JPH11259516A - Information retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieval device capable of utilizing a part of the front surface or back surface of virtual object and a joint part of plural virtual objects, etc., as a three-dimensional anchor and of performing more detailed information retrieval by a three-dimensional anchor unit. SOLUTION: A three-dimensional image generation part 72 synthesizes a three-dimensional anchor in a virtual three-dimensional space and generates three-dimensional images based on three-dimensional information retrieval space 110. An anchor decision part 200 selects a three-dimensional anchor in the three- dimensional images and outputs information for specifying the three-dimensional anchor obtained from the three-dimensional image generation part 72 to a relating information retrieval part 60. The relating information retrieval part 60 retrieves the related information 10 of the selected three-dimensional anchor based on link data 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an anchor set for a virtual three-dimensional space (a surface created by polygons existing in a virtual space) so that the virtual three-dimensional space can be efficiently used as an information retrieval space. ).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional information retrieval apparatus, for example, Nikkei Computer Graphics, November 1995, 96
VRML (Virtual R) described on pages 113 to 113
ease Modeling Language)
There is WebSpace which is a browser. Where VRM
L is a three-dimensional CG (Comp
is a standard language for describing U.S. Graphics.

[0003] In this WebSpace, a virtual object is arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space constructed on a computer, and is displayed on a display screen. When the operator operates a cursor on the screen with a pointing device such as a mouse to specify a virtual object on the screen, the apparatus searches for related information such as a homepage on the Internet associated with the virtual object.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional information search device for searching in a virtual space. FIG.
Reference numeral 10 denotes related information such as a homepage on the Internet, 20 denotes link data attached to a virtual object as an anchor, 32 denotes a viewpoint position changing unit using a pointing device such as a mouse or a joystick, 34
Is a viewpoint position setting unit that converts the coordinate data signal output from the viewpoint position changing unit 32 into three-dimensional coordinate data.

An application program execution unit 40 starts and processes an execution program suitable for the instruction as needed.
Reference numeral 60 denotes a related information search unit that searches for the related information 10 based on the link data 20; 70, an image generation unit that generates an image when viewing the virtual three-dimensional space; An image display unit 100 displays an image or the like searched by the information search unit 60. Reference numeral 100 denotes three-dimensional space data that defines an image when the virtual three-dimensional space is viewed. ) And related information 10 relating to virtual objects are stored on a URL (Uniform Resource Lo) of the Internet.
cat. address).

Further, reference numeral 210 denotes an anchor designating unit for selecting a virtual object by, for example, a mouse button or the like; 220, a cursor position changing unit for outputting a coordinate data signal of a cursor by a pointing device such as a mouse;
Is an anchor information designating unit that converts a cursor coordinate data signal output from the cursor position changing unit 220 into two-dimensional coordinates corresponding to the screen and displays the cursor at that position on the screen.

The viewpoint position setting section 34, anchor information designating section 230, image generating section 70, related information searching section 60,
The application program execution unit 40 is, for example, specifically, a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) in a computer that executes a predetermined program.
nit). The three-dimensional space data 100 is usually stored in a storage device on a computer, and is read and used as needed.

Next, the operation will be described. The viewpoint position setting unit 34 converts the coordinate data signal representing the displacement output from the viewpoint position changing unit 32 into three-dimensional coordinate data in a rectangular coordinate system that can be used by the image generation unit 70, and converts this into a three-dimensional coordinate data. The image is output to the image generation unit 70 as a line-of-sight direction (hereinafter, these are referred to as line-of-sight vectors). The image generation unit 70 converts the virtual three-dimensional space defined by the three-dimensional space data 100 from the viewpoint position defined by the viewpoint vector set by the viewpoint position setting unit 34 to the line of sight also defined by the viewpoint vector. Generate an image containing the virtual object when viewed. Further, the image generation unit 70 determines the object ID and UR of the virtual object obtained from the three-dimensional space data 100.
The L address is created as the link data 20.

The anchor information designating section 230 converts the coordinate data signal of the cursor output from the cursor position changing section 220 into two-dimensional coordinates corresponding to the screen, and displays the cursor at that position on the screen. Further, since the anchor information specifying unit 230 obtains the coordinates on the screen of the virtual object to be the anchor from the image generation unit 70, the cursor position changing unit 220 moves the cursor over the virtual object to be the anchor, When the virtual object is specified by the specifying unit 210, the anchor information specifying unit 230 determines that the virtual object is selected.

When the virtual object selected by the anchor specifying unit 210 is defined as an anchor, the anchor information specifying unit 230 sends data specifying the virtual object, for example, an object ID to the related information searching unit 60. Output. The related information search unit 60 determines the related information 1 such as a homepage on the Internet based on the URL address in the link data 20 attached to the virtual object as the anchor.
Search for 0. The image display unit 50 includes the image generation unit 70
And the images from the related information search unit 60 are displayed.

FIG. 14 shows a view point vector and an image generation unit 70.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image generated by the above. FIG.
(A) is the same object A (object 1053) in the three-dimensional space.
And an example in which an object B (object 1042) is arranged. Here, the coordinate system is a tube surface coordinate system corresponding to the cathode ray tube surface of the display. For example, the x axis corresponds to the vertical direction of the screen, the y axis corresponds to the horizontal direction, and the z axis corresponds to the depth direction. Since the line of sight and the screen face each other, in this coordinate system, the viewpoint position 1
The direction of the line-of-sight vector starting from 010 is horizontal to the z-axis.

FIG. 14B shows an object A (object 105).
3) shows a two-dimensional image on the screen 1100 when the object B (object 1042) is viewed from the viewpoint position 1010 in the z-axis direction. Here, the two-dimensional image means a “two-dimensional” image, and refers to an image expressed in a planar manner without perspective. Therefore, in FIG.
The object B is represented on the screen 1100 by the images 1053 and 1042 of the same size on the screen 1100 despite the different distances from the viewpoint 1010.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the cursor position changing unit 220 and the anchor designating unit 210. As shown in FIG. 15A, the cursor position changing unit 2
When the mouse 1200, which is 20, is moved forward, backward, left, and right on a table or the like, the cursor 2020 moves up, down, left, and right on the screen 1100 correspondingly. Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, the mouse 1200 is operated to
20 is moved over the image 1053 of the object A, and then the left mouse button 1250,
When the user clicks, the anchor information specifying unit 230 checks the coordinates on the screen of the virtual object A obtained from the image generating unit 70 with the coordinates specified by the cursor, and determines that the object is specified.

The related information search unit 60 uses the object in the three-dimensional space designated by the anchor information designating unit 230 as an anchor, and based on the link data 20 previously attached to the virtual object as the anchor, a homepage or the like on the Internet. Search for relevant information in.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an operation for searching for related information from an object in the three-dimensional space specified by the anchor information specifying unit 230. The anchor information specifying unit 230 extracts the object ID 51 attached to the image 1053 of the object A specified by the anchor specifying unit 210, and outputs it to the related information search unit 60. Then, the related information search unit 60 searches for the related information 10 corresponding to the object ID 51 based on the link data 20. Here, the related information search unit 60 basically uses HTML (HyperText).
Markup Language) browser,
Processes and displays HTML files described in HTML.

