KR20230133623A - A system for sharing a location between users in a VR space and a method for preventing collisions between users in a VR space using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space that can confirm the user's location in a virtual reality space and prevent collisions between multiple users, and a method of preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using the same.
The location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to the present invention outputs a processed image for virtual reality or augmented reality, is installed on the HMD worn by the user, and monitors the movement direction and speed of the user wearing the HMD. A movement measurement sensor unit for measuring, an activity space unit that provides an activity space where the user can move or perform a mission in response to the virtual reality space while wearing the HMD, and generates a virtual reality image output to the HMD and a data server for transmitting, wherein an information initialization point is formed on one side of the activity space to initialize the location information of the movement measurement sensor unit of the HMD, and the data server is based on the movement information transmitted from the movement measurement sensor. It is formed to generate and transmit a virtual reality image that reflects the user's location information on the HMD.

Description

A system for sharing a location between users in a VR space and a method for preventing collisions between users in a VR space using the same {A system for sharing a location between users in a VR space and a method for preventing collisions between users in a VR space using the same}

The present invention relates to a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space and a method for preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for confirming the location of a user in a virtual reality space and preventing collisions between multiple users. This relates to a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space that can be prevented and a method of preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using the same.

Virtual Reality is a technology that allows people to have a realistic experience in a virtual world created by a computer.

A technology that combines virtual reality (VRㅇvirtual reality) and augmented reality (AR), a technology that adds virtual information to the real world, is called mixed reality (MR). VR, AR, and MR all have something in common in that they are technologies that create a reality that does not actually exist and allow people to perceive it. However, AR is a method of adding virtual information to actual reality, and VR is different in that both present fictional situations.

HMD (Head Mount Display) is commonly used to experience virtual reality. It is a display device that is mounted on the user's head to experience VR. It blocks the user's gaze from the outside and then displays the virtual world from the user's perspective. Do it. It is worn on the face so that the display is in front of the eyes, and a microphone or stereo speaker may be added as needed.

However, in general, HMDs that do not have a positioning function or space detection function are not able to change their position in virtual space by recognizing their own position according to the movement in real space of the HMD user wearing it, and do not have a GPS-based positioning function. Even if it is equipped with a positioning problem, it is not possible to precisely control the position in the virtual space by performing the function in a limited space such as a classroom or learning center where many users are located.

Additionally, when multiple users access the virtual reality environment at the same time within a limited space, there is a risk of collision between users.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0013653: HMD-type virtual reality content monitoring and control system Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0110859: Method for providing AR or VR images based on location information and direction information

The present invention was created to solve the above problems, and provides a safe virtual reality-based service by checking the location information of each user in a virtual reality-based service that can be used simultaneously by multiple users, determining the possibility of collision risk, and delivering the information. The purpose is to provide a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space and a method of preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using this system.

The location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to the present invention outputs a processed image for virtual reality or augmented reality, is installed on the HMD worn by the user, and monitors the movement direction and speed of the user wearing the HMD. A movement measurement sensor unit for measuring, an activity space unit that provides an activity space where the user can move or perform a mission in response to the virtual reality space while wearing the HMD, and generates a virtual reality image output to the HMD and a data server for transmitting, wherein an information initialization point is formed on one side of the activity space to initialize the location information of the movement measurement sensor unit of the HMD, and the data server is based on the movement information transmitted from the movement measurement sensor. It is formed to generate and transmit a virtual reality image that reflects the user's location information on the HMD.

The movement measurement sensor unit includes a gyro sensor for measuring the user's movement direction, an acceleration sensor for measuring the user's movement speed, a geomagnetic sensor for measuring the absolute direction by detecting the Earth's magnetic field, and the gyro sensor, acceleration sensor, and geomagnetism. It is preferable to include a location calculation unit that collects information from sensors and calculates the movement location that the user has moved from the information initialization point.

With multiple users entering the activity space, the data server calculates the possibility of collision for each user based on the distance and direction information between each user, and the user can recognize this through the HMD or a separate alarm means. It is desirable to output a warning signal so that

The data server may be configured to collect location information of a plurality of users and display a warning signal on the screen of the HMD when the separation distance between each user approaches within a set reference distance.

