JPH11250278A - Virtual shared display method in virtual space and record medium for recording the display program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain flexible and highly visible communication scene setting by allowing a user to view the front image of his double, and controlling the approach of users in the display of a three-dimensional virtual space. SOLUTION: A position 12 of the point of view of a double 11 of each user is set at a position symmetrical to his double against a wall face in the front direction, and a direction 13 (A, B, C) of line of sight is set as a direction opposed to the direction of the double 11 (A, B, and C). Also, the wall face inside a room is made transparent or translucent so that the user in the room can know outside situations, and an entrance/exit 14 is set at a position within the visual field of the user so that the user can visually recognize the approach of an outside user to the entrance/exit 14. Also, a device at the entrance/exit 14 of the room is changed according to the request of the user in the room so that permission or rejection of the participation of the outside user in the middle can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention represents a three-dimensional virtual space in which each user is represented as an alter ego, and the user can move freely by manipulating the alter ego. A plurality of image display terminals capable of expressing the alter ego of another user are connected via a network, and the voice of the user, the position information in the virtual space of the user, and the direction of the line of sight are displayed in another image. The present invention relates to a virtual shared display method in which a plurality of users share a virtual space at a remote place by distributing the virtual space to display terminal devices, and users gather in the virtual space and communicate with each other through alter egos.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art (1) First Prior Art A three-dimensional object, such as a building or a vehicle, changes its landscape in various ways depending on the position viewed from a user. Information on these three-dimensional objects, such as buildings and vehicles, is stored in an external storage device of a computer, and various three-dimensional computer graphics (CG) technology is used in accordance with the position viewed by the user. There are video display systems that can display landscapes. Here, a plurality of image display terminal devices, a center device,
An image communication system including a plurality of image display terminal devices and a network connecting the center device will be considered. FIG. 1 shows the configuration.

[0003] A center device 1 and a plurality of image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, ... are connected to a network 2. The image display terminal device 3A corresponds to the user A, and the image display terminal device 3B corresponds to the user B. Each image display terminal device 3
A, 3B,... Have terminal control device 8, display 9 as an image output device, camera 4 as an image input device, microphone 6 and speaker 7 as an audio input / output device, from which position to view a three-dimensional object. A movement direction input device 5 for inputting and instructing the movement direction is provided.

Each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,... Receives a voice input by the microphone 6 and a video image captured by the camera 4 of a user corresponding to the image display terminal device, and an input from the moving direction input device 5. The position information indicating the position of the user and the line-of-sight direction information are sent to the center device 1.

On the other hand, the center device 1 receives various information transmitted from the terminals and distributes the information from the center device 1 to the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,. Note that audio is distributed after mixing.

Each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,.
Three-dimensional information is stored in advance, and based on the position information sent from the center device 1, a building, a vehicle, or the like that exists within a certain angle (viewing angle) from the direction of the line of sight with the designated position as the center. The three-dimensional object is displayed on the display 9 using the three-dimensional CG technique. That is, a three-dimensional virtual space is set, a three-dimensional object is arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space, and an image seen from this viewpoint is displayed on the display 9 assuming that there is a viewpoint at a designated position in the three-dimensional virtual space.

Each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,.
By using the movement direction input device 5, the viewpoint can be freely moved in a three-dimensional virtual space where buildings, vehicles, and the like exist. For the alter ego, a pre-selected alter ego image is placed at a position where the viewpoint of the image display terminal device exists in the three-dimensional virtual space, a video taken by the camera 4 is pasted on the face portion, and the line-of-sight direction ( A process for matching the vertical direction of the face image) with the line of sight of the image display terminal device is executed.

(2) Second Prior Art A second prior art is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-32.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9279/1997 discloses a "virtual shared display method in an image communication system". In this virtual shared display method, a drawing surface shared by each image display terminal device is set in a three-dimensional virtual space, and the contents drawn by a drawing pad are reflected on the drawing surface, and a person image captured by a TV camera is displayed. The drawing surface is arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space, and for each image display terminal device, when the image viewed from the viewpoint position in the three-dimensional virtual space of the person corresponding to the image display terminal device is displayed on the display, the drawing surface is changed. In addition to the transparent image, the position of the human image in the three-dimensional virtual space was set at a fixed distance from the center line in the viewing direction viewed from the viewpoint of the person, and the orientation of the human image was viewed from the viewpoint of the person By setting the direction opposite to the center line in the viewing direction, it is possible to simultaneously display the person image and the drawing content drawn by the person in the same direction as the person, and to display the drawing content Is it possible to display the portrait of the participants have seen.

