JP2003317116A - Device and method for information presentation in three- dimensional virtual space and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attract user's attention without a target building being embedded among many building objects such as a building and a house. <P>SOLUTION: The character that a person pays attention to a thing in motion is used to animate a specified object in a three-dimensional space in three dimensions. The user's attention can be attracted to a specified object such as a building at a destination in the virtual space displayed on a screen, so the user can easily find the object which tries to draw the attention of the user whatever object the user selects or the system side tries to attract the user's attention to. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information presenting apparatus and information presenting method in a three-dimensional virtual space, and a computer program, and more particularly, in a three-dimensional virtual space composed of a plurality of buildings such as buildings and houses. The present invention relates to an information presentation device, an information presentation method, and a computer program.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an information presenting apparatus and an information presenting method for calling a user's attention to a target display object in a three-dimensional virtual space, and a computer program, and is applicable to a large number of buildings and houses. The present invention relates to an information presenting device, an information presenting method, and a computer program that attract attention of a user without a target building being buried in a building object.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in combination with improvement of calculation speed and enhancement of drawing function in computer systems, computer resources are used to create and process graphics and images.
So-called "computer graphics" (CG) technology has been actively researched and developed, and has been put to practical use.

For example, in three-dimensional graphics, a mathematical model represents an optical phenomenon when a three-dimensional object is illuminated by a predetermined light source, and the object surface is shaded or shaded based on the model. Is a pattern that is pasted to generate a more realistic and three-dimensional two-dimensional high-definition image. Computer Graphics is a CA in application fields such as science, engineering and manufacturing.
It is increasingly used in D / CAM and other various development fields.

Recently, computer graphics has been applied to generate a three-dimensional virtual space or an augmented reality space. For example, by interacting with a large number of logged-in users in a virtual society developed in a three-dimensional virtual space, a more realistic and exciting simulated experience can be provided. Alternatively, in a navigation system or the like, a high-quality map information display service is provided by displaying a three-dimensional, three-dimensional map image in consideration of topographical undulations, landscapes, and buildings existing on the ground. Can be provided. Alternatively, such three-dimensional map information can be expanded to public services such as flood control simulations and systems using virtual space.

In the navigation system, it is required to more faithfully reproduce the structures such as buildings and houses existing on the ground in the three-dimensional virtual space. In addition, even in a three-dimensional virtual space that realizes a shared society with other users, by arranging a wide variety of buildings, the effect of a more realistic and pseudo experience is enhanced.

On the other hand, finding a target object from a three-dimensional image in which many objects such as buildings are displayed is a difficult or complicated task.

For example, in the navigation system, when the destination building is hidden behind a building in front of it or complicated with other display objects, the effect of destination guidance is rather deteriorated.

Further, in a shared society, when the display of a building that the user originally needs to gaze is buried in another display object, the user's attention is distracted, and a satisfactory simulated experience can be obtained. Disappear.

[0010]

An object of the present invention is to provide a suitable information presentation service in a three-dimensional virtual space composed of a plurality of buildings such as buildings and houses.
An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent information presentation device, information presentation method, and computer program.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent information presenting apparatus, information presenting method, and computer program capable of suitably urging the user's attention to a desired display object in a three-dimensional virtual space. To do.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent information presenting device and information capable of calling the user's attention without burying a target building among a large number of building objects such as buildings and houses. To provide a presentation method and a computer program.

[0013]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and a first aspect thereof is an information presenting apparatus or information presenting method in a three-dimensional virtual space, Object selecting means or step for specifying an object to be displayed in the three-dimensional virtual space, animation generating means or step for generating a deformation animation of the object shape, and animation reproduction for reproducing the animation of the object shape in the three-dimensional virtual space. An information presenting apparatus or an information presenting method characterized by comprising means or steps.

The information presenting apparatus or the information presenting method according to the first aspect of the present invention utilizes the property that a person pays more attention to a moving subject, and it is possible to use a specific feature in a virtual space. The three-dimensional animation of the three-dimensional object can bring about the user's gaze.

That is, since it is possible to draw the user's attention to a specific object such as a building to which the user is going in the three-dimensional virtual space displayed on the screen, the object selected by the user and the system side pay attention to the user. The user can easily find the object for which attention is drawn, regardless of the object for which the user is trying to be prompted.

Here, the object selecting means or step may select the object based on the information search result according to the search condition inputted by the user.

Further, the animation generating means step creates a control solid consisting of a large number of control points arranged in a lattice around the object shape, and maps the deformation of the control solid to the deformation of the object shape, A deformation animation can be generated relatively easily.

