JPH05113941A - Transmission/reception device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the more realistic communication among the users by limiting an arriving range of the message sent from each user and transmitting the messages only to the users included in the limited range when many users are simultaneously included in a single virtual space. CONSTITUTION:A virtual space 1 formed based on the at least a three- dimensional space is projected on the display devices 2A, 2B... of plural terminals for execution of the communication. Under such conditions, a transmitter means 3 transmits the transmission information containing the weighting that is selectively decided by the position of the character projected on the means 2A. Then a three-dimensional virtual space, e.g. a town is projected via an Ethernet based on the characters and the weights shown on the coordinate screens of the means 2A, 2B.... In this case, however, a projection pattern is limited within a range where the messages transmitted by the users arrive, so that the messages can be transferred only to the users included in the range. Thus the more realistic communication is attained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transmitter / receiver using a computer network, and more particularly to a transmitter / receiver capable of performing realistic communication when a large number of people have a dialogue using a virtual space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a three-dimensional space is created by a model, and a display means and an acoustic means are used to create a 3D space around a user.
Various usages are being considered using a virtual space that is reproduced so that there is a dimensional space.

As one of its usage forms, there is known a presence communication system in which a person at a remote place holds a meeting or works as if he or she were in a room, in combination with a high-speed communication network.

Several methods have been proposed for a real-time communication system using network communication. One of them is talk in UNIX (T
alk) program that two users interact one-on-one with each other, and other systems use one virtual space (for example, a room, such as the above-mentioned chat with live-action communication method or personal computer communication). A large number of users share a virtual space at the same time (work space) so that all users can know the message issued by one user. Also, in the design of the shared window of the teleconferencing workstation, WYSWIS (Whatyousee is wh) can see the same thing that other people see.
at I See) has been proposed.

[0005]

According to the presence communication system having the above-mentioned conventional structure, a person at a remote place can feel as if he or she is having a meeting in the same virtual space. In addition, considering that it can be used as an LL or a teaching machine (TM) by using chat, etc., the message issued by one person reaches all users, so the range of the virtual space is limited to, for example, a room. However, considering TM, it was of no use except for the dialogue between a large number of students and educators.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to expand the virtual space more and to realize more realistic communication communication for a large number of users. The present invention is intended to provide a transmitting / receiving device that can perform

[0007]

As shown in FIG. 1, an example of a transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention is to display a virtual space 1 in which at least a three-dimensional space is modeled, and display means 2A, 2B of a plurality of terminals. In the transmission / reception device configured to project images on each other and communicate with each other, the display means 2 of one terminal
A transmission means 3 for transmitting transmission information having a weighting which is selectively displayed in A and is determined by the position of the character is provided, and the character positions and weights on the coordinate planes of the display means 2A, 2B ... According to the above, the plurality of terminals 2A, 2B ...

[0008]

In the transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of terminals are connected to each other via the internet, and the terminal display means (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 2
A, 2B, ..., A three-dimensional virtual space, for example, a city is projected through the transmitting means 3, but the projection pattern is limited to the range where the message sent by the user reaches, and is within this range. It is designed to communicate with other users so that they can communicate with each other with a sense of reality.

[0009]

[Embodiment] A TM according to an embodiment of the transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention will be described below.
The case of application to will be described.

According to the present invention, a virtual space is set on a computer network, and when a plurality of users communicate within the space, the reachable range of a message is limited. That is, the present invention will be described in detail below in order to provide a transmitting / receiving device capable of realizing control of a dialogue in which a message is sent to one user and a message is not delivered to another user.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the system of the transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes an Ethernet.
etc., the terminals 5A, 5B ... And also the terminals, but the transmitter 3 is connected to the bus 4. A UNIX workstation or the like is used as the terminals 5A and 5B and the transmission device 3. Each workstation is a CRT 2A, 2B ... 2M as a display means, and a workstation (EWS) 6A, 6B ... 6M including a microcomputer (CPU) and a keyboard 7A, 7B.
It consists of 7M etc., and the bus 4 is each EWS 6A, 6B.
6M is connected to form a computer network.

The operating environment is BSD UNIX.
It requires an operating system and an X window system.

