Virtual space control system and virtual space control method

Abstract

To enable appropriate setting of conditions for sharing information with other avatar users in the surroundings of one's own avatar.SOLUTION: A control unit of a virtual space control system 1 disclosed herein is configured to detect the gaze of a user of an information terminal device 10 with respect to a display screen of the information terminal device 10, and changes the form of an information sharing range around an avatar corresponding to the user on the basis of a tendency of gaze directions of the user with respect to a virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a virtual space control system and a virtual space control method. [Background technology]

[0002] In a virtual office (virtual office) configured in a virtual space, each user uses an avatar to perform work within the virtual office. There is known a technique that allows each avatar to hear each other's voices when they are close to each other in the virtual space or when they are in the same space (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-071314 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Because each avatar user displays a virtual space on the screen of their respective information terminal device, there are cases where they do not check the screen displaying the virtual space or are unable to check it depending on the nature of their work, etc. In such a situation, if a user continues speaking without noticing that another user's avatar is approaching, there is a risk that the user's speech will be overheard by the user of another avatar, even though they do not intend for their speech to be overheard.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to appropriately set conditions for sharing information with users of other avatars around one's own avatar. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the virtual space control system of the present disclosure is a virtual space control system that displays a virtual space on an information terminal device and displays an avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device in the virtual space, and a control unit provided in the virtual space control system detects the line of sight of the user of the information terminal device toward the display screen of the information terminal device, and changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the tendency of the user's line of sight toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device.

[0007] The virtual space control method of the present disclosure is a virtual space control method executed by a virtual space control system that displays a virtual space on an information terminal device and displays an avatar corresponding to a user of the information terminal device in the virtual space, wherein the virtual space control system detects the line of sight of the user of the information terminal device toward the display screen of the information terminal device, and changes the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the tendency of the user's line of sight toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately set conditions for sharing information with users of other avatars around one's own avatar. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a virtual space control system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information terminal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the information terminal device. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a virtual office displayed on the display screen of an information terminal device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a virtual office displayed on the display screen of an information terminal device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen of the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen of the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence between the frequency of eye contact with the display screen of the virtual office and the size of the information sharing range. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence between the continuous gaze time on the display screen of the virtual office and the size of the information sharing range. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence between the continuous gaze time on the display screen of the virtual office and the size of the information sharing range. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A virtual space control system and a virtual space control method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0011] [First embodiment] (Virtual space control system) 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a virtual space control system according to a first embodiment. The virtual space control system 1 controls a virtual office configured in a virtual space. In the following embodiment, a virtual office is used as an example for explanation, but the present invention is not limited to virtual offices and can also be applied to various services that use avatars for communication in a virtual space.

[0012] In the following description, a "user" may be referred to as a "first user" and an "other user" may be referred to as a "second user." Furthermore, an information terminal device used by a first user to log in to a virtual office may be referred to as a first information terminal device, and an information terminal device used by another user, a second user, to log in to a virtual office may be referred to as a second information terminal device. A first information terminal device is any information terminal device that is logged in to a virtual office, and a second information terminal device is any information terminal device that is different from the first information terminal device and that is logged in to the same virtual office as the first information terminal device.

[0013] An overview of the virtual office controlled by the virtual space control system 1 will be described. A user uses an information terminal device 10 to come to work (log in) to the virtual office using their own account and perform work. In the virtual office, an avatar associated with the user is set. When a user logs in to the virtual office using their own information terminal device 10 (described later), the avatar moves to any seat in the virtual office or to a predetermined seat and the user operates and displays the avatar to sit down. The user can operate the avatar to move around the virtual office. In the virtual office, for example, when avatars are close to each other in the virtual office or when avatars are located in the same space, such as a conference room in the virtual office, they can share information in a way that allows them to hear each other's voices.

[0014] However, each user may not always be able to check the virtual office display screen on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 they use, or may not be aware of the virtual office display screen due to other tasks. For example, a user may not frequently look at the display screen (window) displaying the virtual office due to tasks that do not use the virtual office or checking display content other than the virtual office display screen. In such cases, the user may not notice that another user's avatar has entered, or is likely to enter, the user's information sharing range. For example, while a first avatar is having a highly confidential conversation with a second avatar user who is in the information sharing range of the first avatar, the user may not notice that another user's avatar, whose conversation should not be overheard, has entered, or is likely to enter, the user's information sharing range.

[0015] In this embodiment, the virtual space control system 1 changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the tendency of the user's gaze to be directed toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10.

[0016] The virtual space control system 1 includes an information terminal device 10 that each user uses for business purposes and logs into the virtual office, and a server device 30.

[0017] The control unit provided in the virtual space control system 1 is a conceptual control unit realized by the cooperation of either or both of the terminal control devices 20 of the multiple information terminal devices 10 used in the virtual office and the server control device 40 of the server device 30. Either the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 or the server control device 40 of the server device 30 may be the control unit provided in the virtual space control system 1, or the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the server control device 40 of the server device 30 may be the control unit provided in the virtual space control system 1.

[0018] (Information terminal device) 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information terminal device according to the first embodiment. The information terminal device 10 is a terminal device used by a user who performs work in a virtual office. The information terminal device 10 is a terminal device on which the user executes a virtual office application. The information terminal device 10 is a terminal device through which the user logs in to the virtual office using their own account when logging in to the virtual office.

[0019] The information terminal device 10 is, for example, an information terminal device such as a general-purpose personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal, etc. The information terminal device 10 is connected to the server device 30 via a network so as to be able to communicate data with it.

[0020] The information terminal device 10 logs in to the virtual office based on the account information of the user who is logged in to the information terminal device 10.

[0021] The information terminal device 10 includes a camera 11 , a microphone 12 , an operation unit 13 , a display unit 17 , an audio output unit 18 , a communication unit 19 , and a terminal control device 20 .