The display of images and VRML that cannot be processed and displayed by the related information search unit 60, the reproduction of moving images and sounds, and the execution instructions of programs are passed to the application program execution unit 40. The application program execution unit 40 starts and processes an execution program suitable for the instruction as needed.

The link data 20 is a U indicating the storage location of the object ID 51 and the related information 10 on the Internet 56.
This is information for associating with the RL address 55, and is HTML.
Is a file described in. The related information 10 is H
A file described in HTML, specifically, an HTML file 57 such as a homepage on a server computer connected to the Internet 56, and an HTML file 57
A VRML file 58 in which URLs are described, and files 59 for images, moving images, audio, programs, and the like.

The above-described operations of generating an image in the virtual three-dimensional space, changing the viewpoint position, and specifying anchor information are performed by using a VRML file and a VRML file that processes and displays the VRML file.
It is realized by a browser. VRML browser is HT
It is a helper application or plug-in software for the ML browser, and is used by being incorporated in the HTML browser. The HTML browser decodes the HTML file, and when the VRML file is embedded therein, requests the VRML browser to perform the processing.

That is, the related information search unit 60 calculates the URL address 5 corresponding to the object ID 51 from the link data 20.
5 is retrieved, and an HTML file 57 on a server computer connected to the Internet 56 is accessed. HT
The ML file 57 is stored in the related information search unit 60 by the HT
It is passed to the ML browser. The VRML file 58 incorporated in the HTML file 57 is associated with the related information search unit 60.
Is passed to a VRML browser 98 started by the application program executing unit 40 via an HTML interface, converted into image data 54, and displayed by the image display unit 50. When the VRML file 58 is extracted as related information, it can be used as a virtual three-dimensional space for searching for new information.

In this conventional information retrieval apparatus, the virtual 3
In addition to the operation of the dimensional space, the application that provides each function to the HTML browser for other functions,
It can be realized by incorporating from the application A execution file 92, the application B execution file 94, and the application C execution file 96.

[0021]

Since the conventional information retrieval apparatus is configured as described above, a unit recognized as an anchor in a virtual three-dimensional space is a virtual object unit.
There is a problem that only information retrieval on a virtual object basis can be performed. That is, a part of the front surface or the back surface of the virtual object, a joint portion of a plurality of virtual objects, or the like is set as an anchor (hereinafter, referred to as a three-dimensional anchor), and it is not possible to perform more detailed information retrieval in three-dimensional anchor units than in virtual object units. There was a problem that.

Further, as a method for solving the above-mentioned problem, a part of a virtual object or a joint part of a plurality of virtual objects is
To construct a new three-dimensional anchor,
There is a problem that it is difficult to construct the three-dimensional anchor having the same shape as a part of the virtual object.

Further, since the virtual object and the three-dimensional anchor in the virtual three-dimensional space have a close relationship in shape, the three-dimensional space data for constructing the virtual three-dimensional space and the three-dimensional anchor are used.
Since data for constructing a three-dimensional anchor had to be handled in one file, a different file was used for each combination of virtual three-dimensional space and three-dimensional anchor or combination of three-dimensional anchor and related information. There was a problem that it had to be created.

Further, when related information of a three-dimensional anchor used in many virtual three-dimensional spaces is changed,
All files using the three-dimensional anchor must be changed, and it is difficult to manage the consistency of data contents.

Further, in the above-described conventional information retrieval apparatus, a virtual three-dimensional space for information retrieval is only provided to the user unilaterally, and the user adds new individual related information to the personal information retrieval apparatus. There is a problem that it cannot be used as a business information search device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and uses a part of the front surface or the back surface of a virtual object, a joint portion of a plurality of virtual objects, and the like as a three-dimensional anchor, and uses a three-dimensional anchor unit. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain an information search device capable of performing more detailed information search.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval apparatus capable of easily constructing a three-dimensional anchor at a part of the front or back surface of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space or at a junction of a plurality of virtual objects.

Further, the present invention provides a virtual three-dimensional space
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval apparatus that can reduce the amount of computer resources and the work of creating data for information retrieval by separating the data of the dimensional anchor, setting the combination as necessary, and using it efficiently. And

A further object of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval apparatus capable of promptly responding to update or addition of related information by centrally managing combinations of virtual objects and three-dimensional anchors and their related information. I do.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an information retrieval apparatus which allows each user to independently set a three-dimensional anchor and to easily perform personalized information retrieval. I do.

[0031]

An information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention provides a method for searching information related to a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space.
Three-dimensional anchor data related to the three-dimensional anchor data, which is related to the three-dimensional anchor, which is a part of the virtual object, and an address indicating the location of related information relating to the three-dimensional anchor; , The three-dimensional anchor is synthesized in the virtual three-dimensional space to generate a three-dimensional image, and the anchor I
A three-dimensional image generation unit that generates link data between the address D and the address, an image display unit that displays the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit, and the three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit And an anchor determining unit that obtains an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generating unit, and an anchor ID that is obtained from the anchor determining unit. Based on the link data, A related information search unit for searching for related information.

An information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention generates a virtual three-dimensional space from three-dimensional space data relating to information of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space, and generates a virtual three-dimensional space of the virtual object in the generated virtual three-dimensional space. A part is duplicated to generate a three-dimensional anchor. The three-dimensional anchor is related to the generated three-dimensional anchor information, and includes an anchor ID for specifying the three-dimensional anchor and an address indicating the location of related information related to the three-dimensional anchor. A three-dimensional anchor generating unit that generates three-dimensional anchor data; a three-dimensional anchor that is synthesized in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the three-dimensional space data and the three-dimensional anchor data to generate a three-dimensional image; A three-dimensional image generation unit for generating link data between the anchor ID and the address, and an image for displaying the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit A display unit, an anchor determination unit that selects the three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit, and acquires an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generation unit, and an anchor determination unit And a related information search unit that obtains the anchor ID from the unit and searches for the related information based on the link data.

An information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention generates a virtual three-dimensional space from three-dimensional space data relating to information on a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space, and generates a virtual three-dimensional space in the generated virtual three-dimensional space. A part is duplicated to generate a plurality of three-dimensional anchors. An anchor ID for specifying the three-dimensional anchor and an address indicating the location of related information related to the three-dimensional anchor are associated with the information of the generated three-dimensional anchors. To generate multiple 3D anchor data including
A three-dimensional anchor generating unit, and setting of a combination of the three-dimensional spatial data and one of the three-dimensional anchor data 3
The three-dimensional anchor is synthesized in the virtual three-dimensional space from the three-dimensional space data and the three-dimensional anchor data based on the combination set by the three-dimensional information search space setting part and the three-dimensional information search space setting part. A three-dimensional image generating unit that generates link data between the anchor ID and the address, and an image display unit that displays the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generating unit; An anchor determination unit that selects the three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit and acquires an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generation unit; A related information search unit that acquires an ID and searches for the related information based on the link data.

