JP2023057124A - Image processing apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user convenience when a virtual view point relating to the reproduction of a virtual view point image is changed.

SOLUTION: Provided is an information processing unit which determines a virtual view point and a reproduction time used for generating a virtual view point image from a plurality of captured images obtained by a plurality of imaging apparatuses. The information processing unit includes: a holding part which associates a predetermined virtual view point with reproduction time information and holds the predetermined virtual view point and the reproduction time information; a first setting part which sets, according to an instruction of switching a virtual view point to the predetermined virtual view point, a virtual view point used for generating a virtual view point image to the predetermined virtual view point; and a second setting part which sets, according to the instruction, the reproduction time of a virtual view point image based on the reproduction time information held in association with the predetermined virtual view point.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, its control method, and a program.

In recent years, multiple cameras have been installed at different positions to take synchronous multi-view images. Using the multi-view images obtained from these shots, not only images from the camera installation positions but also virtual viewpoint images from arbitrary viewpoints can be generated. The technology to do so is attracting attention. Virtual viewpoint images based on multiple viewpoint images are generated by collecting multiple viewpoint images captured by multiple cameras in an image processing unit such as a server, and performing processing such as rendering based on the virtual viewpoints in the image processing unit. be. The generated virtual viewpoint image is transferred to the user terminal, displayed, and viewed by the user.

A service using a virtual viewpoint image as described above can provide a user with a high sense of realism compared to a conventional photographed image. For example, video creators will be able to create powerful viewpoint content from videos of soccer and basketball games. In addition, the user viewing the content can watch the game while freely moving his/her viewpoint. In addition, by using the recorded content, it is possible to view replays such as rewinding, pausing, and slow playback by changing the playback time as well as moving the viewpoint.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for generating and displaying a virtual viewpoint image corresponding to an arbitrary viewpoint using images obtained by photographing a subject with a plurality of cameras arranged so as to surround the subject.

JP 2008-15756 A

When a user viewing video content of a virtual viewpoint image switches the virtual viewpoint from one viewpoint to another, especially when the position and orientation of the virtual viewpoint change significantly, the situation of the scene displayed after the switching may change. It is conceivable that it may not be possible to grasp it immediately. Also, even if the user notices that a notable event such as a goal scene has occurred and switches to a viewpoint that makes it easier to see the event, the event has already ended. Therefore, when the user wants to watch the event again from a desired viewpoint, the user has to perform an operation to return the reproduction time after switching the viewpoint, which increases the user's trouble.

The present invention provides a technique for improving user convenience when changing a virtual viewpoint related to reproduction of a virtual viewpoint image.

An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. i.e.
A virtual viewpoint setting device that determines a virtual viewpoint and a reproduction time used to generate a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of captured images acquired by a plurality of imaging devices,
holding means for holding a predetermined virtual viewpoint and reproduction time information in association with each other;
a first setting means for setting a virtual viewpoint used for generating a virtual viewpoint image to the predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to an instruction to switch the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined virtual viewpoint;
and second setting means for setting a reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image based on the reproduction time information held in association with the predetermined virtual viewpoint in accordance with the instruction.

According to the present invention, the user's convenience is improved when changing a virtual viewpoint for reproducing a virtual viewpoint image.

1A is a diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of an image generating device; FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an installation example of an imaging device in an image processing system; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of an image generation device; 4 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing according to the first embodiment; 4A is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement example of a virtual space and a virtual viewpoint according to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 4B and 4C are diagrams showing screen display examples according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing for generating a virtual viewpoint image according to the second embodiment; (a) is a conceptual diagram showing an example of arrangement of a virtual space and a virtual viewpoint according to the second embodiment; (b) and (c) are diagrams showing examples of screen display according to the second embodiment; 11 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing according to the third embodiment; (a) is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement example of a virtual space and a virtual viewpoint according to a third embodiment; (b) and (c) are diagrams showing screen display examples according to the third embodiment; 14 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing according to the fourth embodiment; (a) is a diagram for explaining history information according to the fourth embodiment, and (b) and (c) are diagrams showing screen display examples according to the fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system 100 according to the first embodiment. The image processing system 100 includes a plurality of photographing devices 110 , an image generation device 120 that is an example of an information processing device, and a terminal device 130 . Each of the photographing devices 110 and the image generating device 120 are connected via a communication cable such as a LAN (Local Area Network) cable. In addition, in the first embodiment, the communication cable is assumed to be a LAN cable, but the communication cable is not limited to the embodiment.

The photographing device 110 is, for example, a digital camera capable of photographing images (still images and moving images). A plurality of photographing devices 110 are installed so as to surround a stadium such as a soccer field or a specific subject, and photograph images (videos). The captured image is transmitted from the imaging device 110 to the image generation device 120 . FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an installation example of the imaging device 110. As shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the plurality of photographing devices 110 are installed so as to photograph all or part of the soccer field. In other words, the image processing system 100 of the first embodiment includes a plurality of photographing devices 110 for photographing a subject from a plurality of directions.

