Virtual space rendering/display apparatus and virtual space rendering/display method

• US 20070109296A1
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Masahiro, Katayama, Akihiro, Sakagawa, Yukio
• Granted Patent: US 7,492,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/028 Multiple view windows (top-side-front-sagittal-orthogonal)

Abstract

A view image rendering module (102) generates an image of a virtual space on the basis of a first viewpoint indicating the viewpoint of a user on the virtual space, and displays the generated image on a view image presentation module (101). A map image rendering module (104) generates a map image indicating a region around the position of the first viewpoint on the virtual space, and displays the generated map image on a map image presentation module (103). The position of the first viewpoint and the visual axis direction are controlled using a viewpoint position•visual axis direction input module (106) which is provided on the display surface of the map image presentation module (103). Furthermore, a virtual object set on the virtual space undergoes manipulation control using a virtual object manipulation input module (107) which is provided on the display surface of the map image presentation module (103).

Claims

1. A virtual space rendering/display apparatus comprising:

first generation means for generating an image of a virtual space on the basis of a first viewpoint indicating a viewpoint of a user on the virtual space;

first display means for displaying the image of the virtual space generated by said first generation means;

second generation means for generating a map image indicating a region around a position of the first viewpoint on the virtual space;

second display means for displaying the map image generated by said second generation means;

viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means, provided on a display screen of said second display means, for controlling the position and a visual axis direction of the first viewpoint; and

manipulation control means, provided on a display screen of said second display means, for making manipulation control of a virtual object set on the virtual space.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second generation means generates an image of a plan-view map that looks down the region around the first viewpoint from a position immediately above the first viewpoint.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second generation means generates the map image as a bird'"'"'s-eye view.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means comprises a trackball which is fixed in position on the display screen of said second display means, and

said viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means defines a position of the trackball on the display screen as the position of the first viewpoint on the map displayed on the display screen, and controls the position and the visual axis direction of the first viewpoint by scrolling the map image displayed on said second display means in accordance with a rolling direction of the trackball.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means comprises a receiver of a sensor which is movable on the display screen of said second display means, and can measure a self position and posture, and

said viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means controls the position and posture of the first viewpoint in accordance with the position and posture of the sensor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display screen of said second display means has a first region that displays the map image, and second regions each of which is used to scroll the map image displayed on the first region in a direction corresponding to region where said viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means is placed on.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manipulation control means executes one of:

a first mode for selecting a virtual object to be manipulated from virtual objects set on the virtual space; and

a second mode for controlling a position and posture of the virtual object to be manipulated selected in the first mode.

9. A program for making a computer function as a virtual space rendering/display apparatus of claim 1.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program of claim 9.

8. A virtual space rendering/display method comprising:

a first generation step of generating an image of a virtual space on the basis of a first viewpoint indicating a viewpoint of a user on the virtual space;

a second generation step of generating a map image indicating a region around a position of the first viewpoint on the virtual space;

a viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control step of controlling the position and a visual axis direction of the first viewpoint using viewpoint position•

visual axis direction control means provided on a display screen of a display unit that displays the map image; and

a manipulation control step of making manipulation control of a virtual object set on the virtual space using manipulation control means provided on the display screen of the display unit.

10. A program for making a computer execute a virtual space rendering/display method of claim 8.

12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program of claim 10.