JP2020155139A - Program, information processing device, and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a program capable of improving virtual experience of a user.SOLUTION: There is provided a program causing a computer to perform the steps of: defining a virtual space 1711A for providing a user with virtual experience; arranging operation objects 1771L and 1771R and a target object 1766 in the virtual space 1711A; detecting movement of a part of the body of the user; operating the operation objects 1771L and 1771R according to the detected movement of the part of the body of the user; selecting the target object 1766 by the operation objects 1771L and 1771R; changing an interlock state with the movement of the part of the body of the user according to attributes of the target object 1766 and moving the operation objects 1771L and 1771R which selected the target object 1766.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

The present disclosure relates to programs, information processing devices, and information processing methods.

Patent Document 1 describes a mode in which the movement of the character's hand in the virtual space is matched with the movement of the user's hand according to the detection result of the movement of the user's hand, and a mode in which the movement of the character's hand is controlled by the user. A control device that can execute a mode that operates without matching the movement of the hand is disclosed.

International Publication WO2017 / 150129

There is room for improvement in order to improve the virtual experience of the user in a game such as Patent Document 1.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a program, an information processing device, and an information processing method capable of improving a user's virtual experience.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure.
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space,
The step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body and
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
To provide a program to make a computer execute.

According to the present disclosure, the virtual experience of the user can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the structure of the HMD system according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware composition of the computer according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure that conceptually represents the uvw field coordinate system set in the HMD according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which conceptually represents one aspect which expresses a virtual space according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which showed the head of the user who wears an HMD according to a certain embodiment from the top. It is a figure which shows the YZ cross section which looked at the visual field area from the X direction in the virtual space. It is a figure which shows the XZ cross section which looked at the visual field area from the Y direction in the virtual space. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the controller according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of each direction of yaw, roll, and pitch defined for the right hand of the user according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware configuration of the server according to a certain embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the computer according to a certain embodiment as a module structure. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart representing a portion of the processing performed in an HMD set according to an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the situation that each HMD provides a virtual space to a user in a network. It is a figure which shows the field of view image of the user 5A in FIG. 12A. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing the processing to be performed in an HMD system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the module of the computer according to a certain embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows the processing flow of the game program according to a certain embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows the processing flow of the game program according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to the user who follows a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the field of view image displayed on the monitor of the HMD which a user wears according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to the user who follows a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the field of view image displayed on the monitor of the HMD which a user wears according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to the user who follows a certain embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows the process flow of interlocking control between a hand object and a target object. It is a figure which shows an example of the field of view image displayed on the monitor of the HMD which a user wears according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to the user who follows a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the field of view image displayed on the monitor of the HMD which a user wears according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to the user who follows a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the field of view image displayed on the monitor of the HMD which a user wears according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space provided to the user who follows a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the field of view image displayed on the monitor of the HMD which a user wears according to a certain embodiment.

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

[HMD system configuration]
The configuration of the HMD (Head-Mounted Device) system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the 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, 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 may include a motion sensor 420.

In some aspects, the computer 200 can connect to the Internet or other network 2 and communicate with the server 600 or other computer 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 user 5's head and provide virtual space to the user 5 during operation. More specifically, the HMD 120 displays an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye on the monitor 130, respectively. When each eye of the user 5 visually recognizes the respective image, the user 5 can recognize the image as a three-dimensional image based on the parallax of both eyes. The HMD 120 may include either a so-called head-mounted display including a monitor and a head-mounted device capable of mounting a smartphone or other terminal having a monitor.

The monitor 130 is realized as, for example, a non-transparent display device. In one aspect, the monitor 130 is arranged in the body of the HMD 120 so as to be located in front of both eyes of the user 5. Therefore, the user 5 can immerse himself in the virtual space when he / she visually recognizes the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 130. In one aspect, the virtual space includes, for example, a background, an object that the user 5 can manipulate, and an image of a menu that the user 5 can select. In a certain aspect, the monitor 130 can be realized as a liquid crystal monitor or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) monitor included 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 closed 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 its transmittance. The monitor 130 may include a configuration that simultaneously displays a part of the image constituting the virtual space and the real space. For example, the monitor 130 may display an image of the real space taken by the camera mounted on the HMD 120, or may make the real space visible by setting a part of the transmittance to be high.

In some aspects, 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 the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye as a unit. In this case, the monitor 130 includes a high speed shutter. The high-speed shutter operates so that the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye can be displayed alternately so that the image is recognized by only 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 by 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 implemented by a camera. In this case, the HMD sensor 410 can detect the position and tilt of the HMD 120 by executing the image analysis process using the image information of the HMD 120 output from the camera.

In another aspect, the HMD 120 may include a sensor 190 as a position detector in place of the HMD sensor 410 or in addition to the HMD sensor 410. The HMD 120 can use the sensor 190 to detect the position and tilt of the HMD 120 itself. For example, if the sensor 190 is an angular velocity sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, or an acceleration sensor, the HMD 120 may use any of these sensors instead of the HMD sensor 410 to detect its position and tilt. As an example, when the sensor 190 is an angular velocity sensor, the angular velocity sensor detects the angular velocity 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 directions in which the eyes of the user 5's right eye and left eye are 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 certain aspects, the gaze sensor 140 preferably includes a sensor for the right eye and a sensor for the left eye. The gaze sensor 140 may be, for example, a sensor that irradiates the right eye and the left eye of the user 5 with infrared light and detects the rotation angle of each eyeball by receiving the reflected light from the cornea and the iris with respect to the irradiation light. .. The gaze sensor 140 can detect the line of sight of the user 5 based on each of the detected rotation angles.

The first camera 150 captures the lower part of the user 5's face. More specifically, the first camera 150 captures the nose and mouth of the user 5. The second camera 160 captures the eyes, eyebrows, and the like 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 side opposite to the user 5 of the HMD 120 is defined as the outside of the HMD 120. In some aspects, the first camera 150 may be located outside the HMD 120 and the second camera 160 may be located inside the HMD 120. The 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 one camera, and the face of the user 5 may be photographed by the one camera.

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

The controller 300 is connected to the computer 200 by wire or wirelessly. The controller 300 receives input of an instruction from the user 5 to the computer 200. In one aspect, the controller 300 is configured to be grippable by the user 5. In another aspect, the controller 300 is configured to be wearable on a body or part of clothing of the user 5. 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 from the user 5 an operation for controlling the position and movement of the 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 by 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 implemented by a camera. In this case, the HMD sensor 410 can detect the position and tilt of the controller 300 by executing the image analysis process using the image information of the controller 300 output from the camera.

In a certain aspect, the motion sensor 420 is attached to the user 5's hand and detects the movement of the user 5's hand. For example, the motion sensor 420 detects the rotation speed, rotation speed, 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, for example, in a controller 300 configured to be grippable by the user 5. In another aspect, for safety in real space, the controller 300 is attached to something that does not easily fly by being attached to the user 5's hand, such as a glove type. In yet another aspect, a sensor not attached to the user 5 may detect the movement of the user 5's hand. For example, the signal of the camera that shoots the user 5 may be input to the computer 200 as a signal indicating the operation of the user 5. As an example, the motion sensor 420 and the computer 200 are wirelessly connected to each other. In the case of wireless communication, the communication mode is not particularly limited, and for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or other known communication method is used.

The display 430 displays an image similar to the image displayed on the monitor 130. As a result, users other than the user 5 who wears the HMD 120 can also view the same image as the user 5. The image displayed on the display 430 does not have to be a three-dimensional image, and may be an image for the right eye or an image for the left eye. Examples of the display 430 include a liquid crystal display and an organic EL monitor.

The server 600 may send the program to the computer 200. In another aspect, the server 600 may communicate with another computer 200 to provide virtual reality to the HMD 120 used by another user. For example, when a plurality of users play a participatory game in an amusement facility, each computer 200 communicates a signal based on the operation of each user with another computer 200 via a server 600, and a plurality of users are used in the same virtual space. Allows users to enjoy a common game. Each computer 200 may communicate a signal based on the operation of each user with another computer 200 without going through the server 600.

