Attribute information presenting apparatus and multimedia system

• US 6,208,346 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Eiichiro, Sato, Yasuo, Matsumoto, Chikako, Washio, Nobuyuki, Kimura, Shinta
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOOD JOHNSON, MOTILEWA
• Application Number:
  US08/782,346
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/302
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering

Abstract

A system having a relative coordinate input unit for inputting relative coordinates of an object to a viewer point, a data storage unit for storing plural pieces of data of attribute information (audio information, video information, etc.) of the object according to plural sets of relative coordinates corresponding to the viewer point, and a data preparing unit for reading out and delivering the data of attribute information on the object corresponding to the relative coordinates according to the inputted relative coordinates, in which the attribute information given by the object to the viewer point corresponding to the relative position of the object to the viewer point is presented in real time if the object moves very fast. The data preparing unit, when receiving the relative coordinates of the object to the viewer point from the relative coordinate input unit, converts the inputted relative coordinates into an address showing a region in which the data of the corresponding attribute information is stored, delivers the address to the data storage unit, and reads out the data of desired attribute information according to the input relative coordinates.

Claims

1. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative distance and direction of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions and directions to the reference point;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point; and

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means.

2. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reading means sequentially reads out the corresponding attribute information according to the relative coordinates sequentially inputted in said input means.

3. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

converting means for converting the inputted relative coordinates into relative coordinates which are closest to the inputted relative coordinates and in which the corresponding attribute information is stored, when the attribute information on the object corresponding to the relative coordinates inputted in said input means is not stored in said storing means.

4. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

interpolating means for interpolating plural pieces of attribute information corresponding to plural pieces of relative coordinates which are near the inputted relative coordinates and in which the attribute information is stored, when the attribute information on the object corresponding to the relative coordinates inputted in said input means is not stored in said storing means.

5. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for inputting absolute coordinates of the reference point and sight direction of observing the object from the reference point;

means for inputting absolute coordinates of the object; and

means for calculating relative coordinates of the object to the reference point on the basis of the absolute coordinates of the reference point, sight direction, and absolute coordinates of the object.

6. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means, storing means, and reading means are provided independently in plural objects, and means for integrating the attribute information being read out by said reading means of each object is further provided.

7. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for obtaining attribute information to be stored in said storing means, by locating the object at plural relative positions to the reference point.

8. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attribute information on the object is three-dimensional audio data emitted by the object.

9. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for assigning arbitrary relative coordinates of the object to the reference point; and

calculating means for calculating the attribute information on the object corresponding to the assigned relative coordinates.

10. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 9, wherein said calculating means has plural calculating units differing in the calculating method, and means for selecting one calculating unit from the plural calculating units on the basis of the assigned relative coordinates is further provided.

11. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative position of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions to the reference point;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point;

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means; and

means for determining weighted average of plural pieces of attribute information continuous in time being read out from said storing means.

12. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative position of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions to the reference point;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point;

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means; and

means for determining weighted average of plural sets of relative coordinates continuous in time being inputted in said input means.

13. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative distance and direction of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing mean for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions and directions to the reference point;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point;

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means;

converting means for converting the inputted relative coordinates into relative coordinates which are closest to the inputted relative coordinates and in which the corresponding attribute information is stored, when the attribute information on the object corresponding to the relative coordinates inputted in said input means is not stored in said storing means;

interpolating means for interpolating plural pieces of attribute information corresponding to plural pieces of relative coordinates which are near the inputted relative coordinates and in which the attribute information is stored, when the attribute information on the object corresponding to the relative coordinates inputted in said input means is not stored in said storing means;

means for comparing the relative distance of inputted relative coordinates and a predetermined value; and

means for selecting said interpolating means when the relative distance is not more than the predetermined value, and selecting said converting means when the relative distance is more than the predetermined value.

14. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative distance and direction of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions and directions to the reference point;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point;

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means;

means for comparing the relative distance of the relative coordinates input in said input means and a predetermined value; and

means for stopping the reading operation of said reading means when the relative distance is not less than the predetermined value.

15. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative distance and direction of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions and directions to the reference point, wherein said storing means stores attribute information corresponding to the relative coordinates of which relative distance is not more than a predetermined value;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point;

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means; and

means for changing the magnitude of the attribute information stored in said storing means when the relative coordinates of which relative distance is larger than the predetermined value is inputted in said input means is further provided.

16. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting audio or video information about an object at a reference point according to a relative distance and direction of the object to the reference point, the apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing audio or video information about the object, wherein the object is present at a plurality of relative positions and directions to the reference point;

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object to the reference point;

reading means for reading audio or video information from the storing means according to the relative coordinates input by the input means; and

means for inverting the attribute information being read out by said reading means.

