Information processing apparatus and information display method

• US 7,089,505 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Minoshima, Toshikazu, Nagahara, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US10/300,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848, 715/854, 715/764, 715/853, 715/804
• US Class Current: 715/848
• 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
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In an information processing apparatus and an information display method of this invention, user operates client computer to connect it to server computer by using communication line to carry out, when user accepts offer of service, e.g., offer of information, video viewing or order of goods, etc., an operation to display entrance hall within virtually actualized space on the display of the client computer, and to further display thereon plural shops by a specific pattern in relation to the entrance hall. As an example of the specific pattern, there is used a pattern such that entrance hall is disposed at one side of polygon, respective shops are disposed at other respective sides, and the entrance hall is caused to have a height capable of viewing other respective shops by bird'"'"'s eye. Thus, in the three-dimensional GUI, the retrievability and the functional availability are increased. In addition, it becomes possible to also adopt, in a natural form, the concept with which many users who have used the two-dimensional GUI are familiar.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

control means for controlling view point information of virtual user within virtual space in accordance with input information from user;

memory means for storing virtual space structured data, the virtual space structured data being data caused to be of hierarchical structure with each of predetermined areas obtained by dividing the virtual space being as node, and indicating that plural objects and entrance hall area for collectively or panoramically displaying the objects, which are linked to low order node, are disposed within the predetermined area of the virtual space; and

display means for displaying the virtual space on the basis of the virtual space structured data which has been read out in accordance with the view point information of the virtual user;

wherein the virtual space structured data is data indicating that the entrance hall area is disposed at a position where the objects are viewed by bird'"'"'s eye.

2. An information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the virtual space structured data is data indicating that, within the predetermined area, linear corridor area connected to the entrance area and the objects are disposed along the corridor area.

3. An information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the virtual space structured data is data indicating that the objects are disposed only at one side of the corridor area.

4. An information display method comprising:

a control step of controlling view point information of virtual user within virtual space in accordance with input information from user;

a read-out step of reading virtual space structured data from a memory unit in accordance with the viewpoint information of the virtual user, the virtual space structured data being data caused to be of hierarchical structure with each of predetermined areas obtained by dividing the virtual space being as node, and indicating that plural objects and entrance hall area for collectively or panoramically displaying the objects, which are linked to low order node, are disposed within the predetermined area of the virtual space; and

a display step of displaying the virtual space on the basis of the virtual space structured data;

wherein the virtual space structured data is data indicating that the entrance hall area is disposed at a position where the objects are viewed by bird'"'"'s eye.

5. An information display method as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the virtual space structured data is data indicating that, within the predetermined area, linear corridor area connected to the entrance area is disposed and the objects are disposed along the corridor area.

6. An information display method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the virtual space structured data is data indicating that the objects are disposed only at one side of the corridor area.