars that have parts such as the head, torso, and hands, and can move each part independently according to the movement of the user 190. Can be mentioned.

  The user information 243 includes, for example, a program for causing the computer 200 to function as a control device of the HMD system 100, an application program using each content held in the content information 241, and the like.

  Data and programs stored in the memory module 240 are input by the user of the HMD device 110. Alternatively, the processor 10 downloads a program or data from a computer (for example, the server 150) operated by a provider providing the content, and stores the downloaded program or data in the memory module 240.

  The communication control module 250 can communicate with the server 150 and other information communication devices via the network 19.

  In one aspect, the display control module 220 and the virtual space control module 230 may be implemented using, for example, Unity (registered trademark) provided by Unity Technologies. In another aspect, the display control module 220 and the virtual space control module 230 can also be realized as a combination of circuit elements that realize each process.

  Processing in the computer 200 is realized by hardware and software executed by the processor 10. Such software may be stored in advance in a memory module 240 such as a hard disk. The software may be stored in a CD-ROM or other non-volatile computer-readable data recording medium and distributed as a program product. Alternatively, the software may be provided as a program product that can be downloaded by an information provider connected to the Internet or other networks. Such software is read from a data recording medium by an optical disk drive or other data reader, or downloaded from the server 150 or other computer via the communication control module 250 and then temporarily stored in the memory module 240. Ru. The software is read by the processor 10 from the memory module 240 and stored in RAM in the form of an executable program. The processor 10 executes the program.

  The hardware constituting the computer 200 shown in FIG. 9 is general. Therefore, it can be said that the most essential part according to the present embodiment is a program stored in the computer 200. The operation of the hardware of computer 200 is well known, and therefore detailed description will not be repeated.

  Incidentally, the data recording medium is not limited to CD-ROM, FD (Flexible Disk), hard disk, magnetic tape, cassette tape, optical disk (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) ), IC (Integrated Circuit) cards (including memory cards), optical cards, mask ROMs, EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only memories), EEPROMs (electrically erasable programmable read-only memories), semiconductor memories such as flash ROMs, etc. It may be a non-volatile data recording medium that carries a fixed program.

  The program referred to here may include not only a program directly executable by the processor 10 but also a program in source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

Control structure
The control structure of the computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the HMD system 100A used by the user 190A to provide the virtual space 2 to the user 190A. Similar processes are performed in the other HMD systems 100B and 100C.

  In step S1, the processor 10 of the computer 200 specifies virtual space image data (virtual space image 22) constituting the background of the virtual space 2 as the virtual space definition module 231, and defines the virtual space 2.

  In step S <b> 2, the processor 10 initializes the virtual camera 1 as the virtual camera control module 221. For example, in the work area of the memory, the processor 10 arranges the virtual camera 1 at a predetermined center point in the virtual space 2 and directs the visual line of the virtual camera 1 in the direction in which the user 190 is facing.

  In step S <b> 3, the processor 10 generates visibility image data for displaying an initial visibility image as the visibility image generation module 223. The generated view image data is sent to the HMD device 110 by the communication control module 250 via the view image generation module 223.

  In step S4, the display 112 of the HMD device 110 displays a view image based on the signal received from the computer 200. The user 190A wearing the HMD device 110A can recognize the virtual space 2 when viewing the visual field image.

  In step S5, the HMD sensor 120 detects the position and the inclination of the HMD device 110 based on the plurality of infrared rays emitted from the HMD device 110. The detection result is sent to the computer 200 as motion detection data.

  In step S6, the processor 10, as the view field determination module 222, determines the view direction (that is, the position and the tilt of the virtual camera 1) of the user 190A wearing the HMD device 110A based on the position and the tilt of the HMD device 110A. Identify. The processor 10 executes the application program and places an object in the virtual space 2 based on instructions included in the application program.

  In step S7, the controller 160 detects an operation of the user 190A in the real space. For example, in one aspect, controller 160 detects that a button has been pressed by user 190A. In another aspect, controller 160 detects movement (eg, shaking both hands, etc.) of user 190A's hands. A signal indicating the detected content is sent to the computer 200.

  In step S <b> 8, the processor 10 transmits / receives player information to / from other HMD systems 100 (here, the HMD systems 100 </ b> B and 100 </ b> C) as the chat control module 233 via the server 150.

  In step S9, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, controls the operation of the avatar associated with each user based on the player information of each user 190.