An information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention generates a virtual three-dimensional space from three-dimensional space data relating to information of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space, and generates a virtual three-dimensional space in the generated virtual three-dimensional space. A plurality of three-dimensional anchors are generated by duplicating a part thereof, and a plurality of three-dimensional anchor data including an anchor ID for specifying the three-dimensional anchor is generated according to the information of the generated three-dimensional anchors. A three-dimensional spatial data and one of the three-dimensional anchor data
A three-dimensional information search space setting unit for setting a combination with the three-dimensional anchor data; and a virtual three-dimensional data from the three-dimensional space data and the three-dimensional anchor data based on the combination set by the three-dimensional information search space setting unit. A three-dimensional image generating unit that generates a three-dimensional image by combining the three-dimensional anchor in a three-dimensional space; an image display unit that displays the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generating unit; A link data storage unit for storing link data with an address indicating the location of the relevant information relating to the three-dimensional anchor, and selecting the three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit; An anchor determining unit for obtaining an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor; and obtaining the anchor ID from the anchor determining unit; Based on the serial link data, in which a related information retrieval section for retrieving the related information.

In the information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention, the three-dimensional anchor generating section generates personal three-dimensional anchor data including a personal anchor ID for generating a user-specific personal three-dimensional anchor. A personal three-dimensional information search space setting unit that sets a combination of spatial data, one piece of three-dimensional anchor data, and the personal three-dimensional anchor data; Virtual 3 based on the set combination
In the three-dimensional space, a three-dimensional anchor is synthesized, and the individual three-dimensional anchor is synthesized to generate a three-dimensional image. The link data storage unit stores the individual anchor ID and related information on the individual three-dimensional anchor. Is stored, and the anchor determination unit selects the individual three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit, and outputs the selected individual three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generation unit. And a related information retrieval unit acquires the personal anchor ID from the anchor determination unit, and retrieves related information relating to the personal three-dimensional anchor based on the personal link data.

[0036] The information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention stores a plurality of anchor IDs or individual anchor IDs selected by the anchor determining unit, and the related information retrieving unit retrieves the plurality of anchor IDs acquired based on the link data or the individual link data. Alternatively, related information linked to a plurality of personal anchor IDs is searched.

In the information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention, when the three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit overlaps, the anchor determining unit switches the overlapping order of the overlapping three-dimensional anchor or individual three-dimensional anchor. To choose.

[0038] In the information search device according to the present invention, when the three-dimensional image generating unit has a cursor displayed by the image display unit on the three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor,
An anchor identification display for notifying the existence of the three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor is performed.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a first embodiment for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. This device includes a computer having an arithmetic device, a storage device, and an input / output device. It is configured using.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes a viewpoint position changing unit 32.
And a viewpoint operation unit including a viewpoint position setting unit 34, a three-dimensional image generation unit 72, and a three-dimensional space data part (3
Three-dimensional information search space data including a three-dimensional anchor data portion (three-dimensional anchor data) 112 and a three-dimensional anchor data portion (three-dimensional anchor data) 114;
0 is an anchor designation unit 210 and a cursor position change unit 220
And an anchor determining unit including an anchor information specifying unit 232, and the other configuration is the same as that of the above-described conventional FIG. Anchor information designation unit 232, three-dimensional image generation unit 7
Reference numeral 2 denotes, for example, a central processing unit in a computer that executes a predetermined program.

The three-dimensional space data portion 112 includes information such as the object ID, shape, color, and arrangement of the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space, the type of light source such as a point light source and a parallel light source, and the arrangement thereof. Is usually stored in a storage device on a computer, and is read out and used as needed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a virtual three-dimensional space. In this example, an object 1040 and an object 1051 having the same size are arranged on the viewpoint position side and the opposite side with respect to the cursor movement plane 1000, respectively. The coordinate system is a tube coordinate system.

The three-dimensional anchor data part 114 includes the anchor ID (data for specifying the three-dimensional anchor), the shape, the arrangement, and the color of the three-dimensional anchor in the virtual three-dimensional space defined by the three-dimensional space data part 112. The information and the URL address of the Internet where the related information 10 regarding the three-dimensional anchor is stored are usually stored in a storage device of the computer, and are read out and used as needed.
The three-dimensional anchor defined by the three-dimensional anchor data part 114 has the same shape as the part of the virtual object defined by the three-dimensional space data part 112 in which the three-dimensional anchor is set, and is arranged at the same position or very close. ing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between a virtual object and a three-dimensional anchor. For example, a plane A of a virtual object A of a rectangular parallelepiped
The three-dimensional anchor A (1052) sets the part of the surface of (1034) and the surface B (1032) as the anchor, and the three-dimensional anchor B (1054) sets the part of the back of the surface A as the anchor. It is. Further, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped virtual object B (1300) and a cylindrical virtual object C (140)
In the case where 0) is joined, the three-dimensional anchor C (1056) sets a part of the joined portion as the anchor.

In FIG. 1, the three-dimensional image generation unit 72
The three-dimensional space defined by the three-dimensional space data part 112 of the three-dimensional information search space data 110 and the three-dimensional anchor defined by the three-dimensional anchor data part 114 are defined by the viewpoint vector. A virtual three-dimensional space viewed in the direction of the line of sight from the viewpoint to be viewed is constructed. At this time, the three-dimensional image generation unit 72 performs perspective transformation to give a sense of perspective, or performs shading processing to express the three-dimensional effect of the object. Of course, the perspective projection can be stopped and expressed by parallel projection, or the shading can be stopped and expressed by wire frame. Also, the three-dimensional image generation unit 72 outputs the object ID of the virtual object obtained from the three-dimensional information search space data 110 and the anchor ID of the three-dimensional anchor.
And a URL address as link data 20.

The coordinate system of the virtual three-dimensional space based on the viewpoint vector is usually set to one axis in each of the vertical and horizontal directions of the surface of the cathode ray tube (CRT) of the display constituting the image display unit 50. , Orthogonal coordinates with the remaining one axis set in the depth direction, which is herein referred to as a tube coordinate system. The three-dimensional image generation unit 72 generates three-dimensional space image data based on the viewpoint vector, and supplies an arrangement of an object in the tube coordinate system and information attached to the object to another module. By performing perspective transformation and shading, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional image that gives a three-dimensional effect in which a difference in apparent size depending on the distance of an object and a shadow due to light hit are expressed.