The animation generating means or step includes an animation in which the object appears upward from the ground in the three-dimensional virtual space, an animation in which the object expands and contracts in the vertical direction, and an animation in which the object swings in the horizontal direction. An animation that causes an object to disappear toward the ground in a three-dimensional virtual space may be generated.

The object here is a building shape such as a building or a house, and has a location such as a lot number to be arranged in a three-dimensional space. Therefore, the animation reproducing means or step may reproduce the deformation animation at a corresponding place in the three-dimensional virtual space based on the map data.

The animation generating means or step may generate a plurality of patterns of deformation animation for the object shape, and the animation reproducing means or step may switch the deformation animation to be reproduced according to the object selection result. Good.

For example, when a large number of objects are acquired by information retrieval or the like, after reproducing an animation in which all the objects matching the retrieval conditions are made to appear in the three-dimensional virtual space, the one having a high presentation strength level is Further, a deformation animation for highlighting, which swings to the left or right or expands or contracts vertically, may be played back. Alternatively, an animation that causes an object having a low presentation strength level to disappear from the three-dimensional virtual space may be played.

A second aspect of the present invention is a computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute a process for presenting information in a three-dimensional virtual space on a computer system. An object selecting step of specifying an object to be displayed in the three-dimensional virtual space, an animation generating step of generating a deformation animation of the object shape,
An animation reproducing step of reproducing a deformation animation of an object shape in a three-dimensional virtual space, the computer program characterized by the above.

A computer according to the second aspect of the present invention
The program defines a computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to realize a predetermined process on a computer system. In other words, by installing the computer program according to the second aspect of the present invention in the computer system, a cooperative action is exerted on the computer system, and the information presentation according to the first aspect of the present invention. It is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the device or the information presentation method.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are as follows.
It will be apparent from the embodiments of the present invention described later and the more detailed description based on the accompanying drawings.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a functional configuration of an information presentation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the information presentation device 1 includes a central control unit 10,
The display unit 11, the input unit 12, the recording unit 13, the animation generation unit 14, the animation reproduction unit 15, and the communication unit 16 are connected to each other via a bus 17.

The central control unit 10 is a main controller of the information presenting apparatus 1, and is, for example, a CPU (Central Proc
essing unit) and RAM (Random Access Memory), R
It is configured by an OM (Read Only Memory) and executes the program under the execution environment provided by the operating system (OS), thereby controlling the overall operation of the device 1. The program executed by the central control unit 10 can be, for example, a display application of a three-dimensional virtual space such as a three-dimensional map image including a building existing on the ground.

The display unit 11 and the input unit 12 provide a user interface of the information presentation device 1. Display 11
Is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display or LCD
It is composed of a (liquid crystal display) and is used, for example, for displaying a three-dimensional virtual space such as a three-dimensional map image including a building existing on the ground, and for displaying other input data and data processing results. . The input unit 12 is composed of an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and receives input of data and commands from the user.

The recording unit 13 is composed of, for example, a large-capacity external storage device such as a hard disk device, and is used for introducing a program executed by the central control unit 10 and storing other program files and data files. used. Examples of the program introduced into the recording unit 13 include a display application of a three-dimensional virtual space such as a three-dimensional map image including a building existing on the ground. Further, the data stored in the recording unit 13 may include geometric data of a display object used for generating a display image in a three-dimensional virtual space and other data necessary for rendering.

The communication unit 16 is composed of a network interface card (NIC), for example, a LAN.
It is connected to a wide area computer network 3 such as the Internet via a (Local Area Network) or a public telephone network. On the computer network 3,
Various information providing services are implemented by using an information search system such as WWW (World Wide Web). For example, a server 2 that provides map data or 3D building data necessary for displaying a 3D virtual space such as a 3D map image including buildings existing on the ground, for a fee or without charge, is a computer. It is installed on the network 3.

The three-dimensional virtual space display application executed in the central control unit 10 reproduces a building such as a building or a house existing on the ground in the three-dimensional virtual space on the display screen of the display unit 11 to obtain a high quality image. Various navigation services. Further, the map data and the three-dimensional building data necessary for displaying the three-dimensional virtual space are appropriately acquired from the server 3 via the communication unit 16 as needed.

It is a heavy burden for the user to search for a target object from a three-dimensional image in which many objects such as buildings are displayed. Therefore,
In the present embodiment, the characteristic that a person pays more attention to a moving object is used to identify a specific object in the virtual space.
A three-dimensional animation of a three-dimensional object is used to urge the user to gaze.

That is, since it is possible to draw the user's attention to a specific object such as a building to which the user is going in the three-dimensional virtual space displayed on the screen, the object selected by the user and the system side pay attention to the user. The user can easily find the object for which attention is drawn, regardless of the object for which the user is trying to be prompted.