[0009]

In the conventional image communication system described in "(1) First prior art",
Since only three-dimensional objects existing within a certain angle (viewing angle) from the direction of the line of sight can be displayed, there is a problem that it is difficult to see the front images of each other when communicating with a large number of people.

Further, as described in "(2) Second Prior Art", the position of the human image in the three-dimensional virtual space is set to a position at a fixed distance from the center line in the viewing direction viewed from the viewpoint of the person. If the orientation of the person image is opposite to the center line in the viewing direction viewed from the viewpoint of the person, for example, when trying to enlarge and view an object such as a drawing surface, the person approaches the object in reality. In this virtual space, the viewpoint is set at a position at a fixed distance, but the object does not appear to be enlarged by the approach of the human figure to the object. Another problem is that other users can freely approach the person image from any direction regardless of the intention of the user of the person image, and it is not possible to recognize in advance that the person image is approaching.

An object of the present invention is to allow a large number of users to see each other's front images when communicating in a virtual space using the alter ego, and to allow the users to see each other's front images. When the alter ego of the user approaches the object, the position of the viewpoint is set so that the object can be magnified and viewed, so that other users cannot freely approach the object by the user's will. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new virtual space display method capable of recognizing in advance that a user is approaching.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a three-dimensional virtual space in which each user is represented as an alter ego, and the user can freely move by manipulating the alter ego. And a plurality of image display terminals that can represent the alter ego of another user in the virtual space are connected via a network, and the voice of the user and the position information of the user in the virtual space are In a virtual space system in which multiple users communicate in a virtual space at a remote location by distributing gaze direction information to other image display terminals, if any user wants to communicate, At the request of the user from the image display terminal device, a room was created in which the inner wall was transparent or translucent and there was only one entrance, and each alter ego entered the room. When each image display terminal device detects that, the image display terminal device turns the alter ego so that the line of sight of the alter ego is perpendicular to the wall surface facing the wall with the entrance and exit, and the image display terminal device The position of the viewpoint of the terminal device is set to a position symmetrical with respect to the wall in the front direction with the alter ego, and the line of sight of each of the image display terminal devices is set to a direction facing the direction of the alter ego. I do.

[0013] In addition, according to a request of a user in the room, the mechanism of the entrance of the room is changed as follows by a command from the center device managing the virtual space information to each of the image display terminal devices.

If entry from the middle is allowed, the entrance is changed so that the entrance can be freely entered from the outside. If entry from the middle is restricted, an entrance such as a door for restricting entry is installed. When a user approaches from the outside, the fact that the user enters the room is transmitted from the image display terminal device of the user to each image display terminal device of the user in the room via the center device, and If the user inside does not refuse, change to enter the room, and if no entry is allowed from the middle, change so as not to set an entrance so that they cannot enter the room.

The operation of the present invention is as follows. By setting the position of the viewpoint of each alter ego to a position symmetrical with respect to the wall in front of the alter ego and setting the line of sight to the direction opposite to the direction of the alter ego, the object installed in front of the wall can be In some cases, if the alter ego approaches the object, the viewpoint can also approach.

By making the inner wall of the room transparent or translucent, the user in the room can see the outside, and since the entrance is located at one place within the view of the user, the outside is installed. It can be visually recognized in advance that the user is going to enter the room by approaching the entrance.

By changing the mechanism of the entrance of the room according to the request of the user in the room, it is possible to visually determine whether the user outside can participate in the room from the middle. it can.

A program for realizing the display processing of the virtual space in the image display terminal device by a computer is stored in an appropriate storage medium such as a portable medium memory, a semiconductor memory, and a hard disk which can be read by the computer. Can be.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <Apparatus Configuration> The hardware configuration of an image communication system to which the virtual shared display method of the present invention is applied is basically the same as that of FIG.
This is the same as that described in "(1) First Prior Art". FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the center device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image display terminal device. 2 and 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to those shown in FIG.

In the center device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the movement information control unit 21 determines the position to be transmitted to each image display terminal device 3 based on the movement information of each alter ego sent from each image display terminal device 3. Determine information. The video processing unit 22 determines a video to be transmitted based on the position information determined by the movement information control unit 21, and transmits the video to each image display terminal device 3 via the data demultiplexing device 27 and the network 2. .

