JP2019049987A - Information processing method, device, and program for causing computer to execute the method - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve an entertainment property of virtual experience in a virtual space in which a character and an avatar are mixed.SOLUTION: An information processing method for providing a user with virtual experience via a head mount device includes the steps of: identifying virtual space data for defining a virtual space including a first avatar automatically controlled by a computer and a first character associated with the first avatar; controlling the first avatar and the first character on the basis of each of first control data for automatically controlling the first avatar and second control data for automatically controlling the first character; identifying a virtual viewpoint not associated with the first avatar and the first character; and generating a visual field image on the basis of the virtual space data, a position of the virtual viewpoint in the virtual space, and an attitude of the head mount device and displaying the visual field image in a display unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing method, an apparatus, and a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method.

  The Playstation (registered trademark) VR is known as hardware that provides a user with a game experience in a virtual space (VR game). In the play station VR, a user can play a VR game by operating a player character or the like in a virtual space using a controller. The techniques for playing a VR game using a controller are also disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2015-232783 JP, 2016-158794, A

  In addition, in a game for operating a character in a virtual space, it has been practiced to improve entertainment by mixing avatars, which are objects having the position of the user as a substitute, in the virtual space together with the character.

  Therefore, the present disclosure provides an information processing method and apparatus capable of improving the entertainment property of a virtual experience in a virtual space in which a character and an avatar are mixed, and providing a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method. To aim.

  According to one aspect the present disclosure shows, there is provided an information processing method performed by a computer to provide a virtual experience to a user via a head mounted device comprising a display. The information processing method comprises: identifying virtual space data defining a virtual space including a first avatar automatically controlled by a computer and a first character associated with the first avatar and automatically controlled by the computer Controlling the first avatar and the first character based on the first control data for automatically controlling the first avatar and the second control data for automatically controlling the first character, and in a virtual space Identifying a virtual viewpoint not associated with the first avatar and the first character, generating a visual field image based on the virtual space data, the position of the virtual viewpoint in the virtual space, and the attitude of the head mounted device; Displaying the image on a display unit.

  According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing method, an apparatus, and a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method capable of improving the entertainment property of a virtual experience in a virtual space in which a character and an avatar are mixed. It becomes possible.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an HMD system 100 according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware constitutions of computer 200 according to one mode. FIG. 6 conceptually illustrates an uvw view coordinate system set in the HMD device 110 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates an aspect of representing a virtual space 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a top view of a head of a user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a YZ cross section in which a view area 23 is viewed from the X direction in a virtual space 2; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an XZ cross section in which a visibility region 23 in the virtual space 2 is viewed from the Y direction. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a controller 160 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing a computer 200 according to an embodiment as a modular configuration. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the HMD system 100A according to an embodiment. It is a figure which represents an example of virtual space typically. It is a figure showing an example of a field-of-view picture provided to a user via HMD device. Fig. 5 is a flow chart depicting a process performed to control movement of an automatic avatar automatically controlled by a computer. FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a first variant of a process performed to control movement of an automatic avatar. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a second variant of the process carried out to control the movement of the automatic avatar. It is a figure which shows the example of control of the automatic avatar based on the event which generate | occur | produced in virtual space. It is a figure which shows the other example of control of the automatic avatar based on the event which generate | occur | produced in virtual space. It is a figure which shows the example of control which moves the position of the automatic avatar in virtual space.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description about them will not be repeated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description about them will not be repeated.
[Configuration of HMD system]

  The configuration of an HMD (Head Mount Device) system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an HMD system 100 according to an embodiment. In one aspect, the HMD system 100 is provided as a home system or a business system.

  The HMD system 100 includes an HMD device 110 (head mount device), an HMD sensor 120, a controller 160, and a computer 200. The HMD device 110 includes a monitor 112 (display unit), a microphone 118, and a gaze sensor 140.

  In one aspect, the computer 200 can connect to the Internet or other network 19 and can communicate with a server 150 or other computer connected to the network 19. In another aspect, the HMD device 110 may include a sensor 114 instead of the HMD sensor 120.

  The HMD device 110 may be worn on the user's head and provide the user with virtual space during operation. More specifically, the HMD device 110 displays the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye on the monitor 112, respectively. When each eye of the user views each image, the user can recognize the image as a three-dimensional image based on the parallax of both eyes.

  The monitor 112 is implemented, for example, as a non-transmissive display device. In one aspect, the monitor 112 is disposed on the main body of the HMD device 110 so as to be located in front of the user's eyes. Therefore, when the user visually recognizes the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 112, the user can immerse in the virtual space. In one embodiment, the virtual space includes, for example, a background, an object operable by the user, and an image of a menu selectable by the user. In one embodiment, the monitor 112 can be realized as a liquid crystal monitor or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) monitor provided in a so-called smart phone or other information display terminal. The monitor 112 may be configured integrally with the main body of the HMD device 110 or may be configured separately.

  In one aspect, the monitor 112 may include a sub monitor for displaying an image for the right eye and a sub monitor for displaying an image for the left eye. In another aspect, the monitor 112 may be configured to integrally display an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye. In this case, the monitor 112 includes a high speed shutter. The high speed shutter operates so as to alternately display the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye so that the image is recognized only for one of the eyes.

  The microphone 118 acquires the voice emitted by the user. The speech acquired by the microphone 118 may be used to detect the user's emotions by speech analysis processing. The detection result may be reflected on the facial expression or the like of an avatar described later. The voice can also be used to give a voice instruction to the virtual space 2. Further, the voice may be sent to the HMD system used by another user via the network 19 and the server 150 or the like, and may be output from a speaker or the like connected to the HMD system. Thereby, conversation (chat) between users sharing the virtual space is realized.

  The HMD sensor 120 includes a plurality of light sources (not shown). Each light source is realized by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits infrared light. The HMD sensor 120 has a position tracking function for detecting the movement of the HMD device 110 and the controller 160. The HMD sensor 120 uses this function to detect the position and tilt of the HMD device 110 in the physical space and the position and tilt of the controller 160.

  In another aspect, the HMD sensor 120 may be realized by a camera. In this case, the HMD sensor 120 executes an image analysis process using the image information of the HMD device 110 and the controller 160 output from the camera, whereby the position and the tilt of the HMD device 110 and the position and the tilt of the controller 160 Can be detected.

  In another aspect, the HMD device 110 may include a sensor 114 instead of the HMD sensor 120 as a position detector. HMD device 110 may use sensor 114 to detect the position and tilt of HMD device 110 itself. For example, when the sensor 114 is an angular velocity sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor or the like, the HMD device 110 uses one of these sensors instead of the HMD sensor 120 to position and tilt itself. Can be detected. As an example, when the sensor 114 is an angular velocity sensor, the angular velocity sensor detects the angular velocity around three axes of the HMD device 110 in real space over time. The HMD device 110 calculates temporal changes in angles around the three axes of the HMD device 110 based on each angular velocity, and further calculates inclination of the HMD device 110 based on temporal changes in angles. The HMD device 110 may also include a transmissive display device. In this case, the transmissive display device may be temporarily configured as a non-transmissive display device by adjusting the transmittance thereof. Further, the view image may include a configuration for presenting the real space in a part of the image constituting the virtual space. For example, an image captured by a camera mounted on the HMD device 110 may be displayed so as to be superimposed on a part of the field of view image, or the field of view can be set by setting the transmittance of part of the transmissive display device high. The real space may be visible from part of the image.

  The gaze sensor 140 detects the direction (gaze direction) in which the gaze of the right eye and the left eye of the user 190 is directed. The detection of the direction is realized by, for example, a known eye tracking function. The gaze sensor 140 is realized by a sensor having the eye tracking function. In one aspect, the gaze sensor 140 preferably includes a sensor for the right eye and a sensor for the left eye. The gaze sensor 140 may be, for example, a sensor that emits infrared light to the right and left eyes of the user 190, and detects the rotation angle of each eye by receiving reflected light from the cornea and iris to the irradiated light. . The gaze sensor 140 can detect the gaze direction of the user 190 based on each detected rotation angle.