The animation generating section 14 and the animation reproducing section 15 are activated in response to an instruction from the central control section 10. The animation generation unit 14 generates animation data about a display object such as a building that the user wants to call attention to. The generated animation data is accumulated in the recording unit 13, for example. Further, the animation reproducing unit 15 reproduces the animation data generated by the animation generating unit 16 on the display screen of the three-dimensional virtual space. The animation reproduction unit 15 may change the reproduction speed, that is, the speed at which the animation moves, as necessary.

FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a flowchart, a processing procedure for generating and displaying a deformation animation of an object that the user wants to call attention to. This processing procedure is actually realized in the form of executing a predetermined program in the central control unit 10.

First, three-dimensional data of an object such as a building to be highlighted is acquired (step S).
1).

Next, a control solid is created around this building (step S2). In FIG. 3, the display object 10
1 shows a state in which a control solid 102 composed of control points arranged in a grid pattern is created around 1. The inside of the control cubic is defined as a parameter space in three directions, and the points existing inside are determined by a polynomial consisting of three variables. Therefore, the deformation of the control volume becomes the deformation of the parameter space itself and is mapped to the deformation of the target shape,
Free transformation is realized.

Then, the animation generation unit 15 is activated to generate a deformation animation for object enhancement (step S3). As a method of deforming the object, for example, the display object is rotated around a predetermined rotation axis, the bottom surface is fixed and the upper side is rocked to the left and right (see FIG. 4), or the display object is expanded and contracted in the vertical direction ( (See FIG. 5), vibration, or animation in which a display object appears and disappears from the ground.

The generated highlighting animation is stored in the recording unit 13 (step S4). Then, the animation playback unit 15 is activated at a predetermined timing, and 3
The emphasis animation is reproduced on the display screen of the three-dimensional virtual space (step S5).

The three-dimensional virtual space containing such an animation for emphasis can be used for a navigation system, for example. That is, the user's gaze can be aroused by displaying the destination building designated by the user, the building corresponding to the result of the information search regarding the search formula input by the user, and the like by the deformation animation.

6 and 7 show examples of screen configurations for displaying the information retrieval result in the three-dimensional virtual space by the transformation animation.

As shown in FIG. 6, the information retrieval screen has a three-dimensional map display 112 and a retrieval formula input field 115.
Is equipped with. The user can input a keyword or a search expression composed of a combination of two or more keywords through the input unit 12, for example. In the example shown, "Western food"
Is entered.

The central control unit 10 performs an information search based on the input search formula, and acquires the location of a building satisfying the search condition and its three-dimensional building data from the server 3 via the network. Then, a deformation animation of the corresponding building is generated and reproduced in the three-dimensional virtual space.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, on the map display 112,
The three-dimensional shape of the building that is the search result is displayed using the deformation animation in which the building appears from the ground at the corresponding position. The animation ends when the individual building shapes are scaled down.

As for the search results, those that hit the search expression are set to the strength level 2, and those that hit the category to which the search expression belongs are set to the strength level 1. It is also possible to represent the three-dimensional virtual space according to the information presentation strength. In the example shown in FIG. 8, of the building groups corresponding to the keyword, the shape of the building to which the user wants to make a strong comment is further animated, such as rocking to the left or right.

FIG. 9 shows, in the form of a flowchart, a processing procedure for displaying an information retrieval result in a three-dimensional virtual space by a transformation animation. This processing procedure is actually realized by the central control unit 10 executing a predetermined program code.

First, two-dimensional map data is obtained from the server 2 via the computer network 3 or taken out from the recording unit 13 and developed on the ground of the three-dimensional virtual space on the display unit 11 (step S11).

Next, the user uses the input unit 12 to
A desired search formula is input (step S12). The user may enter the search expression on a text basis or G
A search formula may be formed by a menu operation or icon operation under a UI (Graphical User Interface) environment.

The central control unit 10 retrieves information according to the entered retrieval formula, and obtains information on the building that meets the retrieval conditions (step S13). At this time, the search result may be obtained by internal processing, or the information search may be entrusted to a server on the computer network 3 via the communication unit 16.

The information retrieval result is attached with, for example, the degree of conformity with the retrieval condition, that is, the information presentation strength. Here, a building set having an information presentation strength of a predetermined value (= 1) or more is selected (step S14).

Then, the animation generation unit 14 is activated to create a deformation animation (see FIG. 7) in which each extracted building appears in the virtual space (step S15). An animation is created by creating a control solid with control points arranged in a grid pattern around the corresponding building data, treating the interior as a parameter space in three directions, and mapping the deformation of the control solid to the deformation of the building shape. Are easily created (see above).

