JP2021002390A - Program, method, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a program allowing for natural presentation in a virtual space, a method and an information processing apparatus.SOLUTION: A program causes a computer to execute: a step of defining a virtual space including a virtual point of view, a plurality of objects including a first object and a second object, and a first area associated with the first object; a step of moving the virtual point of view as a user moves; a step of detecting whether the virtual point of view and the first area are in a first positional relationship; a step of displaying a first field-of-view image displaying the first object in first display mode on an HMD when the first object is not in the first positional relationship and when it is included in a field of view from the virtual point of view; and a step of displaying a second field-of-view image displaying the first object and the second object in second display mode, which is different from the first display mode, on the HMD when the first object and the second object are in the first positional relationship and when they are included in the field of view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

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

Conventionally, a head-mounted device (hereinafter, HMD: Head Mounted Device) is used to provide a virtual space to a user. A virtual viewpoint is arranged in the virtual space as a user's viewpoint, and the virtual viewpoint moves as the user wearing the HMD moves in the real space, and the field of view image from the virtual viewpoint is updated.

Objects that do not exist in the real space, such as walls, may be placed in the virtual space. Therefore, an unnatural state that the virtual viewpoint enters the inside of the object as the user moves, which is not in the real space, may be reproduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-062598

When operating the position of the virtual viewpoint with the controller, it is possible to restrict the movement of the virtual viewpoint by the operation so that the object and the virtual viewpoint do not overlap, but if the position of the virtual viewpoint is determined by the movement of the user, Such a response cannot be taken.

As in Patent Document 1, the user can be alerted by changing the color of the object in which the virtual viewpoint has entered, but since the virtual viewpoint is located inside the object, the entire field of view image is colored and the user is surrounded by the surroundings. It becomes difficult to grasp the situation. When a user's real-time action is required, such as during a game in virtual space, play is likely to be hindered if the surrounding situation cannot be grasped.

The present disclosure is intended for natural representation in virtual space.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a program executed by a computer is provided. The program associates a headmount device with a computer to define a virtual space that includes a virtual viewpoint, multiple objects including a first object and a second object, and a first area associated with the first object. The step of detecting the movement of the user, the step of moving the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the user, and detecting whether or not the virtual viewpoint and the first region have a first positional relationship. When the first object is included in the view from the virtual viewpoint and not in the first positional relationship with the step, the image corresponding to the view and the first object is displayed in the first display mode. When the step of displaying the 1-view image on the head-mounted device and the first positional relationship and the view includes the first object and the second object, the image corresponds to the view. A step of displaying the first object and the second view image in which the second object is displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode on the head mount device is executed.

According to the present disclosure, a natural expression in a virtual space is possible.

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. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process to perform in the HMD system according to a certain 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 flowchart which shows the process performed by the computer according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st field of view image. It is a figure which shows an example of the 2nd field of view image.

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 may be combined with each other, and the combined result shall also form 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 set 110A, 110B, 110C, 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 monitors an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye 130.
Display each in. 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-transparent 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 alternately displayed 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 accelerometer, 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 angle of rotation 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 a voice 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 an instruction input 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 representing 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, in an amusement facility, when a plurality of users play a participatory game, 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 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 devices.

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 as in 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 (axises) 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 front-back 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) is the HM around the pitch axis in the uvw field coordinate system.
Represents the tilt angle of D120. 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 determines the HMD 120 based on the infrared light intensity obtained 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 above 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 consider 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 angle 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 while the program using the controller 300 is being executed. 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 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 a battery 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 the 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 as in 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 arranges an object in the virtual space 11 by using the object data representing the object. 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 arranges 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 object imitating an animal 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 is transmitted corresponding to the utterance. 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 identifies the virtual space data as the control module 510, and the virtual space 1
Define 1.

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 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 viewing direction of the user 5 wearing the HMD 120 based on the position and 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 HMDs 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 with respect 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. Information that identifies the avatar object 6A and the user 5A includes 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 210C 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 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 each HMD set 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. The computer 200 is an information processing device that reads a program stored in a memory and executes various processes.