  The server 150 may send the program to the computer 200. In another aspect, server 150 may communicate with other computers 200 to provide virtual reality to HMD devices used by other users. For example, when a plurality of users play a participatory game in an amusement facility, each computer 200 communicates a signal based on each user's operation with another computer 200 to share a plurality of users in the same virtual space. Allows you to enjoy the game. The server 150 is configured by one or more computer devices, and has a hardware configuration (a processor, a memory, a storage, and the like) provided in a general computer, as in the hardware configuration of the computer 200 described later.

The controller 160 receives an input of an instruction from the user 190 to the computer 200. In one aspect, controller 160 is configured to be graspable by user 190. In the present embodiment, the controller 160 is an input device of a type gripped by the user 190 with both hands. In another aspect, the controller 160 may be configured to output vibration, sound, light, and / or light based on a signal sent from the computer 200. In another aspect, the controller 160 receives operations given by the user 190 to control the position, movement, etc. of objects placed in the space providing virtual reality. As described above, the position and tilt of the controller 160 in real space may be detected by the HMD sensor 120 (or a camera or the like). In another aspect, the controller 160 may include a sensor (not shown) similar to the sensor 114 described above as a position detector. In this case, the sensor may detect the position and tilt of the controller 160. Also, the HMD sensor 120 and the sensor provided in the controller 160 may be used in combination. In this case, for example, the position of the controller 160 is detected by the HMD sensor 120, and the tilt of the controller 160 is detected by a sensor provided in the controller 160.
[Hardware configuration]

  A computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 200 according to an aspect. The computer 200 includes a processor 10, a memory 11, a storage 12, an input / output interface 13, and a communication interface 14 as main components. Each component is connected to the bus 15 respectively.

  The processor 10 executes a series of instructions included in a program stored in the memory 11 or the storage 12 based on a signal supplied to the computer 200 or based on the establishment of a predetermined condition. In one aspect, the processor 10 is realized as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processor unit (MPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other devices.

  The memory 11 temporarily stores programs and data. The program is loaded from, for example, the storage 12. The data stored in the memory 11 includes data input to the computer 200 and data generated by the processor 10. In one aspect, the memory 11 is implemented as a random access memory (RAM) or another volatile memory.

  The storage 12 holds programs and data permanently. The storage 12 is implemented, for example, as a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or another non-volatile storage device. The programs stored in the storage 12 include a program for providing a virtual space in the HMD system 100, a simulation program, a game program, a user authentication program, a program for realizing communication with another computer 200, and the like. The data stored in the storage 12 includes data, objects, etc. for defining a virtual space.

  In another aspect, the storage 12 may be realized as a removable storage device like a memory card. In still another aspect, a configuration using programs and data stored in an external storage device may be used instead of the storage 12 built in the computer 200. According to such a configuration, for example, when a plurality of HMD systems 100 are used, such as an amusement facility, it is possible to perform updating of programs, data, etc. collectively.

  In one embodiment, input / output interface 13 communicates signals between HMD device 110 and HMD sensor 120. In one aspect, the input / output interface 13 is realized using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Digital Visual Interface (DVI), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI (registered trademark)), and other terminals. The input / output interface 13 is not limited to the one described above. For example, the input / output interface 13 may include a wireless communication interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  In one embodiment, input / output interface 13 may further communicate with controller 160. For example, the input / output interface 13 receives an input of a signal output from the controller 160. In another aspect, the input / output interface 13 sends an instruction output from the processor 10 to the controller 160. The command instructs the controller 160 to vibrate, output sound, emit light, and the like. When the controller 160 receives the command, the controller 160 executes vibration, voice output or light emission according to the command.

  The communication interface 14 is connected to the network 19 to communicate with other computers (for example, the server 150) connected to the network 19. In one aspect, the communication interface 14 is implemented as, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or other wired communication interface, or a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), an NFC (Near Field Communication) or other wireless communication interface. Be done. The communication interface 14 is not limited to the one described above.

  In one aspect, the processor 10 accesses the storage 12, loads one or more programs stored in the storage 12 into the memory 11, and executes a series of instructions included in the program. The one or more programs may include an operating system of the computer 200, an application program for providing a virtual space, game software executable in the virtual space using the controller 160, and the like. The processor 10 sends a signal for providing a virtual space to the HMD device 110 via the input / output interface 13. The HMD device 110 displays an image on the monitor 112 based on the signal.

  The server 150 is connected to the control devices of each of the plurality of HMD systems 100 via the network 19. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the server 150 communicably connects a plurality of HMD systems 100 including the HMD system 100A having the HMD device 110A and the HMD system 100B having the HMD device 110B. As a result, virtual experiences using a common virtual space are provided to users using each HMD system. The HMD system 100A, the HMD system 100B, and the other HMD systems 100 all have the same configuration. However, the HMD systems 100 may be of different models, or may have different performances (such as processing performance and detection performance).

  Although the configuration in which the computer 200 is provided outside the HMD device 110 is shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the computer 200 may be incorporated in the HMD device 110 in another aspect. As one example, a portable information communication terminal (for example, a smartphone) including the monitor 112 may function as the computer 200.

  In addition, the computer 200 may be configured to be commonly used by a plurality of HMD devices 110. According to such a configuration, for example, since the same virtual space can be provided to a plurality of users, each user can enjoy the same application as other users in the same virtual space. In such a case, the plurality of HMD systems 100 in the present embodiment may be directly connected to the computer 200 by the input / output interface 13. In addition, each function (for example, synchronization processing to be described later) of the server 150 in the present embodiment may be implemented in the computer 200.

  In one embodiment, in the HMD system 100, a global coordinate system is preset. The global coordinate system has three reference directions (axes) parallel to the vertical direction in real space, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the front-back direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the global coordinate system is one of viewpoint coordinate systems. Therefore, the horizontal direction, the vertical direction (vertical direction), and the front-rear direction in the global coordinate system are defined as an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, respectively. More specifically, in the global coordinate system, the x-axis is parallel to the horizontal direction of the real space. The y-axis is parallel to the vertical direction of the real space. The z axis is parallel to the front and back direction of the real space.

  In one aspect, the HMD sensor 120 includes an infrared sensor. When an infrared sensor detects infrared light emitted from each light source of the HMD device 110, the presence of the HMD device 110 is detected. The HMD sensor 120 further determines the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 in the physical space according to the movement of the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 based on the value of each point (each coordinate value in the global coordinate system). To detect. More specifically, the HMD sensor 120 can detect temporal changes in the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 using each value detected over time.

The global coordinate system is parallel to the real space coordinate system. Therefore, each inclination of the HMD device 110 detected by the HMD sensor 120 corresponds to each inclination around the three axes of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system. The HMD sensor 120 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system to the HMD device 110 based on the inclination of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system. The uvw visual field coordinate system set in the HMD device 110 corresponds to the visual point coordinate system when the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 views an object in the virtual space.
[Uvw view coordinate system]

  The uvw view coordinate system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the uvw visual field coordinate system set in the HMD device 110 according to an embodiment. The HMD sensor 120 detects the position and tilt of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system when the HMD device 110 is activated. The processor 10 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD device 110 based on the detected value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the HMD device 110 sets a three-dimensional uvw visual field coordinate system centered on the head of the user wearing the HMD device 110 (origin). More specifically, the HMD device 110 defines the global coordinate system in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the front-back direction (x-axis, y-axis, z-axis) around each axis of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system. The pitch direction (u axis), the yaw direction (v axis), and the roll direction (w axis) of the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD device 110 are newly obtained by inclining each direction about each axis by the inclination of Set as.

