JP2001338037A - Server for generating three-dimensional computer graphic picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server for generating three-dimensional computer graphic picture by which the scenery picture of a three-dimensional city, the external and internal appearance pictures of real property, the shade simulation or view simulation of the real property and those movies are provided through the Internet. SOLUTION: A server 1001 is provided with an extracting part for extracting the data of prescribed property from a three-dimensional city data base 1002b and a real property data base 1002a in which information related with the position, size, height, and shape of the real property is stored, a point of view/ line of sight generating part for generating the position of a point of view and the direction of a line of sight based on information inputted from the outside part, and a computer graphic picture generating part for generating the picture of a city viewed from the position of the point of view and the direction of the line of sight based on the three-dimensional city data base. Then, the generated picture of the city and the information are transmitted through the Internet 1004 to a client computer 1003.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the provision of a three-dimensional cityscape image through the Internet, the provision of an exterior and interior image of a real estate, the provision of a shadow simulation of a real estate, the provision of a simulation of the view of a real estate, and the like. The present invention relates to a three-dimensional computer graphic image generation server for providing these movies.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general real estate brokerage business is as follows. A real estate agent undertakes placement of a plurality of real estate properties, holds and manages information on those real estate properties, and introduces a real estate property selected from the information held according to a customer's request. Further, if the customer wants to make a reservation or contract for the introduced property, it assists or acts on the procedure. Real estate properties are classified into land or house, rental or condominium, etc.
The conventional procedure which is almost common is as follows.

[0003] Taking a rental house as an example, first, a rental applicant (customer) visits a sales office of a real estate agent, presents conditions of a desired house, and requests introduction of an appropriate property. The conditions include, for example, the location where the property is located, rent, floor plan, and the like. The real estate agent searches for a property that meets the conditions while looking at the document file of the property held at the sales office,
Present to customer. Alternatively, the user searches for a property by viewing the data of those properties held by a database software on a screen of a personal computer or the like. If the software has a search function, it can be searched to some extent efficiently.

[0004] It is common practice to select and present some candidate properties and, in many cases, guide the customer to the location where the property is located, if the customer desires. In that case,
It is often the case that several properties located in scattered locations are guided one after another. If, after looking at the site, the customer has indicated his willingness to rent the property, the real estate agent will notify the company or landlord that manages the property. Many landlords outsource property management to management companies. The real estate agent contacts the management company and checks the availability information of the property. If the property is vacant, communicate the customer's wishes and negotiate with the management company. If the negotiation is successful, the property is reserved for the customer.

The above procedure has many disadvantages. First,
When presenting a property to a customer, only data held in the sales office can be presented, and no more properties can be presented. If you want to see properties other than the data you own, you must contact a property management company that uses facsimile or the like to obtain the desired property data.

In order to see the inside of a property, that is, the inside view and layout, it is often necessary to obtain permission from the property management company each time. Before giving guidance, it is necessary to contact the property management company by telephone or the like each time. is there. When the property management company is closed, you cannot see the inside.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-271854 discloses an invention that solves such a problem. This gazette discloses a system for real estate property brokerage business in which the appearance, interior view, layout, etc. of a property can be checked at any place without going to the site. This system includes a database for storing information of real estate properties, a host computer, and a plurality of terminals that can be connected to the host computer at any time via communication means, and the terminal holds at least a part of the information in the database. For displaying property information that meets predetermined conditions by searching from information in the storage device or information in the database, and responding to a reservation procedure request. Includes a function to make the property information in the database reserved.

[0008]

The above-mentioned prior art can display a floor plan and a photograph of the exterior and interior of a building, but cannot provide any further information. In the end, it was not possible to provide more information than was conventionally displayed on paper. In this case, the customer had to go to the site and check the property with his own eyes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a three-dimensional computer graphic image generation server capable of providing much more information to a customer in an easy-to-understand form. The purpose is to provide. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the surrounding environment of a property, the sunshine of a dwelling unit, and a view can be known in advance, for example. Images from a plurality of viewpoints inside or outside the property can be automatically generated. Providing images of real dwelling units and providing simulations of sunshine and views are not only beneficial for consumers but also for real estate brokers.

[0010]

A server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image according to the present invention comprises: a three-dimensional city database for storing data relating to the position, shape and texture of a feature including buildings and roads in a city; A viewpoint gaze generation unit that generates a viewpoint position and a gaze direction in a three-dimensional city based on information input from outside,
A computer graphic image generation unit that generates an image of the city viewed from the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight based on the three-dimensional city database, wherein the information is provided through the Internet, and the generated image of the city is It is sent to a client computer via the Internet.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a user registration database for storing information on a user accessing the three-dimensional city, wherein the viewpoint line-of-sight generation unit is configured to execute the special service when the user accessing the three-dimensional city is a special user. A viewpoint is set at an arbitrary position in the three-dimensional city based on a user operation, and otherwise, a non-preferred user viewpoint is set at a predetermined position.

[0012] Preferably, furthermore, a real estate database storing information on the position, size, height and shape of the real estate to be brokered, and an extracting unit for extracting data of a predetermined property from the real estate database The viewpoint line-of-sight generation unit sets a viewpoint in a virtual three-dimensional space formed by the three-dimensional city database so as to view the extracted property, and grasps a surrounding environment of the extracted property. Moving the viewpoint toward the extracted property so that the computer graphic image generating unit searches the real estate property database and the three-dimensional city database based on the moving viewpoint, and A three-dimensional image of the extracted property and a three-dimensional image of a building around the extracted property are generated.