As shown in FIG. 14, the control module 510 includes a virtual camera control module 1421, a view area determination module 1422, a reference line-of-sight identification module 1423, a facial organ detection module 1424, a motion detection module 1425, and a virtual space definition. It includes a module 1426, a virtual object generation module 1427, an operation object control module 1428, and an avatar control module 1429. The rendering module 520 includes a field of view image generation module 1438. The memory module 530 holds spatial information 1431, object information 1432, user information 1433, and face information 1434.

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 area determination module 1422 defines the field of view area 15 according to the orientation of the head of the user wearing the HMD 120 and the arrangement position of the virtual camera 14. The field of view image generation module 1438 generates a field of view image 17 to be displayed on the monitor 130 based on the determined field of view area 15.

The reference line-of-sight identification module 1423 identifies the line-of-sight of the user 5 based on the signal from the gaze sensor 140. The facial organ detection module 1424 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 motion detection module 1425 detects the motion (shape) of each organ detected by the facial organ detection module 1424. In FIGS. 15 to 18, the control contents of the facial organ detection module 1424 and the motion detection module 1425 will be described later.

The virtual space definition module 1426 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 1427 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.

The operation object control module 1428 arranges an operation object for receiving a user's operation in the virtual space 11 in the virtual space 11. By manipulating the operation object, the user operates, for example, an object arranged in the virtual space 11. In some aspects, the operating object may include, for example, a hand object corresponding to the hand of the user wearing the HMD 120. In some aspects, the manipulation object may correspond to the hand portion of the avatar object described below.

The avatar control module 1429 generates data for arranging the avatar objects of the users of the other computer 200 connected via the network 2 in the virtual space 11. In a certain aspect, the avatar control module 1429 generates data for arranging the avatar object of the user 5 in the virtual space 11. In one aspect, the avatar control module 1429 creates an avatar object that mimics the user 5 based on an image that includes the user 5. In another aspect, the avatar control module 1429 creates an avatar object in the virtual space 11 that has been selected by the user 5 from among a plurality of types of avatar objects (for example, an object imitating an animal or an object of a deformed person). Generate data for placement.

The avatar control module 1429 reflects the movement of the HMD 120 detected by the HMD sensor 410 on the avatar object. For example, the avatar control module 1429 detects that the HMD 120 is tilted and generates data for tilting and arranging the avatar object. In one aspect, the avatar control module 1429 reflects the movement of the controller 300 on the avatar 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 avatar control module 1429 reflects the movement of the facial organ detected by the motion detection module 1425 on the face of the avatar object arranged in the virtual space 11. That is, the avatar control module 1429 reflects the facial movement of the user 5A on 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 when 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 1428 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 1431, object information 1432, user information 1433, and face information 1434.

Spatial information 1431 holds one or more templates defined to provide the virtual space 11.

The object information 1432 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 1433 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 1432.

In the face information 1434, the face organ detection module 1424 holds a template stored in advance for detecting the face organ of the user 5. In one aspect, the face information 1434 holds a mouth template 1435, an eye template 1436, and an eyebrow template 1437. Each template can be an image corresponding to the organs that make up the face. For example, the mouth template 1435 can be an image of the mouth. Each template may contain multiple images.

[Display control of field of view image]
In a VR called room scale VR (Virtual Reality) in which a user can move within a play area of a certain size, the computer 200 includes an object, a virtual camera 14 which is a virtual viewpoint that moves according to the movement of the user, and a virtual camera 14. Define a virtual space that contains. The user can move freely in the real space regardless of the presence or absence of the object in the virtual space, and the virtual viewpoint moves with the movement of the user, so that the virtual viewpoint may enter the inside of the object. The computer 200 can generate a field of view image to encourage the user to move from the intruded object.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the processor 210 of the computer 200 controls the display of the field of view image. Hereinafter, the processing procedure when the stealth game is advanced in the virtual space will be described as an example. A stealth game is a game in which a player character completes a mission without being discovered by an enemy character moving in virtual space.

