JP2019133309A - Program, information processor and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a program capable of improving a virtual experience of a user.SOLUTION: There is provided a program making a computer execute steps of setting a virtual space 1611 to provide a virtual experience to a user, setting multiple movement areas 1672, 1673 in the virtual space 1611, setting a virtual viewpoint 14 in the virtual space 1611, instructing a prescribed movement area among the multiple movement areas 1672, 1673 according to a movement of a part of a body of the user, moving the virtual viewpoint 14 to the prescribed movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint 14 and the movement area is equal to or less than a first threshold 1671, and not moving the virtual viewpoint 14 to the prescribed movement area when the distance between the virtual viewpoint 14 and the prescribed movement area exceeds the first threshold 1671.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses that a user can move a teleport to an area by pointing the desired area using an operation object (for example, a gun) that can be operated in a virtual space.

“Bullet Train VR Demo by Epic Games on Oculus | Unreal Engine, [online], [Search January 10, 2018], Internet <https://vr.google.com/daydream/experiences/>

  Regarding teleport movement using an operation object as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement in improving the virtual experience of the user.

  It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method that can improve a user's virtual experience.

According to one aspect shown by the present disclosure,
Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
A program for causing a computer to execute the program is provided.

  According to this indication, a user's virtual experience can be improved.

It is a figure showing the outline of a structure of the HMD system according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware constitutions of the computer according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which represents notionally the uvw visual field coordinate system set to HMD according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which represents notionally the one aspect | mode which represents the virtual space according to a certain embodiment. It is the figure showing the head of the user who wears HMD according to a certain embodiment from the top. It is a figure showing the YZ cross section which looked at the visual field area from the X direction in virtual space. It is a figure showing the XZ cross section which looked at the visual field area from the Y direction in virtual space. It is a figure showing the schematic structure of the controller according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of each direction of the yaw, roll, and pitch prescribed | regulated with respect to the user's right hand according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware constitutions of the server according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram showing a computer according to an embodiment as a module configuration. It is a sequence chart showing a part of process performed in the HMD set according to an embodiment. In a network, it is a mimetic diagram showing the situation where each HMD provides virtual space to a user. It is a figure which shows the visual field image of the user 5A in FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process performed in the HMD system according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the detailed structure of the module of the computer according to a certain embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the process for a user to teleport to the predetermined movement area in virtual space. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to a user. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of the teleport object arrange | positioned in a movable area, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the teleport object arrange | positioned in an immovable area. It is a figure which shows an example of the visual field image displayed on the monitor of HMD. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to a user. It is a figure which shows an example of the visual field image displayed on the monitor of HMD. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to a user. It is a figure which shows an example of the visual field image displayed on the monitor of HMD. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to a user. It is a figure which shows an example of the visual field image displayed on the monitor of HMD. It represents the configuration of another HMD system. This shows the configuration of another controller.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the technical idea will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. In one or more embodiments shown in the present disclosure, elements included in each embodiment can be combined with each other, and the combined result is also part of the embodiments shown in the present disclosure.

[Configuration of HMD system]
A configuration of an HMD (Head-Mounted Device) system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of HMD system 100 according to the present embodiment. The HMD system 100 is provided as a home system or a business system.

  The HMD system 100 includes a server 600, HMD sets 110A, 110B, 110C, and 110D, an external device 700, and a network 2. Each of the HMD sets 110A, 110B, 110C, and 110D is configured to be able to communicate with the server 600 and the external device 700 via the network 2. Hereinafter, the HMD sets 110A, 110B, 110C, and 110D are collectively referred to as the HMD set 110. The number of HMD sets 110 constituting the HMD system 100 is not limited to four, and may be three or less or five or more. The HMD set 110 includes an HMD 120, a computer 200, an HMD sensor 410, a display 430, and a controller 300. The HMD 120 includes a monitor 130, a gaze sensor 140, a first camera 150, a second camera 160, a microphone 170, and a speaker 180. The controller 300 can include a motion sensor 420.

  In one aspect, the computer 200 can be connected to the Internet and other networks 2, and can communicate with the server 600 and other computers connected to the network 2. Examples of other computers include computers of other HMD sets 110 and external devices 700. In another aspect, the HMD 120 may include a sensor 190 instead of the HMD sensor 410.

  The HMD 120 may be worn on the head of the user 5 and provide a virtual space to the user 5 during operation. More specifically, the HMD 120 displays a right-eye image and a left-eye image on the monitor 130, respectively. When each eye of the user 5 visually recognizes each image, the user 5 can recognize the image as a three-dimensional image based on the parallax between both eyes. The HMD 120 can include both a so-called head mounted display including a monitor and a head mounted device to which a terminal having a smartphone or other monitor can be attached.

  The monitor 130 is realized as, for example, a non-transmissive display device. In one aspect, the monitor 130 is disposed on the main body of the HMD 120 so as to be positioned in front of both eyes of the user 5. Therefore, the user 5 can immerse in the virtual space when viewing the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 130. In one aspect, the virtual space includes, for example, a background, an object that can be operated by the user 5, and an image of a menu that can be selected by the user 5. In one aspect, the monitor 130 can be realized as a liquid crystal monitor or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) monitor provided in a so-called smartphone or other information display terminal.

  In another aspect, the monitor 130 can be realized as a transmissive display device. In this case, the HMD 120 may be an open type such as a glasses type instead of a sealed type that covers the eyes of the user 5 as shown in FIG. The transmissive monitor 130 may be temporarily configured as a non-transmissive display device by adjusting the transmittance. The monitor 130 may include a configuration that simultaneously displays a part of an image constituting the virtual space and the real space. For example, the monitor 130 may display a real space image taken by a camera mounted on the HMD 120, or may make the real space visible by setting a part of the transmittance high.

  In one aspect, the monitor 130 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 130 may be configured to display a right-eye image and a left-eye image together. In this case, the monitor 130 includes a high-speed shutter. The high-speed shutter operates so that an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye can be displayed alternately so that the image is recognized only by one of the eyes.

  In one aspect, the HMD 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 rays. The HMD sensor 410 has a position tracking function for detecting the movement of the HMD 120. More specifically, the HMD sensor 410 reads a plurality of infrared rays emitted from the HMD 120 and detects the position and inclination of the HMD 120 in the real space.

  In another aspect, the HMD sensor 410 may be realized by a camera. In this case, the HMD sensor 410 can detect the position and inclination of the HMD 120 by executing image analysis processing using image information of the HMD 120 output from the camera.

  In another aspect, the HMD 120 may include a sensor 190 instead of the HMD sensor 410 or in addition to the HMD sensor 410 as a position detector. The HMD 120 can detect the position and inclination of the HMD 120 itself using the sensor 190. For example, when the sensor 190 is an angular velocity sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, or an acceleration sensor, the HMD 120 can detect its own position and inclination using any one of these sensors instead of the HMD sensor 410. As an example, when the sensor 190 is an angular velocity sensor, the angular velocity sensor detects angular velocities around the three axes of the HMD 120 in real space over time. The HMD 120 calculates the temporal change of the angle around the three axes of the HMD 120 based on each angular velocity, and further calculates the inclination of the HMD 120 based on the temporal change of the angle.

  The gaze sensor 140 detects the direction in which the line of sight of the right eye and the left eye of the user 5 is directed. That is, the gaze sensor 140 detects the line of sight of the user 5. The detection of the direction of the line of sight 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 right eye sensor and a left eye sensor. The gaze sensor 140 may be, for example, a sensor that irradiates the right eye and left eye of the user 5 with infrared light and detects the rotation angle of each eyeball by receiving reflected light from the cornea and iris with respect to the irradiated light. . The gaze sensor 140 can detect the line of sight of the user 5 based on each detected rotation angle.

  The first camera 150 captures the lower part of the face of the user 5. More specifically, the first camera 150 photographs the nose and mouth of the user 5. The second camera 160 photographs the eyes and eyebrows of the user 5. The housing on the user 5 side of the HMD 120 is defined as the inside of the HMD 120, and the housing on the opposite side to the user 5 of the HMD 120 is defined as the outside of the HMD 120. In one aspect, the first camera 150 may be disposed outside the HMD 120 and the second camera 160 may be disposed inside the HMD 120. Images generated by the first camera 150 and the second camera 160 are input to the computer 200. In another aspect, the first camera 150 and the second camera 160 may be realized as a single camera, and the face of the user 5 may be photographed with the single camera.

  The microphone 170 converts the utterance of the user 5 into an audio signal (electrical signal) and outputs it to the computer 200. The speaker 180 converts the sound signal into sound and outputs the sound to the user 5. In another aspect, HMD 120 may include an earphone instead of speaker 180.

  The controller 300 is connected to the computer 200 by wire or wireless. The controller 300 receives input of commands from the user 5 to the computer 200. In one aspect, the controller 300 is configured to be gripped by the user 5. In another aspect, the controller 300 is configured to be attachable to the body of the user 5 or a part of clothing. In yet another aspect, the controller 300 may be configured to output at least one of vibration, sound, and light based on a signal transmitted from the computer 200. In yet another aspect, the controller 300 receives an operation from the user 5 for controlling the position and movement of an object arranged in the virtual space.

  In one aspect, the controller 300 includes a plurality of light sources. Each light source is realized by, for example, an LED that emits infrared rays. The HMD sensor 410 has a position tracking function. In this case, the HMD sensor 410 reads a plurality of infrared rays emitted from the controller 300 and detects the position and inclination of the controller 300 in the real space. In another aspect, the HMD sensor 410 may be realized by a camera. In this case, the HMD sensor 410 can detect the position and tilt of the controller 300 by executing image analysis processing using the image information of the controller 300 output from the camera.

  In a certain aspect, the motion sensor 420 is attached to the hand of the user 5 and detects the movement of the user 5 hand. For example, the motion sensor 420 detects the rotation speed, the number of rotations, and the like of the hand. The detected signal is sent to the computer 200. The motion sensor 420 is provided in the controller 300, for example. In one aspect, the motion sensor 420 is provided in the controller 300 configured to be gripped by the user 5, for example. In another aspect, for safety in real space, the controller 300 is attached to something that does not fly easily by being attached to the hand of the user 5 such as a glove shape. In yet another aspect, a sensor that is not worn by the user 5 may detect the movement of the user's 5 hand. For example, a signal from a camera that captures the user 5 may be input to the computer 200 as a signal representing the operation of the user 5. As an example, the motion sensor 420 and the computer 200 are connected to each other wirelessly. In the case of wireless communication, the communication form is not particularly limited, and for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or other known communication methods are used.

