Abstract: This invention relates to an information processing method and information processing apparatus, which facilitate selection of components which form a geometric model. Of a plurality of components which form a three-dimensional geometric mode, components which satisfy predetermined geometrical search criteria are searched for. The obtained components are set in a rendering mode different from that of other components. Therefore, even an occluded-component, which cannot be directly seen from outside a three-dimensional model, can be visually recognized and selected.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus comprises an input unit, a measurement unit to measure a user's viewpoint position and pose, a model data storage unit to store virtual world model data, real world model data, and data necessary to generate a virtual world image, an annotation data storage unit to store data added to real and virtual worlds and displayed, a generation unit to generate an image of the virtual world by using information in the measurement unit, the model data storage unit and the annotation data storage unit, a user viewpoint image input unit to capture a real-world image viewed from the user's viewpoint, and an image display unit to display an image obtained by synthesizing the image from the generation unit and the image from the user viewpoint image input unit or the image from the user viewpoint image input unit, on a user's image display.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus for describing a real image as a virtual object using space data formed based on a photo image of the real object, and generating a virtual image of the virtual object using the space data. The image processing apparatus captures the photo image of the real object from a real camera viewpoint position while illuminating the real object by an illumination light source placed at a real illumination position. The captured photo image is converted into space data in the form of an object for each pixel, and the space data is stored in a memory together with various illumination conditions at the real illumination position to allow a search at a later time.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus for describing a real image as a virtual object using space data formed based on a photo image of the real object, and generating a virtual image of the virtual object using the space data. The image processing apparatus captures the photo image of the real object from a real camera viewpoint position while illuminating the real object by an illumination light source placed at a real illumination position. The captured photo image is converted into space data in the form of an object for each pixel, and the space data is stored in a memory together with various illumination conditions at the real illumination position to allow a search at a later time.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus for describing a real image as a virtual object using space data formed based on a photo image of the real object, and generating a virtual image of the virtual object using the space data. The image processing apparatus captures the photo image of the real object from a real camera viewpoint position while illuminating the real object by an illumination light source placed at a real illumination position. The captured photo image is converted into space data in the form of an object for each pixel, and the space data is stored in a memory together with various illumination conditions at the real illumination position to allow a search at a later time.

Abstract: An object level is set as an attribute that specifies a virtual object, and a user level is set for an application program, user, or the like that uses this virtual object, and the attribute of the virtual object is determined in accordance with the object and user levels. For example, a virtual attribute is determined in accordance with the magnitude relationship between the two levels. In this way, when the attribute of the virtual object is to be changed, the user need not select virtual objects to be changed one by one to perform change processes, and can easily change the attributes.

Abstract: Real space image including a simple prototype created based on three-dimensional CAD data is captured by an image input apparatus. A position/orientation measuring apparatus measures positions and orientations of the image input apparatus and simple prototype. An information processor captures position/orientation information representing the position and orientation of the simple prototype in the image captured by the image input apparatus 102. The information processor further extracts a hand area from an image, renders a three-dimensional computer graphic image on the simple prototype, excluding the extracted hand area, in the image based on the position/orientation information and the three-dimensional CAD data, and synthesizes the image and the three-dimensional computer graphic image. Here, the simple prototype has a different color from a color of the hand area.

Abstract: A center position used for scaling a virtual object is calculated to generate a CG image suitable for observing the perspective of the virtual object. A scaling center of a virtual object disposed in a virtual space is obtained. When an image containing the virtual image corresponding to the position of a viewpoint is generated, the coordinate value of the scaling center is obtained in accordance with the viewpoint, and by using the coordinate value of the scaling center, the scaling process is executed for the virtual object.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for limiting association of a process to a system where a plurality of processes share data. It is determined whether or not a device itself satisfies a specific condition, and, depending on a result thereof, an instruction to set or release the specific condition is issued to all client devices sharing the data. Further, when the instruction is received, if the received instruction is the instruction to set or release the specific condition, it is then determined whether or not the specific condition is breached. If the device itself breaches the specific condition, then a communication path to a server device is disconnected. If the device itself is not breaching the specific condition, then information relating to the device satisfying the specific condition is updated in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing method for setting the exclusive control right of a data item by a specific process in a system in which a plurality of clients connected via a network share data including a plurality of data items. In this method, when a desired data item is designated so as to set its exclusive control right, data items which belong to layers lower than the designated data and are related to the designated data item are retrieved on the basis of the hierarchical structure information of the plurality of data items. Then, the exclusive control right is set for the designated data item and retrieved data items.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus comprises an input unit, a measurement unit to measure a user's viewpoint position and pose, a model data storage unit to store virtual world model data, real world model data, and data necessary to generate a virtual world image, an annotation data storage unit to store data added to real and virtual worlds and displayed, a generation unit to generate an image of the virtual world by using information in the measurement unit, the model data storage unit and the annotation data storage unit, a user viewpoint image input unit to capture a real-world image viewed from the user's viewpoint, and an image display unit to display an image obtained by synthesizing the image from the generation unit and the image from the user viewpoint image input unit or the image from the user viewpoint image input unit, on a user's image display.

