JP2002064799A - Image-providing system and image-providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-providing system and an image-providing method that can visually provide real image resources distributed on a broadarea network in a form easily used by users. SOLUTION: A broadarea network NW1 is provided with terminals 4, etc., a virtual information distribution station 1, that transmits image-relating information of a virtual reality space stored in advance to the terminals 4, in response to a transmission request from the terminals 4 via the broadarea network NW1, and image distribution stations 2, 3 that transmit the image information to the terminals, in response to the transmission request from the terminals, the virtual information distribution station 1 provides browsing information including network addresses of the image distribution stations 2, 3 having real spatial image relation information related to components of the virtual reality space selected, by users using the terminals to the users and allows the image distribution stations 2, 3 for providing image relation information desired by the users stored in the stations 2, 3 to the terminals 4 acquiring the browsing information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image providing system for distributing image information desired by a user over a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are known various systems for acquiring and distributing image information such as moving images and still images at remote locations by using a wide area network such as the Internet.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of such a system. According to the figure, a computer terminal 104 and an image distribution station 101 are connected to a wide area network NW100, and the image distribution station 101 captures a real image (hereinafter, referred to as a real image). 103 and an image distribution server 1 that provides image information captured by the camera 103 to the wide area network NW100
02 is provided. The user is the terminal 1
04 to start the browsing software, access the image distribution server 102, browse the web page provided by the image distribution server 102, and display a still image or a moving image captured by the camera 103 provided through the web page. Can be viewed. There is also a system that allows the terminal 104 to control the imaging direction of the camera 103 and the like.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system for providing an image of a virtual reality space. The virtual information distribution server 105 includes image data of a virtual reality space with a sense of reality created by VR (Virtual Reality) technology or VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling).
Language) and the like are stored. Examples of a three-dimensional image realized by such data include a three-dimensional object displayed by stereoscopic CG (computer graphics), a three-dimensional space where a character in a game can be experienced, and the like.
VRML means a description language of three-dimensional graphics data. When the VRML description file is transmitted instead of directly transmitting the image data to the terminal 104, the browsing software incorporated in the terminal 104 causes the VRML to read the VRML.
By reading and executing the description file, the three-dimensional image 106 is generated in the terminal 3.

[0005]

However, since a huge number of image distribution stations 101 are connected on a wide area network NW100 such as the Internet, the user searches for the image distribution station 101 that provides a desired real image. There is a problem that the required labor is large and the system cannot be effectively used, and a system that can efficiently access desired image information from a huge number of image information distributed on the wide area network NW100 is desired. Was.

There is also a problem that it is difficult to grasp the position of a point displayed on an actual image provided on the wide area network NW100. For example, when a block is displayed on an actual image provided on a web page such as the Internet, it is often difficult to grasp the positional relationship of the block in which municipalities and in which location. In many cases, it is necessary to grasp the positional relationship based on the character information and the simplified map information.

On the other hand, in the above-described system for providing a virtual reality space, a wide area network N having a limited communication band is used.
Since it is necessary to transmit data necessary for displaying the virtual reality space through W100, there is a problem that the amount of transmission data is limited, and there is a limit in imitating the real space with the virtual reality image. Conversely, VRML with relatively small capacity
There is also a means for transmitting the description file to the terminal 104 to reduce the load on the wide area network NW100 and generating a virtual reality image on the terminal 104 side. However, such means tends to excessively increase the calculation load on the terminal 104. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image providing system and an image providing system capable of visually providing real image resources distributed on a wide area network in a form that can be easily used by a user. The point is to provide a providing method.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, an image providing system according to a first aspect of the present invention distributes image-related information in a real space and a virtual reality space imitating the real space on a computer network. An image providing system, comprising: one or more terminals on the computer network; and image-related information of a virtual reality space stored in advance in response to a transmission request from the terminals via the computer network. And a virtual information distribution station that sends the image data of the real space associated with the components of the virtual reality space to the terminal via the computer network in response to a transmission request. And an image distribution station for transmitting the virtual information space, wherein the virtual information distribution station is configured by the user to configure the virtual reality space displayed on the terminal. The when specified, it is characterized in that to view images of the real space that is associated with said component by connecting to the image delivery station.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the virtual information distribution station transmits image-related information in accordance with a viewpoint of the virtual reality space instructed by the terminal, and transmits the image-related information to the terminal. The timing of switching the connection to the image distribution station having the image information of the real space is controlled by the viewpoint information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image distribution station includes: an imaging unit that captures an image of a real space; and an image distribution unit that sends out a real image captured by the imaging unit to a network in real time. It is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image distribution station selectively transmits image information corresponding to a component of the virtual reality space from a plurality of image information stored in a database in advance. It is.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the terminal is a mobile communication terminal provided with its own position specifying means, and transmits the position information obtained by the position specifying means to the virtual information distribution station. , The virtual information distribution station transmits the image-related information based on the position information.