The processor 210 defines a virtual space that includes objects necessary for the progress of the stealth game, a virtual viewpoint, and a player character that is a first avatar associated with the user. Processor 210 may associate some or all of the objects in the virtual space as first or second objects. The first object is displayed in a display mode different from the case where the first area is associated with the first area and the first area is in the first positional relationship with the virtual viewpoint arranged in the virtual space and is not in the first positional relationship. It is an object. The first object is an object in which the situation where the virtual viewpoint and the first region associated with the first object are in the first positional relationship is not in the real space and is an unnatural expression. Examples of the first object include structures such as walls and buildings, natural objects such as trees and rocks, characters such as giants and monsters, and the like. The first area can be the area inside or inside and around the first object. The first region may be, for example, a collision region (collision area), or may be a region associated with the purpose of expressing a natural positional relationship separately from the collision region. The second object is an object other than the first object that is displayed in the same display mode as the first object when the virtual viewpoint and the first area are in the first positional relationship.

During the game, the processor 210 moves the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the user in the real space, and moves the player character together with the virtual viewpoint. That is, the virtual viewpoint is the viewpoint of the player character. The processor 210 also arranges an enemy character as a second avatar in the virtual space, and controls the operation of the enemy character so as to move the patrol route. During the game, when the movement of the user satisfies a predetermined condition, the processor 210 generates a sound from the player character. For example, when the movement of the user's torso, limbs, etc. is detected by the HMD sensor 410 or the like and the movement speed exceeds the threshold value, a sound corresponding to the user's movement speed is emitted from the corresponding parts of the player character's torso, limbs, etc. It is output. Further, when the position of the HMD 120 moves by a certain distance or more within a certain time, the volume increases momentarily. When the sound output from the player character exceeds the threshold value, the processor 210 detects the presence of the player character, confirms the direction in which the sound is output for a certain period of time, and then controls the enemy character so as to return to the movement of the patrol route. To do.

A field of view of a certain area is associated with the enemy character, and when the player character is included in this field of view, the recognition rate of the player character by the enemy character increases, and when the maximum value is reached, the player character is discovered. The processor 210 may improve the visibility of the enemy character's field of view, such as increasing the brightness of the field of view, so that the user can grasp the field of view of the enemy character. The recognition rate increases as the distance from the enemy character's field of view increases and the user's moving speed increases. If an obstacle object such as a wall intervenes between the enemy character and the player character, the recognition rate drops. As described above, since the recognition rate of the player character by the enemy character is an important element of the stealth game, the processor 210 arranges an object that separates the enemy character and the player character in the virtual space in order to control the recognition rate. In a certain embodiment, among a plurality of objects arranged in the virtual space, an object arranged for the purpose of separating an enemy character and a player character is associated as a first object, and a game item, a landscape, or the like is placed around the first object. Objects placed for the purpose of construction are associated as second objects.

If the range in which the user can move in the real space is limited, the processor 210 may divide the game into multiple stages and develop the scene so that the user changes direction when moving to the next stage. .. For example, the processor 210 arranges an elevator object in a virtual space, and when a player character moves into the elevator object, the elevator moves up and down, and then the elevator is located on the opposite side of the entrance door where the player character enters. It encourages the user to change direction by providing a view image that opens the door. As a result, the game can be played in a virtually wide area even in a play area where movement is limited.

While the stealth game is in progress, in step S1521, the processor 210 detects the movement of the user in real space, as shown in FIG. The movement of the user can be detected by, for example, a change in the position of the HMD 120 detected by the HMD sensor 410, the sensor 190, or the like. When the movement is detected (step S1521: YES), in step S1522, the processor 210 moves the virtual viewpoint and the player character in the virtual space in conjunction with the movement of the user.

In step S1523, the processor 210 detects whether or not the virtual viewpoint after movement and the first region of the first object included in the virtual space have a first positional relationship. As for the first positional relationship, if the unnatural positional relationship between the virtual viewpoint and the first object can be detected, for example, the positional relationship where the first region and the virtual viewpoint overlap, the outline of the virtual viewpoint and the first region, the center of gravity, etc. The positional relationship in which the distance is equal to or less than the threshold value can be mentioned.

