Abstract: To be able to change settings for selective changing control of a program as a target for sound input/output flexibly. A background music (BGM) sound selection managing section obtains priority values set to a plurality of programs, respectively. The BGM sound selection managing section performs control such that a program selected from among the plurality of programs on a basis of the obtained priority values becomes a target for selective sound input/output from/to an outside.

Abstract: A method of rendering an image based upon a first stereoscopic image comprising a pair of images is provided. The method includes generating a virtual three-dimensional model of the scene depicted in the first stereoscopic image responsive to distances derived from the first stereoscopic image, detecting one or more free edges in the three dimensional model, and generating one or more textures for the virtual three-dimensional model from at least one of the pair of images of the first stereoscopic image. The method also includes applying at least one texture to a respective part of the three dimensional model, and rendering the virtual three dimensional model from a different viewpoint to that of the first stereoscopic image. Rendering the virtual three dimensional model comprises modifying a transparency of rendered pixels of an applied texture as a function of the pixel's distance from that free edge.

Abstract: An image encoding method includes, for each of left and right images of an image stereo pair, identifying a region of interest (ROI) in an input image, generating multiple representations of that input image such that one representation is a high field of view (FOV) representation including substantially all of the input image and another representation is a low FOV representation having a lower FOV than the high FOV representation and including at least the ROI. The relationship between pixel resolution and image size for the high and low FOV representations is such that, in relation to the ROI, the low FOV representation provides more image detail than the high FOV representation. The method also includes generating one or more multiplexed images by juxtaposing portions of the left and right, high and low FOV representations so as to include all image content thereof in fewer than four multiplexed images.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus comprises an input operable to receive a signal comprising two images for different respective non-stereoscopic viewpoints of a virtual environment, a first output operable to transmit a signal comprising the two images formatted as a stereoscopic image to at least a first display, and a transmitter operable to transmit control signals to at least two active shutter glasses, the control signals arranged to allow respective wearers of the glasses to only view a respective one of the two images.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology encompass image encoding, which includes generating image content according to a viewpoint defined by image viewpoint data. Successive output images are generated such that each output image includes image content generated according to one or more viewpoints, and encoding metadata associated with each output image which indicates each viewpoint relating to image content contained in that output image, and which defines which portions of that output image were generated according to each of those viewpoints. An image display method for generating successive display images from successive input images is also provided, which includes re-projecting portions of each input image to form a respective display image, according to any differences between a desired display viewpoint and a particular viewpoint defined for that portion by metadata associated with a respective input image. The metadata indicating viewpoints relating to image content contained in the respective input images.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a video camera having a wide field of view lens, an imaging sensor operable to form a first image having a first pixel area, and an interface operable to receive commands from a host entertainment device. The video camera is operable to receive a command requesting at least one secondary image having a second pixel area for a 3D mapping of a portion of the first image. The system includes a graphics processor operable to perform the 3D mapping to generate the at least one each secondary image from the first image. The 3D mapping transforms a section of the first image depicting a surface having a normal in a first direction to form a secondary image in which the normal of that surface faces directly out of the secondary image.

Abstract: A head-mountable display device includes a head-mountable frame defining an eye display position which, in use, is positioned in front of an eye of the user. The device also includes a reflective element mounted with respect to the eye display position and comprising a reflective surface which, in use, is visible to the user's eye. The device further includes a mobile device holder configured to hold a mobile device at a location and orientation on the frame. The reflective surface is configured to reflect light incident thereupon to form a reflected image. The location and orientation in which the mobile device is held relative to a location and orientation of the reflective surface are such that light arriving from the mobile device screen held in the holder is reflected by the surface so that a reflected image of at least a portion of the screen is visible to the user.

Abstract: A method of image reconstruction is provided. The method includes capturing a stereoscopic pair of images of a scene, generating a disparity map for the pair of images, and defining a series of value ranges corresponding to disparity with each value range in the series having an end point corresponding to a greater disparity than an end point of preceding value ranges in the series. For each value range in the series, and progressing in order through the series from the first value range in the series, the method includes selecting points in the disparity map falling within the respective value range and generating a mesh responsive to those selected points. The method also includes subsequently merging the series of generated meshes to form a 3D model of the scene.