The three-dimensional image of the virtual three-dimensional space defined by the three-dimensional information search space data 110 constructed by the three-dimensional image generation unit 72 is a three-dimensional anchor defined by the three-dimensional anchor data part 114. Because it is transparent, it is the same as a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space constructed only with the three-dimensional space data part 112.

The anchor determining section 200 includes an image display section 50
A cursor is displayed on the three-dimensional image displayed in, and the cursor points to the virtual object or the three-dimensional anchor displayed in the image.

The cursor position changing unit 220 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, and the anchor designating unit 210 is, for example, a mouse button. The anchor information specifying unit 232 sets a cursor moving plane parallel to the screen in the virtual three-dimensional space, and converts the cursor coordinate data signal input from the cursor position changing unit 220 into two-dimensional coordinates corresponding to the cursor moving plane. Convert and display the cursor at that position.

The anchor information specifying unit 232 obtains the coordinates of the three-dimensional anchor in the tube coordinate system from the three-dimensional image generating unit 72. Therefore, the cursor position changing unit 220
When the cursor is moved onto the three-dimensional anchor by the operator and the three-dimensional anchor is specified by the anchor specifying unit 210, the anchor information specifying unit 232 determines that the three-dimensional anchor has been selected.

Further, the anchor information specifying section 232 extracts data for specifying the selected three-dimensional anchor, for example, an anchor ID from the information supplied from the three-dimensional image generating section 72. In a similar manner, the anchor information specifying unit 232 extracts data specifying the selected virtual object, for example, an object ID from the information supplied from the three-dimensional image generation unit 72.

The related information search unit 60 obtains the object ID or the anchor ID from the anchor information specifying unit 232 and searches for the related information 10 linked to the virtual object or the three-dimensional anchor based on the link data 20. Although only one application program execution unit 40 is shown in the figure, a plurality of application program execution units 40 may actually exist. These are different services,
For example, virtual three-dimensional space display processing, image display processing,
A module group that executes an application program that provides services such as a spreadsheet process, a moving image display process, and an audio process, and generates information display image data that displays a result of each process and related information retrieved.

The link data 20 is information that defines a link between a virtual object or a three-dimensional anchor and related information. For example, a URL address indicating a storage location of the object ID or anchor ID and the related information on the network. Is a file described in HTML. The related information 10 is, for example, a file described in HTML. Specifically, the related information 10 is an HTML file such as a homepage on a server computer connected to the Internet, and a V file in which a URL is described in the HTML file.
These are files such as RML, images, moving images, audio, and programs.

Next, the operation will be described. When the viewpoint position changing unit 32 specifies a viewpoint vector in a virtual three-dimensional space on a computer, a coordinate data signal is output from the viewpoint position changing unit 32 to the viewpoint position setting unit 34. The viewpoint position setting unit 34 converts this into a viewpoint vector and outputs it to the three-dimensional image generation unit 72.

The three-dimensional image generator 72 generates a virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the viewpoint vector and the three-dimensional space data part 112, and generates a three-dimensional anchor based on the three-dimensional anchor data part 114. Synthesize in a three-dimensional space. The three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit 72 is output to the image display unit 50 and displayed. 3
The three-dimensional image generation unit 72 outputs the three-dimensional information search space data 11
The object ID of the virtual object obtained from 0 and the anchor ID and URL address of the three-dimensional anchor are created as link data 20.

The coordinates of the virtual object or the three-dimensional anchor obtained by the calculation by the three-dimensional image generating unit 72 and the attributes of the object are supplied to the anchor information specifying unit 232.
The anchor information specifying unit 232 displays a cursor on the image display unit 50, selects a virtual object or a three-dimensional anchor on the three-dimensional image, and activates a search process in the related information search unit 60. In this case, since the three-dimensional anchor is usually transparent, it is necessary to specify the three-dimensional anchor on the screen by a predetermined method.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the anchor determining section 200 including the anchor information specifying section 232 as an element. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a cursor movement plane 1000 set by the anchor information specifying unit 232 in the virtual three-dimensional space and a viewpoint vector.

Here, the coordinate system is a screen coordinate system, and the X axis corresponds to the vertical direction of the screen, the Y axis corresponds to the horizontal direction, and the Z axis corresponds to the depth direction. The cursor movement plane 1000 is set parallel to the screen. In addition, since the line of sight and the screen face each other, in this coordinate system, the direction of the line of sight vector starting from the viewpoint position 1010 is parallel to the Z-axis and perpendicular to the cursor movement plane 1000.

FIG. 4B shows a virtual object 1030 or a three-dimensional anchor 1050 in the anchor determining unit 200.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining how to give an instruction. Here, it is assumed that the three-dimensional anchor 1050 is normally transparent, but is specified by a predetermined method. In this figure, the line of sight is facing the virtual object 1030. When the mouse as the cursor position changing unit 220 is moved forward, backward, left, and right on the table, a cursor 1020 displayed on the cursor movement plane 1000 is displayed.
Moves up, down, left and right.

To select and designate the three-dimensional anchor 1050, first, the cursor 1020 is moved to a position overlapping the three-dimensional anchor 1050 on the screen. In this case, since the three-dimensional anchor 1050 is in the line of sight,
As shown in the figure, the viewpoint 10 which is an extension of the viewpoint vector
The cursor 1020 may be moved near the intersection of the straight line connecting the 10 and the three-dimensional anchor 1050 and the cursor moving plane 1000.

Thereafter, when, for example, a left button of the mouse as the anchor specifying unit 210 is clicked, the anchor information specifying unit 232 obtains the XY coordinates of the three-dimensional anchor 1050 obtained from the three-dimensional image generating unit 72 and the XY specified by the cursor 1020. Collation with the coordinates is performed, it is determined that the object is specified, and thereby the three-dimensional anchor 1050 is selected.

Here, when there are a plurality of three-dimensional anchor virtual objects in the depth direction of the screen from the position of the cursor 1020, the virtual object is located on the side opposite to the viewpoint position 1010 with respect to the cursor moving plane 1000. That is, the three-dimensional anchor object closest to the cursor movement plane 1000 is selected. In a similar manner, the virtual object 10
30 instructions are also given.

FIG. 5 shows a virtual object or 3D object in the virtual three-dimensional space specified by the anchor information specifying unit 232.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation | movement which searches relevant information from a dimension anchor. The anchor information designating unit 232 stores the object ID attached to the virtual object 1030 selected in the description of FIG.
Alternatively, anchor I attached to three-dimensional anchor 1050
D (52) is extracted from the information supplied from the three-dimensional image generation unit 72 and passed to the related information search unit 60.

Then, in the related information search section 60, the object I
Related information 1 corresponding to D or anchor ID (52)
0 is searched based on the link data 20. Here, the related information search unit 60 is basically an HTML browser,
An HTML file described in HTML can be processed and displayed. Execution instructions such as displaying images and VRML that cannot be processed and displayed by the related information search unit 60, playing back moving images and sounds, and programs are passed to the application program execution unit 40.
The application program execution unit 40 starts and processes an execution program suitable for the instruction as needed.