  Display 430 displays an image similar to the image displayed on monitor 130. Thereby, a user other than the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 can view the same image as that of the user 5. The image displayed on the display 430 need not be a three-dimensional image, and may be a right-eye image or a left-eye image. Examples of the display 430 include a liquid crystal display and an organic EL monitor.

  Server 600 may send a program to computer 200. In another aspect, the server 600 may communicate with other computers 200 for providing virtual reality to the HMD 120 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 via the server 600, and the plurality of users in the same virtual space. Users can enjoy a common game. Each computer 200 may communicate a signal based on each user's operation with another computer 200 without passing through the server 600.

  The external device 700 may be any device that can communicate with the computer 200. For example, the external device 700 may be a device that can communicate with the computer 200 via the network 2, or may be a device that can directly communicate with the computer 200 by short-range wireless communication or wired connection. Examples of the external device 700 include a smart device, a PC (Personal Computer), and a peripheral device of the computer 200, but are not limited thereto.

[Computer hardware configuration]
A computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of computer 200 according to the present embodiment. The computer 200 includes a processor 210, a memory 220, a storage 230, an input / output interface 240, and a communication interface 250 as main components. Each component is connected to the bus 260.

  The processor 210 executes a series of instructions included in a program stored in the memory 220 or the storage 230 based on a signal given to the computer 200 or based on a predetermined condition being satisfied. In one aspect, the processor 210 is realized as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processor Unit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or other device.

  The memory 220 temporarily stores programs and data. The program is loaded from the storage 230, for example. The data includes data input to the computer 200 and data generated by the processor 210. In one aspect, the memory 220 is realized as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or other volatile memory.

  The storage 230 permanently holds programs and data. The storage 230 is realized as, for example, a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a hard disk device, a flash memory, and other nonvolatile storage devices. Programs stored in the storage 230 include a program for providing a virtual space in the HMD system 100, a simulation program, a game program, a user authentication program, and a program for realizing communication with another computer 200. The data stored in the storage 230 includes data and objects for defining a virtual space.

  In another aspect, the storage 230 may be realized as a removable storage device such as a memory card. In yet another aspect, instead of the storage 230 built in the computer 200, a configuration using a program and data stored in an external storage device may be used. According to such a configuration, for example, in a scene where a plurality of HMD systems 100 are used as in an amusement facility, it is possible to update programs and data collectively.

  The input / output interface 240 communicates signals with the HMD 120, the HMD sensor 410, the motion sensor 420, and the display 430. The monitor 130, the gaze sensor 140, the first camera 150, the second camera 160, the microphone 170, and the speaker 180 included in the HMD 120 can communicate with the computer 200 via the input / output interface 240 of the HMD 120. In one aspect, the input / output interface 240 is implemented using a USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), or other terminal. The input / output interface 240 is not limited to the above.

  In certain aspects, the input / output interface 240 may further communicate with the controller 300. For example, the input / output interface 240 receives signals output from the controller 300 and the motion sensor 420. In another aspect, the input / output interface 240 sends the command output from the processor 210 to the controller 300. The instruction instructs the controller 300 to vibrate, output sound, emit light, and the like. When the controller 300 receives the command, the controller 300 executes vibration, sound output, or light emission according to the command.

  The communication interface 250 is connected to the network 2 and communicates with other computers (for example, the server 600) connected to the network 2. In one aspect, the communication interface 250 is implemented as, for example, a local area network (LAN) or other wired communication interface, or a wireless communication interface such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), or the like. Is done. The communication interface 250 is not limited to the above.

  In one aspect, the processor 210 accesses the storage 230, loads one or more programs stored in the storage 230 into the memory 220, 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 that can be executed in the virtual space, and the like. The processor 210 sends a signal for providing a virtual space to the HMD 120 via the input / output interface 240. The HMD 120 displays an image on the monitor 130 based on the signal.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, a configuration in which the computer 200 is provided outside the HMD 120 is shown. However, in another aspect, the computer 200 may be built in the HMD 120. As an example, a portable information communication terminal (for example, a smartphone) including the monitor 130 may function as the computer 200.

  The computer 200 may be configured to be used in common for a plurality of HMDs 120. According to such a configuration, for example, the same virtual space can be provided to a plurality of users, so that each user can enjoy the same application as other users in the same virtual space.

  In an embodiment, in the HMD system 100, a real coordinate system that is a coordinate system in the real space is set in advance. The real coordinate system has three reference directions (axes) parallel to the vertical direction in the real space, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The horizontal direction, vertical direction (vertical direction), and front-rear direction in the real coordinate system are defined as an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, respectively. More specifically, in the real 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-rear direction of the real space.

  In one aspect, HMD sensor 410 includes an infrared sensor. When the infrared sensor detects the infrared rays emitted from each light source of the HMD 120, the presence of the HMD 120 is detected. The HMD sensor 410 further detects the position and inclination (orientation) of the HMD 120 in the real space according to the movement of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 based on the value of each point (each coordinate value in the real coordinate system). To do. More specifically, the HMD sensor 410 can detect temporal changes in the position and inclination of the HMD 120 using each value detected over time.

  Each inclination of the HMD 120 detected by the HMD sensor 410 corresponds to each inclination around the three axes of the HMD 120 in the real coordinate system. The HMD sensor 410 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system to the HMD 120 based on the inclination of the HMD 120 in the real coordinate system. The uvw visual field coordinate system set in the HMD 120 corresponds to a viewpoint coordinate system when the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 views an object in the virtual space.

[Uvw visual field coordinate system]
The uvw visual field coordinate system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the uvw visual field coordinate system set in HMD 120 according to an embodiment. The HMD sensor 410 detects the position and inclination of the HMD 120 in the real coordinate system when the HMD 120 is activated. The processor 210 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system to the HMD 120 based on the detected value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the HMD 120 sets a three-dimensional uvw visual field coordinate system with the head (origin) of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 as the center (origin). More specifically, the HMD 120 includes a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a front-rear direction (x-axis, y-axis, z-axis) that define the real coordinate system by an inclination around each axis of the HMD 120 in the real coordinate system. Three directions newly obtained by tilting around the axis are set as the pitch axis (u-axis), yaw axis (v-axis), and roll axis (w-axis) of the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD 120.

  In a certain situation, when the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 stands upright and is viewing the front, the processor 210 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system parallel to the real coordinate system to the HMD 120. In this case, the horizontal direction (x-axis), vertical direction (y-axis), and front-rear direction (z-axis) in the real coordinate system are the pitch axis (u-axis) and yaw axis (v-axis) of the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD 120. , And the roll axis (w axis).

  After the uvw visual field coordinate system is set to the HMD 120, the HMD sensor 410 can detect the inclination of the HMD 120 in the set uvw visual field coordinate system based on the movement of the HMD 120. In this case, the HMD sensor 410 detects the pitch angle (θu), the yaw angle (θv), and the roll angle (θw) of the HMD 120 in the uvw visual field coordinate system as the inclination of the HMD 120. The pitch angle (θu) represents the inclination angle of the HMD 120 around the pitch axis in the uvw visual field coordinate system. The yaw angle (θv) represents the inclination angle of the HMD 120 around the yaw axis in the uvw visual field coordinate system. The roll angle (θw) represents the inclination angle of the HMD 120 around the roll axis in the uvw visual field coordinate system.

  The HMD sensor 410 sets the uvw visual field coordinate system in the HMD 120 after the HMD 120 moves based on the detected inclination of the HMD 120 in the HMD 120. The relationship between the HMD 120 and the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD 120 is always constant regardless of the position and inclination of the HMD 120. When the position and inclination of the HMD 120 change, the position and inclination of the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD 120 in the real coordinate system change in conjunction with the change of the position and inclination.

  In one aspect, the HMD sensor 410 uses the HMD 120 based on the infrared light intensity acquired based on the output from the infrared sensor and the relative positional relationship between a plurality of points (for example, the distance between the points). May be specified as a relative position with respect to the HMD sensor 410. The processor 210 may determine the origin of the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD 120 in the real space (real coordinate system) based on the specified relative position.

[Virtual space]
The virtual space will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing one aspect of expressing virtual space 11 according to an embodiment. The virtual space 11 has a spherical shape that covers the entire 360 ° direction of the center 12. In FIG. 4, the upper half of the celestial sphere in the virtual space 11 is illustrated in order not to complicate the description. In the virtual space 11, each mesh is defined. The position of each mesh is defined in advance as coordinate values in an XYZ coordinate system that is a global coordinate system defined in the virtual space 11. The computer 200 associates each partial image constituting the panoramic image 13 (still image, moving image, etc.) that can be developed in the virtual space 11 with each corresponding mesh in the virtual space 11.

  In one aspect, the virtual space 11 defines an XYZ coordinate system with the center 12 as the origin. The XYZ coordinate system is, for example, parallel to the real coordinate system. The horizontal direction, vertical direction (up and down direction), and front and 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 real coordinate system, the Y axis (vertical direction) of the XYZ coordinate system is parallel to the y axis of the real coordinate system, and the XYZ coordinate system The Z axis (front-rear direction) is parallel to the z axis of the real coordinate system.

  When the HMD 120 is activated, that is, in the initial state of the HMD 120, the virtual camera 14 is disposed at the center 12 of the virtual space 11. In one aspect, the processor 210 displays an image captured by the virtual camera 14 on the monitor 130 of the HMD 120. The virtual camera 14 similarly moves in the virtual space 11 in conjunction with the movement of the HMD 120 in the real space. Thereby, changes in the position and inclination of the HMD 120 in the real space can be similarly reproduced in the virtual space 11.

  As with the HMD 120, the uvw visual field coordinate system is defined for the virtual camera 14. The uvw visual field coordinate system of the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11 is defined so as to be interlocked with the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD 120 in the real space (real coordinate system). Therefore, when the inclination of the HMD 120 changes, the inclination of the virtual camera 14 changes accordingly. The virtual camera 14 can also move in the virtual space 11 in conjunction with the movement of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 in the real space.

