Output service provision system, virtual object management terminal, mobile object, virtual object management terminal program, mobile object program, and output service provision method

• US 7,191,020 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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 B
• Application Number:
  US11/060,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/18, 700/19, 700/20, 700 83- 86, 700 65- 66, 700/56, 700/69, 700/70, 345/418, 345/419, 345/420, 345/156, 345/702, 345/8, 345/158, 365/185.16, 379/221.15, 379/219, 381/310
• 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 transmit an area-in notification to a projector. Upon receiving the area-in notification, the projector can transmit a projector display data transmission request to a portable terminal and receive projector display data transmitted in response to the transmission request. The projector can then execute a projection process by a projection device on the basis of the received projector display data. The portable terminal can transmit the projector display data to the projector in response to the projector display data transmission request.

Claims

1. A virtual object management device operable in an output service provision system that includes a mobile device and an output device in a real space, the mobile device and the output device each being associated with a corresponding virtual object in a virtual space, the virtual space corresponding to the real space, the virtual object management device comprising:

an interface that is in communication with a database that stores information regarding a shape and position of each virtual object, the shape and position information of the output device virtual object being stored in association with an output service provided by the output device; and

a processor configured to (i) update the position information of the virtual objects stored in the database, (ii) determine whether an area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to an area defined by the shape and position of the output device virtual object, and (iii) control, directly or indirectly, the output service of the output device based on the determination.

2. A virtual object management device as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that the area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object overlaps the area defined by the shape and position of the output device virtual object.

3. A mobile device adapted for communication with a virtual object management device in an output service provision system that includes an output device in a real space, the mobile device and the output device each being associated with a corresponding virtual object in a virtual space, the virtual space corresponding to the real space, the mobile device comprising:

a positional information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicative of the position of the mobile device;

a communication unit adapted for communication with a database that stores information regarding a shape and position of each virtual object, the shape and position information of the output device virtual object being stored in association with an output service provided by the output device, the position information of the mobile device virtual object being updated based on the position information acquired by the positional information acquisition unit; and

processing circuitry for determining, based on the shape and position information of the output device virtual object and the shape and position information of the mobile device virtual object, whether an area defined by the shape and position of the output device virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to an area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object.

4. A mobile device as recited in claim 3, wherein the predetermined condition is that the area defined by the shape and position of the output device virtual object overlaps the area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object.

5. A mobile device as recited in claim 3, further comprising output circuitry for transmitting output data to the output device based on the determination made by the processing circuitry.

6. An output service provision system, comprising:

a portable terminal;

a plurality of output devices;

a virtual object management device configured to create and update virtual objects, one for each output device and for the portable terminal;

a database that stores information regarding a shape and position of each virtual object, the shape and position information of each output device virtual object being stored in association with an output service provided by the output device; and

a processor, embodied in the portable terminal, one of the output devices or the virtual object management device, configured to (i) update the position information of the virtual objects stored in the database, (ii) determine whether an area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to an area defined by the shape and position of one of the output device virtual objects, and (iii) control, directly or indirectly, the output service of that output device based on the determination.

7. An output service provision system as recited in claim 6, wherein the database includes a virtual object management table that stores information regarding a shape and position of each virtual object in association with a type of service to be provided to, or received by, the corresponding terminal or device.

8. An output service provision system as recited in claim 7, wherein the database further includes a communication information registration table that associates each virtual object with externally acquired communication object data for a corresponding service type.

9. A virtual object management device operable in an output service provision system that includes a mobile device and an output device in a real space, the mobile device and the output device each being associated with a corresponding virtual object in a virtual space, the virtual space corresponding to the real space, the virtual object management device comprising:

an interface that is in communication with a database that stores information regarding a shape and position of each virtual object, the shape and position information of the output device virtual object being stored in association with an output service provided by the output device; and

program instructions containing instructions for;

updating the information regarding the shape and position of the mobile device upon receiving positional information indicative of a change in position of the mobile device, and

determining whether an area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to an area defined by the shape and position of the output device virtual object.

10. A mobile device adapted for communication with a virtual object management device in an output service provision system that includes an output device in a real space, the mobile device and the output device each being associated with a corresponding virtual object in a virtual space, the virtual space corresponding to the real space, the mobile device comprising:

a positional information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicative of the position of the mobile device;

a communication unit adapted for communication with a database that stores information regarding a shape and position of each virtual object, the shape and position information of the output device virtual object being stored in association with an output service provided by the output device, the position information of the mobile device virtual object being updated based on the position information acquired by the positional information acquisition unit; and

program instructions for determining, based on the shape and position information of the output device virtual object and the shape and position information of the mobile device virtual object, whether an area defined by the shape and position of the output device virtual object satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to an area defined by the shape and position of the mobile device virtual object.