Information processing system, robot apparatus, and control method therefor

• US 8,417,384 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Togawa, Keiji, Chatani, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US12/142,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 901/1
• US Class Current: 700/258
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/18 Figure toys which perform a realistic walking motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/00 Robots

Abstract

Provided is an information processing system including a display device for displaying an image on a display screen, and a robot apparatus for performing input/output of information from/to a user. The information processing system acquires a position of the display screen in a real space, and moves the robot apparatus based on the acquired position of the display screen.

Claims

1. An information processing system, comprising:

a display device configured to display an image on a display screen;

a robot apparatus configured to perform input/output of information from/to a user, the display device being separate from the robot apparatus;

screen position acquisition means configured to acquire a position of the display screen in a real space;

user position acquisition means configured to acquire a position of the user in the real space; and

movement control means configured to;

(i) determine a range of positions within which the robot apparatus is allowed to move based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user, (ii) move the robot apparatus based on the position of the display screen acquired by the screen position acquisition means and the position of the user acquired by the user position acquisition means, and (iii) determine a possible movement area for the robot apparatus based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user, and moves the robot apparatus according to the determined possible movement area,

wherein the possible movement area includes an area located between the position of the user and the position of the display screen, excluding a first buffer area located at least partially around the position of the user, and excluding a second buffer area located at least partially around the position of the display screen, and the robot apparatus is configured to be moved within the range, and allows the user to visually recognize the robot apparatus and the display screen with ease.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the possible movement area comprises an area in which an angle formed between a line drawn from the position of the user toward each point within the possible movement area and a line drawn from the position of the user toward the display screen is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

3. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the movement control means changes a direction in which the robot apparatus inputs/outputs information based on the position of the user.

4. An information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing a position of a display element displayed on the display screen according to the position of the robot apparatus moved by the movement control means and the position of the user.

5. A robot apparatus for performing input/output of information from/to a user, which is connected to a display device for displaying an image on a display screen, comprising:

screen position acquisition means configured to acquire a position of the display screen in a real space;

user position acquisition means configured to acquire a position of the user in the real space; and

movement control means configured to;

(i) determine a range of positions within which the robot apparatus is allowed to move based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user, (ii) move the robot apparatus based on the position of the display screen acquired by the screen position acquisition means and the position of the user acquired by the user position acquisition means, and (iii) determine a possible movement area for the robot apparatus based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user, and moves the robot apparatus according to the determined possible movement area,

wherein the possible movement area includes an area located between the position of the user and the position of the display screen, excluding a first buffer area located at least partially around the position of the user, and excluding a second buffer area located at least partially around the position of the display screen, and the robot apparatus is configured to be moved within the range, and allows the user to visually recognize the robot apparatus and the display screen with ease.

6. A control method for a robot apparatus for performing input/output of information from/to a user, which is connected to a display device for displaying an image on a display screen, comprising:

acquiring a position of the display screen in a real space;

acquiring a position of the user in the real space;

determining a range of positions within which the robot apparatus is allowed to move based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user;

moving the robot apparatus, with movement control means, based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user; and

determining a possible movement area for the robot apparatus based on the position of the display screen and the position of the user, and moving the robot apparatus according to the determined possible movement area,

wherein the possible movement area includes an area located between the position of the user and the position of the display screen, excluding a first buffer area located at least partially around the position of the user, and excluding a second buffer area located at least partially around the position of the display screen, and the robot apparatus is moved within the range, and the method allows the user to visually recognize the robot apparatus and the display screen with ease.