INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION SHARING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND TERMINAL DEVICE

• US 20120210254A1
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: FUKUCHI, Masaki, Homma, Shunichi, Yoshigahara, Takayuki, Kashitani, Tatsuki
• Application Number:
  US13/364,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

An apparatus for sharing virtual objects may include a communication unit and a sharing control unit. The communication unit may be configured to receive position data indicating a position of a virtual object relative to a real space. The sharing control unit may be configured to compare the position of the virtual object to a sharing area that is defined relative to the real space. The sharing control unit may also be configured to selectively permit display of the virtual object by a display device, based on a result of the comparison.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sharing virtual objects, comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive position data indicating a position of a virtual object relative to a real space; and

a sharing control unit configured to;

compare the position of the virtual object to a sharing area that is defined relative to the real space; and

selectively permit display of the virtual object by a display device, based on a result of the comparison.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to selectively permit display of the virtual object by selectively distributing object data representing the virtual object to a remote device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to selectively permit display of the virtual object by selectively distributing object data representing a specified orientation of the virtual object.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to selectively permit display of the virtual object by selectively distributing object data representing a face-up orientation of the virtual object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to distribute object data representing multiple orientations of the virtual object, at least one of which can only be displayed by a display device that is permitted to display the virtual object.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a sharing area defining unit configured to define a position of the sharing area relative to a real object in the real space.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sharing area defining unit is configured to store sharing area data associated with at least one user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to store object data indicating the position of the virtual object.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to:

store object data indicating whether the virtual object is public or private; and

when the virtual object is public, permit display of the virtual object by the display device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to:

store object data indicating an owner of the virtual object; and

permit display of the virtual object by a display device used by the owner.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to:

store object data indicating whether the virtual object is private;

store object data indicating whether the virtual object is shareable; and

when the virtual object is private and not shareable, deny display of the virtual object by a display device other than the display device used by the owner.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to, when the virtual object is private, shareable, and positioned within the sharing area, permit display of the virtual object by a display device other than the display device used by the owner.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to, when the virtual object is private, shareable, and not positioned within the sharing area, deny display of the virtual object by a display device other than the display device used by the owner.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to compare the position of the virtual object to a circular sharing area that is defined relative to the real space.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sharing control unit is configured to compare the position of the virtual object to a rectangular sharing area that is defined relative to the real space.

16. A method of sharing virtual objects, comprising:

receiving position data indicating a position of a virtual object relative to a real space;

comparing the position of the virtual object to a sharing area that is defined relative to the real space; and

selectively permitting display of the virtual object by a display device, based on a result of the comparison.

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, causes an apparatus to perform a method of sharing virtual objects, the method comprising:

receiving position data indicating a position of a virtual object relative to a real space;

comparing the position of the virtual object to a sharing area that is defined relative to the real space; and

selectively permitting display of the virtual object by a display device, based on a result of the comparison.

18. An apparatus for sharing virtual objects, comprising:

a storage medium storing a program; and

a processor configured to execute the program to cause the apparatus to perform a method of sharing virtual objects, the method comprising;

receiving position data indicating a position of a virtual object relative to a real space;

comparing the position of the virtual object to a sharing area that is defined relative to the real space; and

selectively permitting display of the virtual object by a display device, based on a result of the comparison.

19. An apparatus for sharing virtual objects, comprising:

communication means for receiving position data indicating a position of a virtual object relative to a real space; and

sharing means for;

comparing the position of the virtual object to a sharing area that is defined relative to the real space; and

selectively permitting display of the virtual object by a display device, based on a result of the comparison.