Information processing apparatus, information processing system, assembled device, and information processing method

• US 10,471,343 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirata, Shinichi, Numaguchi, Naoki, Yamagishi, Takeshi, Osawa, Hiroshi, Togawa, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Shauna-Kay
• Application Number:
  US15/110,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings

Abstract

A block set assembled by a user and an information processing device communicate with each other. The information processing device thereby obtains information on the structure of the block set. In addition, an object of a crane truck corresponding to the block set is displayed on a display device. Correspondences between joints and wheels and correspondences between movements are set. Thereby, when the block set is moved, the movement of the block set is reflected in the object on display. When the object is moved, the movement of the object is reflected in the block set by transmitting a control signal from the information processing device.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising:

a block information receiving section obtaining, from an assembled device formed by coupling blocks prepared individually to each other, information related to respective positions and amounts of movement of a plurality of movable parts in an overall structure of the assembled device;

a display processing section displaying an object model corresponding with the assembled device on a display device; and

an information processing section interlocking the assembled device and the object model with each other by reflecting, on a basis of information on correspondence between the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and another plurality of movable parts of the object model, changes in the other plurality of movable parts of the object model in response to changes in the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device,

wherein a first subset containing a first number of the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device is grouped and set to be in correspondence with a second subset containing a second number of the other plurality of movable parts of the object model, and

the first and second numbers are selectable from among the following relationships;

(i) first and second numbers are the same;

(ii) the first and second numbers are different from one another;

(iii) first number is larger than the second number; and

(iv) the second number is larger than the first number.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing section further generates the information on correspondence by associating the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and the plurality of movable parts of the object model with each other on a basis of comparison between the respective positions of the plurality of movable parts in the overall structure of the assembled device and the respective positions of the plurality of movable parts in an overall structure of the object model.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing section further generates the information on correspondence by associating the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and the plurality of movable parts of the object model with each other on a basis of constraint conditions individually given to the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and the plurality of movable parts of the object model.

4. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the information processing section associates, in the information on correspondence, a unit formed by collectively grouping the plurality of movable parts of one of the assembled device and the object model with the plurality of movable parts of the other of the assembled device and the object model.

5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein on a basis of information on correspondence in which a joint of the assembled device and a joint of the object model are associated with each other and a rule for reflecting a change in angle of each joint is set, the information processing section reflects a change in angle of the joint of one of the assembled device and the object model in the associated joint of the other of the assembled device and the object model.

6. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein the information processing section changes a plurality of joints of the object model by a same angle as a change angle of one joint of the assembled device on the basis of the information on correspondence.

7. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein on the basis of the information on correspondence, the information processing section changes a plurality of joints of one of the assembled device and the object model by respective angles to which a change angle of one joint of the other of the assembled device and the object model is allocated.

8. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein on the basis of the information on correspondence, the information processing section changes one joint of one of the assembled device and the object model by an angle obtained by summing change angles of a plurality of joints of the other of the assembled device and the object model.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein on a basis of information on correspondence associating positional relation of wheels of the assembled device with positional relation of wheels of the object model, the information processing section reflects running of one of the assembled device and the object model in running of the other of the assembled device and the object model.

10. The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein when reflecting the running of the object model in the running of the assembled device, the information processing section determines a wheel to be controlled and control contents for the wheel on a basis of the positional relation of the wheels of the assembled device.

11. The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein the information processing section reflects a moving speed and a moving direction of the object model in a moving speed and a moving direction of the assembled device by determining amounts of control of an amount of rotation and a steering angle of a wheel of the assembled device on a basis of the amount of rotation and the steering angle of the wheel for an amount of movement and a moving direction when the assembled device is moved manually.

12. An information processing system comprising:

an assembled device formed by coupling blocks prepared individually to each other; and

an information processing device performing information processing on a basis of an input signal received from the assembled device;

the assembled device including

a communicating section transmitting structure information related to respective positions and amounts of movement of a plurality of movable parts in an overall structure of the assembled device to the information processing device, and

a driving section moving the movable part according to a control signal transmitted from the information processing device, and

the information processing device including

a structure information receiving section receiving the structure information from the assembled device,

a display processing section displaying an object model corresponding with the assembled device on a display device; and

an information processing section interlocking the assembled device and the object model with each other by reflecting, on a basis of information on correspondence between the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and another plurality of movable parts of the object model, changes in the other plurality of movable parts of the object model in response to changes in the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device, and

a driving control section transmitting the control signal for the driving section when reflecting a change in the plurality of movable parts of the object model in the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device,

wherein a first subset containing a first number of the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device is grouped and set to be in correspondence with a second subset containing a second number of the other plurality of movable parts of the object model, and

the first and second numbers are selectable from among the following relationships;

(i) first and second numbers are the same;

(ii) the first and second numbers are different from one another;

(iii) first number is larger than the second number; and

(iv) the second number is larger than the first number.

13. An assembled device formed by a plurality of blocks capable of being coupled to each other, the assembled device comprising:

a communicating section transmitting structure information related to respective positions and amounts of movement of a plurality of movable parts in an overall structure of the assembled device to an information processing device with which communication is established; and

a driving section moving the plurality of movable parts according to a control signal transmitted from the information processing device;

the control signal being a signal transmitted to reflect a change in another plurality of movable parts of an object model displayed on a display device by the information processing device in the corresponding plurality of movable parts of the assembled device so as to interlock the object model and the assembled device with each other,

wherein a first subset containing a first number of the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device is grouped and set to be in correspondence with a second subset containing a second number of the other plurality of movable parts of the object model, and

the first and second numbers are selectable from among the following relationships;

(i) first and second numbers are the same;

(ii) the first and second numbers are different from one another;

(iii) first number is larger than the second number; and

(iv) the second number is larger than the first number.

14. An information processing method performed by an information processing device, the information processing method comprising:

obtaining, from an assembled device formed by coupling blocks prepared individually to each other, information related to respective positions and amounts of movement of a plurality of movable parts in an overall structure of the assembled device;

displaying data of an object model corresponding with the assembled device on a display device by reading the data of the object model from a memory, and rendering the data of the object model; and

interlocking the assembled device and the object model with each other by reflecting, on a basis of information on correspondence between the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and another plurality of movable parts of the object model, changes in the other plurality of movable parts of the object model in response to changes in the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device,

wherein a first subset containing a first number of the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device is grouped and set to be in correspondence with a second subset containing a second number of the other plurality of movable parts of the object model, and

the first and second numbers are selectable from among the following relationships;

(i) first and second numbers are the same;

(ii) the first and second numbers are different from one another;

(iii) first number is larger than the second number; and

(iv) the second number is larger than the first number.

15. A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium containing a computer program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out actions, comprising:

obtaining, from an assembled device formed by coupling blocks prepared individually to each other, information related to respective positions and amounts of movement of a plurality of movable parts in an overall structure of the assembled device;

displaying data of an object model corresponding with the assembled device on a display device by reading the data of the object model from a memory, and rendering the data of the object model; and

interlocking the assembled device and the object model with each other by reflecting, on a basis of information on correspondence between the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device and another plurality of movable parts of the object model, changes in the other plurality of movable parts of the object model in response to changes in the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device,

wherein a first subset containing a first number of the plurality of movable parts of the assembled device is grouped and set to be in correspondence with a second subset containing a second number of the other plurality of movable parts of the object model, and

the first and second numbers are selectable from among the following relationships;

(i) first and second numbers are the same;

(ii) the first and second numbers are different from one another;

(iii) first number is larger than the second number; and

(iv) the second number is larger than the first number.