JP2002063066A - Image-managing system, server, user computer, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-managing system capable of automatically updating image data in a short time. SOLUTION: Three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) data used on the user side is stored in a user-side external storage 4 while the latest 3DCG data and update information 41 for giving notice of 3DCG data to be updated are stored in a server-side external storage 3. The data structure of 3DCG objects 21, which are the 3DCG data of objects, defines shape data 24, quality feel data 30, texture data 35, etc., and in addition, names 22 for identifying the objects, and version information for showing the degree of updating of the objects, and further defines a name 42, version information 43, a 3DCG data storing position 44, etc., as update information 41 for each 3DCG object. A CG image forming device 2 compares the version information 43 of the update information 41 read from the server-side storage 3 with the version information 23 of the object 21 relevant to 3DCG data read from the user-side storage 4, and only when updating has already been done, will an updated 3DCG object 51 shown by the storing position 44 of the update information 41 be read from the server side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image management system, a server, a user computer, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, computer graphics (C)
The development of G) was remarkable, and various things came to be expressed on computers. In particular, graphic hardware has made remarkable progress as represented by three-dimensional (3D) games, and even personal computers installed in ordinary homes are sufficiently capable of three-dimensional computer graphics (hereinafter referred to as 3DCG). ) Can be enjoyed.

Further, network technologies represented by the Internet and the like are rapidly spreading, and many personal computers are LAN (Local Area Network).
k) or ISP (Internet Service)
(Provider).

[0004] VRML (Virtual Reality Mode) is a technology that integrates 3DCG and networks.
(Ling Language). VRML is a language specification for describing 3DCG handled on the Internet, and a user uses a VRML-compatible browser to execute WWW (World Wide Web) on the Internet.
The VRML file stored in the server can be read and displayed.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, VRM
In L, since all the 3DCG data is downloaded via the Internet, it takes a lot of time each time until the display is started. A method of storing all 3DCG data in advance in an end user environment such as a hard disk and shortening the time required for display may be considered. However, if the 3DCG data creator changes or corrects the data, the end user immediately changes the data. Update results cannot be reflected on the network, and the advantage of network connection cannot be used. In VRML, it is not easy to change a part of existing 3DCG data or to add new data.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image management system which can automatically update the latest image data in a short time.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server connected to a user computer via a network, wherein the user computer and the server hold an image of an object. Then, when a part of the image of the object is updated, the updated image is sent from the server to the user computer.

In the first invention, the user computer and the server hold an image of the object, and when a part of the image of the object is updated, the updated image is sent from the server to the user computer.

A second invention is an image management system in which a user computer and a server are connected via a network, wherein the user computer and the server hold an image of a specific object, and The image management system is characterized in that, when a part of the image of the specific object is updated on the side, the updated image is sent from the server to the user computer.

A third invention is a user computer connected to a server via a network, wherein the server and the user computer hold an image of an object, and the user computer is connected to the server on the server side. When a part of the image of the object is updated, the user computer receives the updated image from the server.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as the server according to the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to function as a user computer according to the seventh aspect.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which is recorded data having image information on an object and update information having version information of the object.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image management system 1 according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the image management system 1
G image generation device 2, server-side external storage device 3, user-side external storage device 4, external input device 5, external display device 6, network (Internet or the like) 7, image management server 8
And so on. 9 indicates a user.

The CG image generation device 2 generates a CG image based on the 3DCG data read from the user-side external storage device 4 and the viewpoint information input from the external input device 5, and outputs the CG image to the external display device 6.

The server-side external storage device 3 is a storage device prepared on the server side. The server-side external storage device 3 connected to the CG image generation device 2 via the Internet 7 stores object information including the shape, texture, and texture image information of the object, and light source information including the type, position, attribute, and the like. Update information 41 for notifying the user 9 of 3DCG data to be updated is also stored in the server-side external storage device 3.
Here, the type of the light source indicates a point light source, a parallel light source, a spotlight, and the like, and the position of the light source indicates a location where the light source is disposed (for example, directly above an object, horizontally, or the like). Means the color of the light source (red, blue, green, etc.) and the attenuation factor (the light becomes weaker according to the distance to the object, the light becomes weaker as the square of the distance to the object, etc.). The server-side external storage device 3 is, for example, a hard disk or a CD-ROM, and requires more time to read data than the user-side external storage device 4. The image management server 8 generates and manages the object information 51 on the server-side external storage device 3, the light source information including the type, the position, the attribute, and the like, and the update information 41.

The user-side external storage device 4 is a storage device prepared on the user side. The external storage device 4 connected to the image generation device 2 stores object information including the shape, texture, texture image information, and the like of the object, and light source information including the type, position, attribute, and the like. The CG image generation device 2 reads data from the user-side external storage device 4 in a relatively short time.