If it is detected that there is no first positional relationship (step S1523: NO), in step S1524, the processor 210 generates a first field of view image. The first field of view image is displayed by the HMD 120. The first field-of-view image is an image corresponding to the field of view from the virtual viewpoint, and is an image that displays the first object included in the field of view in the first display mode. The first display mode is, for example, a display mode in which the first object is visualized in the same manner as in the real space, and the processor 210 can generate the first field of view image by rendering the object included in the field of view as it is.

Next, in step S1525, the processor 210 outputs the sound to be output in parallel with the display of the first field of view image in the first output mode. The sound is output by the speaker 180. The first output mode is, for example, a mode in which sound is output in the same manner as in the real space, and the processor 210 outputs the acquired sound source as it is. The sounds output in the stealth game include sounds output from the player character according to the above-mentioned movement of the user, sound effects such as footsteps of the player character, BGM, and the like.

If it is determined that there is a first positional relationship (step S1523: YES), in step S1526, the processor 210 generates a second field of view image. The second field of view image is displayed by the HMD 120. The second field-of-view image is a field-of-view image corresponding to the field of view from the virtual viewpoint, and is an image in which the first object and the second object included in the field of view are displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode. The second display mode may be different from the first display mode in terms of transmittance, sharpness, etc., as long as it is different from the first display mode, but the visibility around the first object is higher than that of the first display mode. It is preferable that the display mode is high. For example, if the second display mode is a display mode in which the transmittance of the first object is higher than that of the first display mode, the virtual viewpoint is buried inside the first object, and most of the field of view from the virtual viewpoint is the first object. Since the inside of the first object is transparent even when is occupied by, the user can see the other side of the first object. The user can check the surroundings of the first object, and it is easy to move to eliminate the first positional relationship, and it is easy to continue the action of avoiding the discovery of the enemy character in real time.

The processor 210 can increase the transmittance by increasing the ratio of synthesizing the object on the foreground side close to the virtual viewpoint with the object on the background side far from the virtual viewpoint.
The processor 210 can also generate a second view image by image processing the image obtained by rendering the object included in the view, and calculates the image in the second display mode at the time of rendering. A second view image can also be generated by rendering.

The second field of view image is preferably an image that displays all the objects in the field of view including the first object and the second object in the second display mode. For example, in the second view image, not only the block wall object associated as the first object and the object such as the drum can associated as the second object, but all the objects such as the wall of the building are displayed with 80% transmittance. Will be done. Since the display mode of all objects, not just the first object, changes, it becomes easier for the user to grasp that the virtual viewpoint is in an unnatural position.

In the second view image, among the floor surfaces visualized in the field of view, the visibility of the floor surface of the first object and the floor surface other than the floor surface of the second object is the floor surface of the first object and the floor surface of the second object. It is preferably higher than the floor. Visibility can be enhanced by different colors, patterns, etc., blinking display, and the like. For example, the floor surfaces of the first and second objects are usually displayed, and the other floor surfaces are prominently colored (eg, in blue). The floor surface other than the first object and the second object is a floor surface that can be moved as a passage, but by improving the visibility of the floor surface, the user can easily grasp the floor surface that can be moved in the same manner as in the real space. Can be done.

In the second field of view image, the visibility of the first point in the field of view where the distance from the virtual viewpoint is the first distance is the second in the field of view where the distance from the virtual viewpoint is shorter than the first distance. It is preferably lower than the visibility of the point. The first distance and the second distance may be linear distances from the virtual viewpoint to each point, or may be the depth of field from the virtual viewpoint to each point, that is, the distance in the depth direction (z direction). Good. Visibility can be lowered by adjusting the transmittance, sharpness, and the like. For example, the processor 210 places a white mist-like object at a first point 10 m away from the virtual viewpoint and does not place a mist-like object at a second point 3 m away from the virtual viewpoint. By rendering the field of view, a second field image having a sharpness of 10% at the first point and 100% sharpness at the second point is generated. In addition, the sharpness of the first point or the second point may be adjusted by averaging or mosaicing the rendered visual field image.