[0022] Camera 11 captures an image in the direction facing information terminal device 10. Camera 11 is disposed at a position where it captures an image in the direction facing display unit 17 of information terminal device 10. In other words, camera 11 captures an image in the direction where a user using information terminal device 10 is located. Camera 11 is disposed, for example, near display unit 17. Camera 11 outputs the captured image to image acquisition unit 21 of terminal control device 20.

[0023] The microphone 12 picks up sounds around the information terminal device 10. The microphone 12 may pick up sounds from the direction facing the display unit 17 of the information terminal device 10, and may be provided in a headset connected to the information terminal device 10. In other words, the microphone 12 picks up sounds spoken by the user using the information terminal device 10 and sounds from the surrounding area. The microphone 12 outputs audio information related to the picked-up sounds to the audio acquisition unit 22 of the terminal control device 20.

[0024] The operation unit 13 is an input device capable of inputting various operations to the information terminal device 10. The operation unit 13 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the received input operation to the terminal control device 20. The operation unit 13 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel arranged over the display unit 17, buttons, switches, etc. The operation unit 13 can receive, for example, a key input operation, a click operation, or a touch operation.

[0025] The operation unit 13 can accept operations such as moving an avatar corresponding to the user in the virtual office in any direction on the display screen of the display unit 17. For example, the operation unit 13 accepts operations such as overlapping or placing the user's avatar in the virtual office next to another avatar on the display screen of the display unit 17.

[0026] By performing an operation such as superimposing one's avatar on another or placing it adjacent to another avatar, communication such as a video call or a voice call can be initiated between users in the virtual office application. Whether a video call or a voice call will be conducted may be set in advance or may be set by the user's operation.

[0027] The display unit 17 displays various types of video including text and images. The display unit 17 is, for example, a display including a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc. The display unit 17 displays a video of a virtual office, etc. In this embodiment, when a video call becomes possible, the display unit 17 outputs a video of the user of another avatar with whom the video call is being made, in other words, a video captured by the camera 11 of the information terminal device 10 used by the user of the other avatar. The display of the display unit 17 is controlled by the display control unit 27.

[0028] The audio output unit 18 is an audio output device that outputs audio from the virtual office. In this embodiment, when the user is using the virtual office, the audio output unit 18 outputs the audio around the user's avatar in the virtual office. When a voice call or video call becomes possible, the audio output unit 18 outputs the audio of the user of another avatar with whom the user is making the voice call or video call, in other words, the audio picked up by the microphone 12 of the information terminal device 10 used by the user of the avatar. The audio output of the audio output unit 18 is controlled by the audio output control unit 28.

[0029] The communication unit 19 is a communication unit for performing wired communication or wireless communication. The communication unit 19 performs communication using a communication method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or a mobile phone line, and is connected to an intranet or the Internet. The communication of the communication unit 19 is controlled by a communication control unit 29. The communication unit 19 communicates data such as video and audio or application operation information with the server device 30. The communication unit 19 communicates data such as account information of a user logged in to the information terminal device 10 and application operation status information with the server device 30.

[0030] (Terminal Control Device) The terminal control device 20 controls each part of the information terminal device 10. The terminal control device 20 has, for example, a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and a storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The terminal control device 20 executes a program that controls the operation of the information terminal device 10 according to the present disclosure. The terminal control device 20 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. The terminal control device 20 loads a stored program into memory and executes instructions included in the program. The terminal control device 20 includes an internal memory such as the RAM described above, and the internal memory is used for temporary storage of data in the terminal control device 20. The terminal control device 20 may be realized by a combination of hardware and software.

[0031] The terminal control device 20 has functional blocks realized by circuits and executed programs, including a video acquisition unit 21, an audio acquisition unit 22, an operation reception unit 23, an application control unit 24, a detection unit 25, a memory unit 26, a display control unit 27, an audio output control unit 28, and a communication control unit 29.

[0032] The video acquisition unit 21 acquires video captured by the camera 11. More specifically, the video acquisition unit 21 acquires video captured by the camera 11 of a user facing the information terminal device 10, etc. The video data acquired by the camera 11 is a moving image.

[0033] The voice acquisition unit 22 acquires the voice detected by the microphone 12. The voice acquisition unit 22 acquires voice such as the voice spoken by a user present in the vicinity of the information terminal device .

[0034] The operation reception unit 23 acquires an operation signal corresponding to an operation on the operation unit 13 from the operation unit 13. The operation reception unit 23 outputs a control signal corresponding to the acquired operation signal to each unit.

[0035] The operation accepting unit 23 accepts operations on the display screen of the display unit 17. For example, the operation accepting unit 23 accepts an operation to move the user's own avatar in the virtual office on the display screen of the display unit 17. For example, the operation accepting unit 23 accepts an operation to overlap or place the user's own avatar in the virtual office next to another avatar on the display screen of the display unit 17.

[0036] The application control unit 24 controls the operation of various applications executed on the information terminal device 10. The applications operated by the application control unit 24 may be controlled in cooperation with a virtual office control unit 42 of the server device 30, which will be described later.

[0037] The application control unit 24 causes a display control unit 27, which will be described later, to display on the display unit 17 a display related to an application running on the information terminal device 10. The display related to the application is a display screen such as a window or an icon that shows the display related to the application to the user of the information terminal device 10.

[0038] When the user of the information terminal device 10 is logged in to the virtual office, the application control unit 24 makes the virtual office executed by the virtual office control unit 42 of the server device 30 available to the information terminal device 10 .

[0039] When a virtual office application is being executed on the information terminal device 10, the application control unit 24 shares information using the display control unit 27 and the audio output control unit 28 based on an information sharing range set around an avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device 10. Furthermore, when a video call with an avatar corresponding to another user is started while the virtual office application is being executed on the information terminal device 10, the application control unit 24 performs the video call using the display control unit 27 and the audio output control unit 28.