In such a hardware configuration, in this example, a CPU is used to create, for example, a virtual space of a three-dimensional cityscape as a background database and store it in a memory.
In FIG. 1, a two-dimensional map is shown as the virtual space 1. In the town displayed on the CRTs 2A, 2B ... 2M, a road 8 through which a user (user) can pass and an obstacle 9 such as a building are displayed. In this case, the memory of the CPU of the transmitter 3 has map data, and each user A, user B, user C, in the city displayed on the CRT 2A, 2B.
The user 10 is arranged like the user D.

For example, on the CRT 2A of the terminal 5A of the user A, only the map showing the arrangement of the road 8 and obstacles 9 around the user A is displayed, and on the CRT 2B of the terminal 5B of the user B, the road around the user B is displayed. The terminal of the transmitting device 3 controls so that only the map showing the arrangement of the obstacles 8 and the obstacles 9 is displayed.

The users A to D can move along the road 8 with a move command. CRT2 by moving
The maps displayed in A and 2B are rewritten in sequence.

Further, the messages 11A and 11B can be sent to other users A and B by the message sending command. When a message sent by another user is received, it is displayed on the CRT 2A, 2B. By sending and receiving such messages 11A and 11B, the user AB
It is designed to enable communication between people.

A software configuration for configuring the system as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the software of the system of the transmitting / receiving apparatus 3 of the present embodiment receives client commands from each user 10, for example, user A and user B, and sends the commands to send them.
B ... and each client process 20A, 20B.
Server process 21 that receives a command from the server, performs necessary processing, returns the result to the client that sent the result, and distributes the sent messages 11A and 11B to other appropriate users A and B. It is composed by the process of.

This client process 20A, 20B
... requires one process for each user, and as shown in FIG. 4, client processes 20A, 20
B ... Receives a command from the user 10 as input. The main commands from each user 10 are a message sending command 10A for sending a message and a move command 10B for moving on the map.

Client processes 20A, 20B ...
When these commands 10A, 10B are received, the client processes 20A, 20B, ... Are provided with the commands and necessary information (message contents, moving direction, etc.) 22A, 2
2B is transmitted to the server process 21.

Further, the client processes 20A, 20
B ... Receives the screen redraw request 23A and the command of the incoming message 23B from another user transmitted from the server process 21, and responds to each user 10 according to the message display 24B from the other user and the movement result. Redisplay the map.

As described above, this map displays a part of the map information of the server process 21. For example, only the map around the position of each user 10 on the map held by the server process 21 is the center.

Also, only one server process 21 exists in a LAN such as the Ethernet, and this server process 21
Receives and processes commands from the client processes 20A, 20B .... As shown in FIG. 5, the server process 21 includes map information and position information 26 of each user 10.
have. The map information is information about a virtual city map provided on the CPU. Each user 10 is arranged on the road on this map, and the position of the user is managed as position information.

The program operation of this example will be described below with reference to FIGS.

When the move commands 10B, 10B, ... Of the respective users are received from the client processes 20A, 20B, the server process 21 uses the map information and the position information 26 based on the direction of movement and the user's position information.
It is judged whether or not can be moved (whether it is not off the road 8).
The position information is changed according to B and 10B. A map that should be displayed by the client processes 20A and 20B due to a change (a map around the position of the user 10 and its vicinity)
, The new screen rewriting display data 34A is sent to the client processes 20A, 20B.

Further, the client processes 20A and 20B
When the message sending command 22B is received from the user, the user 10 who sends the message is determined by the method detailed in the actual flowchart explanatory diagram described later, and the message transfer 25 is performed toward the client process 20A, 20B of the user 10. Is made.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the server process 21
.. and the client processes 20A, 20B, ... Operate independently, and by exchanging commands, cooperation is realized between users.

For example, the above-mentioned client process 20A
In the conventional system, the server process 21 distributes the message 22B sent by the user to all the client processes 20B ...
B is weighted. As the weighting method, a parameter such as "loudness of voice" is added.

If the "loudness" is small, the message 22
The message reaches only the user who is in the immediate vicinity of the user who originated B (the distance on the map information of the server process). If the "loudness" is large, it is determined that the message will reach a user who is a little far away.