The image generation device 120 accumulates captured images obtained by the imaging device 110 . When the virtual viewpoint information and the reproduction time information are input by the user's operation on the terminal device 130, the image generation device 120 performs reproduction indicated by the reproduction time information based on the stored captured image and the virtual viewpoint indicated by the virtual viewpoint information. Generate a virtual viewpoint image from time. The virtual viewpoint information is information indicating the three-dimensional position and angle of a virtual viewpoint (virtual viewpoint) in a virtual space constructed from captured images. Virtual viewpoint information is relative to a predetermined position such as the center of the stadium where the image was taken, that is, position information of front and back, left and right, and top and bottom with respect to the predetermined position, and orientation from the predetermined position, that is, front and back, left and right, and top and bottom. Angular direction information. The playback time information is time information from the recording start time of the captured image. The image generation device 120 generates a virtual viewpoint image at the reproduction time specified by the reproduction time information.

The image generation device 120 is, for example, a server device, and has a database function and an image processing function. The image generation device 120 stores in the database, as a background image, an image of a scene of a competition venue in which there is no subject, such as before the start of the competition, captured by the imaging device 110 . In addition, in a scene in which a subject such as a player in a competition exists, the image generation device 120 separates a specific object or the like, which is the subject, as a foreground by image processing, and stores it in the database as a specific object image. Note that the specific object is not limited to a player competing, but may be, for example, another specific person (backup player, manager, referee, etc.), and may be an object with a predetermined image pattern, such as a ball or goal. may

A virtual viewpoint image corresponding to virtual viewpoint information is generated from a background image and a specific object image managed by a database. For example, model-based rendering (MBR) is used as a method for generating a virtual viewpoint image. MBR is a method of generating a virtual viewpoint image using a three-dimensional model generated based on a plurality of captured images of a subject captured from a plurality of directions. More specifically, MBR uses a three-dimensional shape (model) of a target scene obtained by a three-dimensional shape restoration method such as the visual volume intersection method and Multi-View-Stereo (MVS), and from a virtual viewpoint It is a technology that generates the appearance of a scene as an image. Note that a rendering method other than MBR may be used as the method of generating the virtual viewpoint image. The image generation device 120 transmits the generated virtual viewpoint image to the terminal device 130 via a LAN cable or the like.

The terminal device 130 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or a tablet. The controller 131 is, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a 6-axis controller, or a touch panel, and is operated by the user using these to display still images and moving images on the screen. The terminal device 130 displays the virtual viewpoint image received from the image generation device 120 on the screen 132, for example. The terminal device 130 further receives a reproduction time and an instruction to move the virtual viewpoint (an instruction regarding the amount of movement and the direction of movement) in accordance with a user operation on the connected controller 131, and indicates instruction information according to the received instruction. A transmission signal is sent to the image generation device 120 .

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of an image generation device 120 as an information processing device according to the first embodiment. The image generation device 120 has a CPU 201 , a ROM 202 , a RAM 203 , an HDD 204 , a display section 205 , an input section 206 and a communication section 207 .

The CPU 201 is a processor that reads control programs stored in the ROM 202 and executes various processes. A ROM 202 is a read only memory. A RAM 203 is a memory (random access memory) to which data can be written at any time, and is used as a main memory of the CPU 201 and a temporary storage area such as a work area. The HDD 204 is a storage medium such as a hard disk that stores various data, various programs, and the like. The display unit 205 displays various information. An input unit 206 has a keyboard and a mouse, and receives various operations by the user. A communication unit 207 performs communication processing with an external device such as the imaging device 110 via a network. Note that Ethernet (registered trademark) can be used as a network. As another example, the communication unit 207 may wirelessly communicate with an external device.

Note that functions and processes of the image generating apparatus 120, which will be described later, are realized by the CPU 201 reading a program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204 and executing the program. However, some or all of the functions of the image generation device 120, which will be described later, may be realized by dedicated hardware, or may be realized by cooperation of dedicated hardware and software. Also, the hardware configuration of the terminal device 130 is the same as that of the image generation device 120 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the image generation device 120. As shown in FIG. The image input unit 301 converts a transmission signal input from the imaging device 110 via the LAN cable into captured image data and outputs the captured image data to the separation unit 302 . Among the captured images input from the image input unit 301, the separating unit 302 outputs, as background image data, an image of a scene of a competition venue in which no subject is present, such as before the start of a competition, to the image storage unit 303. . Also, a subject such as a player is extracted from an image captured during the game, and is output to the image storage unit 303 as foreground image data. The image storage unit 303 functions as a database that stores, as background image data, an image captured in advance without a subject among the captured image data input from the separation unit 302 . The image storage unit 303 also stores difference data between the background image data and the photographed image data in which the subject exists as foreground image data. The image storage unit 303 also outputs the foreground image data to the shape generation unit 305 . Image storage unit 303 also outputs background image data and foreground image data designated by image generation unit 310 to image generation unit 310 .

The parameter holding unit 304 holds, as camera parameter information, position information, focal length, shutter speed, and the like of each of the plurality of photographing devices 110 arranged to surround the stadium. The imaging device 110 is installed at a predetermined position. The parameter holding unit 304 also outputs camera parameter information to the shape generation unit 305 and the image generation unit 310 . The shape generation unit 305 estimates the shape of the object using the foreground image data input from the image storage unit 303 and the camera parameter information input from the parameter storage unit 304 . For example, the shape generation unit 305 generates subject shape information of the subject using a three-dimensional shape restoration method such as the visual volume intersection method. Shape generating section 305 outputs the generated object shape information to image generating section 310 .