Next, in step S1527, the processor 210 outputs the sound to be output in parallel with the display of the second field of view image in the second display mode in a second output mode different from the first output mode. The sound is output by the speaker 180. The second output mode is preferably an output mode in which the viewing property is lower than that of the first output mode. For example, the processor 210 lowers the volume of the sound output in the virtual space such as the sound output from the player character according to the movement of the user, converts the frequency into a lower tone, and outputs the sound. Further, the processor 210 can add noise to the output sound and output it. As a result, sounds with low visibility such as hard-to-hear sounds, low muffled sounds, and sounds containing noise are output, so that the user can more easily grasp that the virtual viewpoint is in an unnatural position. When a user's real-time movement is required, such as in a stealth game, the reduced visibility can encourage the user to return to the original viewing position, that is, the virtual viewpoint returns to its natural position. .. In addition, since the viewership is low, it is easy to virtually experience the fact that the user has entered the inside of a block wall or the like, and the immersive feeling is not easily lost.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the first field of view image.
As shown in FIG. 16, the first field of view image 1620 includes a block wall object 1621 and a drum object 1622. Object 1621 is associated with the first object and object 1622 is associated with the second object. The first view image 1620 also includes a building wall object 1623 and a floor surface object 1624 that are not associated with either the first object or the second object. In FIG. 16, the virtual viewpoint is located in front of the first region associated with the object 1621 on the block wall. In the first view image 1620, all the objects 1622 to 1624 including the object 1621 which is the first object are displayed in the first display mode which is visualized in the same manner as in the real space.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the second field of view image.
When the positional relationship in which the virtual viewpoint and the first area overlap is the first positional relationship, the virtual viewpoint located in front of the object 1621 on the block wall shown in FIG. 16 enters the inside of the object 1621 on the block wall by movement. The first view image 1620 shown in FIG. 16 is updated to the second view image 1720 shown in FIG. In the second view image 1720, the transmittance of the objects 1721 to 1723 is higher than that of the corresponding objects 1621-1623 in the first view image 1620. Due to the high transmittance of the object 1723 on the wall, the object 1726 of the tree beyond the wall is also included in the second view image 1720, and the object 1726 is also increased in transmittance.

Further, the floor object 1624 in the first view image 1620 is divided into the floor surface objects 1724 of the objects 1721 and 1722 and the other floor surface objects 1725 in the second view image 1720. The floor object 1724 is usually displayed in the same color as the floor object 1624 in the first view image 1620, eg gray, while the floor object 1725 is displayed in a different color, eg blue. Even if the transmittances of the objects 1721 to 1723 and 1726 are high, it is easy for the user to understand that the colored floor object 1725 is a floor surface that the user can move.

The sound output according to the movement of the user during the display of the second visual field image 1720 is output at a lower volume or tone than the sound output during the display of the first visual field image 1620. Due to the difference in sound, the user can easily grasp that the virtual viewpoint is in an unnatural position.

As described above, not all the objects but only the display modes of the first and second objects may be different. For example, when the object 1723 on the wall of the building is arranged at the boundary of the area where the user can move in the real space, the display mode of the object 1723 may not be different and the visualized first display mode may be maintained. .. As a result, the area where the user can move can be easily grasped.

As described above, when the virtual viewpoint is in the first positional relationship with the first region of the first object, the computer 200 does not have the display mode of the first object and the second object in the visual field image in the first positional relationship. To make it different. As a result, the user is made to understand that the virtual viewpoint is in the first positional relationship with the first area of the first object and is in an unnatural position, and the user is moved in the real space to eliminate the first positional relationship. Can be urged to. Therefore, the same situation as in the real space can be reproduced in the virtual space, and a natural expression becomes possible. In content that requires real-time action to avoid detection by enemy characters, such as stealth games, there are many opportunities for the player character to be hidden by an object such as a wall, and the position with the object is often close. Especially effective.

