Abstract: The pointing position of a pointing device is measured based on position and orientation information of the pointing device. The pointing position is measured based on the pointing position in a sensed image obtained by sensing the pointing position of the pointing device by an image sensing device, and position and orientation information of the image sensing device. A real pointing position of the pointing device is measured based on these measurement results. A virtual pointing device which points to a virtual image to be combined with a real image is generated using the same reference as that used to measure the real pointing position. A virtual pointing position of the virtual pointing device is measured.

Abstract: An actual-size observation mode in which an observer performs observation by being immersed in a virtual three-dimensional space in an actual size and a reduced-size observation mode in which the observer performs observation by reducing a virtual three-dimensional space computer graphics image are provided. A virtual reality presentation device includes an observation mode setting unit for setting, as an observation mode, the actual-size observation mode or the reduced-size observation mode; a position and orientation information acquisition unit for acquiring position and orientation information of the observer; and a generation unit for generating a computer graphics image from computer graphics data representing the virtual three-dimensional space in accordance with the set observation mode and the position and orientation information.

Abstract: An image presentation system which enables a user observing an image on a first display to recognize an instruction sent from a person seeing an image on a second display to the user. An HMD as the first display detects the position and orientation of the HMD and presents an image to the user. The second display presents an image to the person who gives an instruction to the user. A three-dimensional CG drawing device draws a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the HMD and displays the virtual space image on the HMD and the second display. When receiving the instruction, the three-dimensional CG drawing device draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the HMD such that the virtual space image reflects the input instruction.

Abstract: A virtual reality presentation apparatus (100) has a CPU (101) which controls the overall apparatus, a memory (103) which stores various programs, a memory (104) which stores various data, an HMD (105) as a video display device, and a position and orientation controller (106) having position and orientation sensors (107, 108, 109), which are connected to each other via a bus (102). After a position and orientation required to render a CG scene for one frame are determined, when CG objects are in an interference state immediately before this processing and the difference between the current time and an interference time (128) set upon determining the interference state does not exceed an interference detection skip time (124), CG image generation means (112) generates a CG scene for one frame based on the determined position and orientation without checking if an interference has occurred between the CG objects.

Abstract: An end user is provided with an environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. For this purpose, on a client side, the content of camera control is described in file-transfer protocol description, and the description is transferred to a camera server on the Internet via a browser. The camera server interprets the description, controls a camera in accordance with the designated content, to perform image sensing, and returns the obtained video image as the content of a file to the client. The client performs various controls while observing the video image. When a desired angle has been found, the client instructs to register the angle in a bookmark, then angle information displayed at that time is registered. Thereafter, when the user of the client can see the video image obtained on the same image-sensing conditions by merely select-designating the angle information registered in the bookmark.

Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a game or the like, that is capable of automatically carrying out a game or simulation starting/terminating process according to operations performed necessarily in executing the game or simulation. Controllers are mounted on or gripped by a player for operation. Position sensors detect the positional relationship of the controllers with respect to a space for executing the game. A control circuit controls the start/termination of the game, and the, turning-on/off of power sources of the controllers, according to the results of the detection by the position sensors.

Abstract: An end user is provided with an environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. For this purpose, on a client side, the content of camera control is described in file-transfer protocol description, and the description is transferred to a camera server on the Internet via a browser. The camera server interprets the description, controls a camera in accordance with the designated content, to perform image sensing, and returns the obtained video image as the content of a file to the client. The client performs various controls while observing the video image. When a desired angle has been found, the client instructs to register the angle in a bookmark, then angle information displayed at that time is registered. Thereafter, when the user of the client can see the video image obtained on the same image-sensing conditions by merely select-designating the angle information registered in the bookmark.

Abstract: An actual-size observation mode in which an observer performs observation by being immersed in a virtual three-dimensional space in an actual size and a reduced-size observation mode in which the observer performs observation by reducing a virtual three-dimensional space computer graphics image are provided. A virtual reality presentation device includes an observation mode setting unit for setting, as an observation mode, the actual-size observation mode or the reduced-size observation mode; a position and orientation information acquisition unit for acquiring position and orientation information of the observer; and a generation unit for generating a computer graphics image from computer graphics data representing the virtual three-dimensional space in accordance with the set observation mode and the position and orientation information.