The user input unit 306 converts a transmission signal input from the terminal device 130 via the LAN cable into user input data. When the user input data is playback time information and virtual viewpoint information, the playback time information and virtual viewpoint information are output to the information setting unit 307 . Also, when the user input data is a virtual viewpoint switching instruction, the virtual viewpoint switching instruction is output to the information setting unit 307 . Here, the instruction to switch the virtual viewpoint is, for example, by storing and managing the position of the virtual viewpoint near the goal and the tag name such as "before goal 1" in advance, and inputting the tag name from the user input unit 306. It refers to the action of instantaneously moving to this saved position. That is, the user can view the shooting scene from a virtual viewpoint near the goal by designating the tag name "before goal 1" at the recording time at which the soccer shooting scene occurs.

The information setting unit 307 updates the virtual viewpoint used by the image generation unit 310 to generate the virtual viewpoint image based on the virtual viewpoint information input from the user input unit 306 . Further, when a virtual viewpoint switching instruction is input from the user input unit 306, the information setting unit 307 acquires virtual viewpoint information held in the viewpoint holding unit 309 based on the input virtual viewpoint switching instruction, and generates an image. The virtual viewpoint information used by the unit 310 is updated. Further, when receiving a virtual viewpoint switching instruction, the information setting unit 307 acquires the reproduction time information stored in the time holding unit 308 and updates the reproduction time information used by the image generation unit 310 . The information setting section 307 outputs the virtual viewpoint information and the reproduction time information to the image generation section 310 . Note that the center of the stadium or the like is set in advance as the origin of the virtual space.

The time holding unit 308 and the viewpoint holding unit 309 are an example of a configuration that functions as a holding unit that associates and holds a predetermined virtual viewpoint and reproduction time information. Here, the predetermined virtual viewpoint is a virtual viewpoint designated as a virtual viewpoint switching destination by a virtual viewpoint switching instruction. The time holding unit 308 holds reproduction time information corresponding to a predetermined virtual viewpoint and outputs it to the information setting unit 307 . In this embodiment, the reproduction time information includes a time difference value such as 00:00:03, for example. Although the time difference value is used as an example here, the content of the reproduction time information is not limited to this, and a predetermined elapsed time from the recording start time may be held. A viewpoint holding unit 309 holds virtual viewpoint information indicating a predetermined virtual viewpoint (position, direction), and outputs the virtual viewpoint information to the information setting unit 307 . The viewpoint holding unit 309 holds, for example, a virtual viewpoint for viewing a goal of a soccer field from the front as virtual viewpoint information in association with a tag name.

The information setting unit 307 acquires post-switching virtual viewpoint information and reproduction time information by designating a tag name such as "before goal 1" in the virtual viewpoint switching instruction. It is assumed that the user can arbitrarily specify the predetermined virtual viewpoint. Therefore, the information setting unit 307 is an example of a configuration that realizes a function of setting a virtual viewpoint used for generating a virtual viewpoint image to a predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to an instruction to switch the virtual viewpoint to a predetermined virtual viewpoint. . Also, the information setting unit 307 is an example of a configuration that implements a function of setting the playback time of a virtual viewpoint image based on playback time information held in association with a predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to the switching instruction. is.

The image generation unit 310 generates a virtual viewpoint image at the reproduction time set by the information setting unit 307, which is observed from the virtual viewpoint set by the information setting unit 307, from a plurality of captured images. The image generation unit 310 receives foreground image data and background image data from the image storage unit 303 , camera parameters from the parameter storage unit 304 , object shape information from the shape generation unit 305 , and reproduction time information and virtual viewpoint from the information setting unit 307 . Get information. Next, based on the acquired information, the image generation unit 310 performs projection transformation and image processing on the background image data captured at the relevant time into a shape viewed from the virtual viewpoint, and uses it as the background of the virtual viewpoint image. Next, the image generating unit 310 generates a virtual viewpoint image by rendering (coloring) the object shape viewed from the virtual viewpoint position with color information of the image data captured by the real camera at the corresponding time. For example, in a situation where the subject based on the subject shape information is visible from the virtual viewpoint, if the real camera position information is within a predetermined range from the position of the subject shape information, the image generation unit 310 generates the foreground image data of the real camera. Used as the color of the shape model.

The information setting unit 307, the time holding unit 308, and the viewpoint holding unit 309 described above determine the virtual viewpoint and the playback time used to generate a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of shot images acquired by a plurality of shooting devices. It functions as a virtual viewpoint setting device. Using the virtual viewpoint and the reproduction time set by the virtual viewpoint setting device, the image generation unit 310 of the image generation device 120 generates a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of shot images acquired by a plurality of shooting devices. The image output unit 311 converts the virtual viewpoint image (image data) generated by the image generation unit 310 into a transmission signal that can be transmitted to the terminal device 130 and outputs the transmission signal. Note that the comparison unit 321, the distance calculation unit 331, and the history storage unit 341 are configurations used in the second, third, and fourth embodiments, respectively, and can be omitted in the first embodiment. These functional configurations will be described later in each embodiment.