Next, an image providing method according to claim 6 of the present invention comprises a terminal or a plurality of terminals, a virtual information distribution station for providing image-related information of a virtual reality space stored in advance,
An image providing method for delivering image-related information in a real space or a virtual reality space imitating the real space on a computer network connected to an image delivery station that provides image information in the real space, comprising: Transmitting, in response to a transmission request from the terminal to the virtual information distribution station, image-related information of the virtual reality space to the terminal; and (b) the user having the virtual reproduction reproduced on the terminal. Browsing the real space; and (c) transmitting image information corresponding to the component from the image distribution station to the terminal when the user designates the component of the virtual reality space; It is characterized by having.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the step (a), the virtual information distribution station transmits image-related information in accordance with a viewpoint of the virtual reality space displayed on the terminal. In the step (c),
The timing for switching the connection to the image distribution station having the image information of the real space for the terminal is controlled by the viewpoint information.

In the invention according to claim 8, in the step (c), image information of a real space imaged by the image distribution station is transmitted from the image distribution station to the terminal in real time. is there.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the step (c), the component of the virtual reality space is selected from a plurality of pieces of image information previously stored in a database from the image distribution station to the terminal. Is selectively transmitted.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the step (a), the location information of the terminal is transmitted to the virtual information distribution station, and based on the location information from the virtual information distribution station. The image-related information of the virtual reality space is transmitted.

[0019]

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire configuration of an image providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A wide area network N such as the Internet
W1 includes a virtual information distribution station 1 that provides image-related information in a virtual reality space imitating a real space, a large number of image distribution stations 2,... A recorded image distribution station 3 for distribution and a large number of network-compatible terminals 4,..., 4 are connected. It is assumed that all devices connected to the wide area network NW1 have network addresses. The form of the wide area network NW1 may be either a wired network or a wireless network, or a network in which both are mixed.

The terminal 4 includes, in addition to the computer main body, a display device for displaying an image of the virtual reality space provided by the virtual information distribution server 1, a pointing device (coordinate indicating device) such as a mouse and a stylus, a keyboard, and the like. Input device. As described below,
The user can move in the virtual reality space using such an input device.

The image distribution station 2 is provided with an image distribution server 5 connected to the wide area network NW1 and an image pickup means (camera) 6 for picking up an actual image. The data is transferred to the image distribution server 5 and the wide area network N
It is sent out to W1.

The recorded image distribution station 3 is provided with a recorded image distribution server 7 connected to the wide area network NW1 and a recorded image database 8 in which still images or moving images are stored in advance. The image data is transmitted to the wide area network NW1 in response to the transmission request.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the virtual information distribution station 1. The virtual information distribution station 1 has a wide area network NW
Transmitting / receiving means 10 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the virtual information database 1, a virtual information database 12 storing a data group necessary for forming a virtual reality space, and a virtual information database 12
A virtual image file generating means 13 for generating a virtual image file necessary for displaying an image of a virtual reality space on the terminal 4 based on the data stored in the
And a processing unit 11 for controlling the virtual information database 12 and the virtual image file generating means 13. In the present embodiment, the virtual information distribution station 1 is configured by a single computer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and each unit and the database may be distributed and arranged in a plurality of computers.