Preferably, the viewpoint line-of-sight generation unit moves the viewpoint along a locus around the extracted object and grasps the line of sight so that the surrounding environment of the extracted object can be grasped. To the completed property.

[0014] Preferably, the computer graphic image generating section performs a texture expression on the three-dimensional image of the extracted property so as to easily identify the extracted property, and a texture is displayed on a three-dimensional image of another building. Do not express.

Preferably, the computer graphic image generation unit expresses a three-dimensional image of the building excluding the extracted property by a translucent or wire frame so that the extracted property can be easily identified.

[0016] Preferably, the computer graphic image generation unit, when viewing the extracted property from the viewpoint, can easily observe the extracted property and recognize the surrounding environment. Without generating a stereoscopic image of the building at the position to hide the extracted property,
Instead, a flat display is provided on the ground.

Preferably, the computer graphic image generation unit extracts a building important for working or living from the three-dimensional city database so that the surrounding environment of the extracted property can be easily recognized. ,
The three-dimensional images of these buildings are expressed differently from the three-dimensional images of other buildings.

Preferably, further, a floor designating section for designating a part of the floor of the extracted property, information of the designated floor being read from the real estate database, and a floor plan of the floor being displayed. A floor plan display unit, a furniture database that stores furniture icons, and an icon moving unit that moves furniture icons from the furniture database onto the floor plan displayed by the floor plan display unit.

Preferably, further, a solar position determining unit for determining the position of the sun based on the specified season and / or time, and reading information on the position and direction of the specified floor opening from the real estate database. Along with reading the information on the position, height and size of the building around the extracted property from the three-dimensional city database, information on the position and direction of the opening of the floor and the position and height of the surrounding building By comparing the information about the size and the sun and the position of the sun, comprising a sunshine simulation unit to determine the state of sunshine in the floor while considering the surrounding situation, the computer graphic image generation unit, A building image expressing sunshine is generated based on the output of the sunshine simulation unit.

Preferably, an extraction unit for extracting data of a predetermined property from the real estate property database, a position and a direction of a viewpoint are determined based on the extracted information on the property, A view simulation unit that extracts information on buildings in
The computer graphic image generation unit generates an image representing a view viewed from the viewpoint based on an output of the view simulation unit.

Preferably, further, a traffic condition database storing information on traffic conditions for each place and time, a viewpoint route setting unit for determining a viewpoint movement route, a movement time setting unit for setting a movement time, A viewpoint moving unit that moves a viewpoint along a route, wherein the computer graphic image generating unit searches the three-dimensional city database based on a viewpoint moved by the viewpoint moving unit, and generates a view of the landscape viewed from the viewpoint. Generate a stereoscopic image.

A recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to function as each device.

Examples of the medium include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, DVD, ROM cartridge,
It includes a RAM memory cartridge with a battery backup, a flash memory cartridge, a nonvolatile RAM cartridge, and the like.

The communication medium also includes a communication medium such as a wired communication medium such as a telephone line and a wireless communication medium such as a microwave line. The Internet is also included in the communication medium mentioned here.

A medium is a medium on which information (mainly digital data and programs) is recorded by some physical means, and which allows a processing device such as a computer or a dedicated processor to perform a predetermined function. You can do it.
In short, any method may be used as long as the program is downloaded to the computer by some means and a predetermined function is executed.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a client server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of clients 100 through the Internet 1004
3 can access the server 1001 of the embodiment of the present invention. The server 1001 transmits the HTML document to the accessing client 1003.
The client 1003 can receive service provision through a home page provided by the server 1001.
The real estate article database 1002a stores in advance information on apartments, apartments, and detached houses for rent and / or sale, such as information on the location, floor plan, rent, and sale price. 3D city database 1002b
Stores data such as buildings and roads in the city in advance. Patent No. 3 as an example of a three-dimensional city database
No. 015353.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for providing a service. A user accesses the server 1 and requests provision of a service (SA). When the provision of the service is approved, the type of service is selected (S-B). The types of services include the provision of 3D cityscape images, the provision of exterior and interior images of real estate properties, the provision of shadow simulations of real estate properties, the provision of real estate properties view simulations, and the provision of these movies. is there. After selecting the service, the viewpoint and location of the user are input (S-C). When receiving the provision of a three-dimensional city landscape image, the user inputs the location and the direction of the line of sight near the road, park, building, etc. that the user wants to display. When entering a location around the property and receiving an introspection image of the real estate property, enter a specific part of the property, such as the entrance, common area, and each dwelling unit, and provide a shade simulation of the real estate property. When receiving, input the specific room of the dwelling unit in the property, and when receiving the provision of the view simulation of the real estate property, input the window, veranda, stairs, etc. of the specific dwelling unit of the property. In response to the selection of the service (S-B) and the input of the user's viewpoint / location corresponding to the selection (S-C), the server 1 searches the real estate article database 2a and the three-dimensional city database 2b, and specifies the service. Provide an image of a city or real estate property from a viewpoint or location. When providing a movie, the server 1 generates and provides an image while moving the viewpoint along the route specified in step SC or a predetermined route. After providing the service, a billing process is performed as necessary (S-D). It is conceivable to charge a user who wants to enjoy a three-dimensional cityscape according to the amount of provided images. In order to know the real estate property in detail, it is conceivable to charge the provider of the property without charging the user of the image.