  The processor 210 of the computer 200 defines the field-of-view area 15 in the virtual space 11 based on the position and tilt (reference line of sight 16) of the virtual camera 14. The visual field area 15 corresponds to an area of the virtual space 11 that is visually recognized by the user 5 wearing the HMD 120. That is, the position of the virtual camera 14 can be said to be the viewpoint of the user 5 in the virtual space 11.

  The line of sight of the user 5 detected by the gaze sensor 140 is a direction in the viewpoint coordinate system when the user 5 visually recognizes the object. The uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD 120 is equal to the viewpoint coordinate system when the user 5 visually recognizes the monitor 130. The uvw visual field coordinate system of the virtual camera 14 is linked to the uvw visual field coordinate system of the HMD 120. Therefore, the HMD system 100 according to a certain aspect can regard the line of sight of the user 5 detected by the gaze sensor 140 as the line of sight of the user 5 in the uvw visual field coordinate system of the virtual camera 14.

[User's line of sight]
The determination of the line of sight of the user 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the head of user 5 wearing HMD 120 according to an embodiment from above.

  In one aspect, the gaze sensor 140 detects each line of sight of the right eye and the left eye of the user 5. In a certain situation, when the user 5 is looking near, the gaze sensor 140 detects the lines of sight R1 and L1. In another aspect, when the user 5 is looking far away, the gaze sensor 140 detects the lines of sight R2 and L2. In this case, the angle formed by the lines of sight R2 and L2 with respect to the roll axis w is smaller than the angle formed by the lines of sight R1 and L1 with respect to the roll axis 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 line-of-sight detection result, the computer 200 identifies the point of sight N1 that is the intersection of the lines of sight R1 and L1 based on the detection value. On the other hand, when the detected values of the lines of sight R2 and L2 are received from the gaze sensor 140, the computer 200 specifies the intersection of the lines of sight R2 and L2 as the point of sight. The computer 200 specifies the line of sight N0 of the user 5 based on the specified position of the gazing point N1. For example, the computer 200 detects, as the line of sight N0, the extending direction of the straight line passing through the midpoint of the straight line connecting the right eye R and the left eye L of the user 5 and the gazing point N1. The line of sight N0 is a direction in which the user 5 is actually pointing the line of sight with both eyes. The line of sight N0 corresponds to the direction in which the user 5 is actually pointing the line of sight with respect to the view field area 15.

  In another aspect, the HMD system 100 may include a television broadcast receiving tuner. According to such a configuration, the HMD system 100 can display a television program in the virtual space 11.

  In still another aspect, the HMD system 100 may include a communication circuit for connecting to the Internet or a call function for connecting to a telephone line.

[Visibility area]
The field-of-view area 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a YZ cross section of the visual field region 15 as viewed from the X direction in the virtual space 11. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an XZ cross section of the visual field region 15 as viewed from the Y direction in the virtual space 11.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the field-of-view region 15 in the YZ section includes a region 18. The region 18 is defined by the position of the virtual camera 14, the reference line of sight 16, and the YZ section of the virtual space 11. The processor 210 defines a range including the polar angle α around the reference line of sight 16 in the virtual space as the region 18.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the field-of-view region 15 in the XZ section includes a region 19. The region 19 is defined by the position of the virtual camera 14, the reference line of sight 16, and the XZ cross section of the virtual space 11. The processor 210 defines a range including the azimuth angle β around the reference line of sight 16 in the virtual space 11 as the region 19. The polar angles α and β are determined according to the position of the virtual camera 14 and the inclination (orientation) of the virtual camera 14.

  In one aspect, the HMD system 100 provides the user 5 with a view in the virtual space 11 by displaying the view image 17 on the monitor 130 based on a signal from the computer 200. The visual field image 17 is an image corresponding to a portion corresponding to the visual field region 15 in the panoramic image 13. When the user 5 moves the HMD 120 worn on the head, the virtual camera 14 also moves in conjunction with the movement. As a result, the position of the visual field area 15 in the virtual space 11 changes. As a result, the view image 17 displayed on the monitor 130 is updated to an image that is superimposed on the view region 15 in the direction in which the user 5 faces in the virtual space 11 in the panoramic image 13. The user 5 can visually recognize a desired direction in the virtual space 11.

  Thus, the inclination of the virtual camera 14 corresponds to the line of sight of the user 5 (reference line of sight 16) in the virtual space 11, and the position where the virtual camera 14 is arranged corresponds to the viewpoint of the user 5 in the virtual space 11. Therefore, by changing the position or tilt of the virtual camera 14, the image displayed on the monitor 130 is updated, and the field of view of the user 5 is moved.

  While wearing the HMD 120, the user 5 can visually recognize only the panoramic image 13 developed in the virtual space 11 without visually recognizing the real world. Therefore, the HMD system 100 can give the user 5 a high sense of immersion in the virtual space 11.

  In one aspect, the processor 210 can move the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11 in conjunction with the movement of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 in the real space. In this case, the processor 210 specifies an image region (view region 15) projected on the monitor 130 of the HMD 120 based on the position and inclination of the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11.

  In one aspect, the virtual camera 14 may include two virtual cameras: a virtual camera for providing an image for the right eye and a virtual camera for providing an image for the left eye. Appropriate parallax is set in the two virtual cameras so that the user 5 can recognize the three-dimensional virtual space 11. In another aspect, the virtual camera 14 may be realized by one virtual camera. In this case, a right-eye image and a left-eye image may be generated from an image obtained by one virtual camera. In the present embodiment, the virtual camera 14 includes two virtual cameras, and the roll axis (w) generated by combining the roll axes of the two virtual cameras is adapted to the roll axis (w) of the HMD 120. The technical idea concerning this indication is illustrated as what is constituted.

[controller]
An example of the controller 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of controller 300 according to an embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in one aspect, the controller 300 may include a right controller 300R and a left controller (not shown). The right controller 300R is operated with the right hand of the user 5. The left controller is operated with the left hand of the user 5. In one aspect, the right controller 300R and the left controller are configured symmetrically as separate devices. Therefore, the user 5 can freely move the right hand holding the right controller 300R and the left hand holding the left controller, respectively. In another aspect, the controller 300 may be an integrated controller that receives operations of both hands. Hereinafter, the right controller 300R will be described.

  The right controller 300R includes a grip 310, a frame 320, and a top surface 330. The grip 310 is configured to be held by the right hand of the user 5. For example, the grip 310 can be held by the palm of the right hand of the user 5 and three fingers (middle finger, ring finger, little finger).

  The grip 310 includes buttons 340 and 350 and a motion sensor 420. The button 340 is disposed on the side surface of the grip 310 and receives an operation with the middle finger of the right hand. The button 350 is disposed on the front surface of the grip 310 and receives an operation with the index finger of the right hand. In one aspect, the buttons 340 and 350 are configured as trigger buttons. The motion sensor 420 is built in the housing of the grip 310. The grip 310 does not have to include the motion sensor 420 when the operation of the user 5 can be detected from around the user 5 by a camera or other devices.

  The frame 320 includes a plurality of infrared LEDs 360 arranged along the circumferential direction thereof. The infrared LED 360 emits infrared light in accordance with the progress of the program while the program using the controller 300 is being executed. Infrared rays emitted from the infrared LED 360 can be used to detect the positions and postures (tilt and orientation) of the right controller 300R and the left controller. In the example shown in FIG. 8, infrared LEDs 360 arranged in two rows are shown, but the number of arrays is not limited to that shown in FIG. 8. An array of one or more columns may be used.

  The top surface 330 includes buttons 370 and 380 and an analog stick 390. Buttons 370 and 380 are configured as push buttons. The buttons 370 and 380 receive an operation with the thumb of the right hand of the user 5. In a certain situation, analog stick 390 accepts an operation in an arbitrary direction of 360 degrees from the initial position (neutral position). The operation includes, for example, an operation for moving an object arranged in the virtual space 11.

  In one aspect, the right controller 300R and the left controller include a battery for driving the infrared LED 360 and other members. The battery includes, but is not limited to, a rechargeable type, a button type, and a dry battery type. In another aspect, the right controller 300R and the left controller may be connected to a USB interface of the computer 200, for example. In this case, the right controller 300R and the left controller do not require a battery.

  As shown in the state (A) and the state (B) of FIG. 8, for example, the yaw, roll, and pitch directions are defined for the right hand of the user 5. When the user 5 extends the thumb and index finger, the direction in which the thumb extends is the yaw direction, the direction in which the index finger extends is the roll direction, and the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the axis of the yaw direction and the axis of the roll direction is the pitch direction. Is defined as

[Hardware configuration of server]
A server 600 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of server 600 according to an embodiment. The server 600 includes a processor 610, a memory 620, a storage 630, an input / output interface 640, and a communication interface 650 as main components. Each component is connected to the bus 660.

  The processor 610 executes a series of instructions included in a program stored in the memory 620 or the storage 630 based on a signal given to the server 600 or when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In one aspect, the processor 610 is implemented as a CPU, GPU, MPU, FPGA, or other device.

  The memory 620 temporarily stores programs and data. The program is loaded from the storage 630, for example. The data includes data input to the server 600 and data generated by the processor 610. In one aspect, the memory 620 is implemented as a RAM or other volatile memory.

  The storage 630 permanently stores programs and data. The storage 630 is realized as, for example, a ROM, a hard disk device, a flash memory, or other nonvolatile storage device. The program stored in the storage 630 may include a program for providing a virtual space in the HMD system 100, a simulation program, a game program, a user authentication program, and a program for realizing communication with the computer 200. The data stored in the storage 630 may include data and objects for defining the virtual space.

  In another aspect, the storage 630 may be realized as a removable storage device such as a memory card. In yet another aspect, instead of the storage 630 built in the server 600, a configuration using a program and data stored in an external storage device may be used. According to such a configuration, for example, in a scene where a plurality of HMD systems 100 are used as in an amusement facility, it is possible to update programs and data collectively.

  The input / output interface 640 communicates signals with input / output devices. In one aspect, the input / output interface 640 is implemented using USB, DVI, HDMI, or other terminals. The input / output interface 640 is not limited to the above.

  The communication interface 650 is connected to the network 2 and communicates with the computer 200 connected to the network 2. In one aspect, the communication interface 650 is implemented as, for example, a LAN or other wired communication interface, or a wireless communication interface such as WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, or the like. The communication interface 650 is not limited to the above.