  In one aspect, when the user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 stands upright and views the front, the processor 10 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system parallel to the global coordinate system to the HMD device 110. In this case, the horizontal direction (x-axis), vertical direction (y-axis) and front-back direction (z-axis) in the global coordinate system are the pitch direction (u-axis) of the uvw view coordinate system in the HMD device 110 and the yaw direction (v Match the axis) and the roll direction (w axis).

  After the uvw visual field coordinate system is set in the HMD device 110, the HMD sensor 120 can detect the inclination (the amount of change in the inclination) of the HMD device 110 in the set uvw visual field coordinate system based on the movement of the HMD device 110. . In this case, the HMD sensor 120 detects the pitch angle (θu), the yaw angle (θv), and the roll angle (θw) of the HMD device 110 in the uvw view coordinate system as the inclination of the HMD device 110. The pitch angle (θu) represents the tilt angle of the HMD device 110 around the pitch direction in the uvw view coordinate system. The yaw angle (θv) represents the tilt angle of the HMD device 110 around the yaw direction in the uvw view coordinate system. The roll angle (θw) represents the tilt angle of the HMD device 110 around the roll direction in the uvw view coordinate system.

  The HMD sensor 120 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD device 110 after the HMD device 110 has moved to the HMD device 110 based on the detected inclination angle of the HMD device 110. The relationship between the HMD device 110 and the uvw view coordinate system of the HMD device 110 is always constant regardless of the position and tilt of the HMD device 110. When the position and the inclination of the HMD device 110 change, the position and the inclination of the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110 in the global coordinate system change in conjunction with the change of the position and the inclination.

In one aspect, the HMD sensor 120 detects the HMD based on the light intensity of the infrared light acquired based on the output from the infrared sensor and the relative positional relationship between the plurality of points (for example, the distance between each point). The position of the device 110 in the physical space may be identified as a relative position to the HMD sensor 120. Also, the processor 10 may determine the origin of the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110 in the real space (global coordinate system) based on the identified relative position.
[Virtual space]

  The virtual space will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an aspect of representing virtual space 2 according to an embodiment. The virtual space 2 has an all-sky spherical structure that covers the entire 360-degree direction of the center 21. In FIG. 4, the celestial sphere in the upper half of the virtual space 2 is illustrated so as not to complicate the description. In the virtual space 2, each mesh is defined. The position of each mesh is previously defined as coordinate values in the XYZ coordinate system defined in the virtual space 2. The computer 200 associates each partial image constituting content (a still image, a moving image, etc.) that can be expanded in the virtual space 2 with each corresponding mesh in the virtual space 2 to make the virtual space image 22 visible by the user. Provides the user with a virtual space 2 in which is deployed.

  In one aspect, in the virtual space 2, an XYZ coordinate system having a center 21 as an origin is defined. The XYZ coordinate system is, for example, parallel to the global coordinate system. Since the XYZ coordinate system is a kind of viewpoint coordinate system, the horizontal direction, the vertical direction (vertical direction), and the front-rear direction in the XYZ coordinate system are defined as an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, respectively. Therefore, the X axis (horizontal direction) of the XYZ coordinate system is parallel to the x axis of the global coordinate system, the Y axis (vertical direction) of the XYZ coordinate system is parallel to the y axis of the global coordinate system, and The Z-axis (front-back direction) is parallel to the z-axis of the global coordinate system.

  When the HMD device 110 is activated, that is, in the initial state of the HMD device 110, the virtual camera 1 is disposed, for example, at the center 21 of the virtual space 2. The virtual camera 1 similarly moves in the virtual space 2 in conjunction with the movement of the HMD device 110 in the real space. Thereby, changes in the position and orientation of the HMD device 110 in the real space are similarly reproduced in the virtual space 2.

  As in the case of the HMD device 110, the uvw visual field coordinate system is defined in the virtual camera 1. The uvw view coordinate system of the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 is defined to interlock with the uvw view coordinate system of the HMD device 110 in the real space (global coordinate system). Therefore, when the inclination of the HMD device 110 changes, the inclination of the virtual camera 1 also changes accordingly. The virtual camera 1 can also move in the virtual space 2 in conjunction with the movement of the user wearing the HMD device 110 in the real space.

  Since the direction of the virtual camera 1 is determined according to the position and the inclination of the virtual camera 1, the line of sight (reference line of sight 5) serving as a reference when the user views the virtual space image 22 depends on the direction of the virtual camera 1 It is decided. The processor 10 of the computer 200 defines a view area 23 in the virtual space 2 based on the reference line of sight 5. The view area 23 corresponds to the view of the user wearing the HMD device 110 in the virtual space 2.

The gaze direction of the user 190 detected by the gaze sensor 140 is a direction in the viewpoint coordinate system when the user 190 visually recognizes an object. The uvw view coordinate system of the HMD device 110 is equal to the view coordinate system when the user 190 views the monitor 112. Further, the uvw visual field coordinate system of the virtual camera 1 is interlocked with the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD device 110. Therefore, the HMD system 100 according to an aspect can regard the gaze direction of the user 190 detected by the gaze sensor 140 as the gaze direction of the user in the uvw view coordinate system of the virtual camera 1.
[User's gaze]

  The determination of the user's gaze direction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a top view of the head of a user 190 wearing the HMD device 110 according to one embodiment.

  In one aspect, the gaze sensor 140 detects the gaze of each of the right eye and the left eye of the user 190. In one aspect, when the user 190 is looking close, the gaze sensor 140 detects the sight lines R1 and L1. In another aspect, if the user 190 is looking far, the gaze sensor 140 detects the gazes R2 and L2. In this case, the angle between the lines of sight R2 and L2 with respect to the roll direction w is smaller than the angle between the lines of sight R1 and L1 with respect to the direction of roll w. The gaze sensor 140 transmits the detection result to the computer 200.

  When the computer 200 receives the detection values of the lines of sight R1 and L1 from the gaze sensor 140 as the detection result of the line of sight, the gaze point N1 which is the intersection of the lines of sight R1 and L1 is specified based on the detection values. On the other hand, when the computer 200 receives the detection values of the sight lines R2 and L2 from the gaze sensor 140, the computer 200 specifies the intersection of the sight lines R2 and L2 as the gaze point. The computer 200 identifies the gaze direction N0 of the user 190 based on the identified position of the fixation point N1. The computer 200 detects, for example, the direction in which the straight line passing through the midpoint of the straight line connecting the right eye R and the left eye L of the user 190 and the gaze point N1 is the line of sight direction N0. The gaze direction N0 is the direction in which the user 190 is actually pointing the gaze with both eyes. Further, the line-of-sight direction N0 corresponds to the direction in which the user 190 actually points the line of sight with respect to the view area 23.

  Also, in another aspect, the HMD system 100 may include a television broadcast receiver tuner. According to such a configuration, the HMD system 100 can display a television program in the virtual space 2.

In still another aspect, the HMD system 100 may be provided with a communication circuit for connecting to the Internet, or a call function for connecting to a telephone line.
[View area]

  The view area 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a YZ cross section of the virtual space 2 when the field of view 23 is viewed from the X direction. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an XZ cross section in which the visibility region 23 is viewed from the Y direction in the virtual space 2.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the view area 23 in the YZ cross section includes the area 24. The area 24 is defined by the reference line of sight 5 of the virtual camera 1 and the YZ cross section of the virtual space 2. The processor 10 defines a range including the polar angle α centering on the reference gaze 5 in the virtual space 2 as a region 24.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the view area 23 in the XZ cross section includes the area 25. The area 25 is defined by the reference line of sight 5 and the XZ cross section of the virtual space 2. The processor 10 defines a range including the azimuth angle β centered on the reference gaze 5 in the virtual space 2 as a region 25.

  In one aspect, the HMD system 100 provides the user 190 with a virtual space by displaying a view image on the monitor 112 based on a signal from the computer 200. The view image corresponds to a portion of the virtual space image 22 superimposed on the view area 23. When the user 190 moves the HMD device 110 worn on the head, the virtual camera 1 also moves in conjunction with the movement. As a result, the position of the view area 23 in the virtual space 2 changes. As a result, the view image displayed on the monitor 112 is updated to an image of the virtual space image 22 superimposed on the view area 23 in the direction in which the user turned in the virtual space 2. The user can view a desired direction in the virtual space 2.