The external input device 5 is a device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a joystick, and inputs viewpoint information such as a position for observing an object shape.

The external display device 6 is a device for displaying images, such as a CRT display.

Next, the image generating apparatus 2 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image generation device 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the image generation device 2 includes a user-side CG data reading unit 10, a CG data writing unit 11, an update information reading unit 12, a CG data determination unit 13, a server-side CG
It has a data reading unit 14, a CG data storage unit 15, a viewpoint information calculation unit 16, and a rendering processing unit 17. The image generation device 2 is composed of, for example, one computer.

In FIG. 2, the user-side CG data reading unit 10 reads the 3DCG of the object from the user-side external storage device 4.
The data is read, and the CG data storage unit 15 stores it.

The CG data writing section 11 reads out the 3DCG data from the CG data storage section 15 and writes the data into the external storage device 4 on the user side.

The update information reading unit 12 reads information on 3DCG data to be updated from the server-side external storage device 3 and passes the data to the CG data determination unit 13.

The CG data determination unit 13 receives information on the 3DCG data updated on the server side from the CG data storage unit 15, compares the information with the 3DCG data read from the user side external storage device 4, and compares the 3DCG data with the server side external storage device. 3 to determine 3DCG data to be read.

The server-side CG data reading unit 14
Based on the information received from the G data determination unit 13, only the necessary 3DCG data is read from the server-side external storage device 3 and stored in the CG data storage unit 15.

The viewpoint information calculation unit 16 calculates viewpoint information such as a camera viewpoint, an upward vector, and a gazing point from the parameters input by the external input device 5.

The rendering processing unit 17 receives 3DCG data from the CG data storage unit 15 and viewpoint information from the viewpoint information calculation unit 16, performs rendering processing of an object, generates a CG image, and outputs it to the external storage device 6.

Next, 3DCG data, which is 3DCG data of the object,
The data structure of the G object will be described. FIG.
Shows the data structure of the 3DCG object 21. 3
DCG data is composed of a plurality of 3DCG objects. Generally, a 3DCG object includes shape data, texture data, texture data, and the like. In the present embodiment, in addition to these, a unique name 22 and version information 23 are added for each 3DCG object 21. That is, the 3DCG object 21 includes a name 22, version information 23, shape data 24, texture data 30, texture data 35, and the like.

The name 22 is used to identify each object, and assigns a unique character string to all objects. For example, the name 22 is “tire front right”.

The version information 23 is a flag indicating the newness of each object, and a larger value indicates that the data is newer. For example, the version information 23 includes:
0. Note that a date or the like may be used as the version information 23.

The shape data 24 includes vertex information 25 including vertex coordinates 26, normal vectors 27, texture coordinates 28, and the like.
And surface information 29 defined using these vertex information.

The texture data 30 includes an environment reflected light component 31,
It comprises a diffuse reflected light component 32, a specular reflected light component 33, a radiated light component 34, and the like, and defines material properties of the object surface.

The texture data 35 includes the shape data 24
Represents a wallpaper (texture) image to be pasted (mapped) onto a. To specify the texture data, a method of specifying a file name of a texture image to be used or a method of specifying an image by a bit string are used.

Next, update information relating to 3DCG data will be described. FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the update information 41. In the present embodiment, update information is defined for each 3DCG object. As shown in FIG.
Consists of a name 42, version information 43, 3DCG data storage location 44, and the like.

The name 42 is used to identify each object, and assigns a unique character string to all objects. For example, the name 42 is “tire front right”.

The version information 43 is a flag indicating the newness of each object. A larger value indicates that the data is newer. For example, the version information 43 is 2.0.

The 3DCG data storage location 44 indicates the location (URL, directory, file name, etc.) on the server-side external storage device 3 where the 3DCG object to be updated is defined. For example, the 3DCG data storage location 44
Is "www.dup.co.jp/car/tire"
_front_right ”. Update information 41
Can be defined by any method such as describing each object in a separate file or describing all update information in one file.

Next, the 3DCG object 2 on the user side
1. The relationship between the server-side 3DCG object 51 and its update information 41 is shown. FIG. 5 shows a 3DCG object 21 on the user side and a 3DCG object 51 on the server side.
And the relationship between the information and the update information 41. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of 3DCG objects 21-1, 21-2,..., Which are 3DCG data of the user currently used, are stored on the user-side external storage device 4. For example, 50 3DCG as 3DCG data of a car
3DC having objects 21-1,..., 21-50
The G object 21-1 is the right object data of the tire front wheel defined as the name 22-1 (“tire front right”).