  In one aspect, the processor 610 accesses the storage 630, loads one or more programs stored in the storage 630 into the memory 620, and executes a series of instructions included in the program. The one or more programs may include an operating system of the server 600, an application program for providing a virtual space, game software that can be executed in the virtual space, and the like. The processor 610 may send a signal for providing a virtual space to the computer 200 via the input / output interface 640.

[HMD control device]
With reference to FIG. 10, the control apparatus of HMD120 is demonstrated. In one embodiment, the control device is realized by a computer 200 having a known configuration. FIG. 10 is a block diagram representing a computer 200 according to an embodiment as a module configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the computer 200 includes a control module 510, a rendering module 520, a memory module 530, and a communication control module 540. In one aspect, the control module 510 and the rendering module 520 are implemented by the processor 210. In another aspect, multiple processors 210 may operate as control module 510 and rendering module 520. The memory module 530 is realized by the memory 220 or the storage 230. The communication control module 540 is realized by the communication interface 250.

  The control module 510 controls the virtual space 11 provided to the user 5. The control module 510 defines the virtual space 11 in the HMD system 100 using virtual space data representing the virtual space 11. The virtual space data is stored in the memory module 530, for example. The control module 510 may generate virtual space data or acquire virtual space data from the server 600 or the like.

  The control module 510 arranges the object in the virtual space 11 using object data representing the object. The object data is stored in the memory module 530, for example. The control module 510 may generate object data or acquire object data from the server 600 or the like. The objects include, for example, an avatar object that is a substitute of the user 5, a character object, an operation object such as a virtual hand operated by the controller 300, a landscape arranged in accordance with the progress of a game story, a mountain, etc., a cityscape, an animal Etc.

  The control module 510 places the avatar object of the user 5 of another computer 200 connected via the network 2 in the virtual space 11. In one aspect, the control module 510 places the avatar object of the user 5 in the virtual space 11. In an aspect, the control module 510 arranges an avatar object that imitates the user 5 in the virtual space 11 based on an image including the user 5. In another aspect, the control module 510 places in the virtual space 11 an avatar object that has been selected by the user 5 from a plurality of types of avatar objects (for example, an object imitating an animal or a deformed human object). To do.

  The control module 510 specifies the inclination of the HMD 120 based on the output of the HMD sensor 410. In another aspect, the control module 510 specifies the inclination of the HMD 120 based on the output of the sensor 190 that functions as a motion sensor. The control module 510 detects organs (for example, mouth, eyes, eyebrows) constituting the face of the user 5 from the face image of the user 5 generated by the first camera 150 and the second camera 160. The control module 510 detects the movement (shape) of each detected organ.

  The control module 510 detects the line of sight of the user 5 in the virtual space 11 based on the signal from the gaze sensor 140. The control module 510 detects a viewpoint position (a coordinate value in the XYZ coordinate system) where the detected line of sight of the user 5 and the celestial sphere of the virtual space 11 intersect. More specifically, the control module 510 detects the viewpoint position based on the line of sight of the user 5 defined by the uvw coordinate system and the position and tilt of the virtual camera 14. The control module 510 transmits the detected viewpoint position to the server 600. In another aspect, the control module 510 may be configured to transmit line-of-sight information representing the line of sight of the user 5 to the server 600. In such a case, the viewpoint position can be calculated based on the line-of-sight information received by the server 600.

  The control module 510 reflects the movement of the HMD 120 detected by the HMD sensor 410 on the avatar object. For example, the control module 510 detects that the HMD 120 is tilted, and tilts and arranges the avatar object. The control module 510 reflects the detected movement of the facial organ on the face of the avatar object arranged in the virtual space 11. The control module 510 receives the line-of-sight information of the other user 5 from the server 600 and reflects it in the line-of-sight of the avatar object of the other user 5. In one aspect, the control module 510 reflects the movement of the controller 300 on the avatar object and the operation object. In this case, the controller 300 includes a motion sensor for detecting the movement of the controller 300, an acceleration sensor, or a plurality of light emitting elements (for example, infrared LEDs).

  The control module 510 arranges an operation object in the virtual space 11 for accepting the operation of the user 5 in the virtual space 11. The user 5 operates, for example, an object placed in the virtual space 11 by operating the operation object. In one aspect, the operation object may include, for example, a hand object that is a virtual hand corresponding to the hand of the user 5. In one aspect, the control module 510 moves the hand object in the virtual space 11 so as to be interlocked with the movement of the hand of the user 5 in the real space based on the output of the motion sensor 420. In one aspect, the operation object may correspond to a hand portion of the avatar object.

  The control module 510 detects the collision when each of the objects arranged in the virtual space 11 collides with another object. The control module 510 can detect, for example, a timing at which a collision area of a certain object and a collision area of another object touch each other, and performs a predetermined process when the detection is performed. The control module 510 can detect the timing when the object is away from the touched state, and performs a predetermined process when the detection is made. The control module 510 can detect that the object is touching the object. For example, when the operation object touches another object, the control module 510 detects that the operation object touches another object, and performs a predetermined process.

  In one aspect, the control module 510 controls image display on the monitor 130 of the HMD 120. For example, the control module 510 arranges the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11. The control module 510 controls the position of the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11 and the tilt (orientation) of the virtual camera 14. The control module 510 defines the visual field area 15 according to the inclination of the head of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 and the position of the virtual camera 14. The rendering module 520 generates a visual field image 17 displayed on the monitor 130 based on the determined visual field region 15. The view image 17 generated by the rendering module 520 is output to the HMD 120 by the communication control module 540.

  When the control module 510 detects an utterance using the microphone 170 of the user 5 from the HMD 120, the control module 510 specifies the computer 200 that is the transmission target of the audio data corresponding to the utterance. The audio data is transmitted to the computer 200 specified by the control module 510. When receiving audio data from another user's computer 200 via the network 2, the control module 510 outputs audio (utterance) corresponding to the audio data from the speaker 180.

  The memory module 530 holds data used by the computer 200 to provide the virtual space 11 to the user 5. In one aspect, the memory module 530 holds spatial information, object information, and user information.

  The spatial information holds one or more templates defined for providing the virtual space 11.

  The object information includes a plurality of panoramic images 13 constituting the virtual space 11 and object data for arranging the objects in the virtual space 11. The panoramic image 13 may include a still image and a moving image. The panoramic image 13 may include an image in an unreal space and an image in a real space. As an image of unreal space, the image produced | generated by computer graphics is mentioned, for example.

  The user information holds a user ID that identifies the user 5. The user ID may be, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address or a MAC (Media Access Control) address set in the computer 200 used by the user. In another aspect, the user ID can be set by the user. The user information includes a program for causing the computer 200 to function as a control device of the HMD system 100.

  Data and programs stored in the memory module 530 are input by the user 5 of the HMD 120. Alternatively, the processor 210 downloads a program or data from a computer (for example, the server 600) operated by a provider that provides the content, and stores the downloaded program or data in the memory module 530.

  The communication control module 540 can communicate with the server 600 and other information communication devices via the network 2.

  In one aspect, the control module 510 and the rendering module 520 can be implemented using, for example, Unity (registered trademark) provided by Unity Technologies. In another aspect, the control module 510 and the rendering module 520 can also be realized as a combination of circuit elements that realize each process.

  Processing in the computer 200 is realized by hardware and software executed by the processor 210. Such software may be stored in advance in a memory module 530 such as a hard disk. The software may be stored in a CD-ROM or other non-volatile computer-readable data recording medium and distributed as a program product. Alternatively, the software may be provided as a program product that can be downloaded by an information provider connected to the Internet or other networks. Such software is read from a data recording medium by an optical disk drive or other data reader, or downloaded from the server 600 or other computer via the communication control module 540 and then temporarily stored in the storage module. . The software is read from the storage module by the processor 210 and stored in the RAM in the form of an executable program. The processor 210 executes the program.

[Control structure of HMD system]
The control structure of the HMD set 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence chart showing a part of processing executed in HMD set 110 according to an embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in step S <b> 1110, the processor 210 of the computer 200 specifies virtual space data as the control module 510 and defines the virtual space 11.

  In step S1120, processor 210 initializes virtual camera 14. For example, the processor 210 places the virtual camera 14 at the center point 12 defined in advance in the virtual space 11 in the work area of the memory, and directs the line of sight of the virtual camera 14 in the direction in which the user 5 is facing.

  In step S1130, processor 210 generates, as rendering module 520, view image data for displaying an initial view image. The generated view image data is output to the HMD 120 by the communication control module 540.

  In step S1132, the monitor 130 of the HMD 120 displays a view image based on the view image data received from the computer 200. The user 5 wearing the HMD 120 can recognize the virtual space 11 when viewing the visual field image.

  In step S <b> 1134, HMD sensor 410 detects the position and inclination of HMD 120 based on a plurality of infrared lights transmitted from HMD 120. The detection result is output to the computer 200 as motion detection data.

  In step S1140, processor 210 identifies the viewing direction of user 5 wearing HMD 120 based on the position and tilt included in the motion detection data of HMD 120.

  In step S1150, processor 210 executes the application program and places an object in virtual space 11 based on an instruction included in the application program.

  In step S1160, controller 300 detects an operation of user 5 based on a signal output from motion sensor 420, and outputs detection data representing the detected operation to computer 200. In another aspect, the operation of the controller 300 by the user 5 may be detected based on an image from a camera arranged around the user 5.

  In step S <b> 1170, processor 210 detects the operation of controller 300 by user 5 based on the detection data acquired from controller 300.

  In step S1180, processor 210 generates view field image data based on operation of controller 300 by user 5. The generated view image data is output to the HMD 120 by the communication control module 540.

  In step S1190, the HMD 120 updates the view image based on the received view image data, and displays the updated view image on the monitor 130.

[Avatar object]
With reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, an avatar object according to the present embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, it is a figure explaining the avatar object of each user 5 of HMD set 110A, 110B. Hereinafter, the user of HMD set 110A is represented as user 5A, the user of HMD set 110B is represented as user 5B, the user of HMD set 110C is represented as user 5C, and the user of HMD set 110D is represented as user 5D. A is added to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110A, B is added to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110B, C is added to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110C, and the HMD set D is attached to the reference number of each component relating to 110D. For example, the HMD 120A is included in the HMD set 110A.