A process of determining the limit range when the server process 21 judges such a message transmission 22B and delivers the message to the other client processes 20A and 20B will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the first step ST ₁ in FIG. 7, a predetermined user A inputs a sender name, a message, and a level to a keyboard or the like via the client process 20A, for example.

When the server process 21 receives such a message transmission 22B, as shown in the second step ST ₂ ,
Search the location information from the sender's name to find the user's location and number.

In the server process 21, the client processes 20A and 20B are imaged as shown in Table 1, for example.
The user name, the position (x, y) in the virtual space, the direction, and the number are stored. Since there are a plurality of client processes 20A, 20B, ... Here, this number is used to represent the client i. Second step ST
_{In 2} , the client number is selected as x.

[0035]

[Table 1]

In the third step ST ₃ , the reachable range of the message is determined according to the level and the direction. That is, specifically, the range reached by the message is set as shown in FIG. 8 depending on the level of “loudness” of the message transmission 22B of the predetermined user 10. In FIG. 8, 30 is a specific user 1.
0 indicates the position on the screen 29, 31 indicates the range where the message transmission 22B reaches when the voice volume is small, 32 indicates the range where the message transmission 22B reaches when the voice volume is medium, and 33 indicates the range. This shows the range within which the message transmission 22B reaches when the voice is loud.

In this way, it is possible to easily realize the control that the message transmission 22B arrives or does not arrive depending on the loudness of the voice even when the user 10 is near the same user. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a message of a specific user A of the user 30 is transmitted with a "loud volume", the message reaches both the users B and C like 34.
On the other hand, the message issued by the user C in the "loud volume" does not reach the user A like 35.

Since the reach of the message is determined by the "loudness", a situation close to a real conversation can be created.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the user 3 is displayed on the map.
A condition for defining the reachable range 36 of the message transmission 22B may be added in accordance with the position and direction of 0, and the third step ST ₃ shows a case where the reachable range of the message is determined by taking both the level and the direction. ..

In this way, in order to limit the range of the message transmission 22B by the level of "voice volume" and the position and direction of the user, the coordinates at which the message reaches are set in advance in the CPU of the server process 21 as shown in Table 2. Keep it in memory,
Corresponding to the level and the direction, the table 2 is searched to determine the reach of the message. Since the coordinates in Table 2 are the difference from the originator's coordinates, the message reaches the range of coordinates obtained by adding the coordinates obtained by searching to the originator's coordinates.

[0041]

[Table 2]

Now, the coordinates of the client x are (X _X ,
Y _Y ), based on Table 2, when the level is 1 and the direction is north, (X _X -1, Y _X +3), (X _X , Y _{X
+3), (X X + 1} , Y X +3), (X X -2, Y X +
2) Make the message reach within the coordinate range of.

Next, the fourth step ST_FourGo to Claire
Int i = 0 and the fifth step ST _FiveThen i ≧ Clear
The number of modules, and if YES, the first step ST
₁Returned to. If NO, the sixth step ST_FiveProceed to
Be done.

In the sixth step ST ₆ , the client i =
If it is NO, the process proceeds to the seventh step ST ₇ . In the seventh step ST ₇ , it is determined whether the position of the client i is within the range of the message. Coordinate values used herein are client x (caller) _{(X X, Y} Y) coordinates (X _i, Y _i) of the client i the difference between (X _X -
X _{i, Y Y} -Y _i) is, if in the data obtained in Table 2,
The message transmission 22B reaches the client i.

If the seventh step ST ₇ is YES, the eighth step
Obstacle between the client X and other clients i that originated in step ST ₈ is determines whether there. The flowchart for determining this obstacle will be described later with reference to FIG.
Obtain an equation of a straight line connecting the two points of the coordinate values (X _X , Y _X ) of the client x (sender) and the coordinate values (X _i , Y _i ) of the client i, and see if there is an obstacle on the straight line. Check if

Sixth step ST ₆ and eighth step ST ₈
Is YES and the seventh step ST ₇ is NO, the first
The process proceeds to 0 step ST ₁₀ and returns to fifth step ST ₅ . Eighth step ST ₈ is advanced to a ninth step ST ₉ if NO. In the ninth step ST ₉ , the message is transmitted to the client i, and in the tenth step ST ₁₀ , i
→ i + 1 is returned to the fifth step ST ₅ .