Next, the services provided by the server 1 will be described. (1) Provision of a landscape image of a three-dimensional city An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional city image generating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 is configured in the server 1001. 1 is a signboard attribute database, 2 is a signboard texture database, and 3 is a signboard link database. Each of the databases 1 to 3 stores a plurality of signboard data. 4 is 1 from database 1 to 3
Or a signboard selector for selecting and outputting data relating to a plurality of signboards. The signboard selector 4 selects a suitable signboard within a predetermined period based on a signal from the calendar clock device 5, and selects a suitable signboard according to other conditions based on an external selection signal. Reference numeral 6 denotes a signboard coordinate generation unit that generates coordinates of a three-dimensional city where the selected signboard is to be arranged. Reference numeral 7 denotes a signboard direction generation unit that generates a direction in which the signboard should face in the coordinates generated by the signboard coordinates 6. .

Signboard coordinate generator 6 and signboard direction generator 7
Installs a signboard in a three-dimensional city at a predetermined position and direction, and changes coordinates and directions based on the position of the user's viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight and / or the amount of change. The databases 1 to 3 store data of a plurality of signboards. These signs are respectively assigned to a plurality of predetermined places in the virtual city, or one sign is assigned to a plurality of places. In the former case, a plurality of types of signboards are displayed in the virtual city, and in the latter case, one signboard is displayed in a plurality of places. For example, the former is a normal advertisement form, and the latter is an advertisement form for a concentrated campaign of a specific product / service. In the latter case, the same product / service is displayed at all advertisement display positions, or the same product / service is displayed at the same category (for example, the rooftop of a building). This process is automatically executed based on the attribute information in the signboard attribute database 1. Databases 1 to 3
The position and direction of the signboard are not fixed, and change in accordance with the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight and / or the amount of change thereof. This is to enhance the effect of the advertisement by the signboard. Since the display of the signboard according to the present invention is in a three-dimensional city, a special display method different from an actual signboard is possible.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a viewpoint / gaze generation unit that generates a viewpoint position and a gaze direction in the three-dimensional city according to user operations such as walking in the three-dimensional city, looking left and right, turning around, and turning up and down. The viewpoint and line-of-sight generation unit 8 generates a viewpoint position and a line-of-sight direction in accordance with a predetermined condition together with a user operation. Reference numeral 8a denotes a user registration database in which user registration information is stored.
The database 8a stores information such as whether the accessed user is a general registered user, a preferentially registered user, a guest, a primary user, and the like. For example, in the case of a primary user, the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction are predetermined and cannot be set freely. For example, a preset route is set so as to move along the main street from the entrance of the city. In the case of a registered user, it is considered that the user walks around the virtual city several times and knows its contents to some extent, so that the viewpoint position and the line of sight can be set relatively freely. In these cases, since it is necessary to show the user a signboard serving as a fund for operating the virtual city, the user's travel route is the main street where many signboards are installed. On the other hand, the special treatment registered user or the user paying the membership fee can freely set the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction, and can pass through the back street without a signboard.
Alternatively, the signboard may not be displayed for the special treatment registered user or the like.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a viewpoint / gaze movement detecting unit that receives an output of the viewpoint / gaze generation unit 8 and detects a change in viewpoint and / or gaze, and 10 denotes a viewpoint and a user's viewpoint that receive the output of the viewpoint / gaze generation unit 8. And / or a viewpoint / gaze tracking unit that tracks the gaze. The signboard coordinate generation unit 6 and the signboard direction generation unit 7 receive signals from the viewpoint / viewpoint movement detection unit 9 and the viewpoint / viewpoint tracking unit 10, respectively, and generate signboard coordinates and signboard direction.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a three-dimensional city database imitating a virtual or real city (including a completely virtual city). The three-dimensional city database 11 uses computer graphics (CG) for buildings, roads, and other features.
To store data for 3D display. Coordinates for displaying a signboard are predetermined at predetermined positions such as a rooftop, a wall surface, and a window of the building. The coordinates for signboard display are predetermined along the road. Numeral 12 receives three-dimensional city data from database 11 and database 1
A computer graphic (CG) generation unit that receives the signboard data from Nos. 1 to 3 and generates an image viewed from a predetermined viewpoint. The CG generation unit 12 combines the image of the signboard with the image of the three-dimensional city, and provides the combined image to the user.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a billing processing unit for billing a provider of a signboard displayed in the virtual city. Reference numeral 14 denotes a charging database that stores charging information. While billing is performed according to the length of the display period of the signboard or the number of times the signboard is clicked, in the embodiment of the present invention,
The billing amount is automatically determined according to the position where the signboard is displayed and what special effect has been applied to the signboard. For this, the billing processing unit 13 receives signboard coordinate data and signboard direction data from the signboard coordinate generation unit 6 and the signboard direction generation unit 7. For example, if the signboard is installed on the main street in the virtual city, the fee will be charged higher, and if the signboard is installed on a route with relatively less traffic, the fee will be charged lower. High or low traffic is not only a matter of user preference,
It can be adjusted to some extent by setting the virtual city providing side by a method such as presetting a route. If the sign is always directed toward the user or if the user is tracked, the user will be charged a higher fee.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of signboard data. The attribute information includes, for example, a category indicating to whom the sign is directed, a display location indicating a place where the sign is to be displayed, a display period indicating a time zone and / or a period in which the sign is to be displayed. Including. The texture information is an image indicating the content of the signboard, for example, a common image applied to all signboards, a distant view image and a near view image, a large signage image and a small signage image, and a plurality of animation images. And images corresponding to a plurality of shapes for the signboard to take various forms. The link destination information is the URL of the signboard provider. The signboard selector 4 looks at the data of the signboard data during the display period, determines whether or not to display the signboard, and sends the signboard data to the signboard coordinate generation unit 6 and the signboard direction generation unit 7 if it should be displayed. . Signboard coordinate generator 6
Generates the coordinates of the signboard in the three-dimensional city by looking at the display position data of the signboard data. As the display position of the signboard data, for example, the roof of the building A, the wall surface, the road B
Along the railroad C, along the railroad C, and the like. The signboard coordinate generation unit 6 specifically obtains signboard coordinates by searching the three-dimensional city database for a building or the like designated by the signboard data. In addition, all buildings or specific types of buildings (all condominiums, etc.) may be displayed as signage data.
Comprehensive designations such as rooftops and roadsides are also possible. In this case, the signboard coordinate generation unit 6 determines the coordinates so that the signboard is displayed in all applicable buildings and the like.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the steps used by the user. When the user (client 120) accesses the virtual city server 100 (S1), FIG.
The screen as shown in is displayed. This screen includes a main screen M, an interface screen I for moving a viewpoint and / or a line of sight, and a sub-screen S on which a current position, names and attributes of buildings in the field of view, and the like are displayed. When the user of the virtual city positions the cursor on the sign in the main screen, more detailed information on the advertisement written on the sign is displayed in the sub-screen. When the user enters the three-dimensional city, he descends from above into the city as shown in FIG. 7A, and a predetermined screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 7B.