  FIG. 12A is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation where each HMD 120 provides the virtual space 11 to the user 5 in the network 2. The computers 200A to 200D provide the virtual spaces 11A to 11D to the users 5A to 5D via the HMDs 120A to 120D, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 12A, the virtual space 11A and the virtual space 11B are configured by the same data. In other words, the computer 200A and the computer 200B share the same virtual space. The avatar object 6A of the user 5A and the avatar object 6B of the user 5B exist in the virtual space 11A and the virtual space 11B. The avatar object 6A in the virtual space 11A and the avatar object 6B in the virtual space 11B are each equipped with the HMD 120, but this is for easy understanding. In fact, these objects are equipped with the HMD 120. Not.

  In one aspect, the processor 210A may place the virtual camera 14A that captures the view image 17A of the user 5A at the eye position of the avatar object 6A.

  FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a field-of-view image 17A of the user 5A in FIG. The view image 17A is an image displayed on the monitor 130A of the HMD 120A. The view image 17A is an image generated by the virtual camera 14A. The avatar object 6B of the user 5B is displayed in the view field image 17A. Although not specifically illustrated, the avatar object 6A of the user 5A is also displayed in the view image of the user 5B.

  In the state of FIG. 12 (B), the user 5A can communicate with the user 5B through the virtual space 11A through communication (communication). More specifically, the voice of the user 5A acquired by the microphone 170A is transmitted to the HMD 120B of the user 5B via the server 600 and output from the speaker 180B provided in the HMD 120B. The voice of the user 5B is transmitted to the HMD 120A of the user 5A via the server 600, and is output from the speaker 180A provided in the HMD 120A.

  The operation of the user 5B (the operation of the HMD 120B and the operation of the controller 300B) is reflected on the avatar object 6B arranged in the virtual space 11A by the processor 210A. Thereby, the user 5A can recognize the operation of the user 5B through the avatar object 6B.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing a part of processing executed in HMD system 100 according to the present embodiment. Although the HMD set 110D is not shown in FIG. 13, the HMD set 110D operates in the same manner as the HMD sets 110A, 110B, and 110C. In the following description, A is added to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110A, B is added to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110B, and C is assigned to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110C. It is assumed that D is added to the reference symbol of each component relating to the HMD set 110D.

  In step S1310A, the processor 210A in the HMD set 110A acquires avatar information for determining the operation of the avatar object 6A in the virtual space 11A. The avatar information includes, for example, information related to the avatar such as motion information, face tracking data, and voice data. The motion information includes information indicating temporal changes in the position and inclination of the HMD 120A, information indicating the motion of the hand of the user 5A detected by the motion sensor 420A and the like. The face tracking data includes data that specifies the position and size of each part of the face of the user 5A. The face tracking data includes data indicating the movement of each organ constituting the face of the user 5A and line-of-sight data. The voice data includes data indicating the voice of the user 5A acquired by the microphone 170A of the HMD 120A. The avatar information may include information for specifying the avatar object 6A or the user 5A associated with the avatar object 6A, information for specifying the virtual space 11A in which the avatar object 6A exists, and the like. User ID is mentioned as information which specifies avatar object 6A and user 5A. Room ID is mentioned as information which specifies 11 A of virtual spaces in which the avatar object 6A exists. The processor 210A transmits the avatar information acquired as described above to the server 600 via the network 2.

  In step S1310B, the processor 210B in the HMD set 110B acquires avatar information for determining the operation of the avatar object 6B in the virtual space 11B, and transmits the avatar information to the server 600, similarly to the process in step S1310A. Similarly, in step S1310C, the processor 210B in the HMD set 110C acquires avatar information for determining the operation of the avatar object 6C in the virtual space 11C and transmits it to the server 600.

  In step S1320, server 600 temporarily stores player information received from each of HMD set 110A, HMD set 110B, and HMD set 110C. The server 600 integrates avatar information of all users (users 5A to 5C in this example) associated with the common virtual space 11 based on the user ID and the room ID included in each avatar information. Then, the server 600 transmits the integrated avatar information to all users associated with the virtual space 11 at a predetermined timing. Thereby, a synchronous process is performed. By such synchronization processing, the HMD set 110A, the HMD set 110B, and the HMD set 110C can share each other's avatar information at substantially the same timing.

  Subsequently, based on the avatar information transmitted from the server 600 to the HMD sets 110A to 110C, the HMD sets 110A to 110C execute the processes of steps S1330A to S1330C. The process in step S1330A corresponds to the process in step S1180 in FIG.

  In step S1330A, the processor 210A in the HMD set 110A updates information on the avatar objects 6B and avatar objects 6C of the other users 5B and 5C in the virtual space 11A. Specifically, the processor 210A updates the position and orientation of the avatar object 6B in the virtual space 11 based on the motion information included in the avatar information transmitted from the HMD set 110B. For example, the processor 210 </ b> A updates information (position and orientation, etc.) of the avatar object 6 </ b> B included in the object information stored in the memory module 530. Similarly, the processor 210A updates the information (position, orientation, etc.) of the avatar object 6C in the virtual space 11 based on the motion information included in the avatar information transmitted from the HMD set 110C.

  In step S1330B, the processor 210B in the HMD set 110B updates the information of the avatar objects 6A and 6C of the users 5A and 5C in the virtual space 11B, similarly to the process in step S1330A. Similarly, in step S1330C, the processor 210C in the HMD set 110C updates information on the avatar objects 6A and 6B of the users 5A and 5B in the virtual space 11C.

[Detailed module configuration]
Details of the module configuration of the computer 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a block diagram representing a detailed configuration of a module of computer 200 according to an embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the control module 510 includes a virtual camera control module 1421, a view area determination module 1422, a virtual space definition module 1423, a virtual object generation module 1424, and an operation object control module 1425. . The rendering module 520 includes a view field image generation module 1429. The memory module 530 holds space information 1426, object information 1427, and user information 1428.

  The virtual camera control module 1421 arranges the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11. The virtual camera control module 1421 controls the arrangement position of the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11 and the direction (tilt) of the virtual camera 14. The view area determination module 1422 defines the view area 15 according to the orientation of the head of the user wearing the HMD 120 and the arrangement position of the virtual camera 14. The view field image generation module 1429 generates the view field image 17 displayed on the monitor 130 based on the determined view field area 15.

  The virtual space definition module 1423 defines the virtual space 11 in the HMD system 100 by generating virtual space data representing the virtual space 11.

  The virtual object generation module 1424 generates an object placed in the virtual space 11. The objects may include, for example, forests, mountains and other landscapes, animals, etc. that are arranged according to the progress of the game story.

  The operation object control module 1425 controls an operation object arranged in the virtual space 11. In a certain aspect, the operation objects may include, for example, a snake object 1674, a pointer object 1675, and the like described later that can be operated by the hand of the user wearing the HMD 120.

  The control module 510 detects the collision when each of the objects arranged in the virtual space 11 collides with another object. The control module 510 can detect, for example, the timing when a certain object and another object touch each other, and performs a predetermined process when the detection is performed. The control module 510 can detect the timing when the object is away from the touched state, and performs a predetermined process when the detection is made. The control module 510 can detect that the object is touching the object. Specifically, the operation object control module 1425 detects a touch between the operation object and another object when the operation object touches another object, and performs a predetermined process. .

  The memory module 530 holds data used by the computer 200 to provide the virtual space 11 to the user 5. In one aspect, the memory module 530 holds spatial information 1426, object information 1427, and user information 1428.

  The space information 1426 holds one or more templates defined for providing the virtual space 11.

  The object information 1427 holds content to be played back in the virtual space 11, objects used in the content, and information (for example, position information) for arranging the objects in the virtual space 11. The content can include, for example, content representing a scene similar to a game or a real society.

  The user information 1428 holds a program for causing the computer 200 to function as a control device of the HMD system 100, an application program that uses each content held in the object information 1427, and the like.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 15 to 24, the flow of processing for the user to teleport to a predetermined movement area in the virtual space in the game program according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing for moving a teleport to a predetermined moving area by pointing a predetermined moving area in the virtual space. FIG. 16, FIG. 19, FIG. 21, and FIG. 23 are diagrams showing an example of a virtual space provided to the user for explaining the game program according to the present embodiment. FIG. 17A is a diagram showing a configuration of teleport objects arranged in the movable area, and FIG. 17B is a diagram showing a configuration of teleport objects arranged in the immovable area. is there. 18, 20, 22, and 24 are diagrams showing an example of a visual field image displayed on the HMD monitor for explaining the game program according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in step S1541, the processor 210 of the computer 200 specifies the virtual space data of the game program according to the present embodiment as the control module 510, and defines the virtual space 1611 shown in FIG. .

  In step S1542, the processor 210 sets the virtual camera 14 (an example of a virtual viewpoint) at a predetermined position in the defined virtual space 1611. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the processor 210 places the virtual camera 14 in the center 12 of the virtual space 1611.

  In step S1543, the processor 210 sets a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space 1611 as shown in FIG. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the processor 210 sets an area in which the distance from the virtual camera 14 (for example, the center 12) is equal to or smaller than a threshold value 1671 (an example of a first threshold value) as a movable area 1672, The area where the distance from 14 exceeds the threshold value 1671 is set as a non-movable area 1673.

  In step S1544, processor 210 arranges the object in virtual space 1611. The objects arranged in the virtual space 1611 are, for example, a snake object 1674, a pointer object 1675 (an example of an operation object) associated with the snake object 1647, and a plurality of teleport objects 1676 to 1678 (an example of a second object). ) And a plurality of tree objects 1679 and 1680 (an example of a first object).

The snake object 1674 is arranged to extend forward of the virtual camera 14 in the initial state. The pointer object 1675 is arranged in association with the snake object 1674. For example, in the initial state, the pointer object 1675 is arranged at a position away from the tip of the snake object 1673 by a certain distance on the side opposite to the virtual camera 14. The pointer object 1675 can move from the initial position to an arbitrary position based on, for example, an operation of the analog stick 390 of the controller 300 by the user 5. That is, the user 5 can designate an arbitrary position in the virtual space 1611 by moving the pointer object 1675 with the analog stick 390. Note that the pointer object 1675 may function like a laser pointer in real space. That is, light may be emitted from the virtual camera 14 in a predetermined direction so that an object (for example, teleport objects 1676 to 1678) irradiated with the light can be pointed.
The snake object 1674 touches the position pointed by the pointer object 1675 based on the user 5 pressing one of the buttons 340, 350, 370, and 380 (for example, the button 350) of the controller 300. It can change to a stretched state.