  In step S <b> 10, the processor 10 generates view image data for displaying the view image based on the processing result of step S <b> 9 as the view image generation module 223, and outputs the generated view image data to the HMD device 110.

  In step S11, the display 112 of the HMD device 110 updates the view image based on the received view image data, and displays the updated view image.

  The processes in steps S5 to S11 are repeatedly executed periodically.

  FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the virtual space 2 shared by a plurality of users. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the avatar A1 associated with the user 190A wearing the HMD device 110A, the avatar A2 associated with the user 190B wearing the HMD device 110B, and the user 190C wearing the HMD device 110C The avatar A3 is placed in the same virtual space 2. According to such a virtual space 2 common to a plurality of users, it is possible to provide each user with a communication experience such as chat with other users via avatars A1 to A3.

  In this example, each avatar A1 to A3 is defined as a character object imitating an animal (a cat, a bear, a rabbit). The avatars A <b> 1 to A <b> 3 include a head (face orientation), eyes (line of sight and blinks), a face (facial expression), and a hand as parts that can operate in conjunction with the movement of the user. The head is a portion that moves in conjunction with the movement of the HMD device 110 detected by the HMD sensor 120 or the like. The eye is a part that moves in conjunction with the movement of the user's eyes and changes in the line of sight detected by the camera 116 and the gaze sensor 140 or the like. The face is a part to which an expression determined based on face tracking data described later is reflected. The hand is a part that moves in conjunction with the movement of the user's hand detected by the motion sensor 130 or the like. The avatars A1 to A3 also include a head and a torso and an arm that are displayed along with the hand. The avatars A1 to A3 do not include the legs because motion control is complicated for the legs below the waist.

  The field of view of the avatar A1 matches the field of view of the virtual camera 1 in the HMD system 100A. Thereby, the view image M in the first person viewpoint of the avatar A1 is provided to the user 190A. That is, a virtual experience as if the user 190A exists in the virtual space 2 as the avatar A1 is provided to the user 190A. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a view image M provided to the user 190A via the HMD device 110A. Similarly, for the users 190B and 190C, a view image in the first person viewpoint of the avatars A2 and A3 is provided.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing processing executed by the HMD system 100A, the HMD system 100B, the HMD system 100C, and the server 150 to realize chat in the virtual space 2.

  In step S21A, the processor 10 in the HMD system 100A, as the chat control module 233, acquires player information for determining the operation of the avatar A1. The player information includes information (such as a user ID) that identifies the avatar A1 (or the user 190A associated with the avatar A1), information that identifies the virtual space 2 where the avatar A1 exists (such as a room ID), and the like. It is also good. The processor 10 transmits the player information acquired as described above to the server 150 via the network 19 as the chat control module 233.

  In step S21B, the processor 10 in the HMD system 100B acquires player information for determining the operation of the avatar A2 and transmits the same to the server 150, as in the process in step S21A. Similarly, in step S21C, the processor 10 in the HMD system 100C acquires player information for determining the action of the avatar A3, and transmits it to the server 150.

  In step S22, the server 150 temporarily stores the player information received from each of the HMD system 100A, the HMD system 100B, and the HMD system 100C. The server 150 integrates player information of all users (users 190A to 190C in this example) associated with the common virtual space 2 based on the user ID, room ID, and the like included in each player information. Then, the server 150 transmits the integrated player information to all users associated with the virtual space 2 at a predetermined timing. Thereby, a synchronous process is performed. By such synchronization processing, the HMD system 100A, the HMD system 100B, and the HMD system 100C can share player information of each other at substantially the same timing.

  Subsequently, based on the player information transmitted from the server 150 to each of the HMD systems 100A to 100C, each of the HMD systems 100A to 100C executes the processes of steps S23A to S23C. The process of step S23A corresponds to the process of step S9 in FIG.

  In step S23A, the processor 10 in the HMD system 100A controls the operations of avatars A1 to A3 of the users 190A to 190C in the virtual space 2 as the virtual object control module 232. Specifically, the processor 10 controls the operations of the avatars A1 to A3 based on the motion detection data of the users 190A to 190C included in the player information transmitted from the HMD system 100B. The processes of steps S23B and S23C are the same as the process of step S23A.

[Generation and editing of two-dimensional image data]
A processing procedure relating to generation and editing of two-dimensional image data will be described with reference to FIG. The two-dimensional image data corresponds to a part of the virtual space 2 viewed from a predetermined position in the virtual space 2. Similar to the view image defined by the virtual camera 1, the two-dimensional image data is defined by a predetermined view area set in the virtual space 2.