The room control unit 23 includes an entrance control unit 24 and an entrance control unit 25. Based on the position information determined by the movement information control unit 21, a room generation request and an entrance control request from each image display terminal 3 are provided. And so on, and determine whether or not such processing is possible. When the image display terminal device 3 generates a device for a room or an entrance for the first time, it instructs the video processing unit 22 to transmit the image data.
In particular, the entrance / exit control unit 24 performs a process related to a change in the entrance / exit of the room. In addition, the room entry control unit 25 performs a process as to whether or not to permit entry to a room entry request from the image display terminal device 3.

The audio mixer 26 is provided with the movement information controller 21.
The audio to be transmitted is determined based on the position information determined in step 2, and the mixing process is also performed.
Send audio to. The data demultiplexing device 27 performs data communication with each image display terminal device 3 via the network 2.

In the image display terminal device 3 shown in FIG. 3, the audio output unit 31 outputs to the speaker 7 audio information separated by the data demultiplexing device 36 from the data transmitted via the network 2. The virtual space generation unit 32
A three-dimensional virtual space is generated based on the image received from the center device 1, the position information and movement information of the object in the virtual space, and the movement information of the object itself, and the display 9 displays the room and the alter ego. . In particular, the virtual space generation unit 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a room creation processing unit 321 for creating a room for communicating with a specific partner in the virtual space, an entrance / exit processing unit 322 for processing whether to allow or not to enter a room halfway, And an entry processing unit 323 that performs a process for allowing the alter ego to enter the existing room.

The input device 5 'is, for example, a mouse, a joystick or a keyboard, and includes the moving direction input device 5 shown in FIG. The input unit 33 transmits the moving direction of the alter ego to the virtual space generation unit 32 and the center device 1 based on the input from the input device 5 ′, and other screen selection information, that is, a so-called click such as a process for generating a room. A process of transmitting information processed by an operation or the like and input information from a keyboard or the like to the center device 1 is performed. The voice input unit 34 converts the voice information input from the microphone 6 into digital data, and transmits the digital data to the center device 1 via the data demultiplexing device 36 and the network 2. Video input unit 3
5 transmits the image of the user or the like captured by the camera 4 to the center device 1.

<First Embodiment> FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are views for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
4A shows the position of the viewpoint of each alter ego in the room and the direction of the line of sight as viewed from above, and FIG. 4B shows an image displayed on the display of the image display terminal device 3B.

The alter egos of the users A, B, C of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C are designated as alter egos 11A, 11B,
11C, and any one of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B,
When a user of 3C wants to communicate, at that time, a room with a transparent or translucent inner wall and a single entrance is created by a request from the image display terminal of the user, and each alter ego is created. When each image display terminal device detects that the user has entered the room, the viewpoint is changed as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the positions of the viewpoints and the directions of the lines of sight of the alter egos 11A, 11B and 11C in the room are as shown in FIG.
The present embodiment is different from the conventional display method in the viewpoint positions 12A, 12B, and 12C of the image display terminal device.
That is, in the present embodiment, the alter ego 11 in the room
Position 1 of viewpoint of image display terminal device of A, 11B, 11C
2A, 12B, and 12C are set at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to the respective alter ego and the wall in the front direction, and the line-of-sight directions 13A, 13B, and 13C of each image display terminal device are set so as to be opposite to the direction of each alter ego. Set. When the position of the viewpoint is changed in this manner, an image is displayed on the display of the image display terminal device 3B, for example, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 (a) shows the appearance of the outside alter ego approaching the doorway of the room viewed from above, and FIG. 5 (b)
Indicates an image projected on the display of the image display terminal device 3B at that time.

When the alter ego 11D outside the room attempts to enter the room, the alter egos 11A, 11B, 11C of the room
5 (a) when approaching the doorway which is installed at only one location in the back direction of the vehicle. At this time, an image as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display of the image display terminal device 3B, and the user B visually recognizes that the alter ego 11D is about to enter the room, that is, is about to participate in a conversation. It can be recognized in advance.