[0040] The application control unit 24 displays on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 not only a display screen (window) of the virtual office application but also display screens (windows) relating to applications other than the virtual office application.

[0041] The application control unit 24 arbitrarily changes the display size and display position of these display screens based on user operations. The application control unit 24 detects the size of the display screen of the virtual office application and transmits the detected size of the display screen to the server device 30.

[0042] The application control unit 24 arbitrarily changes the position of the avatar displayed on the display screen of the virtual office based on the user's operation.

[0043] When a video call becomes possible, the application control unit 24 causes the first information terminal device 10 in which the first user is logged in to the virtual office and the second information terminal device 10 in which the second user is logged in to the virtual office to mutually display images of faces, etc. More specifically, the application control unit 24 of the terminal control device 20 of the first information terminal device 10 causes the display unit 17 of the first information terminal device 10 to output an image of the second user captured by the camera 11 of the second information terminal device 10. Similarly, the application control unit 24 of the terminal control device 20 of the second information terminal device 10 causes the display unit 17 of the second information terminal device 10 to output an image of the first user captured by the camera 11 of the first information terminal device 10.

[0044] When the video call is stopped, the application control unit 24 stops the video sharing between the first user and the second user.

[0045] The detection unit 25 detects the user's gaze toward the virtual office on the display screen of the display unit 17. A known method for gaze detection can be used, and is not limited to this. The detection unit 25 associates the direction of the user's gaze with the display range in which the virtual office is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 17 based on the positions of the camera 11 and the display unit 17. The detection unit 25 identifies the display range in which the virtual office is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 17, and detects the tendency of the user's gaze toward the virtual space display screen, such as whether the user is directing their gaze toward the display range of the virtual space. Specifically, the detection unit 25 detects the frequency, which is the number of times the user directs their gaze toward the display range of the virtual space per minute. A state in which the user's gaze is directed toward the virtual space display screen frequently refers to a state in which the user directs their gaze toward the virtual space display screen relatively frequently per unit time, and a state in which the user's gaze is directed toward the virtual space display screen relatively infrequently per unit time. In this embodiment, the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed toward the display screen of the virtual space is determined based on the number of times the user directs their gaze toward the display screen of the virtual space for a short period of time, such as less than 5 seconds, while using something other than the display screen of the virtual space.

[0046] The detection unit 25 transmits the detection result to the server device 30.

[0047] The storage unit 26 stores information such as the calculation contents and programs of the terminal control device 20. The storage unit 26 is configured with, for example, a RAM, a main storage device such as a ROM, and a storage device such as an SSD or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0048] The storage unit 26 stores programs and setting information relating to applications used in the information terminal device 10, such as a virtual office application.

[0049] The following describes the information sharing range and information sharing set for avatars in a virtual office. In the virtual office, an information sharing range is set around each avatar. The information sharing range is the range in which information can be shared with users of other avatars, and is the range in which information can be shared between multiple users who are included in the information sharing range. One example of information sharing in the information sharing range is mutual sharing of audio. In other words, the information sharing range is the range in which audio, such as the voice of a user of each avatar, can be heard by users of other avatars. Furthermore, the information sharing range is the range in which audio, such as the voice of a user of each avatar, can be heard by users of other avatars. Information that can be shared in the information sharing range is not limited to audio, but also includes other information such as video and text. In this embodiment, the information sharing range is described as an example in which audio is shared.

[0050] For example, when a second avatar enters the information sharing range of a first avatar, the second user of the second avatar can hear the voice of the first user of the first avatar. Furthermore, when a second avatar enters the information sharing range of a first avatar and a first avatar enters the information sharing range of the second avatar, two-way voice sharing occurs, allowing each user to sense the other's presence and to converse without any special operations. Therefore, the information sharing range can also be referred to as the voice sharing range. Specifically, when a first avatar and a second avatar are within each other's information sharing range, the voice acquired by the voice acquisition unit 22 of the information terminal device 10 used by the first user of the first avatar can be heard in the information terminal device 10 used by the second user, and the voice acquired by the voice acquisition unit 22 of the information terminal device 10 used by the second user of the second avatar can be heard in the information terminal device 10 used by the first user.

[0051] It is also possible to set up a space that allows information sharing among all avatars within a specific range, such as a conference room set up in a virtual office. Outside of such a set space, the information sharing range is set for each avatar.

[0052] The information sharing range is displayed when operating an avatar. The information sharing range for each avatar is set to an initial size and shape when the virtual office is first used. The size and shape of the information sharing range for each avatar may be changeable by user operation.

[0053] The initial shape of the information sharing range is, for example, a circle with the target avatar at the center, and the initial size of the information sharing range is set to, for example, a size that includes two or three virtual desks for two to four people in a virtual office.

[0054] The display control unit 27 controls the display of various images on the display unit 17. The display control unit 27 controls the display of an image of a virtual office on the display unit 17. In this embodiment, when the information to be shared includes an image or text, the display control unit 27 outputs the image or text to the display unit 17. Furthermore, when a video call becomes possible, the display control unit 27 outputs an image of the user's avatar in the virtual office to the display unit 17.

[0055] The display control unit 27 changes the display mode of the virtual office display screen based on information indicating the change in the form of the information sharing range received from the server device 30, which will be described later.

[0056] The audio output control unit 28 controls the output of audio in the audio output unit 18. When information sharing is taking place, the audio output control unit 28 causes the audio output unit 18 to output the speech and the like of the user of another avatar who is present within the information sharing range in the virtual office. Furthermore, when a video call becomes possible, the audio output control unit 28 causes the audio output unit 18 to output the speech and the like of the user who is the other party in the video call.

