Output service providing system that updates information based on positional information, terminal, and method of providing output service

• US 6,961,629 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fukui, Yoshiki, Taniguchi, Shinya, Kitada, Naruhide
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US10/245,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 700/18, 700/19, 700/20, 700/17, 700 83- 86, 700 65- 66, 700/56, 700/69, 700/70, 345/418, 345/419, 345/420
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• 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

Abstract

This invention provides an output service provision system which is capable of allowing a user to easily receive a provided output service, providing an output service responsive to the user and flexibly coping with situational variations.

Upon determining that a virtual object B is in an area-in state with respect to a virtual object A, a virtual object management device can transmits an area-in notification to a projector. Upon receiving the area-in notification, the projector can transmits a projector display data transmission request to a portable terminal and receives projector display data transmitted in response to the transmission request. The projector can then executes a projection process by a projection device on the basis of the received projector display data. The portable terminal can transmits the projector display data to the projector in response to the projector display data transmission request.

Claims

1. An output service provision system that provides an output service associated with an output of an output device corresponding to a first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space on the basis of a positional relation between the first virtual object and a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile device that is arranged at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, the output service provision system comprising:

a first storage device that stores first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device;

a second storage device that stores second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said mobile object; and

a positional information acquisition device that acquires positional information specifying the position of said mobile object;

said second object information in said second storage device being updated on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition device, and providing said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object upon determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, that an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

2. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 1, a virtual object management terminal for managing said virtual object being connected with said mobile object in a communicatable manner;

said mobile object including said positional information acquisition device, and being adapted to transmit said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition device to said virtual object management terminal; and

said virtual object management terminal including said first storage device and second storage device, and being adapted to, upon receiving said positional information, update said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of the received positional information, and to determine, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

3. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an output data storage device that stores output data, which is transmitted to said output device, in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

and

said virtual object management terminal being adapted to transmit output data corresponding to said mobile object as said second virtual object, among said output data in said output data storage device, to said output device as said first virtual object if it is determined that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

4. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an output data storage device that stores output data, which is transmitted to said output device, in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

and

said mobile object being adapted to transmit output data corresponding to said mobile object as said second virtual object, among said output data in said output data storage device, to said output device as said first virtual object if it is determined that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

5. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 2, said virtual object management terminal further including:

an input device that receives input contents regarding at least one of creation, deletion, and update of said first object information; and

an object information processing device that creates, deletes, and updates said first object information on the basis of said input contents received by said input device.

6. A virtual object management terminal communicatably connected with the mobile object in the output service provision system as set forth in claim 2, comprising:

a first storage device that stores said first object information in a manner corresponding to said output device; and

a second storage device that stores said second object information in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

said second object information in said second storage device being updated on the basis of said positional information upon receiving said positional information, and providing the determination, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

7. A virtual object management terminal program run in the virtual object management terminal, as a computer, as set forth in claim 6, the virtual object management terminal program comprising:

a process of updating said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of said positional information upon receiving said positional information; and

a process of determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

8. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 1, a virtual object management terminal for managing said virtual object being connected with said mobile object in a communicatable manner;

said virtual object management terminal including said first storage device, and being adapted to transmit said first object information in said first storage device to said mobile object; and

said mobile object including said second storage device and positional information acquisition device, and being adapted to update said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition device, and to, upon receiving said first object information, determine, on the basis of the received first object information and said second object information in said second storage device, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

9. A mobile object communicatably connected with the virtual object management terminal in the output service provision system as set forth in claim 8, comprising:

a second storage device that stores said second object information in a manner corresponding to the mobile object; and

a positional information acquisition device that acquires positional information specifying the position of the mobile object;

said second object information in said second storage device being updated on the basis of said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition device and, upon receiving said first object information, and providing the determination, on the basis of the received first object information and said second object information in said second storage device, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

10. A mobile object program run in the mobile object, as a computer, as set forth in claim 9, the mobile object program comprising:

a process of updating said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of said positional information acquired from said positional information acquisition device; and

a process of determining, upon receiving said first object information, on the basis of the received first object information and said second object information in said second storage device, whether said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object.

11. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 1, said output device being a projection-type display device.

12. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing virtual objects, an output device, and a portable terminal in a communicatable manner, allowing a first virtual object corresponding to said output device and allowing a second virtual object corresponding to said portable terminal, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said portable terminal in virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

a positional information acquisition device that acquires positional information specifying the position of said portable terminal;

said virtual object management terminal including a first storage device that stores first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and a second storage device that stores second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said portable terminal, and is adapted to update said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition device, and transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, that an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

said portable terminal including an output data storage device that stores output data, which is transmitted to said output device, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data in said output data storage device to said output device associated with the received provision request; and

said output device being adapted to, upon receiving said output data, provide output on the basis of the received output data.

13. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 12, said portable terminal being connected with a communication service provision terminal in a communicatable manner, said communication service provision terminal providing a service for communication with said portable terminal;

said communication service provision terminal including a constituent information storage device for storing communication establishment device constituent information, said constituent information constituting communication establishment means for establishing communication with said portable terminal;

said virtual object management terminal being adapted to transmit said provision request to said output device corresponding to said first virtual object upon determining that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

said output device being adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, acquire said communication establishment means constituent information from said communication service provision terminal, constitute said communication establishment device on the basis of the acquired communication establishment means constituent information, and transmit the provision request to said portable terminal associated with said received provision request on the basis of the constituted communication establishment device; and

said portable terminal being adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data in said output data storage device to said output device associated with the received provision request.

14. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing virtual objects, an output device, and a portable object management terminal managing a portable object in a communicatable manner, allowing a first virtual objects corresponding to said output device and allowing a second virtual objects corresponding to said portable object, respectively, arranging said first virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space and arranging said second virtual object at a position of said portable object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, respectively, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

a positional information acquisition device that acquires positional information specifying the position of said portable object;

said virtual object management terminal including a first storage device that stores first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and a second storage device that stores second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said portable object, and is adapted to update said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition device, and transmits a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, that an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

said portable object management terminal including an output data storage device that stores output data, which is transmitted to said output device, in a manner corresponding to said portable object, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit output data corresponding to said portable object associated with the received provision request, among said output data in said output data storage device, to said output device associated with the received provision request; and

said output device being adapted to, upon receiving said output data, provide output on the basis of the received output data.

15. The output service provision system as set forth in claim 14, said portable object management terminal being connected with a communication service provision terminal in a communicatable manner, said communication service provision terminal providing a service for communication with said portable object management terminal;

said communication service provision terminal including a constituent information storage device that stores communication establishment means constituent information, said constituent information constituting communication establishment means for establishing communication with said portable object management terminal;

said virtual object management terminal being adapted to transmit said provision request to said output device corresponding to said first virtual object upon determining that said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with said area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object;

said output device being adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, acquire said communication establishment means constituent information from said communication service provision terminal, constitute said communication establishment device on the basis of the acquired communication establishment means constituent information, and transmit the provision request to said portable object management terminal associated with said received provision request on the basis of the constituted communication establishment means; and

said portable object management terminal being adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data corresponding to said portable object associated with the received provision request, among said output data in said output data storage device, to said output device associated with the received provision request.

16. An output service provision system that provides an output service associated with an output of an output device corresponding to a first virtual object that is arranged on the basis of a positional relation between the first virtual object and a second virtual object, corresponding to a mobile device that is arranged at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, the output service provision system comprising:

a first storage device that stores first object information regarding said first virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device;

a second storage device that stores second object information regarding said second virtual object in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object being provided, upon determining on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, that said positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition;

an input device that receives input contents regarding creation, deletion, or update of said first object information; and

an object information processing device that creates, deletes or updates said first object information on the basis of said input contents received by said input device.

17. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing a virtual object, an output device, and a portable terminal in a communicatable manner, allowing said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, arranging said virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said portable terminal and said virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

a positional information acquisition device that acquires positional information specifying the position of said portable terminal;

said virtual object management terminal including an object information storage device that stores object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and is adapted to transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition device and said object information in said object information storage device, that said portable terminal exists in an internal area of said virtual object specified by said shape and disposed position of said virtual object;

said portable terminal including an output data storage device that stores output data, which is transmitted to said output device, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit said output data in said output data storage device to said output device associated with the received provision request; and

said output device being adapted to, upon receiving said output data, provide its output on the basis of the received output data.

18. An output service provision system for interconnecting a virtual object management terminal managing a virtual object, an output device, and a portable object management terminal managing a portable object in a communicatable manner, allowing said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, arranging said virtual object in a virtual space corresponding to a real space, and providing an output service associated with an output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object on the basis of a positional relation between said portable object and said virtual object, the output service provision system comprising:

a positional information acquisition device that acquires positional information specifying the position of said portable object;

said virtual object management terminal including an object information storage device that stores object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said virtual object in a manner corresponding to said output device, and is adapted to transmit a provision request to provide said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object, upon determining, on the basis of said positional information acquired by said positional information acquisition device and said object information in said object information storage device, that said portable object exists in an internal area of said virtual object specified by said shape and disposed position of said virtual object; and

said portable object management terminal including an output data storage device that stores output data to said output device in a manner corresponding to said portable object, and is adapted to, upon receiving said provision request, transmit output data corresponding to said portable object associated with the received provision request, among said output data in said output data storage device, to said output device associated with the received provision request.

19. An output service provision method that provides an output service associated with an output of an output device corresponding to a first virtual object that is arranged in a virtual space corresponding to a real space on the basis of a positional relation between said first virtual object and a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile device that is arranged at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, the output service provision method comprising:

storing first object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said first virtual object in a first storage device in a manner corresponding to said output device;

storing second object information regarding a shape and disposed position of said second virtual object in a second storage device in a manner corresponding to said mobile object; and

acquiring positional information specifying the position of said mobile object;

updating said second object information in said second storage device on the basis of said positional information acquired at said positional information acquisition step;

determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, whether an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said first virtual object is overlapped with an area specified by said shape and disposed position of said second virtual object; and

providing said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said first virtual object if the result of determination at said overlap determination step is overlap.

20. An output service provision method that provides an output service associated with an output of an output device corresponding to said first virtual object that is arranged in a virtual space corresponding to a real space on the basis of a positional relation between the first virtual object and a second virtual object corresponding to a mobile device that is arranged at a position of said mobile object in said virtual space or the vicinity thereof, the output service provision method comprising:

storing first object information regarding said first virtual object in first storage device in a manner corresponding to said output device;

storing second object information regarding said second virtual object in second storage device in a manner corresponding to said mobile object;

determining, on the basis of said first object information in said first storage device and said second object information in said second storage device, whether said positional relation between said first virtual object and said second virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition;

providing said output service associated with the output of said output device corresponding to said virtual object if the result of determination at said positional relation determination step is that said predetermined condition is satisfied;

receiving input contents regarding creation, deletion, or update of said first object information; and

creating, deleting, or updating said first object information on the basis of said input contents at said input step.