Information processing apparatus and information processing method

• US 8,154,548 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuroki, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Richer, Aaron M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Craddock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/526,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 345/632, 345/440.1, 345/633, 345/474, 345/440
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A measured value of a physical quantity measured using a measuring device within a predetermined region on a real space, and a position where the measuring device performs measurement are acquired (S1001 to S1003). An analytic value of the physical quantity at that position in the predetermined region is calculated (S1004). A first object representing the measured value and a second object representing the analytic value are arranged at a place corresponding to this position on a virtual space having a coordinate system which matches the coordinate system of the real space (S1005, S1006). An image which is seen upon viewing the virtual space on which the first and second objects are arranged from a viewpoint is generated, and the generated image is output (S1008, S1009).

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

first acquisition unit constructed to acquire a measured value of a physical quantity indicating movement of a measurement target existing in a predetermined region on a real space, by measuring the physical quantity indicating the movement at a position of a measuring device using the measuring device;

second acquisition unit constructed to acquire the position where the measuring device performs the measurement;

calculation unit constructed to calculate a simulation value of the physical quantity indicating the movement of the measurement target at the position by executing simulation calculation processing of the physical quantity, by using calculation model formulas used for the simulation calculation processing of the physical quantity and using data prepared in advance for the predetermined region, wherein the simulation value is a predicted value and includes a difference from the measured value;

first arrangement unit constructed to arrange a first vector type object, whose direction and length are defined by the measured value acquired by said first acquisition unit at a point corresponding to the position on a virtual space which has a coordinate system that matches a coordinate system of the real space;

second arrangement unit constructed to arrange a second vector type object, whose direction and length are defined by the simulation value calculated by said calculation unit at the point;

third arrangement unit constructed to arrange near the point a third vector type object representing the difference between the measured value represented by the first vector type object and the simulation value represented by the second vector type object, and which is for causing a user to visually recognize the difference between the measured value and the simulation value;

generation unit constructed to generate an image which is seen upon viewing the virtual space on which the first, second, and third vector type objects are arranged from a viewpoint of the user; and

output unit constructed to output the image generated by said generation unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

third acquisition unit constructed to acquire a position and orientation of a head mounted display which is worn on a head of an observer of the virtual space, and

wherein said generation unit generates the image which is seen upon viewing the virtual space on which the first, second, and third vector type objects are arranged from a viewpoint having the position and orientation acquired by said third acquisition unit, and

said output unit outputs the image to a display unit of the head mounted display.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generation unit comprises:

first unit constructed to generate an image which is seen upon viewing a virtual space on which the first vector type object is arranged from the viewpoint via a first plane region arranged on the virtual space; and

second unit constructed to generate an image which is seen upon viewing a virtual space on which the second vector type object is arranged from the viewpoint via a second plane region arranged on the virtual space, and

said output unit outputs a result obtained by rendering the image generated by said first unit in the first plane region seen from the viewpoint, and rendering the image generated by said second unit in the second plane region seen from the viewpoint.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generation unit comprises:

first unit constructed to generate an image which is seen upon viewing a virtual space on which the first vector type object is arranged from the viewpoint via a first rectangular solid arranged on the virtual space; and

second unit constructed to generate an image which is seen upon viewing a virtual space on which the second vector type object is arranged from the viewpoint via a second rectangular solid arranged on the virtual space, and

said output unit outputs a result obtained by rendering the image generated by said first unit in the first rectangular solid seen from the viewpoint, and rendering the image generated by said second unit in the second rectangular solid seen from the viewpoint.

5. An information processing method comprising:

a first acquisition step of acquiring a measured value of a physical quantity indicating movement of a measurement target existing in a predetermined region on a real space, by measuring the physical quantity indicating the movement at a position of a measuring device using the measuring device;

a second acquisition step of acquiring the position where the measuring device performs the measurement;

a calculation step of calculating a simulation value of the physical quantity indicating the movement of the measurement target at the position by executing simulation calculation processing of the physical quantity, by using calculation model formulas used for the simulation calculation processing of the physical quantity and using data prepared in advance for the predetermined region, wherein the simulation value is a predicted value and includes a difference from the measured value;

a first arrangement step of arranging a first vector type object, whose direction and length are defined by the measured value acquired in the first acquisition step at a point corresponding to the position on a virtual space which has a coordinate system that matches a coordinate system of the real space;

a second arrangement step of arranging a second vector type object, whose direction and length are defined by the simulation value calculated in said calculation step at the point;

a third arrangement step of arranging near the point a third vector type object representing the difference between the measured value represented by the first vector type object and the simulation value represented by the second vector type object, and which is for causing a user to visually recognize the difference between the measured value and the simulation value;

a generation step of generating an image which is seen upon viewing the virtual space on which the first, second, and third vector type objects are arranged from a viewpoint of the user; and

an output step of outputting the image generated in the generation step.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium retrievably storing a program for making a computer execute an information processing method according to claim 5.