[0057] The communication control unit 29 controls the communication unit 19 to transmit and receive data such as video and audio to and from the server device 30, and to transmit and receive operation status information of the application. More specifically, the communication control unit 29 controls, for example, the communication unit 19 to receive video and audio of the virtual office from the server device 30. The communication control unit 29 controls, for example, the communication unit 19 to transmit to the server device 30, video and audio of the user facing the display unit 17 of the information terminal device 10, acquired by the video acquisition unit 21 and the audio acquisition unit 22. The operation status information of the application includes, for example, in the case of a virtual office application, the operation of the avatar by the operation unit 13, the operation of starting and ending a video call, etc. The communication control unit 29 also transmits information indicating the detection result by the detection unit 25 to the server device.

[0058] (Server device) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server device according to the first embodiment. The server device 30 is a server device of a company to which the users of the information terminal devices 10 belong, or a server device of a business entity that provides a virtual office service, and may be a general-purpose server device including a distributed type. The server device 30 constructs and controls a virtual space such as a virtual office. The server device 30 includes a communication unit 31 and a server control device 40.

[0059] The communication unit 31 is a communication unit for performing wired communication or wireless communication. The communication unit 31 performs communication using a communication method such as Wi-Fi or a mobile phone line, and is connected to an intranet or the Internet. The communication of the communication unit 31 is controlled by a communication control unit 41. The communication unit 31 communicates data such as video, audio, and application operation status information with multiple information terminal devices 10.

[0060] (Server control device) The server control device 40 controls each unit of the server device 30. The server control device 40 includes, for example, a control device such as a CPU or MPU, and a storage device such as a RAM or ROM. The server control device 40 may be realized by, for example, an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA. The server control device 40 may be realized by a combination of hardware and software. The server control device 40 executes a program that controls the operation of the server device 30 according to the present disclosure.

[0061] The server control device 40 includes a communication control unit 41, a virtual office control unit 42, and a storage unit 49 as functional blocks realized by circuits and programs that are executed.

[0062] The communication control unit 41 controls the communication unit 31 to transmit and receive data including video and audio to and from the information terminal device 10, and to transmit and receive operation status information of applications, etc. The communication control unit 41, for example, controls the communication unit 31 to receive from the information terminal device 10 video captured by the camera 11 of the information terminal device 10 and audio collected by the microphone 12 of the information terminal device 10. The communication control unit 41, for example, controls the communication unit 31 to transmit video and audio of the virtual office to the information terminal device 10. The operation status information of the application is, for example, configuration information of the virtual office application.

[0063] The virtual office control unit 42 controls the operation of various applications running on the server device 30. For example, the virtual office control unit 42 controls the operation of a virtual office application. For example, the virtual office control unit 42 controls the operation of an application used for online communication.

[0064] The virtual office control unit 42 transmits the configuration of the application running on the server device 30 to the information terminal device 10 that is executing the application via the communication control unit 41. Specifically, the application control unit 43 transmits information indicating the configuration of the virtual office running on the server device 30 to the information terminal device 10 that is logged in to the virtual office.

[0065] The virtual office control unit 42 changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the tendency of the user's line of sight toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10. The virtual office control unit 42 transmits the details of the change in the form of the information sharing range to the information terminal device 10.

[0066] The virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user as the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 decreases. If the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is less than a threshold, the virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user. If the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed toward the virtual office is low, the user is less likely to notice that another avatar is approaching the information sharing range. Therefore, narrowing the information sharing range reduces the possibility of the user's speech being unintentionally overheard.

[0067] The threshold for the frequency with which the user directs their gaze toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of information terminal device 10 is, for example, the number of times the user directs their gaze toward the display screen of the virtual space for a short period of time, such as less than five seconds, such as once per minute to three times per minute. If the frequency with which the user directs their gaze toward the display screen of the virtual space is equal to or greater than the threshold, it is determined that the frequency with which the user directs their gaze toward the display screen of the virtual space is high, and if it is less than the threshold, it is determined that the frequency with which the user directs their gaze toward the display screen of the virtual space is low.

[0068] Narrowing the information sharing range does not necessarily mean reducing the area of ​​the information sharing range to zero. In other words, it means narrowing the range while maintaining the state in which information can be shared.

[0069] Furthermore, when an avatar of another user communicating with the user is present within the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device 10, the virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user when the information sharing ranges of the avatar corresponding to the user and the avatar of the other user overlap.

[0070] The virtual office control unit 42 changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user so as to avoid the range through which other avatars pass, based on the tendency of the user's gaze to be directed toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10.

[0071] The range through which the other avatars pass is, for example, a corridor in the virtual office through which the other avatars are moving, or a corridor in the virtual office through which the other avatars are expected to move.

[0072] The change in the form of the information sharing range is not limited to reduction, but also includes modifications such as avoiding or reducing the range through which other avatars pass, for example, the range where the virtual desks are spaced apart.

[0073] The storage unit 49 stores information such as the contents of calculations and programs of the server control device 40. The storage unit 49 is configured with, for example, a RAM, a main storage device such as a ROM, and a storage device such as an SSD or HDD.

[0074] The storage unit 49 stores information indicating a virtual office configured in a virtual space. For each user who logs in to the virtual office, the storage unit 49 stores information indicating an avatar, an information terminal device 10 associated with the avatar, and an account user of the information terminal device 10. The storage unit 49 stores information indicating the layout of objects that configure the virtual office, such as the sections that configure the virtual office and virtual desks.

[0075] The virtual office display screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal device will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 8. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the information terminal device. In Figure 4, the display unit 17 of the information terminal device 10 displays, for example, a display screen W1 that displays a virtual office using a virtual office application, and a display screen W2 related to another application.