The external device 700 may be any device as long as it can communicate with the computer 200. The external device 700 may be, for example, a device capable of communicating with the computer 200 via the network 2, or a device capable of directly communicating with the computer 200 by short-range wireless communication or a wired connection. Examples of the external device 700 include, but are not limited to, smart devices, PCs (Personal Computers), and peripheral devices of the computer 200.

[Computer hardware configuration]
The computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the 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 bus 260, respectively.

The processor 210 executes a series of instructions included in the program stored in the memory 220 or the storage 230 based on the signal given to the computer 200 or the condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied. In a certain 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 storage 230, for example. The data includes data input to the computer 200 and data generated by the processor 210. In a certain 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, or other non-volatile storage device. The program stored in the storage 230 includes 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, objects, and the like for defining the 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, a configuration may be used that uses programs and data stored in an external storage device instead of the storage 230 built into the computer 200. According to such a configuration, for example, in a scene where a plurality of HMD systems 100 are used such as an amusement facility, it is possible to update programs and data at once.

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 a certain aspect, the input / output interface 240 is realized by using USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) and other terminals. The input / output interface 240 is not limited to the above.

In some aspects, the input / output interface 240 may further communicate with the controller 300. For example, the input / output interface 240 receives input of signals output from the controller 300 and the motion sensor 420. In another aspect, the input / output interface 240 sends an instruction output from the processor 210 to the controller 300. The command instructs the controller 300 to vibrate, output voice, emit light, and the like. Upon receiving the command, the controller 300 executes either vibration, voice output, or light emission in response to the command.

The communication interface 250 is connected to the network 2 and communicates with another computer (for example, the server 600) connected to the network 2. In a certain aspect, the communication interface 250 is realized as, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or other wired communication interface, or a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication) or other wireless communication interface. Will be 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 contained in the program. The one or more programs may include an operating system of a 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 to the HMD 120 to provide virtual space 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, the computer 200 is configured to be provided outside the HMD 120, but 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 a monitor 130 may function as a computer 200.

The computer 200 may have a configuration commonly used for a plurality of HMD 120s. 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 a certain embodiment, in the HMD system 100, a real coordinate system, which is a coordinate system in the real space, is preset. The real coordinate system has three reference directions (axes) that are parallel to the vertical direction in the real space, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and the front-back direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The horizontal direction, vertical direction (vertical direction), and front-back direction in the real coordinate system are defined as x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, respectively. More specifically, in the real coordinate system, the x-axis is parallel to the horizontal direction in real space. The y-axis is parallel to the vertical direction in real space. The z-axis is parallel to the front-back direction of the real space.

In some aspects, the HMD sensor 410 includes an infrared sensor. When the infrared sensor detects 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 a temporal change in the position and inclination of the HMD 120 by using each value detected over time.

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

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

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

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

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

The HMD sensor 410 sets the uvw field coordinate system in the HMD 120 after the HMD 120 has moved to the HMD 120 based on the detected inclination of the HMD 120. The relationship between the HMD 120 and the uvw field coordinate system of the HMD 120 is always constant regardless of the position and tilt 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 captures the infrared light intensity based on the output from the infrared sensor and the relative positional relationship between the points (eg, the distance between the points).
The position of the HMD 120 in the real space 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 real space (real coordinate system) based on the identified relative position.

[Virtual space]
The virtual space will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually representing one aspect of expressing the virtual space 11 according to a certain embodiment. The virtual space 11 has an all-sky spherical structure that covers the entire center 12 in the 360-degree direction. In FIG. 4, the celestial sphere in the upper half of the virtual space 11 is illustrated so as not to complicate the explanation. Each mesh is defined in the virtual space 11. The position of each mesh is predetermined as a coordinate value in the XYZ coordinate system, which 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.) expandable in the virtual space 11 with each corresponding mesh in the virtual space 11.

In a certain 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 (vertical direction), and front-back direction in the XYZ coordinate system are defined as the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the 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-back direction) is parallel to the z-axis of the real coordinate system.

At the time of starting the HMD 120, that is, in the initial state of the HMD 120, the virtual camera 14 is arranged 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 moves in the virtual space 11 in the same manner in conjunction with the movement of the HMD 120 in the real space. As a result, changes in the position and inclination of the HMD 120 in the real space can be similarly reproduced in the virtual space 11.

As in the case of the HMD 120, the virtual camera 14 is defined with an uvw field-of-view coordinate system. The uvw field-of-view coordinate system of the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11 is defined to be linked to the uvw field-of-view 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 also 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 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 in 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 an object. The uvw field-of-view coordinate system of the HMD 120 is equal to the viewpoint coordinate system when the user 5 visually recognizes the monitor 130. The uvw field-of-view coordinate system of the virtual camera 14 is linked to the uvw field-of-view 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 field of view 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 top view of the head of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 according to an embodiment.

In one aspect, the gaze sensor 140 detects each line of sight of the user 5's right and left eyes. In a certain aspect, 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 detection result of the line of sight, the computer 200 identifies the gaze point N1 which is the intersection of the lines of sight R1 and L1 based on the detected values. On the other hand, when the computer 200 receives the detected values of the lines of sight R2 and L2 from the gaze sensor 140, the computer 200 identifies the intersection of the lines of sight R2 and L2 as the gaze point. The computer 200 identifies the line of sight N0 of the user 5 based on the position of the specified gazing point N1. The computer 200 detects, for example, 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 as the line of sight N0. The line of sight N0 is the direction in which the user 5 actually directs the line of sight with both eyes. The line of sight N0 corresponds to the direction in which the user 5 actually directs the line of sight with respect to the field of view 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 yet another aspect, the HMD system 100 may include a communication circuit for connecting to the Internet or a telephone function for connecting to a telephone line.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 7, the field of view region 15 in the XZ cross section includes the 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 β centered on the reference line of sight 16 in the virtual space 11 as a 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 field of view in the virtual space 11 by displaying the field of view image 17 on the monitor 130 based on the signal from the computer 200. The visual field image 17 is an image corresponding to a portion of the panoramic image 13 corresponding to the visual field region 15. When the user 5 moves the HMD 120 attached to the head, the virtual camera 14 also moves in conjunction with the movement. As a result, the position of the visual field region 15 in the virtual space 11 changes. As a result, the field-of-view image 17 displayed on the monitor 130 is updated to an image of the panoramic image 13 superimposed on the field-of-view area 15 in the direction in which the user 5 faces in the virtual space 11. The user 5 can visually recognize a desired direction in the virtual space 11.

As described above, the inclination of the virtual camera 14 corresponds to the line of sight (reference line of sight 16) of the user 5 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 a certain aspect, the processor 210 may 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 identifies an image region (field of view region 15) projected onto the monitor 130 of the HMD 120 based on the position and tilt of the virtual camera 14 in the virtual space 11.

In some aspects, 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 for 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, an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye may be generated from the 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 synthesizing the roll axes of the two virtual cameras is adapted to the roll axis (w) of the HMD 120. The technical idea of the present disclosure is illustrated as being configured as such.

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

As shown in FIG. 8, in some aspects, the controller 300 may include a right controller 300R and a left controller (not shown). The right controller 300R is operated by the right hand of the user 5. The left controller is operated by the left hand of the user 5. In a certain aspect, the right controller 300R and the left controller are symmetrically configured 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. In another aspect, the controller 300 may be an integrated controller that accepts 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 gripped by the right hand of the user 5. For example, the grip 310 may be held by the palm of the user 5's right hand and three fingers (middle finger, ring finger, little finger).

The grip 310 includes buttons 340, 350 and a motion sensor 420. The button 340 is arranged on the side surface of the grip 310 and accepts an operation by the middle finger of the right hand. The button 350 is arranged in front of the grip 310 and accepts an operation by the index finger of the right hand. In one aspect, the buttons 340,350 are configured as trigger-type buttons. The motion sensor 420 is built in the housing of the grip 310. If the movement of the user 5 can be detected from around the user 5 by a camera or other device, the grip 310 may not include the motion sensor 420.

