Abstract: A haptic information presentation system uses a human sensory characteristic or illusion to suitably control a physical quantity, and causes a person to feel a force which cannot exist physically, or a haptic sensory physical characteristic.

Abstract: Map display systems, map data processing apparatuses, map display apparatuses, and map display methods for general navigation systems are provided. A map data processing section categorizes original three-dimensional map data into scene graph data representing a data structure of a three-dimensional map using a tree structure and rendering data for rendering an object included in the three-dimensional map and processes the scene graph data and the rendering data. A map data display section specifies a display area by referring to the scene graph data and reads and displays the rendering data in accordance with the specified display area.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit is provided. A basic model display processing unit generates and displays rendering data based on three-dimensional model information on an object to be rendered. An effect model processing unit performs processing for applying a predetermined effect to a three-dimensional model of the object. A basic model storing unit stores a basic model file which defines a basic form of the object. An effect model storing unit stores an effect model file which describes the effect to be applied to the basic model in order to create a variation form while maintaining the identity of the basic form of the object. An effect processing unit applies the effect described in the effect model file to the basic model of the object, thereby changing the basic model. A rendering unit performs graphics processing for displaying a variation of the object based on the basic model changed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an image includes the following elements. A repeating-component extracting unit extracts repeating components, which are repeatedly appearing, similar components in the image, from the image. A repeating-component location adjusting unit adjusts the location of the repeating components by equally locating the repeating components extracted by the repeating-component extracting unit at regular intervals on a screen. An area interpolator interpolates a representative value of an image without the repeating components into some of the areas forming the image in which the location of the repeating components is not adjusted. A feature information generator generates feature information indicating the repeating components in the image interpolated by the areas interpolator and a feature of the location of the repeating components.

Abstract: An animation generating apparatus for generating a three-dimensional animation tracking a moving object includes a camera parameter setting section setting a point of regard and a point of view based on a current position of the moving object using route data indicating a route of the moving object so that the point of regard is located on the route and the point of view is located behind the point of regard along the route, and a rendering processor generating an image by retrieving necessary rendering data from three-dimensional map data based on the point of regard and point of view set by the camera parameter setting section.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generating a three-dimensional map on the basis of three-dimensional map data includes rendering area acquiring means for acquiring a rendering area in which the three-dimensional map is generated with respect to a focal point; identifying means for identifying the three-dimensional map data in the rendering area, among the three-dimensional map data including rendering object data that concerns at least one rendering object and that is hierarchized into multiple groups in accordance with characteristics of the rendering object; rendering object data acquiring means for selecting a group on the basis of the distance from the focal point and acquiring the rendering object data in the selected group from the three-dimensional map data in the rendering area; and three-dimensional map generating means for rendering the rendering object on the basis of the rendering object data to generate the three-dimensional map.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image obtained by projecting a three-dimensional space onto a plane and determining a depth of a vertex of a polygon from a viewpoint in the three-dimensional space, the polygon forming a surface of a solid object from which the three-dimensional image is generated, and moving the position of the vertices by the amount of movement determined in accordance with the determined depth.

Abstract: An image input section outputs the size of an image to a division-number setting section and outputs the image to an edge enhancing section, which enhances the edges of the image. An edge extracting section extracts the edges, an edge evaluating section checks whether each pixel belongs to an edge, and an edge counting section outputs the frequencies of the edges. A DFT section applies a Fourier transform to the edge frequencies which are output as power spectra, and a peak extracting section outputs the spatial frequencies at the peaks of the power spectra. A division-number setting section determines the number of divisions from the spatial frequencies. An image dividing section divides the image into the determined number of blocks and a colored-image output section assigns a particular pixel value to all pixels in each of the blocks.