FIG. 6 (a) shows the appearance of the room seen from the outside when the alter ego 11D enters the room from the middle.
Fig. 6 (b) shows the room seen from the outside when it is restricted to enter the room from the middle. Fig. 6 (c) shows the room seen from the outside when the room is not entered from the middle at all. It shows the situation.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c), a user of any of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B and 3C communicating in the room requests the center device 1 to request the room. Change the doorway. If entry from the middle is allowed, if the entrance is restricted from entering the room without installing an entrance or door that restricts entry as shown in Fig. 6 (a), as shown in Fig. 6 (a). At the entrance of the room, a door or the like that restricts entry is installed, and when the alter ego 11D approaches the entrance of the room, the alter ego 11A, 11B in the room from the image display terminal device 3D via the center device 1. , 11C for each image display terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C.
Informs that the user will enter the room, removes the restriction on the entrance of the room if none of the users A, B, and C refuses the entry, and if any of the users A, B, and C rejects the entry Leave room entrance restrictions intact. If entry from the middle is not allowed, do not install an entrance in the room as shown in Fig. 6 (c). By doing so, the alter ego 11D outside the room can visually recognize whether to enter the room from the middle.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment described above, any one of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3
When the user of C wants to communicate, at that time, a room with a transparent or translucent inner wall and a single entrance is created by a request from the image display terminal of the user. After entering the room, the device at the entrance of the room is changed according to the request of any of the users A, B, C. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a room in which the mechanism of the entrance is changed is installed in the three-dimensional virtual space from the beginning, and when the user enters the room, communication is performed in the state of each room. So that you can

<Third Embodiment> FIGS. 7 and 8 show
FIG. 7A is a view for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows alter egos 11A, 11B, 11C and alter egos 11 in a room.
FIG. 7 (b) shows an image displayed on the display of the image display terminal device B when the position 12B of the viewpoint of B and the line of sight are viewed from above. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the alter ego 11A and the alter ego 11B overlap each other, and FIG. 8B shows an image displayed on the display of the image display terminal device B.

In the third embodiment, in each of the above-described embodiments, the user's own alter ego is made transparent when each terminal device enters the room. As a result, in the three-dimensional virtual space, the alter egans 11A, 11B, 1
Although the images 1C are arranged side by side in the room, the image reflected on the display of the image display terminal device 3B is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the alter ego 11B does not move, so that the user 11B can give an atmosphere as if standing and speaking in front of the alter egos 11A and 11C.

When the alter ego 11B is superimposed on the alter ego 11A in the three-dimensional virtual space as shown in FIG. 8A, the alter ego 11B is displayed on the display of the image display terminal 3B as shown in FIG. 8B.
A front image is reflected in the center of the screen, and the image display terminal device 3
Since the display of A shows the front image of the alter ego 11B,
It is possible to visualize and indicate that the alter ego 11B is talking to the alter ego 11A.

<Operation Flow> FIG. 9 is a flow chart when the image display terminal device 3A creates a room. Assume that the users A, B, and C of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are in the same three-dimensional virtual space. For example,
When the user A of the image display terminal device 3A wants to communicate with the other users B and C, the image display terminal device 3A moves to the center device 1 in the same virtual space at the request of the user A. A request for creating a room for communication with other users B and C is made. The center device 1 notifies the image display terminal device 3A that new room creation is to be rejected if a room is already being created in response to a request from another user B or C. If the room is not being created, the center device 1 determines the room creation position in the virtual space based on predetermined information or an instruction from the image display terminal device 3A. After that, the center device 1 sends the information on the creation position of the room and the size of the room to each of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B and 3C, and
In A, 3B, and 3C, a room is created in the virtual space based on the information sent from the center device 1 and displayed on the display.

First, in the room, for example, a doorway without a device is arranged and displayed in the direction of the back of the alter ego, and the size of the room is set to a default value according to the number of participants. To delete a room,
Automatically when there are no more users in the room. The room deletion command from the center device 1 is sent to the image display terminal devices of all users in the same virtual space as the room.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart when the image display terminal device 3A changes the entrance of the room. Users A, B, C, D of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D
Is in the same three-dimensional virtual space, and the alter ego of user A is in the room. This room has an entrance and exit, and it is assumed that the entrance has no mechanism by default.

If the user A of the image display terminal device 3A does not allow another user's alter ego to enter the room halfway into the room, the information indicating that "the door of the room is not installed" is transmitted to the center device. Send to 1. If anyone is allowed to enter the room on the way, information to the effect that "no device is installed at the entrance of the room" is sent to the center device 1. On the other hand, when deciding to enter the room halfway according to the situation, a message to the effect that “install a device at the entrance of the room” is sent to the center device 1.