Such a virtual information distribution station 1 includes a terminal 4
Is received by the processing unit 11 via the transmission / reception unit 10, the processing unit 11 calls and executes the virtual image file generation unit 13 in response to the transmission request, and refers to the virtual information database 12 to execute virtual reality. A virtual image file representing the space is generated and transmitted to the terminal 4. As the virtual image file, a still image or a moving image may be used, and program codes such as a VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) description file necessary for reproducing the virtual reality image on the terminal 4 side are described. It may be a program file. When transmitting the program file, the terminal 4 interprets and executes the code described in the file, reproduces the virtual reality space, and displays the image.

[0027] The user can read the WWW stored in the terminal 4.
(World Wide Web) Browser software such as a browser is started, the virtual image file is acquired from the virtual information distribution station 1, and a virtual reality image can be reproduced by playing the virtual reality image with the browsing software. The virtual information database 12 stores character information and sound information attached to the virtual image file, and may be transmitted to the terminal 4 and reproduced together with the virtual reality image.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of the virtual reality space reproduced by the terminal 4. In the example shown in FIG.
When the user activates the browsing software of the terminal 4 and accesses the virtual information distribution station 1, the display window of the browsing software first displays a map 2 displaying the entire configuration of the virtual reality space.
0 is displayed. The user moves the pointer 25 on the map 20 using an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device attached to the terminal 4, and selects a point to visit. Next, a virtual image file in the virtual reality space at the selected point is transmitted from the virtual information distribution station 1, and the virtual reality image is reproduced and displayed on the display window of the viewing software of the terminal 4. For example, when the user selects the illustrated points 20a and 20d, the virtual reality house 2 is selected.
When the point 20b is selected, the virtual reality street 22 is displayed, and when the point 20c is selected, the virtual reality square 23 is displayed. Using input devices such as a keyboard and a pointing device, a user can experience the virtual reality space by moving in the virtual reality space, moving a virtual object, and executing a three-dimensional game. .

While the user is experiencing the virtual reality space, viewpoint information (including three-dimensional coordinates, traveling direction vectors, solid angles, etc.) of the virtual reality space specified by the user from the terminal 4 is distributed as virtual information. The virtual information distribution station 1 is transmitting to the terminal 4 an image-related file that can display a virtual reality space corresponding to the viewpoint.

The components of the virtual reality space, for example, the entrance 23a of the store or the virtual house 21 of the virtual square 23 shown in FIG.
Is associated with a real space corresponding to the component. That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, in the address space 30 of the virtual reality space stored in the virtual information database 12 of the virtual information distribution station 1, addresses 1, 2, 2, which correspond to the respective components of the virtual reality space. …,
, are provided, and each of these addresses has a real space 1
To n are associated with each other. The browsing information including the network addresses of the image distribution station 2 and the recorded image distribution station 3 is associated with each real space.

FIG. 5 shows a virtual information distribution station 1 and an image distribution station 2
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing transmission and reception of data between the terminal and the terminal 4;
Is an explanatory diagram showing data transmission and reception between the virtual information distribution station 1, the recorded image distribution station 3, and the terminal 4, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure.

The processing procedure of the system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 5 and 6 and the flow chart of FIG. 7. First, the user uses the browsing software of the terminal 4 to access the wide area network NW1. The virtual information distribution station 1 is accessed via (ST1). From terminal 4,
For example, any of the virtual reality spaces 21 to 24 shown in FIG. 3 can be selected from a plurality of virtual reality spaces provided by the virtual information distribution station 1. Next, the user browses the virtual reality image in the selected virtual reality space (ST2), and instructs the virtual information distribution station 1 to provide desired viewpoint information to the virtual information distribution station 1 using an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device to thereby display the virtual reality space. (ST3). In the virtual reality space, a virtual shopping mall, a virtual art gallery, various games, and the like are built, and users can shop in the virtual shopping mall, view paintings exhibited in the virtual art gallery, and play role-playing games ( Or a game that adventures in the virtual reality world according to predetermined rules.