The frame 320 includes a plurality of infrared LEDs 360 arranged along its circumferential direction. The infrared LED 360 emits infrared rays as the program progresses during the execution of the program using the controller 300. The infrared rays emitted from the infrared LED 360 can be used to detect each position and orientation (tilt, 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. An array with one or more columns may be used.

The top surface 330 includes buttons 370, 380 and an analog stick 390. The buttons 370 and 380 are configured as push-type buttons. Buttons 370 and 380 accept operations by the thumb of the user 5's right hand. The analog stick 390 accepts an operation in any direction 360 degrees from the initial position (neutral position) in a certain aspect. 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 batteries for driving the infrared LED 360 and other components. Batteries include, but are not limited to, rechargeable, button type, dry cell type and the like. In another aspect, the right controller 300R and the left controller may be connected to, for example, the USB interface of computer 200. In this case, the right controller 300R and the left controller do not require batteries.

As shown in the states (A) and (B) of FIG. 8, for example, the yaw, roll, and pitch directions are defined with respect to the right hand of the user 5. When the user 5 extends the thumb and the 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 yaw direction axis and the roll direction axis is the pitch direction. Is defined as.

[Server hardware configuration]
The server 600 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server 600 according to a certain 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 bus 660, respectively.

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

Memory 620 temporarily stores programs and data. The program is loaded from 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 realized as a RAM or other volatile memory.

Storage 630 permanently holds programs and data. The storage 630 is realized as, for example, a ROM, a hard disk device, a flash memory, or other non-volatile 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, objects, and the like 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, a configuration using programs and data stored in an external storage device may be used instead of the storage 630 built into the server 600. According to such a configuration, for example, in a scene where a plurality of HMD systems 100 are used such as an amusement facility, it is possible to update programs and data at once.

The input / output interface 640 communicates a signal with the input / output device. In some aspects, the input / output interface 640 is implemented using USB, DVI, HDMI® and 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 some aspects, the communication interface 650 is implemented as, for example, a LAN or other wired communication interface, or a WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC or other wireless communication interface. 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 contained in the program. The one or more programs may include an operating system for the server 600, an application program for providing the virtual space, game software that can be executed in the virtual space, and the like. The processor 610 may send a signal to the computer 200 to provide virtual space via the input / output interface 640.

[HMD control device]
The control device of the HMD 120 will be described with reference to FIG. In certain embodiments, the control device is implemented by a computer 200 having a well-known configuration. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing 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 some aspects, the control module 510 and the rendering module 520 are implemented by the processor 210. In another aspect, the plurality of processors 210 may operate as the control module 510 and the 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 by using the virtual space data representing the virtual space 11. The virtual space data is stored in, for example, the memory module 530. The control module 510 may generate virtual space data or acquire virtual space data from a server 600 or the like.

The control module 510 uses object data that represents an object.
Place the object in the virtual space 11. The object data is stored in, for example, the memory module 530. The control module 510 may generate object data or acquire object data from a server 600 or the like. The objects are, for example, an avatar object that is the alter ego of the user 5, a character object, an operation object such as a virtual hand operated by the controller 300, a landscape including forests, mountains, etc. arranged as the story of the game progresses, a cityscape, and animals. Etc. may be included.

The control module 510 arranges 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 user 5's avatar object in the virtual space 11. In a certain aspect, the control module 510 arranges an avatar object imitating the user 5 in the virtual space 11 based on the image including the user 5. In another aspect, the control module 510 arranges in the virtual space 11 an avatar object that has been selected by the user 5 from among a plurality of types of avatar objects (for example, an animal-like object or a deformed human object). To do.

The control module 510 identifies the inclination of the HMD 120 based on the output of the HMD sensor 410. In another aspect, the control module 510 identifies the tilt of the HMD 120 based on the output of the sensor 190, which 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 images of the face 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 the viewpoint position (coordinate value in the XYZ coordinate system) at which the detected line of sight of the user 5 and the celestial sphere in 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 inclination 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 gaze information representing the gaze 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 a certain 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, an acceleration sensor, a plurality of light emitting elements (for example, infrared LEDs), and the like for detecting the movement of the controller 300.

The control module 510 arranges an operation object for receiving the operation of the user 5 in the virtual space 11 in the virtual space 11. By operating the operation object, the user 5 operates, for example, an object arranged in the virtual space 11. In a certain aspect, the operation object may include, for example, a hand object which is a virtual hand corresponding to the hand of the user 5. In a certain aspect, the control module 510 moves the hand object in the virtual space 11 so as to be linked to the movement of the user 5's hand in the real space based on the output of the motion sensor 420. In some aspects, the manipulation object can correspond to the hand portion of the avatar object.

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

In one aspect, the control module 510 controls the 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 inclination (orientation) of the virtual camera 14. The control module 510 defines the field of view 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 field of view image 17 to be displayed on the monitor 130 based on the determined field of view area 15. The field of 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 identifies the computer 200 to which the voice data to be transmitted corresponding to the utterance is transmitted. The voice data is transmitted to the computer 200 identified by the control module 510. When the control module 510 receives voice data from another user's computer 200 via the network 2, the control module 510 outputs the voice (utterance) corresponding to the voice 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 a certain aspect, the memory module 530 holds spatial information, object information, and user information.

Spatial information holds one or more templates defined to provide 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 the unreal space and an image in the real space. Examples of images in unreal space include images generated by computer graphics.

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 may be set by the user. The user information includes a program for operating the computer 200 as a control device of the HMD system 100 and the like.

The 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, a server 600) operated by a business operator that provides the content, and stores the downloaded program or data in the memory module 530.

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

In certain aspects, the control module 510 and the rendering module 520 may be implemented using, for example, Unity® 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.

The processing in the computer 200 is realized by the hardware and the software executed by the processor 210. Such software may be pre-stored in a hard disk or other memory module 530. The software may be stored on a CD-ROM or other computer-readable non-volatile data recording medium and distributed as a program product. Alternatively, the software may be provided as a downloadable program product by an information provider connected to the Internet or other networks. Such software is read from a data recording medium by an optical disk drive or other data reader, or downloaded from a server 600 or other computer via a communication control module 540, and then temporarily stored in a storage module. .. The software is read from the storage module by the processor 210 and stored in 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 the processing performed in the HMD set 110 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, in step S1110, the processor 210 of the computer 200 specifies the virtual space data as the control module 510 and defines the virtual space 11.

In step S1120, the processor 210 initializes the virtual camera 14. For example, the processor 210 arranges the virtual camera 14 at a predetermined center point 12 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, the processor 210, as the rendering module 520, generates the field of view image data for displaying the initial field of view image. The generated field of 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 the field of view image based on the field of view image data received from the computer 200. The user 5 wearing the HMD 120 can recognize the virtual space 11 when he / she visually recognizes the field of view image.

In step S1134, the HMD sensor 410 detects the position and tilt of the HMD 120 based on the plurality of infrared rays emitted from the HMD 120. The detection result is output to the computer 200 as motion detection data.

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

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

In step S1160, the controller 300 detects the operation of the user 5 based on the signal output from the motion sensor 420, and outputs the detection data representing the detected operation to the 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 S1170, the processor 210 detects the operation of the controller 300 by the user 5 based on the detection data acquired from the controller 300.

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

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

[Avatar Object]
An avatar object according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. Hereinafter, it is a figure explaining the avatar object of each user 5 of the HMD set 110A, 110B. Hereinafter, the user of the HMD set 110A is referred to as a user 5A, the user of the HMD set 110B is referred to as a user 5B, the user of the HMD set 110C is referred to as a user 5C, and the user of the HMD set 110D is referred to as a user 5D. A is added to the reference code of each component related to the HMD set 110A, B is added to the reference code of each component related to the HMD set 110B, and C is added to the reference code of each component related to the HMD set 110C. A D is added to the reference code of each component with respect to 110D. For example, the HMD 120A is included in the HMD set 110A.

