Abstract: Methods for performing a camera calibration process for outward-facing cameras on devices such as head-mounted display devices are disclosed. Using cameras with overlapping fields of view, relative rotational parameters of the cameras with respect to one another may be determined using an optimization technique such as a two-view bundle adjustment algorithm. A statistical analysis of the relative rotational parameters of the cameras, determined for a plurality of moments in time, may then be made to provide updated relative rotational parameters for recalibration of the cameras. A camera calibration process, such as those disclosed, may not depend on tracking points of interest over multiple moments in time, but rather on a convergence of the relative rotational parameters determined for respective moments in time.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes front-wheel and rear-wheel driving systems, and a control system. The front-wheel driving system includes a first travel motor mechanically coupled to a front wheel of a vehicle and a first accumulator electrically coupled to the first travel motor. The rear-wheel driving system includes a second travel motor mechanically coupled to a rear wheel of the vehicle and a second accumulator electrically coupled to the second travel motor. The control system includes one or more processors and one or more memories communicably coupled to the one or more processors, and controls the first and second travel motors. When a difference between an SOC of the first accumulator and an SOC of the second accumulator is greater than a threshold value, the one or more processors change a torque distribution ratio between the first and second travel motors from a reference distribution ratio.

Abstract: Methods for performing a calibration process for outward-facing cameras on devices such as head-mounted display devices are disclosed. Extrinsic parameters of the camera are first estimated using inputs to the calibration process such as information from an inertial measurement unit and points of interest within images captured by the camera that are tracked with time. Then, extrinsic and intrinsic parameters are concurrently determined in an optimization problem such that updated values of said parameters may be stored and used by applications that run on the device and make use of the camera. The calibration process may be extended to concurrently calibrate multiple cameras based, at least in part, on information from the inertial measurement unit that is local to the camera.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to methods and systems for disturbing or deceiving sensors of robotic devices. Accordingly, a computing system may detect that a robotic device has entered a particular physical region. Responsively, the computing system may then determine at least one type of sensor that is associated with the robotic device and is used to detect reflected illumination that is reflected from an object. Based on the determined at least one type of sensor, the computing system may then select (i) at least one particular type of disturbing illumination and (ii) a target location within the particular physical region. Upon the selection, the computing system may direct at least one light source to emit the selected at least one particular type of disturbing illumination towards the selected target location so as to disturb the reflected illumination detectable by the robotic device using the at least one type of sensor.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to methods and systems for disturbing or deceiving sensors of robotic devices. Accordingly, a computing system may detect that a robotic device has entered a particular physical region. Responsively, the computing system may then determine at least one type of sensor that is associated with the robotic device and is used to detect reflected illumination that is reflected from an object. Based on the determined at least one type of sensor, the computing system may then select (i) at least one particular type of disturbing illumination and (ii) a target location within the particular physical region. Upon the selection, the computing system may direct at least one light source to emit the selected at least one particular type of disturbing illumination towards the selected target location so as to disturb the reflected illumination detectable by the robotic device using the at least one type of sensor.

Abstract: A secondary battery state management system of the present invention includes: a battery charger that charges a secondary battery; and a storage server that stores electrical characteristics information which is information that indicates the electrical characteristics during charging of the secondary battery. An electrical characteristics measuring means measures the electrical characteristics during charging. A measurement information storing means stores the history of the measured electrical characteristics information for each secondary battery. A battery state determining means compares the electrical characteristics information of the secondary battery being measured by the electrical characteristics measuring means with the electrical characteristics information of the same secondary battery stored in the measurement information storing means, and determines the state of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A secondary battery state management system of the present invention includes: a battery charger that charges a secondary battery; and a storage server that stores electrical characteristics information which is information that indicates the electrical characteristics during charging of the secondary battery. An electrical characteristics measuring means measures the electrical characteristics during charging. A measurement information storing means stores the history of the measured electrical characteristics information for each secondary battery. A battery state determining means compares the electrical characteristics information of the secondary battery being measured by the electrical characteristics measuring means with the electrical characteristics information of the same secondary battery stored in the measurement information storing means, and determines the state of the secondary battery.

Abstract: There are included: an information provision apparatus to which user's position information is input; and a display device that displays information on the user, the information being output from the information provision apparatus. The information provision apparatus includes: a user information storing unit that stores the information on the user; a display device information storing unit that stores information on an intended display range of the display device; and a display control unit that transmits the information on the user stored in the user information storing unit to the display device when a position of the user falls within the intended display range of the display device.

Abstract: Virtual views of a complex scene are produced for a user to view. The virtual views are substantially free from aliasing even when using a relatively sparse set of images of the scene. In a described implementation, a scene is split into one or more coherent layers. The boundaries of the coherent layers are propagated across a plurality of frames corresponding to the scene. The splitting may be further refined (e.g., in accordance with user feedback) to present a virtual view of the scene.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and the like, which render an object from a predetermined view direction by a method using microfacet billboarding using 2D images obtained by photographing an object to be rendered from a plurality of photographing directions, and a depth image of the object to be rendered. This method obtains the geometrical shape of the object to be rendered on the basis of the depth image and the like, and approximates the geometrical shape using a set of microfacets whose directions change depending on the view direction. By mapping 2D images selected based on the view direction and photographing directions onto the respective microfacets as texture images, an arbitrary shaped object and landscape can be efficiently rendered.