Then, the animation reproducing unit 15 is activated to reproduce the animation data generated by the animation generating unit 16 on the display screen of the three-dimensional virtual space (step S16). The deformation animation may be a form in which a corresponding building as shown in FIG. 7 appears upward from the ground. Since human beings have the property of paying more attention to moving objects, they can prompt attention to the corresponding building.

Further, a building set having an information display intensity of 2 or more is selected (step S17), and the animation generation unit 14 is activated to create a deformation animation for highlighting each extracted building (step S17). S
18). An animation is created by creating a control solid with control points arranged in a grid pattern around the corresponding building data, treating the interior as a parameter space in three directions, and mapping the deformation of the control solid to the deformation of the building shape. Are easily created (see above).

Next, the animation reproducing section 15 is activated to reproduce the animation data generated by the animation generating section 16 on the display screen of the three-dimensional virtual space (step S19). The deformation animation may be a form in which the building shape is swung left and right as shown in FIG. Since human beings have the property of paying more attention to moving objects, they can prompt attention to the corresponding building.

Further, the animation may be switched in the three-dimensional virtual space according to the search result. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the three-dimensional shape of the building that is out of the search results is displayed by using an animation in which it is buried (or disappears) from the corresponding position toward the ground by repeatedly performing the narrowing down of the search. . The animation ends when the individual building shapes disappear.

FIG. 11 shows three cases depending on the narrowing down of information retrieval.
The processing procedure for switching the animation in the three-dimensional virtual space is shown in the form of a flowchart. This processing procedure is actually realized by the central control unit 10 executing a predetermined program code.

When the user sees the display of the three-dimensional virtual space according to the search result (see, for example, FIGS. 7 and 8) and feels that there are too many target buildings, the input unit 12
Is used to narrow down the search conditions (step S2).
1). The narrowing down of the search condition may be instructed on a text basis, or the narrowing down may be instructed by a menu operation or an icon operation in a GUI (Graphical User Interface) environment.

The central control unit 10 further searches for information according to the input search formula, and obtains information on the building that matches the narrowed-down search condition (step S22).
At this time, the search result may be obtained by internal processing, or the information search may be entrusted to a server on the computer network 3 via the communication unit 16.

The information retrieval result is attached with the degree of conformity with the retrieval condition, that is, the information presentation strength. Here, a building set whose information presentation strength has decreased from level 2 to level 1 by narrowing down the search conditions is found (step S2).
3).

Then, an instruction is issued to the animation reproducing section 15 to stop the highlighted animation (see FIG. 8) of swinging left and right for the acquired building set (step S24). As a result, the number of highlighted buildings is reduced, which makes it easier for the user to narrow down the destination and increase alertness.

Next, a building set whose information presentation strength has decreased from level 2 to level 1 is found by narrowing down the search conditions (step S25).

Then, the animation generation unit 14 is activated to create a deformation animation (see FIG. 10) in which each extracted building disappears from the virtual space (step S26). An animation is created by creating a control solid with control points arranged in a grid pattern around the corresponding building data, treating the interior as a parameter space in three directions, and mapping the deformation of the control solid to the deformation of the building shape. Are easily created (see above).

Then, the animation reproducing section 15 is activated to reproduce the animation data generated by the animation generating section 16 on the display screen of the three-dimensional virtual space (step S27). The deformation animation may be a form in which a corresponding building as shown in FIG. 7 appears upward from the ground. As a result, the less important building shape disappears from the three-dimensional virtual space, and the user does not get confused on the display screen. In addition, since a person has a property of paying more attention to a moving object, it is possible to prompt a person to gaze at a corresponding building.

[Supplement] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiment. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of exemplification, and the contents of this specification should not be construed in a limited manner. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the section of the claims described at the beginning should be taken into consideration.

[0065]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an excellent information presenting apparatus and information presenting method, and a computer program capable of performing a suitable information presenting service in a three-dimensional virtual space composed of a plurality of buildings such as buildings and houses.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an excellent information presenting apparatus, information presenting method, and computer program capable of appropriately calling the user's attention to a target display object in a three-dimensional virtual space. Can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to call the user's attention without burying a target building among many building objects such as buildings and houses.
An excellent information presentation device, information presentation method, and computer program can be provided.

