Image Processing Device, Image Processing System, Computer Control Method, and Information Storage Medium

• US 20070296825A1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: ITO, Junpei, KATO, Hiroki
• Granted Patent: US 7,944,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

To enable a prompt switching operation by a user. An image processing device connected to an image capturing section has a process execution section for executing any of a plurality of processes, obtains area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing section images, and switches a process to be carried out by the process execution section, depending on the position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained.

Claims

1. An image processing device connected to image capturing means for sequentially capturing images of a user, comprising:

process execution means for carrying out any of a plurality of processes to be carried out based on at least one of the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means;

area specification data acquisition means for obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

process switching means for switching a process to be carried out by the process execution means, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained by the area specification data acquisition means.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein

the area specification data acquisition means includes

position coordinate storage means for storing, as the area specification data, position coordinates of a plurality of control points set on an edge of the area, and

position coordinate update means for updating the position coordinates of each of the control points based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein

the process switching means

includes first determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on a distance between one side of the image and a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data, and

switches the process to be carried out by the process execution means, based on a result of the determination by the first determination means.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein

the process switching means

includes second determination means for determining whether or not the area specified by the area specification data is generated at a side of the image, and

switches the process to be carried out by the process execution means, based on a result of the determination by the second determination means.

5. A method for controlling a computer connected to image capturing means for sequentially capturing images of a user, comprising:

a process execution step of carrying out one of a plurality of processes to be carried out based on at least one of the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means;

an area specification data acquisition step of obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

a process switching step of switching a process to be carried out at the process execution step, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained at the area specification data acquisition step.

6. An information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer connected to image capturing means for sequentially capturing images of a user to function as:

process execution means for carrying out any of a plurality of processes to be carried out based on at least one of the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means;

area specification data acquisition means for obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

process switching means for switching a process to be carried out by the process execution means, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained by the area specification data acquisition means.

7. An image processing system, comprising:

image capturing means for sequentially capturing images of a user; and

an image processing device,

wherein

the image processing device includes

process execution means for carrying out any of a plurality of processes to be carried out based on at least one of the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means,

captured image portion determination means for determining which portion of the user'"'"'s body is shown in each of the sequentially captured images, and

process switching means for switching a process to be carried out by the process execution means, depending on the portion determined by the captured image portion determination means.

8. The image processing system according to claim 7, wherein

the image capturing means includes an image capturing direction adjustment mechanism for adjusting an image capturing direction, and

the captured image portion determination means

includes image capturing direction detection means for detecting an image capturing direction of the image capturing means, which is adjusted by the image capturing direction adjustment mechanism, and

determines which portion of the user'"'"'s body is shown in the captured image, depending on the image capturing direction detected by the image capturing direction detection means.

9. An image processing device connected to image capturing means:

comprising

process execution means for carrying out any of a plurality of processes;

area specification data acquisition means for obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

process switching means for switching a process to be carried out by the process execution means, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained by the area specification data acquisition means.

10. A control method for a computer connected to image capturing means, comprising:

a process execution step of executing any of a plurality of processes;

an area specification data acquisition step of obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

a process switching step of switching a process to be carried out at the process execution step, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained at the area specification data acquisition step.

11. An information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer connected to image capturing means to function as:

process execution means for carrying out any of a plurality of processes;

area specification data acquisition means for obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

process switching means for switching a process to be carried out by the process execution means, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained by the area specification data acquisition means.

12. An image processing system comprising:

image capturing means; and

image processing device, wherein

the image processing device includes

process execution means for carrying out any of a plurality of processes;

area specification data acquisition means for obtaining area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing means; and

process switching means for switching a process to be carried out by the process execution means, depending on a position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained by the area specification data acquisition means.