[0076] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual office display screen displayed on the display screen of an information terminal device. For ease of explanation, FIG. 5 shows only the information sharing range C1 of the first avatar A1, and omits the information sharing ranges of the other avatars. The information sharing range defines the range within which information can be shared and may or may not be displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device. This also applies to the following figures. A virtual desk D is also arranged in the virtual office. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the display screen W1 displaying the virtual office surface shows the information sharing range C1 of the first avatar A1 set to its initial size. In FIG. 5, a second avatar A2 corresponding to a second user is moving within the virtual office, and there is a possibility that the second avatar A2 may enter the information sharing range of the first avatar A1 corresponding to the first user during the movement.

[0077] As shown in Figure 5, a state in which the information sharing range of the avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device is set to the initial size means a state in which the user's gaze is frequently directed toward the display screen of the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device, or a state in which the user's gaze is directed toward the display screen of the virtual space for a long period of time, such as 5 seconds or more, even if the user's gaze is directed toward the display screen of the virtual space infrequently.

[0078] 6 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen of a virtual office displayed on the display screen of an information terminal device. On the display screen W1 displaying the virtual office, the information sharing range of the first avatar A1 is reduced in the radial direction.

[0079] As shown in Figure 6, when the information sharing range of the first avatar A1, which is the avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device, is reduced from its initial size, the user's gaze is less frequently directed toward the display screen of the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device.

[0080] 7 is a diagram showing another example of a virtual office display screen displayed on the display screen of an information terminal device. When there are avatars of other users communicating with the user, the information sharing ranges of the avatars corresponding to the user and the avatars of the other users remain overlapped, while the information sharing ranges of the avatars are reduced. Specifically, on the display screen W1 displaying the virtual office, the information sharing range of the first avatar A1 is reduced to an oval shape that includes the first avatar A1 and the third avatar A3. In other words, the information sharing range of the first avatar A1 is reduced, while the information sharing ranges of the first avatar A1 and the third avatar A3 are included in each other's information sharing ranges.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a virtual office display screen displayed on the display screen of an information terminal device. The information sharing range C1 of the first avatar A1 has been reduced to avoid the area through which other avatars pass. In FIG. 8, the virtual desks D are spaced farther apart below the first avatar A1 and above the second avatar A2, so the area is the area through which other avatars pass, in other words, the passageway within the virtual office. The information sharing range C1 of the first avatar A1 shown in FIG. 8 has been changed to a shape that avoids the area through which other avatars pass, and also to a shape that includes the third avatar A3 and the fourth avatar A4, which were included in the information sharing range in the initial state shown in FIG. 5, in other words, a shape that maintains information sharing.

[0082] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the relationship between the frequency of a user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen and the size of the information sharing range. FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show an example in which the size of the information sharing range changes depending on the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen. Specifically, the size of the information sharing range is reduced as the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen decreases. In FIG. 9(a), when the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen is equal to or greater than a threshold value th1, the size of the information sharing range is set to the initial value. When the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen is less than the threshold value th1, the size of the information sharing range is reduced. In FIG. 9(b), when the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen is equal to or greater than the threshold value th1, the size of the information sharing range is set to the initial value. When the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen is less than the threshold value th1, the size of the information sharing range is reduced linearly. As shown in FIG. 9, when the frequency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office display screen becomes less than the threshold value th1, the information sharing range is reduced as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

[0083] When a second avatar enters the information sharing range of a first avatar, the virtual office control unit 42 enables the second user to share the voice of the first user. Furthermore, when the second avatar is within the information sharing range of the first avatar and the first avatar is within the information sharing range of the second avatar, the second user can share the voice of the first user, and the first user can share the voice of the second user. In other words, the first and second users can share voice, enabling them to have a conversation via voice. More specifically, when voice sharing is enabled, the virtual office control unit 42 enables the information terminal device 10 used by the first user corresponding to the first avatar and the second information terminal device 10 where the second user corresponding to the second avatar is logged in to the virtual office to hear each other's voices. More specifically, the virtual office control unit 42 causes the voice of the second user picked up by the microphone 12 of the second information terminal device 10 to be output from the voice output unit 18 of the first information terminal device 10, and causes the voice of the first user picked up by the microphone 12 of the first information terminal device 10 to be output from the voice output unit 18 of the second information terminal device 10.

[0084] When the first avatar and the second avatar are no longer included in the information sharing range due to, for example, the movement of the avatar, the virtual office control unit 42 stops the voice sharing between the first user and the second user.

[0085] (Virtual space control method) A virtual space control method will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the first embodiment. The processing shown in Fig. 10 is executed while a virtual office is provided by the virtual space control system 1. The processing shown in Fig. 10 is executed by the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the server control device 40 of the server device 30 of the virtual space control system 1.

[0086] The terminal control device 20 starts displaying the virtual office when the application control unit 24 starts operation of the virtual office application (step S101). More specifically, when the application control unit 24 starts the virtual office application by user operation or automatic startup, the display control unit 27 causes the display unit 17 of the information terminal device 10 to display an image showing the virtual office screen. After executing step S101, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0087] The terminal control device 20 starts detecting the line of sight with respect to the display screen of the display unit 17 using the detection unit 25 (step S102). More specifically, the terminal control device 20 uses the detection unit 25 to identify the display range on the display screen of the display unit 17 in which the virtual office is displayed, and starts detecting the user's line of sight with respect to the display range of the virtual office. The terminal control device 20 transmits the detection result of the detection unit 25 to the server device 30. After executing step S102, the process proceeds to step S103.

[0088] The server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, whether the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed at the virtual office display screen of the information terminal device 10 is low (step S103). More specifically, if the virtual office control unit 42 determines that the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed at the virtual office display screen is less than threshold th1, the server control device 40 determines that the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed at the virtual office display screen is low. If the server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, that the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed at the virtual office display screen is low (Yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104. If the server control device 40 does not determine, via the virtual office control unit 42, that the frequency with which the user's gaze is directed at the virtual office display screen is low (No in step S103), the process proceeds to step S105.