Next, the user moves in the virtual reality space and, for example, enters the store entrance 23 of the virtual open space 23 shown in FIG.
a and the virtual information distribution station 1 (ST4) when it arrives at a component of the virtual reality space such as the entrance 21a of the virtual house 21.
Transmits browsing information including the network address of the image distribution station 2 or the recorded image distribution station 3 associated with the component to the terminal device 4 (ST5).

When the terminal 4 receives the browsing information, the terminal 4 provides an image distribution station 2 that provides an actual image associated with the constituent elements.
Alternatively, the user accesses the recording image distribution station 3 and browses the actual image (ST6). For example, when the user arrives at the store entrance 23a of the open space 23 in the virtual reality space shown in FIG. 3, the virtual information distribution station 1 transmits the actual image of the real store corresponding to the virtual store. The browsing information is transmitted to the terminal 4, and the terminal 4 can access the image distribution station 2 and display the actual image. Further, as another example, when the user arrives at the virtual museum, the user can access the recorded image distribution station 3 associated with the virtual museum and view the real images of the exhibits accumulated in the recorded image distribution station 3. .

According to the system configuration of the first embodiment described above, the real images distributed and provided on the network correspond to the components of the virtual reality space constructed in the virtual information distribution station 1 so that the database is created. Therefore, the user can very easily browse a desired real image while moving in the virtual reality space.

The timing of switching the access from the component of the virtual reality space to the image distribution station storing the real image is determined by the viewpoint information (three-dimensional coordinates, traveling direction vector, solid angle) specified by the user from the terminal. , The user can access the real image with a high sense of reality while maintaining the virtual reality.

Further, the image providing system according to the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 8, the components 3 ₁ virtual reality space, 3 _2, ..., address # 1 of the address space 30 for 3 _n, There is an advantage that the association of # 2,..., #N,. This makes it possible to arrange and provide real images distributed and provided on the network in a form that is easy for the user to use in the virtual reality space. For example, the virtual houses 21 and 24 shown in FIG. 3 are arranged apart from each other in the real space, but both virtual houses 21 and 24 can be arranged without a sense of distance in the virtual reality space. Also, in the virtual reality space, one area of Shin-Osaka and one area of Las Vegas can be arranged adjacently without giving a sense of distance.

The image providing system according to the first embodiment can also be applied to a simulation for an airplane or a vehicle. For example, a traffic path of a vehicle is constructed as a virtual reality space in the virtual information database 12 of the virtual information distribution station 1, and real-time data provided by the image distribution stations 2, 2,. The image is
It is associated with each point of the vehicle traffic path in the virtual reality space. This allows the driver (user) operating the vehicle in the virtual reality space to see a real-time real-time image every time he passes the designated point, and thus can perform a simulation based on reality. Here, instead of the real-time image provided by the image distribution station 2, a recorded image provided by the recorded image distribution station 3 may be used.

<Embodiment 2> Next, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image providing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a virtual information distribution station 1 and an image distribution station 2.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining data transmission / reception between the mobile communication terminal 40 (or the recorded image distribution station 3) and FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure.

According to FIG. 9, the above-mentioned virtual information distribution station 1, image distribution stations 2,.
And a recorded image distribution station 3 connected thereto. A mobile communication network NW2 is connected to the wide area network NW1, and the mobile communication network NW2 is connected to the GPS ( Global Posit
Mobile communication terminals 40 provided with position specifying means 41 such as an ioning system (global positioning system) are wirelessly connected. The position specifying means 41 is not limited to the GPS, but may be a system of the mobile communication network NW2 which specifies the radio wave transmitting position of the mobile communication terminal 40 and acquires the position information.