  In this example, for example, the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 among the plurality of teleport objects 1676 to 1678 are arranged in the movable area 1672 and the teleport object 1678 is arranged in the non-movable area 1673. When the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 arranged in the movable area 1672 are pointed by the pointer object 1675 based on the operation by the user 5, the virtual camera 14 can teleport to the position of the teleport object. An object that functions as a teleport point (ie, warp point).

  Note that the teleport object 1678 arranged in the immovable area 1673 is not an object that functions as a teleport point. In other words, as long as the teleport object 1678 is arranged in the immovable area 1673, even when the pointer object 1675 points to the teleport object 1678, the virtual camera 14 teleports to the position of the teleport object 1678. The report never moves.

  Tree objects 1679 and 1680 are objects that form part of the landscape of the view field image 1817 (see FIG. 18) generated from the virtual space 1611. In this example, the tree object 1679 is arranged in the movable area 1672 and the tree object 1680 is arranged in the immovable area 1673.

  In step S1545, processor 210 sets colliders for detecting collision (collision) with other objects to pointer object 1675 and teleport objects 1676 and 1677 arranged in movable area 1672, respectively. Set by associating. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the processor 210 sets the collider 1681 so as to surround the periphery of the pointer object 1675. Further, the processor 210 sets the collider 1682 so as to surround the teleport object 1676, and sets the collider 1683 so as to surround the teleport object 1677. Colliders 1681 to 1683 function as a collision determination area for determining the collision between pointer object 1675 and teleport objects 1676 and 1677. The colliders 1681 to 1683 are configured as transparent bodies and are not displayed in the field-of-view image.

  When setting the colliders 1681 to 1683, the processor 210 sets an area in the movable area 1672 where the distance from the virtual camera 14 is equal to or smaller than a threshold value 1684 (an example of a second threshold value) as a nearby movable area 1685. The area where the distance from the virtual camera 14 exceeds the threshold value 1684 is set as the far movable area 1686. Then, the processor 210 sets the collider 1683 of the teleport object 1677 arranged in the far movable area 1686 to be larger than the collider 1682 of the teleport object 1676 arranged in the nearby movable area 1685. May be. As described above, the processor 210 can change the size of the colliders 1682 and 1683 according to the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 in the movable area 1672.

  In step S1546, the processor 210 displays, as the rendering module 520, visual field image data for displaying visual field images of the virtual space 1611 including the snake object 1674, the pointer object 1675, the teleport objects 1676 to 1678, and the tree objects 1679 and 1680. Is generated. The generated view image data is output to the HMD 120 by the communication control module 540.

  Note that when the view image data is generated in step S1546, the processor 210 draws the movable area 1672 in which the distance from the virtual camera 14 is equal to or less than the threshold value 1671 in a high detail mode (an example of the first display mode). The non-movable area 1673 whose distance from the virtual camera 14 exceeds the threshold value 1671 is drawn in a low detail mode (an example of a second display mode) with lower detail than the movable area 1672.

FIG. 17A shows a teleport object drawn in a high detail mode (for example, a teleport object 1676 arranged in the movable area 1672), and FIG. 17B shows a teleport object drawn in a low detail mode. A report object (for example, a teleport object 1678 arranged in the immovable area 1673) is shown.
Conventionally, a technology called LOD (Level of Detail) that can efficiently display data while reducing the rendering processing load by switching the detail (detail level) of an object according to the distance from the position of the virtual camera 14 is known. It has been. In the present embodiment, the details of the teleport objects 1678 in the non-movable area 1673 are made coarser than the details of the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 in the movable area 1672 using this LOD technique. Specifically, the number of polygons constituting the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 is different from the number of polygons constituting the teleport object 1678 in the immovable area 1673. That is, the teleport object 1678 shown in FIG. 17B is configured with a smaller number of polygons than the teleport object 1676 shown in FIG. For example, assuming that the number of polygons used for drawing the teleport object 1676 is 100, the number of polygons used for drawing the teleport object 1678 is 10 or less (that is, 1/10 or less of the number of polygons of the teleport object 1676). It is configured as follows. Thus, the teleport object 1676 in the movable area 1672 and the teleport object 1678 in the immovable area 1673 can have a great change in appearance. As a method for roughening the details, a method for reducing the texture capacity of the object may be employed instead of the method for reducing the number of polygons constituting the object.

  Note that the details of the tree objects 1679 and 1680 may be switched according to the distance from the virtual camera 14 using the LOD technique. For example, when the number of polygons used for drawing the tree object 1679 in the movable area 1672 is 100, the number of polygons used for drawing the tree object 1680 in the non-movable area 1673 is about 50 (that is, the polygon of the tree object 1679). About half of the number). As described above, it is preferable that the detail reduction degree of the teleport objects 1676 to 1678 is larger than the detail reduction degree of the tree objects 1679 and 1680.

  In step S <b> 1547, the monitor 130 of the HMD 120 displays the view image 1817 shown in FIG. 18 based on the view image data received from the computer 200. When the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 visually recognizes the view image 1817, the user 5 can recognize the virtual space 1611 including the snake object 1674, the pointer object 1675, the teleport objects 1676 to 1678, and the tree objects 1679 and 1680. As described above, the detail reduction degree of the teleport objects 1676 to 1678 is set to be larger than the detail reduction degree of the tree objects 1679 and 1680, so that the visual comparison with the tree objects 1679 and 1680 is performed. Further, the visual distinction between the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 in the movable area 1672 and the teleport objects 1678 in the immovable area 1673 is further clarified.

  In step S 1548, controller 300 detects operation of analog stick 390 by user 5, and outputs detection data representing the detected operation of analog stick 390 to computer 200. In another aspect, the operation of the controller 300 by the user 5 may be detected based on an image from a camera arranged around the user 5.

  In step S1549, processor 210 detects operation of analog stick 390 by user 5 based on the detection data acquired from controller 300.

  In step S1550, processor 210 controls pointer object 1675 based on the detected operation of controller 300. For example, the processor 210 moves the pointer object 1675 to a position where it interferes with the teleport object 1677 based on the detection data representing the operation of the analog stick 390 as shown in FIG.

  In step S1551, the processor 210 generates view field image data in a state where the pointer object 1675 has moved based on the operation of the analog stick 390, and outputs the view field image data to the HMD 120.

  In step S1552, the HMD 120 updates the view image based on the received view image data, and displays the updated view image 2017 on the monitor 130 as shown in FIG.

  In step S1553, controller 300 detects operation of button 350 by user 5 and outputs detection data representing the detected operation of button 350 to computer 200.

  In step S1554, processor 210 detects the operation of button 350 by user 5 based on the detection data acquired from controller 300.

  In step S1555, the processor 210 determines whether or not the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the position (pointing position) where the pointer object 1675 is pointing is equal to or smaller than the threshold value 1671, that is, the pointing position by the pointer object 1675 can be moved. It is determined whether or not the area 1672 is included. The pointing position may be the current position based on the position coordinates of the pointer object 1675. When the pointer object has a function like a laser pointer, the pointing position may be a position where light emitted from the virtual camera 14 is struck.

  When the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the pointing position exceeds the first threshold value 1671, that is, when the pointing position is included in the immovable area 1673 (No in step S1555), the processor 210 performs processing. To step S1549. In this case, the virtual camera 14 is not moved to the pointing position.

  On the other hand, when the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the pointing position is equal to or smaller than the threshold value 1671, that is, when the pointing position is included in the movable area 1672 (Yes in step S 1555), in step S 1556, the processor 210 determines whether the pointing position indicated by the pointer object 1675 interferes with either the teleport object 1676 or the teleport object 1677 arranged in the movable area 1672. For example, processor 210 determines whether collider 1681 of pointer object 1675 is interfering with either collider 1682 of teleport object 1676 and collider 1683 of teleport object 1677 located within movable area 1672. .

  If it is determined that the pointing position indicated by the pointer object 1675 does not interfere with any of the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 arranged in the movable area 1672 (No in step S1556), the processor 210 Return to step S1549.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the pointing position indicated by the pointer object 1675 interferes with one of the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 arranged in the movable area 1672 (Yes in step S1556), step In step S1557, the processor 210 controls the snake object 1673 so that the teleport object indicated by the pointer object 1675 touches the snake object 1673. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the processor 210 extends the snake object 1674 toward the teleport object 1677 indicated by the pointer object 1675 and causes the snake object 1674 to be engaged with the teleport object 1677.

  In step S 1558, the processor 210 generates view image data in a state where the snake object 1674 extends and is engaged with the teleport object 1677 based on the operation of the button 350 by the user 5, and outputs the view image data to the HMD 120. To do.

  In step S1559, the HMD 120 updates the view image based on the received view image data, and displays the updated view image 2217 on the monitor 130 as shown in FIG.

  In step S1560, as shown in FIG. 23, processor 210 moves virtual camera 14 to the position of teleport object 1677 where snake object 1674 is engaged. For example, the processor 210 moves the center 12 of the virtual space 1611 to the center position of the teleport object 1677.

  In step S1561, the processor 210 resets a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space 1611 after the virtual camera 14 is moved. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the processor 210 sets an area where the distance from the virtual camera 14 after moving to the position of the teleport object 1677 is equal to or less than a threshold value 1671 (an example of a first threshold value) as a movable area 1672. The area where the distance from the virtual camera 14 exceeds the threshold value 1671 is reset as the immovable area 1673.

  In step S1562, the processor 210 rearranges the objects in the virtual space 1611. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the processor 210 places a teleport object 1677 at the position of the virtual camera 14, and other objects (teleport objects 1676 and 1678, tree objects 1679 and 1680) as teleport objects 1677. Are arranged in the virtual space 1611 while maintaining the positional relationship.

