Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Animation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-10-23
Vo, Cliff N. (Department: 2772)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Animation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307564
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to method and apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional picture.
2. Description of Related Art
A server computer, as a central information processing apparatus, and a client computer, as a user terminal information processing apparatus, maybe interconnected using a cable, a telephone line or a network, for purveying the information in the server computer to the user client computer, or retrieving the information in the server computer from the user client computer, It is recently practiced to represent the virtual reality three-dimensionally, as a conceptual model or metaphoric representation for information purveying services on a display device of the client computer which is capable of displaying graphics. Thus the user is able to use or retrieve the information purveying services in a form similar to reality.
Specifically, a variety of objects or equipments, such as desks, shelves, television receivers or doors, exist in the virtual reality. The user points the direction of movement in the three-dimensional virtual reality, using a pointing device, such as a mouse, trackball or a keypad, and moves within the displayed three-dimensional virtual reality for acting on the objects or the equipments within the three-dimensional virtual reality.
When the user moves in the three-dimensional virtual reality, he or she is free to move in an optional direction. Thus it is difficult for the user to realize in which direction he or she is to move or which objects or equipments will be encountered.
On the other hand, since the three-dimensional virtual reality is represented on a two-dimensional display device, that is a CRT display, it is difficult to reflect the intention of a producer who has produced the three-dimensional virtual reality.
If the user has moved to a position in the three-dimensional virtual reality not intended by the producer, the field of view of the user becomes incomprehensible such that he or she is unable to realize in which direction he or she is to move next.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a picture display method and apparatus in which the user feels free to move and it is possible to represent a picture of the three-dimensional virtual reality so as to reflect the intention of the producer.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a picture display apparatus including display means for displaying a three-dimensional picture, pointing means for pointing a position in the picture displayed in the display means, holding means for holding the control information of a plurality of possible stop points pre-determined in a three-dimensional space, and control means for causing the three-dimensional picture to be displayed on the display means based on the control information of the possible stop points in the three-dimensional space held by the holding means. These possible stop points correspond to positions in the picture pointed by the pointing means.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a picture display method including displaying a three-dimensional picture on a display device and displaying the three-dimensional picture on the display device based on the control information on predetermined possible stop points in a three-dimensional space corresponding to positions in the picture pointed by pointing means adapted for pointing a position in the picture.
According to the present invention, if a pre-set position in a picture displayed on a display device is pointed to by a pointing device, the control device manages control for displaying a three-dimensional picture on the display device based on the position information, line of sight information, speed information and the operational information of the possible stop points pre-set in association with the pointed to position. The information of these various sorts are held by the holding device. The inside of the three-dimensional virtual reality may be displayed easily, while the user can easily walk through the inside of the three-dimensional virtual reality.
In addition, the producer of the three-dimensional virtual reality can easily reflect the intention of production with a smaller data volume. Since the operation of the human being in the three-dimensional virtual reality can be assimilated to the operation of the human being in the real world, the user can easily move through the inside of the three-dimensional virtual reality so that the picture seen during such movement can be rendered analogous to a picture as encountered during movement of a human being in the real world.
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Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Sony Corporation
Vo Cliff N.
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