Marker layout method, mixed reality apparatus, and mixed reality space image generation method

• US 7,408,561 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohshima, Toshikazu, Sato, Kiyohide
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang; Ryan R
• Application Number:
  US11/087,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 345/633, 382/154
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

There is disclosed a marker layout method in a mixed reality space, which can reliably detect markers in units of players, even when a plurality of players share a common mixed reality space. According to this invention, markers to be used by only a given player are laid out at positions that cannot be seen from other players. Real objects used in an application that uses a mixed reality space may be used.

Claims

1. An information processing method comprising:

obtaining a model of a real object;

obtaining information indicating a movable range of a viewpoint of a given player;

obtaining a layout condition of markers;

computing a range in which the given player can see but the lines of sight of other players are intercepted based on the model of the real object, the information indicating a movable range of a viewpoint of the given player, and the layout condition; and

determining positions at which the markers are to be laid out based on the computed range,

wherein the markers are used for detecting the viewpoint and an orientation of the player.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the layout condition is a layout rule.

3. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the layout condition is the number of the markers.

4. The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing, for each player, the information indicating a movable range of the viewpoint of a player.

5. A computer-readable storage medium containing code for performing an information processing method comprising:

obtaining a model of a real object;

obtaining information indicating a movable range of a viewpoint of a given player;

obtaining a layout condition of markers;

computing a range in which the given player can see but the lines of sight of other players are intercepted based on the model of the real object, the information indicating a movable range of a viewpoint of the given player, and the layout condition; and

determining positions at which the markers are to be laid out based on the computed range,

wherein the markers are used for detecting the viewpoint and an orientation of the player.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an obtaining unit, which obtains a model of a real object, information indicating a movable range of a viewpoint of a given player, and a layout condition of markers;

a processing unit, which computes a range in which the given player can see but the lines of sight of other players are intercepted based on the model of the real object, the information indicating a movable range of a viewpoint of the given player and the layout condition; and

a determination unit, which determines positions at which the markers are to be laid out based on the computed range,

wherein the markers are used for detecting the viewpoint and an orientation of the player.