Next, the operation of the image generation device 120 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing by the image generation device 120 of the first embodiment.

The user input unit 306 monitors whether the received data is user input data from the terminal device 130 (S401). If the received data is data other than the user input data, it waits (NO in S401). If the received data is user input data (YES in S401), the information setting unit 307 determines whether or not the received user input data is a viewpoint switching instruction (S402).

If it is determined that the user input data is a viewpoint switching instruction (YES in S402), the information setting unit 307 stores the virtual viewpoint information stored in the viewpoint storage unit 309 and the playback data stored in the time storage unit 308. Time information is acquired (S403). Note that the viewpoint switching instruction includes a tag name indicating the virtual viewpoint to be switched to, and the information setting unit 307 acquires the virtual viewpoint information of the specified tag name and the corresponding reproduction time information (time difference value). . On the other hand, if the user input data is not a viewpoint switching instruction (NO in S402), the information setting unit 307 acquires the playback time and virtual viewpoint from the user input unit 306 (S404). Note that when the reproduction time information is not input from the user input unit 306, the information setting unit 307 may use the time following the current reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image as the reproduction time.

The information setting unit 307 updates the virtual viewpoint and the reproduction time used by the image generation unit 310 with the virtual viewpoint information and the reproduction time information acquired in S403 or S404 (S405). Here, when the reproduction time information is acquired in S403, the information setting unit 307 uses the time difference value included in the reproduction time information to change the reproduction time when switching the virtual viewpoint. In this embodiment, the information setting unit 307 returns the playback time to the past time by setting the playback time after switching to the time obtained by subtracting the time difference value from the playback time at the time of switching. Based on the updated playback time and virtual viewpoint, the image generation unit 310 acquires the foreground image data and the background image data shot at the corresponding time from the image storage unit 303 (S406). Also, the image generator 310 acquires subject shape information from the shape generator 305 (S407). Furthermore, the image generation unit 310 acquires camera parameter information from the parameter holding unit 304 (S408).

The image generation unit 310 applies projection transformation and image processing to the background image data as viewed from the virtual viewpoint indicated by the virtual viewpoint information, and uses the data as the background of the virtual viewpoint image. Next, the image generating unit 310 generates a virtual viewpoint image by rendering (coloring) the subject shape viewed from the virtual viewpoint using the color information of the image data captured by the real camera (S409). Thus, the virtual viewpoint image of the virtual viewpoint updated in S505 is generated using the playback time updated in S505 as the start time.

FIG. 5(a) is a conceptual diagram of the virtual space according to the first embodiment. A virtual viewpoint 501 operated by the user in the virtual space generated based on the captured image of the imaging device 110 captures the subject 510 and is sufficiently distant from the shooting scene of the subject 510 . A virtual viewpoint 502 indicates a position based on the virtual viewpoint information stored in the viewpoint holding unit 309, and is arranged at a position where the shooting scene in front of the goal can be easily captured. The virtual viewpoint 502 is, for example, a virtual viewpoint specified by virtual viewpoint information associated with the tag name "before goal 1".

FIG. 5B is a display example of a virtual viewpoint image on the terminal device 130. FIG. When a subject 510 is photographed from a virtual viewpoint 501, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 5(b). It is also assumed that the reproduction time at this time is 11:22:33. In this state, when the user executes an instruction to switch the virtual viewpoint to the virtual viewpoint “before the goal 1” via the terminal device 130 , the information setting unit 307 changes the virtual viewpoint used by the image generation unit 310 to the virtual viewpoint 502 . Move to position. Also, at this time, the information setting unit 307 acquires the reproduction time information (00:00:03) corresponding to “behind the goal 1” from the time holding unit 308, and sets the reproduction time used by the image generation unit 310 to 3 seconds. move forward. As a result, the virtual viewpoint image generated by the image generator 310 and displayed by the terminal device 130 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5(c). The playback time at this time is 11:22:30, which is 3 seconds back from the playback time in FIG. 5(b). In this way, when the virtual viewpoint is switched by a user operation, the context of the scene at the time of switching the virtual viewpoint can be easily grasped by changing the playback time based on the time difference value stored in advance. . Also, the user does not need to set the playback time each time, which improves operability.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the virtual viewpoint is switched by the user operation, the virtual viewpoint image of the playback time before the switching is automatically generated. It is possible to browse scenes. Note that the time holding unit 308 holds a predetermined playback time (elapsed time from the start time of recording) as playback time information corresponding to a predetermined virtual viewpoint, and the information setting unit 307 stores the playback time after switching to the predetermined virtual viewpoint. may be set to the predetermined reproduction time. In such a configuration, if the reproduction time indicated by the reproduction time information is temporally later than the current reproduction time, the reproduction time after switching may continue from the reproduction time at the time of switching. good. Of course, even if the reproduction time indicated by the reproduction time information is temporally later than the current reproduction time, the reproduction time after switching may be updated according to the reproduction time information. For example, by setting the time of the highlight scene, the highlight scene from the desired virtual viewpoint can be reproduced at the desired timing (before or after the time of the highlight scene).