  In the present embodiment, the process relating to generation and editing of two-dimensional image data is described as being executed by the HMD system 100A. However, the process may be performed by another HMD system 100B or 100C, or part or all of the process may be performed by the server 150.

  In step S <b> 31, the processor 10 of the HMD system 100 </ b> A (hereinafter simply “processor 10”) defines the virtual space 2 as the virtual space definition module 231. This process corresponds to the process in step S1 of FIG. Specifically, the processor 10 defines the virtual space 2 by generating virtual space data that defines the virtual space 2. The virtual space data includes the content information 241 and the object information 242 described above.

  In step S32, the processor 10 determines the position and tilt of the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 according to the movement of the HMD device 110A. This process corresponds to a part of the process of step S6 in FIG.

  In step S33, the processor 10 provides the view image M (see FIG. 12) to the user 190. Specifically, the processor 10 generates a view image M based on the movement of the HMD device 110A (that is, the position and tilt of the virtual camera 1) and the virtual space data defining the virtual space 2, and the HMD device 110A. The view field image M is displayed on the display 112. This process corresponds to the process of step S10 in FIG.

  The processes in steps S32 and S33 described above (that is, the update of the view image M in accordance with the movement of the HMD device 110A) are continuously and repeatedly executed while steps S34 to S40 described later are executed.

  In step S34, the processor 10, as the virtual space recording module 234, generates two-dimensional image data corresponding to a part of the virtual space 2 viewed from the predetermined position in the virtual space 2 when a predetermined condition is satisfied. To do. For example, the processor 10 generates two-dimensional image data when receiving a predetermined input operation on the controller 160 and a user operation on a menu screen displayed on the view field image.

  For example, the processor 10 receives information indicating a field area for image generation for generating two-dimensional image data from the user 190A. The image generation view area is a view area defined in the same manner as, for example, the view area 23 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and specified by information such as position, direction, polar angle and azimuth angle in the virtual space 2 Can be done. In the case where the polar angle α and the azimuth angle β of the view area 23 are used as the polar angle and the azimuth angle of the image generation view area, the processor 10 instructs the user 190A to indicate the position and the direction in the virtual space 2 You only need to accept Subsequently, the processor 10 generates two-dimensional image data in which a portion where the image generation view area overlaps the virtual space 2 is copied. The two-dimensional image data is generated by a process similar to the process of determining the view image data based on the position and tilt of the virtual camera 1.

  The field of view for generating an image may be defined by any method. For example, a view area 23 based on the position and tilt of the virtual camera 1 may be used as an image generation view area. In this case, a two-dimensional image identical to the view image provided to the user 190A is generated as two-dimensional image data.

  In step S35, the processor 10 associates the generated two-dimensional image data with the virtual space data as the virtual space recording module 234. Virtual space data associated with two-dimensional image data includes content information 241 and object information 242 (position information of each object and motion information of each deformed object) at the time of generation of the two-dimensional image data.

  The processor 10 may acquire information indicating the positions of a plurality of predetermined portions of the deformed object as the movement information of the deformed object. The plurality of predetermined portions of the deformable object are portions preset as points necessary for specifying the shape and posture of the deformable object. For example, when the deformation object is an avatar, the plurality of parts may include parts corresponding to joints of the avatar.

  An example of the plurality of portions will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of portions P set in the avatar A2. In this case, the processor 10 calculates positional information (for example, coordinate values of the virtual space 2 in XYZ coordinates) of a plurality (here, 11) of parts P necessary to specify the shape and posture of the object (avatar A2). The motion information may be acquired. The positions and postures of bones (bones) connecting adjacent parts P are identified based on the position of each part P, and the skeleton of the deformed object is identified based on the positions and postures of the identified individual bones. The shape and posture of the deformed object can be reproduced by performing fleshing (applying the appearance design included in the definition information of the deformed object) on the identified skeleton. As described above, by using position information of a part (part P) of a deformed object with a relatively small amount of data as motion information, not data (such as image data) containing a concrete appearance design of the deformed object. The amount of motion information data can be reduced.