Abstract: Three-dimensional map data of drawing objects in respective division areas and distant view images in respective directions on map data, which are obtained when viewing is made from insides of the respective division areas, are held in a recording medium, three-dimensional map data of a drawing object for a near view positioned in a sight line direction at a point of interest is retrieved from the three-dimensional map data based on position information of the point of interest and sight line direction information, and is converted into a map image based on a perspective drawing method. A distant view image obtained in the sight line direction is retrieved from the distant view images held in the recording medium based on the position information of the point of interest and the sight line direction information, and the retrieved distant view image is overwritten with the map image for the near view to combine them.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generating a three-dimensional map on the basis of three-dimensional map data includes rendering area acquiring means for acquiring a rendering area in which the three-dimensional map is generated with respect to a focal point; identifying means for identifying the three-dimensional map data in the rendering area, among the three-dimensional map data including rendering object data that concerns at least one rendering object and that is hierarchized into multiple groups in accordance with characteristics of the rendering object; rendering object data acquiring means for selecting a group on the basis of the distance from the focal point and acquiring the rendering object data in the selected group from the three-dimensional map data in the rendering area; and three-dimensional map generating means for rendering the rendering object on the basis of the rendering object data to generate the three-dimensional map.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit is provided. A basic model display processing unit generates and displays rendering data based on three-dimensional model information on an object to be rendered. An effect model processing unit performs processing for applying a predetermined effect to a three-dimensional model of the object. A basic model storing unit stores a basic model file which defines a basic form of the object. An effect model storing unit stores an effect model file which describes the effect to be applied to the basic model in order to create a variation form while maintaining the identity of the basic form of the object. An effect processing unit applies the effect described in the effect model file to the basic model of the object, thereby changing the basic model. A rendering unit performs graphics processing for displaying a variation of the object based on the basic model changed.

Abstract: An animation generating apparatus for generating a three-dimensional animation tracking a moving object includes a camera parameter setting section setting a point of regard and a point of view based on a current position of the moving object using route data indicating a route of the moving object so that the point of regard is located on the route and the point of view is located behind the point of regard along the route, and a rendering processor generating an image by retrieving necessary rendering data from three-dimensional map data based on the point of regard and point of view set by the camera parameter setting section.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image obtained by projecting a three-dimensional space onto a plane includes depth determination means for determining a depth of a vertex of a polygon from a viewpoint in the three-dimensional space, the polygon forming a surface of a solid object from which the three-dimensional image is generated, and vertex moving means for moving the position of the vertex by the amount of movement determined in accordance with the depth determined by the depth determination means.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an image includes the following elements. A repeating-component extracting unit extracts repeating components, which are repeatedly appearing, similar components in the image, from the image. A repeating-component location adjusting unit adjusts the location of the repeating components by equally locating the repeating components extracted by the repeating-component extracting unit at regular intervals on a screen. An area interpolator interpolates a representative value of an image without the repeating components into some of the areas forming the image in which the location of the repeating components is not adjusted. A feature information generator generates feature information indicating the repeating components in the image interpolated by the areas interpolator and a feature of the location of the repeating components.

Abstract: Map display systems, map data processing apparatuses, map display apparatuses, and map display methods for general navigation systems are provided. A map data processing section categorizes original three-dimensional map data into scene graph data representing a data structure of a three-dimensional map using a tree structure and rendering data for rendering an object included in the three-dimensional map and processes the scene graph data and the rendering data. A map data display section specifies a display area by referring to the scene graph data and reads and displays the rendering data in accordance with the specified display area.

Abstract: An image input section outputs the size of an image to a division-number setting section and outputs the image to an edge enhancing section, which enhances the edges of the image. An edge extracting section extracts the edges, an edge evaluating section checks whether each pixel belongs to an edge, and an edge counting section outputs the frequencies of the edges. A DFT section applies a Fourier transform to the edge frequencies which are output as power spectra, and a peak extracting section outputs the spatial frequencies at the peaks of the power spectra. A division-number setting section determines the number of divisions from the spatial frequencies. An image dividing section divides the image into the determined number of blocks and a colored-image output section assigns a particular pixel value to all pixels in each of the blocks.