A vibrator is installed in the HMD, and the data server can be configured to operate the vibrator to notify the user of the risk of collision.

The data server may be configured to output information on the expected collision direction and collision point on the virtual screen of users at high risk of collision based on the user's distance information, direction of movement, and speed information.

The method of preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space according to the present invention uses a location sharing system between users in the virtual reality space, and the wearer wearing the HMD provides location information at a designated point within the activity space that provides the activity space. Initializing, periodically calculating the user's location information by measuring the direction and speed information in which the user wearing the HMD moves within the activity space, and converting the calculated location information to an image output from the HMD It includes the steps of transmitting to a generating data server, analyzing the risk of collision between users based on location information transmitted from a plurality of users in the data server, and warning the risk of collision to users at risk of collision.

The data server is preferably configured to output a warning signal through the user's HMD when the separation distance between a plurality of users approaches within a set reference distance based on the user's location information.

According to the location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space of the present invention and the method for preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using the same, when multiple users wear HMDs at the same time and enter a service space where virtual reality-based services are provided, the user It has the advantage of preventing the risk of collision between users during the virtual reality experience process because it warns of collision risk based on location information.

1 is a diagram illustrating an activity space for virtual reality experience according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an HMD equipped with a beam receiver capable of receiving a beam from a laser oscillator to initialize location information;
Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of an HMD screen that displays the expected collision point according to the user's movement path;
Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the driving process according to the method for preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the user's coordinate initialization algorithm;
Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the algorithm by which the user's location information is updated;
Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for determining collision risk information and displaying a warning.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method of preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using the same will be described in detail. Since the present invention can be subject to various changes and can have various forms, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific disclosed form, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. While describing each drawing, similar reference numerals are used for similar components. In the attached drawings, the dimensions of the structures are enlarged from the actual size for clarity of the present invention.

Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be named a first component without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The terms used in this application are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features. It should be understood that this does not exclude in advance the existence or possibility of addition of elements, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and unless explicitly defined in the present application, should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal sense. No.

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an activity space unit 10 capable of implementing a virtual reality space according to an embodiment of the present invention and a virtual reality image that the user sees through the HMD 20, and Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the activity space unit 10 capable of implementing a virtual reality space according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to an embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, the virtual reality space of this embodiment is an activity space corresponding to the virtual reality image output from the HMD (20) worn by the user through the data server (40).

For example, in the case of this embodiment, the activity space 10 is formed so that the museum can be experienced in virtual reality. That is, the data server 40 generates a virtual reality image of artworks or exhibits hanging on the wall or displayed on an exhibition stand, and the activity space unit 10 is created as a real space corresponding to this virtual reality space. The activity space unit 10 is formed so that the entrance and exit positions through which the user can move, and the exhibition stand position correspond to the virtual reality image. That is, as shown in FIG. 1(a), objects with shapes corresponding to exhibition stands, murals, and exhibits to be formed from virtual reality images are arranged in the activity space 10, and the user wears the HMD 20, which will be described later. On the virtual reality screen you see, you can see a screen where virtual reality images, such as colors and shapes, are rendered.

The user wears the HMD 20. The HMD (20) can be worn on the user's face, and a movement measurement sensor unit (30) is provided on one side of the HMD (20) to measure the user's movement direction and speed.

The activity space unit 10 has an information initialization point 11 formed at one point to set the user's location information to the initial position. In this embodiment, the information initialization point 11 is formed at the entrance for entering the activity space 10, and the user's location information is set to the initial position at that point.

For example, the user's initial position is displayed as a vector value of (0,0), and the longitudinal direction of the activity space unit 10 is expressed as an x-coordinate and the width direction as a y-coordinate, and displayed as a (x,y) value. You can. At this time, the user's movement direction and distance are measured through the movement measurement sensor unit 30 described above.

Location information is periodically calculated based on the user's moving distance and direction, and the calculated location information is transmitted to the data server 40.

At the information initialization point 11, the user can initialize the location information by pressing the initialization button provided on the HMD 20.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, a laser oscillator 12 capable of irradiating a laser downward is installed at the top of the activity space 10, and the HMD 20 has a beam receiver capable of receiving the laser beam. (35) is formed, and when the user stands at the information initialization point (11) and prepares to enter, the location information is automatically initialized when the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator (12) is received by the beam receiver (35). It can also be implemented.

