JP2000357245A - Method for displaying avatar in virtual space, and recording medium recorded with avatar display program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display avatars in a virtual space so that they are easy to see even when overlapping with each other in a virtual space by moving the position of view point and recognizing that plural avatars overlap with each other. SOLUTION: Data from an input device 21 are sent to a gaze position determination part 22 to determine a position in a virtual space, its position information is sent to a virtual space generation part 23, and a avatar is displayed on the display 24 of an image display terminal device according to the view point. The position is recorded in a avatar management part 25. A avatar position retrieval part 26 retrieves the position of the avatar in the virtual space from the avatar management part 25 and a avatar relation decision part 27 detects whether or not another avatar is present between the view point position displayed on the display 24 and the position of the retrieved avatar, judges that the avatar on a line is close to the view point, and records that. A avatar display property change part 28 changes the display properties of the avatar which is hidden so that the avatar can be seen when an overlapping avatar which is not processed according to the overlap relation of the avatar decided by the decision part 27 is present.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to sharing a virtual space that represents a three-dimensional virtual space in which each user is represented as an alter ego, and the user can move freely with his / her own intention by operating the alter ego. The present invention relates to a method for displaying an alter ego in a virtual space and a recording medium recording an alter ego display program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A landscape of a three-dimensional object such as a building or a vehicle changes variously depending on a position viewed from a user. Information related to these three-dimensional objects, such as buildings and vehicles, is stored in an external storage device of a computer, and various landscapes are stored in three-dimensional computer graphics (CG) technology according to the position viewed by the user. There is a video display system that can display the image.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an example of an image communication system. That is, the plurality of image display terminal devices 3
A and 3B, a center device 1, and a network 2 connecting the center device 1 and the plurality of image display terminal devices 3A and 3B.

[0006] A center device 1 and a plurality of image display terminal devices 3 A, 3 B,... Are connected to a network 2. The image display terminal device 3A corresponds to the user A, and the image display terminal device 3B corresponds to the user B. Each image display terminal device 3
A, 3B,... Respectively include a terminal control device 8, a display 9 as an image output device, a camera 4 as an image input device, a microphone 6 and a speaker 7 as an audio input / output device, and a three-dimensional object from which position. A movement direction input device 5 for inputting and instructing the operation is provided.

Each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,... Receives a voice corresponding to the user corresponding to the image display terminal device and a video image captured by the camera 4 and a moving direction input device 5. The position information indicating the position of the user and the gaze direction information are transmitted to the network 2.
To the center device 1 via the. On the other hand, the center device 1
Receives various information transmitted from the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,... And distributes the information to the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,. Note that audio is distributed after mixing.

Each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,.
The three-dimensional information is stored in advance, and based on the position information sent from the center device 1, a building, a vehicle, or the like that exists within a certain angle (viewing angle) from the direction of the line of sight with the designated position as the center. The three-dimensional object is displayed on the display 9 using the three-dimensional CG technique. That is, a three-dimensional virtual space is set, a three-dimensional object is arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space, and an image viewed from this viewpoint is displayed on the display 9 assuming that there is a viewpoint at a designated position in the three-dimensional space. In each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,.
The viewpoint can be freely moved in a three-dimensional virtual space where buildings, vehicles, and the like exist. For the alter ego, a pre-selected alter ego image is placed at a position where the viewpoint of the image display terminal device exists in the three-dimensional space, a video taken by the camera 4 is pasted on the face portion, and the line-of-sight direction (face A process is performed to match the vertical direction of the image) with the line of sight of the image display terminal device.

In this image communication system, the position of the person image in the three-dimensional space is set to a position at a fixed distance from the center line in the viewing direction viewed from the viewpoint of the person, and the direction of the person image is set to the viewpoint of the person. By setting the orientation opposite to the center line of the viewing direction viewed from the viewer, it is possible to simultaneously display the person image and the drawing content drawn by the person in the same direction as the person, and look at the drawing content It is possible to display the image of the participant who is present.