[0089] If it is determined that the frequency of directing gaze toward the display screen of the virtual office is low (Yes in step S103), the information sharing range of the avatar corresponding to the user of information terminal device 10 is reduced (step S104). More specifically, server control device 40 reduces the size of the information sharing range of the avatar corresponding to the user of information terminal device 10 by means of virtual office control unit 42. After executing step S104, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0090] If it is not determined that the frequency of directing gaze toward the virtual office display screen is low (No in step S103), the server control device 40 determines whether the size of the information sharing range is at the initial value using the virtual office control unit 42 (step S105). If the server control device 40 determines that the size of the information sharing range is at the initial value using the virtual office control unit 42 (Yes in step S105), the process proceeds to step S107. If the server control device 40 does not determine that the size of the information sharing range is at the initial value using the virtual office control unit 42 (No in step S105), the process proceeds to step S106.

[0091] If it is not determined that the size of the information sharing range is the initial value (No in step S105), the information sharing range of the avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device 10 is returned to the initial value (step S106). More specifically, the server control device 40 causes the virtual office control unit 42 to return the size of the information sharing range of the avatar corresponding to the user of the information terminal device 10 from the reduced state to the initial value. After executing step S106, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0092] The terminal control device 20 determines whether to terminate use of the virtual office (step S107). The terminal control device 20 determines to terminate use of the virtual office, for example, when it detects an operation to terminate use of the virtual office, when the information processing terminal 10 is disconnected from a network that allows use of the virtual office, or when an operation to turn off the power of the information processing terminal 10 is performed. When the terminal control device 20 determines to terminate use of the virtual office (Yes in step S107), it terminates the processing of this flowchart. When the terminal control device 20 does not determine to terminate use of the virtual office (No in step S107), it executes the processing of step S103 again.

[0093] (effect) As described above, the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed based on the tendency of the user's gaze toward the virtual office. In this way, according to this embodiment, the information sharing conditions with users of other avatars around the user's avatar can be appropriately set.

[0094] In this embodiment, the less frequently a user turns their gaze toward the virtual office, the narrower the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed. According to this embodiment, if the user's gaze is turned toward the virtual office infrequently and there is a possibility that a user using the virtual office will continue speaking without noticing that another user's avatar is approaching, the risk of the user of the other avatar unintentionally overhearing what is being said can be reduced.

[0095] In this embodiment, if the information sharing range includes an avatar of another user communicating with the user, the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be narrowed when the information sharing ranges of the avatar corresponding to the user and the avatar of the other user communicating with the user overlap. According to this embodiment, the information sharing range can be changed while maintaining the current communication.

[0096] In this embodiment, the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed based on the elapsed time since an operation was performed on the virtual office, so as to avoid areas through which other avatars pass. According to this embodiment, the information sharing conditions with users of other avatars around the user's avatar can be appropriately set.

[0097] [Second embodiment] A virtual space control system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the time spent continuously directing gaze at the virtual office display screen and the size of the information sharing range. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the second embodiment. In the following description, components similar to those in the virtual space control system 1 of the first embodiment are given the same or corresponding reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The virtual space control system 1 differs from the first embodiment in the processing performed by the detection unit 25 of the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the virtual office control unit 42 of the server control device 40 of the server device 30.

[0098] The detection unit 25 identifies the display area on the display screen of the display unit 17 in which the virtual office is displayed and detects the time the user continuously directs their gaze toward the display area of ​​the virtual office as a tendency for the user's gaze to be directed toward the virtual space display screen. A state in which the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual space display screen for a long period of time refers to a state in which the user continuously looks at the virtual space display screen for a relatively long period of time, while a state in which the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual space display screen for a short period of time refers to a state in which the user only looks at the virtual space display screen for a relatively short period of time. In this embodiment, a state in which the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual space display screen for a short period of time refers to, for example, less than 5 to 10 seconds. The time the user continuously directs their gaze toward the virtual space display screen refers to the time from when the user's gaze directs their gaze toward the virtual space display screen until the user's gaze moves outside the virtual space display screen. In other words, it is the time the user continuously looks at the virtual space display mask.

[0099] The virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user as the time that the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 becomes shorter. If the time that the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is less than a threshold, the virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user. If the time that the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual office is short, the user will not easily notice that another avatar is approaching the information sharing range. Therefore, narrowing the information sharing range reduces the possibility of their speech being unintentionally overheard.

[0100] The threshold value for determining that the time during which the user continuously directs his / her gaze at the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is short is, for example, 5 to 10 seconds.

[0101] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the relationship between the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen and the size of the information sharing range. FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) show an example in which the size of the information sharing range changes depending on the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen. Specifically, the shorter the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen, the smaller the size of the information sharing range. In FIG. 11(a), when the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen is equal to or greater than a threshold value th2, the size of the information sharing range is set to the initial value. When the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen is less than the threshold value th2, the size of the information sharing range is reduced. In FIG. 11(b), when the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen is equal to or greater than a threshold value th2, the size of the information sharing range is set to the initial value. When the time spent continuously gazing at the virtual office display screen is less than the threshold value th2, the size of the information sharing range is reduced linearly. As shown in FIG. 11, if the time period during which the gaze is continuously directed at the display screen of the virtual office is less than threshold th2, the information sharing range is reduced as shown in FIGS.

[0102] (Virtual space control method) The virtual space control method will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The processes of steps S201, S202, S204 to S207 in Fig. 12 are the same as those of steps S101, S102, S104 to S107 in Fig. 10.

[0103] The server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, whether the time spent continuously directing the gaze at the virtual office display screen of the information terminal device 10 is short (step S203). More specifically, if the virtual office control unit 42 determines that the time spent continuously directing the gaze at the virtual office display screen is less than threshold th2, the server control device 40 determines that the continuous time spent directing the gaze at the virtual office display screen is short. If the virtual office control unit 42 determines that the time spent continuously directing the gaze at the virtual office display screen is short (Yes in step S203), the server control device 40 proceeds to step S204. If the virtual office control unit 42 does not determine that the time spent continuously directing the gaze at the virtual office display screen is short (No in step S203), the server control device 40 proceeds to step S205.