  While wearing the HMD device 110, the user 190 can view only the virtual space image 22 developed in the virtual space 2 without viewing the real world. Therefore, the HMD system 100 can provide the user with a high sense of immersion in the virtual space 2.

  In one aspect, the processor 10 may move the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 in conjunction with the movement of the user 190 equipped with the HMD device 110 in the real space. In this case, the processor 10 specifies an image area (that is, a view area 23 in the virtual space 2) to be projected on the monitor 112 of the HMD device 110 based on the position and the orientation of the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2. That is, the virtual camera 1 defines the field of view of the user 190 in the virtual space 2.

According to an embodiment, the virtual camera 1 desirably includes two virtual cameras, ie, a virtual camera for providing an image for the right eye, and a virtual camera for providing an image for the left eye. Further, it is preferable that appropriate parallaxes be set to two virtual cameras so that the user 190 can recognize the three-dimensional virtual space 2. In the present embodiment, the virtual camera 1 includes two virtual cameras, and the roll direction (w) generated by combining the roll directions of the two virtual cameras is the roll direction (w) of the HMD device 110. The technical idea according to the present disclosure is illustrated as being configured to be adapted.
[controller]

  An example of the controller 160 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram representing a schematic configuration of the controller 160 according to an embodiment. The state (A) of FIG. 8 shows the appearance configuration of the upper surface of the controller 160, and the state (B) of FIG. 8 shows the appearance configuration of the back side surface of the controller 160. Here, the upper surface of the controller 160 is a surface that faces the user 190 when the user 190 holds the controller 160 with both hands.

  As shown in the state (A) of FIG. 8, on the top surface of the controller 160, the direction key 161, the analog sticks 162L and 162R, the four operation buttons 163, the touch pad 164, and the function buttons 165 as input units. Etc. are provided. The controller 160 also has a grip portion 166 for the user 190 to grip the controller 160. The grip portion 166 has a left grip portion 166L gripped by the left hand of the user 190 and a right grip portion 166R gripped by the right hand of the user 190. Further, as shown in the state (B) of FIG. 8, light emission is performed on the back side surface of the controller 160 based on the upper buttons 167 L and 167 R as an input unit and instruction information and the like transmitted from the controller 160 A portion 168 is provided.

  The touch pad 164 is provided between the direction key 161 and the operation button 163. The function button 165 is provided between the left and right analog sticks 162L and 162R. The function button 165 may be used, for example, to activate the controller 160 or to activate the communication connection between the controller 160 and the computer 200. Other input units (the direction key 161, the analog stick 162, the operation button 163, and the upper button 167) can be used for operations of an avatar and a player character described later. For example, in a certain phase, the analog stick 162 receives an operation in any direction 360 degrees from the initial position (the position of the neutral position). The operation includes, for example, an operation for moving an object arranged in the virtual space 2.

  The direction key 161 and the analog stick 162L are arranged on the assumption that the operation with the thumb of the left hand of the user 190 is received. The operation button 163 and the analog stick 162R are arranged on the assumption that the operation by the thumb of the right hand of the user 190 is received. The upper button 167L is disposed on the assumption that the operation by the index finger of the left hand of the user 190 is received, and the upper button 167R is disposed on the assumption that the operation by the index finger of the right hand of the user 190 is received. However, the shape of the controller 160, the arrangement configuration of each part, and the function of each part are not limited to the above example. For example, the number of operation buttons 163 may be other than four (for example, two), and the analog sticks 162L and 162R may be omitted.

In one aspect, the controller 160 includes a battery for driving the light emitting unit 168 and other members. The battery includes, but is not limited to, a rechargeable battery, a button battery, and a dry battery battery. In another aspect, controller 160 may be connected to, for example, a USB interface of computer 200. In this case, the controller 160 does not require a battery.
[Control device of HMD device]

  The control device of the HMD device 110 will be described with reference to FIG. In one embodiment, the controller is implemented by a computer 200 having a known configuration. FIG. 9 is a block diagram representing a computer 200 as a modular configuration according to one embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the computer 200 includes a display control module 220, a virtual space control module 230, a memory module 240, and a communication control module 250. The display control module 220 includes, as sub-modules, a virtual camera control module 221, a view area determination module 222, a view image generation module 223, and a reference gaze specification module 224. The virtual space control module 230 includes, as sub-modules, a virtual space definition module 231, a virtual object control module 232, a controller information acquisition module 233, a data sharing module 234, and a game state determination module 235.

  In one embodiment, display control module 220 and virtual space control module 230 are implemented by processor 10. In another embodiment, a plurality of processors 10 may operate as a display control module 220 and a virtual space control module 230. The memory module 240 is realized by the memory 11 or the storage 12. The communication control module 250 is realized by the communication interface 14.

  In one aspect, display control module 220 controls image display on monitor 112 of HMD device 110. The virtual camera control module 221 places the virtual camera 1 in the virtual space 2 and controls the behavior, direction, and the like of the virtual camera 1. The view area determination module 222 defines the view area 23 according to the orientation of the head of the user wearing the HMD device 110. The view image generation module 223 generates a view image to be displayed on the monitor 112 based on the determined view area 23. The reference gaze identification module 224 identifies the gaze of the user 190 based on the signal from the gaze sensor 140.

  The virtual space control module 230 controls the virtual space 2 provided to the user 190. The virtual space definition module 231 defines virtual space 2 in the HMD system 100 by generating virtual space data representing the virtual space 2.

  The virtual object control module 232 generates an object to be arranged in the virtual space 2 based on object information 242 described later. Also, the virtual object control module 232 controls the operation (movement, state change, etc.) of an object in the virtual space 2. Also, the virtual object control module 232 controls the actions (movement, movement, state change, and the like) of the avatar and the player character based on controller information and the like acquired by the controller information acquisition module 233 described later. The objects may include, for example, landscapes, including forests, mountains etc., animals, etc., arranged according to the progression of the game's story. The avatar is an object associated with the user wearing the HMD device 110. An avatar is an object having a position as a user's alternative in the virtual space 2. On the other hand, in the game developed in the virtual space 2, the player character is a character object operated by the user. In the present embodiment, the game developed in the virtual space 2 is a battle game (or a plurality of players) in which a plurality of users fight each other's player characters on a game field (for example, an arena) prepared in the virtual space 2 It is an action game etc. which a user cooperates and advances. Also, the avatar is a human-shaped object, and the player character is an object imitating an animal. However, the player character can adopt an appropriate form in accordance with the contents of the game developed in the virtual space 2. For example, the player character may be a humanoid object or an object imitating something other than a living thing such as a robot. More specifically, when the game developed in the virtual space 2 is a racing game using a radio controlled car, the player character may be an object representing a radio controlled car.

  The controller information acquisition module 233 acquires controller information including state information for specifying the state of the controller 160 and operation information indicating the content of the input operation by the user 190 on the controller 160. The state information is, for example, information for specifying the position and inclination of the controller 160 detected by the above-described HMD sensor 120 or the like. The controller information is passed to the virtual object control module 232 in order to reflect the state of the controller 160 and the content of the input operation to the controller 160 on the avatar or player character in the virtual space 2. In addition, the controller information acquisition module 233 also passes the controller information of other users acquired via the server 150 to the virtual object control module 232 as appropriate. This allows the avatar or player character associated with the other user to operate based on the controller information of the other user.

  The data sharing module 234 transmits and receives data to be shared among users with the HMD system 100 of another user via the server 150. The data to be shared includes motion information for controlling the motion of a part of the avatar's body, and controller information for controlling the motion of the player character. The movement information is, for example, information (hereinafter referred to as “direction data”) for specifying the position and tilt of the HMD device 110 detected by the HMD sensor 120 or the like, and eye tracking data detected by the gaze sensor 140 or the like. . In the present embodiment, the data sharing module 234 uses information (hereinafter referred to as “player information”) including motion information and controller information as information to be shared between users via the HMD of another user via the server 150. It exchanges with the system 100. Transmission and reception of player information is realized by using the function of the communication control module 250 described later.