[0008]

In the conventional method, when a plurality of alter egos overlap, the alter ego in front of the viewpoint of the image display terminal device is preferentially displayed, so that a hidden alter ego occurs. For example, in a system that teaches the movement of the body using an alter ego, if the alter ego of the teacher shows a sample and the alter ego of the student overlaps and teaches, the alter ego image of one of the alter egos will not be visible, so this use Did not go to.

This is the same in a system not using a network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a method and program for displaying an alter ego in a virtual space in which a plurality of alter egos in a virtual space on a computer are displayed easily even when the alter egos overlap. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which is recorded.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a virtual space on a computer, and a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by operating his or her own self. In the alter ego display method of the virtual space system in which the alter ego operated by the computer exists, in the alter ego display method, the position of the viewpoint of the image display terminal device of each alter ego is moved, and it is recognized that the alter egos are overlapped. According to this, the overlapped alter egos are displayed so as to be identified.

According to the present invention, a virtual space on a computer can be expressed as a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by himself / herself by manipulating the alter ego. In the method of displaying an alter ego of an existing virtual space system, an alter ego position search step for retrieving the position of the alter ego in the virtual space from the alter ego management unit for recording the position of the alter ego in the virtual space displayed on the display; In the alter ego relationship determining step, which records the case where another alter ego exists between the position of the alter ego searched from the position search step and the viewpoint position displayed on the display, and determines the overlapping relationship of the alter egos, An alter ego display attribute change step that changes the display attribute of the alter ego that is hidden based on the determined overlapping relationship so that the duplicated alter ego can be seen. Characterized in that it comprises more a flop.

According to the present invention, a virtual space on a computer can be represented as a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by himself / herself by manipulating an alter ego. In the recording medium recording the alter ego display program used for the existing virtual space system, the position of the viewpoint of the image display terminal device of each alter ego is moved,
The computer recognizes that the alter egos have overlapped, and causes the computer to execute a procedure for displaying the duplicate alter egos according to the situation.

According to the present invention, a virtual space on a computer can be expressed as a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by himself / herself by manipulating the alter ego. An alter ego that searches for a position of an alter ego in a virtual space from an alter ego management unit that records the position of an alter ego in a virtual space displayed on a display in a recording medium that records an alter ego display program used for an existing virtual space system. The position search procedure, the alter ego relationship determination procedure for recording the case where another alter ego exists between the position of the alter ego searched from the alter ego position search procedure and the viewpoint position displayed on the display and determining the overlapping relation of the alter egos, The alter ego display attribute that changes the display attribute of the alter ego that is hidden based on the alternation relationship determined by the alter ego relationship judging procedure so that the overlapping alter ego can be seen. To execute the further steps in the computer.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a shared alter ego display process of the computer virtual space system according to the present invention. In other words, a virtual space on a computer can be expressed as a three-dimensional virtual space in which an operator can move freely by his / her own intention by manipulating the alter ego, and in a virtual space system where the alter ego operated by the computer exists. Input device 21 for the operator to instruct movement in virtual space
Is sent to the viewpoint position determination unit 22 to determine the position in the virtual space. The position information is sent to the virtual space generation unit 23, and the alter ego is displayed on the display 24 of the image display terminal device according to the viewpoint. The position of this alter ego is recorded in the alter ego management unit 25 which manages the position of the alter ego.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a shared alter ego display process according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a alter ego relationship determining unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a alter ego display attribute changing unit according to the present invention. . That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the alter ego position search unit 26 retrieves the position of the alter ego in the virtual space from the alter ego management unit 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, another alter ego exists between the viewpoint position displayed on the display 24 of the image display terminal device and the position of the alter ego searched by the alter ego position searcher 26, as shown in FIG. If it exists, it determines that the alter ego on the line is close to the viewpoint and records it. This is comprehensively performed for all the alter egos to be targeted, and the overlapping relationship from the viewpoint is determined.