The server-side external storage device 3 stores the latest 3DCG data and its update information 41. The latest 3DCG data includes a plurality of 3DCG objects 51-1, 51-2,... Update information 41-1 for each of the 3DCG objects 51-1, 51-2,...
41-2,... The 3DCG object 51-1 is stored in the 3DCG data storage location 44-1 of the update information 41-1.
Is stored. For example, on the server side, 50 pieces of 3DCG objects 51-1,...
-1,..., 41-50 are held. Note that the 3DCG data, the update information 41, and the like need not be stored in the same server-side external storage device 3, but can be stored in another server or the like.

The update processing of the latest 3DCG data and the image generation processing in the image generation apparatus 2 in the image management system 1 will be described below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the 3DCG data update processing and the image generation processing by the image generation device 2.

In FIG. 6, the user-side CG data reading unit 10 reads 3DC as object information including the shape, texture, texture image information, and the like of the object from the user-side external storage device 4.
Read G objects 21-1, 21-2,.
The data is stored in the G data storage unit 15 (step 201). Therefore, the version information 23-1 of the 3DCG object 21-1 is stored in the CG data storage unit 15.

The update information reading unit 12 reads the update information 41-1, 41-2,... From the server-side external storage device 3 and passes it to the CG data determination unit 13 (step 20).
2).

If there is an unprocessed object (step 203), the CG determining unit 13
Is compared with the version information 23-i of the 3DCG object 21-i stored in the update information 41-m of the corresponding object received from the update information reading unit 12 and the data is updated. It is determined whether or not there is (Step 204).

For example, when the version information 43-m is larger than the version information 23-i (that is, when the version is newer), the data of this object has been updated.

If the data has been updated, the CG data determination unit 13 sends update information 41-m and the like of the updated object to the server-side CG data reading unit 14,
The server-side CG data reading unit 14 reads the 3DCG object 51-m from the server-side external storage device 3 and stores it in the CG data storage unit 15. That is, the server-side CG data reading unit 14 updates the 3rd of the update information 41-m.
The storage location of the 3DCG object is known from the DCG data storage location 44-m, and the 3DCG object 51-m corresponding to this location is read from the server-side external storage device 3 and stored in the CG data storage unit 15. The CG data storage unit 15 discards the old 3DCG data read from the user side and replaces the old CG data with new 3DCG data read from the server side (step 205).

If the data has not been updated (step 204), the processing shifts to step 203 to process the next object.

When the processing for all the objects is completed (step 203), the CG data writing section 11
Reads the 3DCG data from the CG data storage unit 15 and writes it into the user-side external storage device 4 (step 20).
6). Since the latest 3DCG data including the updated data is written to the user-side external storage device 4, there is no need to read the updated 3DCG data from the server-side external storage device 3 again at the next application startup.

Next, viewpoint information such as a camera viewpoint, an upward vector, and a gazing point is calculated by the viewpoint information calculation unit 16 from the parameters input by the user-side external input device 4 (step 207).

Next, the rendering processing unit 17 receives the 3DCG data from the CG data storage unit 15 and the viewpoint information from the viewpoint information calculation unit 16 and performs a rendering process of the object in consideration of the illumination effect and the like (step 20).
8). Various methods such as a ray tracing method and a Z-buffer method are used for this processing, but any method may be used according to the environment or purpose to be used. The rendering process is performed by graphics hardware such as a video card.

The rendered image is displayed on the external display device 6.
(Step 209).

By repeating steps 206 to 209, the 3D shape can be observed interactively.

Next, the processing of step 204 will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 7, the name of the object to be updated is obtained and stored in a variable name (step 301). For example, “tire front right” is stored in the variable name.

The variable name is obtained from the 3DCG data on the user side.
Search for an object having the name 22 of. Variable nam
When the object 21 having the name 22 of e is found, the version information 23 of the object 21 is stored in the variable oldVersion. If the object 21 having the variable name is not found, a value of minus infinity is stored in the variable newVersion (step 302). As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the user side C
The object 21-1 having the variable name “tire front right” is searched from the G data, and if found, the version information 23-1 is stored in the variable oldVersion.
(1.0) is stored.

The server side update information is searched for the update information of the object having the name of the variable name. Variable nam
If the object update information having the name of e is found, the version information is stored in a variable newVersion.
To be stored. If the object update information having the name of the variable name is not found, a value of minus infinity is stored in the variable newVersion (step 30).
3). For example, the update information 41-1 of the object having the name 42-1 of the variable “tire front right” is searched from the server-side update information.
The version information 43-1 (2.
0) is stored.

Variable oldVersion and variable newV
Compare the value of the version. Variable newVersio
If the value of n is greater than the value of the variable oldVersion, it is determined that the object has been updated.
When the value of the variable newVersion is the variable oldVers
If the value is equal to or less than the value of “ion”, it is determined that the object is not updated (step 304). For example, the variable ol
dVersion value (1.0) and variable newVers
ionic value (2.0) is compared and the variable newVer
The value of the section (2.0)> the value of the variable oldVersion (1.0), and it is determined that the object has been updated.