Further, according to the display control of the visual field image, the transmittance of the first object and the second object is higher in the case of the first positional relationship than in the case of not having the first positional relationship. By increasing the transmittance, the user can grasp that the virtual viewpoint is in an unnatural position, and can also grasp the surrounding situation in the virtual space, so that it is easy to move to return to the natural position. In a stealth game, the user always checks the surrounding situation during the game. Therefore, according to the above display control, it is possible to easily grasp that the virtual viewpoint has entered the inside of the object by changing the display mode of the object, and to grasp the surrounding situation even if the display mode changes, which hinders the virtual experience. The game can proceed smoothly without doing anything.

Although the display control of the above-mentioned field of view image has been described using a stealth game as an example, even in a battle royale game or the like in which the purpose is to survive a battle between a plurality of player characters arranged in a virtual space, the user's real-time action can be seen. Since it is required, the same effect as that of a stealth game can be obtained by the above display control.

In the battle royale game, the player character can attack the enemy character. In the first display mode, the presence of the first object prevents the user from visually recognizing the enemy character located on the opposite side of the player character via the first object. On the other hand, when the display mode is switched to the second display mode and the visibility of the first object is lowered, the enemy character that the user could not see can also be seen, so that an attack may be possible. However, since the enemy character is originally invisible, the processor 210 controls the player character to prevent the enemy character from attacking even if the movement of the user's attack is detected during the display of the second field of view image. You may. As a result, the game can be played with the same visual sense as in the real space.

Specifically, when the virtual viewpoint and the first region do not have a first positional relationship, the processor 210 attacks the player character against the enemy character according to the movement of a part constituting the user's body, for example, the head or limbs. For example, hitting, kicking, firing a gun, swinging a sword, and so on. Further, when the virtual viewpoint and the first region have a first positional relationship, the processor 210 does not cause the player character to perform an attack on the enemy character according to the movement of the user's portion.

Actions other than the attack may not be performed if it is in the first positional relationship. For example, in addition to the enemy character, a second avatar associated with a non-player character or another user who plays a game in the same virtual space may be placed in the virtual space. In this case, even if the movement of the user's limbs, voice, or the like is detected, the processor 210 may be controlled so as not to perform actions such as shaking hands or talking to the second avatar from the player character.

In the above embodiment, the virtual space (VR space) in which the user is immersed by the HMD has been illustrated and described, but a transparent 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) space or mixed reality (AR) space or mixed reality (AR) MR: Mixed Reality) A virtual experience in space may be provided to the user. In this case, instead of the operation object, the 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 and the like 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.

(Constitution)
The technical features disclosed above can be summarized as follows.

(Structure 1)
According to one embodiment, a program executed by a computer (200) is provided. The program defines, in the computer (200), a virtual space including a virtual viewpoint, a plurality of objects including the first object and the second object, and a first area associated with the first object, and a head. A step (S1521) of detecting the movement of the user associated with the mount device (120), a step of moving the virtual viewpoint in response to the movement of the user (S1522), the virtual viewpoint and the first area. When the step (S1523) for detecting whether or not is in the first positional relationship and when the first object is included in the view from the virtual viewpoint and not in the first positional relationship (S1523: N), the above This is the first positional relationship with the step (S1524) of displaying the first view image corresponding to the view and displaying the first object in the first display mode on the head mount device (120). When the first object and the second object are included in the view, the first object and the second object are displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode in the image corresponding to the view. The step (S1526) of displaying the second view image on the head mount device (120) is executed.

(Structure 2)
In (Structure 1), the second display mode is a display mode having a higher transmittance than the first display mode.

(Structure 3)
In (Structure 2), in the second view image, the visibility of the floor surface other than the floor surface of the first object and the floor surface of the second object among the floor surfaces visualized in the view is described. It is higher than the floor surface of the first object and the floor surface of the second object.

(Structure 4)
In any one of (Structure 1) to (Structure 3), in the second visual field image, the visibility of the first point in the visual field where the distance from the virtual viewpoint is the first distance is the virtual viewpoint. The distance from is lower than the visibility of the second point in the field of view, which is the second distance shorter than the first distance.