17. An attribute information presenting apparatus for presenting attribute information on an object to be presented at a reference point according to a relative distance and direction from the object to the reference point comprising:

relative coordinate preparing means for preparing a time series of relative coordinates of the object to the reference point by assigning the relative motion of the object to the reference point or each absolute motion of the object and reference point; and

creating means for creating attribute information on the object according to the relative positions and directions to the object to the reference point on the basis of the prepared relative coordinates.

18. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the attribute information on the object is three-dimensional audio data emitted by the object.

19. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 17, wherein said relative coordinate preparing means comprises generating means for generating the relative coordinates on the basis of the data showing the type of relative motion and data showing the parameter of the relative motion.

20. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 19, wherein said generating means comprises memory means for storing motion pattern of plural types of relative motion, input means for inputting the parameter of motion pattern of relative motion, selecting means for selecting the motion pattern of relative motion, and means for generating the relative coordinates by applying the inputted parameter to the motion pattern being read out from said memory means on the basis of the selection by said selecting means.

21. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 19, wherein said generating means comprises memory means for storing motion pattern of plural types of relative motion, input means for inputting the parameter of motion pattern of relative motion, selecting means for selecting the motion pattern of relative motion, means for generating a time series of the relative motion parameters every time it changes by applying the inputted parameter to the motion pattern being read out from said memory means on the basis of the selection by said selecting means, and means for generating the relative coordinates on the basis of the generated relative motion parameter.

22. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 17, wherein said relative coordinate preparing means comprises generating means for generating the relative coordinates on the basis of the data showing the type of each absolute motion of the object and reference point and data showing the parameter of each absolute motion thereof.

23. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 22, wherein said generating means comprises first memory means for storing motion patterns of plural types of absolute motion for the object, first input means for inputting the parameter of motion pattern of absolute motion of the object, first selecting means for selecting the motion pattern of absolute motion of the object, first calculating means for calculating the absolute coordinates of the object by applying the inputted parameter to the motion pattern being read out from said first memory means on the basis of the selection by said first selecting means, second memory means for storing motion patterns of plural types of absolute motion for the reference point, second input means for inputting the parameter of motion pattern of absolute motion of the reference point, second selecting means for selecting the motion pattern of absolute motion of the reference point, second calculating means for calculating the absolute coordinates of the reference point by applying the inputted parameter to the motion pattern being read out from said second memory means on the basis of the selection by said second selecting means, and means for generating the relative coordinates from the both absolute coordinates calculated in said first and second calculating means.

24. An attribute information presenting apparatus of claim 22, wherein said generating means comprises first memory means for storing motion patterns of plural types of absolute motion for the object, first input means for inputting the parameter of motion pattern of absolute motion of the object, first selecting means for selecting the motion pattern of absolute motion of the object, first calculating means for calculating a time series of absolute motion parameters of the object every time it changes by applying the inputted parameter to the motion pattern being read out from said first memory means on the basis of the selection by said first selecting means, second memory means for storing motion patterns of plural types of absolute motion for the reference point, second input means for inputting the parameter of motion pattern of absolute motion of the reference point, second selecting means for selecting the motion pattern of absolute motion of the reference point, second calculating means for calculating a time series of absolute motion parameters of the reference point every time it changes by applying the inputted parameter to the motion pattern being read out from said second memory means on the basis of the selection by said second selecting means, third calculating means for calculating the relative motion parameter of the object to the reference point from the both absolute motion parameters calculated in said first and second calculating means, and means for generating the relative coordinates on the basis of the relative motion parameter calculated in said third calculating means.

25. A multimedia system for presenting attribute information for multimedia of an object to be presented at a viewer point according to a relative distance and direction of the object to the viewer point, comprising:

input means for inputting relative coordinates of the object representing distances and directions to the viewer point;

storing means for storing attribute information for multimedia of the object to be presented at the viewer point when the object is present at plural relative positions to the viewer point; and

reading means for reading out the attribute information from said storing means according to the relative coordinates inputted in said input means.

26. A multimedia system for presenting attribute information for multimedia of an object to be presented at a viewer point according to a relative distance and direction from the object to the viewer point, comprising:

relative coordinate preparing means for preparing a time series of relative coordinates of the object to the viewer point by assigning the relative motion of the object to the viewer point or each absolute motion of the object and viewer point; and

creating means for creating attribute information on the object according to the relative positions and directions to the object to the viewer point on the basis of the prepared relative coordinates.