The link data 20 is information for associating an object ID or an anchor ID (52) with a URL address 55 indicating a storage location on the Internet 56, and is a file described in HTML. The related information 10 is a file described in HTML, specifically, an HTML file 57 such as a homepage on a server computer connected to the Internet 56, and an HTML file 57.
VRML in which a URL is described in the L file 57,
The file 59 includes an image, a moving image, a sound, and a program.

The related information search unit 60 stores data files 92, 94, 96, and 99 of various application program execution units 40 incorporated in this apparatus. The related information search unit 60 instructs the application program execution unit 40 to retrieve the type of data file specified by the URL address 55 described in the related information. When a plurality of URL addresses 55 are specified in the related information, a plurality of corresponding data files are extracted from the application program execution unit 40.

Here, it is assumed that, for example, the data file 94 of the application B is taken out as the related information corresponding to the URL address 55. Related information search unit 60
Determines that the retrieved related information is the data file 94 of the application B, and passes the data file 94 to the application program execution unit 40 that executes the application B. The application program execution unit 40 that executes the application B processes the data file 94 to generate, for example, image data 54 representing image information. The image data 54 is output from the related information search unit 60 to the image display unit 50 and displayed.

When the three-dimensional information search space data 110 is extracted from the three-dimensional information search space data file 111 as the related information 10, the application program execution unit 40 executes the information search device execution file 99 and newly executes It can also be used as a virtual three-dimensional space for information retrieval.

The image display unit 50 includes a three-dimensional image generation unit 72
, The information display image from the related information search unit 60, and the cursor image from the anchor information designating unit 232 are displayed on the display.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, a part of the front surface or the back surface of the virtual object and a joint part of a plurality of virtual objects are used as a three-dimensional anchor, so that the three-dimensional An effect is obtained that more detailed information retrieval can be performed for each anchor.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to the second embodiment for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, 150
Is a three-dimensional anchor generation unit, and the other configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment,
A 3D anchor with the same shape as that of a part of the virtual object
In this embodiment, the three-dimensional anchor generating unit 1
50 is a three-dimensional space data part 11 for constructing a virtual space.
2 is used to generate the three-dimensional anchor data portion 114. Here, the three-dimensional anchor generation unit 1
50 is, for example, a central processing unit in a computer that executes a predetermined program.

The three-dimensional anchor generation unit 150 generates a virtual three-dimensional space from the three-dimensional space data part 112 constituting the virtual three-dimensional space, and duplicates a part of the shape of the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space. Generate a three-dimensional anchor,
The generated three-dimensional anchor is arranged at the same position or very close to a part of the virtual object of the duplication source, and the three-dimensional space data is used as the three-dimensional space data part 112, which is information necessary for generating the three-dimensional anchor. One piece of three-dimensional information search space data 110 is generated with the three-dimensional anchor data as the three-dimensional anchor data part 114.

The next operation will be described. First, the three-dimensional anchor generation unit 150 performs three-dimensional image processing on the three-dimensional space data portion 112 forming the virtual three-dimensional space, and generates a virtual three-dimensional space. Next, for a virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space, a portion for which a three-dimensional anchor is to be set is designated by using a pointing device such as a mouse, for example, to directly designate a surface of the portion for which a three-dimensional anchor is to be set. A part to be set as a three-dimensional anchor is indicated by determining the inclusion relationship with the virtual object. Next, a plane of the set virtual object is copied to generate a three-dimensional anchor.

Copying the surface of the virtual object means creating a new surface having the same coordinates as the coordinates of each vertex of the surface in the virtual three-dimensional space. A method of directly instructing the surface of a portion to be set with a mouse or the like is, for example, as shown in an external character editor or the like, when a left mouse button is designated, a three-dimensional anchor is set, and the set surface is designated with a right mouse button. If the setting is canceled.

In the method of determining the inclusion relationship with a virtual object such as a sphere or a rectangular parallelepiped, for example, in a two-dimensional case, when a plurality of objects are selected with a drawing tool or the like, the object is included in a rectangular area drawn with a mouse. Is available. When it is desired to set the three-dimensional anchor on the surface of the virtual object, the generated three-dimensional anchor is arranged near the outside of the virtual object of the copy source, and when it is desired to set the three-dimensional anchor on the back surface, it is arranged near the inside. If the virtual object is arranged at the same coordinates as the copy source virtual object, it means that the same three-dimensional anchor is set on the front and back surfaces, for example.

Next, the ID and the URL address of the three-dimensional anchor are set to the generated three-dimensional anchor, and the three-dimensional anchor data part 114 is generated. The three-dimensional space data for constructing the three-dimensional space is a three-dimensional space data part 1
12, the three-dimensional anchor data for generating the constructed three-dimensional anchor is a three-dimensional anchor data part 11.
4 is stored in one piece of three-dimensional information search space data 110.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to easily construct a three-dimensional anchor by copying a part of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a third embodiment for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, reference numeral 74 denotes a three-dimensional image generating unit; 120, a three-dimensional information retrieval space constituted by a three-dimensional spatial data file (three-dimensional spatial data) 122 and plural three-dimensional anchor data files (three-dimensional anchor data) 124; A data group, 152 is a three-dimensional anchor generation unit, 160 is a three-dimensional information search space setting unit, 162 is a three-dimensional information search space setting file,
Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment.

The three-dimensional image generation unit 74, the three-dimensional anchor generation unit 152, and the three-dimensional information search space setting unit 160 are, for example, central processing units of computers that execute predetermined programs, respectively. The three-dimensional information search space data group 120 including the plurality of three-dimensional anchor data files 124 and the three-dimensional information search space setting file 162 are stored in, for example, a storage device in a computer.

In the first and second embodiments, since the virtual object and the three-dimensional anchor in the virtual three-dimensional space are closely related in shape, the three-dimensional space data for constructing the virtual three-dimensional space is used. And the three-dimensional anchor data for constructing the three-dimensional anchor must be handled in one file. Each time the combination of the virtual three-dimensional space and the three-dimensional anchor or the combination of the three-dimensional anchor and the related information is different, I had to create another file. In this embodiment, a combination of a three-dimensional space data file 122 for constructing a virtual three-dimensional space and a plurality of three-dimensional anchor data files 124 set for virtual objects in the virtual three-dimensional space is used for three-dimensional information retrieval. The problem is solved by describing it in the space setting file 162.

Next, the operation will be described. Embodiment 3
Is different from the second embodiment in that the three-dimensional space data for constructing the virtual three-dimensional space is stored in the three-dimensional space data file 122, and the generated three-dimensional anchor is not necessary. Accordingly, it can be stored in a plurality of three-dimensional anchor data files 124.