FIG. 12A is a schematic diagram showing a situation in which 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 HMD 120A to 120D, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 12A, the virtual space 11A and the virtual space 11B are composed of the same data. In other words, the computer 200A and the computer 200B share the same virtual space. In the virtual space 11A and the virtual space 11B, the avatar object 6A of the user 5A and the avatar object 6B of the user 5B exist. 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 the sake of clarity, and in reality, these objects are equipped with the HMD 120. Not.

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

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

In the state of FIG. 12B, the user 5A can communicate with the user 5B through the virtual space 11A by dialogue. 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 is 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 in the avatar object 6B arranged in the virtual space 11A by the processor 210A. As a result, 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 the processing executed in the 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. Also in the following description, A is added to the reference code of each component related to the HMD set 110A, B is added to the reference code of each component related to the HMD set 110B, and C is added to the reference code of each component related to the HMD set 110C. It shall be attached and D shall be attached to the reference code of each component relating to the HMD set 110D.

In step S1310A, the processor 210A in the HMD set 110A acquires the avatar information for determining the operation of the avatar object 6A in the virtual space 11A. This avatar information includes information about the avatar such as motion information, face tracking data, and voice data. The motion information includes information indicating a temporal change in the position and inclination of the HMD 120A, information indicating the hand motion of the user 5A detected by the motion sensor 420A or the like, and the like. The face tracking data includes data for specifying the position and size of each part of the face of the user 5A. Examples of the face tracking data include data indicating the movement of each organ constituting the face of the user 5A and line-of-sight data. Examples of the voice data include data indicating the voice of the user 5A acquired by the microphone 170A of the HMD 120A. The avatar information may include information that identifies the avatar object 6A or the user 5A associated with the avatar object 6A, information that identifies the virtual space 11A in which the avatar object 6A exists, and the like. Examples of the information that identifies the avatar object 6A and the user 5A include a user ID. Information that identifies the virtual space 11A in which the avatar object 6A exists includes a room ID. 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 the avatar information for determining the operation of the avatar object 6B in the virtual space 11B and transmits it to the server 600, as in the process in step S1310A. Similarly, in step S1310C, the processor 210B in the HMD set 110C acquires the 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, the server 600 temporarily stores the player information received from each of the HMD set 110A, the HMD set 110B, and the HMD set 110C. The server 600 integrates the avatar information of all users (users 5A to 5C in this example) associated with the common virtual space 11 based on the user ID, room ID, and the like included in each avatar information. Then, the server 600 transmits the integrated avatar information to all the users associated with the virtual space 11 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the synchronization process is executed. By such a synchronization process, 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, each HMD set 110A to 110C executes the process of steps S1330A to S1330C based on the avatar information transmitted from the server 600 to the HMD sets 110A to 110C. The process of step S1330A corresponds to the process of step S1180 in FIG.

In step S1330A, the processor 210A in the HMD set 110A updates the information of the avatar object 6B and the avatar object 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 210A updates the information (position, orientation, etc.) of the avatar object 6B 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, 6C of the users 5A, 5C in the virtual space 11B, as in the process in step S1330A. Similarly, in step S1330C, the processor 210C in the HMD set 110C updates the information of the avatar objects 6A, 6B of the users 5A, 5B in the virtual space 11C.

[Detailed configuration of module]
The details of the module configuration of the computer 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a module of the 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 field of view image generation module 1429. The memory module 530 holds spatial 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 orientation (tilt) of the virtual camera 14. The field of view determination module 1422 is HM.
The field of view area 15 is defined according to the orientation of the head of the user wearing the D120 and the arrangement position of the virtual camera 14. The field of view image generation module 1429 generates a field of view image 17 to be displayed on the monitor 130 based on the determined field of view 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 to be arranged in the virtual space 11. Objects can include, for example, landscapes, animals, etc., including forests, mountains, etc., which are arranged as the story of the game progresses. In particular, the objects may include the avatar object 1706A, wall object 1762, door object 1763, shelf object 1764, ball object 1765, box object 1766, bell object 1767, and enemy object 1769 described below.

The operation object control module 1425 controls the operation object arranged in the virtual space 11. In certain aspects, the operating object may include, for example, the hand objects 1771L, 1771R described below, which can be manipulated by the hand of the user wearing the HMD 120.

When each of the objects arranged in the virtual space 11 collides with another object, the control module 510 detects the collision. The control module 510 can detect, for example, the timing at which a certain object and another object touch each other, and when the detection is made, a predetermined process is performed. The control module 510 can detect the timing when the object and the object are separated from the touching state, and when the detection is made, a predetermined process is performed. The control module 510 can detect that the object is in contact with the object. Specifically, the operation object control module 1425 detects that the operation object touches the other object when the operation object touches the other 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 a certain aspect, the memory module 530 holds spatial information 1426, object information 1427, and user information 1428.

Spatial information 1426 holds one or more templates defined to provide virtual space 11.

The object information 1427 holds the content to be reproduced in the virtual space 11, the object used in the content, and the information (for example, position information) for arranging the object in the virtual space 11. The content may include, for example, a game, content representing a landscape similar to that of the real world, and the like.

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

Next, with reference to FIGS. 15 to 29, the flow of processing when the avatar object 1706A associated with the user 5A moves in the room which is the game space in the game program according to the present embodiment will be described. 15 and 16 are sequence charts showing the processing flow of the game program according to the present embodiment. 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, and 28 are diagrams showing an example of the virtual space provided to the user 5A. 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, and 29 are diagrams showing an example of a field of view image displayed on the monitor 130 of the HMD 120 worn by the user 5A for explaining the game program according to the present embodiment.

In the game provided by the game program according to the present embodiment, for example, a predetermined target object (ball object 1765, box object 1766, bell object 1767 described later) placed in a room 1761, which is a game space, is placed in a room. This is a game aimed at taking the enemy object 1769 inside the 1761 out of the room 1761 without being noticed.

As shown in FIG. 15, in step S1531, the processor 210A of the computer 200A of the HMD set 110A specifies the virtual space data of the game program according to the present embodiment as the control module 510, and the virtual space 1711A shown in FIG. To define. As shown in FIG. 17, for example, a wall object 1762 and a door object 1763 for forming a room 1761 are arranged in the virtual space 1711A as a game space, and a shelf object 1764 is arranged in the room 1761. The door. On the shelf object 1764, for example, a ball object 1765, a box object 1766, and a bell object 1767 are placed as target objects (examples of the second object) that can be moved by the operation of the user 5A. Further, at a predetermined position in the room 1761, for example, an enemy object 1769 is arranged as an object that exerts a predetermined action on the avatar object 1706A of the user 5A.

In step S1532, the processor 210A acquires the avatar information for determining the operation of the avatar object 1706A in the virtual space 1711A. The avatar information includes, for example, information about the avatar object 1706A such as motion information. The motion information includes information indicating a temporal change in the position and inclination of the HMD 120A, information indicating the hand motion of the user 5A detected by the motion sensor 420A or the like, and the like.

In step S1533, the processor 210A arranges the avatar object 1706A and the hand objects 1771L and 1771R at predetermined positions in the virtual space 1711A based on the acquired avatar information. For example, the avatar object 1706A of the user 5A is arranged in association with the virtual camera 1714A at a predetermined position of the room 1761 set in the virtual space 1711A. Further, hand objects 1771L and 1771R are arranged in association with the avatar object 1706A. The hand objects 1771L and 1771R are arranged, for example, slightly in front of the avatar object 1706A.

In step S1534, the processor 210, as the rendering module 520, generates view image data for displaying the view image of the virtual space 1711A based on the updated information of the avatar object 1706A and the view area 1715 of the virtual camera 1714A. .. The generated field of view image data is output to the HMD 120 by the communication control module 540.

