Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-12-25
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S420000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333740
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which allows for information search from items arranged in a virtual space. More specifically it relates to an image processing apparatus which promotes confirmation of information which has been once observed.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, development has been made for creating a visual display of a virtual space through three-dimensional computer graphics (3D CG). A technology with which desired pieces of information can be searched for as a user walks through the virtual space is offered by constructing a database using such a virtual space.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 9 No.198,407, discloses a technology in which the image of a virtual space having a hierarchical structure is displayed on a virtual space display frame and the display of the virtual space is replaced, in accordance with the user's indication of movement, as if the user were flying in the air and observing with a bird's eye view, as if the user were on an elevator going up and down, or as if the user were walking around. This thereby allows the user to search for search targets such as books etc., laid out therein.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 9 No.81,577 discloses a configuration for supporting the user's information walk-through in which access history of the user to accumulated information scattered on the network is recorded in the computer so as to lay out 3D CG objects corresponding to the accumulated information based on the record. This thereby dynamically creates the space suitable for the user's information walk-through by reflecting the history of the user's past walk-through.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 9 No.297,835 discloses a virtual space type database searching method in which operator's actions in the virtual space type database are summarized into summary images of information in the form of a comic strip. When a particular cartoon frame of information is selected from the summary images of information, the visual field jumps to the virtual space corresponding to the selected frame of image so as to allow the operator to restart their action in the virtual space.
However, in the above prior art techniques, since the scenes and/or shapes which have been already viewed could not be checked during moving and searching in the virtual space, the user would have to perform searching by repeatedly viewing 3D images which have been already seen; thus degrading the efficiency of searching in the virtual space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the above aspects and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which allows the user to confirm the past history of actions by displaying the portions which have been displayed in the past within the visual field.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows:
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus which allows for information search from items arranged in virtual space, includes:
an intra-visual field polygon discriminating means for determining the polygons constituting the surfaces of 3D shapes displayed in the visual field;
a polygon data storing means for storing the polygons which were determined to be within the visual field by the intra-visual field polygon discriminating means;
a pre-observed polygon identifying means for judging whether currently observed polygons are the same as those stored in the polygon data storing means; and
a display processing means for changing the display state of polygons which have been determined to have been priorly seen by the pre-observed polygon identifying means.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first feature, further includes a triangle sub-dividing means for dividing a polygon, when it straddles the interior and exterior of the visual field, by triangles, at the boundary of the visual field.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first feature, further includes a visual field setting means for arbitrarily setting up a boundary based on which the intra-visual field polygon discriminating means determines the polygons that reside within the visual field.
In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first feature, further includes a display timing setting means for arbitrarily setting the timing at which the display processing means changes the displayed state of polygons.
In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first feature, further includes a display range setting means for arbitrarily setting the range within which the display processing means changes the display state of polygons.
In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus which allows for information search from items arranged in virtual space, includes:
an intra-visual field polygon discriminating means for determining the polygons constituting the surfaces of 3D shapes displayed in the visual field;
a polygon data storing means for storing the polygons which were determined to be within the visual field by the intra-visual field polygon discriminating means;
a pre-observed polygon identifying means for judging whether currently observed polygons are the same as those stored in the polygon data storing means; and
a texture processing means for mapping the predetermined texture onto the polygons which were identified as having been priorly observed by the pre-observed polygon identifying means.
In accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first feature, further includes a replay means for replaying the time variation of the history of actions from an arbitrary viewpoint.
In accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus having the above sixth feature, further includes a replay means for replaying the time variation of the history of actions from an arbitrary viewpoint.
Next, the operations of the invention will be described.
First, according to the first feature, if any polygon being currently observed is determined to be identical with one of the polygons which were stored by the polygon data storing means or displayed in the past within the visual field, the displayed state of the polygon is changed in a distinct manner. Accordingly, it is possible to readily check the history of the past actions, which enables efficient search of the virtual space.
Next, according to the second feature, since a polygon which straddles the interior and exterior of the visual field is divided into appropriate triangles, it is possible to change the displayed state properly by only the portion which has entered the visual field.
According to the third feature, since it is possible to arbitrarily set up a boundary of the visual field between the interior and the exterior thereof, the range within which the displayed state of objects is changed, can be adjusted, as required. For example, if a polygon has entered the visual field but is located far from the viewpoint, the displayed state of it may be unchanged.
According to the fourth feature, since it is possible to arbitrarily set the timing at which the displayed state of polygons is changed, the displayed state can be changed at various timings, as required. For example, the displayed state may be changed as soon as an object enters the visual field, or after some delay.
According to the fifth feature, since it is possible to arbitrarily set the range within which the displayed state of polygons is changed, the range of changing the displayed state can be appropriately selected as required. F
Santiago Enrique L
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Zimmerman Mark
LandOfFree
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