  In step S <b> 36, the processor 10 generates a display object D on which a part of the virtual space 2 represented in the two-dimensional image data is displayed as the virtual space recording module 234. For example, the processor 10 can reproduce a part of the virtual space 2 displayed on the display object D based on the virtual space data associated with the two-dimensional image data and the image generation view area.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display object D arranged in the virtual space 2. The display object D is an object in which an image (texture) generated based on the two-dimensional image data is pasted on the surface. By arranging display object D in virtual space 2, a plurality of users 190 (in this example, users 190A and 190B corresponding to avatars A1 and A2) sharing virtual space 2 are two-dimensional in virtual space 2. The contents of the image data can be checked together. The display object D may be an object fixed at a predetermined position in the virtual space 2 or a movable object. An example of the latter is an object that imitates a portable photo via an avatar.

  In step S <b> 37, the processor 10 moves the hand object (an object corresponding to the hand portion of the avatar) as the virtual object control module 232 according to the movement of the hand of the user 190. The said process is corresponded to the process of FIG.10 S9.

  In step S38, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, receives an input to the display object D via the hand object. Specifically, processor 10 receives an input from user 190 for changing the content of two-dimensional image data. For example, there is room for improvement in the composition of the two-dimensional image data such that the distance between the objects (for example, avatars) that are subjects is too far, the objects overlap each other, or an object such as a tree is deteriorating the composition. There may be. In such a case, the user 190 can change the position or the like of the object in the two-dimensional image data by the input operation on the display object D via the operation object (the hand object or an object associated with the hand object). It is possible. Specifically, the display object D can be operated as if a drag operation is performed on the touch panel.

  The state (A) in FIG. 17 shows an example of an input operation on the display object. First, an operation example for an undeformed object (hereinafter, "non-deformed object") F1, F2, and F3 will be described. Here, as an example, an operation example for the non-deformable object F1 will be described. For example, when the hand object H approaches the non-deformed object F1 displayed on the display object D to a certain distance or less, the processor 10 detects a contact between the hand object H and the non-deformed object F1. Then, when the hand object H moves while the hand object H and the non-deformed object F1 are in contact with each other, the processor 10 detects a moving operation to move the non-deformed object F1, and the movement amount (for example, vector) Get information indicating

  Next, an operation example for the avatars A2 and A3, which are deformed objects, will be described. Here, as an example, an operation example for the avatar A3 will be described. For the avatar A3 which is a deformed object, an operation for deforming the avatar A3 is possible in addition to the moving operation similar to the operation for moving the non-deformable object F1. For example, the processor 10 receives from the user 190 an operation of selecting any one of the plurality of portions P of the avatar A3 displayed on the display object D as an operation target. Then, when the hand object H moves while the hand object H and the selected portion P are in contact with each other, the processor 10 detects a deformation operation for moving the portion P, and the amount of movement (for example, a vector) Get information that indicates

  The operation on the object displayed on the display object D may be performed directly by the hand object H, or may be performed by an object associated with the hand object H (for example, an object simulating a touch pen or the like). .

  In step S39, the processor 10 redefines the virtual space data associated with the two-dimensional image data as the virtual space recording module 234 based on the input received in step S38. Redefinition is to rewrite the content of data that has already been defined into different content.

  When an operation for moving the non-deformed object displayed on the display object D is performed, the processor 10 acquires information indicating the amount of movement as described above. In this case, the processor 10 redefines the position information of the non-deformed object that is the operation target in the virtual space data associated with the two-dimensional image data based on the movement amount. That is, the processor 10 redefines the position (for example, the XYZ coordinate value) after being moved by the movement amount from the original position of the non-deformed object as new position information of the non-deformed object.

  When an operation for moving the deformed object displayed on the display object D is performed, as described above, the processor 10 acquires information indicating the amount of movement. In this case, the processor 10 redefines, based on the amount of movement, the position information of the deformed object to be manipulated in the virtual space data associated with the two-dimensional image data by the same process as described above. When moving the deformation object itself, it is also necessary to move the position of each of the plurality of parts P of the deformation object as well. Therefore, the processor 10 redefines also the movement information of the deformed object based on the movement amount. Specifically, the processor 10 redefines the position information of each of the plurality of portions P included in the motion information of the deformed object based on the movement amount.