The center device 1 sends the information on the entrance to each of the image display terminals 3A to 3D, and the image display terminals 3A to 3D redraw the entrance to the room based on the transmitted information. .

FIG. 11 is a flowchart when the alter ego of the user D of the image display terminal device 3D enters the room. The users A, B, of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D,
Assume that the alter egos of C and D are in the same three-dimensional virtual space, and alter egos of users A, B and C are in the room. At this time, the alter ego of the user D outside the room cannot enter the room and participate in the conversation unless the room has an entrance. If the room has an entrance and there is no mechanism at the entrance, the movement of the alter ego into the room is notified to the center device 1 and the room can be entered.

On the other hand, if the room has an entrance and there is a mechanism at the entrance, the image display terminal device 3D requests the center device 1 to permit entry into the room. Center device 1
Asks the other image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C whether to reject entry of the user D. If any of the image display terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C rejects entry, the rejection is made. The notification is transmitted to the image display terminal device 3D, and entry into the room is prohibited. Image display terminal device 3A,
If the entry is not denied by 3B or 3C, the entrance / exit mechanism is deleted, allowing the user D to enter the alter ego room, and the alter ego of the user D enters the room to engage in conversation. Make it available.

<Processing Flowchart of Image Display Terminal Device> FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the processing of the room creation processing unit of the image display terminal device. The room creation processing unit 321 of the image display terminal device 3 shown in FIG. 3 inquires of the center device 1 whether a room can be created in response to a room creation request from a user (S11). When it is notified from the center device 1 that a room can be created, a room is created based on the information sent from the center device 1 and displayed on the display 9 (S12, S13).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the processing of the entrance / exit processing unit of the image display terminal device. The entrance / exit processing unit 322 of the image display terminal device 3 shown in FIG. 3 inputs from the user whether or not to permit entry into the room created in the virtual space (S2).
1) If the entrance is not permitted on the way, the center device 1 is notified that no entrance is set in the room (S22, S2).
3). When entering the room on the way, the user inputs whether or not to make a gimmick at the entrance (S24). If a device is not created, the center device 1 is notified that no device is created at the entrance of the room (S27).

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the processing of the entry processing unit of the image display terminal device. Image display terminal device 3 shown in FIG.
When the alter ego of the user of the self-image display terminal device 3 is outside the room, the entry processing unit 323 moves into the room (enters the room).
In response to the request, if there is no entrance to the room, entry into the room is prohibited and the room is not allowed to enter (S31, S31).
37). If there is a doorway in the room and there is no mechanism at the doorway, the alter ego is entered in response to a request to move into the room (S32, S36). If there is a mechanism at the entrance, the center device 1 is inquired as to whether it is possible to enter the room (S33), and if it is not possible to enter the room, it is not allowed to enter the room (S34, S37). If it is possible to enter the room, delete the device such as opening the door of the entrance (S35),
The alter ego is entered (S36).

<Processing Flowchart of Center Device> FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a room creation process of the room control unit of the center device. The room controller 23 of the center device 1 shown in FIG.
When a room creation request is received from the image display terminal device 3 (S41), it is checked whether another user in the same virtual space is creating a room (S42). If another user is creating the room, the fact that the room cannot be created is transmitted to the requesting image display terminal device 3 (S4).
3). If another user is not creating the room, the room creation position is determined in the virtual space (S44), and each of the alter ego image display terminal devices 3 in the same space as the virtual space in which the room is created is assigned to the room. A creation command is sent (S45).

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the processing of the entrance control unit of the center device. Upon receiving the information on the entrance from the image display terminal device 3 (S51), the entrance control unit 24 of the center apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 eliminates the entrance of the room based on the information, or provides a mechanism at the entrance of the room. It is determined whether or not the entrance has no mechanism, and the information on the changed entrance is sent to the image display terminal device 3 of the other person in the same virtual space as the room where the entrance has changed (S52).

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the processing of the entry control section of the center device. Upon receiving a request to enter a room having a doorway with a mechanism from the image display terminal device 3 (S61), the entry control unit 25 of the center device 1 shown in FIG. It is inquired whether to enter the room (S62). As a result of the inquiry, if none of the users in the room refuses to enter the room, each image display terminal device 3 is instructed to delete the device at the entrance of the room (S63, S64). If any of the users in the room refuse to enter the room, the entry to the room is prohibited without changing the mechanism of the doorway of the room (S65).