[0047] While performing the determination of the eighth step ST in ₈ obstacle or shield 38, which is to the position of the user 30 as shown in FIG. 11, a message arrives in the direction where there is an obstacle 38 If the above-mentioned point is taken into consideration, the dialogue control closer to reality can be easily performed.

Referring to FIG. 12, a flow chart for checking the presence / absence of the obstacle 38 will be described. In the first step STP ₁ , client x (sender) and client i (target to check whether message arrives from client x)
_Let (X _X , Y _X ) and (X _i , Y _i ) be the coordinates of each.

In the second step STP ₂ , X _X −X _i / Y
_X− Y _i = a is calculated.

In the third step STP ₃ , Y _i −a · Y _i
= B is calculated.

In the fourth step STP ₄ , X _min = min
(X _X , X _i ), X _max = max (X _X , X _i ) and the maximum and minimum of X are obtained.

In the next fifth step STP ₅ , X _min +1
As X.

In the sixth step STP ₆ , Y is obtained as a · X + b.

In the seventh step STP ₇ , it is checked whether or not there is an obstacle at (X, Y). If YES here, there is an obstacle 38 between the client x and the client i (eighth step STP ₈ ), and if NO, the operation proceeds to the ninth step STP ₉ .

In the ninth step STP ₉ , X = X + 1 is set, and in the next tenth step STP ₁₀ , it is checked whether X ≧ X _max . If NO, the process returns to the sixth step STP ₆ , Y
In ES, the process proceeds to the 11th step STP ₁₁ . In the eleventh step STP ₁₁ , it is determined that there is no obstacle 38 between the client x and the client i.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, one square is a unit because a virtual space, that is, a city, is formed in the 32 × 32 squares, and the user 10 also moves in one square, so a message arrives. The range is a square range as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, but as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the distance is set to a unit smaller than the square and the range is specified by the distance based on the unit. Good.

FIG. 13 shows the case where the message reachable area 34A of the voice volume is substantially circular, and FIG.
This is a case where the message reachable range 36A is fan-shaped depending on the direction of 0, and FIG. 15 shows a case where the message reachable range 37A is partially blocked from the circle by the obstacle 38.

According to the transmitting / receiving device of the present invention, the virtual space can be expanded from the level of one-on-one dialogue in a room to the level of town, and a large number of people can realize the dialogue with each other in the virtual space. It has become possible to artificially create a virtual city, and many users can participate in the city and have fun while communicating. Furthermore, since it is possible to create a realistic dialogue such as asking directions, it can be applied to LL and TM tools for language education.

[0059]

As described above, when a large number of users exist in one virtual space at the same time, the range of the message sent by each user is limited and the message is transmitted only to other users within the range. As a result, it is possible to obtain a transmitting / receiving device that can realize more realistic communication.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system of a transmission / reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a transmission / reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a program configuration diagram of a transmission / reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a client process used in the transmission / reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a server process used in the transmission / reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation example of a program of the transmission / reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for determining a client to which a message reaches in the transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the reach of a message.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a difference in how a message arrives depending on the volume of a voice.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the reach of a message according to the direction of the user on the map.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the reach of a message when there is a shield.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for checking the presence / absence of an obstacle.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of determining a range based on a distance.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of determining the range based on the distance and the direction of the user.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of another example of determining a range based on a distance and a shield.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Virtual space 2A, 2B ... 2M Terminal display means (CRT) 3 Transmitter 6A, 6B ... 6M EWS 8 Road 9 Building 10 User

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transmission / reception apparatus configured to display a virtual space in which at least a three-dimensional space is created by a model on a display means of a plurality of terminals so as to communicate with each other, the display means of the one terminal. The transmission means for transmitting the transmission information having the weighting selectively determined by the position of the character displayed on the screen, and the transmission means according to the character position and the weight on the coordinate plane of the display means of the plurality of terminals. A transmission / reception device, wherein the transmission / reception is mutually performed between the plurality of terminals via a terminal.