If the user is a preferential user, the user can arbitrarily set the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction (S3). Otherwise, the preset viewpoint position and line-of-sight direction are forcibly set for the user (S4). In this case, the user can set an arbitrary viewpoint position and a line-of-sight direction by subsequent operations. At first, a signboard provided in a building as shown in FIG. 7B is also displayed on the screen. In addition, for non-preferred users, the rank is also divided, and a user of a certain rank can set an arbitrary viewpoint position and a gaze direction, but a user of another rank can set it only in a limited range, or a certain rank can be set. The user may be set so that free setting is not allowed and the user can only move on a predetermined route.

A CG screen is generated based on the viewpoint position and line-of-sight direction set in S3 or S4 (S5).
The user moves in a desired direction in the three-dimensional city using the user interface of FIG. 6 (S6). Accordingly, the viewpoint position and / or the line-of-sight direction change. The viewpoint / gaze generation unit 8 generates these pieces of information, and the CG generation unit 12 generates a screen based on the new viewpoint position and gaze direction.

By using the embodiment of the present invention, for example, a three-dimensional city can be configured on the Internet, and images and information of this city can be provided to unspecified third parties. Those who provide goods and services can purchase tenants, signboards, etc. in this three-dimensional city and put out their own advertisements and stores. Tenants on a three-dimensional city are all composed of three-dimensional images so that they can enter the tenant, walk around the store and do shopping. Not only the exterior but also the interior of the building is composed of three-dimensional data, and the user can walk around the store and do shopping. Although the virtual store has a data configuration separated from the three-dimensional city in order to reduce the data capacity, since the entrance of the three-dimensional city that displays the shape of the store appearance and the entrance of the store itself are partially common,
The user can go back and forth between both without being aware of the internal data structure. The virtual store reproduces the inside of a real store as a three-dimensional image, but can easily be changed or expanded in the store without depending on restrictions on structures such as site area. The virtual virtual image display unit includes a main screen on which a store is displayed in a three-dimensional image, a sub-screen on which character information and an image of the product or the store itself displayed on the main screen are stored, and a user's store. It consists of an interface that metabolizes the action of the user. The user can freely move the viewpoint three-dimensionally in the main screen, and can compare products placed in the store from the three-dimensional viewpoint. Also, as a deciding factor of the purchase of the user, while the existing catalog index Internet shopping depends only on the attractiveness of the product, the virtual store creates the atmosphere that is part of the original store role in the computer This will make it possible to increase the willingness to purchase. The goods placed in the store have attributes that are independent of each other, and are stored in the sub-screen as a three-dimensional image when specified by the user in the main screen. The merchandise stored in the sub-screen can be rotated, enlarged and reduced, and the color, pattern, size and the like can be changed in the sub-screen, and the user can check the details of the merchandise. The payment of the buyer is made by a designated credit card or electronic money. When you purchase a product in a virtual store and register for a credit card, that information is automatically stored on the buyer's computer, and the next time you make a purchase,
The trouble of registering a credit card can be omitted.

As described above, according to the present invention, a virtual city can be realized on the Internet by using virtual three-dimensional city data that is suitable for a real city or virtual. The user can enjoy a walk in the city by looking at the city image generated by the CG.

(2) Providing Appearance and Introspective Images of Real Estate Property, Providing Shade Simulation of Real Estate Property, and Providing View Simulation of Real Estate Property An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A customer searching for a desired property inputs the conditions of the desired property through a store of a real estate agent or through the Internet (S1a). The property is searched according to the input conditions and presented to the customer (S1b). The services of S2 to S7 are provided for the extracted property.
Note that a property prepared by a real estate agent as a recommended property can be positively presented to the customer (S1). The environment display (S2) displays the surrounding environment along with the name, address, transportation, and outline of the property by three-dimensional computer graphics. In the property display (S3), the property itself is displayed by three-dimensional computer graphics together with the name, address, transportation, and floor configuration of the property. The floor plan display (S4) displays the floor plan of the designated floor together with the outline, structure, number of floors, number of units, contact information, and completion date of the property. If a house / tenant on the floor is designated, detailed information such as room area, rent, and main facilities can be viewed. The walk-through display (S5) is for virtually walking around a predetermined dwelling unit / tenant on a specific floor and displaying a three-dimensional stereoscopic image thereof by computer graphics. Furniture simulation (S
6) simulates the arrangement of furniture by arranging furniture icons at an arbitrary position on the floor plan display by drag and drop. The sunshine simulation (S7) is for simulating the sunshine situation in a desired room. View simulation (S8)
Is to simulate the view from the desired room.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a server according to this embodiment. The central processing unit (CPU) Ml includes RAM (M5) and ROM (M6), which are semiconductor memories, a hard disk M7, which is an external storage device, a keyboard M3, which is an input / output device, and a mouse.
M4, CRT display M2, floppy disk (FLD) drive M8, CD drive M9, and MO drive M10 as auxiliary storage devices are connected. Also, a modem M11 is connected, so that data can be transmitted and received from outside or to the outside as necessary. For example, it is possible to receive data from an external host computer to display more detailed information, or to transmit inquiry information such as, for example, other properties or contract status.