The movement measurement sensor unit 30 for measuring the user's movement direction and speed includes a gyro sensor 31 for measuring the user's movement direction, an acceleration sensor 32 for measuring the user's movement speed, and the Earth's magnetic field. The user moves from the information initialization point (11) by collecting information from the geomagnetic sensor 33, which detects and measures the absolute direction, and the gyro sensor 31, acceleration sensor 32, and geomagnetic sensor 33. It may include a position calculation unit 34 that calculates a moving position.

In this embodiment, the movement measurement sensor unit 30 is configured to include a gyro sensor 31, an acceleration sensor 32, and a geomagnetic sensor 33 to measure the movement position, but measures the user's movement direction and speed. A variety of measurement methods may be applied.

As described above, the data server 40 is for generating and transmitting virtual reality images output from the HMD 20 and includes an image generator 41 and a control unit 42.

The image generator 41 reflects data including the user's location information based on the background image for virtual reality and combines other user information with the basic background image to create a new image. Then, based on the user's location information, screen information appropriate for the direction at that location is transmitted to the HMD (20).

The control unit 42 determines whether there is a risk of collision based on multiple user location information and controls the device to output a warning signal.

In this embodiment, the control unit 42 receives the location information of each user when two or more users enter the activity space unit 10, and determines that there is a risk of collision when the distance between each user approaches within a set reference distance. A warning sign is output through the HMD 20 of the two users who are judged to be at risk of collision.

A warning sign may be a visual effect displayed on the screen, a warning message, or an auditory signal output through a speaker.

In addition, although not shown, a vibrator may be built into one side of the HMD 20 and generate vibration in response to a control signal transmitted from the control unit 42 to notify of the risk of collision.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment that can display the user's expected movement direction and the possibility of collision with another user in that direction on the screen of the HMD 20.

In this embodiment, the data server 40 calculates the possibility of collision by considering the movement direction and movement speed of multiple users rather than simple distance information between users, and also uses the HMD 20 to determine the user's movement path and move to the corresponding path. In the process, a warning can be issued by displaying the expected collision points with other users.

The process of preventing collisions between users using the location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to the present invention described above will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 as follows.

First, the user receives the allocated HMD (20) and connects to the data server (40). Once connected, a unique ID is registered and issued and then entered into the activity space department (10).

After initializing the user's coordinates at the information initialization point 11 of the activity space 10, the user enters the activity space 10 and starts moving.

As shown in FIG. 6, the coordinate initialization at the information initialization point 11 activates the HMD 20 assigned to the user, and the internal coordinates built into the HMD 20 are initialized at the information initialization point 11. As described above, these coordinates may be initialized when the user inputs them through an input means such as a reset button formed on the HMD 20, or the laser irradiated from the laser oscillator 12 provided on the upper part of the information initialization point 11. When a beam is received by the beam receiver 35 provided in the HMD 20, the built-in coordinates may be automatically initialized.

When the internal coordinates built into the HMD (20) are initialized in this way, the internal coordinates of the engine of the position calculation unit (34) of the movement measurement sensor unit (30) are also initialized, and then the movement measurement provided in the HMD (20) during the user's movement process. The user's movement direction and movement speed information is measured through the sensor unit 30, and through this, the user's location information, that is, location coordinates, is periodically calculated, and the calculated information is transmitted to the data server 40.

Referring to Figure 7, the process of updating the user's location information data is as follows.

As the user moves, the movement measurement sensor unit 30 calculates the user's changed coordinate information and transmits the changed coordinates to the data server 40.

The data server 40 reflects the changed location information, that is, coordinate information, in the registered user ID, and generates and transmits a virtual reality image reflecting the changed coordinates to other connected users. Therefore, each user checks the updated virtual reality screen each time the location information of each user is updated through the HMD 20 worn by the user.

In the data server 40, a collision is expected in progress according to conditions set based on the location information of each user, for example, when the separation distance between two users is within the standard distance, or considering the direction and speed of each user's movement. If there is a point where there is a risk of collision, a warning signal is sent to warn the user of the risk of collision.