As shown in FIG. 4, the alter ego display attribute changing unit 28, when there is an overlapping alter ego which has not been processed based on the alternation relationship of the alter egos determined by the alter ego relationship judging unit 27, deletes the hidden alter ego. Change display attributes so that overlapping alter egos are visible.

As a virtual space system, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of image display terminals are connected via a network, and the position information of the user in the virtual space and the line-of-sight direction information are converted to another image. A virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate with each other in a virtual space at a remote place by distributing to a display terminal device may be used.

The shared alter ego display process shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is specifically executed by a computer such as a personal computer (PC) based on an alter ego display program recorded in a predetermined recording medium in advance.

That is, the virtual space on the computer is
A recording medium storing a self-display display program used in a virtual space system in which a user can freely move by himself / herself by manipulating a self-management, and a computer-operated self-host And
An alter ego position search procedure for retrieving the position of the alter ego in the virtual space from the alter ego management unit that records the position of the alter ego in the virtual space displayed on the display, the alter ego position retrieved from the alter ego location search procedure and the display The alter ego relationship judging procedure for judging the overlapping relationship of alter egos by recording the case where another alter ego exists between the viewpoint positions to be displayed, and hiding based on the alter ego overlap relationship determined in the alter ego relationship judging procedure The computer is caused to execute a self-display attribute change procedure for changing the self-display attribute of the self so that the superimposed self is visible.

Next, a specific example of the present invention will be described.

(Specific Example 1) In a virtual space on a computer, a user uses a terminal and an alter ego A on its display
By operating, a three-dimensional virtual space that can be freely moved by one's own intention can be represented, and in a virtual space system in which the alter ego B operated by the computer exists, FIG. 5 shows a method of displaying the alter ego. First, the position of the operator A in the virtual space is determined. The alter ego A is displayed at a position symmetrical to the position of the operator A in the virtual space with respect to the virtual mirror surface.

FIG. 6 shows the position and direction of the center of gravity of the object in the virtual space. The position of the object is (x, y,
z), the direction of the object is represented by an angle θx with the X axis, an angle θy with the Y axis, and an angle θz with the Z axis.

When the position of the center of gravity of the operator A in the virtual space is (xa, ya, za) and the direction is (θxa, θya, θza), the position of the center of gravity of the alter ego A is (xa, ya, -za). ),
The direction is displayed at (θxa−180, θya, θza−180).

In the case where the alter ego is moved in accordance with the operation of the operator,
The alter ego is controlled so that it moves in opposite directions. For example, when the operator moves the right hand or foot to the right, the alter ego controls the left hand or foot to move to the left.

The alter ego position search unit 26 in FIG. 1 searches the alter ego management unit 25 for another alter ego name displayed on the image display terminal device and its position. For example, in the case of the space shown in FIG. 5, the alter ego A and alter ego B and their positions are searched.

The alter ego relationship judging section 27 creates a transparent object connecting the position of the center of gravity of the alter ego A from the position of the viewpoint of the operator A, examines whether the object contacts another alter ego, and judges whether there is a hidden alter ego. ,Record. This is repeated for all existing alter egos. In the case of FIG. 5, it is confirmed that the alter ego A in contact with the alter ego B exists, and it is determined that the alter ego A hides the alter ego B, and the alter ego B is recorded.

The alter ego display attribute changing section 28 makes the display attribute of the alter ego hidden by the alter ego relation judging section 27 translucent. The display attribute may be any attribute as long as the alter ego can be seen even if the alter egos overlap, and may be a display in a wire frame or an outline display.

(Example 2) A network of a plurality of image display terminals capable of expressing a three-dimensional virtual space in which the user can move freely according to his / her own intention and expressing the alter ego of another user in the virtual space. A virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate with each other in a virtual space at a remote location by distributing position information and gaze direction information of the user in the virtual space to other image display terminal devices by connecting through a virtual space FIG. 7 shows a method of displaying the alter ego when there are two operators. First, the position of the operator in the virtual space is determined.
An alter ego is displayed at a position symmetrical to the position in the virtual space of the operator with respect to the virtual mirror surface.