Hereinafter, each process will be described in more detail. S2: Environment display Regarding the environment display, the flowchart in FIG. 10, the explanatory view of the camera position and the line of sight in FIGS. 11 and 12, FIGS.
This will be described with reference to a display screen example of FIG. When a desired property is selected from the extracted properties, a large-scale map indicating the location is displayed, and the property is indicated by a predetermined icon in the map (S100). It is conceivable that a large-scale map displays one ward or the whole city. By this processing, the customer can know the approximate location of the property. First, since the map is displayed on a large scale map, it is easy for the customer to intuitively grasp the location of the property, and if it is different from the desired one, the processing can be immediately terminated and the next property can be displayed, so that the time can be displayed. Can be saved.

Next, a medium-scale map indicating the location of the property is displayed (S101). For example, a screen as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. A plurality of properties A1, A2, M1, M2, T1 managed by the trader are displayed on a map showing the entire town. A means an apartment, M means an apartment. T means a tenant. Next to the screen, the name and outline of each property are displayed in characters. By this processing, the customer can know the detailed location of the property and also can know the adjacent property at the same time.

Next, a three-dimensional computer graphic screen of the property viewed from above is displayed (S102). For example, a screen as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. The building slightly above the center of the figure is the property. On the side of the screen, information such as a property name, an address, and a main transportation is displayed as property information [peripheral environment]. By this processing, the customer can intuitively know the surrounding environment of the property. Unlike the aerial photograph, this screen is devised so that the surrounding environment can be easily grasped in the following points.

1. Expressions are devised so that the property is easy to see. For example, only the target property is actually displayed with the texture of the building, but the other buildings have no texture. Alternatively, other buildings may be rendered translucent or simply wireframe.

2. The target to be displayed is selected so that the property is easy to see. If there is a building in front of the property, it may be difficult to see the property behind it. Therefore, instead of displaying the building in front, a planar display (such as a display on a two-dimensional map) is merely displayed on the ground. This makes the property more visible. When it is desired to see all the buildings around the property, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the camera C moves around the building B along the trajectory L to display the entire surroundings. The trajectory L in FIG. 12 goes around the building B and has a height difference.
Can be viewed from different height perspectives, and customers can evaluate the surrounding environment from multiple angles. in this case,
Always keep the display of the building in front of the building flat. The building in front may be displayed translucently or in a wire frame.

3. Public facilities such as schools and post offices, transportation such as bus stops and stations, stores such as department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, restaurants, parking lots, and parks are individually displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Important facilities for working and living
Since the store or the like can be intuitively known, the customer can easily determine whether or not the surrounding environment is desired. As a display form, it is considered that a three-dimensionally displayed building is displayed with the above facility name as its attribute information, or a color for each facility is determined in advance, and the corresponding building is given the color. Can be

4. Next, an enlargement step (S10)
In 3), the background fades out as the property is getting closer, and finally only the property is displayed. It is possible to naturally transition from the environment display (S2) to the property display (S3).

Next, from the environment display screen of FIG.
Move to the property display screen. In this transition, the camera gradually approaches the property, and the property is enlarged and displayed (S103). Specifically, in a virtual space in which a three-dimensional city is represented, the camera C approaches the building B along the trajectory L as shown in FIG. Or,
As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the camera C gradually approaches the building B along the trajectory L while circling the building B. By this enlargement processing (S103), the customer can simultaneously observe the surrounding environment and the whole view of the building. In addition, natural screen movements can be seen through movie expression. Compared to turning over documents as in the past, customers can enjoy selecting a property.

S3: Property Display On the property display screen of FIG. 15, the property name, address, main transportation, and floor configuration are displayed (S104). Also, buttons for each floor are displayed. When a button on an arbitrary floor is pressed, the floor F of the building B is gradually pulled out as shown in FIGS. Eventually, the viewpoint changes and the floor plan shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. FIG. 11B shows the camera position and the line of sight when shifting from the whole building to the floor plan.
Shown in The camera C rises once so as to see the floor F from above, and then descends slightly. Although the line of sight of the camera C is slightly overlooked in the middle of the trajectory L, the camera C is finally oriented perpendicular to the floor F so that the floor plan is displayed. Note that the dotted line indicates a state where the floor F is completely drawn out.

As the appearance display screen of the property, another one as shown in FIG. 20 can be considered. FIG. 20 shows an appearance selection screen. Main screen 11 shows this apartment B, salmon car park P, road R
The top view of the camera is displayed and the camera shows the viewpoint position
16c to 20c are displayed. The main screen 11 also shows sub-screens 12 to 20 showing a display menu. Note that 12a to 15a indicate a movie screen, and clicking the sub-screens 12 to 15 displays a movie screen, for example, a screen that gradually approaches the apartment from a distance. Clicking the back button 21 returns to the selection screen Sl. When the end button 22 is clicked, the program ends.

