RECEPTION DISPLAY APPARATUS, INFORMATION TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, OPTICAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, RECEPTION DISPLAY INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, INFORMATION TRANSMISSION INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, RECEPTION DISPLAY PROGRAM, INFORMATION TRANSMISSION PROGRAM, AND OPTICAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20120154443A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsui, Norihiro, Yamada, Kazunori
• Granted Patent: US 9,374,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/634
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/395 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of the bit-mapped memory to the screen G09G5/399 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A reception display apparatus and the like which display display information regarding an information transmission apparatus blocked by an obstacle, on an image representing a taken video image, such that the display information corresponds to the position of the information transmission apparatus, are provided. A reception section time-sequentially takes an image and receives, from an apparatus (100a), direct-transmission information including information regarding the apparatus (100a), and forwarding information which includes information regarding an apparatus (100b) and relative position information indicating a relative position of the apparatus (100b) with respect to the apparatus (100a). A measurement section measures a relative position of the apparatus (100a) with respect to the own apparatus (200). An information processing section superimposes the information regarding the apparatus (100a) included in the direct-transmission information, such that the information is associated with a position of the apparatus (100a) on the taken image, and calculates a coordinate position of the apparatus (100b) on the taken image, on the basis of a light-emitting position, the relative position information included in the forwarding information, and the relative position of the apparatus (100a) and displays the information regarding the apparatus (100b) included in the forwarding information, such that the information is associated with the coordinate position.

Claims

1. A reception display apparatus for receiving display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and superimposing the received display information on an image taken time-sequentially, to display the received display information on a display device, the reception display apparatus comprising:

a reception section which time-sequentially takes an image, and receives, from a first information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus, and forwarding information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding a second information transmission apparatus different from the first information transmission apparatus and one or a plurality of items of relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the first information transmission apparatus;

a measurement section which measures a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus; and

an information processing section which superimposes the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the reception section, such that the display information is associated with a light-emitting position, corresponding to a position of the first information transmission apparatus, on the image taken by the reception section, and calculates a coordinate position of the second information transmission apparatus on the image taken by the reception section, on the basis of the light-emitting position, the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the reception section, and the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement section and superimposes the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information, such that the display information is associated with the coordinate position, to display these display information on the display device.

2. The reception display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the reception section is represented by a vector,

the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement section is represented by a vector, and

the information processing section adds the vector representing the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the reception section and the vector representing the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement section, to calculate, as one vector, a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus.

3. The reception display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement section measures a relative distance and an angle of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus.

4. An information transmission apparatus for transmitting, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light, display information which is to be displayed so as to be superimposed on an image taken time-sequentially in a reception apparatus, the information transmission apparatus comprising:

a storage section which previously stores at least display information regarding the information transmission apparatus;

a reception section which receives, from a first information transmission apparatus different from the information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus;

a measurement section which measures a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to a transmission position in the information transmission apparatus;

an information processing section which generates direct-transmission information including the display information regarding the information transmission apparatus previously stored in the storage section, and generates forwarding information which includes relative position information indicating the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement section and the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the reception section; and

a transmission section which transmits the direct-transmission information and the forwarding information which are generated by the information processing section, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light.

5. The information transmission apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the reception section further receives, from the first information transmission apparatus, forwarding information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding a second information transmission apparatus different from the first information transmission apparatus and relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the first information transmission apparatus,

the information processing section further generates relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the information transmission apparatus, on the basis of the relative position information indicating the relative position measured by the measurement section and the relative position information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information received by the reception section, and generates hierarchical forwarding information which includes the relative position information generated here and the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information received by the reception section, and

the transmission section further transmits the hierarchical forwarding information generated by the information processing section, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light.

6. The information transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

identification information specific to each information transmission apparatus is attached to each of the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information and the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information, and

the information processing section determines whether or not overlapping identification information is present among the identification information attached to the display information included in the direct-transmission information and the forwarding information, and does not generate forwarding information including display information to which the overlapping identification information is attached, when the overlapping identification information is present.

7. The information transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

an alternative transmission via number indicating via how many information transmission apparatuses each forwarding information is transmitted is attached to each forwarding information, and

the information processing section updates the alternative transmission via number each time generating the hierarchical forwarding information to increase the number of layers, and discards hierarchical forwarding information to which an alternative transmission via number exceeding a previously permitted predetermined number is attached.

8. The information transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information processing section sets an upper limit for a data amount in alternative transmission or sets an upper limit for the number of items of forwarding information, and does not generate a portion of forwarding information which exceeds the predetermined upper limit.

9. The information transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information processing section does not generate forwarding information which does not meet a predetermined condition.

10. An optical wireless communication system including:

a reception display apparatus which receives display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and superimposes the received display information on an image taken time-sequentially, to display the received display information on a display device; and

a plurality of information transmission apparatuses which transmit the display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light, wherein

a first information transmission apparatus of the plurality of information transmission apparatuses includes;

a storage section which previously stores at least display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus;

a first reception section which receives, from a second information transmission apparatus of the plurality of information transmission apparatuses which is different from the first information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus;

a first measurement section which measures a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to a transmission position in the first information transmission apparatus;

a first information processing section which generates direct-transmission information including the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus previously stored in the storage section, and generates forwarding information which includes relative position information indicating the relative position of the second information transmission apparatus measured by the first measurement section and the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the first reception section; and

a transmission section which transmits the direct-transmission information and the forwarding information which are generated by the first information processing section, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light, and

the reception display apparatus includes;

a second reception section which time-sequentially takes an image, and receives, from the first information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus, and forwarding information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus and one or a plurality of items of relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the first information transmission apparatus;

a second measurement section which measures a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus; and

a second information processing section which superimposes the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the second reception section, such that the display information is associated with a light-emitting position, corresponding to a position of the first information transmission apparatus, on the image taken by the second reception section, and calculates a coordinate position of the second information transmission apparatus on the image taken by the second reception section, on the basis of the light-emitting position, the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the second reception section, and the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the second measurement section and superimposes the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information, such that the display information is associated with the coordinate position, to display these display information on the display device.