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a alter ego enters a room, the position of the viewpoint of each image display terminal device is set to a position symmetrical with respect to a wall in front of the alter ego. By setting the gaze direction to the direction opposite to the direction of the alter ego, the front images of alter egos of many users can be seen from each other, and the object installed in front of the wall in the front direction of the alter ego In some cases, when the alter ego approaches the object, the viewpoint of the image display terminal approaches, and by making the inner wall of the room transparent or translucent, the user in the room can see the outside. Since the entrance is located at a position within the field of view, it can be seen that the outside user is approaching the entrance, it can be predicted that the user will participate in the conversation, and the mechanism of the entrance of the room can be changed. Interest in By changing in response to user requests, there is an effect that the user are outside can determine whether visually can participate in the middle in the communication in the room.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image communication system to which a virtual shared display method is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a center device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image display terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the image display terminal device creates a room.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart in the case where the image display terminal device changes the entrance of the room.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart in the case where an alter ego of a user of the image display terminal device enters a room.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a process of a room creation processing unit of the image display terminal device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating processing of an entrance / exit processing unit of the image display terminal device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a process of an entry processing unit of the image display terminal device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a room creation process of a room control unit of the center device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing processing of an entrance / exit control unit of the center device.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing processing of an entry control unit of the center device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 Center device 2 Network 3A, 3B Image display terminal device of users A and B 4 Camera 5 Moving direction input device 6 Microphone 7 Speaker 8 Terminal control device 9 Display 11A-11D Alternate image 12A-12C Image display terminal devices 3A-3C Viewing point position 13A to 13C Viewing direction of image display terminal devices 3A to 3C 14 Room entrance 15 Entrance device

Claims (12)