(Structure 5)
In any one of (Structure 1) to (Structure 4), if it is not the first positional relationship, a step (S1525) of generating a sound in the first output mode in the virtual space according to the movement of the user. ) And the step (S1527) of generating sound in the virtual space in a second output mode different from the first output mode in response to the movement of the user in the case of the first positional relationship. Let the computer (200) do more.

(Structure 6)
In any one of (Structure 1) to (Structure 5), the virtual space further includes a first avatar and a second avatar associated with the user, and the virtual viewpoint is the first avatar of the first avatar. The viewpoint, the moving step includes moving the first avatar together with the virtual viewpoint, and if it is not the first positional relationship, the moving step corresponds to the movement of the first part constituting the user's body. In the case of the step of causing the first avatar to perform the first operation with respect to the second avatar and the first positional relationship, the first avatar causes the first avatar to perform the first operation with respect to the second avatar according to the movement of the first portion. The non-operating step and the step are further performed by the computer (200).

(Structure 7)
In any one of (Structure 1) to (Structure 6), the second field-of-view image displays all objects in the field of view including the first object and the second object in the second display mode.

(Structure 8)
According to certain embodiments, a method performed by a computer (200) is provided. The method includes a step of defining a virtual space including a virtual viewpoint, a plurality of objects including the first object and the second object, and a first area associated with the first object, and a head mount device (120). A step of detecting the movement of the associated user (S1521), a step of moving the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the user (S1522), and a first positional relationship between the virtual viewpoint and the first region. In the step (S1523) for detecting the presence or absence, and when the first object is included in the view from the virtual viewpoint, which is not the first positional relationship (S1523: N), the image corresponding to the view is used. There is a step (S1524) of displaying the first view image in which the first object is displayed in the first display mode on the head mount device (120), and the first positional relationship and the first view in the view. When one object and the second object are included, a second view image corresponding to the view and displaying the first object and the second object in a second display mode different from the first display mode is displayed. , A step (S1526) of displaying on the head mount device (120).

(Structure 9)
According to one embodiment, an information processing device (computer 200) including a memory (220) for storing a program and a processor (210) is provided. The processor (210) reads the program and defines a virtual space including a virtual viewpoint, a plurality of objects including the first object and the second object, and a first area associated with the first object. The step, the step of detecting the movement of the user associated with the head mount device (120) (S1521), the step of moving the virtual viewpoint in response to the movement of the user (S1522), the virtual viewpoint and the above. The step of detecting whether or not the first region has a first positional relationship (S1523) and the first object are included in the view from the virtual viewpoint, not the first positional relationship (S1523: N). In this case, the step (S1524) of displaying the first view image corresponding to the view and displaying the first object in the first display mode on the head mount device (120) and the first position. When the first object and the second object are included in the view, the second object is an image corresponding to the view and the first object and the second object are different from the first display mode. The step (S1526) of displaying the second view image displayed in the display mode on the head mount device (120) is executed.

2 ... network, 5 ... user, 6 ... avatar object, 11 ... virtual space, 12 ... center, 14 ... virtual camera, 15 ... view area, 100 ... HMD system, 110 ... HMD set, 130 ... monitor, 170 ... microphone, 180 ... Speaker, 190 ... Sensor, 200 ... Computer, 210 ... Processor, 220 ... Memory, 230 ... Storage, 240 ... Input / Output Interface, 250 ... Communication Interface, 300 ... Controller, 310 ... Grip, 320 ... Frame, 340, 350 370, 380 ... Button, 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 , 610 ... Processor, 620 ... Memory, 630 ... Storage, 640 ... Input / output interface, 650 ... Communication interface, 1421 ... Virtual camera control module, 1422 ... View area determination module, 1423 ... Reference line-of-sight identification module, 1424 ... Motion detection module , 1424 ... Face organ detection module, 1425 ... Motion detection module, 1426 ... Virtual space definition module, 1427 ... Virtual object generation module, 1428 ... Operation object control module, 1429 ... Avatar control module, 1431 ... Spatial information, 1432 ... Object information , 1433 ... user information, 1434 face information, 1435 ... mouth template, 1438 ... view image generation module, 1531 ... mouth area, 1641 ... contour detection line