Abstract: An accumulation buffer is cleared (S501), an real image is input (S502), a color buffer is cleared (S503), and the real image is drawn in the color buffer (S504). Then the viewpoint (including parameters concerning the viewpoint) and the view volume of a virtual camera is set (S505) and a computer graphics image is drawn in the color buffer (S506). Then each pixel value of the image in the color buffer is scaled by a factor of 1/N (S507) and the scaled image is added to the accumulation buffer (S508). The process from step S503 to step S508 is repeated N times (S509) by moving the viewpoint position at step S505. An averaged image provided by averaging, on a pixel basis, N combined images stored in the accumulation buffer is output (S510).

Abstract: A center position used for scaling a virtual object is calculated to generate a CG image suitable for observing the perspective of the virtual object. A scaling center of a virtual object disposed in a virtual space is obtained. When an image containing the virtual image corresponding to the position of a viewpoint is generated, the coordinate value of the scaling center is obtained in accordance with the viewpoint, and by using the coordinate value of the scaling center, the scaling process is executed for the virtual object.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mixed reality presentation apparatus which generates and displays a three-dimensional virtual image on a see-through display device so as to allow a plurality of players to play a multi-player game in a mixed reality environment. The apparatus has a CCD camera for detecting the mallet positions of the plurality of players, and a sensor for detecting the view point position of each player in the environment of the multi-player game. The apparatus generates a three-dimensional virtual image that represents a game result of the multi-player game that has progressed in accordance with changes in mallet position detected by the CCD camera and is viewed from the view point position of each player detected by the sensor, and outputs the generated image to the corresponding see-through display device. The apparatus determines the motion of each player by detecting infrared rays output from the corresponding mallet on the basis of an image captured by the CCD camera.

Abstract: An accumulation buffer is cleared (S501), an real image is input (S502), a color buffer is cleared (S503), and the real image is drawn in the color buffer (S504). Then the viewpoint (including parameters concerning the viewpoint) and the view volume of a virtual camera is set (S505) and a computer graphics image is drawn in the color buffer (S506). Then each pixel value of the image in the color buffer is scaled by a factor of 1/N (S507) and the scaled image is added to the accumulation buffer (S508). The process from step S503 to step S508 is repeated N times (S509) by moving the viewpoint position at step S505. An averaged image provided by averaging, on a pixel basis, N combined images stored in the accumulation buffer is output (S510).

Abstract: There is disclosed a mixed reality presentation apparatus which generates and displays a three-dimensional virtual image on a see-through display device so as to allow a plurality of players to play a multi-player game in a mixed reality environment. The apparatus has a CCD camera for detecting the mallet positions of the plurality of players, and a sensor for detecting the view point position of each player in the environment of the multi-player game. The apparatus generates a three-dimensional virtual image that represents a game result of the multi-player game that has progressed in accordance with changes in mallet position detected by the CCD camera and is viewed from the view point position of each player detected by the sensor, and outputs the generated image to the corresponding see-through display device. The apparatus determines the motion of each player by detecting infrared rays output from the corresponding mallet on the basis of an image captured by the CCD camera.

Abstract: A camera control device is arranged to recognize a relation between a desired state of a camera based on a camera control instruction issued and a current state of the camera, to calculate at least a transmission time required for transmission of information between the camera and the camera control device, and to form a camera control command on the basis of at least the calculated transmission time and the relation between the desired state of the camera and the current state of the camera.

Abstract: When the direction of the view line of the dominant eye of the operator moves while the operator watches the image display plane of the image display device, the view line direction measuring device measures such movement and the direction of the view field is moved, within the space, in the moving direction of the view line according to the result of calculation by the arithmetic operation unit. Thus, the image display can be obtained with reduced errors caused by the manual operation and with improved operability.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a spherical supporting unit, a Y-shape supporting unit and a pedestal supporting unit. The spherical supporting unit includes: a lens unit, a photoreceptor and electrical circuits, is supported on X axis by the Y-shape supporting unit, and is rotated about the X axis by driving force of a motor. The Y-shape supporting unit is rotatably supported on Y axis by the pedestal supporting unit. In the spherical supporting unit, a fixed portion which is stably connected with the X axis of the spherical supporting unit, and a rotation portion which rotates along with rotation of the spherical supporting unit, are provided. The image sensing apparatus comprises a conductive bearing in which the rotation portion is electrically connected with the fixed portion. The rotation portion and the electrical circuits are connected with signals; and signal wires from the Y-shape supporting unit are connected with the fixed portion.

Abstract: Inputted right and left images of a stereoscopic image are displayed on a bitmap display 1-5, and vertices to be used for forming three dimensional model of each object are inputted by a pointing device 1-7. At this time, if objects to be processed have to be changed, an instruction for changing objects is issued. Accordingly, it is possible to input and manage point data of each object independently.