<Second embodiment>
In the second embodiment, when the virtual viewpoint is switched, the change amount of the reproduction time is changed based on the positional relationship between the display range before the virtual viewpoint switching and the display range after the switching.

In the second embodiment, the comparator 321 shown in FIG. 3 is used. The comparison unit 321 is an example of a configuration that functions as a determination unit that determines a state of overlap between the display range of the virtual viewpoint image before switching the virtual viewpoint and the display range of the virtual viewpoint image after switching the virtual viewpoint. The comparison unit 321 of this embodiment acquires the virtual viewpoint information before the virtual viewpoint switching and the virtual viewpoint information after the virtual viewpoint switching from the information setting unit 307, and compares the display ranges of the respective virtual viewpoints. Then, the comparison unit 321 determines whether or not there is an overlapping portion between the display range before switching the virtual viewpoint and the display range after switching the virtual viewpoint, and outputs the result as overlap information. Note that the overlap information is not limited to indicating the presence or absence of overlapping portions. information) may be held.

The information setting unit 307 of the second embodiment changes the amount of change from the playback time at the time of switching to the playback time after switching based on the overlap state determined as described above. More specifically, when the information setting unit 307 receives a virtual viewpoint switching instruction from the user input unit 306, the information setting unit 307 inputs from the viewpoint holding unit 309 the virtual viewpoint information corresponding to the virtual viewpoint to be switched to by the instruction. do. The information setting unit 307 then outputs the virtual viewpoint information immediately before the virtual viewpoint switching and the virtual viewpoint information acquired from the viewpoint holding unit 309 to the comparing unit 321 . The information setting unit 307 acquires overlap information from the comparison unit 321, and updates the reproduction time used by the image generation unit 310 according to the reproduction time information acquired from the time holding unit 308 according to this overlap information. For example, if the overlapping information indicates that there is an overlapping portion in the display range before and after switching the virtual viewpoint, the reproduction time information (time difference value) is 0:00:03. On the other hand, for example, when the overlap information indicates that there is no overlap, the reproduction time information is set to 0:00:05. In this way, the time difference value when the display range does not include the overlapping portion before and after switching the virtual viewpoint is set to a larger value than the time difference value when the display range includes the overlapping portion.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing by the image generation device 120 according to the second embodiment. Among the processes shown in FIG. 6, the same processes as those shown in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numbers.

After the processing of S402, the information setting unit 307 acquires the virtual viewpoint information held by the viewpoint holding unit 309 (S601). Next, the comparison unit 321 acquires from the information setting unit 307 the virtual viewpoint information before switching the virtual viewpoint and the virtual viewpoint information acquired from the viewpoint holding unit 309, and compares the display ranges to generate overlapping information. (S902). The information setting unit 307 refers to the overlapping information, and switches the reproduction time information acquired from the time holding unit 308 according to whether the display ranges before and after the switching of the virtual viewpoints have overlapping portions (S903). For example, if the overlap information indicates that the display range before and after the switching of the virtual viewpoint does not include an overlapping portion, the first time difference value is obtained, and otherwise the second time difference value is obtained. Here, the first time difference value is greater than the second time difference value. For example, the first time difference value is 0:00:05, and the second time difference value is 0:00:30. The processing after S405 is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a conceptual diagram of the virtual space according to the second embodiment. A virtual viewpoint 701 and a subject 710 are added to FIG. 5(a). A virtual viewpoint 701 is a virtual viewpoint different from the virtual viewpoint 502 and indicates a position in the virtual space based on the virtual viewpoint information stored in the viewpoint holding unit 309 . The virtual viewpoint 701 is arranged at a position where the subject 710 can be easily photographed.

FIG. 7B is a screen display example of a virtual viewpoint image in the terminal device 130 of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the information setting unit 307 determines whether there is an overlapping portion in the display range, and changes the reproduction time information according to the determination result. For example, when the virtual viewpoint 501 is switched to the virtual viewpoint 502, the display range before and after the viewpoint switching includes an overlapping portion, so the time difference value used for setting the reproduction time is 0:00:3. As a result, the display shown in FIG. 7(b) (same as FIG. 5(b)) and FIG. 5(c) is obtained before and after the viewpoint switching. On the other hand, when the virtual viewpoint 501 is switched to the virtual viewpoint 701, there is no overlap between the display ranges before and after the viewpoint switching. Used. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, the playback time of the virtual viewpoint image is 11:22:28.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the viewpoint is switched and displayed in the virtual space, the reproduction time is changed depending on whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the display range before and after the switching. Therefore, it is possible to automatically set the time according to the display contents before and after the viewpoint switching. In the second embodiment, the amount of change in the reproduction time is determined according to whether or not the display ranges overlap. You may do so. Also, in the above configuration, the time difference value is selected according to the redundant information, but the configuration is not limited to this. The time holding unit 308 may hold one time difference value for one virtual viewpoint, and the information setting unit 307 may increase or decrease the time difference value acquired from the time holding unit 308 according to overlap information.

<Third Embodiment>
In the third embodiment, when the virtual viewpoint is switched, the change amount of the reproduction time is changed according to the spatial distance of the virtual viewpoint before and after switching.