In step S1535, the HMD 120 displays the field of view image 1817 shown in FIG. 18 on the monitor 130 based on the field of view image data received from the computer 200. As shown in FIG. 18, in the view image 1817, the wall object 1762 constituting the room 1761 is displayed as a background, and the shelf object 1764 is displayed in front of the wall object 1762. Further, a state in which the ball object 1765, the box object 1766, and the bell object 1767 are placed is displayed on the shelf object 1764. Further, hand objects 1771L and 1771R that can be operated by the user 5A are displayed in the vicinity region of the avatar object 1706A in the field of view image 1817.

A gauge 1875 is displayed at the lower right of the field of view image 1817. The gauge 1875 is for displaying parameters that increase in response to the behavior of the user 5A. For example, the amount of increase in the gauge 1875 changes according to the speed of movement of the user 5A. Alternatively, the amount of increase in the gauge 1875 may change according to the loudness of the sound generated in the virtual space 1711A based on the movement of the user 5A. For example, the amount of increase in the gauge 1875 may be changed according to the loudness of the sound collected by the microphone 170A of the HMD set 110A. That is, the gauge 1875 stores a value (hereinafter, referred to as a presence parameter) representing the presence of the user 5A, assuming that the information that can be detected from the movement of the user 5A is quantified.

In step S1536, the processor 210A updates the position and orientation of the avatar object 1706A (virtual camera 1714A) in the virtual space 1711A based on the motion information included in the avatar information. The position and orientation of the avatar object 1706A is determined, for example, by the position and tilt of the HMD 120 detected by the HMD sensor 410. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, the processor 210A brings the avatar object 1706A (virtual camera 1714A) closer to the shelf object 1764 based on the change in the position and tilt of the HMD 120. Update the position and orientation of.

In step S1537, the processor 210A detects the speed of movement of the avatar object 1706A based on the movement information included in the avatar information, and quantifies the speed of the movement as a presence parameter of the user 5A. The moving speed of the avatar object 1706A is converted into a presence parameter using the moving speed and acceleration of the HMD 120 (that is, the moving speed or acceleration of the head of the user 5A). When the tracking device is attached to the foot or arm of the user 5A, the moving speed or acceleration of the tracking device may be used to quantify the moving speed of the avatar object 1706A. Further, the moving speed and acceleration of the controller 300 operated by the user 5A may be used to quantify the moving speed of the avatar object 1706A.
Then, the processor 210A updates the view image data based on the updated motion information of the avatar object 1706A and the information of the gauge 1875, and outputs the updated view image data to the HMD 120.

In step S1538, the HMD 120 updates the field of view image based on the updated field of view image data received from the computer 200, and displays the field of view image 2017 as shown in FIG. 20 on the monitor 130. Specifically, the field of view image 2017 shows a state in which the avatar object 1706A approaches the shelf object 1764. Further, in the field of view image 2017, a gauge 1875 in a state of being increased by one scale is displayed.

In step S1539, the controller 300 detects the input operation by the user 5A, and outputs the detection data representing the detected input operation to the computer 200. In another aspect, the operation of the controller 300 by the user 5A may be detected based on an image from a camera arranged around the user 5A.

In step S1541, the processor 210A detects an input operation by the user 5A based on the detection data acquired from the controller 300.

In step S1542, the processor 210A controls the hand objects 1771L and 1771R based on the detected operation of the controller 300. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, the processor 210A moves the hand objects 1771L and 1771R to a position where the hand objects 1771L and 1771R touch the box object 1766.

In step S1543, the processor 210A detects whether the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have grasped any target object on the shelf object 1764. Specifically, the processor 210A determines whether or not the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have touched the target object, and further, a predetermined operation of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R while the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have touched the target object. When (for example, the gripping motion) is specified, it may be determined that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have gripped the target object.

When it is detected that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have grasped the target object (Yes in step S1543), in step S1544, the processor 210A can move the hand objects 1771L and 1771R in conjunction with the target object. The hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the target object are interlocked and controlled so as to be. For example, when it is detected that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R grip the box object 1766, the processor 210A interlocks and controls the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766. Note that the processor 210A may start interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the target object when either the left hand object 1771L or the right hand object 1771R touches the target object. Alternatively, the processor 210A may start interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the target object when both the left hand object 1771L and the right hand object 1771R touch the target object.

The interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.
When it is detected that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have grasped the box object 1766 (Yes in step S1543 in FIG. 15), in step S2281 shown in FIG. 22, the processor 210A uses the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766. Start interlocking control with.

For example, if it is determined that either the left hand object 1771L or the right hand object 1771R holds the box object 1766, the processor 210A makes the movement of the box object 1766 the box object of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R. It is related to the movement of the hand object that touches 1766. Further, when it is determined that both the left hand object 1771L and the right hand object 1771R hold the box object 1766, the processor 210A may associate the movement of the box object 1766 with the movement of both hand objects 1771L and 1771R. Good. In this case, for example, a virtual control point may be set at the center of the left hand object 1771L and the right hand object 1771R, and the box object 1766 may be moved in association with the movement of the virtual control point. This facilitates interlocking control between the two hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766.

In step S2282, the processor 210A arranges the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R having the same shape as the hand objects 1771L and 1771R in the virtual space 1711A. The ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are generated based on the determination that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have grasped the target object, and follow the movement of the controller 300 with the hand objects 1771L and 1771R holding the target object. It is an object that is moved.

In step S2283, the processor 210A detects the input operation of the controller 300 based on the detection data acquired from the controller 300. The processor 210A detects, for example, an operation in which the box object 1766 is to be lifted by the hand objects 1771L and 1771R.

In step S2284, the processor 210A quantifies the gripping force of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R as a vector amount in the direction corresponding to the moving direction of the controller 300 based on the detected input operation of the controller 300. The vector quantity may be determined in consideration of the attribute of the avatar object 1706A. For example, when the attribute of the avatar object 1706A is an adult, the vector amount can be increased, and when the attribute of the avatar object 1706A is a child, the vector amount can be decreased.

In step S2285, the processor 210A quantifies the virtual weight set in the box object 1766, which is the target object, as a downward vector quantity (gravity). The larger the virtual weight of the target object, the larger the vector amount. That is, when the virtual weight of the box object 1766 is larger than that of the ball object 1765, the vector amount of the box object 1766 is larger than that of the ball object 1765.

In step S2286, the processor 210A detects the difference between the vector amount of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R specified in step S2284 and the vector amount of the box object 1766 specified in step S2285, and based on the difference, the controller 300 The interlocking rate (interlocking degree) of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement of the hand object is determined. The smaller the difference between the vector amount of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the vector amount of the box object 1766, the higher the interlocking ratio of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement of the controller 300. When the interlocking rate is 100%, the movements of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R almost completely match the movements of the controller 300, and the lower the interlocking rate, the more the movements of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are relative to the movements of the controller 300. The movement is delayed by a predetermined time. As a general rule, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are assumed to have an interlocking rate of 100% with respect to the movement of the controller 300.

For example, assume that the box object 1766 has a larger virtual weight than the ball object 1765. In this case, the interlocking rate is lower when the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are holding the box object 1766 than when the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are holding the ball object 1765. Therefore, the degree of delay of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement of the controller 300 is larger when the box object 1766 is held than when the ball object 1765 is held. Further, when lifting the same target object, the lower the gripping force of the avatar object 1706A (when the attribute of the avatar object 1706A is a child rather than an adult), the lower the interlocking rate becomes, and the controller 300 The degree of delay of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement becomes large.

In step S2287, the processor 210A determines whether or not the determined interlocking rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The interlocking rate is not above the threshold (ie, hand object 177)
If it is determined (No in step S2287) that the difference between the vector amount of 1L, 1771R and the vector amount of the box object 1766 is larger than the threshold value, in step S2288, the processor 210A sets the hand object 1771L, 1771R and the box. The interlocking control with the object 1766 is released. For example, when the gripping force of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R is small and / or the interlocking rate is smaller than the threshold value due to the large virtual weight of the target object, the interlocking of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766 is performed. Release control. In this way, by canceling the interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766 when the difference between the vector amounts is large, for example, the box object 1766 is not gripped by both of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R instead of one of them. It is also possible to control the box object 1766 so that it cannot be lifted.

