Abstract: An information processing apparatus displays a plurality of linked items of content in a virtual space in accordance with field-of-view data. The information processing apparatus includes: first capturing means (S524, S526) for capturing link description data; second capturing means (S512) for capturing content data associated with the description of an item of content contained in the captured link description data; image generating means (S530, S532) for generating an image of the item of content to be disposed in the virtual space, in accordance with the captured content data; and determining means for determining further data to be captured next in accordance with a condition contained in the captured link description data.

Abstract: A configuration is presented that enables viewing a plurality of data objects situated in a virtual space as the visual field defined in the virtual space is changed smoothly; and that at the same time enables: supplemental information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed; information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed in more detail; means for dialogue with a user to be provided in situations where required; and application programs linked to the display of information and associated with that information to be executed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus displays a plurality of linked objects in a virtual three-dimensional space in accordance with field-of-view data. The information processing apparatus includes control means for generating images of the objects in accordance with the object data and in accordance with the field of view and rendering the generated images onto a two-dimensional frame. The control means hierarchically sorts the objects in accordance with link data which indicates links between the objects. The control means renders the image of one object and the image of another object to which the one object is linked, wherein the image of the other object is rendered before the start of or after the end of rendering the one object or between the start and the end of rendering.

Abstract: A display interface method and apparatus that utilize a zoom interface are provided, in which the screen changes continuously and moving or duplicating operation of an object can be performed easily. The display interface method comprises the steps of memorizing a pointer that points an object selected by an input device in a memory, displaying a small image representing the object pointed by the pointer as a display of the foreground layer on the screen, and maintaining the display of the small image representing the object without changing even if a display of other layer is zoomed. A user uses a zooming operation so that the target position is displayed on the screen, and then inputs the “paste” command, for example. Thus, a copy of the object is generated and is pasted at the designated position in the target folder.

Abstract: The object of the present invention can be achieved by a display controlling apparatus for displaying a plurality of information objects including an information object shown by a three-dimensional shape in a three-dimensional virtual space. In the display controlling apparatus, a view to display is determined based on a shape of the information object to observe by corresponding to a view movement instruction input by a user as if the view traces a surface of the shape. And display images of the plurality of information objects linked each other are generated based on the view. Then, the display images are displayed at a display unit so as to display the information objects corresponding to the view movement instruction.

Abstract: A display interface method and apparatus that utilize a zoom interface are provided, in which the screen changes continuously and moving or duplicating operation of an object can be performed easily. The display interface method comprises the steps of memorizing a pointer that points an object selected by an input device in a memory, displaying a small image representing the object pointed by the pointer as a display of the foreground layer on the screen, and maintaining the display of the small image representing the object without changing even if a display of other layer is zoomed. A user uses a zooming operation so that the target position is displayed on the screen, and then inputs the “paste” command, for example. Thus, a copy of the object is generated and is pasted at the designated position in the target folder.

Abstract: A graphic user interface display comprises a display-indication determining unit determining whether display indication is inputted, a position detecting unit detecting a position of a pointer on the picture, and a processing unit adjusting a transparency of the graphic user interface based on the position detected by the position detecting unit so as to display the graphic user interface.

Abstract: In an image display system for changing a display of image data based on a visual field changing instruction, one or a plurality of visual field changing start region associated with a visual field changing operation, which defines display update processing contents of the image data, is displayed in a display window. When a pointer enters the visual field changing start region, the visual field changing operation associated with the visual field changing start region is activated, and the display of the image data is updated in accordance with the display update processing contents defined by the activated visual field changing operation, based on a relative movement amount of the pointer based on the position of the pointer at a time when the visual field changing operation has been activated.

Abstract: An electrgonic information displaying method and apparatus are used to comfortably browse electronic information which includes embedded link information such as hypertext by way of a display device. The electronic information is arranged in a single virtual space based on a predetermined link format. A display image which is used to read the electronic information is generated and is then displayed on the display device on the basis of the visual field defined in virtual space. Moreover, the visual field is continuously changed depending upon an instruction from a user. Furthermore, a display image based on the visual field is continuously generated in realtime basis. By way of the updating of the information in real time, the user can read the electronic information by following the link of electronic information while continuously changing the visual field within the virtual space, to thereby simulate the reading of printed matter.

Abstract: A method for browsing virtual three-dimensional information is provided in which a display is changed automatically while maintaining link relationship among information objects displayed in a virtual three-dimensional space. Plural information objects related to each other by a link structure are located in the virtual three-dimensional space, and some of them are displayed on the display screen of a computer. The display including the information objects are changed in accordance with a field from a viewpoint that moves responding to user's operation. A destination list is displayed on the display screen. The destination list includes a plurality of icons or character strings related respectively to the information objects located on the virtual three-dimensional space.