When the position of the center of gravity of the operator A in the virtual space is (xa, ya, za) and the direction is (θxa, θya, θza), the alter ego A has the position of the center of gravity (xa, ya, -za). ),
The direction is displayed at (θxa−180, θya, θza−180).

When the position of the center of gravity of the operator B in the virtual space is (xb, yb, zb) and the direction is (θxb, θyb, θzb), the position of the center of gravity of the alter ego A is (xb, yb, -zb). ),
The direction is displayed at (θxb−180, θyb, θzb−180).

As for the size of the alter ego, by unifying the lengths of the head, torso, hands and feet, the overlapping rate when the alter egos overlap increases, which is more effective for the professor.

When moving the alter ego according to the operation of the operator,
The alter ego is controlled so that it moves in opposite directions. For example, when the operator moves the right hand or foot to the right, the alter ego controls the left hand or foot to move to the left.

The alter ego position search unit 26 in FIG. 1 searches the alter ego management unit 25 for another alter ego name displayed on the image display terminal device and its position. For example, in the case of the space of FIG. 7, the alter ego A and alter ego B and their positions are searched.

The alter ego relationship judging section 27 creates a transparent object connecting the position of the center of gravity of the alter ego A from the position of the viewpoint of the operator A, examines whether the object contacts another alter ego, and judges whether there is a hidden alter ego. ,Record. This is repeated for all existing alter egos. In the case of FIG. 7, it is confirmed that the alter ego A in contact with the alter ego B exists, and it is determined that the alter ego A hides the alter ego B, and the alter ego B is recorded.

The alter ego display attribute changing section 28 makes the display attribute of the alter ego hidden by the alter ego relation judging section 27 translucent. The display attribute may be any attribute as long as the alter ego can be seen even if the alter egos overlap, and may be a display in a wire frame or an outline display.

(Example 3) A network of a plurality of image display terminals capable of expressing a three-dimensional virtual space in which the user can move freely according to his / her own intention and expressing the alter ego of another user in the virtual space. A virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate with each other in a virtual space at a remote location by distributing position information and gaze direction information of the user in the virtual space to other image display terminal devices by connecting through a virtual space In the case where a six-screen immersive display (CAVE type display) is used for the display screen of the terminal, the size of the alter ego of the operator may be the same as that of the operator in the case of a display capable of projecting in a full size. desirable. In this method, as shown in FIG. 8, a sensor S is attached to the operator's head, shoulder, hand, and base of the foot so that the position of the sensor from the reference KS can be detected. Based on this value, the head, torso,
Determine the length of your hands and feet.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an example of a method of displaying the alter ego of the operator. First, the position of the operator in the virtual space is determined. An alter ego is displayed at a position symmetrical with respect to a virtual mirror surface of the operator in the virtual space of the operator.

If the position of the center of gravity in the virtual space of the operator is (x, y, z) and the direction is (θx, θy, θz) in a cube having a side length d of a virtual mirror, The position of the center of gravity is (x, y, -z) and the direction is (θx? 180, θy, θz
? 180), the position of the center of gravity is (x, y, z +
d), the direction is (θx? 180, θy, θz? 180), the position of the center of gravity is (−x, y, z), and the direction is (θx, θ).
y, θz), the right alter ego has the center of gravity (x + d, y,
z), the direction is (θx, θy, θz), the position of the center of gravity is (x, y + d, z), and the direction is (θx? 180, θy?).
180, θz), the lower alter ego has the center of gravity (x, -y,
z) and the direction is displayed as (θx? 180, θy? 180, θz).

Other operators also display the same.

When moving the alter ego according to the operation of the operator,
The alter ego is controlled so that it moves in opposite directions. For example, when the operator moves the right hand or foot to the right, the alter ego controls the left hand or foot to move to the left.

The alter ego position search unit 26 in FIG. 1 searches the alter ego management unit 25 for another alter ego name displayed on the image display terminal device and its position.

