Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information recording medium, and program

• US 8,884,924 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• 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: Kawaguchi, Satoshi, Takeuchi, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Haley, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANK, EMILY J
• Application Number:
  US13/121,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/175
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus having a user interface for enabling a user to readily give an instruction. A distance distribution image obtaining unit obtains a distance distribution image produced based a measured result output from a distance distribution measuring unit for measuring distance distribution to an object within a predetermined view field. An instruction content data producing unit produces instruction content data, based on the distance distribution image. An information processing execution unit obtains the instruction content data produced by the instruction content data producing unit, and carries out information processing based on the instruction content data.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for obtaining instruction content data describing content of a user instruction and for carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, comprising:

a distance distribution image obtaining unit configured to obtain a distance distribution image produced based on a measured result output from a distance distribution measuring unit configured to measure a distance distribution from the information processing apparatus to an object of a user within a predetermined view field, the distance distribution image showing the distance distribution;

an instruction content data producing unit configured to produce the instruction content data, based on the distance distribution image, where only one or more portions of the distance distribution image corresponding to distances between the information processing apparatus and the object of the user at or below a predetermined distance are used as a basis for producing the instruction content data; and

an information processing executing unit configured to obtain the instruction content data produced by the instruction content data producing unit and for carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, wherein the information processing includes at least one of;

displaying an image element on a display at a position dictated by the instruction content data, and moving the image element based on the instruction content data.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an area specifying unit configured to specify an area in the distance distribution image of the object of the user, the area being related to the predetermined distance and satisfying a predetermined condition that the area of the object of the user is at or below the predetermined distance to the information processing apparatus, wherein the instruction content data producing unit produces the instruction content data, based on a position of the area specified by the area specifying unit in the distance distribution image.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the area specifying unit specifies, as to each of a plurality of predetermined conditions, an area in the distance distribution image, the area related to a distance shown in the distance distribution image and satisfying the predetermined condition, and

the instruction content data producing unit produces the instruction content data, based on a position of each area specified by the area specifying unit in the distance distribution image.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the distance distribution image obtaining unit sequentially obtains the distance distribution image produced based on the measured result sequentially output from the distance distribution measuring unit for sequentially measuring the distance distribution, and

the instruction content data producing unit produces the instruction content data, based on a difference between two or more distance distribution images.

5. An information processing method for obtaining instruction content data describing content of a user instruction and for carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, comprising:

obtaining a distance distribution image produced based on a measured result output from a distance distribution measuring unit configured to measure a distance distribution from the information processing apparatus to an object of a user within a predetermined view field, the distance distribution image showing the distance distribution;

producing the instruction content data, based on the distance distribution image, where only one or more portions of the distance distribution image corresponding to distances between the information processing apparatus and the object of the user at or below a predetermined distance are used as a basis for producing the instruction content data; and

carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, wherein the information processing includes at least one of;

displaying an image element on a display at a position dictated by the instruction content data, and moving the image element based on the instruction content data.

6. A non-transitory, computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as an information processing apparatus for obtaining instruction content data describing content of a user instruction and for carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, the program for causing the computer to function as:

a distance distribution image obtaining unit configured to obtain a distance distribution image produced based on a measured result output from a distance distribution measuring unit configured to measure a distance distribution from the information processing apparatus to an object of a user within a predetermined view field, the distance distribution image showing the distance distribution;

an instruction content data producing unit configured to produce the instruction content data, based on the distance distribution image, where only one or more portions of the distance distribution image corresponding to distances between the information processing apparatus and the object of the user at or below a predetermined distance are used as a basis for producing the instruction content data; and

an information processing executing unit configured to obtain the instruction content data produced by the instruction content data producing unit and for carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, wherein the information processing includes at least one of;

displaying an image element on a display at a position dictated by the instruction content data, and moving the image element based on the instruction content data.

7. A computer including a processor operating to execute a program, which causes the computer to function as an information processing apparatus for obtaining instruction content data describing content of a user instruction and for carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, the program for causing the computer to execute actions, comprising:

obtaining a distance distribution image produced based on a measured result output from a distance distribution measuring unit configured to measure a distance distribution from the information processing apparatus to an object of a user within a predetermined view field, the distance distribution image showing the distance distribution;

producing the instruction content data, based on the distance distribution image, where only one or more portions of the distance distribution image corresponding to distances between the information processing apparatus and the object of the user at or below a predetermined distance are used as a basis for producing the instruction content data; and

carrying out information processing based on the instruction content data, wherein the information processing includes at least one of;

displaying an image element on a display at a position dictated by the instruction content data, and moving the image element based on the instruction content data.