Abstract: A head mounted display apparatus includes a main body portion and a decoder processing unit. The main body portion is be mounted on the head of an observer. The main body portion includes a video display unit, a video display drive circuit for displaying video on the video display unit, and an optical system for guiding the video displayed on the video display unit to the pupil of the observer, and the main body portion obtaining power from a power supply unit through a cable. The decoder processing unit converts an external input video signal into an RGB signal. The signal from the decoder processing unit is transmitted to the video display drive circuit. The decoder processing unit is disposed in a relay unit between the power supply unit and the main body portion.

Abstract: An image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following steps: the multi-viewpoint image input step for inputting images obtained from a plurality of viewpoint positions arranged on different straight lines, the detection step (2, 7, 17, 8) for detecting a viewpoint position and its view direction in which a user is seeing at the viewpoint position, and the image generation step (11, 12, 13, 8) for generating a virtual image viewed from the predetermined viewpoint by using the images input in the multi-viewpoint image input step on the basis of the detected predetermined viewpoint position and the view direction. In the image generation step, optimal corresponding points are obtained by detecting a straight line having a width on an epipolar plane image corresponding to the input images, thereby generating an image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method reconstruct a three-dimensional image of an object which expresses a texture, glossiness, and three-dimensionality with realism. The image processing apparatus produces, from a physical object, data representing a shape and a surface feature of the physical object, holds the data as a three-dimensional model, and presents a three-dimensional image under conditions of an illumination environment and line of sight designated by a user when the three-dimensional image is reconstructed. To present the three-dimensional image at a high speed with realism, the apparatus and method use new and particularly advantageous features in a generation process and in a data format used in the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: In a system in which a plurality of cameras and microphones, the image pickup directions and audio input directions of which can be remote-controlled, are arranged on a network, when an image pickup inhibited region is set, and when a network client remote-controls a certain camera to pickup a range including the image pickup inhibited region, a portion corresponding to the image pickup inhibited region is not displayed, and sound corresponding to the region is not output.

Abstract: In a head-mounted display apparatus arranged to support a left-eye display system and a right-eye display system, a mounting-state confirming figure for confirming a mounting state of the head-mounted display apparatus on the user is displayed, and the displaying state of the mounting-state confirming figure on the left-eye display system and the right-eye display system is changed according to the confirmation operation on the mounting-state confirming figure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system in which, in order to vary the audio input/output characteristics in linkage with the camera operation and to thereby improve the realistic feeling, the camera control server of the CPU transfers the camera control command, received through the network, to the camera control device to control the camera. In more details, the camera control server also sends control commands to the audio input control device, the audio output device and the video display control device according to the camera control thereby controlling the input characteristics (spreading, direction and sensitivity) of the microphone and the output characteristics (spreading, direction and depth) of the speaker and varying the image displayed on the monitor. There is also disclosed technology for displaying, on the monitor, the information on the operator of the camera and on the receiver of the image, and for varying the direction of the monitor according to the panning or tilting operation of the camera.

Abstract: When an access request (a request for transfer of video and audio information or a request for a camera operation) to a camera apparatus connected to a network via a terminal is issued via the network, a camera management server processes the access request on the basis of an access right set by a user (or a manager) using the terminal to which the camera apparatus is connected. That is, the camera management server refers to an access right set file and grants or denies permission to access for the user whose has issued the access request. The user to whom the access permission is granted requests a camera control server to permit a camera operation via a camera control client and thereby can receive an image taken by the camera apparatus and voices collected by the camera apparatus and can perform panning, tilting, and zooming of the camera apparatus.

Abstract: In a system in which a plurality of cameras and microphones, the image pickup directions and audio input directions of which can be remote-controlled, are arranged on a network, when an image pickup inhibited region is set, and when a network client remote-controls a certain camera to pickup a range including the image pickup inhibited region, a portion corresponding to the image pickup inhibited region is not displayed, and sound corresponding to the region is not output.

Abstract: A camera control system is disclosed where the control system selects a camera from a plurality of cameras connected to a network, and displays an image taken by the selected camera and further performs control functions on the selected camera. The control system first contains a map display, which represents the relative area where the plurality of controllable cameras are set. The control system next contains a symbol display configuration for representing each camera, and also contains a display-not-permitted area setting configuration, which disallows display functions relative to each network client's status on the network. The control system subsequently transmits each client's respective view and information in accordance to their request and corresponding status.

Abstract: Image transmission method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving images among a plurality of terminals connected to a network, and an image transmission system including the apparatus. A video camera (30) is connected to each of a plurality of video communication terminals connected to a network (12), and an image picked up by the camera (30) of each terminal is exchanged with another communication terminal via the network (12). In this case, in a certain terminal, a plurality of images received from other terminals are displayed on a display (26), and the names of terminals which are receiving the image picked up by the video camera (30) of the terminal, and the name of a terminal (or the name of an operator) which is operating the video camera (30) of the terminal are also displayed on the display (26).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image data processing apparatus for generating an image corresponding to a view point, which is constituted by multi view points image data hold means for holding a plurality of image data having mutually different positions as view points, corresponding point trace detection means for sequentially detecting a coefficient which defines a trace of mutually corresponding points among the multi view points image data and member for outputting the coefficient of each of a plurality of the corresponding point traces present in the multi view points image data.