  The game state determination module 235 makes a determination regarding an event that has occurred in the game developed in the virtual space 2. The events that occur in the game include, for example, the relative positions of the player character, the avatar, and the objects arranged in the virtual space 2, and actions of the player character or avatar on other objects.

  When each of the objects arranged in the virtual space 2 collides with another object, the game state determination module 235 detects the collision. The game state determination module 235 can detect, for example, the timing at which an object touches another object, and performs a predetermined process when the detection is performed. The virtual space control module 230 can detect the timing at which the object and the object are away from the touch, and performs predetermined processing when the detection is performed. The game state determination module 235 can detect that the object is in contact with the object by executing a known collision determination based on, for example, a collision area set for each object.

  Memory module 240 holds data used by computer 200 to provide virtual space 2 to user 190. In one aspect, the memory module 240 holds space information 241, object information 242, and user information 243. The space information 241 includes, for example, one or more templates defined to provide the virtual space 2. The object information 242 includes, for example, content to be reproduced in the virtual space 2, information for arranging an object used in the content, and the like. The content may include, for example, a game, content representing a scene similar to a real society, and the like. The object information 242 also includes drawing information for drawing each object (for example, a player character and an avatar). The object information 242 may also include attribute information indicating an attribute associated with each object. Examples of attribute information of an object include information indicating whether the object is a movable object or a fixed object. The user information 243 includes, for example, a program for causing the computer 200 to function as a control device of the HMD system 100, an application program using each content held in the object information 242, and the like.

  Data and programs stored in the memory module 240 are input by the user of the HMD device 110. Alternatively, the processor 10 downloads a program or data from a computer (for example, the server 150) operated by a provider providing the content, and stores the downloaded program or data in the memory module 240.

  Communication control module 250 may communicate with server 150 and other information communication devices via network 19.

  In one aspect, the display control module 220 and the virtual space control module 230 may be implemented using, for example, Unity (registered trademark) provided by Unity Technologies. In another aspect, the display control module 220 and the virtual space control module 230 can also be realized as a combination of circuit elements that implement each process.

  Processing in the computer 200 is realized by hardware and software executed by the processor 10. Such software may be stored in advance in a hard disk or other memory module 240. The software may be stored in a CD-ROM or other computer readable non-volatile data storage medium and distributed as a program product. Alternatively, the software may be provided as a downloadable program product by an information provider connected to the Internet or other network. Such software is temporarily stored in the memory module 240 after being read from the data recording medium by an optical disk drive or other data reader, or downloaded from the server 150 or other computer via the communication control module 250. Ru. The software is read by the processor 10 from the memory module 240 and stored in RAM in the form of an executable program. The processor 10 executes the program.

  The hardware constituting the computer 200 shown in FIG. 9 is general. Therefore, it can be said that the most essential part according to the present embodiment is a program stored in computer 200. The operation of the hardware of computer 200 is well known, and therefore detailed description will not be repeated.

  Incidentally, the data recording medium is not limited to CD-ROM, FD (Flexible Disk), hard disk, magnetic tape, cassette tape, optical disk (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) ), IC (Integrated Circuit) cards (including memory cards), optical cards, mask ROMs, EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only memories), EEPROMs (electrically erasable programmable read-only memories), semiconductor memories such as flash ROMs, etc. It may be a non-volatile data storage medium that carries a program fixedly.

The program referred to here may include not only a program directly executable by the processor 10 but also a program in source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.
Control structure

  The control structure of the computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the HMD system 100A used by the user 190A to provide the virtual space 2 to the user 190A.

  In step S1, the processor 10 of the computer 200 specifies virtual space image data as the virtual space definition module 231, and acquires virtual space data defining the virtual space 2. Here, the processor 10 receives, from the server 150 or the like, information on avatars of other users who share the virtual space 2 and the initial arrangement of player characters, etc., thereby including the avatars and player characters of the other users. Virtual space data defining 2 can be generated. Alternatively, virtual space data defining the virtual space 2 common to a plurality of users may be generated by the server 150 communicably connected to each HMD system 100. In this case, the processor 10 can obtain virtual space data by downloading virtual space data from the server 150.

  In step S2, the processor 10 initializes the virtual camera 1 as the virtual camera control module 221. For example, in the work area of the memory, the processor 10 arranges the virtual camera 1 at a predetermined center point (or other predetermined default position) in the virtual space 2 and the user 190 views the line of sight of the virtual camera 1 Turn in the direction you are facing.

  In step S <b> 3, the processor 10 generates visibility image data for displaying an initial visibility image as the visibility image generation module 223. The generated view image data is sent to the HMD device 110 by the communication control module 250 via the view image generation module 223.

  In step S4, the monitor 112 of the HMD device 110 displays a view image based on the signal received from the computer 200. The user 190A wearing the HMD device 110 can recognize the virtual space 2 when viewing the view image.

  In step S5, the HMD sensor 120 detects the position and inclination of the HMD device 110 based on the plurality of infrared light beams emitted from the HMD device 110. The detection result is sent to the computer 200 as motion detection data (part of motion information).

  In step S6, the processor 10, as the view field determination module 222, specifies the view direction of the user 190A wearing the HMD device 110 based on the position and the tilt of the HMD device 110. The processor 10 executes an application program, and places an object in the virtual space 2 based on an instruction included in the application program.

  In step S7, the controller 160 detects an operation of the user 190A in the real space. For example, in one aspect, controller 160 detects that a button has been pressed by user 190A. Also, as described above, the sensors provided in the HMD sensor 120 or the controller 160 itself detect the position and the tilt of the controller 160. A signal indicating the detection result is sent from the HMD sensor 120 or the controller 160 to the computer 200. In this manner, controller information including operation information indicating the content of the input operation by the user 190A on the controller 160 and state information for specifying the state (position, inclination, etc.) of the controller 160 is sent to the computer 200. Then, the processor 10 acquires the controller information as the controller information acquisition module 233.

  In step S8, the processor 10 acquires player information (audio data, motion information, controller information, etc.) of the other users sharing the virtual space 2 from the server 150 as the controller information acquisition module 233 and the data sharing module 234. Do.

  In step S9, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, controls the action of the avatar and player character of each user based on the player information of each user 190 including the user 190A.

  In step S10, the processor 10 causes the view image generation module 223 to generate view image data for displaying a view image based on the processing result in step S9, and outputs the generated view image data to the HMD device 110.

  In step S11, the monitor 112 of the HMD device 110 updates the view image based on the received view image data, and displays the updated view image.

  FIG. 11 schematically shows an example of the virtual space 2. As shown in FIG. 11, the virtual space 2 is operated by an avatar A 21 (second avatar) associated with the user 190 A and a player character C 21 (the first avatar) operated based on an input operation on the controller 160 A used by the user 190 A. 2), an avatar A 22 (second avatar) associated with a user 190 B different from the user 190 A, and a player character C 22 (second character) operated based on an input operation on the controller 160 B used by the user 190 B And a virtual camera 1A defining a view image M1 provided to the HMD device 110A (head mounted device) equipped with the monitor 112 (display unit) mounted on the user 190A, and an HMD mounted on the user 190B and equipped with the monitor 112 Device 11 And a virtual camera 1B defining the view field image M2 provided to B. Further, in the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the virtual space 2 further includes controller objects VC21 and VC22 that represent virtual controllers corresponding to the controllers 160A and 160B.