The processing procedure of the image providing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. 10 and the flowchart of FIG. The mobile communication terminal 40 activates the browsing software and connects to the virtual information distribution station 1 via the wide area network NW1 and the mobile communication network NW2 (ST10).

Next, the mobile communication terminal 40 transmits its own position information (latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.) obtained from the position specifying means 41 to the virtual information distribution station 1 and transmits the image of the virtual reality space described above. A request for transmitting a related file is issued (ST11). The virtual information distribution station 1 uses the mobile communication terminal 40 in the virtual image file generation unit 13 of the processing unit 11.
An image-related file forming a virtual reality space based on the position information is prepared and transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 40 through the transmission / reception means 10. The virtual reality image is
The three-dimensional image simulates a real space centered on a local point of the mobile communication terminal 40.

In the mobile communication terminal 40 receiving the image-related file, the user reproduces and displays the virtual reality image using the browsing software to browse (ST12). The user can move in the virtual reality space using an input device such as a pointing device mounted on the mobile communication terminal 40 (ST13). As described in the first embodiment, while the user moves in the virtual reality space, the mobile communication terminal 40 distributes the user's viewpoint information (three-dimensional coordinates, traveling direction vectors, solid angles, etc.) to virtual information. The virtual information distribution station 1 is transmitting to the mobile communication terminal 40 an image-related file capable of displaying a virtual reality space corresponding to the viewpoint information. For example, when the map 20 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to an actual map, the current position of the user in the map 20 is specified by the position specifying unit 41. The virtual information distribution station 1 that has received the current position information creates a virtual reality space in a surrounding area around the current position of the user, for example, a virtual square 2
3 and the virtual street 22 are transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 40.

Further, the user uses the input device such as the pointing device to move in such a virtual reality space and reach, for example, an entrance of a virtual store or select a virtual painting. When a component of the virtual reality space is designated (ST14), the mobile communication terminal 40 receives browsing information such as the network address of the image distribution station 2 or the recorded image distribution station 3 having the real image associated with the component. (ST15), and connects to the image distribution station 2 or the recorded image distribution station 3 to display the actual image on the display window of the viewing software (ST1).
6). For example, if the user reaches the entrance of a virtual store,
A real image in the store corresponding to the virtual store is displayed, and when the user selects a virtual painting, a real image of the painting corresponding to the virtual painting is displayed.

As described above, the user specifies the position specifying means 4
Since it is possible to obtain an image of the virtual reality space based on the position information specified in step 1, it is possible to browse a desired real image very easily and quickly, and easily grasp the situation around the point. Become.

[0045]

As described above, according to the image providing system according to the first aspect of the present invention and the image providing method according to the sixth aspect, image information of a real space distributed on a computer network is converted into virtual information. Since the database is created by associating each component of the virtual reality space constructed at the distribution station, the user can freely access a desired real image by designating the component while experiencing the virtual reality feeling. It becomes possible. In addition, since the user can access the real image through the virtual reality space, it is possible to significantly reduce the burden on the user for finding desired information.

According to the second and seventh aspects, the virtual information distribution station switches the access from the component of the virtual reality space displayed on the screen of the terminal to the real image stored in the image distribution station. Can be executed based on the viewpoint displayed on the terminal, so that the user can smoothly shift to the real image with a high sense of reality while maintaining the virtual reality.

According to the third and eighth aspects, the user can view a real image of a desired place in real time.

According to the fourth and ninth aspects, the user can selectively obtain a desired image from the stored image data.