The image generation device 120 of the third embodiment has a distance calculator 331 in the configuration of FIG. The distance calculation unit 331 calculates the movement distance of the virtual viewpoint from the virtual viewpoint information before the virtual viewpoint switching and the virtual viewpoint information after the virtual viewpoint switching, which are input from the information setting unit 307, and uses the information setting unit 307 as the movement distance information. supply to The distance calculation unit 331 is an example of a configuration that functions as a calculation unit that calculates the distance between the virtual viewpoint before switching and the virtual viewpoint after switching.

Based on the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit 331, the information setting unit 307 varies the amount of change from the reproduction time when the virtual viewpoint is switched to the reproduction time after the switching. More specifically, when the information setting unit 307 receives a virtual viewpoint switching instruction from the user input unit 306, the information setting unit 307 stores the virtual viewpoint information of the switching destination specified by the virtual viewpoint switching instruction from the viewpoint holding unit 309. get. The information setting unit 307 provides the distance calculation unit 331 with the virtual viewpoint information immediately before the virtual viewpoint switching and the virtual viewpoint information acquired from the viewpoint holding unit 309 . The distance calculator 331 calculates the distance between the two virtual viewpoints indicated by the two virtual viewpoint information provided. The information setting unit 307 acquires the movement distance information indicating the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit 331, acquires the reproduction time information from the time storage unit 308 accordingly, and sets the reproduction time information based on the acquired reproduction time information. Update.

For example, the time holding unit 308 stores 0:00:03 as reproduction time information when the movement distance is 40 m or less, and 0:00 as reproduction time information when the movement distance is greater than 40 m, with respect to the above-mentioned switching destination virtual viewpoint. Assume that 0 minutes and 5 seconds are held. When the movement distance information obtained from the distance calculation section 331 indicates a movement distance of 30 m, the information setting section 307 obtains 00:00:03 as reproduction time information from the time holding section 308 . On the other hand, when the movement distance information indicates a movement distance of 50 m, the information setting section 307 acquires 0:00:05 from the time holding section 308 as the reproduction time information. After that, the information setting unit 307 updates the reproduction time information using the acquired reproduction time information, updates the virtual viewpoint information with the virtual viewpoint of the switching destination, and provides the updated information to the image generation unit 310 .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing by the image generation device 120 of the third embodiment. Among the processes shown in FIG. 8, the same processes as those shown in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numbers as in FIG.

After the process of S402, the information setting unit 307 acquires the virtual viewpoint information after switching the virtual viewpoint from the viewpoint holding unit 309 (S801). Based on the virtual viewpoint information before the virtual viewpoint switching and the virtual viewpoint information after the virtual viewpoint switching acquired by the information setting unit 307 from the viewpoint holding unit 309, the distance calculation unit 331 calculates the distance of the virtual viewpoint before and after the switching. Distance information is acquired (S802).

Subsequently, the information setting unit 307 acquires the time difference value corresponding to the movement distance information from the time holding unit 308 (S803). Specifically, when the movement distance information acquired from the distance calculation unit 331 indicates a movement distance equal to or less than a predetermined value (in the above example, the movement distance is 40 m or less), the reproduction time information acquired from the time holding unit 308 ( time difference value) is 0:00:03. On the other hand, when the movement distance information acquired from the distance calculation unit 331 indicates a movement distance greater than a predetermined value (in the above example, the movement distance is greater than 40 m), the reproduction time information (time difference value ) becomes 0:00:05. The processing after S405 is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9(a) is a conceptual diagram of the virtual space according to the third embodiment. In addition to FIG. 5A, a virtual viewpoint 901 indicates a position in the virtual space based on the virtual viewpoint information stored in the viewpoint holding unit 309. When viewed from the position of the virtual viewpoint 501, the virtual viewpoint 502 is located farther than the position of .

9B and 9C show screen display examples of virtual viewpoint images in the terminal device 130 of the third embodiment. FIG. 9(b) shows a display example of a virtual viewpoint image at the virtual viewpoint 501 (the same image as in FIG. 5(b)). In the third embodiment, the playback time is set based on the moving distance of the virtual viewpoint. In the above example, when the viewpoint is switched from the virtual viewpoint 501 to the virtual viewpoint 502, the moving distance of the virtual viewpoint before and after the viewpoint switching is 30 m, and the time difference value is 0:00:03. As a result, after switching to the virtual viewpoint 502, the playback time is 11:22:30, as shown in FIG. 5C. On the other hand, when the viewpoint is switched from the virtual viewpoint 501 to the virtual viewpoint 901, the moving distance of the virtual viewpoint is 50 m before and after the viewpoint switching, and the time difference value is 0:00:05. As a result, the playback time after switching is 11:22:28, as shown in FIG. 9(c). That is, the playback time is returned to the past when the viewpoint is switched to a farther position.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the viewpoint is switched and displayed in the virtual space, the reproduction time is changed according to the movement distance before and after the switching. It is possible to set. In the third embodiment, the change amount of the reproduction time is determined according to whether or not the moving distance of the virtual viewpoint is greater than the predetermined value, but the present invention is not limited to this. The larger the moving distance of the virtual viewpoint, the larger the amount of change. For example, the moving distance may be divided into three or more stages using two or more threshold values, and the amount of change corresponding to each stage may be used.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, for a virtual viewpoint image corresponding to a virtual viewpoint held in the viewpoint holding unit 309 as a switching destination virtual viewpoint, history information indicating the relationship between the reproduction time and the number of times of reproduction is held, and reproduction after switching is performed. Sets the time based on historical information. For example, when the virtual viewpoint is switched, the time at which the viewing count is high among the reproduction times of the virtual viewpoint after switching is acquired from the history information, and is set as the reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image.