Claims (9)

On the computer
A step of defining a virtual space that includes a virtual viewpoint, a plurality of objects including the first object and the second object, and a first area associated with the first object.
With the step that the head mount device detects the movement of the associated user,
A step of moving the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the user,
A step of detecting whether or not the virtual viewpoint and the first region have a first positional relationship, and
When the first object is included in the field of view from the virtual viewpoint and not in the first positional relationship, the first field-of-view image is an image corresponding to the field of view and the first object is displayed in the first display mode. Is displayed on the head-mounted device, and
When the first positional relationship and the field of view include the first object and the second object, the image corresponding to the field of view and the first object and the second object are displayed in the first display mode. The step of displaying the second field of view image displayed in the second display mode different from the above on the head mount device, and
A program to execute. The second display mode is a display mode having a higher transmittance than the first display mode.
The program according to claim 1. In the second view image, among the floor surfaces visualized in the view, the visibility of the floor surface other than the floor surface of the first object and the floor surface of the second object is the floor surface of the first object. And the program according to claim 2, which is higher than the floor surface of the second object. In the second visual field image, the visibility of the first point in the visual field where the distance from the virtual viewpoint is the first distance is the second distance where the distance from the virtual viewpoint is shorter than the first distance. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is lower than the visibility of the second point in the field of view. When it is not the first positional relationship, a step of generating a sound in the first output mode in the virtual space according to the movement of the user, and
In the case of the first positional relationship, a step of generating a sound in a second output mode different from the first output mode in the virtual space according to the movement of the user,
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the computer further executes the program. The virtual space further includes a first avatar and a second avatar associated with the user.
The virtual viewpoint is the viewpoint of the first avatar, and is
The moving step includes moving the first avatar with the virtual viewpoint.
In the case of not the first positional relationship, the step of causing the first avatar to perform the first action with respect to the second avatar according to the movement of the first part constituting the user's body.
In the case of the first positional relationship, the step of not performing the first operation on the second avatar on the first avatar according to the movement of the first part, and
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further causing the computer to execute the program. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second field-of-view image displays all objects in the field of view including the first object and the second object in the second display mode. A method performed by a computer
A step of defining a virtual space that includes a virtual viewpoint, a plurality of objects including the first object and the second object, and a first area associated with the first object.
With the step that the head mount device detects the movement of the associated user,
A step of moving the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the user,
A step of detecting whether or not the virtual viewpoint and the first region have a first positional relationship, and
When the first object is included in the field of view from the virtual viewpoint and not in the first positional relationship, the first field-of-view image is an image corresponding to the field of view and the first object is displayed in the first display mode. Is displayed on the head-mounted device, and
When the first positional relationship and the field of view include the first object and the second object, the image corresponding to the field of view and the first object and the second object are displayed in the first display mode. The step of displaying the second field of view image displayed in the second display mode different from the above on the head mount device, and
How to include. Equipped with memory and processor to store programs
The processor reads the program and
A step of defining a virtual space that includes a virtual viewpoint, a plurality of objects including the first object and the second object, and a first area associated with the first object.
With the step that the head mount device detects the movement of the associated user,
A step of moving the virtual viewpoint according to the movement of the user,
A step of detecting whether or not the virtual viewpoint and the first region have a first positional relationship, and
When the first object is included in the field of view from the virtual viewpoint and not in the first positional relationship, the first field-of-view image is an image corresponding to the field of view and the first object is displayed in the first display mode. Is displayed on the head-mounted device, and
When the first positional relationship and the field of view include the first object and the second object, the image corresponding to the field of view and the first object and the second object are displayed in the first display mode. The step of displaying the second field of view image displayed in the second display mode different from the above on the head mount device, and
Information processing device that executes.

Images