For the three-dimensional information search space data group 120, the three-dimensional information search space setting unit 160 stores the three-dimensional information data space 122 suitable for the information search space in the three-dimensional information search space setting file 162. A combination of a file name and a file name of one three-dimensional anchor data file 124 set for a virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space constructed by the three-dimensional space data file 122 is described and stored.

The three-dimensional image generator 74 first reads the combined file name of the three-dimensional space data file 122 and the three-dimensional anchor data file 124 from the three-dimensional information search space setting file 162, and reads the read file. From the name, 3D spatial data file 1
22, and a corresponding file is read out from the three-dimensional anchor data file 124, a three-dimensional image is generated from the contents of the file, and the image display unit 50 displays the three-dimensional image.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the combination of the virtual three-dimensional space and the three-dimensional anchor,
Since there is no need to create a separate file each time the combination of the three-dimensional anchor and the related information is different, the data of the virtual three-dimensional space and the three-dimensional anchor can be used efficiently, and the information search data creation work and computer resources Can be reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to Embodiment 4 for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a link data storage unit such as a magnetic disk device for storing link data defining a link between a virtual object or a three-dimensional anchor and a URL address. 7 is the same as FIG.

In the first to third embodiments, the URL address of the Internet and the like are set in advance in the three-dimensional anchor, but the URL address of the three-dimensional anchor used in many virtual three-dimensional spaces is used. Was changed, all the files using the three-dimensional anchor had to be changed in order to maintain the consistency. However, in the fourth embodiment, the data specifying the three-dimensional anchor was changed. For example, only the modification of the link data storage unit 22 that manages the combination of the anchor ID and the like and the Internet URL address and the like can be solved.

Next, the operation will be described. This embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in the method of managing link data of a three-dimensional anchor and a URL address. In each of the above embodiments, as data for generating a three-dimensional anchor, for example, data for specifying a three-dimensional anchor such as an anchor ID, and a URL address of a network are described in advance. However, in this embodiment, only the anchor ID is described in advance as the data for generating the three-dimensional anchor, and the link data storage unit 22 manages the combination of the anchor ID and the URL address.

First, the related information search unit 62 receives the anchor ID from the anchor information specifying unit 232 and extracts the URL address combined with the anchor ID received from the link data storage unit 22. Related information search section 6
2 is related information 10 based on the extracted URL address.
And passes the searched related information 10 to the application program execution unit 40 as necessary.

In this embodiment, the link data 20 of the third embodiment is replaced with a link data storage unit 22, but the link data 2 of the first or second embodiment is replaced.
0 may be replaced with the link data storage unit 22.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, since the link data storage unit collectively manages the combination of the anchor ID and the URL address,
D and URL address and combination can be changed easily,
The effect of being able to quickly respond to updating or changing related information is obtained.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to Embodiment 5 for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, reference numeral 76 denotes a three-dimensional image generator, 154 denotes a three-dimensional anchor generator, 1
70 is a three-dimensional information search space setting unit, 172 is a three-dimensional information search space setting file, 126 is a personal three-dimensional anchor data file (personal three-dimensional anchor data), 174 is a personal three-dimensional information search space setting file, and 300 is a personal 3
A three-dimensional information search space data group 310 is a personal three-dimensional information search space setting unit, and the other configuration is the same as that of FIG. 7 of the third embodiment.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the virtual three-dimensional space for retrieving information is a one-sided information providing service from the user's point of view. Although information cannot be added and used as a personal information retrieval device, the fifth embodiment is not applicable.
The problem is solved by having the personal three-dimensional information search space setting file 174, the personal three-dimensional anchor data file 126, and the personal three-dimensional information search space setting unit 310.

In the third and fourth embodiments, the third
Although the three-dimensional anchor generation unit and the three-dimensional information search space setting unit can only be used on the information providing service side, in this embodiment, the three-dimensional anchor generation and the three-dimensional information search space setting are also used by the user. What is different is possible. For example, the three-dimensional anchor generation unit 152 and the three-dimensional information search space setting unit 160 according to the third and fourth embodiments can be downloaded from a server-side computer and used by each person's computer or used via a network. Will do.

When the three-dimensional anchor generation and the three-dimensional information search space setting are used by the user, a personal three-dimensional anchor data file 126 and a personal three-dimensional anchor data file 126 are stored in a storage device such as a magnetic disk of each user's computer. The dimension information search space setting file 174 is stored.

[0095] Individual three-dimensional anchor data file 126
Stores personal three-dimensional anchor data including a personal anchor ID, which relates to generation of a personal three-dimensional anchor generated by each user using the three-dimensional anchor generating unit 154. The personal three-dimensional information search space setting file 174 includes a personal three-dimensional information search space setting unit 310.
The three-dimensional information search space setting file 172
And the file name of the personal three-dimensional anchor data file 126 are described. It is assumed that the link data storage unit 22 also stores link data between the personal anchor ID and the URL address of the related information.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the three-dimensional anchor generation unit 154 outputs the three-dimensional spatial data file 1
Based on the C.22, the personal 3D anchor data including the personal anchor ID is generated and stored in the personal 3D anchor data file 126. The personal three-dimensional information search space setting unit 310 includes a personal three-dimensional information search space setting file 174.
Then, the file name stored in the three-dimensional information search space setting file 172 and the file name of the personal three-dimensional anchor data file 126 are stored.

Then, the three-dimensional image generation unit 76
The file name of the three-dimensional information search space setting file 174 is read, and the file name stored in the three-dimensional information search space setting file 172 is read according to the read file name. According to the file names stored in the three-dimensional information search space setting file 172, the three-dimensional space data file 122 and the three-dimensional anchor data file 124
Read. Next, the personal three-dimensional anchor data file 126 is read from the file name described in the personal three-dimensional information search space setting file 174, and the three-dimensional spatial data file 122 and the three-dimensional anchor data file 124 that have already been read are read. In addition to the content, a user-specific virtual 3D space is generated, and a 3D anchor and an individual 3
The dimensional anchor is displayed on the image display unit 50.

[0098] Similar to the fourth embodiment, anchor determination section 200 selects a personal three-dimensional anchor displayed on image display section 50, acquires a personal anchor ID, and passes it to related information search section 62. The related information search unit 62 searches for related information related to the personal three-dimensional anchor based on the URL address of the related information linked to the acquired personal anchor ID.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to set a personal three-dimensional information search space and generate a three-dimensional anchor.
An effect is obtained that a dimensional information search function can be easily obtained.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to Embodiment 6 for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, 20
1 is an anchor determining unit, 234 is an anchor information specifying unit, 2
Reference numeral 40 denotes an anchor information temporary holding unit. The anchor determining unit 201 includes an anchor specifying unit 210, a cursor position changing unit 220, an anchor information specifying unit 234, and an anchor information temporary storing unit 240. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, when one three-dimensional anchor is specified, information retrieval is immediately performed, and a plurality of three-dimensional anchors are
Although the dimensional anchor could not be specified, in the sixth embodiment, the problem is solved by the anchor determination unit including the temporary anchor information storage unit 240.

