Abstract: A user location monitoring unit of a data communication control apparatus monitors a message sent from a wireless device via a repeater. Upon detection of a change in the location of the wireless device, the user location monitoring unit updates the location information in the database and notifies via the Internet a management server of the location change. Upon receipt of the message via the Internet, a destination address confirming and correcting unit of the data communication control apparatus uses the user ID of a destination wireless device as a search keyword to search the database. In turn, the destination address confirming and correcting unit corrects the destination address of the message to the latest address of the pertinent user ID and outputs the corrected message to a received message forwarding unit.

Abstract: An object region detection unit (130) decides the region of a physical object of interest in a physical space image. An image manipulation unit (140) performs shading processing of an inclusion region including the decided region. A rendering unit (155) arranges a virtual object in virtual space at the position and orientation of the physical object of interest and generates a virtual space image based on the position and orientation of the user's viewpoint. A composition unit (160) generates a composite image by superimposing the virtual space image on the physical space image that has undergone the shading processing and outputs the generated composite image to an HMD (190).

Abstract: Image display method of superimposing virtual space image data on real space image data at an arbitrary viewpoint and exhibiting the superimposed image to a viewer is provided. When real space image data, including a prototype generated based on three-dimensional CAD data, is captured by an image sensing device, the position and orientation of the image sensing device and the prototype are tracked, and position/orientation data indicative of the position and orientation of the prototype in the image is acquired. Based on the position/orientation data and the three-dimensional CAD data, a three-dimensional computer graphic image is rendered so as to overlap the prototype in the image, thereby synthesizing the image with the three-dimensional computer graphic image. The synthesized image is then displayed.

Abstract: A dictionary management apparatus is disclosed, which can optimize a dictionary required for speech synthesis of character data. The apparatus checks if character data which is to undergo speech conversion includes character data which is not registered in the dictionary. When the unregistered character data is included, the apparatus generates new dictionary data of that character data using another dictionary and adds the generated new dictionary data to the dictionary.

Abstract: An index detecting section detects an index in a physical space, from a captured image obtained by an imaging apparatus. An erroneous-detection prevention processing section performs erroneous-detection prevention processing, based on information relating to image coordinates of a detected index. An image output section outputs, to a display device, an image having been subjected to the erroneous-detection prevention processing. This prevents an image displayed on the display device from being mistaken for a real index when the display device is in the field of view of the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a technology for controlling information to be supplied to an observer depending on a state of an apparatus, namely, whether the observer is receiving information. A use state of a head-mounted display device, for example, the position and/or orientation of the head-mounted display device is detected to control the power supply of the head-mounted display device based on the detected use state.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide a high-quality composite image of a real image and virtual image to a viewer or the like. To achieve this object, the position/posture of photographing means for photographing a performer or the like is measured, the position/posture of an HMD, which the performer or the like wears, and which allows the viewer to see through the external world, is measured, a CG at the viewpoint of the photographing means and image data photographed by the photographing means are aligned and composited on the basis of the measurement result of the position/posture of the photographing means, CG at the viewpoint of the HMD and image data photographed by a camera built in the HMD are aligned and composited on the basis of the measurement result of the position/posture of the HMD, and image data is displayed on the HMD.

Abstract: In a character provision service system for providing users with characters such as interface agents and virtual characters in virtual spaces on computers or in TV games, charges for use of a provided character is computed according to a motion made by the character. This system enables each user to easily purchase with security a character capable of moving according user's need, and also enables character data providers to collect charges according to motions made by provided characters and to provide various characters without anxiety about unauthorized use of the characters.

Abstract: In a character provision service system for providing users with characters such as interface agents and virtual characters in virtual spaces on computers or in TV games, charges for use of a provided character is computed according to a motion made by the character. This system enables each user to easily purchase with security a character capable of moving according user's need, and also enables character data providers to collect charges according to motions made by provided characters and to provide various characters without anxiety about unauthorized use of the characters.

Abstract: Image display method of superimposing virtual space image data on real space image data at an arbitrary viewpoint and exhibiting the superimposed image to a viewer is provided. When real space image data, including a prototype generated based on three-dimensional CAD data, is captured by an image sensing device, the position and orientation of the image sensing device and the prototype are tracked, and position/orientation data indicative of the position and orientation of the prototype in the image is acquired. Based on the position/orientation data and the three-dimensional CAD data, a three-dimensional computer graphic image is rendered so as to overlap the prototype in the image, thereby synthesizing the image with the three-dimensional computer graphic image. The synthesized image is then displayed.