In step S2289, the processor 210A moves the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R based on the input operation of the controller 300 in a state where the interlocking control with the box object 1766 is released. At this time, the box object 1766 is not moved. After slightly interlocking the movement of the box object 1766 with the hand objects 1771L and 1771R, the interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766 may be released. In this case, it is preferable to move the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R in the same manner. Therefore, only the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are visually recognized in the field of view image. In this way, by moving the hand objects 1771L and 1771R without interlocking the movements of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766, the user 5A recognizes that the box object 1766 cannot be lifted even if it is tried to be lifted. be able to.
Then, the processor 210A updates the field of view image data, outputs the updated field of view image data to the HMD 120, and then returns the process to step S1543.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the interlocking rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value (that is, the difference between the vector amount of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the vector amount of the box object 1766 is equal to or less than the threshold value) (Yes in step S2287). In step S2291, the processor 210A moves the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R based on the input operation of the controller 300 detected in step S2283. Specifically, the processor 210A moves the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R substantially exactly in accordance with the movement of the controller 300 regardless of the interlocking ratio. That is, the processor 210A moves the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R in almost completely interlocking with the movement of the controller 300 regardless of the attributes of the target object and the avatar object.

In step S2292, the processor 210A changes the interlocking condition of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with the movement of the controller 300 according to the input operation of the controller 300 detected in step S2283 and the interlocking rate determined in step S2286. Move 1771L and 1771R. Specifically, the processor 210A delays and moves the hand objects 1771L and 1771R holding the box object 1766 with respect to the movement of the controller 300 according to the interlocking rate. As an example, when the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are set to move 0.01 seconds later than the input operation of the controller 300 every time the interlocking rate is lowered by 1%, if the interlocking rate is 50%, the hand The objects 1771L and 1771R follow the movement of the controller 300 with a delay of 0.5 seconds from the input operation of the controller 300.

Returning to FIG. 15, the processor 210A has updated hand objects 1771L, 1.
The field of view image data is updated based on the information of 771R, the ghost hand objects 1772L, 1772R, and the box object 1766, and the updated field of view image data is output to the HMD 120.

In step S1545, the HMD 120 updates the field of view image based on the updated field of view image data received from the computer 200, and displays the field of view image 2317 as shown in FIG. 23 on the monitor 130. Specifically, in the field of view image 2317, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are displayed separately from the hand objects 1771L and 1771R. The ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are displayed in a transparent state (having a constant transmittance) so that they can be visually recognized as if they were detached from the ghost.

Then, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are displayed so as to be moved in conjunction with the movement of the controller 300, and the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are displayed so as to follow the movement of the controller 300. Specifically, when both hands of the user 5A holding the controller 300 operate so as to be attracted to the user 5A side with the box object 1766 lifted, as shown in FIG. 23, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are The box object 1766 held by the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the hand objects 1771L and 1771R is displayed so as to be attracted to the avatar object 1706A side in conjunction with the movement of the user 5A's hand. It is displayed so as to be attracted to the avatar object 1706A side with a slight delay.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16, in step S1546, the processor 210A further updates the position and orientation of the avatar object 1706A in the virtual space 1711A based on the motion information included in the avatar information. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, the processor 210A changes the orientation of the avatar object 1706A from the orientation relative to the shelf object 1764 to the orientation relative to the door object 1763 based on the change in the position and tilt of the HMD 120. Further, the hand objects 1771L and 1771R control the movement of the avatar object 1706A so that the avatar object 1706A moves toward the door object 1763 while holding the box object 1766. In this case as well, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are moved in conjunction with the movement of the controller 300, and the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are moved behind the movement of the controller 300.

In step S1547, the processor 210A converts the speed of the movement of the avatar object 1706A and the loudness of the sound generated in the virtual space 1711A by the movement of the avatar object 1706A into the presence parameter based on the movement information of the avatar object 1706A. To do. The loudness of the generated sound may change depending on the speed of movement of the avatar object 1706A and the attributes of the target objects held by the hand objects 1771L and 1771R.

In step S1548, processor 210A updates gauge 1875 by one scale based on the converted presence parameter.

Then, the processor 210A updates the field of view image data based on the updated motion information of the avatar object 1706A, and outputs the updated field of view image data to the HMD 120.

In step S1549, the HMD 120 displays the field of view image 2517 as shown in FIG. 25 on the monitor 130 based on the updated field of view image data received from the computer 200. Specifically, the view image 2517 displays the hand objects 1771L and 1771R having the box object 1766 and the wall object 1762 in the area including the door object 1763. Further, the processor 210A displays the gauge 1875 in the state of being increased by one scale in the field of view image 2517. In FIG. 25, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are assumed to be displayed (overlapping) at the same positions as the hand objects 1771L and 1771R, and are not shown.

In step S1551, the processor 210A determines whether or not the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have released the box object 1766 based on the motion information included in the avatar information. For example, when the left hand object 1771L and the right hand object 1771R are separated by a predetermined distance or more, the processor 210A can determine that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have separated the box object 1766.

When it is determined that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have released the box object 1766 (Yes in step S1551), in step S1552, the processor 210A releases the interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766. .. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 26, the processor 210A separates the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and moves the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766 so as to drop the box object 1766 on the floor. Update.

In step S1553, the processor 210A deletes (hides) the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R from the virtual space 1711A based on the release of the interlocking control between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the box object 1766.
Then, the processor 210A updates the view image data based on the information of the updated hand objects 1771L, 1771R, the ghost hand objects 1772L, 1772R, and the box object 1766, and outputs the updated view image data to the HMD 120. To do.

In step S1554, the HMD 120 displays the field of view image 2717 as shown in FIG. 27 on the monitor 130 based on the updated field of view image data received from the computer 200. Specifically, the view image 2717 shows a state in which the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are separated from the box object 1766 and the box object 1766 is dropped on the floor. Further, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are not displayed in the field of view image 2717.

In step S1555, processor 210A generates a falling sound of the box object 1766 in the virtual space 1711A based on the box object 1766 falling to the floor. The volume of the falling sound can change depending on the attributes of the target object. The attributes of the target object include, for example, the virtual weight set for the ball object 1765, the box object 1766, and the bell object 1767, the virtual material set for each target object, the height at which the target object has fallen, and the momentum of the fall. Etc. are included. For example, the heavier the target object, the louder the falling sound may be. Further, the falling sound may be louder when the bell object 1767 falls on the floor than when the box object 1766 or the ball object 1765 falls on the floor. Also, the more the target object is dropped from a high place or the more vigorously it is dropped, the louder the falling sound will be. Further, the volume of the falling sound may be changed by combining the attribute (material, etc.) of the target object that has fallen on the floor and the attribute (material, etc.) of the floor.

In step S1556, the processor 210A converts the falling sound of the box object 1766 into a presence parameter and updates the value of the gauge 1875 based on the converted presence parameter. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the processor 210A sets the gauge 1875 displayed on the visibility image 2717 as the maximum value based on the presence parameter converted from the loudness of the falling sound of the box object 1766.

In step S1557, processor 210A controls the movement of enemy object 1769 based on the maximum gauge 1875. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 28, the position and orientation of the enemy object 1769 are updated so that the enemy object 1769 notices the existence of the avatar object 1706A and approaches the avatar object 1706A.
Then, the processor 210A updates the field of view image data based on the updated information of the enemy object 1769, and outputs the updated field of view image data to the HMD 120.

In step S1558, the HMD 120 displays the field of view image 2917 as shown in FIG. 29 on the monitor 130 based on the updated field of view image data received from the computer 200. Specifically, the field of view image 2917 shows how the enemy object 1769 is approaching toward the avatar object 1706A.
After that, predetermined game processing such as an attack from the enemy object 1769 to the avatar object 1706A is continued.