Next, the operation will be described. When the user designates a three-dimensional anchor by pressing the left button of a pointing device such as a mouse using the cursor position changing unit 220 and the anchor designating unit 210, data for specifying the three-dimensional anchor extracted from the anchor information designating unit 234 For example, the anchor ID is temporarily stored in the temporary anchor information storage unit 240.

After all necessary three-dimensional anchors have been specified, for example, by pressing the right mouse button,
All anchor IDs and the like held by the temporary anchor information holding unit 240 are output to the related information search unit 60, and the related information search unit 60 retrieves URL addresses of the plurality of anchor IDs from the link data and searches for related information. . Then, if necessary, the application program execution unit 40 takes out an appropriate application and performs processing, and the image display unit 50 displays the application.

In this embodiment, temporary anchor information holding section 240 is added to the first embodiment, but temporary anchor information holding section 240 is added to the second to fifth embodiments.
May be added.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, since a plurality of three-dimensional anchors can be selected for information search, the effect of improving the efficiency of the search operation can be obtained.

Embodiment 7 FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to Embodiment 7 for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, 20
2 is an anchor determining unit, 236 is an anchor information specifying unit, 2
Reference numeral 50 denotes a target changing unit. The anchor determining unit 202 includes an anchor specifying unit 210, a cursor position changing unit 220, an anchor information specifying unit 236, and a target changing unit 250. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, on the three-dimensional image, the cursor is displayed so as to move on the cursor movement plane, and the cursor is used to extend a straight line connecting the viewpoint position and the cursor to the cursor side. A dimension anchor is specified. This straight line is a straight line perpendicular to the screen in a coordinate system of a tube on which coordinate transformation such as perspective projection has been performed. If a plurality of three-dimensional anchors exist on this straight line, these three-dimensional anchors are displayed on the screen. Will overlap. Therefore, in the device of the first embodiment, the top three
Although it is possible to specify a three-dimensional anchor, there is a possibility that a three-dimensional anchor hidden behind cannot be specified. For this reason, the seventh embodiment introduces a target change unit 250 that can sequentially select overlapping three-dimensional anchors.

Next, the operation will be described. A plurality of three-dimensional anchors existing at the same coordinates are overlapped in the order of generation, and the last generated three-dimensional anchor is placed on the forefront. When there are a plurality of three-dimensional anchors at the position of the cursor on the image, the target changing unit 250 is a unit for switching which of the three-dimensional anchors is designated by the cursor, for example, by a keyboard, a mouse button, an icon on the screen, or the like. .

When a predetermined three-dimensional anchor is selected from among the three-dimensional anchors that overlap, the foreground three-dimensional anchor is designated with a mouse or the like, and a keyboard, a mouse button,
The target changing unit 250 is executed using an icon or the like on the screen, and the specified three-dimensional anchor is temporarily deleted from the three-dimensional virtual space or temporarily set to a coordinate that is invisible in the three-dimensional virtual space. Move. At this time, the target change unit 2
Reference numeral 50 sequentially stores information for specifying a three-dimensional anchor temporarily deleted or moved, for example, an anchor ID. After that, the anchor specifying unit 210 checks again whether there is a three-dimensional anchor, and if there is a three-dimensional anchor, specifies the three-dimensional anchor.

Each time the target changing unit 250 is executed, it is checked whether or not a three-dimensional anchor exists behind by the above operation, and if a predetermined three-dimensional anchor exists, the three-dimensional anchor is selected. When it is determined that the three-dimensional anchor does not exist, the three-dimensional anchor temporarily deleted or moved first is regenerated or returned to the original position. Further, when an operation other than the operation of designating the three-dimensional anchor, such as movement of the viewpoint or change of the cursor position, is performed, the target changing unit 250 determines whether to temporarily delete or generate all the moved three-dimensional anchors. To the position.

The anchor determining unit 202 outputs the anchor ID of the three-dimensional anchor specified by the anchor information specifying unit 236, the cursor position changing unit 220, the anchor specifying unit 210, and the target changing unit 250.

In this embodiment, the object changing unit 250 is added to the first embodiment. However, the object changing unit 250 may be added to the second to fifth embodiments.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, even when three-dimensional anchors overlap, an effect is obtained in which the overlapping three-dimensional anchors can be switched and selected.

Embodiment 8 FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information search device according to an eighth embodiment for performing information search using a virtual three-dimensional space. In the figure, 78
Is a three-dimensional image generation unit, 79 is an anchor identification display unit, and the three-dimensional image generation unit 78 is an anchor identification display unit 79
Is included. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Is the same as

In each of the above embodiments, for example, when the three-dimensional anchor is transparent or overlapped, it is not possible to know where the three-dimensional anchor is set in the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space. It can happen.
In the eighth embodiment, when a pointing device for designating an anchor such as a mouse is placed on a three-dimensional anchor, an anchor identification display part 79 for explicitly displaying that there is a three-dimensional anchor below the mouse or the like is provided. Has been introduced.

Next, the operation will be described. When a pointing device such as a mouse for pointing a three-dimensional anchor is placed on the three-dimensional anchor, the anchor identification display unit 79 changes the shape of the mouse (cursor shape), displays a flag or the like on the screen, for example. By doing so, the anchor ID is displayed in a pop-up.

In this embodiment, an anchor identification display section 79 is added to the first embodiment, but an anchor identification display section 79 may be added to the second to fifth embodiments.

As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, whether or not a three-dimensional anchor has been set can be clearly known, so that the work of searching for the installation location of the three-dimensional anchor is reduced, and the information search work is reduced. This has the effect of increasing the efficiency.

[0119]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using a part of a virtual object as a three-dimensional anchor, more detailed information retrieval can be performed from a virtual three-dimensional space in units of three-dimensional anchors. There is an effect that can be.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that a three-dimensional anchor can be easily constructed by copying a part of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to create another file each time the combination of the virtual three-dimensional space and the three-dimensional anchor or the combination of the three-dimensional anchor and the related information is different. There is an effect that the data of the three-dimensional anchor can be used efficiently, and the data search work for information retrieval and computer resources can be reduced.

According to the present invention, since the link data storage unit collectively manages the combination of the anchor ID and the URL address, it is possible to easily change the combination of the anchor ID and the URL address, and to update or change the related information. Has the effect of being able to respond quickly.

According to the present invention, it is possible to set a personal three-dimensional information retrieval space and generate a three-dimensional anchor, so that a personalized three-dimensional information retrieval function can be easily obtained. There is.

According to the present invention, information retrieval can be performed by selecting a plurality of three-dimensional anchors, so that the efficiency of the retrieval operation can be improved.

According to the present invention, even when three-dimensional anchors overlap, there is an effect that the overlapping three-dimensional anchors can be switched and selected.