In the functional configuration of the image generation device 120 of the fourth embodiment, the history holding unit 341 shown in FIG. 3 is used. The history holding unit 341 holds history information indicating the relationship between the reproduction times and the number of reproductions of the virtual viewpoint images corresponding to the virtual viewpoints held by the viewpoint holding unit 309 . As shown in FIG. 11A, the past playback times and the number of playbacks (viewing counts) are held for virtual viewpoints that can be used as switching destinations. The viewing count is obtained, for example, by adding the number of viewing times of the same content by the user at the position in the virtual space and the playback time. In this example, for example, when the virtual viewpoint images are reproduced between times t3 and t5, the number of viewing times at times t3, t4, and t5 is incremented by one. For example, when many users view or repeatedly view a virtual viewpoint image from a virtual viewpoint near a soccer goal at the time when a shooting scene occurs, the virtual viewpoint image has a high audience rating. The information setting unit 307 requests the history holding unit 341 to provide the high viewing time for the virtual viewpoint information after switching. In response to this request, the history holding unit 341 provides the information setting unit 307 with the playback time at which the number of viewing times for the virtual viewpoint information is the highest, as high viewing playback time information.

When a virtual viewpoint switching instruction is input from the user input unit 306 , the information setting unit 307 acquires post-switching virtual viewpoint information from the viewpoint holding unit 309 based on the input virtual viewpoint switching instruction. Also, from the history holding unit 341, the high viewing playback time information in the virtual viewpoint information after switching is acquired. Then, the information setting unit 307 updates the virtual viewpoint information used by the image generation unit 310 by using the acquired post-switching virtual viewpoint information, and sets the reproduction time used by the image generation unit 310 by using the acquired high viewing reproduction time information. Update information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing virtual viewpoint image generation processing by the image generation device 120 of the fourth embodiment. Among the processes shown in FIG. 10, the same processes as those shown in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numbers.

After the process of S402, the information setting unit 307 acquires virtual viewpoint information from the viewpoint holding unit 309 (S1001). Next, the information setting unit 307 acquires from the history holding unit 341 the high viewing reproduction time information of the virtual viewpoint position corresponding to the virtual viewpoint information acquired from the viewpoint holding unit 309 . (S1002). The information setting unit 307 updates the reproduction time information after switching the virtual viewpoint using the high viewing reproduction time information. For example, if the high-viewing reproduction time information is a time earlier than the reproduction time at the time of virtual viewpoint switching, that time is set as the reproduction time after the virtual viewpoint switching. Note that if the high viewing playback time information is a time later than the playback time at the time of switching the virtual viewpoint, the information setting unit 307 sets the playback time at the time of switching the virtual viewpoint to the playback start time of the virtual viewpoint image after switching. and However, even if the high-viewing reproduction time information is after the reproduction time at the time of switching, the time indicated by the high-viewing reproduction time information may be used as the reproduction start time of the virtual viewpoint image after switching. The processing after S405 is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, when a viewpoint switching instruction is received, a virtual viewpoint image is generated using the reproduction time with the highest number of views from the virtual viewpoint held by the viewpoint holding unit 309 and the history information held by the history holding unit 341. will be

FIGS. 11B and 11C show screen display examples of virtual viewpoint images in the terminal device 130 of the fourth embodiment. When the virtual viewpoint 501 is switched to the virtual viewpoint 502, the time when the number of viewing times of the virtual viewpoint 502 indicating the position after the virtual viewpoint switching is the highest (high viewing playback time information) is 11:22:27. Suppose it was In this case, the screen display changes from the display of the virtual viewpoint image (time 11:22:33) of the virtual viewpoint 501 shown in FIG. 11B to the virtual viewpoint image of the virtual viewpoint 502 shown in FIG. is displayed. At this time, the virtual viewpoint image from the virtual viewpoint 502 is reproduced from the reproduction time of 11:22:27. It should be noted that when the virtual viewpoint is switched, the virtual viewpoint image may be reproduced from a time point a predetermined time before the high viewing time reproduction time. For example, in the above example, when switching from the virtual viewpoint 501 to the virtual viewpoint 502, the virtual viewpoint image of the virtual viewpoint 502 is displayed from 11:22:24, which is three seconds before the highest viewing time of 11:22:27. may be played. This allows the user to check not only the important scene but also the immediately preceding scene.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when the viewpoint is switched and displayed in the virtual space, the reproduction time is changed according to the high viewing time at the virtual viewpoint after the switching. Therefore, the user can reproduce the virtual viewpoint image after switching the virtual viewpoint at an appropriate reproduction time with a simple operation. Although the high viewing time is set based on the viewing history, it is not limited to this, and the content creator side determines in advance the time that can be the high viewing time by viewing the content, etc., and sets it in advance. good too.