[Claims] Claims 1. Each user is represented as an alter ego, and the user expresses a three-dimensional virtual space in which the user can freely move by manipulating the alter ego, and the alter ego of another user in the virtual space. A plurality of image display terminal devices capable of expressing an image are connected via a network, and the voice of the user and the position information and the line-of-sight direction information of the user in the virtual space are distributed to other image display terminal devices. Then, in a display method in a virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate in a virtual space in a remote place, a room where alter egos who intend to communicate gathers can be seen through the inside of the room. The inside wall of the room is displayed transparently or translucently. In the room, the alter ego is aligned with one side of the wall of the room and displayed on each image display terminal device. The position of the viewpoint of the virtual space to be set is set at a position symmetrical with respect to the wall in front of the alter ego, and the direction of the line of sight of each image display terminal device is set in a direction opposite to the direction of the alter ego. Is displayed in a virtual space. 2. Expressing a three-dimensional virtual space in which each user is represented as an alter ego, the user can move freely by his / her own intention by operating the alter ego, and the alter ego of another user in the virtual space. A plurality of image display terminal devices capable of expressing an image are connected via a network, and the voice of the user and the position information and the line-of-sight direction information of the user in the virtual space are distributed to other image display terminal devices. Then, in a display method in a virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate in a virtual space at a remote place, an intention to communicate in the virtual space from the image display terminal device to a center device managing virtual space information. Requesting the creation of a room in which the alter ego gathers, and if the center device has not created a room in response to a request from another user, Is determined, and information including the room creation position in the virtual space is sent to the image display terminal device. The image display terminal device receives the room creation position based on the received information including the room creation position. The inside wall of the room is transparently or translucently displayed so that the outside can be seen through from the room, and the alter ego that intends to communicate in the virtual space is aligned with one side of the wall of the room Then, the position of the viewpoint of the virtual space displayed on each image display terminal is set to a position symmetrical with respect to the wall in front of the alter ego, and the line of sight of each image display terminal is set to the direction of the alter ego. A virtual shared display method in a virtual space, wherein the virtual shared display method is set in a facing direction. 3. The virtual shared display method in a virtual space according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when an alter ego of a user of the image display terminal device is in the room in the virtual space, A virtual shared display method in a virtual space, wherein the user's own alter ego is displayed transparently. 4. The virtual shared display method in a virtual space according to claim 1, wherein an alternation of a user of the image display terminal device is changed by another user in a room in the virtual space. A virtual shared display method in a virtual space, wherein when a conversation is made with another alter ego, the position of the alter ego of the user is displayed in accordance with the position of the alter ego of the other user. 5. The virtual shared display method in a virtual space according to claim 1, wherein the room displayed by the image display terminal device is different from the other room outside the room. In a virtual space characterized by having no doorway if entry from the middle of the room is not permitted; otherwise, an alter ego outside the room has an entrance to enter the room Virtual sharing display method. 6. The virtual shared display method in a virtual space according to claim 5, wherein the entrance of the room displayed by the image display terminal device is provided with a mechanism for allowing an alter ego outside the room to enter and exit the room from the middle. A virtual shared display method in a virtual space, characterized by being an entrance that can be changed. 7. A virtual shared display method in a virtual space according to claim 5, wherein if the room does not have an entrance, an alter ego outside the room is prohibited from entering the room, and the room is entered and exited. If there is no gimmick at the doorway, you are allowed to enter the alter ego room outside the room, and if the room has an entrance gate and if there is a gimmick at the doorway, the alter ego user in the room will be A virtual shared display method in a virtual space, characterized by inquiring whether to allow or deny entry to a room, and permitting or denying entry into the room to an alter ego outside the room according to the result. 8. Each user is represented as an alter ego, and the user expresses a three-dimensional virtual space that can be freely moved by his / her own intention by operating the alter ego, and the alter ego of another user in the virtual space. A plurality of image display terminal devices capable of expressing an image are connected via a network, and the voice of the user and the position information and the line-of-sight direction information of the user in the virtual space are distributed to other image display terminal devices. Then, in a display method in a virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate in a virtual space in a remote place, a room where alter egos who intend to communicate gathers can be seen through the inside of the room. The inside wall of the room is displayed transparently or translucently. In the room, the alter ego is aligned with one side of the wall of the room and displayed on each image display terminal device. The position of the viewpoint of the virtual space to be set is set at a position symmetrical with respect to the wall in front of the alter ego, and the direction of the line of sight of each image display terminal device is set in a direction opposite to the direction of the alter ego. Is displayed, and the position of the viewpoint of the image display terminal device of each of the alter egos is moved in accordance with the movement of each alter ego, and the entrance of the room is arranged and displayed in the back direction of the alter ego, and any one of the rooms is used. A virtual shared display method in a virtual space, wherein a device at an entrance of the room is changed according to a request of a user, so that the possibility of participation of another alter ego can be visually recognized. 9. Each user is represented as an alter ego, and the user expresses a three-dimensional virtual space in which the user can freely move by manipulating the alter ego, and the alter ego of another user in the virtual space. A plurality of image display terminal devices capable of expressing an image are connected via a network, and the voice of the user and the position information and the line-of-sight direction information of the user in the virtual space are distributed to other image display terminal devices. A storage medium storing a program to be executed by an image display terminal device in a virtual space system in which a plurality of users communicate with each other in a virtual space at a remote place, and transmitted from another device via a network. Based on the information received from the user and the information input from the terminal device, a room where alter egos who intend to communicate gather can be seen through the room. The inside wall of the room is displayed in a transparent or translucent manner so that the alter ego is aligned with one side of the wall of the room in the room, and the position of the viewpoint for displaying the virtual space on the own terminal device is determined. , Set each user's own device to be a line-symmetrical position with respect to the wall in front of the user's own alter ego, and set the line of sight to the direction opposite to the user's own alter ego, and display each alter ego A recording medium recording a virtual space display program, characterized by recording a program for causing a computer to execute a process to be performed. 10. A recording medium recording the virtual space display program according to claim 9, wherein said program is:
When the alter ego of the user of the image display terminal device is in the room in the virtual space, the program includes a program for causing a computer to execute a process of making the alter ego of the user transparent and displaying the alter ego. A recording medium that stores a virtual space display program. 11. The virtual shared display method in a virtual space according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the alternation of a user of the image display terminal device is an alternation of another user in the virtual space. Recording a virtual space display program characterized by including a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying the user's alter ego position in accordance with the other user's alter ego position when talking with the other user. recoding media. 12. A recording medium recording a virtual space display program according to claim 9, wherein said program is:
The entrance and exit of the room are arranged and displayed in the back direction of the alter ego, and by changing the mechanism of the entrance and exit, it is possible to visually recognize whether or not to enter the room for participation in communication of another alter ego. A recording medium recording a virtual space display program, characterized by including a program for causing a computer to execute processing.