  The virtual space 2 includes an automatic avatar A1 (first avatar) automatically controlled by the computer 200, and an automatic player character C1 (first character) associated with the automatic avatar A1 and automatically controlled by the computer 200. . The virtual section 2 may further include a virtual controller object VC1 gripped by the automatic avatar A1. In order to arrange the automatic avatar A1 and the automatic player character C1 in the virtual space 2, in step S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. By receiving, it is possible to generate virtual space data that defines a virtual space including the automatic avatar A1 and the automatic player character C1. Information for defining the automatic avatar A1 and the automatic player character C1 is shared among the users.

  The processor 10 controls the automatic avatar A1 as the virtual object control module 232 based on the first control data for controlling the automatic avatar A1. Further, the processor 10 controls the automatic player character C1 based on the second control data for controlling the automatic player character C1 as the virtual object control module 232. The first control data includes the control content of the automatic avatar A1, the conditions for performing the control, and the like. The processor 10 controls the automatic avatar A1 with reference to the first control data. The second control data includes control contents of the automatic player character C1, conditions for performing control, and the like. The processor 10 controls the automatic player character C1 with reference to the second control data. The processor 10 may obtain the first control data and the second control data, for example, from the server 150 via the communication control module 250. The first control data and the second control data may be stored in the memory as object information 242.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of users 190A and 190B operate their player characters C21 and C22 in the virtual space 2, and are automatically controlled by the other player characters C22 and C21 on the game field F and the computer 200. A battle game (in this case, a game in which the bomb B1 is thrown) in which the player plays the automatic player character C1 is developed. In the virtual space 2, not only the player characters C21, C22, and C1 related to the game, but also avatars A21 and A22 holding the controller objects VC21 and VC22 and an automatic avatar A1 are disposed at predetermined positions. As a result, in virtual space 2, a situation is shown in which avatars A21 and A22 and automatic avatar A1 of each user 190A and 190B operate each player character C21 and C22 and automatic player character C1. The virtual cameras 1A and 1B are associated with the viewpoints of the avatars A21 and A22. As a result, view images M1 and M2 (view image) in the first person view of avatars A21 and A22 are provided to the users 190A and 190B.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a view image M1 provided to the user 190A via the HMD device 110A. As shown in FIG. 12, the visual field image M1 includes player characters C21 and C22 operated by the users 190A and 190B and an avatar A22 associated with the user 190B. Further, the view image M1 further includes an automatic avatar A1 and an automatic player character C1 which are automatically controlled by the computer 200. By recognizing the view image M1, the user 190A can have a virtual experience as if he / she was present in the virtual space 2 as the avatar A21. Similarly, by recognizing the view image M2, the user 190B can have a virtual experience as if he / she was present in the virtual space 2 as the avatar A22.

  According to such a virtual space 2, it is possible to provide each user 190A, 190B a multiplayer game via avatars A21, A22. Further, in the virtual space 2, avatars A21 and A22 and player characters C21 and C22 of the respective users 190A and 190B, and an automatic avatar A1 and an automatic player character C1 which are automatically controlled by the computer exist. Therefore, the respective users 190A and 190B can enjoy the common game in the virtual space 2 while recognizing the existence of each other through the avatars A21 and A22 and recognizing the computer personified as the avatar A1. . Thereby, the entertainment property of the virtual experience of each user 190A, 190B can be improved.

  FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing processing executed to control movement of automatic avatar A1 automatically controlled by a computer. As described above, the automatic avatar A1 is controlled based on the first control data. The first control data includes motion control data for controlling the motion of the automatic avatar A1, position control data for controlling the position of the automatic avatar A1, and appearance control data for controlling the appearance of the automatic avatar A1. Can. The flowchart shown in FIG. 13 represents a process related to motion control data. The process shown in FIG. 13 partially overlaps with the processes shown in S5 to S9 in FIG.

  In step S21, the processor 10 causes the controller information acquisition module 233 to acquire motion data based on the motion of the user 190. The movement data includes, for example, movement information and controller information based on the movement of the user 190A at a certain time during game play.

  In step S22, the processor 10 causes the virtual object control module 232 to move the avatar associated with the user 190 based on the motion data acquired in step S21. Specifically, for example, the processor 10 moves the avatar A21 so as to simulate the movement of the user 190A based on the movement data based on the movement of the user 190A.

  In step S23, the processor 10 controls, as the virtual object control module 232, the motion of the automatic avatar A1 automatically controlled by the computer 200, at least a part of the motion data used to move the avatar in step S22. Applied to the motion control data of That is, when the motion data of the user 190A is acquired, the processor 10 sets the control state of the motion control data to at least one of the motion data from the first control state preset for automatic control of the automatic avatar A1. The part can be updated to the applied second control state.

  Specifically, the processor 10 applies the motion data of the user 190A corresponding to a certain time width in the game as motion control data within a certain time (first time) after the time of acquisition of the relevant movement data. The time width corresponding to motion data applied as motion control data may be, for example, from the start to the end of a series of motions; for example, the time width from when the user 190A raises his hand to when it lowers It may be

  In step S24, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, controls the movement of the automatic avatar A1 based on at least a part of the movement data applied as the movement control data in step S23. Specifically, for example, when motion data indicating a series of motions of the user 190A in a certain time width is applied as motion control data, the processor 10 performs motions similar to the series of motions of the user 190A and the avatar A21. Make automatic avatar A1. As a result, the automatic avatar A1 can be made to behave naturally like a human being. Further, since the automatic avatar A1 performs the same operation as the user 190A, it is possible to make the user 190A feel familiar with the automatic avatar A1.

  Subsequently, a first modification of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a first modified example of the process executed to control the movement of the automatic avatar A1.

  In step S31, the processor 10 causes the controller information acquisition module 233 to acquire motion data based on the motion of the user 190 in association with the state information of the player character of the user 190. The state information is, for example, a parameter or the like associated with the player character used in the progress of the game, and is exemplified by a hit point (HP) which is a physical strength value of the player character. Specifically, the processor 10, for example, acquires motion data based on the motion of the user 190A in association with the state information of the player character C21.

  In step S32, the processor 10 causes the virtual object control module 232 to move the avatar associated with the user 190 based on the motion data acquired in step S21. Specifically, for example, the processor 10 moves the avatar A21 so as to simulate the movement of the user 190A based on the movement data based on the movement of the user 190A.

  In step S33, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, acquires state information (first state) of the automatic player character C1. As described above, this state information is, for example, a parameter such as the hit point of the automatic player character C1.

  In step S34, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, extracts motion data associated with the status information equivalent to the status information acquired in step S33 among the motion data acquired in step S31, The extracted motion data is applied to motion control data for controlling the motion of the automatic avatar A1.

  In step S35, the processor 10 controls the motion of the automatic avatar A1 as the virtual object control module 232 based on the motion data applied as motion control data in step S34. Specifically, for example, when motion data indicating a series of motions of the user 190A in a certain time width is applied as motion control data, the processor 10 performs motions similar to the series of motions of the user 190A and avatar A21. Make automatic avatar A1. As a result, since movement data corresponding to the state of the automatic player character C1 is used for controlling the automatic avatar A1, it is possible to make the automatic avatar A1 perform a natural operation in which the state of the automatic player character C1 is added.

  Subsequently, a second modification of the present embodiment will be described. The second modification is an example of control of the motion of the automatic avatar A when the avatar associated with each of a plurality of users and a plurality of player characters operated by each user are included in the virtual space 2 . FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a second modified example of the process executed to control the movement of the automatic avatar A1.

  In step S41, the processor 10 acquires motion data based on the motion of each of the plurality of users 190 as the controller information acquisition module 233 and the data sharing module 234. Specifically, the processor 10 acquires motion data based on the motion of each of the users 190A and 190B, for example.

  In step S42, the processor 10 causes the virtual object control module 232 to move an avatar associated with each user 190 based on the motion data acquired in step S41. Specifically, for example, the processor 10 moves the avatar A21 so as to simulate the movement of the user 190A based on the movement data based on the movement of the user 190A. Also, the processor 10 moves the avatar A22 so as to simulate the movement of the user 190B based on the movement data based on the movement of the user 190B.

