Output service provision system, virtual object management terminal, mobile object, virtual object management terminal program, mobile object program, and output service provision method

• US 20040051744A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fukui, Yoshiki, Taniguchi, Shinya, Kitada, Naruhide
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

[Object] To provide an output service provision system which is capable of allowing a user to easily receive a provided output service, providing an output service responsive to the user and flexibly coping with situational variations.

[Solving Means] Upon determining that a virtual object B is in an area-in state with respect to a virtual object A, a virtual object management device 100 transmits an area-in notification to a projector 200. Upon receiving the area-in notification, the projector 200 transmits a projector display data transmission request to a portable terminal 140 and receives projector display data transmitted in response to the transmission request. The projector 200 then executes a projection process by a projection device 82 on the basis of the received projector display data. The portable terminal 140 transmits the projector display data to the projector 200 in response to the projector display data transmission request.

Claims

1. An output service provision system for allowing a first virtual object corresponding to an output device and allowing a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile object, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

first storage means for storing first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device;

second storage means for storing second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said mobile object; and

positional information acquisition means for acquiring positional information specifying the position of said mobile object;

whereby said second object information in said second storage means is updated on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition means, and providing said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object upon determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, that an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

2. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a virtual object management terminal for managing said virtual object is connected with said mobile object in a communicatable manner;

wherein said mobile object includes said positional information acquisition means, and is adapted to transmit said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition means to said virtual object management terminal; and

wherein said virtual object management terminal includes said first storage means and second storage means, and is adapted to, upon receiving said positional information, update said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of the received positional information, and to determine, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

3. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a virtual object management terminal for managing said virtual object is connected with said mobile object in a communicatable manner;

wherein said virtual object management terminal includes said first storage means, and is adapted to transmit said first object information in said first storage means to said mobile object; and

wherein said mobile object includes said second storage means and positional information acquisition means, and is adapted to update said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition means, and to, upon receiving said first object information, determine, on the basis of the received first object information and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

4. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 2 or 3, further comprising output data storage means for storing output data, which is transmitted to said output device, in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

and

wherein said virtual object management terminal is adapted to transmit output data corresponding to said mobile object as said second virtual object, among said output data in said output data storage means, to said output device as said first virtual object if it is determined that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

5. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 2 or 3, further comprising output data storage means for storing output data, which is transmitted to said output device, in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

and

wherein said mobile object is adapted to transmit output data corresponding to said mobile object as said second virtual object, among said output data in said output data storage means, to said output device as said first virtual object if it is determined that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

10. The output service provision system as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein said virtual object management terminal further includes:

input means for receiving input contents regarding creation, deletion, or update of said first object information; and

object information processing means for creating, deleting, or updating said first object information on the basis of said input contents received by said input means.

11. The output service provision system as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said output device is a projection-type display device.

15. A virtual object management terminal communicatably connected with the mobile object in the output service provision system as set forth in claim 2, comprising:

first storage means for storing said first object information in a manner corresponding to said output device; and

second storage means for storing said second object information in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

whereby said second object information in said second storage means is updated on the basis of said positional information upon receiving said positional information, and providing the determination, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

16. A mobile object communicatably connected with the virtual object management terminal in the output service provision system as set forth in claim 3, comprising:

second storage means for storing said second object information in a manner corresponding to the mobile object; and

positional information acquisition means for acquiring positional information specifying the position of the mobile object;

whereby said second object information in said second storage means is updated on the basis of said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition means and, upon receiving said first object information, and providing the determination, on the basis of the received first object information and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

17. A virtual object management terminal program run in the virtual object management terminal, as a computer, as set forth in claim 15, the virtual object management terminal program comprising:

a process of updating said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of said positional information upon receiving said positional information; and

a process of determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

18. A mobile object program run in the mobile object, as a computer, as set forth in claim 16, the mobile object program comprising:

a process of updating said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition means; and

a process of determining, upon receiving said first object information, on the basis of the received first object information and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

6. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing virtual objects, an output device, and a portable terminal in a communicatable manner, allowing a first virtual object corresponding to said output device and allowing a second virtual object corresponding to said portable terminal, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said portable terminal in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

positional information acquisition means for acquiring positional information specifying the position of said portable terminal;

wherein said virtual object management terminal includes first storage means for storing first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and second storage means for storing second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said portable terminal, and is adapted to update said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition means, and transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, that an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

wherein said portable terminal includes output data storage means for storing output data, which is transmitted to said output device, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data in said output data storage means to said output device associated with the received provision request; and

wherein said output device is adapted to, upon receiving said output data, provide its output on the basis of the received output data.

7. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said portable terminal is connected with a communication service provision terminal in a communicatable manner, said communication service provision terminal providing a service for communication with said portable terminal;

wherein said communication service provision terminal includes constituent information storage means for storing communication establishment means constituent information, said constituent information constituting communication establishment means for establishing communication with said portable terminal;

wherein said virtual object management terminal is adapted to transmit said provision request to said output device corresponding to said first virtual object upon determining that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

wherein said output device is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, acquire said communication establishment means constituent information from said communication service provision terminal, constitute said communication establishment means on the basis of the acquired communication establishment means constituent information, and transmit the provision request to said portable terminal associated with said received provision request on the basis of the constituted communication establishment means; and

wherein said portable terminal is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data in said output data storage means to said output device associated with the received provision request.

8. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing virtual objects, an output device, and a portable object management terminal managing a portable object in a communicatable manner, allowing a first virtual objects corresponding to said output device and allowing a second virtual objects corresponding to said portable object, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said portable object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

positional information acquisition means for acquiring positional information specifying the position of said portable object;

wherein said virtual object management terminal includes first storage means for storing first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and second storage means for storing second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said portable object, and is adapted to update said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition means, and transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, that an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

wherein said portable object management terminal includes output data storage means for storing output data, which is transmitted to said output device, in a manner corresponding to said portable object, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit output data corresponding to said portable object associated with the received provision request, among said output data in said output data storage means, to said output device associated with the received provision request; and

wherein said output device is adapted to, upon receiving said output data, provide its output on the basis of the received output data.

9. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said portable object management terminal is connected with a communication service provision terminal in a communicatable manner, said communication service provision terminal providing a service for communication with said portable object management terminal;

wherein said communication service provision terminal includes constituent information storage means for storing communication establishment means constituent information, said constituent information constituting communication establishment means for establishing communication with said portable object management terminal;

wherein said virtual object management terminal is adapted to transmit said provision request to said output device corresponding to said first virtual object upon determining that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

wherein said output device is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, acquire said communication establishment means constituent information from said communication service provision terminal, constitute said communication establishment means on the basis of the acquired communication establishment means constituent information, and transmit the provision request to said portable object management terminal associated with said received provision request on the basis of the constituted communication establishment means; and

wherein said portable object management terminal is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data corresponding to said portable object associated with the received provision request, among said output data in said output data storage means, to said output device associated with the received provision request.

12. An output service provision system for allowing a first virtual object corresponding to an output device and allowing a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile object, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

first storage means for storing first object information regarding said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device;

second storage means for storing second object information regarding said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

wherein said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object is provided, upon determining on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, that said positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition;

input means for receiving input contents regarding creation, deletion, or update of said first object information; and

object information processing means for creating, deleting, or updating said first object information on the basis of said input contents received by said input means.

13. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing a virtual object, an output device, and a portable terminal in a communicatable manner, allowing said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, arranging said virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said portable terminal and said virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

positional information acquisition means for acquiring positional information specifying the position of said portable terminal;

wherein said virtual object management terminal includes object information storage means for storing object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and is adapted to transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition means and said object information in said object information storage means, that said portable terminal exists in an internal area of said virtual object specified by said shape and disposed position of said virtual object;

wherein said portable terminal includes output data storage means for storing output data, which is transmitted to said output device, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data in said output data storage means to said output device associated with the received provision request; and

wherein said output device is adapted to, upon receiving said output data, provide its output on the basis of the received output data.

14. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing a virtual object, an output device, and a portable object management terminal managing a portable object in a communicatable manner, allowing said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, arranging said virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said portable object and said virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

positional information acquisition means for acquiring positional information specifying the position of said portable object;

wherein said virtual object management terminal includes object information storage means for storing object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and is adapted to transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition means and said object information in said object information storage means, that said portable object exists in an internal area of said virtual object specified by said shape and disposed position of said virtual object; and

wherein said portable object management terminal includes output data storage means for storing output data to said output device in a manner corresponding to said portable object, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit output data corresponding to said portable object associated with the received provision request, among said output data in said output data storage means, to said output device associated with the received provision request.

19. An output service provision method for allowing a first virtual object corresponding to an output device and allowing a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile object, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision method comprising:

a first storage step of storing first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in first storage means in a manner corresponding to said output device;

a second storage step of storing second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in second storage means in a manner corresponding to said mobile object; and

a positional information acquisition step of acquiring positional information specifying the position of said mobile object;

an object information update step of updating said second object information in said second storage means on the basis of said positional information acquired at said positional information acquisition step;

an overlap determination step of determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, whether an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object; and

an output service provision step of providing said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object if the result of determination at said overlap determination step is overlap.

20. An output service provision method for allowing a first virtual object corresponding to an output device and allowing a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile object, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision method comprising:

a first storage step of storing first object information regarding said first virtual object in first storage means in a manner corresponding to said output device;

a second storage step of storing second object information regarding said second virtual object in second storage means in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

a positional relation determination step of determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage means and said second object information in said second storage means, whether said positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition;

an output service provision step of providing said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object if the result of determination at said positional relation determination step is that said predetermined condition is satisfied;

an input step of receiving input contents regarding creation, deletion, or update of said first object information; and

an object information processing step of creating, deleting, or updating said first object information on the basis of said input contents received at said input step.