  When an operation to move a part (part P) of the deformation object displayed on the display object D is performed (that is, an operation to deform the deformation object), as described above, the processor 10 displays the information indicating the movement amount get. Here, the part P is a part corresponding to the joint of the avatar, and each part P is connected to each other by a bone. Therefore, when the position of one part P is changed, the position of the other part P may also change under the influence thereof. The influence of the change in position of one part P on the position of the other part P can be obtained by performing a predetermined calculation on a skeleton model including a plurality of parts P and bones connecting them. The processor 10 executes such calculation to calculate the moving amount of the other portion P affected when moving the portion P of the deformed object to be operated by the moving amount. Then, the processor 10 redefines the position information of the portion P that is the operation target among the motion information of the deformed object that is the operation target, based on the movement amount. The processor 10 also redefines the position information of the other affected part P based on the calculated movement amount.

  In step S40, the processor 10 updates the two-dimensional image data based on the virtual space data redefined in step S39. For example, the processor 10 internally reproduces the state of the virtual space after the redefinition (that is, the state after the position or the shape of the object is changed) based on the virtual space data after the redefinition. To do. Then, the processor 10 updates the two-dimensional image data based on the internally reproduced virtual space and the image generation view area used when generating the two-dimensional image data.

  That is, when the position information of an object is redefined, the processor 10 updates the two-dimensional image data so that the object is placed at the position indicated by the position information after the redefinition. Further, when the motion information of the deformed object is redefined, the processor 10 updates the two-dimensional image data so that the deformed object has a shape after the redefinition.

  The state (B) of FIG. 17 represents an example of the updated two-dimensional image data displayed on the display object D. In this example, the non-deformable objects F1, F2, and F3 are moved to the right as a whole from the initial position. Further, the avatar A3, which is a deformed object, moves closer to the avatar A2 than the initial position, and the shape of the right hand part is changed from the state in which the hand is raised to the state in which the hand is lowered.

  For example, in normal image data, just by shifting the subject in the image data, there is no data corresponding to the region in which the subject was originally shown, and therefore the region becomes blank. On the other hand, by internally reproducing the virtual space (that is, three-dimensional space) based on the virtual space data redefined as described above, when the object is shifted, it corresponds to the area where the object was originally shown Data (eg, background, etc.) can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to generate two-dimensional image data in which an appropriate image is displayed in the area where the object was originally captured.

  According to the generation and editing of the two-dimensional image data described above, not only providing the user 190 with a mechanism capable of capturing and storing a two-dimensional image obtained by simply cutting a part of the virtual space 2, the editing freedom is high. It becomes possible to provide a two-dimensional image to the user 190. Thereby, the entertainment of the virtual experience of the user 190 can be improved. For example, the user 190 can be provided with an experience unique to the virtual space 2 such as freely generating and editing two-dimensional image data together with other users 190 in the virtual space 2.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this indication was described, the technical scope of this invention should not be limitedly interpreted by description of this embodiment. This embodiment is an example, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, the content information 241 (the background data and the definition information of the object, etc.) to be data accessed to define the virtual space 2 is also used when reproducing a part of the virtual space displayed on the display object D. Can be accessed. Specifically, for example, when the user 190 moves the head, although it is necessary to update the view image according to the movement of the head, when a new object is included in the view image, Data access to definition information (drawing information) may occur. When the hand object H is input to the display object D, an object in the two-dimensional image data may move, and an object hidden behind the object may be newly reflected in the two-dimensional data. In this case, data access to the definition information (drawing information) of the newly captured object may occur. Data access for defining such a virtual space 2 (ie, data access for generating / updating a view image provided to the user 190) and data for generating / updating the display content of the display object D When there is contention with access, the following problems may occur. That is, due to a process failure caused by data access competition, the update frequency (that is, the frame rate) of the view field image provided to the user 190 is lowered, and there is a possibility that the VR sickness of the user 190 may be caused.

  Therefore, virtual space data includes content information 241 (first content information) for defining the virtual space 2 for providing a virtual experience, and second content information corresponding to at least a part of the first content information. May be included. Here, at least a part of the first content information is, for example, data having a high probability of occurrence of the above-described data access contention, data having a great influence when the data access contention occurs, or the like. For example, when the data access contention has a great influence on the object definition information (drawing information), the object definition information (drawing information) can be included in the second content information. On the other hand, if there is little influence even if data access competition occurs for the background data, the background data can be excluded from the second content information. Under such circumstances, the processor 10 generates a portion corresponding to at least a part of the first content information among a part of the virtual space displayed on the display object D based on the second content information. Also good. According to such a configuration, data access for generating / updating the view image (that is, access to the first content information) and data access for generating / updating the display content of the display object D (that is, 2) (access to content information). That is, the contention of data access as described above can be avoided, and the occurrence of the problems as described above can be suppressed. In addition, data access contention occurs by using only part of data of the content information 241 as the second content information according to the occurrence probability of the data access contention, the degree of influence when the data access contention occurs, and the like. It is possible to minimize the data size of the second content information while suppressing the occurrence of the problem in the case. The second content information is obtained, for example, by duplicating at least a part of the first content information in advance.