As described above, in the program according to the present embodiment, the step of defining the virtual space 1711A for providing the virtual experience to the user 5A, the step of arranging the avatar object 1706A in the virtual space 1711A, and the step of the user 5A. The step of detecting the movement, the step of controlling the avatar object 1706A according to the detected movement of the user 5A, and the presence parameter of the avatar object 1706A in the virtual space 1711A according to the detected movement of the user 5A ( A step of detecting (an example of a value representing a presence) and a step of making the avatar object 1706A notice the enemy object 1769 (an example of executing a predetermined game process) according to the detected presence parameter. Let the computer execute. According to this configuration, the game process is executed by changing the stealth property of the user 5A according to the presence parameter of the user 5A. As a result, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be improved.

Further, in the program according to the present embodiment, a step of accumulating the gauge 1875 associated with the user 5A according to the presence parameter and a step of executing a predetermined game process according to the gauge 1875 are further added to the computer. You may let it run. According to this configuration, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be further improved.

The movement of the user 5A converted as the presence parameter is preferably the movement of the head of the user 5A or the movement of the foot of the user 5A. By using the movement of the head or foot of the user 5A as a reference, the presence (non-stealth) of the user 5A can be detected efficiently and accurately.

Further, the presence parameter preferably changes according to the speed of movement of the user 5A or the loudness of the sound generated in the virtual space 1711A based on the movement of the user 5A. According to this configuration, the presence parameter can be calculated by a simple method.

The loudness of the sound generated in the virtual space 1711A based on the movement of the user 5A is the target object (ball object 1765, which the avatar object 1706A can move.
It may be changed according to the attributes of the box object 1766 and the bell object 1767). By changing the loudness of the sound according to the attributes (for example, materials) of these target objects, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be further improved.

The loudness of the sound generated in the virtual space 1711A may be changed by the combination of the attribute of the target object and the action exerted on the target object by the avatar object 1706A.

Further, in the program according to the present embodiment, a step of defining a virtual space 1711A for providing a virtual experience to the user 5A, hand objects 1771L and 1771R (an example of an operation object), and a target object in the virtual space 1711A. A step of arranging a ball object 1765, a box object 1766, and a bell object 1767 as an input operation of a user 5A, a step of detecting a movement of a part of the body of the user 5A as an input operation of the controller 300, and a hand according to the detected input operation of the controller 300. The step of operating the objects 1771L and 1771R, the step of selecting the box object 1766 with the hand objects 1771L and 1771R, and the interlocking condition with the movement of the user 5A are changed according to the attributes of the box object 1766, and the box object 1766 is changed. Have the computer execute the step of moving the selected hand objects 1771L and 1771R. That is, in this program, the tracking condition of the box object 1766 with respect to the movement of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R is changed according to the attribute of the box object 1766 which is the target object, and the box object 1766 selected by the hand objects 1771L and 1771R is changed. Move. In this way, by delaying the movement of the user 5A from the movement of the user 5A according to the attribute of the target object and moving the hand objects 1771L and 1771R, the user 5A visually expresses the attribute (for example, weight) of the target object. can do. As a result, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be improved.

The attributes of the box object 1766 include the virtual weight preset in the box object 1766, and in the step of moving the hand objects 1771L, 1771R in which the box object 1766 is selected, as the virtual weight of the box object 1766 increases, the user 5A The hand objects 1771L and 1771R are moved behind the movement. According to this configuration, the hand objects 1771L and 1771R immediately follow the movement of the user 5A when the target object is light, and the hand objects 1771L and 1771R follow the movement of the user 5A when the target object is heavy. Therefore, the weight of the target object can be visually expressed in the virtual space 1711A.

In addition to the hand objects 1771L and 1771R (an example of the first operation object), the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R (an example of the second operation object) are arranged in the virtual space 1711A, and according to the attributes of the box object 1766, The hand objects 1771L and 1771R are moved by changing the interlocking condition with the movement of the user 5A, and the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are moved by interlocking with the movement of the user 5A regardless of the attribute of the box object 1766. May be good. According to this configuration, when the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R that move in conjunction with the movement of the user 5A appear in the virtual space 1711A, the hand objects 1771L and 1771R follow the movement of the user 5A later. , It is possible to prevent the user 5A from erroneously recognizing that there is an operation error of the controller 300 or the like. As a result, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be further improved without impairing the operability of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R.

In addition, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are hand objects 177.
It may be arranged in the virtual space 1711A based on the selection of the box object 1766 by 1L, 1771R. In this way, when the follow-up delay of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R is expected to occur, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R appear in the virtual space 1711A, thereby impairing the operability of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R. Without this, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be further improved.

The hand objects 1771L and 1771R include a left hand object 1771L (an example of a third operation object) associated with the left hand of the user 5A and a right hand object 1771R (an example of a fourth operation object) associated with the right hand of the user 5A. When the box object 1766, which is the target object, is selected by the left hand object 1771L and the right hand object 1771R, the virtual point set between the left hand object 1771L and the right hand object 1771R is set as the box object. The left and right hand objects 1771L, 1771R and the box object 1766 may be moved in association with 1766. According to this configuration, when the user 5A selects the target object with both hands, the control processing of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the target object can be facilitated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the interlocking rate of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement of the user 5A (input operation of the controller 300) is calculated from the difference between the vector amount of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the vector amount of the target object. However, it is not limited to this example. For example, when it is determined that the hand objects 1771L and 1771R have selected a predetermined target object (for example, the box object 1766), a virtual spring is formed between the hand objects 1771L and 1771R and the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R. The interlocking rate of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement of the user 5A may be calculated based on the attribute of the virtual spring and the attribute of the target object. In this case, for example, the elongation length of the virtual spring calculated based on the spring constant of the virtual spring and the virtual weight of the target object can be converted into the interlocking rate. Specifically, it is preferable that the interlocking rate is lowered as the elongation length of the virtual spring becomes longer. If the virtual weight (gravity) of the target object is F, the spring constant of the virtual spring is k, and the elongation length of the virtual spring is x, then Hooke's law is "F = kx", so the elongation length of the virtual spring The value is calculated by "x = F / k". As a result, when the spring constants of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are constant, the larger the virtual weight of the target object, the higher the elongation length of the virtual spring. Therefore, the hand objects 1771L and 1771R with respect to the movement of the controller 300 The interlocking rate is low. Further, when the virtual weight of the target object is constant, the smaller the spring constant of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R, the higher the elongation length of the virtual spring and the lower the interlocking rate. The spring constants of the hand objects 1771L and 1771R may be determined by the attributes of the avatar object 1706A (for example, whether they are adults or children).

Further, in the above embodiment, the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are arranged in the virtual space 1711A based on the selection of the box object 1766 by the hand objects 1771L and 1771R, and the user 5A is arranged according to the attribute of the target object. The hand objects 1771L and 1771R are moved by changing the interlocking condition with the movement of the object, and the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R are moved in conjunction with the movement of the user 5A regardless of the attribute of the target object. Not limited to. The hand objects 1771L and 1771R may be moved by changing the interlocking condition with the movement of the user 5A without causing the ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R to appear in the virtual space 1711A.

In addition, the hand objects 1771L and 1771R are moved in conjunction with the movement of the user 5A regardless of the attributes of the target object, and the interlocking condition with the movement of the user 5A is changed according to the attributes of the target object to change the interlocking condition with the movement of the user 5A. , 1772R may be moved. That is, the non-transparent hand objects 1771L and 1771R move following the movement of the user 5A, while the transparent ghost hand objects 1772L and 1772R and the target object are moved behind the movement of the user 5A. It is also possible.

Further, although the game program provided in the present embodiment provides a game played by a single user 5A, it may also provide a multiplayer game among a plurality of users 5A to 5D. In that case, the enemy object 1769 is an avatar object that can be controlled by other users 5B, 5C, 5D. Also in this case, the virtual experience of the user 5A can be improved by changing the stealth property of the avatar object 1706A according to the value (presence parameter) representing the presence of the avatar object 1706A.