The feature of this screen is the display of the cameras 16c to 20c. Immediately after the screen in FIG. 12 is displayed, the cameras 16c to 16c
0c is not displayed. Cursor is sub screen 16 ~
When placed on any of the 20, the corresponding camera is displayed. For example, when the cursor is placed on the elevation 18, four cameras 16c are displayed. Other cameras are not displayed. Thus, the user can easily understand that the screen viewed from all directions can be viewed by clicking the elevation 18. When the cursor is placed on the appearance perspective 1 (17), the camera 17c is displayed. Thus, the user can easily understand that the screen viewed from the northwest can be viewed. As described above, the camera position is displayed by moving the cursor on the sub-screen.

FIG. 21 is an example of a screen displayed when the user clicks the elevation view 18 in FIG. Along with the sub-screen 30 showing the elevation, a sub-screen for clarifying the viewpoint position
35 is displayed. The elevation view in FIG. 21 is viewed from the south side, and therefore, the camera C is displayed on the south side in the plan view. When "North" 34 for displaying the northern elevation view is clicked, the northern elevation view is displayed and the camera C moves to the northern side.

S4: Floor Plan Display The floor details screen of FIG. 17 displays the room area, rent, main facilities, and detailed information of the floor. Further, buttons for the common use unit, tenant A, and tenant B are provided. When one of these buttons is pressed, detailed information of the corresponding part is displayed. Object movies, VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language)
e) Furniture layout buttons are provided. When the "object movie" button is pressed, a walk-through movie for each designated room is displayed. Details will be described later. When the “VRML” button is pressed, the viewpoint and the like can be moved by a user's mouse operation or the like, so that an interactive expression is possible. When the “furniture arrangement” button is pressed, a furniture arrangement simulation can be performed for each designated room. Details will be described later.

When the button of “Tenant A” or “Tenant B” is pressed, a screen as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed, and more detailed information of “Tenant A” or “Tenant B” is displayed. "Button is displayed. By pressing the “contract” button, the customer can indicate the intention of the contract for the property.

S5: Walk-through display FIG. 22 shows a walk-through display screen. The floor plan 40 of the dwelling unit is displayed at the center of the screen, and sub-screens 41 to 48 for displaying each room are displayed. Camera C is located at the entrance. This is to display the movie screen as if entering the room from the entrance when a movie screen is displayed in order to create a natural atmosphere. The camera C moves, for example, along the line shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 shows a living screen displayed when the living room 48 is selected in FIG. A three-dimensional image viewed from the position of the camera C in the sub screen 51 showing the plan view of the living room is displayed on the screen 50. When the sub-screens 52 to 56 below the screen 50 are clicked, the position of the camera C moves and a three-dimensional image viewed from the viewpoint after the movement is displayed. Since the camera position C is displayed on the screen 51 in synchronization with the display of the screen 50, it is easy to determine from which position the image is.

S6: Furniture Simulation FIG. 19 shows a furniture simulation screen. This screen has a plurality of areas where furniture icons such as tables, chairs, shelves and the like are arranged below the floor plan. In each area, various icons corresponding to a plan view of furniture such as a table, a chair, and a shelf are arranged. Since the scale of these icons matches the scale of the floor plan, the furniture can be arranged at any position by dragging and dropping the icons. In addition, since the furniture icon can be rotated, its orientation can be freely selected.
By pressing the "Redo from the beginning" button, all furniture arrangements can be reset.

S7: Sunshine Simulation The sub-screen 57 in FIG. 23 has a movie display 57a.
Clicking this will bring up a sunshine simulation screen showing the movement of the sun in the day. An example of the sunshine simulation screen is shown in FIGS. These figures show the state of sunlight in the living room from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the winter solstice every hour. FIG.
4 (a) shows the situation at 8:00 AM, with no sunlight in the living room. Figure (b) shows the situation at 9:00 AM, where the sun is shining through a part of the living room (shaded area in the figure) from the right window. The figures after FIG. 25 show how the sunshine moves little by little. The state of PM 5:00 is not shown, but the sun does not enter the living room at this time. Note that these are examples of the case of the winter solstice, but it is needless to say that sunlight simulation at any time is not limited to this.

As described above, according to the sunshine simulation screen, it is possible to easily and accurately know the state of sunshine of an arbitrary dwelling unit. Since it is a three-dimensional image based on real computer graphics, the degree of appeal to the user is extremely high. Conventionally, in the sale of condominiums, it was possible to know the state of the room by the model room, but it was not possible to know what the environment such as the sunshine of the room actually occupy was. It was only possible to infer the approximate sunshine condition from the surrounding conditions and the general direction of the construction site. On the other hand, according to the sunlight simulation screen, it is possible to know the actual situation of the sunshine accurately and at a glance by designating an arbitrary time. This simulation can provide more information to the condominium purchaser, which can be considered as a guide for purchase for the condominium purchaser and a sales promotion effect for the condominium provider.

The sunshine simulation screen can provide an actual sunshine simulation of any dwelling unit. Next, the method will be described with reference to the drawings. In order to perform this simulation, as shown in FIG.
An apartment database M7a and a three-dimensional city map database M7b are required. The former is used to obtain information such as the height of the room, the size of the window, its orientation, etc. when a certain room of a certain dwelling unit is specified, and the latter is to perform a sunshine simulation considering the surrounding situation Used for However, when performing a simulation in an ideal situation where there are no obstacles around, the three-dimensional city map database M7b is unnecessary. The apartment database M7a stores, for example, the location, size, shape, and height of apartments, the arrangement of dwelling units on each floor, the layout of each dwelling unit, the arrangement of walls, windows, furniture, and textural information for generating computer graphic screens. Including. The three-dimensional city map database M7b includes, for example, information such as the position, size, shape, and height of a building in a predetermined city.