  The two-dimensional image data may be associated with information that defines a part of the virtual space 2 in the virtual space data (hereinafter “partial definition information”), or information that defines the entire virtual space 2 ( Hereinafter, "general definition information" may be associated. Here, information defining a part of the virtual space 2 is content information and object information regarding data (background data, objects, etc.) included in the image generation view field area.

  When the whole definition information is associated with the two-dimensional image data, it is possible to change (redefine) the image generation field of view (that is, the virtual shooting direction of the two-dimensional image data). For example, the processor 10 internally reproduces the entire virtual space 2 based on the overall definition information associated with the two-dimensional image data. Then, the processor 10 can generate two-dimensional image data whose angle has been changed, based on the entire internally reproduced virtual space 2 and the redefined image generation view area. Thus, when the whole definition information is associated with the two-dimensional image data, the degree of freedom of editing the two-dimensional image data can be further improved.

  On the other hand, when partial definition information is associated with two-dimensional image data, the angle can not be changed by changing the image generation view area of two-dimensional image data, but data of data associated with two-dimensional image data The size can be reduced.

  Further, object information 242 for a predetermined period including time t when the two-dimensional image data is generated (for example, a period of Δt seconds before and after time t (t−Δt to t + Δt)) is associated with the two-dimensional image data. May be. For example, object information 242 corresponding to each of a plurality of time points obtained by dividing the predetermined period into predetermined intervals may be associated with the two-dimensional image data. For example, when the predetermined interval is set to Δt, object information 242 corresponding to three time points of time point t−Δt, time point t, and time point t + Δt is associated with the two-dimensional image data generated at time point t. .

  For example, the processor 10 may display a menu screen on which two-dimensional image data reflecting the object information 242 corresponding to each of a plurality of time points is displayed as a thumbnail on the view image provided to the user 190. Then, the processor 10 may display the two-dimensional image data selected by the user operation on the display object D. According to such a configuration, the user 190 may select, for example, a plurality of virtual continuous shootings so as to select a favorite picture from a plurality of photographs obtained by continuous shooting in the real world. It becomes possible to select favorite 2D image data from 2D image data. Thereby, it becomes possible to provide a rich virtual experience by the user 190.

  Further, the editing processing that can be performed on the two-dimensional image data is not limited to the above example. For example, a new object may be added to the virtual space data. According to such a configuration, two-dimensional image data including an object which is not actually present at the time when the two-dimensional image data is generated and is not shown in the two-dimensional image data is obtained as a subject It becomes possible.

  The two-dimensional image data may be uploadable to another system (for example, an SNS (Social Networking Service) site) via the Internet or the like. In this case, it is possible to post 2D image data taken in the virtual space 2 to an SNS site, etc., and it is possible to enjoy past experiences in the virtual space 2 with other users in the real space. It becomes.

  In the above embodiment, the form of generating two-dimensional image data as a still image has been described, but two-dimensional image data may be generated as a moving image having a certain time width (for example, several seconds). Object information 242 corresponding to each of a plurality of time points when the time width associated with the moving image is divided at predetermined intervals may be associated with the content information 241 in the two-dimensional image data as the moving image.

  In the present embodiment, the virtual space (VR space) in which the user 190 is immersed by the HMD device 110 has been described as an example. However, as the HMD device 110, a transmissive HMD device may be employed. In this case, the augmented reality (AR) is output by outputting the view field image so that a part of the image constituting the virtual space is superimposed as the view field image on the real space visually recognized by the user 190 via the transmissive HMD device. : A virtual reality experience in an augmented reality (MR) space or a mixed reality (MR) space may be provided to the user 190. In this case, instead of the hand object H, an action on the target object (for example, the display object D) in the virtual space 2 may be generated based on the hand movement of the user 190. Specifically, the processor 10 may specify coordinate information of the position of the hand of the user 190 in the real space, and define the position of the target object in the virtual space 2 in relation to the coordinate information in the real space . Thereby, the processor 10 grasps the positional relationship between the hand of the user 190 in the real space and the target object in the virtual space 2, and performs the processing corresponding to the collision control etc. described above between the hand of the user 190 and the target object. It becomes executable. As a result, it is possible to affect the target object based on the hand movement of the user 190.