Abstract: A network service information providing system which allows users to readily know a location and radio transmission parameters for connecting to a narrow-area wireless communications system in a system which contains wide-area wireless communications systems and narrow-area wireless communications systems. The user knows his/her own location through a wide-area wireless communications system and sends the location of a narrow-area wireless communications system which he/she wants to connect to, wireless transmission parameters, and other requirements to a wireless area information server. The wireless area information server possesses wireless transmission parameters of narrow-area wireless communications systems and the locations of base stations which provide narrow-area wireless communications services.

Abstract: A method of converting three-dimensional shape data into cell internal data. The method includes an oct-tree division step of dividing external data including boundary data of a target object into rectangular parallelepiped cells having boundary planes orthogonal to each other by oct-tree division. The method further includes a cell classification step of classifying each of the cells into an internal cell positioned inside or outside the target object or a boundary cell including the boundary data, and a cut point determination step of determining cut points of edges of the boundary cell based on the boundary data. The method further includes a boundary surface determination step of connecting cut points to form a polygon, and determining the polygon as the cell internal data when the number of the determined cut points is no fewer than 3 and no more than 12.

Abstract: An alerting device allowing easy estimation of possible interference and useful suggestions to eliminate deteriorated communication quality due to interference is disclosed. A signal including a band used by a target radio communication system is selected from a received signal based on a prescribed system specification of the radio communication system. A detected signal level of the selected signal is detected and compared with the prescribed interference level. When the detected signal level is greater than the prescribed interference level, it is determined that interference occurs. Further, an interference source is estimated by analyzing the selected signal with respect to time and frequency components.

Abstract: An implicit function field of a nonmanifold is held in a form of volume data; a value of an implicit function at a point between lattice points is decided by interpolation; and if a difference in code distances between two adjacent voxels to be interpolated is larger than a fixed width, no surface is formed between the voxels. Furthermore, an entered curved surface is broken down into curved surface patches which enable determination of a front and a back; numbers are given to the front and the back, respectively, to be distinguished from each other; and a space is classified into a plurality of regions by using the number of a surface of a nearest point.

Abstract: To provide a propagation environment notification method in radio communication allowing a user to easily understand radio propagation environment information. When receiving a service start command C1 from a user terminal 100, a server 102 transfers software for clients to the user terminal 100 (C2). The user terminal 100 starts the transferred software for clients, and a user condition inputting process P2 is carried out to collect user specific information and radio base station information and transfer the same to the server 102 (C3). When receiving the information, the server 102 starts a distribution information generating process P1 for generating radio propagation environment information based on the information, and the generated information is transferred to the user terminal 100 (C4), and is converted into a format convenient for the user by the software for clients transferred on the user terminal 100, and displayed on the user terminal 100 (P3).

Abstract: To provide a terminal location estimation method capable of accurately estimating a location of a mobile terminal when providing information services according to the location of the terminal in a radio communication system. A positioning server sends a location measurement probe message to the mobile terminal in order to measure the location of the terminal. Each of base stations receives a response message broadcasted from the terminal, measures the reception level and delay spread and sends the measurement results to the positioning server. The positioning server has a radio wave propagation estimating portion and a database for storing estimation results thereof. The server estimates the location of the terminal by checking the measurement results of the base stations against the estimation results on radio wave propagation stored in the database.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to produce virtual views of a complex scene. The virtual views are substantially free from aliasing even when using a relatively sparse set of images of the scene. In a described implementation, a scene is split into one or more coherent layers. The boundaries of the coherent layers are propagated across a plurality of frames corresponding to the scene. The splitting may be further refined (e.g., in accordance with user feedback) to present a virtual view of the scene.

Abstract: In a speed converter for an IEEE-1394 serial bus network, first and second communication device nodes are attached to first and second buses. A first transceiver node receives an inbound first packet at a first speed from the first bus and transmits an inbound second packet, which is received from the second bus by a second transceiver node at a second speed, as an outbound second packet at the first speed to the first bus. The second transceiver node transmits the inbound first packet as an outbound first packet at a second speed to the second bus. Header translation circuitry translates the destination identifier of the inbound first packet to the destination identifier of the outbound first packet according to a mapped relationship between the first transceiver node and the second communication node, and translates the destination identifier of the inbound second packet to the destination identifier of the outbound second packet.

Abstract: A method of converting three-dimensional shape data into cell internal data. The method includes an oct-tree division step of dividing external data including boundary data of a target object into rectangular parallelepiped cells having boundary planes orthogonal to each other by oct-tree division. The method further includes a cell classification step of classifying each of the cells into an internal cell positioned inside or outside the target object or a boundary cell including the boundary data, and a cut point determination step of determining cut points of edges of the boundary cell based on the boundary data. The method further includes a boundary surface determination step of connecting cut points to form a polygon, and determining the polygon as the cell internal data when the number of the determined cut points is no fewer than 3 and no more than 12.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and the like, which render an object from a predetermined view direction by a method using microfacet billboarding using 2D images obtained by photographing an object to be rendered from a plurality of photographing directions, and a depth image of the object to be rendered. This method obtains the geometrical shape of the object to be rendered on the basis of the depth image and the like, and approximates the geometrical shape using a set of microfacets whose directions change depending on the view direction. By mapping 2D images selected based on the view direction and photographing directions onto the respective microfacets as texture images, an arbitrary shaped object and landscape can be efficiently rendered.