Three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing apparatus, a three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing method, and an information providing medium

• US 6,437,777 B1
• Filed: 09/26/1997
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nashida, Tatsushi, Kamachi, Teruhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US08/938,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/433, 345/435, 345/619, 345/629, 345/679, 707/500.1
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• 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: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

In a virtual reality space shareable between users, messages to users are displayed such that they attract attention of users by effective,use of a display screen. When a browser is connected to a bureau, a status message indicating a communication state is displayed over an already displayed virtual reality space in a preset message display area 113 of a three-dimensional virtual reality space image in the browser. Further, the displayed message is scrolled according to its display attribute information. The novel constitution allows, by effective use of a minimum occupation area:, displaying of messages useful for the user who wants to use a three-dimensional virtual reality space while prompting the user to focus attention to the display.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing apparatus for decoding three-dimensional graphics data to display a corresponding three-dimensional virtual reality space image on a display screen of a display device, comprising:

message acquiring means for acquiring a message associated with a three-dimensional virtual reality space image to be displayed on said display screen; and

message superimposed displaying means for displaying the message acquired by said message acquiring means into a preset area within said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in a predetermined overlay manner;

wherein the position of said preset area is in a predetermined position within said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising communication means for transferring update information about said three-dimensional virtual reality space image,

wherein said message acquiring means acquires a message corresponding to a connection state of said communication means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (virtual Reality Modeling Language).

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said message superimposed displaying means displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said message superimposed displaying means, if said display:

attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising selecting means for selecting any of objects displayed as said three-dimensional virtual reality space image,

wherein said message acquiring means acquires, in a state in which said any of objects is selected, a message corresponding to the selected object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said message superimposed displaying means displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said message superimposed displaying means, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said message superimposed displaying means displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said message superimposed displaying means, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said message superimposed displaying means displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said message superimposed displaying means, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said message superimposed displaying means, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

22. A three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing method for decoding three-dimensional graphics data to display a corresponding three-dimensional virtual reality space image on a display screen of a display device, comprising the steps of

acquiring a message associated with a three-dimensional virtual reality space image to be displayed on said display screen;

and

displaying the message acquired by said message acquiring means into a preset area within said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in a predetermined overlay manner;

wherein the position of said preset area is in a predetermined position within said virtual reality space image.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of transferring update information about said three-dimensional virtual reality space image,

wherein said step of acquiring acquires a message corresponding to a connection state of said transferring step.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said displaying step displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said displaying step, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of selecting any of objects displayed as said three-dimensional virtual reality space image,

wherein said acquiring step acquires, in a state in which said any of objects is selected, a message corresponding to the selected object.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said displaying step displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said displaying step, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said displaying step displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said displaying step, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

37. The method of claim 22 wherein said displaying step displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said displaying step, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

40. The method of claim 22 wherein said displaying step, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

42. The method of claim 22 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

43. An information providing medium for providing a computer program to be executed by a three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing method for decoding three-dimensional graphics data to display a corresponding three-dimensional virtual reality space image on a display screen of a display device, said computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring a message associated with a three-dimensional virtual reality space image to be displayed on said display screen;

and displaying the message acquired by said message acquiring means into a preset area within said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in a predetermined overlay manner;

wherein the position of said preset area is in a predetermined position within said virtual reality space image.

44. A three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing apparatus for decoding three-dimensional graphics data to display a corresponding three-dimensional virtual reality space image on a display screen of a display device, comprising:

a message acquiring unit for acquiring a message associated with a three-dimensional virtual reality space image to be displayed on said display screen; and

a message superimposed displaying unit for displaying the message acquired by said message acquiring unit into a preset area within said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in a predetermined overlay manner;

wherein the position of said preset area is in a predetermined position within said virtual reality space image.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a communication unit for transferring update information about said three-dimensional virtual reality space image,

wherein said message acquiring unit acquires a message corresponding to a connection state of said communication unit.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

50. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a selecting unit for selecting any of objects displayed as said three-dimensional virtual reality space image,

wherein said message acquiring unit acquires, in a state in which said any of objects is selected, a message corresponding to the selected object.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

55. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said three-dimensional graphics data is described in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

59. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit displays said message in a preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said predetermined overlay manner in a form corresponding to display attribute information attached to said message.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

62. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said message superimposed displaying unit, if said display attribute information is not attached to said message, displays said message in said preset area of said three-dimensional virtual reality space image in said overlay manner in a predetermined scrolled manner.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.

64. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said predetermined position is at a lower portion of said virtual reality space image on said display screen.