The subject matter disclosed in the present specification is, for example, indicated as the following items.
(Item 1)
An information processing method executed by a computer (a computer included in the computer 200 or the server 150) to provide a virtual experience to the user 190 via a user terminal (HMD device 110) including a display unit (display 112),
Generating virtual space data defining the virtual space 2 for providing the virtual experience (S1 in FIG. 10);
Generating a view image M based on the movement of the user terminal and the virtual space data, and displaying the view image M on the display unit (S10 in FIG. 10);
Generating two-dimensional image data corresponding to a part of the virtual space 2 viewed from a predetermined position in the virtual space 2 (S34 in FIG. 14);
Associating the two-dimensional image data with the virtual space data (S35 in FIG. 14);
Redefining the virtual space data associated with the two-dimensional image data (S39 in FIG. 14);
Updating the two-dimensional image data based on the redefined virtual space data (S40 in FIG. 14);
Information processing methods, including:
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to provide the user 190 with a two-dimensional image with a high degree of freedom of editing in the virtual space 2. Thereby, the entertainment of the virtual experience of the user 190 can be improved.
(Item 2)
Generating a display object D on which the part of the virtual space 2 is displayed based on the two-dimensional image data, and arranging the display object D in the virtual space (S36 in FIG. 14);
Receiving an input for the display object D (S38 in FIG. 14);
Redefining the virtual space data based on the input;
The information processing method of item 1.
According to the information processing method of this item, it becomes possible to edit two-dimensional image data based on an intuitive operation on two-dimensional image data as an object, and the operability of the user 190 can be improved.
(Item 3)
Moving the operation object according to the movement of the body part of the user 190 (S37 in FIG. 14);
Receiving an input for the display object D via the operation object (S38 in FIG. 14);
Redefining the virtual space data based on the input;
Item 2 information processing method.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to realize intuitive editing operation of two-dimensional image data by an operation object such as a so-called virtual hand (hand object H).
(Item 4)
The virtual space data includes first content information for defining a virtual space 2 for providing the virtual experience, and second content information corresponding to at least a part of the first content information,
A portion corresponding to at least a portion of the first content information of the portion of the virtual space 2 displayed on the display object D is generated based on the second content information,
Information processing method of item 2 or 3 According to the information processing method of this item, data access for generating / updating a view image (that is, access to first content information) and display contents of display object D are generated / It is possible to avoid a conflict with data access (i.e., access to second content information) when updating. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in processing speed, and to prevent the user 190 from being intoxicated by a decrease in the update frequency (frame rate) of the view image.
(Item 5)
Information that defines the part of the virtual space 2 of the virtual space data is associated with the two-dimensional image data.
The information processing method according to any one of items 1 to 4.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to reduce the data size of data associated with two-dimensional image data.
(Item 6)
The virtual space data includes object information indicating a state of an object arranged in the virtual space 2;
The object information includes position information indicating the position of each object, and motion information indicating an action of a deformable object that can be deformed according to the action of the user 190.
The information processing method according to any one of items 1 to 5.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to easily generate two-dimensional image data having a high degree of freedom in editing, based on the virtual space data as described above.
(Item 7)
The motion information is information indicating the positions of a plurality of predetermined portions P of the deformed object.
The information processing method of item 6.
According to the information processing method of this item, the data amount of motion information can be suppressed.
(Item 8)
The deformed object is a character object associated with the user 190,
The plurality of portions P include portions corresponding to joints of the character object,
The information processing method of item 7.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to appropriately reproduce the motion (deformation state) of a character object such as an avatar that is linked to the motion of the user 190 with a small amount of motion information.
(Item 9)
When the position information of the object included in the two-dimensional image data is redefined, the two-dimensional image data is updated so that the object is arranged at the position indicated by the position information after the redefinition. Do,
The information processing method according to any one of items 6 to 8.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to obtain two-dimensional image data in which the position of an object which is a subject of two-dimensional image data is changed.
(Item 10)
When the motion information of the deformed object included in the two-dimensional image data is redefined, the two-dimensional image data is updated so that the deformed object has a shape after being redefined.
The information processing method according to any one of items 6 to 9.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to obtain two-dimensional image data in which the operation (shape) of a deformed object which is a subject of two-dimensional image data is changed.
(Item 11)
The two-dimensional image data is associated with the object information for a predetermined period including a generation time point of the two-dimensional image data.
The information processing method according to any one of items 6 to 10.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible for the user 190 to provide a rich virtual experience.
(Item 12)
A program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of items 1 to 11.
(Item 13)
An apparatus comprising at least a memory (memory module 240) and a processor (processor 10) coupled to the memory, the information processing method according to any one of items 1 to 11 under control of the processor.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Virtual camera, 2 ... Virtual space, 5 ... Reference gaze, 10 ... Processor, 11 ... Memory, 12 ... Storage, 13 ... I / O interface, 14 ... Communication interface, 15 ... Bus, 19 ... Network, 21 ... Center, 22 virtual space image 23 view field 24 25 area 31 frame 32 top plane 33 34 36 37 button button 35 infrared LED 38 analog stick 100 100 A 100B, 100C ... HMD system, 110, 110A, 110B, 110C ... HMD device, 112 ... display, 114 ... sensor, 116 ... camera, 118 ... microphone, 120 ... HMD sensor, 130 ... motion sensor, 140 ... gaze sensor, 150 ... server, 160 ... controller, 160 R ... right controller, 19 , 190A, 190B, 190C ... user, 200 ... computer, 220 ... display control module, 221 ... virtual camera control module, 222 ... view area determination module, 223 ... view image generation module, 224 ... reference line of sight identification module, 230 ... virtual Space control module, 231 ... Virtual space definition module, 232 ... Virtual object control module, 233 ... Chat control module, 234 ... Virtual space recording module, 240 ... Memory module, 241 ... Content information, 242 ... Object information, 243 ... User information 250, communication control module, 810, right hand, A1, A2, A3, avatar, D, display object, F1, F2, F3, non-deformation object, H, hand object, M, view image, P, part.