Abstract: A position and rotation information acquisition unit 730 acquires information relating to a position and a rotation of the head of a user who wears a head-mounted display unit 100. A coordinate transformation unit 740 and a panorama image processing unit 750 generate an image to be displayed on the head-mounted display unit using the information relating to the position and the rotation acquired at a certain point of time by the position and rotation information acquisition unit 730. A correction processing unit 780 corrects the generated image using updated information relating to the position and the rotation at a different point of time.

Abstract: An entertainment device comprises a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an on-line virtual environment corresponding to a first instance of a plurality of substantially similar on-line virtual environments and to generate for display within the representation of the on-line virtual environment an avatar controlled by the user of the entertainment device and one or more software-controlled avatars; a data communications arrangement operable to transmit an alert signal in response to a predetermined action of the user of the entertainment device within the first instance of the on-line virtual environment, said signal serving to request interaction with a human operator, the data communications arrangement being further operable to receive a notification signal; the display generator being arranged to respond to the notification signal by changing the mode of a software controlled avatar to represent an additional user of another entertainment device in data communication with

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus comprises an input operable to receive a signal comprising two non-stereoscopic images for different respective viewpoints of a virtual environment, a first output and a second output, and a signal splitter logic, and in which the signal splitter logic is operable to extract and separate the two non-stereoscopic images from the received signal, to format each of the two separated images for reception by a respective conventional 2D display, and to output to the first output and the second output a respective signal comprising one of the two separate images.

Abstract: A game system includes a game device used by first and second users and a controller. The game device includes: an association section associating the controller with the first user using the controller; a first process executing section executing a process of a general-purpose function in accordance with first operating information acquired from the controller when the general-purpose function, not associated with the users, executes; and a second process executing section executing a process of a first user function in accordance with second operating information acquired from the controller when the first user function, associated with the first user, executes.

Abstract: In a game system 1, a game managing server 100 includes: a game controlling unit that controls a game; a game player instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction from a game player and forwards the instruction to the game controlling unit; and a watching point setting unit that sets a viewpoint position for generating a watching screen for viewing the game, the watching screen being offered to a plurality of watching players different from the game player.

Abstract: A head mountable display (HMD) comprises an infrared light source operable to illuminate foreground objects but not background objects greater than a threshold distance from the HMD; one or more cameras operable to capture infrared illuminated images and visible light illuminated images; and an image processor operable to detect, from the infrared illuminated images, foreground objects in the visible light illuminated images.

Abstract: A method generates a three-dimensional map of a region from successive images of that region captured from different camera poses. The method captures successive images of the region, detects a gravitational vertical direction in respect of each captured image, detects feature points within the captured images and designates a subset of the captured images as a set of keyframes each having respective sets of image position data representing image positions of landmark points detected as feature points in that image. The method also includes, for a captured image (i) deriving a camera pose from detected feature points in the image; (ii) rotating the gravitational vertical direction to the coordinates of a reference keyframe using the camera poses derived for that image and the reference keyframe; and (iii) comparing the rotated direction with the actual gravitational vertical direction for the reference keyframe to detect a quality measure of that image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for tilting of a joystick. When there is room for scrolling in the tilting direction, a screen is scrolled in the same direction as the tilting direction. When there is no room for scrolling, and a previous or subsequent region continuous with a present display region in the contents of a book is present within double-spread pages at the time point in question, display is switched to the previous or subsequent region. When the previous or subsequent region continuous with the present display region is not present within the double-spread pages, and the tilting direction is parallel with the opening of the pages, a page turning animation is inserted, and the display region is switched. When the tilting direction is not parallel with the opening of the pages, display is directly switched.

Abstract: A reception unit receives an image file from other electronic device. A display processing unit displays an image related to acquisition of content together with a content image if content identification information is included in an acquired image file. The display processing unit displays, as an image relating to acquisition of content, a link button which permits access to a content server.