11. A reception display program in a reception display apparatus which receives display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and superimposes the received display information on an image taken time-sequentially, to display the received display information on a display device, wherein

the reception display program causes the reception display apparatus to execute:

a reception step of time-sequentially taking an image, and receiving, from a first information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus, and forwarding information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding a second information transmission apparatus different from the first information transmission apparatus and one or a plurality of items of relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the first information transmission apparatus;

a measurement step of measuring a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus; and

an information processing step of superimposing the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the reception step, such that the display information is associated with a light-emitting position, corresponding to a position of the first information transmission apparatus, on the image taken by the reception step, and calculating a coordinate position of the second information transmission apparatus on the image taken by the reception step, on the basis of the light-emitting position, the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the reception step, and the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement step and superimposing the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information, such that the display information is associated with the coordinate position, to display these display information on the display device.

12. An information transmission program in an information transmission apparatus which transmits, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light, display information which is to be displayed so as to be superimposed on an image taken time-sequentially in a reception apparatus, wherein

the information transmission apparatus includes:

a storage section which previously stores at least display information regarding the information transmission apparatus, and

the information transmission program causes the information transmission apparatus to execute;

a reception step of receiving, from a first information transmission apparatus different from the information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus;

a measurement step of measuring a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to a transmission position in the information transmission apparatus;

an information processing step of generating direct-transmission information including the display information regarding the information transmission apparatus previously stored in the storage section, and generating forwarding information which includes relative position information indicating the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement step and the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the reception step; and

a transmission step of transmitting the direct-transmission information and the forwarding information which are generated by the information processing step, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light.

13. A reception display integrated circuit used in a reception display apparatus which receives display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and superimposes the received display information on an image taken time-sequentially, to display the received display information on a display device, wherein

the reception display integrated circuit integrates all or a part of:

a reception section which time-sequentially takes an image, and receives, from a first information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus, and forwarding information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding a second information transmission apparatus different from the first information transmission apparatus and one or a plurality of items of relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the first information transmission apparatus;

a measurement section which measures a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus; and

an information processing section which superimposes the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the reception section, such that the display information is associated with a light-emitting position, corresponding to a position of the first information transmission apparatus, on the image taken by the reception section, and calculates a coordinate position of the second information transmission apparatus on the image taken by the reception section, on the basis of the light-emitting position, the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the reception section, and the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement section and superimposes the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information, such that the display information is associated with the coordinate position, to display these display information on the display device.

14. An information transmission integrated circuit used in an information transmission apparatus which transmits, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light, display information which is to be displayed so as to be superimposed on an image taken time-sequentially in a reception apparatus, wherein

the information transmission integrated circuit integrates all or a part of:

a storage section which previously stores at least display information regarding the information transmission apparatus;

a reception section which receives, from a first information transmission apparatus different from the information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus;

a measurement section which measures a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to a transmission position in the information transmission apparatus;

an information processing section which generates direct-transmission information including the display information regarding the information transmission apparatus previously stored in the storage section, and generates forwarding information which includes relative position information indicating the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the measurement section and display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the reception section; and

a transmission section which transmits the direct-transmission information and the forwarding information which are generated by the information processing section, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light.

15. An optical wireless communication method for, in a reception display apparatus, receiving display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and superimposing the received display information on an image taken time-sequentially, to display the received display information on a display device, and, in a plurality of information transmission apparatuses, transmitting the display information in the form of a signal profile of emitted light, wherein

a first information transmission apparatus of the plurality of information transmission apparatuses includes:

a storage section which previously stores at least display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus,

the optical wireless communication method comprises;

a first reception step of, in the first information transmission apparatus, receiving, from a second information transmission apparatus of the plurality of information transmission apparatuses which is different from the first information transmission apparatus, direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus;

a first measurement step of, in the first information transmission apparatus, measuring a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to a transmission position in the first information transmission apparatus;

a first information processing process of, in the first information transmission apparatus, generating direct-transmission information including the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus previously stored in the storage section, and generating forwarding information which includes relative position information indicating the relative position of the second information transmission apparatus measured by the first measurement step and the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the first reception step;

a transmission step of, in the first information transmission apparatus, transmitting the direct-transmission information and the forwarding information which are generated by the first information processing step, in the form of a signal profile of emitted light;

a second measurement step of, in the reception display apparatus, time-sequentially taking an image, and receiving, from the first information transmission apparatus, the direct-transmission information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus, and the forwarding information which is transmitted in the form of a signal profile of emitted light and includes the display information regarding the second information transmission apparatus and one or a plurality of items of relative position information indicating a relative position of the second information transmission apparatus with respect to the first information transmission apparatus;

a second measurement step of, in the reception display apparatus, measuring a relative position of the first information transmission apparatus with respect to the reception display apparatus; and

a second information processing step of, in the reception display apparatus, superimposing the display information regarding the first information transmission apparatus included in the direct-transmission information received by the second reception step, such that the display information is associated with a light-emitting position, corresponding to a position of the first information transmission apparatus, on the image taken by the second reception step, and calculating a coordinate position of the second information transmission apparatus on the image taken by the second reception step, on the basis of the light-emitting position, the one or the plurality of items of relative position information included in the forwarding information received by the second reception step, and the relative position of the first information transmission apparatus measured by the second measurement step and superimposing the display information of the second information transmission apparatus included in the forwarding information, such that the display information is associated with the coordinate position, to display these display information on the display device.