FIG. 29 shows a flowchart of the simulation. First, find the equation of the sun's rays (SlO).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 30, the position (elevation and azimuth) of the sun corresponding to the season / time is obtained (SlOa). Based on this result, a straight line group having the same elevation angle is defined (SlOb).
Next, based on the three-dimensional city database, the sunlight blocked out of the target condominium is excluded (SlOc).
For example, as shown in FIG. 32A, sunlight blocked by building B is excluded. As shown in FIG. 32 (b), it is also considered that the state of shielding sunlight changes with the movement of the sun.

Next, a straight line passing through the window of the apartment room is extracted from the green sunlight (Sll). As shown in FIG. 26, a necessary straight line can be obtained by solving a simultaneous equation of the equation of the sun rays and the slope area W indicating the window. Actually, since the boundary portion becomes a problem, the straight lines L1 and L2 in FIG. 33 may be obtained. Next, the intersection between the extracted straight line and the wall / floor is determined (S12). Intersections X1 and X2 between the straight lines L1 and L2 and the floor are obtained. Next, a region surrounded by a closed curve connecting these intersections is determined and is defined as a sunshine region (S13). Next, a texture expressing sunshine is attached to the sunshine area (S14).
Then, an image viewed from a predetermined viewpoint is formed (S15).
By repeating the above processing of Sll to S15 every predetermined time, the above-mentioned sunshine simulation image is obtained.

S8: View Simulation As a simulation to be provided to the visitor in the model room of the condominium, another simulation related to the view can be considered. It is important for condominium buyers to see what view they can expect from home. Providing an actual view from the room you wish to purchase can be a great decision for condominium buyers. The view simulation image can be easily provided by using the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 34 shows a flowchart of the view simulation. First, a specific dwelling unit and its room for which simulation is desired are specified (S20). Next, the apartment database is searched to determine the number of floors (height of the viewpoint) and the direction of the window (the direction of the line of sight) of the designated apartment (S2
1). Next, a three-dimensional city database is searched based on the obtained height of the viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight to extract a target building and terrain (S22). Then, a screen viewed from the viewpoint is generated based on the extraction result (S23). For example, FIG.
The screen shown in FIG. Of course, it is possible to display not only nearby buildings but also distant landscapes, mountain ranges, river flows, and the like.

This simulation allows the user to know in advance the view from the room desired to be purchased.
In addition, in the case of a condominium whose view is for sale, the simulation can directly appeal the resale point.

As other simulations, for example, a simulation of a commuting / commuting road in which a camera is moved and an animation is displayed while moving a camera, and a simulation of guiding a nearby public facility or store are considered. Can be

The following steps are conceivable as a procedure for simulating commuting / commuting roads. First, a commuting / school route desired by the customer is set. A standard commuting / school route (a commuting / school route that is usually employed by people who live or work in a property) may be set in advance. Next, the customer's commuting / school time is set. The standard commuting / school time may be set in advance. Next, the commuting
Move the camera in the virtual three-dimensional space along the school road.
If the three-dimensional city database of the system of FIG. 31 is used, the commuting / commuting scenery viewed from the camera can be displayed three-dimensionally. At the same time, traffic conditions corresponding to the set commuting / commuting times, for example, images of vehicles traveling on the road and people traveling on the sidewalk are three-dimensionally expressed. Such an expression is highly useful, for example, in judging whether or not a school route for a young child attending a kindergarten or elementary school is safe. In other words, simulation of commuting / commuting roads not only knows what the scenery of commuting / commuting roads is like, but also determines whether the route is safe, has slopes, stairs, etc., or walks flat. It is also a great merit that the actual situation, such as whether it is easy, the width of the road is narrow, the sidewalk is well maintained and it is easy to walk, or if there is a shop where you can shop along the way, can be evaluated in advance by simulation. In the past, such a situation could not be obtained without actually living and working, but can be evaluated in advance by computer graphics using a three-dimensional city database.

The same applies to the procedure of a simulation for guiding nearby public facilities and stores. First, the customer selects a desired public facility, store, or the like. Next, a route to the selected public facility or store is set. A standard route may be set in advance. Next, the time when the customer goes out is set. A standard time may be set in advance. Next, the camera in the virtual three-dimensional space is moved along the set commuting / school road. The traffic situation according to the time is three-dimensionally expressed, and the congestion state of a public facility, a store or the like is three-dimensionally expressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the appended claims, which are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say, this is done.

In this specification, means does not necessarily mean physical means, but also includes a case where the function of each means is realized by software.
Further, the function of one unit may be realized by two or more physical units, or the function of two or more units may be realized by one physical unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of service provision by the client server system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents of a signboard database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen provided by the device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a screen provided by the device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of a menu provided by the system / method according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a processing flowchart of a system / method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of movement of a camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is another explanatory diagram of the movement of the camera in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a display screen example (flat display) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a display screen example (environment display) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a display screen example (property display) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an example of a display screen (animation for transition from property display to floor plan display) in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a display screen example (floor display) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an example of a display screen (display of tenant A) in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a display screen example (furniture arrangement simulation display) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a property appearance selection screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an example of a three-dimensional display screen of a property according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an example of a walk-through display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an example of a living room display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an example of a sunshine simulation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an example of a sunshine simulation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention (continuation).

FIG. 26 is an example of a sunshine simulation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention (continuation).

FIG. 27 is an example of a sunshine simulation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention (continuation).