Then, steps 204 and 205 described above are performed.
As shown in (2), if the data has been updated (step 204), the server-side CG data reading unit 14
3D of update information 41 received from G data determination unit 13
Based on the CG data storage position 44, only the necessary 3DCG data is read from the server-side external storage device 3 and stored in the CG data storage unit 15. (Step 205). As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the server-side CG data reading unit 1
4 is the 3DCG storage position 4 of the update information 41-1 of the object having the name of the variable name “tire front right”
4-1 ("www ...."), the 3DCG object 51-1 to be updated is read, and the CG data storage unit 15
To memorize.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the name 22 and the version information 23 for identifying each object are added to the data structure of the 3DCG object, which is the object information, and the newness of the data is provided for each 3DCG object. Is managed. The version information 43 of the update information 41 for each 3DCG object read from the server-side external storage device 3 and the version information 23 of the corresponding 3DCG object 21 of the 3DCG data read from the user-side external storage device 4 are compared and updated. Object 5 updated from server only if
Read only 1 Thus, the time required for updating the 3DCG data can be reduced. Further, the user 3 can update the latest 3DCG data automatically or with a simple operation without performing a complicated operation.

In the present embodiment, the update information 41 and the new 3DCG data are stored on the server side.
Regularly distribute storage media such as ROM and CD-ROM,
Data can also be updated from these storage media.

In this embodiment, the server-side update information 41 is read each time the application is started. However, when the user 9 presses a specific button or the like, the server-side update information 41 is read, or the update information 41 is read. It is also possible to take a method of reading the server-side update information 41 again after a lapse of a predetermined time from the time of reading.

In this embodiment, the 3DCG data is updated only when the version information 43 of the object stored in the server-side update information 41 is larger than the version information 23 stored in the user-side 3DCG data. Without limitation, always update, always update, update when server side version is large, update when server side version is large or equal, update when server side version is equal There is a determination method such as updating when the version on the server side is small or equal, updating when the version on the server side is small, and updating when the version on the server side is not equal.

In this embodiment, the update information 41 is managed in units of 3DCG objects 21. However, version information is defined for each of the shape data, texture data, and texture data constituting the object. Update information can also be managed for each element.

In the present embodiment, all users read the server-side update information 41 when the application is started.
It is also possible to provide server-side update information limited to registered users 9 and personal computers.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, after the CG image generating device 2 updates the data,
The image is displayed immediately (step 209), but only the data may be updated, for example, at midnight.

The image handled in the present invention is not limited to a CG image, but may be an image of a product such as an online product catalog.

The program for performing the processing shown in FIG. 6 may be distributed while being held in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or the program may be transmitted and received via a communication line.

[0068]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image management system which can automatically update the latest image data in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image generation device 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of a 3DCG object 21;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of update information 41;

5 shows a 3DCG object 21 on the user side, a 3DCG object 51 on the server side, and its update information 41. FIG.
Diagram showing the relationship

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing CG data update processing and image generation processing by the image generation apparatus 2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the CG data determination unit 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Image management system 2. Image generation device 3. Server-side external storage device 4. User-side external storage device 5. External input device 6. External display device 7. Network (Internet) 8 Image management server 9 User 10 User-side CG data reading unit 11 CG data writing unit 12 Update information reading unit 13 CG data determination unit 14 server-side CG data reading section 15 CG data storage section 16 viewpoint information calculation section 17 rendering processing section 21 3DCG object 41 update information

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A server connected to a user computer via a network, wherein the user computer and the server hold an image of an object, and are updated when a part of the image of the object is updated. Wherein the image is sent from the server to the user computer. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the image is a computer graphic image or an image of a product. 3. The server according to claim 1, wherein the object is composed of a plurality of objects. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising image information of the object and update information of the object.
The server described. 5. The server according to claim 4, wherein the update information includes an object name, version information, and information indicating a data storage position. 6. An image management system in which a user computer and a server are connected via a network, wherein the user computer and the server hold an image for a specific target, and the server specifies the specific target. An image management system, wherein when a part of the image is updated, the updated image is sent from the server to the user computer. 7. A user computer connected to a server via a network, wherein the server and the user computer hold an image of an object, wherein the user computer is a part of the image of the object on the server side. A user computer that receives an updated image from the server when is updated. 8. A comparing means for receiving update information having version information from the server side and comparing with the version information of the image on the user side, if the result of the comparison indicates that the version information on the server side is new, an image relating to the new version information 8. The user computer according to claim 7, further comprising: a unit for importing the information from the server side. 9. The user computer according to claim 8, wherein the image fetched from the server is written in an external storage device. 10. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as the server according to claim 1 is recorded. 11. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as the user computer according to claim 7 is recorded. 12. A recording medium on which is recorded data having image information on an object and update information having version information of the object.