According to the present invention, by utilizing the property that a human being pays more attention to a moving object, a specific 3D object in a virtual space is three-dimensionally animated to allow the user to gaze. Arouse. That is, it is possible to draw the user's attention to a specific object such as a building to which the user is going in the three-dimensional virtual space displayed on the screen, so that the object selected by the user or the system side tries to call the user's attention. The user can easily find the object that is trying to draw attention regardless of the object to be displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of an information presentation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying an animation of an object that the user wants to call attention to.

FIG. 3 shows a control solid 10 around a display object 101.
It is the figure which showed the mode that 2 was created.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a method of transforming an object.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a method of transforming an object.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration for displaying an information search result in a three-dimensional virtual space by a deformation animation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration for displaying an information search result in a three-dimensional virtual space by a deformation animation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a deformation animation display in a three-dimensional virtual space according to the information presentation strength.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying an information search result in a three-dimensional virtual space by a deformation animation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of performing animation switching in a three-dimensional virtual space according to a search result.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for switching an animation in a three-dimensional virtual space according to a narrowing down of information retrieval.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Information presenting device 2 ... server 3 ... Computer network 10 ... Central control unit 11 ... Display 12 ... Input section 13 ... Recording unit 14 ... Animation generator 15 ... Animation playback section 16 ... Communication unit

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C032 HB03 HB05 HB31 HC23 HC24                       HC25                 5B050 AA10 BA08 BA09 BA17 BA18                       EA13 FA02 FA06                 5E501 AA23 AC03 AC16 AC33 BA03                       BA09 BA17 CA03 CA04 CB02                       CB05 CB09 FA04 FA05 FA15                       FA27 FB24 FB25

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An information presenting device in a three-dimensional virtual space, comprising: an object selecting means for specifying an object to be displayed in the three-dimensional virtual space; an animation generating means for generating a deformation animation of an object shape; An information presenting apparatus, comprising: an animation reproducing means for reproducing a deformation animation of an object shape in a virtual space. 2. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object selecting means selects objects based on an information search result according to a search condition input by a user. 3. A deformation animation by creating a control solid composed of a large number of control points arranged in a grid pattern around the object shape and mapping the deformation of the control solid to the deformation of the object shape. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the animation generating means generates an animation in which an object appears upward from the ground in a three-dimensional virtual space. 5. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the animation generating means generates an animation that expands and contracts an object in a vertical direction. 6. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the animation generating means generates an animation for swinging the object in the left-right direction. 7. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the animation generating means generates an animation that causes an object to disappear toward the ground in a three-dimensional virtual space. 8. The object is a building shape having a location, and the animation reproducing means reproduces a deformation animation at a corresponding place in a three-dimensional virtual space based on map data. The information presentation device according to item 1. 9. The animation generation means generates a plurality of patterns of deformation animation for an object shape, and the animation reproduction means switches the reproduction animation to be reproduced according to the object selection result. The information presentation device described in. 10. A method of presenting information in a three-dimensional virtual space, comprising: an object selecting step of specifying an object to be displayed in the three-dimensional virtual space; an animation generating step of generating a deformation animation of an object shape; An animation reproducing step of reproducing a deformation animation of an object shape in a virtual space, the information presenting method. 11. The information presenting method according to claim 10, wherein in the object selecting step, objects are selected based on an information search result according to a search condition input by a user. 12. In the animation generating step,
A deformation animation is generated by creating a control solid composed of a large number of control points arranged in a lattice around the object shape and mapping the deformation of the control solid to the deformation of the object shape. 10. The information presentation method described in 10. 13. The information presenting method according to claim 10, wherein the animation generating means generates an animation in which an object appears upward from the ground in a three-dimensional virtual space. 14. In the animation generating step,
11. The information presenting method according to claim 10, wherein an animation for expanding and contracting the object in the vertical direction is generated. 15. In the animation generating step,
11. The information presenting method according to claim 10, wherein an animation for swinging the object in the left-right direction is generated. 16. In the animation generating step,
The information presenting method according to claim 10, wherein an animation is generated that causes the object to disappear toward the ground in the three-dimensional virtual space. 17. The object is a building shape having a location, and in the animation reproducing step, the deformation animation is reproduced at a corresponding place in the three-dimensional virtual space based on the map data. Item 10 The information presentation method according to Item 10. 18. In the animation generating step,
11. The information presenting method according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of patterns of deformation animations are generated for the object shape, and the deformation animation to be reproduced is switched according to the object selection result in the animation reproducing step. 19. A computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute a process for presenting information in a three-dimensional virtual space on a computer system, which is desired to be displayed in the three-dimensional virtual space. A computer comprising: an object selecting step for specifying an object; an animation generating step for generating an object shape deformation animation; and an animation reproducing step for reproducing an object shape deformation animation in a three-dimensional virtual space. ·program.