Abstract: Whether or not a masking portion is to be masked is set for an image of each individual object. A first image of a virtual object which is set not to be masked is generated (step S305). A second image formed by masking a masking portion in an image of a virtual object which is set to be masked is generated. A third image formed by superimposing the first and second images is generated, and an image formed by superimposing the third image on an image on a physical space is generated (step S309).

Abstract: It is an object to provide an information control system capable of executing a desired action in accordance with the angle position of a camera. This system includes an action storage unit for storing the image sensing range of the camera and the contents of actions corresponding to the image sensing range, a comparing unit for comparing the current image sensing range of the camera with the contents stored in the action storage unit, and an action activating unit for activating an action corresponding to the image sensing range of the camera on the basis of the comparison result obtained by the comparing unit.

Abstract: An image-display control apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting a predetermined object from a photographed image, a position calculation unit for obtaining a positional relationship between the predetermined object in the photographed image detected by the detection unit and an object in a virtual image, an image removing unit for removing a predetermined partial image in the object in the virtual image by referring to a result of calculation of the position calculation unit, a synthesis unit for synthesizing the virtual image and the photographed image so that the predetermined object in the photographed image is present at a position of the partial image in the virtual image removed by the image removing unit, and a display control unit for displaying an image obtained as a result of synthesis of the synthesis unit on a display device.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus capable of attaching a position/posture sensor for detection of hand and a speaker, used in a virtual reality apparatus, a mixed reality apparatus and the like, to an observer's hand in a preferable state. The attachment apparatus has a structure where first ring 6 to which a position/posture sensor 2 is attached, a second ring 5 to which a speaker 1 is attached, and a band-shaped connection member 7 which connects the first and second rings with each other.

Abstract: A comment added to a certain portion in a first document can be automatically re-added to an equivalent position in a second document, and comment transfer processing between documents is automatically performed. Position information of a comment with respect to an old document obtained from an old document comment file is stored in a position information area, and comment contents also obtained from the old document comment file are stored in a comment content area. A character string corresponding to the position information is extracted from an old document file, and is stored in a character string area. A new document file is searched on the basis of the character string stored in the character string area, and position information of the detected character string is stored in a candidate area. One of position information stored in the candidate area is selected according to a predetermined rule, and the selected position information is stored in a new position information area.

Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a game or the like, that is capable of automatically carrying out a game or simulation starting/terminating process according to operations performed necessarily in executing the game or simulation. Controllers are mounted on or gripped by a player for operation. Position sensors detect the positional relationship of the controllers with respect to a space for executing the game. A control circuit controls the start/termination of the game, and the turning-on/off of power sources of the controllers, according to the results of the detection by the position sensors.

Abstract: An image-display control apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting a predetermined object from a photographed image, a position calculation unit for obtaining a positional relationship between the predetermined object in the photographed image detected by the detection unit and an object in a virtual image, an image removing unit for removing a predetermined partial image in the object in the virtual image by referring to a result of calculation of the position calculation unit, a synthesis unit for synthesizing the virtual image and the photographed image so that the predetermined object in the photographed image is present at a position of the partial image in the virtual image removed by the image removing unit, and a display control unit for displaying an image obtained as a result of synthesis of the synthesis unit on a display device.

Abstract: In storing data, a first code is generated by converting a password and some predetermined portion of the data itself (e.g., all of the data itself, or a time stamp) in a predetermined procedure. The first code is then stored in correspondence to the data. Thereafter, in reading the stored data, a second code is generated by converting the password and the same predetermined portion of the stored data, using the same predetermined procedure, and the resulting second code is compared with the first code stored in correspondence to the stored data. A determination is made that a rewrite has occurred, if the two codes do not match. Subsequent data processing may be controlled in accordance with the result of this determination.

Abstract: In storing data in one file, consisting of a plurality of blocks of data, a first code is generated by converting a password and a predetermined portion of each of the blocks of data. This portion may be, for example, the data block itself or identification information such as a name. The code is stored in correspondence to the stored data. In reading the stored data, a second code is generated by performing the same conversion on the password and the predetermined portion of the stored data. A comparison is made between the generated second code and the first code stored. Failure of the two to match indicates that an improper rewrite has occurred. In such a case, that occurrence may simply be noted, access to the data may be prohibited; more generally, what processing is performed, or is permitted, is varied according to the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten. The method includes the steps of at a time of saving a file, designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction, receiving a password from a user, converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which includes second level partial data, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code and saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data.