[0104] (effect) As described above, in this embodiment, the shorter the time that the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual office, the narrower the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed. According to this embodiment, if the time that the user's gaze is continuously directed toward the virtual office is short and there is a possibility that a user using the virtual office will continue speaking without noticing that another user's avatar is approaching, the risk of the user of the other avatar unintentionally overhearing the content of the speech can be reduced.

[0105] [Third embodiment] A virtual space control system 1 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the time spent continuously directing gaze at a display object other than the display screen of the virtual office and the size of the information sharing range. Figure 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the third embodiment. The virtual space control system 1 differs from the first and second embodiments in the processing performed by the detection unit 25 of the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the virtual office control unit 42 of the server control device 40 of the server device 30.

[0106] The detection unit 25 identifies the display area on the display screen of the display unit 17 in which the virtual office is displayed, and detects the time during which the user continuously directs their gaze at a display object outside the display area of ​​the virtual office as a tendency for the user's gaze to be directed toward the virtual space display screen. Display objects other than the virtual space display screen on the display screen of the display unit 17 are, for example, display screens of applications other than the virtual space, such as the display screen W2 in FIG. 4. A state in which the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual space display screen for a long period of time refers to a state in which the user continues to continuously look at a display object other than the virtual space display screen for a relatively long period of time, while a state in which the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual space display screen for a short period of time refers to a state in which the user only looks at a display object other than the virtual space display screen for a relatively short period of time. In this embodiment, a state in which the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual space display screen for a long period of time refers to, for example, a period of 5 to 10 seconds or more. The time during which the user's gaze is continuously directed at a display object other than the display screen in the virtual space is the time from when the user's gaze is directed at a display object other than the display screen in the virtual space until the user's gaze moves away from the display object other than the display screen in the virtual space. In other words, it is the time during which the user continuously looks at a display object other than the display screen in the virtual space.

[0107] The virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user as the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 for a longer period of time. If the time the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is equal to or greater than a threshold, the virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user. If the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual office for a long period of time, the user is less likely to notice that another avatar is approaching the information sharing range. Therefore, narrowing the information sharing range reduces the possibility of the user's speech being unintentionally overheard.

[0108] The threshold for determining that the time the user has continuously directed his / her gaze at a display object other than the virtual office displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is long is, for example, 5 to 10 seconds.

[0109] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the relationship between the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office screen and the size of the information sharing range. FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) show an example in which the size of the information sharing range changes depending on the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office. Specifically, the longer the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office screen, the smaller the size of the information sharing range. In FIG. 13(a), when the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office is less than a threshold th3, the size of the information sharing range is set to its initial value. When the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office is equal to or greater than the threshold th3, the size of the information sharing range is reduced. In FIG. 13(b), when the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office is less than a threshold th3, the size of the information sharing range is set to its initial value. When the time spent continuously gazing at a display object other than the virtual office is equal to or greater than the threshold th3, the size of the information sharing range is reduced linearly. As shown in FIG. 13, when the time that the gaze is continuously directed at a display object other than the virtual office exceeds a threshold th3, the information sharing range is reduced as shown in FIGS.

[0110] (Virtual space control method) The virtual space control method will be described with reference to Fig. 14. The processes of steps S301, S302, S304 to S307 in Fig. 14 are the same as those of steps S101, S102, S104 to S107 in Fig. 10.

[0111] The server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, whether the time spent continuously directing the gaze at a display object other than the virtual office created by the information terminal device 10 is long (step S303). More specifically, if the time spent continuously directing the gaze at a display object other than the virtual office is equal to or greater than threshold value th3, the server control device 40 determines that the time spent continuously directing the gaze at a display object other than the virtual office is long. If the server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, that the time spent continuously directing the gaze at a display object other than the virtual office is long (Yes in step S303), the process proceeds to step S304. If the server control device 40 does not determine, via the virtual office control unit 42, that the time spent continuously directing the gaze at a display object other than the virtual office is long (No in step S303), the process proceeds to step S305.

[0112] (effect) As described above, in this embodiment, the longer the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual space, the narrower the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed. According to this embodiment, if the user's gaze is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual space for a long period of time and a user using a virtual office may continue speaking without noticing that another user's avatar is approaching, the risk of the user of the other avatar unintentionally overhearing the content of the speech can be reduced.

[0113] [Fourth embodiment] A virtual space control system 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the fourth embodiment. The virtual space control system 1 differs from the first and second embodiments in the processing performed by the detection unit 25 of the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the virtual office control unit 42 of the server control device 40 of the server device 30.

[0114] While the virtual office application is running, the detection unit 25 detects the facial orientation or gaze direction of the user of the information terminal device 10. More specifically, while the virtual office application is running, the detection unit 25 performs person detection on the image captured by the camera 11 of the information terminal device 10, particularly the camera that captures the user, detects the facial orientation or gaze direction of the user who is in front of the display unit 17 of the information terminal device 10, and detects whether the facial orientation or gaze direction of the user is facing the display screen of the information terminal device 10.

[0115] The method of person detection can be any known method and is not limited to any particular method. For person detection, the user's facial parameters may be registered in advance in a facial parameter storage unit (not shown). Furthermore, the method of gaze detection can be any known method and is not limited to any particular method. Based on the positions of the camera 11 and the display unit 17, the detection unit 25 associates the direction in which the user's face or gaze is facing with the range of the display screen of the display unit 17.

[0116] The virtual office control unit 42 changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the direction of the user's face or line of sight relative to the display screen of the information terminal device 10.