Abstract: A search server and method for providing search results are provided in which search results can be transmitted efficiently to a client computer that uses a browser that changes plural displays of contents using a virtual three-dimensional space. The server comprises a web page information storing portion for collecting web page information and URLs from a network so as to store them, a keyword obtaining portion for obtaining a keyword from the client computer, a keyword searching portion for searching web page information containing the obtained keyword, a reference URL obtaining portion for obtaining a URL of a web page to be a reference, and a link searching portion for searching a chain of links from the web page to be a reference to the web page obtained by the keyword searching portion. The search server transmits a list of URL trains corresponding to the chain of links to the client computer.

Abstract: A configuration is presented that enables viewing a plurality of data objects situated in a virtual space as the visual field defined in the virtual space is changed smoothly; and that at the same time enables: supplemental information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed; information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed in more detail; means for dialogue with a user to be provided in situations where required; and application programs linked to the display of information and associated with that information to be executed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is, in a device control system that controls devices within a house, to reduce the effort required of a user during authentication, as well as to prevent unauthorized access by a third party. A device control system access restriction method includes the steps of accepting registration of terminal information for associating an identifier unique to an operating terminal with operating terminal access right, of accepting instruction information including operating terminal identifier and instruction signals relating to operations of a device, of determining the access right of an operating terminal based on the operating terminal identifier included in instruction information, and of controlling the device based on operating terminal access right and instruction signals relating to that device.

Abstract: For easier access to a desired one of information objects for displaying by traversing links between them, an information processing apparatus includes holding means which holds content type specific intermediate data generating means and content type specific display image generating means both in an executable condition. The apparatus includes first means which causes the intermediate data generating means to generate intermediate data for displaying an information object in accordance with a geometric relation of the object to a visual field. The apparatus also includes second means which causes the display image generating means to generate a display image of the object from the intermediate data in accordance with the geometric relation of the object to the field. The intermediate data generating means and the display image generating means operate asynchronously with each other.

Abstract: A display interface method and apparatus that utilize a zoom interface are provided, in which the screen changes continuously and moving or duplicating operation of an object can be performed easily. The display interface method comprises the steps of memorizing a pointer that points an object selected by an input device in a memory, displaying a small image representing the object pointed by the pointer as a display of the foreground layer on the screen, and maintaining the display of the small image representing the object without changing even if a display of other layer is zoomed. A user uses a zooming operation so that the target position is displayed on the screen, and then inputs the “paste” command, for example. Thus, a copy of the object is generated and is pasted at the designated position in the target folder.

Abstract: The computer system is provided with a prediction part 21 for calculating the probability of the respective contents being designated based on the operation of an input device 25, an object list 24 for storing a plurality of contents in the order of the high probability of designation according to said calculation results, an execution control part 22 for starting an application program 26 for processing each of the predetermined number of contents stored on its top side, and a display/reproducing part 23 for carrying out preparation for processing of the contents by the started application program 26. In case of the hyper text processing, concretely the processing to display the character strings, still images, and moving pictures which are the contents thereof on the display screen or to reproduce the voice, the time before the user can actually see or hear the contents can be reduced.

Abstract: In an interactive editing apparatus, a three-dimensional object to be edited is a set of polygonal surfaces which are arranged in a three-dimensional space and have the same number of sides. These polygonal surfaces are arranged on the three-dimensional space to display on a perspective view, the sides of the polygonal surfaces are linearly enveloped to express a polygonal three-dimensional object. When a user edits any one of vertex positions, data regarding the edited vertex and associated other vertex positions are updated. Further in the interactive editing apparatus, data regarding vertexes and faces of the object are managed using data cells, and shape data before the last editing are stored in the data cells together with present shape data, whereby an undo function is realized.

Abstract: A solid graphic arranging/editing method enables a user to enter or edit a solid graphic viewed on a display. According to the method, three points of a rectangular parallelepiped are specified, and the solid is arranged to be inscribed within the parallelepiped. A reference plane is then defined and a first point on the reference plane is specified. A local coordinate plane is also defined and a second point is specified on the local coordinate plane. A rectangle lying in the local coordinate plane and having the first and second points as diagonal vertices is then displayed. Auxiliary lines perpendicular to the local coordinate plane and passing the second point are also displayed and a third point on a selected auxiliary line is displayed. A rectangular parallelepiped is then displayed having the rectangle as one surface and the third point as a vertex. The position of the solid and the scales are then adjusted such that the solid is inscribed in the rectangular parellelepiped.

Abstract: In a 3-dimensional animation generating apparatus which uses a computer, the user generates a number of static images having parent-child relationships and which serve as key frames in the sequence from the start to the end of the animation, a number of animation frames specified by the user being automatically inserted between the key frames by means of interpolation. In this 3-dimensional animation generating apparatus, the times of each of the key frames as specified by the user are stored, the parent object coordinates and child object coordinates generated by the user are stored in a world coordinate system, along with parent-child relationship in each of the key frames.