  In step S43, the processor 10 causes the virtual object control module 232 to acquire designation of motion data to be applied to motion control data of the automatic avatar A1. Specifically, the processor 10 acquires specification of which user's motion data among the plurality of user's motion data acquired in step S41 is to be applied to the motion control data. The designation of motion data may be based, for example, on explicit instruction input by any of the users 190. Also, motion data may be based on random selections by computer 200 or server 150 or the like.

  In step S44, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, applies the motion data specified in step S43 to motion control data for controlling the motion of the automatic avatar A1.

  In step S45, the processor 10, as the virtual object control module 232, controls the motion of the automatic avatar A1 based on the motion data applied as motion control data in step S44. As a result, since desired or suitable movement data can be selected for use in controlling the movement of the automatic avatar A1, the automatic avatar A1 can be made to have a natural movement in which the user 190 is more likely to have a favorable feeling.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 16-17, the example of control of a motion of automatic avatar A1 is demonstrated. The motion control data can include an event condition (first condition) defining a predetermined event in the virtual space 2 associated with motion information (first motion) defining the predetermined motion of the automatic avatar A1. . If the event generated in the virtual space 2 satisfies the event condition included in the motion control data, the processor 10 causes the automatic avatar A1 to perform the motion defined in the motion information associated with the event condition.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of control of the automatic avatar A1 based on an event generated in the virtual space 2. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the motion control data is an automatic player character C1 based on an event including an action from one of the player characters C21 and C22 (a partner character) other than the automatic player character C1 and the automatic player character C1 to the other. Alternatively, the event condition includes that the state of the player characters C21 and C22 satisfies a certain condition (second condition). A movement targeting the avatars A21 and A22 associated with the player characters C21 and C22 is associated with the event condition as motion information.

  Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 16, in the virtual space 2, a battle game in which the player characters C1, C21, C22 mutually fight is developed, and the automatic player character C1 fights the player character C22. The state of winning is shown. Further, in this game, the movement control data includes, as an event condition, that the automatic player character C1 has won the opponent player character. Then, when such an event condition is satisfied, the avatar associated with the other player character is the target of attention, and the automatic avatar A1 is caused to associate a pose showing off that the battle is won as motion information. .

  As shown in FIG. 16, the processor 10 causes the automatic player character C1 to fight against the player character C22 as the game state determination module 235, for example, when the hit point of the player character C22 becomes less than a predetermined value, the automatic player character C1 fights. And determine that predetermined event conditions have been met. Then, since the predetermined event condition is satisfied, the processor 10 causes the automatic avatar A1 to pose as the virtual object control module 232 to show that the avatar A22 has been won as a target of attention. As a result, the automatic avatar A1 can be made to perform an action in which the actions of the player characters are reflected, so that the entertainment of the virtual experience can be further improved.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another example of control of the automatic avatar A1 based on an event that has occurred in the virtual space 2. As shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the motion control data includes, as an event condition, that the positional relationship between the automatic player character C1 and the attention target disposed in the virtual space 2 satisfies a predetermined position condition (third condition). . It is associated with this event condition as operation information that the line of sight of the automatic avatar A1 is directed to a target of interest.

  Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 17, in the virtual space 2, a battle game in which the player characters C1, C21 and C22 mutually fight is developed, and the automatic player character C1 and the item I (target object) And the state where the distance between the Further, in this game, the movement control data includes, as an event condition, that the distance between the automatic player character C1 and the item I has become equal to or less than a predetermined value. Then, when such an event condition is satisfied, causing the automatic avatar A1 to move the line of sight to the item I is associated as operation information.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the processor 10 determines, as the game state determination module 235, that the distance between the automatic player character C1 and the item I is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the predetermined event condition is satisfied. Then, since the predetermined event condition is satisfied, the processor 10 causes the automatic avatar A1 to move the gaze toward the item I as the virtual object control module 232. As a result, the automatic avatar A1 can be made to move naturally according to the positional relationship with the attention target.

  Among the objects disposed in the virtual space 2 as the game state determination module 235, the processor 10 is among the objects included in the field of view of the automatic avatar A1 defined based on the line of sight direction of the automatic avatar A1. From which items of interest can be selected. That is, including an item in the field of view of the automatic avatar A1 is appropriate as a condition for causing the line of sight of the automatic avatar A1 to be directed to the item. Thereby, the automatic avatar A1 can be made to move naturally.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of control for moving the position of the automatic avatar A1 in the virtual space 2. The position control data included in the first control data moves the position of the automatic avatar A1 from the position before movement (first position) to the position (second position) defined based on the position of the automatic player character C1. Including doing.

  The processor 10 defines, as a virtual object control module 232, a position to which the automatic avatar A1 is moved based on the position of the automatic player character C1. Specifically, since the automatic avatar A1 moves along the outer edge of the game field F, the processor 10 automatically detects a position closest to the position of the automatic player character C1 in the game field F at the outer edge of the game field F. The position to which avatar A1 is moved is defined. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the processor 10 moves the automatic avatar A1 to the defined position.

  Also, as described above, the first control data may include appearance control data that controls the appearance of the automatic avatar A1. When the first control data includes appearance control data, the processor 10 may control the appearance of the automatic avatar A1 as the virtual object control module 232 based on the state of the automatic player character C1. Specifically, the processor 10 may control the appearance of the automatic avatar A1 based on a parameter such as a hit point (HP) which is a physical strength value of the player character, for example. In this case, the appearance data defining the appearance of the automatic avatar A1 and the HP value are associated in advance, and the processor 10 applies the appearance data according to the HP value that changes as the game progresses. Control the appearance of automatic avatar A1.