Abstract: A transmitter, a method of detecting an available node number, and a method of generating topology data are disclosed for a ring type network. The transmitter in a ring type network includes a packet generation and transmission part generating a packet to cause other transmitters in the ring type network to set node numbers assigned to the transmitters and circulating the packet in the ring type network, and a node number detection part, in response to receipt of the circulated packet, reading the node numbers from the packet and detecting an available node number with reference to the read node numbers. According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain and operate a ring type network with less operation steps to improve a maintenance and operation speed.

Abstract: A dictionary management apparatus is disclosed, which can optimize a dictionary required for speech synthesis of character data. The apparatus checks if character data which is to undergo speech conversion includes character data which is not registered in the dictionary. When the unregistered character data is included, the apparatus generates new dictionary data of that character data using another dictionary and adds the generated new dictionary data to the dictionary.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide a high-quality composite image of a real image and virtual image to a viewer or the like. To achieve this object, the position/posture of photographing means for photographing a performer or the like is measured, the position/posture of an HMD, which the performer or the like wears, and which allows the viewer to see through the external world, is measured, a CG at the viewpoint of the photographing means and image data photographed by the photographing means are aligned and composited on the basis of the measurement result of the position/posture of the photographing means, CG at the viewpoint of the HMD and image data photographed by a camera built in the HMD are aligned and composited on the basis of the measurement result of the position/posture of the HMD, and image data is displayed on the HMD.

Abstract: In a character provision service system for providing users with characters such as interface agents and virtual characters in virtual spaces on computers or in TV games, charges for use of a provided character is computed according to a motion made by the character. This system enables each user to easily purchase with security a character capable of moving according user's need, and also enables character data providers to collect charges according to motions made by provided characters and to provide various characters without anxiety about unauthorized use of the characters.

Abstract: A server acquires a web page corresponding to the URL that a client registers, and detects new text (to be referred to as new information hereinafter) inserted in that web page. The server converts the detected new information into one of a character string, phonetic character string, and synthetic speech, and delivers it to the client. The client receives the new information delivered from the server, converts it into synthetic speech, and outputs the synthetic speech.

Abstract: A speech synthesis apparatus for outputting synthesized speech on the basis of a parameter sequence of a speech waveform includes a parameter generation unit which generates a parameter sequence for speech synthesis on the basis of a character sequence input by a character sequence input unit, and stores the generated parameter sequence in a parameter storage unit. A waveform generation unit is also provided that generates pitch waveforms each for one pitch period on the basis of synthesis parameters and pitch scales included in the parameter sequence, and generates a speech waveform by connecting the generated pitch waveforms in accordance with frame lengths set by a frame length setting unit.

Abstract: A speech information processing apparatus includes a statistical processing unit for extracting features by performing statistical processing of a feature file formed by extracting features of speech, such as the fundamental frequency and its variations, and the power and its variations of speech, from a speech file, and a label file in which a phoneme environment, comprising the accent type, the number of moras, the mora position, phonemes and the like, is considered, and a pitch pattern forming unit for forming a pitch pattern, in which phoneme environment is considered, based on the result of the statistical processing.

Abstract: A document inputting apparatus or speech outputting apparatus inputs and displays document data, specifies accent information, pronunciation information and syllable-length information of words or characters of the document data. The apparatus displays the document data in accordance with the specified information so that information such as the accent positions or accent intensities can be recognized. Thus formed document data is stored in a memory with the accent information, the pronunciation information or the syllable-length information. Upon reading the document data from the memory and outputting it as speech, the specified information is referred to for speech synthesizing, thus outputting speech corresponding to the correct pronunciation.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus for synchronized audiovisual output has synchronizing signal bits which are assigned to bits of each sound data, represented by a 16-bit PCM code. A predetermined bit of the assigned bits having the least influence upon the human auditory sense is extracted as a synchronizing signal bit for synchronization of the image data output and sound output.

Abstract: A speech synthesis method and apparatus for synthesizing speech from a character series comprising a text and pitch information. The apparatus includes a parameter generator for generating power spectrum envelopes as parameters of a speech waveform to be synthesized representing the input text in accordance with the input character series. The apparatus also includes a pitch waveform generator for generating pitch waveforms whose period equals the pitch specified by the pitch information. The pitch waveform generator generates the pitch waveforms from the input pitch information and the power spectrum envelopes generated by the parameter generator. Also provided is a speech waveform output device for outputting the speech waveform obtained by connecting the generated pitch waveforms.