According to claims 5 and 10,
When the user accesses the virtual information distribution station via the network, the virtual information distribution station can provide a virtual reality space in a peripheral area centered on the local point of the mobile communication terminal. By browsing the actual image, it is possible to easily grasp the situation around the point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a virtual information distribution station included in the image providing system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a virtual reality space.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between components of a virtual reality space and addresses in an address space according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining data transmission / reception between a virtual information distribution station, an image distribution station, and a terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing data transmission and reception between a virtual information distribution station, a recorded image distribution station, and a terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of data transmission and reception shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between components of a virtual reality space and addresses of an address space according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an image providing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data transmission / reception between a virtual information distribution station, an image distribution station, and a mobile communication terminal according to Embodiment 2.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a data transmission / reception processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image distribution system.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional system for providing virtual reality information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Virtual information distribution station 2 Image distribution station 3 Recorded image distribution station 4 Terminal 5 Image distribution server 6 Imaging means 7 Recorded image distribution server 8 Recorded image database 10 Transmission / reception means 11 Processing unit 12 Virtual information database 13 Virtual image file generation means 20 Map 21 Virtual House 21a Entrance 22 Virtual Street 23 Virtual Square 23a Store Entrance 24 Virtual House 25 Pointer 30 Address Space of Virtual Reality Space 31 Real Space 40 Mobile Communication Terminal 41 Positioning Means 42 Wireless Base Station

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image providing system for distributing image-related information in a real space and a virtual reality space imitating the real space on a computer network, comprising: one or more terminals on the computer network; Via a network, a virtual information distribution station for transmitting image-related information of a virtual reality space stored in advance to the terminal in response to a transmission request from the terminal; and a transmission request via the computer network. An image distribution station for transmitting image information of the real space associated with the components of the virtual reality space to the terminal in accordance with the virtual information distribution station. When the specified component of the virtual reality space is specified, the real space associated with the component is connected to the image distribution station. Image providing system, characterized in that to view the image. 2. The virtual information distribution station transmits image-related information according to a viewpoint of the virtual reality space instructed by the terminal, and has image information of the real space to the terminal. 2. The image providing system according to claim 1, wherein the timing of switching the connection to the image distribution station is controlled by the viewpoint information. 3. The image distribution station according to claim 1, further comprising: an imaging unit configured to image a real space; and an image distribution unit configured to transmit a real image captured by the imaging unit to a network in real time. 2. The image providing system according to 2. 4. The image according to claim 1, wherein the image distribution station selectively transmits image information corresponding to a component of the virtual reality space from a plurality of pieces of image information stored in a database in advance. Delivery system. 5. The terminal is a mobile communication terminal having its own position specifying means, and transmits the position information obtained by the position specifying means to the virtual information distribution station, wherein the virtual information distribution station The image providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image-related information is transmitted based on the position information. 6. A computer connected to one or more terminals, a virtual information distribution station for providing pre-stored image-related information in a virtual reality space, and an image distribution station for providing image information in a real space. An image providing method for distributing image-related information of a real space or a virtual reality space imitating a real space over a network, comprising: (a) responding to a transmission request from the terminal to the virtual information distribution station, Sending image-related information of the virtual reality space to the terminal; (b) browsing the virtual reality space reproduced on the terminal; and (c) a user viewing the virtual reality space. Transmitting the image information corresponding to the component from the image distribution station to the terminal when the component is specified. . 7. In the step (a), the virtual information distribution station transmits image-related information in accordance with a viewpoint of the virtual reality space displayed on the terminal,
7. The image providing method according to claim 6, wherein in the step (c), the timing at which the terminal is switched to the image distribution station having the image information of the real space is controlled based on viewpoint information. 8. The image providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in the step (c), image information of a real space taken by the image distribution station is transmitted from the image distribution station to the terminal in real time. Method. 9. In the step (c), image information corresponding to a component of the virtual reality space is selected from a plurality of pieces of image information previously stored in a database from the image distribution station toward the terminal. Claim 6
Or the image providing method according to 7. 10. In the step (a), the position information of the terminal is transmitted to the virtual information distribution station, and the image information of the virtual reality space based on the position information is transmitted from the virtual information distribution station. The image providing method according to claim 6, wherein the information is transmitted.