Claims (13)

An information processing method performed by a computer to provide a virtual experience to a user via a user terminal comprising a display unit, the information processing method comprising:
Generating virtual space data defining a virtual space for providing the virtual experience, including a virtual camera;
Generating a view image corresponding to a portion of the virtual space as viewed from the position of the virtual camera in the virtual space, and displaying the view image on the display unit;
Generating two-dimensional image data corresponding to a part of the virtual space viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in the virtual space; associating the two-dimensional image data with the virtual space data;
Redefining the virtual space data associated with the two-dimensional image data;
Updating the two-dimensional image data based on the redefined virtual space data;
Information processing methods, including: Generating a display object on which the part of the virtual space viewed from the predetermined viewpoint is displayed based on the two-dimensional image data, and arranging the display object in the virtual space;
Receiving an input to the display object; and
Redefining the virtual space data based on the input;
The information processing method according to claim 1. Moving an operating object in response to movement of a portion of the user's body;
Receiving an input to the display object via the operation object;
Redefining the virtual space data based on the input;
The information processing method according to claim 2. The virtual space data includes first content information for defining a virtual space for providing the virtual experience, and second content information corresponding to at least a part of the first content information,
A portion corresponding to at least a part of the first content information among the part of the virtual space viewed from the predetermined viewpoint displayed on the display object is generated based on the second content information.
The information processing method according to claim 2 or 3. Information that defines the part of the virtual space viewed from the predetermined viewpoint in the virtual space data is associated with the two-dimensional image data.
The information processing method as described in any one of Claims 1-4. The virtual space data includes object information indicating a state of an object arranged in the virtual space,
The object information includes position information indicating a position of each object, and motion information indicating an action of a deformable object that can be deformed according to an action by the user.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The motion information is information indicating positions of a plurality of predetermined portions of the deformed object.
The information processing method according to claim 6. The deformed object is a character object associated with the user,
The plurality of portions include portions corresponding to joints of the character object,
The information processing method according to claim 7. When the position information of the object included in the two-dimensional image data is redefined, the two-dimensional image data is updated so that the object is arranged at the position indicated by the position information after the redefinition. Do,
The information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8. When the motion information of the deformed object included in the two-dimensional image data is redefined, the two-dimensional image data is updated so that the deformed object has a shape after being redefined.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9. The two-dimensional image data is associated with the object information for a predetermined period including a generation time point of the two-dimensional image data.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 10.   The program which makes a computer perform the information processing method as described in any one of Claims 1-11.   An apparatus comprising: at least a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the information processing method according to claim 1 is executed under the control of the processor.