As described above, in the first to fourth embodiments, the virtual viewpoint information is not limited to only one location, but may have a plurality of or predetermined area ranges, from which selection may be made. Also, the playback time is not limited to one place, but one or more time ranges may exist, from which selection may be made. Note that the switching of the virtual viewpoint may be performed in accordance with a user operation for selecting a viewpoint to be switched from among a plurality of viewpoints set in advance. may be performed in response to a user operation that directly designates at least one of That is, it is not essential that the image generation device 120 saves a predetermined virtual viewpoint that is a candidate for a switching destination.

(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

100: image processing system, 110: photographing device, 120: image generation device, 130: terminal device

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and program.

An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. i.e.
receiving means for receiving an instruction to change the virtual viewpoint;
and generating means for generating a virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the changed virtual viewpoint at a time earlier than the time based on the changed virtual viewpoint according to the change instruction.

Claims (15)

An information processing device that determines a virtual viewpoint and a reproduction time used to generate a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of captured images acquired by a plurality of imaging devices,
holding means for holding a predetermined virtual viewpoint and reproduction time information in association with each other;
a first setting means for setting a virtual viewpoint used for generating a virtual viewpoint image to the predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to an instruction to switch the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined virtual viewpoint;
and second setting means for setting the reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image according to the instruction based on the reproduction time information held in association with the predetermined virtual viewpoint. Information processing equipment. the reproduction time information includes a time difference value;
2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein said second setting means sets a post-switching playback time by using said time difference value to change a playback time when switching between virtual viewpoints. Device. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second setting means sets the reproduction time obtained by subtracting said time difference value from the reproduction time at the time of switching as the reproduction time after switching. the playback time information includes a predetermined playback time,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second setting means sets the reproduction time after switching to said predetermined reproduction time. further comprising determining means for determining a state of overlap between the display range of the virtual viewpoint image before switching the virtual viewpoint and the display range of the virtual viewpoint image after switching the virtual viewpoint;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second setting means varies the amount of change from the reproduction time at the time of switching to the reproduction time after switching based on the state of overlap determined by said determination means. The information processing device described. 6. The second setting means sets the reproduction time after switching when there is no overlap to a time earlier than the reproduction time after switching when there is overlap. The information processing device according to . the reproduction time information includes a plurality of time difference values that differ according to the state of duplication;
The second setting means selects one time difference value from the plurality of time difference values according to the overlapping state, and uses the selected time difference value to change the playback time at the time of switching. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a later reproduction time is set. further comprising calculating means for calculating the distance between the virtual viewpoint before switching and the virtual viewpoint after switching;
2. The second setting means, based on the distance calculated by the calculating means, varies the amount of change from the reproduction time at the time of switching the virtual viewpoint to the reproduction time after the switching. The information processing device according to . 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the change amount increases as the distance increases. The holding means holds, as the playback time information, history information indicating a relationship between a playback time and a playback count of the virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the held virtual viewpoint,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second setting means sets the reproduction time after switching based on said history information. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second setting means sets a time with the largest number of times of reproduction in said history information as a reproduction time after switching. An information processing device that generates a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of photographed images acquired by a plurality of photographing devices,
generating means for generating a virtual viewpoint image observed from a set virtual viewpoint from the plurality of captured images;
holding means for holding a predetermined virtual viewpoint and reproduction time information in association with each other;
a first setting means for setting the virtual viewpoint used by the generating means for generating a virtual viewpoint image to the predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to an instruction to switch to the predetermined virtual viewpoint;
and second setting means for setting a reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the predetermined virtual viewpoint based on the reproduction time information in accordance with the instruction. A control method for an information processing device for determining a virtual viewpoint and a reproduction time used for generating a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of captured images acquired by a plurality of photographing devices, comprising:
a holding step of associating a predetermined virtual viewpoint with reproduction time information and holding it in a holding means;
a first setting step of setting a virtual viewpoint used for generating a virtual viewpoint image to the predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to an instruction to switch the virtual viewpoint to the predetermined virtual viewpoint;
a second setting step of setting, in response to the instruction, the reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image based on the reproduction time information held in the holding means in association with the predetermined virtual viewpoint. A control method for an information processing device, characterized by: A control method for an information processing device that generates a virtual viewpoint image from a plurality of captured images acquired by a plurality of imaging devices,
a holding step of associating a predetermined virtual viewpoint with reproduction time information and holding the information in a holding means;
a generation step of generating a virtual viewpoint image observed from a set virtual viewpoint from the plurality of captured images;
a first setting step of setting a virtual viewpoint used for generating a virtual viewpoint image in the generating step to the predetermined virtual viewpoint in response to an instruction to switch to the predetermined virtual viewpoint;
a second setting means for setting a reproduction time of the virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the predetermined virtual viewpoint according to the instruction, based on the reproduction time information held in the holding means. A control method for an information processing apparatus characterized by: A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to claim 13 or 14.

Images