In the above embodiment, the virtual space (VR space) in which the user is immersed by the HMD 120 has been described as an example, but a transmissive HMD may be adopted as the HMD. In this case, augmented reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) by outputting a view image obtained by synthesizing a part of the images constituting the virtual space in the real space visually recognized by the user via the transparent HMD. MR: Mixed Reality) A virtual experience in 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 may 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 the process corresponding to the collision control described above between the user's hand and the target object. .. As a result, it becomes possible to give an action to the target object based on the movement of the user's hand.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the description of the present embodiments. This embodiment is an example, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various embodiments can be changed 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 equivalent scope thereof.

[Additional notes]
The contents of this disclosure are listed below.

(Item 1)
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
The step of arranging the first object in the virtual space and
The step of detecting the movement of the user and
A step of controlling the first object according to the detected movement, and
A step of detecting a value representing the presence of the first object in the virtual space according to the detected movement, and a step of detecting the presence of the first object.
Depending on the detected value representing the presence, the step of processing the game and
A program that lets your computer run.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a program capable of improving the virtual experience of the user.

(Item 2)
The step of accumulating the gauge associated with the user according to the value, and
Depending on the gauge, the steps to process the game and
The program according to item 1, further causing the computer to execute the program.
With this configuration, the virtual experience can be further improved.

(Item 3)
The program according to item 1 or 2, wherein the movement is a movement of the user's head.

(Item 4)
The program according to item 1 or 2, wherein the movement is the movement of the user's foot.

By using the movement of the user's head or foot as a reference, the presence (non-stealth) of the user can be detected efficiently and accurately.

(Item 5)
The program according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the value representing the presence changes according to the speed of the movement.
According to this configuration, a value representing presence can be calculated by a simple method.

(Item 6)
The program according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the value representing the presence changes according to the loudness of the sound generated in the virtual space based on the movement of the user.
According to this configuration, a value representing presence can be calculated by a simple method.

(Item 7)
Further, the computer is made to perform the step of arranging the second object exerted by the first object in the virtual space.
The program according to item 6, wherein the loudness of the sound generated based on the action changes according to the attribute of the second object.
The virtual experience can be further improved by changing the loudness of the sound according to the attributes of the second object (for example, the material).

(Item 8)
The program according to item 7, wherein the loudness of the sound changes depending on the combination of the attribute of the second object and the action exerted by the first object.
With this configuration, the virtual experience can be further improved.

(Item 9)
The first object is associated with the user with an image display device associated with the head.
The program according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the computer further executes a step of controlling the field of view from the first object according to the movement of the head.
According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the virtual experience in the virtual space experienced by a user wearing an image display device such as a head-mounted display.

(Item 10)
An information processing device equipped with a processor
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
The step of arranging the first object in the virtual space and
The step of detecting the movement of the user and
A step of controlling the first object according to the detected movement, and
A step of detecting a value representing the presence of the first object in the virtual space according to the detected movement, and a step of detecting the presence of the first object.
Depending on the detected value representing the presence, the step of processing the game and
Is an information processing device that is executed under the control of the processor.

(Item 11)
An information processing method executed by a computer
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
The step of arranging the first object in the virtual space and
The step of detecting the movement of the user and
A step of controlling the first object according to the detected movement, and
A step of detecting a value representing the presence of the first object in the virtual space according to the detected movement, and a step of detecting the presence of the first object.
Depending on the detected value representing the presence, the step of processing the game and
Information processing methods, including.

(Item 12)
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space,
The step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body and
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
A program that lets your computer run.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a program capable of improving the virtual experience of the user.

(Item 13)
The attribute includes a virtual weight preset for the target object.
The program according to item 12, wherein in the step of moving the operation object for which the target object is selected, the operation object is moved behind the movement as the virtual weight increases.
According to this configuration, the weight of the target object can be visually expressed in the virtual space.

(Item 14)
The operation object includes a first operation object and a second operation object.
In the step of operating the operation object, the first operation object is operated and the operation object is operated.
In the step of selecting the target object, the target object is selected in the first operation object, and the target object is selected.
In the step of moving the operation object,
In addition to moving the first operation object by changing the degree of interlocking with the movement according to the attribute,
The program according to item 12 or 13, which moves the second operation object in conjunction with the movement regardless of the attribute.
According to this configuration, the virtual experience can be further improved without impairing the operability of the operation object by making the second operation object that moves in conjunction with the movement of a part of the user's body appear in the virtual space. Can be done.

(Item 15)
The program according to item 14, wherein the second operation object is arranged in the virtual space based on the selection of the target object by the first operation object.
According to this configuration, the virtual experience can be further improved without impairing the operability of the operation object.

(Item 16)
The operation object includes a third operation object associated with the user's left hand and a fourth operation object associated with the user's right hand.
In the step of selecting the target object, the target object is selected by the third operation object and the fourth operation object.
In the step of moving the operation object, a virtual point set between the third operation object and the fourth operation object is set to the target object selected by the third operation object and the fourth operation object. The program according to item 14 or 15, wherein the third operation object and the fourth operation object are moved together with the target object in association with each other.
According to this configuration, it is possible to facilitate the control processing of the operation object and the target object when the user selects the target object with both hands.

(Item 17)
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space,
The step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body and
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the target object selected by the operation object by changing the follow-up condition of the target object to the movement of the operation object according to the attribute of the target object.
A program that lets your computer run.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a program capable of improving the virtual experience of the user.

(Item 18)
An information processing device equipped with a processor
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space, and a step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body.
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
Is an information processing device that is executed under the control of the processor.

(Item 19)
An information processing method executed by a computer
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space, and a step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body.
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
Information processing methods, including.

2: Network 11: Virtual space 13: Panorama 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: Visibility area determination Module 1423: Virtual space definition module 1424: Virtual object generation module 1425: Operation object control module 1426: Spatial information 1427: Object information 1428: User information 1429: Visibility image generation module 1706A: Avatar object 1711A: Virtual space 1715: Visibility area 1714A : Virtual camera 1761: Room 1762: Wall object 1763: Door object 1764: Shelf object 1765: Ball object 1766: Box object 1767: Bell object 1769: Enemy object 1771L: Left hand object 1771R: Right hand object 1772L, 1772R: Ghost Hand object

Claims (8)

Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space,
The step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body and
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
A program that lets your computer run. The attribute includes a virtual weight preset for the target object.
The program according to claim 1, wherein in the step of moving the operation object for which the target object is selected, the operation object is moved behind the movement as the virtual weight increases. The operation object includes a first operation object and a second operation object.
In the step of operating the operation object, the first operation object is operated and the operation object is operated.
In the step of selecting the target object, the target object is selected in the first operation object, and the target object is selected.
In the step of moving the operation object,
In addition to moving the first operation object by changing the degree of interlocking with the movement according to the attribute,
The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second operation object is moved in conjunction with the movement regardless of the attribute. The program according to claim 3, wherein the second operation object is arranged in the virtual space based on the selection of the target object by the first operation object. The operation object includes a third operation object associated with the user's right hand and a fourth operation object associated with the user's left hand.
In the step of selecting the target object, the target object is selected by the third operation object and the fourth operation object.
In the step of moving the operation object, a virtual point set between the third operation object and the fourth operation object is set to the target object selected by the third operation object and the fourth operation object. The program according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the third operation object and the fourth operation object are moved together with the target object in association with each other. Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space,
The step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body and
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the target object selected by the operation object by changing the follow-up condition of the target object to the movement of the operation object according to the attribute of the target object.
A program that lets your computer run. An information processing device equipped with a processor
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space, and a step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body.
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
Is an information processing device that is executed under the control of the processor. An information processing method executed by a computer
Steps to define a virtual space to provide a virtual experience to users,
A step of arranging an operation object and a target object in the virtual space, and a step of detecting the movement of a part of the user's body.
A step of operating the operation object according to the detected movement, and
The step of selecting the target object in the operation object, and
A step of moving the operation object that selects the target object by changing the interlocking condition with the movement according to the attribute of the target object.
Information processing methods, including.