The subject matter disclosed in the present specification is, for example, indicated as the following items.
(Item 1)
An information processing method executed by a computer (computer 200 or server 150) to provide a virtual experience to a user (user 190) via a head mounted device (HMD device 110) including a display unit (monitor 112). ,
A virtual space defining a virtual space including a first avatar (automatic avatar A1) automatically controlled by the computer, and a first character (automatic player character C1) associated with the first avatar and automatically controlled by the computer Identifying spatial data (step S1 in FIG. 10);
Controlling the first avatar and the first character based on first control data for automatically controlling the first avatar and second control data for automatically controlling the first character (FIG. 10, step S9 or step S24 of FIG.
Identifying a virtual viewpoint not associated with the first avatar and the first character in the virtual space (step S6 in FIG. 10);
Step of generating a view image based on the virtual space data, the position of the virtual viewpoint in the virtual space, and the attitude of the head mount device, and displaying the view image on the display unit (Step S10 in FIG. 10, S11),
Information processing method including:
According to the information processing method of this item, the first avatar and the first character automatically controlled by the computer are controlled based on the first control data and the second control data respectively provided for them. The user can be provided with a view image including an automatically controlled avatar and a character. Thus, the entertainment of the virtual experience in the virtual space can be improved.
(Item 2)
The first control data may be motion control data for controlling a motion of the first avatar at a first position in the virtual space, and may move a position of the first avatar from the first position to a second position. And at least one of position control data for controlling and appearance control data for controlling the appearance of the first avatar,
The information processing method according to Item 1.
According to the information processing method of this item, suitable automatic control is realized by controlling the movement, the position, and the appearance of the first avatar using the respective control data.
(Item 3)
The virtual space further includes a second avatar associated with the user,
The first control data includes the motion control data,
The information processing method is
Acquiring motion data based on the user's motion;
Moving the second avatar based on the motion data.
Applying at least a part of the motion data as the motion control data;
Controlling the motion of the first avatar based on at least a part of the motion data applied as the motion control data,
The information processing method according to Item 2.
According to the information processing method of this item, since motion data representing the motion of the user is used to control the first avatar, it is possible to cause the first avatar automatically controlled by the computer to perform a natural human-like motion.
(Item 4)
When the motion data is acquired, the motion control data is changed from a first control state preset for automatic control by the computer to a second control state to which at least a part of the motion data is applied. Updated and the movement of the first avatar is controlled based on the movement control data of the second control state,
The information processing method according to Item 3.
According to the information processing method of this item, application of motion data to motion control data is preferably realized.
(Item 5)
Controlling a motion of the first avatar based on at least a portion of the motion data within a first time after acquiring at least a portion of the motion data applied as the motion control data;
The information processing method according to Item 3 or 4.
According to the information processing method of this item, since the user can easily recognize that the first avatar is moving based on the movement of the user, it is possible to make the user feel familiarity with the first avatar.
(Item 6)
The virtual space includes a second character operated based on an operation input by the user,
The motion data is acquired in association with state information representing a state of the second character at the time of acquisition of the motion data,
When the state of the first character is a first state, at least a part of the movement data associated with the first state is applied as the movement control data.
The information processing method as described in any one of items 3 to 5.
According to the information processing method of this item, motion data according to the state of the first character is used to control the first avatar, so the state of the first character is added to the automatically controlled first avatar. You can make it work naturally.
(Item 7)
The virtual space includes the second avatar associated with each of a plurality of users,
The motion data of each of the plurality of users is obtained,
At least a portion of the motion data of any of the plurality of users is applied as the motion control data,
The information processing method according to any one of items 3 to 6.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to select desired or suitable motion data to be used for controlling the first avatar, so that the first avatar can make the first avatar perform natural motion more easily. it can.
(Item 8)
The motion control data includes a first condition associated with a first motion defining the motion of the first avatar,
Causing the first avatar to associate the first motion associated with the first condition when an event occurring in the virtual space satisfies the first condition;
The information processing method as described in any one of items 2 to 7.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to cause the first avatar to perform an operation according to an event that has occurred in the virtual space, so the entertainment of the virtual experience in the virtual space can be further improved.
(Item 9)
The first condition is that the state of the first character or the opponent character is the second condition based on an event including an action from one of the opponent character which is an object other than the first character and the first character to the other. Including filled
The first movement includes a movement focusing on the other avatar associated with the other character.
The information processing method according to Item 8.
According to the information processing method of this item, since the first avatar can be made to perform an action in which the action of the characters is reflected, the entertainment property of the virtual experience can be further improved.
(Item 10)
The first condition includes that a positional relationship between the first character and a target of interest arranged in the virtual space satisfies a third condition,
The first movement includes directing a line of sight of the first avatar to the target of interest
The information processing method according to Item 8 or 9.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is possible to make the first avatar move naturally according to the positional relationship with the attention target.
(Item 11)
The target of interest is an object disposed in the virtual space, and is selected from among the objects included in the field of view of the first avatar defined based on the gaze direction of the first avatar.
The information processing method according to Item 10.
According to the information processing method of this item, it is appropriate that the line of sight of the first avatar includes the line of sight of the first avatar so that the line of sight of the first avatar includes the line of sight. It can make you move.
(Item 12)
The second position is defined based on the position of the first character,
The position control data includes moving the position of the first avatar from the first position to the second position defined based on the position of the first character.
The information processing method as described in any one of items 2 to 11.
According to the information processing method of this item, since the position of the first avatar, which is a virtual user who operates the first character, is controlled according to the position of the first character, reality can be more suitably produced.
(Item 13)
The appearance control data includes controlling an appearance of the first avatar based on a state of the first character.
The information processing method as described in any one of items 2 to 12.
According to the information processing method of this item, since the appearance of the first avatar may change according to the state of the first character, it is possible to improve entertainment in a virtual experience.
(Item 14)
A program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of Items 1 to 13.
(Item 15)
An apparatus comprising: at least a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the control of the processor executing the information processing method according to any one of items 1 to 13.

  1, 1A, 1B: virtual camera, 2: virtual space, 10: processor, 11: memory, 12: storage, 13: input / output interface, 14: communication interface, 15: bus, 19: network, 100, 100A, 100B ... HMD system, 110, 110A, 110B ... HMD device, 112 ... monitor, 114 ... sensor, 118 ... microphone, 120 ... sensor, 140 ... gaze sensor, 150 ... server, 160, 160A ... controller, 190, 190A, 190B ... User 200: computer 220: display control module 221: virtual camera control module 222: view area determination module 223: view image generation module 224: reference line of sight specification module 230: virtual space control module 231: virtual Space definition Joule 232 virtual object control module 233 controller information acquisition module 234 data sharing module 235 game state determination module 240 memory module 241 space information 242 object information 243 user information 250 ... communication control module, A1 ... automatic avatar, A21, A22 ... avatar, C1 ... automatic player character, C21, C22 ... player character, I ... item, VC1, VC21, VC22 ... controller object.

Claims (15)

An information processing method performed by a computer to provide a virtual experience to a user via a head mounted device comprising a display, comprising:
Identifying virtual space data defining a virtual space including a first avatar automatically controlled by the computer and a first character associated with the first avatar and automatically controlled by the computer;
Controlling the first avatar and the first character based on first control data for automatically controlling the first avatar and second control data for automatically controlling the first character;
Identifying a virtual viewpoint not associated with the first avatar and the first character in the virtual space;
Generating a view image based on the virtual space data, the position of the virtual viewpoint in the virtual space, and the attitude of the head mount device, and displaying the view image on the display unit;
Information processing method including: The first control data may be motion control data for controlling a motion of the first avatar at a first position in the virtual space, and may move a position of the first avatar from the first position to a second position. And at least one of position control data for controlling and appearance control data for controlling the appearance of the first avatar,
The information processing method according to claim 1. The virtual space further includes a second avatar associated with the user,
The first control data includes the motion control data,
The information processing method is
Acquiring motion data based on the user's motion;
Moving the second avatar based on the motion data.
Applying at least a part of the motion data as the motion control data;
Controlling the motion of the first avatar based on at least a part of the motion data applied as the motion control data,
The information processing method according to claim 2. When the motion data is acquired, the motion control data is changed from a first control state preset for automatic control by the computer to a second control state to which at least a part of the motion data is applied. Updated and the movement of the first avatar is controlled based on the movement control data of the second control state,
The information processing method according to claim 3. Controlling a motion of the first avatar based on at least a portion of the motion data within a first time after acquiring at least a portion of the motion data applied as the motion control data;
The information processing method according to claim 3 or 4. The virtual space includes a second character operated based on an operation input by the user,
The motion data is acquired in association with state information representing a state of the second character at the time of acquisition of the motion data,
When the state of the first character is a first state, at least a part of the movement data associated with the first state is applied as the movement control data.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 3 to 5. The virtual space includes the second avatar associated with each of a plurality of users,
The motion data of each of the plurality of users is obtained,
At least a portion of the motion data of any of the plurality of users is applied as the motion control data,
The information processing method according to any one of claims 3 to 6. The motion control data includes a first condition associated with a first motion defining the motion of the first avatar,
Causing the first avatar to associate the first motion associated with the first condition when an event occurring in the virtual space satisfies the first condition;
The information processing method according to any one of claims 2 to 7. The first condition is that the state of the first character or the opponent character is the second condition based on an event including an action from one of the opponent character which is an object other than the first character and the first character to the other. Including filled
The first movement includes a movement focusing on the other avatar associated with the other character.
The information processing method according to claim 8. The first condition includes that a positional relationship between the first character and a target of interest arranged in the virtual space satisfies a third condition,
The first movement includes directing a line of sight of the first avatar to the target of interest
The information processing method according to claim 8 or 9. The target of interest is an object disposed in the virtual space, and is selected from among the objects included in the field of view of the first avatar defined based on the gaze direction of the first avatar.
The information processing method according to claim 10. The second position is defined based on the position of the first character,
The position control data includes moving the position of the first avatar from the first position to the second position defined based on the position of the first character.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 2 to 11. The appearance control data includes controlling an appearance of the first avatar based on a state of the first character.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 2 to 12.   A program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.   An apparatus comprising at least a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the control method of the processor executing the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.