FIG. 28 is an example of a sunshine simulation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention (continued).

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a sunshine simulation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for obtaining an equation of a sun ray in a sunshine simulation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus for sunshine simulation and view simulation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of a sunshine simulation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of a sunshine simulation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a view simulation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is an example of a view simulation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention;

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G06T 17/40 G06T 17/40 E (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Ota Kita 2-Jo Nishi 9-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Wall Annex Building 6F, Wall Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiji Kinmi 9th Kita 2-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Wall Annex Building 6F, Wall Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeyasu Takahashi Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Kita 2-Jo Nishi 9-chome Wall Annex Building, 6F, Wall Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naohiro Tashita Hokkaido, Sapporo City, Chuo-ku, Kita 2-Jo 9-Chome Wall Annex Building, 6F, Wall Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B046 AA03 CA06 DA02 FA02 FA15 FA20 GA01 HA09 KA01 KA05 5B049 AA06 BB00 CC44 DD01 EE07 EE41 FF0 9 GG04 GG07 5B050 BA08 BA09 BA11 BA13 CA08 EA12 EA24 EA30 FA02 FA17 FA19 5E501 AA13 AC05 BA20 DA02 FA14 FA27 FA44 FB24 FB42

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A three-dimensional city database storing data on the position, shape and texture of a feature including buildings and roads in a city, and a position and a line of sight in a three-dimensional city based on information input from outside. And a computer graphic image generating unit that generates an image of a city viewed from the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight based on the three-dimensional city database. A server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image, which is provided and transmitted to a client computer via the Internet. 2. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a user registration database storing information on a user accessing the three-dimensional city, wherein the viewpoint line-of-sight generation unit is configured to execute the special user when the user accessing the three-dimensional city is a special user. 3. The three-dimensional computer graphic according to claim 1, wherein a viewpoint is set at an arbitrary position in the three-dimensional city based on the operation of (1), and otherwise, a viewpoint for a non-preferred user is set at a predetermined position. Image generation server. 3. A real estate database storing information on the position, size, height and shape of the real estate to be brokered, and an extraction unit for extracting data of a predetermined property from the real estate database. The viewpoint line-of-sight generation unit includes:
A viewpoint is set in a virtual three-dimensional space formed by the three-dimensional city database, and the viewpoint is moved toward the extracted property so that a surrounding environment of the extracted property can be grasped. The image generating unit searches the real estate property database and the three-dimensional city database based on a moving viewpoint, and a three-dimensional image of the extracted property and a three-dimensional image of a building around the extracted property viewed from the viewpoint. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image according to the above description. 4. The viewpoint line-of-sight generation unit moves the viewpoint along a trajectory around the extracted object and grasps the line of sight so as to grasp the surrounding environment of the extracted object. The server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image according to claim 3, wherein the server is directed to a property that has been set. 5. The computer graphic image generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the extracted property is easily identified.
The server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image according to claim 3, wherein a texture is expressed in the extracted three-dimensional image of the property, and the texture is not expressed in a three-dimensional image of another building. 6. The computer graphic image generation unit, wherein the extracted property can be easily identified.
The three-dimensional computer graphic image generation server according to claim 3, wherein the extracted three-dimensional image of the building excluding the property is expressed by a translucent or wire frame. 7. The computer graphic image generating unit, when viewing the extracted property from the viewpoint, so that the user can easily observe the extracted property and recognize a surrounding environment. The three-dimensional computer graphic image generation server according to claim 3, wherein a flat display is performed on the ground instead of generating a stereoscopic image of a building at a position where the displayed property is hidden. 8. The computer graphic image generation unit extracts buildings important for working and living from the three-dimensional city database so that the surrounding environment of the extracted property can be easily recognized. 4. The three-dimensional computer graphic image generation server according to claim 3, wherein the three-dimensional images of these buildings are expressed differently from the three-dimensional images of other buildings. 9. A floor designating unit for designating a part of a floor of the extracted property, and a floor plan for reading information of the designated floor from the real estate database and displaying a floor plan of the floor. A display unit, a furniture database that stores furniture icons, and an icon moving unit that moves furniture icons from the furniture database onto the floor plan displayed by the floor plan display unit. The server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image according to claim 3. 10. A solar position determining unit for determining a position of the sun based on a specified season and / or time, and reading information on a position and a direction of an opening of a specified floor from the real estate database. ,
The information on the position, height and size of the building around the extracted property is read from the three-dimensional city database, the information on the position and direction of the opening of the floor and the position, height and A sunshine simulation unit for comparing the information on the size and the position of the sun to determine the state of sunshine in the floor while considering the surrounding conditions, wherein the computer graphic image generation unit includes the sunshine simulation 4. The three-dimensional computer graphic image generation server according to claim 3, wherein a building image expressing sunshine is generated based on an output of the unit. 11. An extracting unit for extracting data of a predetermined property from the real estate property database, a position and a direction of a viewpoint are determined in response to the information on the extracted property, and a position within a field of view is determined from the three-dimensional city database. The view simulation unit for extracting information of a building, and the computer graphic image generation unit generates an image representing the view seen from the viewpoint based on an output of the view simulation unit.
A server for generating a three-dimensional computer graphic image according to the above description. 12. A traffic condition database for storing information on traffic conditions for each place and time, a viewpoint route setting unit for determining a viewpoint movement route, a movement time setting unit for setting a movement time, and the movement route. And a viewpoint moving unit that moves a viewpoint along. The computer graphic image generating unit searches the three-dimensional city database based on the viewpoint moved by the viewpoint moving unit, and outputs a three-dimensional view of the landscape viewed from the viewpoint. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server generates an image.