Figure 8 shows an example of an algorithm that determines and warns the risk of collision based on the separation distance between users.

As shown, distance information to nearby objects or other users is calculated through each user's location information, that is, coordinate information. And, if a nearby user or object is within a set distance, a warning signal is output.

As described above, the warning signal may be a visual signal output through the screen of the HMD 20, an auditory signal output through a speaker, or a tactile signal applied through a vibrator, or a combination of two or more.

If the user reacts to the warning signal to prevent collisions, such as changing the route or stopping, and the updated location information deviates from the set criteria for the risk of collision between users, the warning signal is canceled.

While the server connection to virtual reality continues, the user's location information is periodically transmitted to the data server, and the data server 40 repeatedly transmits a warning signal if the risk of collision occurs again.

In this way, the location sharing system between users in a virtual reality space according to the present invention and the method for preventing collisions between users in a virtual reality space using the same are used by multiple users during the process of experiencing the virtual reality within the activity space unit 10. By preventing collisions, you can have a safe and enjoyable virtual reality experience.

The description of the presented embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to use or practice the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein, but is to be construed in the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein.

10: Activity Space Department
11: Information initialization point 12: Laser oscillator
20: HMD
30: Movement measurement sensor unit
31: Gyro sensor 32: Acceleration sensor
33: geomagnetic sensor 34: location calculation unit
35: Beam receiver
40: Data server
41: image generation unit 42: control unit

Claims (8)

HMD worn by the user that outputs processed images for virtual reality or augmented reality;
a movement measurement sensor unit installed on the HMD and configured to measure the movement direction and speed of a user wearing the HMD;
an activity space unit providing an activity space where the user can move or perform a mission in response to a virtual reality space while wearing the HMD;
It includes a data server that generates and transmits virtual reality images output to the HMD,
An information initialization point is formed on one side of the activity space to initialize the location information of the movement measurement sensor unit of the HMD,
The data server generates and transmits a virtual reality image reflecting the location information of the user of the HMD based on the movement information transmitted from the movement measurement sensor.
Location sharing system between users in virtual reality space. In claim 1,
The movement measurement sensor unit includes a gyro sensor for measuring the direction of movement of the user,
An acceleration sensor that measures the user's movement speed,
A geomagnetic sensor that detects the Earth's magnetic field and measures the absolute direction,
Characterized by comprising a location calculation unit that collects information from the gyro sensor, acceleration sensor, and geomagnetic sensor to calculate the movement location the user moved from the information initialization point.
Location sharing system between users in virtual reality space. In claim 1,
With multiple users entering the activity space, the data server calculates the possibility of collision for each user based on the distance and direction information between each user, and the user can recognize this through the HMD or a separate alarm means. Characterized by outputting a warning signal so that
Location sharing system between users in virtual reality space. In claim 3,
The data server collects location information of a plurality of users, and displays a warning signal on the screen of the HMD when the separation distance between each user approaches within a set reference distance.
Location sharing system between users in virtual reality space. In claim 4,
A vibrator is installed in the HMD,
The data server operates the vibrator to notify the user of the risk of collision.
Location sharing system between users in virtual reality space. In claim 3,
The data server is characterized in that it outputs information on the expected collision direction and collision point on the virtual screen of users with a high risk of collision based on the user's distance information, direction of movement, and speed information.
Location sharing system between users in virtual reality space. A step of initializing location information at a designated point within an activity space unit providing an activity space by a wearer wearing an HMD capable of outputting images of virtual reality or augmented reality;
periodically calculating location information of the user wearing the HMD by measuring the direction and speed information in which the user wearing the HMD moves within the activity space;
Transmitting the calculated location information to a data server that generates an image output from the HMD;
Analyzing the risk of collision between users based on location information transmitted from a plurality of users in the data server;
including steps to warn users of the risk of collision.
How to prevent conflicts between users in a virtual reality space. In claim 7,
The data server is characterized in that it outputs a warning signal through the user's HMD when the separation distance between a plurality of users approaches within a set reference distance based on the user's location information.
How to prevent conflicts between users in a virtual reality space.

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