  In step S1563, processor 210 associates and sets a collider for pointer object 1675 and teleport objects 1676 to 1678. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the processor 210 resets the collider 1681 to surround the pointer object 1675 and resets the collider 1683 to surround the teleport object 1678 in the movable area 1672. To do. At this time, since the teleport object 1678 is arranged in the vicinity movable area 1685, the collider 1683 is set to be a relatively small range (that is, a range substantially the same as the shape of the teleport object 1678). The

  In step S1564, processor 210 generates view image data in a state where virtual camera 14 has moved to the position of teleport object 1677, and outputs the view image data to HMD 120. When the virtual camera 14 is moved to the position of the teleport object 1677, the position of the teleport object 1678 is moved from the immovable area 1673 to the movable area 1672, so that the processor 210 moves the teleport object 1678. Are drawn in high detail.

  In step S1565, HMD 120 updates the view image based on the received view image data, and displays updated view image 2417 on monitor 130 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the game program according to the present embodiment, the step of setting a plurality of moving areas 1672 and 1673 in the virtual space 1611 and the virtual camera 14 (an example of a virtual viewpoint) are set in the virtual space 1611. A step, a step of indicating a predetermined movement area (for example, a teleport object 1677) of the plurality of movement areas 1672 and 1673 in accordance with the movement of a part of the body of the user 5, a virtual camera 14 and a predetermined movement area If the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the predetermined movement area exceeds the threshold value 1671, the virtual camera 14 is moved to a predetermined movement area (for example, the teleport object 1677) and the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the predetermined movement area exceeds the threshold value 1671. A step of not moving 14 to a predetermined moving area, and a computer It provides a program for executing. Thus, by controlling whether or not to move to the predetermined movement area according to the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the predetermined movement area designated by the user 5, a new virtual experience can be provided to the user 5, Thereby, the virtual experience of the user 5 can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the processor 210 controls the field of view (the field of view 15) from the virtual camera 14, and is included in the field of view 15 of the plurality of moving areas 1672 and 1673 and is a distance from the virtual camera 14. A movable area 1672 having a threshold value of 1671 or less is drawn in a high detail mode (an example of the first display mode), and is included in the view area 15 out of the plurality of moving areas 1672 and 1673 and from the virtual camera 14. The immovable area 1673 whose distance exceeds the threshold value 1671 is drawn in a low detail mode (an example of the second display mode), and a visual field image 1817 corresponding to the visual field region 15 is generated. The field-of-view image 1817 includes a movable area 1672 drawn in a high-detail manner and a non-movable area 1673 drawn in a low-detail manner. According to this configuration, the user 5 can easily grasp which of the plurality of moving areas 1672 and 1673 included in the view field image 1817 is a movable area.

  In the present embodiment, the number of polygons constituting the teleport object 1678 in the immovable area 1673 displayed in the low detail mode is set to the teleport object 1676 in the movable area 1672 displayed in the high detail mode. The number of polygons constituting 1677 is smaller. Thus, the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 that are movable among the teleport objects (warp points) 1676 to 1678 displayed in the field-of-view image 1817 and the teleport objects that are not movable are reduced while reducing the processing load of the computer 200. 1678 can be easily identified by the user 5.

  In this embodiment, the processor 210 changes the display mode of the tree objects 1679 and 1680 (an example of the first object) to the high-detail mode for the tree object 1679 whose distance from the virtual camera 14 is equal to or less than the threshold value 1671. On the other hand, for the tree object 1680 whose distance from the virtual camera 14 exceeds the first threshold value 1671, the display mode is set to a display mode (an example of a third display mode) with coarser detail than the high detail mode. Then, the processor 210 determines that the detail reduction degree (the reduction degree of the number of constituent polygons) of the teleport object 1678 in the immovable area 1673 relative to the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 in the movable area 1672 is in the movable area 1672. It is set to be larger than the degree of detail reduction of the tree object 1680 in the immovable area 1673 with respect to the tree object 1679. That is, the processor 210 sets the degree of reduction of the number of constituent polygons of the teleport object 1678 for the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 to be larger than the degree of reduction of the number of constituent polygons of the tree object 1680 for the tree object 1679. According to this configuration, the visual distinction between the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 in the movable area 1672 and the teleport objects 1678 in the immovable area 1673 becomes clearer, and the virtual experience of the user 5 is further improved. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, an HMD 120 (an example of an image display device) including the computer 200 is associated with the head of the user 5, and the processor 210 performs a virtual camera according to the movement of the head of the user 5. 14 controls the field of view from 14, generates a field image 1817 corresponding to the field of view, and displays the field image 1817 on the HMD 120. At this time, the field-of-view image 1817 displays the movable area 1672 in a high detail mode and displays the non-movable area 1673 in a low detail mode. According to this configuration, the virtual experience of the user 5 can be improved without increasing the processing load even in a computer with limited processing capability such as the computer 200 included in the HMD 120.

  In this embodiment, the processor 210 sets a pointer object 1675 (an example of a pointing position) in the virtual space 1611, and the pointer object 1675 and the pointer object 1675 are set according to the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the pointer object 1675. The collision determination condition for determining the collision with the predetermined moving area pointed at is changed. Thus, by changing the collision determination condition according to the distance from the virtual camera 14 to the pointer object 1675, a new virtual experience can be provided to the user 5.

  In the present embodiment, the collision determination condition is that the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the pointer object 1675 is a threshold when the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the pointer object 1675 exceeds a threshold 1684 (an example of a second threshold). It is more relaxed than the case of 1671 or less. As described above, the user 5 can easily specify the far movable area 1686 in the movable area 1672 by relaxing the collision determination condition when pointing to the area away from the virtual camera 14.

  The method for relaxing the collision determination condition is not limited to the above example. For example, the processor may be set so that the collision determination condition is relaxed as the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the pointer object 1675 increases.

  In this embodiment, the processor 210 sets colliders 1682 and 1683 (an example of a collision determination area) for determining a collision in association with the teleport objects 1676 and 1677, and the relaxation of the collision determination condition is performed by the virtual camera. 14 and teleport objects 1676 and 1677 in accordance with the distance between colliders 1682 and 1683 may be included. By adopting such a method, the collision determination condition can be easily relaxed.

  In the above example, the sizes of the colliders 1682 and 1683 set in the teleport objects 1676 and 1677 are changed according to the distance from the virtual camera 14, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the processor 210 may change the size of the collider 1681 set in association with the pointer object 1675 according to the distance between the virtual camera 14 and the location designated by the pointer object 1675. By adopting such a method, the collision determination condition can be easily relaxed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the processor 210 may relax the collision determination condition based on the charge by the user 5 being executed. That is, the processor 210 may make the size of the colliders 1681 to 1683 larger than usual when the user 5 is charged. Thereby, it is possible to effectively prompt the user for charging.

[Configuration of other HMDs]
In the above example, the HMD system 100 includes the HMD 120 and the computer 200, and is configured such that the processor 210 of the computer 200 executes various arithmetic processes. Hereinafter, another configuration example of the HMD system will be described.

  FIG. 25 shows the configuration of the HMD system 2531. The HMD system 2531 includes an HMD 2532 and a portable information processing terminal 2541. The HMD 2532 is a so-called mobile HMD of a type in which a smartphone can be attached to a housing. The HMD 2532 described below includes the above-described HMD sensor 410, and the orientation of the HMD 2532 can be detected using the HMD sensor 410.

  The HMD 2532 includes a housing 2533, a belt 2534, an adjustment member 313, a front cover 2536, and a protrusion 2538. The user 5 fixes the HMD 2532 to his / her head by adjusting the length of the belt 2534 with the adjusting member 313 after hooking the belt 2534 on his / her head.

  The front cover 2536 is attached to the lower front portion of the housing 2533 and is configured to be rotatable about the attachment location. The front cover 2536 is provided with a hook 2537. The user 5 closes the front cover 2536 with the information processing terminal 2541 placed on the front cover 2536. The user 5 further fixes the information processing terminal 2541 to the HMD 2532 by hooking the hook 2537 to the protrusion 2538 with the front cover 2536 closed.

  The housing 2533 further includes a lens 2539. The lens 2539 includes a left-eye lens and a right-eye lens. A front portion of the housing 2533 is opened from the lens 2539. The user 5 visually recognizes the monitor 2542 of the information processing terminal 2541 through the lens 2539 in a state where the HMD 2532 is worn on the head. Note that the HMD 2532 may further include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the lens 2539.

  The information processing terminal 2541 further includes components corresponding to each of the above-described processor 210, memory 220, storage 230, communication interface 250, speaker 180, and microphone 170 (not shown). In the HMD system 2531, the above-described various processes (such as a process for generating a view field image) are realized by the processor 210 provided in the information processing terminal 2541 cooperating with various components.

[Configuration of other controllers]
FIG. 26 shows the configuration of another controller 2651. The user 5 uses the controller 2651 while holding it in his hand. The user 5 holds the controller 2651 with one hand or both hands.

  The controller 2651 includes a touch pad 2652, an application button 2661, a home button 2662, a volume button 2663, a motion sensor 2664, and a communication interface 2665.

  The touch pad 2652 includes a plurality of touch sensors. The touch pad 2652 is configured to be able to determine which of the regions 2653 to 2655 divided in the longitudinal direction of the controller 2651 is touched by the user 5. For example, the user 5 can move an object (eg, a pointer object 1675) placed in the virtual space 1611 forward by sliding a finger from the area 2654 to the area 2653. However, the touch pad 2652 may be configured by a single touch sensor.

  The application button 2661 is a button used in an application such as a game. For example, when detecting that the application button 2661 has been pressed, the processor 210 displays a menu screen on the monitor 130 of the HMD 120. Home button 2662 is a button for displaying a predetermined screen (for example, a screen of an application different from the application using application button 2661) on monitor 130. Volume button 2663 is a button for adjusting the volume of speaker 180.

  The motion sensor 2664 provided in the controller 2651 has a triaxial acceleration sensor and a triaxial angular velocity sensor. Further, as described above, the controller 2651 is held by the hand of the user 5. Therefore, the computer 200 (information processing terminal 2541) can detect the inclination of the hand of the user 5 based on the output of the motion sensor 2664.

  The communication interface 2665 transmits a signal representing the operation content of the user 5 to the controller 2651 to the computer 200 (information processing terminal 2541). For example, the communication interface 2665 communicates with the opposite device according to Bluetooth (registered trademark) or other short-range wireless communication standards.

