Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-10
2001-04-10
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S473000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215498
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a networked computer based system for creating a virtual work environment wherein participants of various levels of immersion within the virtual work environment are able to perform complimentary, independent and cooperative tasks in parallel to create simultaneous sets of solutions to problems outside the virtual work environment.
BACKGROUND ART
The United States Army has an unfulfilled requirement for Command, Control, Communication, Cognition, and Intelligence (“C4I”) that is collaborative, dispersed, interactive, and realtime. Current C4I takes place in command post tents using maps, overlays and networked computers. These tents are fixed sites that require commanders to travel between command posts to ensure that every unit under his command shares his common vision of the battle. There exists a need for a communications system which eliminates the delay caused by this travel.
Furthermore, there are constraints placed on the communications medium that currently supports the above-described interaction. The current generation of secure Digital Military Radios has a limited bandwidth of 14.4 KBS. This constrained communication carries voice and data simultaneously. The Army has tried to overcome this problem by using video phone technology. The problem with transmitting video, especially in network applications, is the large bandwidth required. Current state of the art full frame video phone technology is characterized by generally poor image quality and slow image transmission rates. The limited nature of the technology has proved entirely unsatisfactory to the nature of C4I operations.
Virtual reality video phones and virtual reality conferencing technologies have been utilized in the past to provide simulated or virtual full frame video of participants in a video conference. These technologies allow remote conference participants to present multimedia for joint conference meetings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,743 discloses a virtual conferencing system comprising a plurality of user terminals that are linked together using communication lines. The user terminals each include a display for displaying the virtual conference environment and for displaying animated characters representing each terminal user in attendance at the virtual conference. The user terminals also include a video camera, trained on the user sitting at the terminal, for transmitting video signal input to each of the linked terminal apparatus so that changes in facial expression and head and/or body movements of the user sitting in front of the terminal apparatus are mirrored by their corresponding animated character in the virtual conference environment. Each terminal apparatus further includes audio input/output means to transmit voice data to all user terminals synchronous with the video transmission so that when a particular person moves or speaks, his actions are transmitted simultaneously over the network to all user terminals which then updates the computer model of that particular user animated character on the visual displays for each user terminal. Since only changes in the visual information are sent over the network, the size of the transmitted video signal information is substantially reduced, thereby conserving bandwidth for a more intuitive, realtime feel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,743 also discloses a virtual conferencing system which includes a shared application section for storing programs such as a shared chalkboard, where attendants of the conference are able to type in text and draw pictures. In this type of virtual conferencing system, each conference participant is of equal weight meaning that each participant has an identical level of immersion within the virtual environment. A limitation associated with such an equally weighted system is that it only allows collaboration of a certain type of activity or work to take place. Since each conference participant performs the same function, they must bring pre-prepared information to the virtual environment for interaction with the other participants. The notion here is that the conference participants do not use the virtual environment for extended periods of time because they must first prepare information before entering the virtual environment. The virtual environment is only used to make changes in the prepared information. In order to act on these changes in the real world, the conference participants must physically exit the virtual conference environment so that they can distribute the changes in the information for action by others. Therefore, to make the virtual environment more like a real life work environment, it would be desirable to make the virtual environment the primary place of work such that the conference participants are able to transmit and receive information in real time to and from the outside world so that they can change or process the information in accordance with their own needs.
While the communications and meeting aspects of the prior art virtual video phone technologies and virtual conferencing systems address some of the low level needs of C4I, they fail to create a functional virtual work environment that commanders require. A complete virtual work environment that has all of the tools required for command and staff to carry out the independent and collaborative acts that constitute C4I would constitute a significant advance in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a computer networked system for creating a virtual work environment wherein participants of various levels of immersion within the virtual work environment are able to perform complimentary, independent and cooperative tasks in parallel to create simultaneous sets of solutions to problems outside the virtual work environment.
To satisfy and exceed this objective, we have created a novel virtual reality environment that emulates today's physical military command post, referred to hereafter as the Virtual Command Post (“VCP”).
Since the VCP exists as software and data on a network there is no physical or logistical demands placed on the commander or staff to transport, erect, and configure tons of equipment. This saves time in critical operations such as landing or short ground wars (as demonstrated by Panama, Grenada and Desert Storm).
The VCP is a simulation of an actual command post, with all of the instruments and familiar surroundings emulated in function if not in form. The commander and his staff immerse in this environment via virtual reality displays (audio and video) and inputs (microphone, body encoders and pointing devices) connected to individual personal computers.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are three levels of participants or users, each user level having a different degree of immersion within the virtual environment.
The first type of user, herein the executive level user, has the highest degree of immersion within the virtual environment. The executive lever user corresponds to the commanding officer. The computer terminal apparatus for the executive level participant includes: a wearable computer that is preferably worn on the belt of the user; display means for displaying the virtual work environment and for displaying, in the virtual work environment, animated characters or “avatars” representing other immersed users in attendance in the virtual work environment and for displaying functional objects in the virtual work environment; a data base for prestoring computer information and graphics supporting the appearance of the avatars that populate the virtual work environment as well as for prestoring collateral information such as maps, documents, presentation materials, etc.; software for supporting the structure and layout of the virtual work environment and for supporting interaction of the avatars in the virtual work environment; position tracking means for correlating changes in hand and head movements of the executive level user to the executive level user's assigned avat
Filo Andrew S.
Morgenthaler Mark P.
Steiner Glenn C.
Feix Thomas C.
Lionhearth Technologies, Inc.
Santiago Envique L
Zimmerman Mark
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