According to the present invention, whether or not a three-dimensional anchor has been set can be clearly understood, so that the work of searching for the installation location of the three-dimensional anchor is reduced, and the information search work is made more efficient. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information search device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a virtual three-dimensional space according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a virtual object 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship of a dimension anchor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of an anchor determining unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of searching for related information from a virtual object or a three-dimensional anchor in a virtual three-dimensional space according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information search device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information search device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional information search device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conventional viewpoint vector and an image generated by an image generation unit.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional operation example of a cursor position changing unit and an anchor designating unit.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional operation of searching for related information from a virtual object in a three-dimensional space specified by an anchor information specifying unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 related information, 20 link data, 22 link data storage unit, 50 image display unit, 60, 62 related information search unit, 72, 74, 76, 78 three-dimensional image generation unit,
112 three-dimensional spatial data part (three-dimensional spatial data),
114 three-dimensional anchor data part (three-dimensional anchor data), 122 three-dimensional spatial data file (three-dimensional spatial data), 124 three-dimensional anchor data file (three-dimensional anchor data), 126 individual three-dimensional anchor data file (personal three-dimensional data) Anchor data), 15
0, 152, 154 3D anchor generation unit, 160
3D information search space setting unit, 200, 201, 202
Anchor determination unit, 310 individual 3D information search space setting unit, 1020 cursor, 1030, 1040, 105
1,1300,1400 Virtual object, 1050,105
2,1054,1056 Three-dimensional anchor.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Three-dimensional space data relating to information of a virtual object in a virtual three-dimensional space, and 3D that is a part of the virtual object.
In connection with the information of the three-dimensional anchor, the three-dimensional anchor is stored in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the anchor ID specifying the three-dimensional anchor and the three-dimensional anchor data including the address indicating the location of the related information on the three-dimensional anchor. 3) generating a three-dimensional image by synthesizing an anchor and generating link data between the anchor ID and the address;
A three-dimensional image generation unit; an image display unit that displays the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit; and the three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display unit. An anchor determining unit that obtains an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor, and a related information searching unit that obtains the anchor ID from the anchor determining unit and searches for the related information based on the link data. An information retrieval device characterized by the following. 2. A virtual three-dimensional space is generated from three-dimensional space data relating to information of a virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space, and a part of the virtual object in the generated virtual three-dimensional space is copied to create a virtual three-dimensional space. Generating a three-dimensional anchor, generating three-dimensional anchor data relating to the generated three-dimensional anchor information, and including an anchor ID for specifying the three-dimensional anchor and an address indicating the location of related information relating to the three-dimensional anchor; A three-dimensional anchor generating unit; combining the three-dimensional anchor in the virtual three-dimensional space based on the three-dimensional space data and the three-dimensional anchor data to generate a three-dimensional image;
A three-dimensional image generation unit that generates link data between the three-dimensional image and the address, an image display unit that displays the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit, and a three-dimensional anchor that is displayed on the image display unit. An anchor determining unit that obtains an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generating unit, obtains the anchor ID from the anchor determining unit, and, based on the link data, An information search device comprising: a related information search unit that searches for information. 3. A virtual three-dimensional space is generated from three-dimensional space data relating to information on a virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space, and a part of the virtual object in the generated virtual three-dimensional space is copied to form a plurality of virtual three-dimensional spaces. A plurality of three-dimensional anchors related to information of the plurality of generated three-dimensional anchors, and including an anchor ID for specifying the three-dimensional anchor and an address indicating the location of related information related to the three-dimensional anchor. A three-dimensional anchor generation unit for generating anchor data; a three-dimensional information search space setting unit for setting a combination of the three-dimensional space data and one of the three-dimensional anchor data; and a three-dimensional information search space setting unit The three-dimensional anchor is synthesized in the virtual three-dimensional space from the three-dimensional space data and the three-dimensional anchor data based on the combination thus obtained. A three-dimensional image generation unit that generates an original image and generates link data between the anchor ID and the address; an image display unit that displays the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional image generation unit; An anchor determining unit that selects the three-dimensional anchor displayed in the unit and obtains an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generating unit; and obtains the anchor ID from the anchor determining unit. And an associated information search unit for searching for the associated information based on the link data. 4. A virtual three-dimensional space is generated from three-dimensional space data relating to information on a virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional space, and a part of the virtual object in the generated virtual three-dimensional space is copied to form a plurality of virtual three-dimensional spaces. A three-dimensional anchor generating unit that generates three-dimensional anchors, generates a plurality of three-dimensional anchor data related to the information of the plurality of generated three-dimensional anchors, and includes an anchor ID that specifies the three-dimensional anchor; A three-dimensional information search space setting unit that sets a combination of three-dimensional space data and one piece of the three-dimensional anchor data; and the three-dimensional space data and the three-dimensional information based on the combination set by the three-dimensional information search space setting unit. A three-dimensional image generator configured to synthesize the three-dimensional anchor in the virtual three-dimensional space from the three-dimensional anchor data to generate a three-dimensional image; An image display unit for displaying a three-dimensional image generated by the unit; a link data storage unit for storing link data of the anchor ID and an address indicating the location of related information on the three-dimensional anchor; and a display unit for the image display unit Selecting the selected three-dimensional anchor, acquiring an anchor ID of the selected three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generating part, acquiring the anchor ID from the anchor determining part, An information search device comprising: a related information search unit that searches for the related information based on link data. 5. A personal anchor I for generating a personal three-dimensional anchor unique to a user by a three-dimensional anchor generator.
A personal 3D information retrieval space setting unit for generating a combination of the 3D spatial data, one 3D anchor data and the personal 3D anchor data, The image generation unit synthesizes a three-dimensional anchor in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the combination set by the individual three-dimensional information search space setting unit, and
A three-dimensional image is generated by synthesizing the three-dimensional anchor; a link data storage unit stores personal link data of the personal anchor ID and an address indicating the location of related information relating to the personal three-dimensional anchor; , The individual 3 displayed on the image display unit
Selecting a three-dimensional anchor, acquiring a personal anchor ID of the selected individual three-dimensional anchor from the three-dimensional image generating unit, acquiring a personal anchor ID from the anchor determining unit, Based on the above personal link data,
4. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 3, wherein related information relating to said personal three-dimensional anchor is retrieved. 6. An anchor determining unit selects an anchor ID.
Alternatively, a plurality of personal anchor IDs are stored, and the related information search unit searches the related information linked to the obtained plurality of anchor IDs or the plurality of personal anchor IDs based on the link data or the personal link data. The information search device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 7. When the three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor displayed on the image display part overlaps, the anchor determining part switches and selects the overlapping order of the overlapping three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor. The information search device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 8. The three-dimensional image generating unit, when there is a cursor displayed by the image display unit on the three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor, the three-dimensional anchor or the individual three-dimensional anchor.
The information retrieval device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an anchor identification display for notifying the presence of the dimensional anchor is performed.