  In the embodiment described above, the virtual space (VR space) in which the user is immersed by the HMD 120 has been described as an example. However, a transmissive HMD may be employed as the HMD. In this case, an augmented reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) is generated by outputting a visual field image obtained by synthesizing a part of an image constituting the virtual space to the real space visually recognized by the user via the transmissive HMD. A virtual experience in an MR (Mixed Reality) space may be provided to the user. In this case, instead of the operation object, an action on the target object in the virtual space may be generated based on the movement of the user's hand. Specifically, the processor may specify the coordinate information of the position of the user's hand in the real space and define the position of the target object in the virtual space in relation to the coordinate information in the real space. As a result, the processor can grasp the positional relationship between the user's hand in the real space and the target object in the virtual space, and can execute processing corresponding to the above-described collision control or the like between the user's hand and the target object. . As a result, it is possible to act on the target object based on the movement of the user's hand.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this indication was described, the technical scope of this invention should not be limitedly interpreted by description of this embodiment. This embodiment is an example, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

[Additional Notes]
The contents of the present disclosure are listed as follows.

(Item 1)
Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
A program that causes a computer to execute.
According to this structure, a user's virtual experience can be improved. In particular, it is possible to provide the user with a new virtual experience by controlling whether or not the user can move to the predetermined movement area according to the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area designated by the user.

(Item 2)
Controlling the field of view from the virtual viewpoint;
Drawing one or more movable areas that are included in the field of view and whose distance from the virtual viewpoint is equal to or less than the first threshold among the plurality of moving areas;
Of the plurality of moving areas, one or more non-movable areas that are included in the field of view and whose distance from the virtual viewpoint exceeds the first threshold are displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode. Drawing step,
Generating a view image corresponding to the view;
Is further executed by the computer,
The program according to item 1, wherein the view image includes the one or more movable areas drawn in the first display mode and the one or more non-movable areas drawn in the second display mode. .
According to this configuration, the user can easily grasp which of the plurality of moving areas included in the view field image is the movable area.

(Item 3)
The program according to Item 2, wherein the one or more immovable areas displayed in the second display mode have coarser detail than the one or more movable areas displayed in the first display mode.
According to this configuration, it is possible to perform processing for visually distinguishing the movable area and the non-movable area while reducing the processing load on the computer.

(Item 4)
Setting a first object in the virtual space;
Setting a display mode of the first object to the first display mode in response to a distance between the first object and the virtual viewpoint being equal to or less than the first threshold;
Setting a display mode of the first object to a third display mode in response to a distance between the first object and the virtual viewpoint exceeding the first threshold;
Is further executed by the computer,
The first object displayed in the third display mode has coarser image details than the first object displayed in the first display mode.
The program according to item 3, wherein the detail reduction degree of the second display aspect with respect to the first display aspect is larger than the detail reduction degree of the third display aspect with respect to the first display aspect.
According to this configuration, when the distance from the virtual viewpoint to the first object exceeds the first threshold, the details of the non-movable area are made coarser than the details of the first object, so that the non-movable area and the non-movable area are immovable. The visual distinction from the area becomes clearer, and the virtual experience of the user can be further improved.

(Item 5)
An image display device including the computer is associated with the user's head,
Controlling the field of view from the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the head;
Generating a view image corresponding to the view;
Displaying the field-of-view image on the image display device;
Is further executed by the computer,
5. The field image according to claim 2, wherein the view image displays the one or more movable areas in the first display mode and displays the one or more non-movable areas in the second display mode. program.
According to this configuration, the virtual experience of the user can be improved without increasing the processing load even in a computer with limited processing capability such as a computer provided in an image display device mounted on the user's head. it can.

(Item 6)
Further causing the computer to execute a step of setting a pointing position for indicating the predetermined movement area in accordance with a movement of the body part;
The program according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein a collision determination condition for determining a collision between the pointing position and the predetermined movement area is changed according to a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a new virtual experience to the user by changing the collision determination condition according to the distance from the virtual viewpoint to the pointing position.

(Item 7)
The program according to item 6, wherein the collision determination condition is relaxed when the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position exceeds a second threshold than when the distance is equal to or less than the second threshold.

(Item 8)
8. The program according to item 6 or item 7, wherein the collision determination condition is relaxed as the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position becomes longer.
According to these configurations, the user can easily indicate a movable area in a distant place by relaxing the collision determination condition when pointing to an area away from the virtual viewpoint.

(Item 9)
Further causing the computer to execute a step of setting a collision determination area for determining the collision in association with the pointing position;
The program according to any one of Items 6 to 8, wherein the relaxation of the collision determination condition includes changing a size of the collision determination area according to a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position.
By changing the size of the collision determination area, the collision determination condition can be easily relaxed.

(Item 10)
Setting an operation object operable in accordance with a movement of a part of the user's body in the virtual space;
Setting the collision determination area in association with the operation object;
Is further executed by the computer,
Relaxing the collision determination condition includes changing the size of the collision determination area according to the distance between the virtual viewpoint and a predetermined location in the plurality of movement areas specified by the operation object. The program according to item 9.

(Item 11)
Setting a second object in the one or more movable areas to indicate the predetermined movement area according to the movement of the part of the body;
Setting the collision determination area in association with the second object;
Is further executed by the computer,
The program according to item 9, wherein the relaxation of the collision determination condition includes changing the size of the collision determination area according to a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the second object.
In order to easily relax the collision determination condition, the collision determination area is preferably associated with the operation object or the second object.

(Item 12)
The program according to any one of items 6 to 11, wherein the collision determination condition is relaxed based on execution of billing by the user.
According to this configuration, it is possible to effectively prompt the user for charging.

(Item 13)
An information processing apparatus including a processor,
Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
Is an information processing apparatus that is executed under the control of the processor.
According to this structure, a user's virtual experience can be improved.

(Item 14)
An information processing method executed by a computer,
Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
Including an information processing method.
According to this method, the virtual experience of the user can be improved.

2: Network 11: Virtual space 13: Panoramic image 14: Virtual camera 15: Field of view area 17: Field of view image 100: HMD system 110: HMD set 120: HMD
130: monitor 140: gaze sensor 150: first camera 160: second camera 170: microphone 180: speaker 200: computer 210: processor 220: memory 230: storage 240: input / output interface 250: communication interface 300: controller 310: grip 320: Frame 330: Top surface 340, 350, 370, 380: Button 360: Infrared LED
390: Analog stick 410: HMD sensor 420: Motion sensor 430: Display 510: Control module 520: Rendering module 530: Memory module 540: Communication control module 600: Server 700: External device 1421: Virtual camera control module 1422: Viewing area determination Module 1423: Virtual space definition module 1424: Virtual object generation module 1425: Operation object control module 1426: Space information 1427: Object information 1428: User information 1429: View field image generation module 1611: Virtual space 1671: Threshold value (an example of a first threshold value) )
1672: Moveable area 1673: Unmovable area 1673: Snake object 1675: Pointer objects 1676 to 1678: Teleport object (an example of a second object)
1679, 1680: Tree object (an example of a first object)
1681-1683: Collider 1684: Threshold value (example of second threshold value)
1685: Nearly movable area 1686: Farly movable area

Claims (14)

Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
A program that causes a computer to execute. Controlling the field of view from the virtual viewpoint;
Drawing one or more movable areas that are included in the field of view and whose distance from the virtual viewpoint is equal to or less than the first threshold among the plurality of moving areas;
Of the plurality of moving areas, one or more non-movable areas that are included in the field of view and whose distance from the virtual viewpoint exceeds the first threshold are displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode. Drawing step,
Generating a view image corresponding to the view;
Is further executed by the computer,
The view field image includes the one or more movable areas drawn in the first display mode and the one or more non-movable areas drawn in the second display mode. program.   The program according to claim 2, wherein the one or more immovable areas displayed in the second display mode have coarser detail than the one or more movable areas displayed in the first display mode. Setting a first object in the virtual space;
Setting a display mode of the first object to the first display mode in response to a distance between the first object and the virtual viewpoint being equal to or less than the first threshold;
Setting a display mode of the first object to a third display mode in response to a distance between the first object and the virtual viewpoint exceeding the first threshold;
Is further executed by the computer,
The first object displayed in the third display mode has coarser image details than the first object displayed in the first display mode.
The program according to claim 3, wherein the detail reduction degree of the second display aspect with respect to the first display aspect is greater than the detail reduction degree of the third display aspect with respect to the first display aspect. An image display device including the computer is associated with the user's head,
Controlling the field of view from the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the head;
Generating a view image corresponding to the view;
Displaying the field-of-view image on the image display device;
Is further executed by the computer,
5. The visual field image according to claim 2, wherein the one or more movable areas are displayed in the first display mode, and the one or more non-movable areas are displayed in the second display mode. The program described. Further causing the computer to execute a step of setting a pointing position for indicating the predetermined movement area in accordance with a movement of the body part;
6. The collision determination condition for determining a collision between the pointing position and the predetermined moving area is changed according to a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position. program.   The program according to claim 6, wherein the collision determination condition is relaxed when the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position exceeds a second threshold than when the distance is equal to or less than the second threshold. .   The program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the collision determination condition is relaxed as the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position becomes longer. Further causing the computer to execute a step of setting a collision determination area for determining the collision in association with the pointing position;
The program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the relaxation of the collision determination condition includes changing a size of the collision determination area according to a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the pointing position. . Setting an operation object operable in accordance with a movement of a part of the user's body in the virtual space;
Setting the collision determination area in association with the operation object;
Is further executed by the computer,
Relaxing the collision determination condition includes changing the size of the collision determination area according to the distance between the virtual viewpoint and a predetermined location in the plurality of movement areas specified by the operation object. The program according to claim 9. Setting a second object in the one or more movable areas to indicate the predetermined movement area according to the movement of the part of the body;
Setting the collision determination area in association with the second object;
Is further executed by the computer,
The program according to claim 9, wherein the relaxation of the collision determination condition includes changing a size of the collision determination area according to a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the second object.   The program according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the collision determination condition is relaxed based on execution of billing by the user. An information processing apparatus including a processor,
Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
Is an information processing apparatus that is executed under the control of the processor. An information processing method executed by a computer,
Setting up a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to the user;
Setting a plurality of moving areas in the virtual space;
Setting a virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Instructing a predetermined movement area of the plurality of movement areas according to the movement of a part of the user's body;
When the distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined moving area is equal to or less than a first threshold, moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined moving area;
Not moving the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined movement area when a distance between the virtual viewpoint and the predetermined movement area exceeds the first threshold;
Including an information processing method.