Abstract: Provided herein are a computer and an information processing method that can reduce the load on a call center by a larger margin than previously achieved. A computer 100 is provided that includes a processor 110. The processor 110, as a response to an inquiry, provides an address of a web page by using information regarding the inquiry. An information processing method is provided that includes receiving information regarding an inquiry, and providing an address of a web page as a response to the inquiry.

Abstract: Each object is assigned a different piece of virtual color information, and an object is drawn on a bit map using the virtual color. By scanning the virtual color in the bit map, it is determined whether or not an object is occluded by another object.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object shared processing method for sharing data of a three-dimensional object among a plurality of computer systems which are coupled via a network, includes a step of updating the data of the three-dimensional object stored at each of the computer systems so that the data match, based on an operation command and change information. The operation command is related to an operation with respect to the three-dimensional object carried out at each of the computer systems. In addition, the change information indicates a change of the three-dimensional object caused by the operation carried out with respect to the three-dimensional object, and includes a number of a selected part of the three-dimensional object and a position coordinate of the selected part.

Abstract: A disassembly route producing apparatus searches for a disassembly route for disassembling a product into its component parts. In one embodiment, the apparatus selects one of the parts to be disassembled, and determines the closest distance the selected part may approach the remaining parts as the selected part is being moved. The selected part is disassembled through a series of translations in predetermined directions and for predetermined distances. After each translation, the apparatus determines whether the selected part collided with any of the remaining parts. If a collision occurs, the apparatus changes the direction for the translations and resumes the search. A corresponding assembly route is determined by reversing the disassembly route.

Abstract: An interference checking method for checking the interference between two objects in the shape of non-convex polyhedrons, comprising the steps of producing a convex hull for each of the non-convex polyhedrons, and checking the interference of the convex hull of one object with the convex hull of the other object; covering each of polygons which constitute each of the non-convex polyhedrons with a plurality of leaf spheres which have a predetermined radius and which are arranged on each polygon when the distance between the convex hulls becomes not more than a preset value, and sequentially enveloping the leaf spheres with hierarchical spheres so as to produce a binary tree of hierarchical envelope spheres; obtaining a pair of nearby spheres closest by checking the interference between envelope spheres of an upper grade on the basis of the structure of the binary tree, disassembling the interfering envelope spheres into envelope spheres of a lower grade, checking the interference between the envelope spheres o

Abstract: An apparatus, and method of use therefor, adapted to evaluate angles of rotation of joints for coupling arm-to-arm to each other on the basis of information representative of position and orientation of a tip of a manipulator having six or less arms, which are sequentially coupled with each other, so as to implement the position and the orientation of the tip of the manipulator. A matrix equation is evaluated beforehand in accordance with a mathematical expression processing. Parameters, which represent a figure of the manipulator, are inputted into the resultant matrix equation. Further, the information representative of position and orientation of the tip of the manipulator is entered to evaluate the angles of rotation of joints in accordance with a numerical resolution.

Abstract: There are provided a link mechanism analyzer for performing a performance confirmation or test on a simualation basis for link mechanism produced using a CAD system for a mechanism design, and a link mechanism joint data arithmetic apparatus for evaluating joint data describing a parameter representative of a couping relation between a link of the link mechanism and a joint, which parameter is referred to as, for example, a Deravit-Hartenberg's link parameter, and a parameter value of the paramerter. The evaluation of such a joint data will be needed when a performance confirmation or test on a simualation basis for the link mechanism is performed using the link mechanism analyzer.

Abstract: A unit in a computer for computing a closest distance between two three-dimensional convex objects. At least one of the objects is a convex curved surface object. A first closest vector arithmetic unit is provided for identifying a preliminary closest vector coupling the closest points of the two objects by repeatedly calculating for each object an inner product of a candidate for the preliminary closest vector directed from a first of the two objects to a second of the two objects and a plurality of position vectors. Each position vector being one of a position vector of a vertex where the first object is a convex polyhedron, and a position vector of a control point of a convex curved surface patch where the first object is a convex curved surface object comprising sets of convex curved surface patches. A position vector for each object having a maximum inner product is extracted and a new candidate for the preliminary closest vector is formed by a vector connecting the two position vectors.

Abstract: A method of searching for a point of closest approach between two convex polyhedrons K.sub.1, K.sub.2, wherein each convex polyhedron is expressed by creating directed-graph structure data. The method uses a processing unit for searching for points of closest approach. The method includes the step of successively obtaining points of closest approach to a difference convex polyhedron, which is a difference of sets (K.sub.1 -K.sub.2) between the two convex polyhedrons K.sub.1, K.sub.2, and finally obtaining the point of closest approach on each convex polyhedron K.sub.1, K.sub.2. In the evaluation of inner products executed in the course of searching for points of closest approach, the method further includes the step of judging whether the point of closest approach on each convex polyhedron corresponding to the successively obtained point of closest approach to the difference convex polyhedron resides on a vertex, edge or polygon. This judging step is also performed by the processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simulation or control method and apparatus for a manipulator apparatus and makes it possible to calculate three-dimensional dynamics of the entire manipulator apparatus on the real time basis using the laws of conservation of momentum/angular momentum of the entire system, reverse dynamics or normal dynamics of a wheel system to display motion of the manipulator apparatus by simulation display on a display (2) and control the manipulator apparatus.