The alter ego relationship judging section 27 creates a transparent object connecting the position of the center of gravity of the alter ego from the position of the operator's viewpoint,
Examine whether the object and other alter ego make contact, determine if there is a hidden alter ego, and record. This is repeated for all existing alter egos.

The alter ego display attribute changing section 28 makes the display attribute of the alter ego hidden by the alter ego relation judging section 27 translucent. The display attribute may be any attribute as long as the alter ego can be seen even if the alter egos overlap, and may be a display in a wire frame or an outline display.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in a system in which a virtual space is used to teach the movements of the body using the alter ego, the alter ego of the teacher shows a sample and the alter ego of the student overlaps and teaches. Education system,
This has the effect of displaying each other's alter egos easily.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a method and program for displaying a self-identification in a virtual space in which a plurality of self-identifications in a virtual space on a computer are displayed easily even if they overlap. A recorded recording medium can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a shared alter ego display process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a shared alter ego display process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an alter ego relationship determining unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an alter ego display attribute changing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of displaying a self-alteration according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the position and direction of the center of gravity of the object in the virtual space according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of displaying a copy of two operators according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating the size of the alter ego according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing an example of a virtual full-surface mirror using a CAVE type display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front plan view showing an example of a virtual full-surface mirror using a CAVE type display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of an image communication system.

[Description of Signs] 21 Input Device 22 Viewpoint Position Determination Unit 23 Virtual Space Generation Unit 24 Display 25 Self-Assembly Management Unit 26 Molecular Position Search Unit 27 Self-Assembly Relationship Determination Unit 28 Self-Assembly Display Attribute Change Unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Ishibashi 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B050 BA09 CA08 EA17 EA27 EA28 FA02 FA09 FA10

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A virtual space on a computer, in which a user can express a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by manipulating a self, and a virtual machine having a self-operated self exists. In the alter ego display method of the space system, the position of the viewpoint of the image display terminal device of each alter ego is moved to recognize that the alter egos overlap, and to display the duplicate alter egos according to the situation. Character display method in the virtual space that is the feature. 2. A virtual space on a computer, in which a user can express a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by manipulating his / her own self, and a virtual machine in which a self-operated self exists In the method of displaying an alter ego of a space system, a self alter ego search step for retrieving the position of the alter ego in the virtual space from the alter ego manager recording the position of the alter ego in the virtual space displayed on the display; A self alternation relationship judging step of recording the case where another alter ego exists between the position of the alter ego searched for from the viewpoint position to be displayed on the display and judging the overlapping relationship of the alter egos; An alteration display attribute change step of changing the display attribute of the alter ego that is hidden based on the overlapping relationship of alter egos so that the duplicated alter ego can be seen. A method for displaying an alter ego in a virtual space, comprising: 3. A virtual space on a computer, in which a user can express a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move his / her own by manipulating the alter ego, and the alter ego operated by the computer exists. In the recording medium that records the alter ego display program used for the spatial system, the position of the viewpoint of the image display terminal device of each alter ego is moved to recognize that the alter egos overlap, and to identify the duplicate alter egos according to the situation. A recording medium on which is recorded an alter ego display program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for displaying information. 4. A virtual space on a computer, in which a user can express a three-dimensional virtual space in which a user can freely move by manipulating his / her own self, and a virtual machine in which a self-operated self exists In the alter ego display method of the space system, the alter ego position search procedure for retrieving the position of the alter ego in the virtual space from the alter ego management unit that records the position of the alter ego in the virtual space displayed on the display. An alter ego relationship determination procedure for recording the case where another alter ego exists between the searched location of the alter ego and the viewpoint position displayed on the display to determine the overlapping relationship of alter egos, the alter ego determined by the alter ego relationship determination procedure To cause a computer to execute the alter ego display attribute changing procedure of changing the display attribute of the alter ego hidden based on the overlapping relationship so that the duplicate alter ego can be seen. A recording medium that records the alter ego display program.