[0117] When the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10, the virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user. If the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10, the user is unlikely to notice that another avatar is approaching the information sharing range. Therefore, narrowing the information sharing range reduces the possibility that the user's speech will be unintentionally overheard.

[0118] The virtual office control unit 42 narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user as the period during which the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10 increases. If the period during which the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is long, the user is less likely to notice that another avatar is approaching the information sharing range. Therefore, narrowing the information sharing range reduces the possibility that the user's speech will be unintentionally overheard.

[0119] The virtual office control unit 42 further changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the direction of the user's face or line of sight relative to the display screen so as to avoid the area through which other avatars pass.

[0120] (Virtual space control method) The virtual space control method will be described with reference to Fig. 15. The processes of step S121, and steps S124 to S127 in Fig. 15 are the same as those of step S101, and steps S104 to S107 in Fig. 10.

[0121] The terminal control device 20 starts detecting the face or gaze of the user using the detection unit 25 (step S122). More specifically, the terminal control device 20 starts detecting the facial direction or gaze direction of the user of the information terminal device 10 using the detection unit 25. The terminal control device 20 transmits the detection result of the detection unit 25 to the server device 30. After executing step S122, the process proceeds to step S123.

[0122] The server control device 40 determines, using the virtual office control unit 42, whether the direction of the user's face or the direction of their line of sight are directed toward the display screen of the display unit 17 (step S123). If the server control device 40 determines, using the virtual office control unit 42, that the direction of the user's face or the direction of their line of sight are directed toward the display screen of the display unit 17 (Yes in step S123), the process proceeds to step S125. If the server control device 40 does not determine, using the virtual office control unit 42, that the direction of the user's face or the direction of their line of sight are directed toward the display screen of the display unit 17 (No in step S123), the process proceeds to step S124.

[0123] (effect) As described above, in this embodiment, the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed based on the direction of the user's face or line of sight with respect to the display screen of the information terminal device 10. In this way, according to this embodiment, the information sharing conditions with users of other avatars around the user's avatar can be appropriately set.

[0124] In this embodiment, the size of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be narrowed when the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10. According to this embodiment, when the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10 and a user using the virtual office may continue speaking without noticing that another user's avatar is approaching, the risk of the user of the other avatar unintentionally hearing what is being said can be reduced.

[0125] In this embodiment, the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be narrowed as the period during which the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10 increases. According to this embodiment, if the period during which the user's face or line of sight is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10 is long and a user using the virtual office may continue speaking without noticing that another user's avatar is approaching, the risk of the user of the other avatar unintentionally hearing what is being said can be reduced.

[0126] [Fifth embodiment] A virtual space control system 1 according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the fifth embodiment. The virtual space control system 1 differs from the fourth embodiment in the processing performed by the detection unit 25 of the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the virtual office control unit 42 of the server control device 40 of the server device 30.

[0127] The detection unit 25 detects speech using a user's avatar in the information terminal device 10. For example, when the detection unit 25 detects a voice input via the microphone 12 in a virtual office application executed by the application control unit 24 of the information terminal device 10, the detection unit 25 detects the voice input as speech using an avatar. The detection unit 25 may detect speech using a user's avatar by performing voice recognition on the input voice using a phoneme model or the like.

[0128] When the virtual office control unit 42 detects that the user's face or gaze is not facing the display screen of the information terminal device 10 and that the user is speaking using an avatar corresponding to the user, in other words, when it detects speech using an avatar while not facing the display screen, it narrows the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user.

[0129] (Virtual space control method) The virtual space control method will be described with reference to Fig. 16. The processes in steps S221 to S223 and steps S225 to S228 in Fig. 16 are similar to those in steps S121 to S123 and steps S124 to S127 in Fig. 15.

[0130] The server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, whether or not there is any speech using an avatar in the virtual office of the information terminal device 10 (step S224). If the server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, that the user is speaking using an avatar corresponding to the user (Yes in step S224), the process proceeds to step S225. If the server control device 40 does not determine, via the virtual office control unit 42, that the user is speaking using an avatar corresponding to the user (No in step S224), the process proceeds to step S226.

[0131] (effect) As described above, in this embodiment, when the user's face or gaze is not directed toward the display screen of the information terminal device 10 and the user is speaking using an avatar corresponding to the user, the size of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be narrowed.

[0132] [Sixth embodiment] A virtual space control system 1 according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a virtual space control method according to the sixth embodiment. The virtual space control system 1 differs from the fourth and second embodiments in the processing performed by the detection unit 25 of the terminal control device 20 of the information terminal device 10 and the virtual office control unit 42 of the server control device 40 of the server device 30.

[0133] The detection unit 25 detects that information about a virtual office is being displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10. The display related to the virtual office is, for example, a display screen of the virtual office such as the display screen W1 in Fig. 4, and information indicating the presence of other avatars around the user's avatar.

[0134] When information about the virtual office is displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10, the virtual office control unit 42 changes the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user based on the direction of the user's face or gaze relative to the display screen of the information terminal device 10.

[0135] (Virtual space control method) The virtual space control method will be described with reference to Fig. 17. The processes in steps S321 to S323 and steps S325 to S328 in Fig. 17 are similar to those in steps S121 to S123 and steps S124 to S127 in Fig. 15.

[0136] The server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, whether or not information about the virtual office is being displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 (step S324). If the server control device 40 determines, via the virtual office control unit 42, that information about the virtual office is being displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 (Yes in step S324), the process proceeds to step S325. If the server control device 40 does not determine, via the virtual office control unit 42, that information about the virtual office is being displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10 (No in step S324), the process proceeds to step S326.

[0137] (effect) As described above, in this embodiment, when information about a virtual office is displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device 10, the form of the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user can be changed based on the direction of the user's face or gaze relative to the display screen of the information terminal device 10.

[0138] The components of the virtual space control system shown in the figure are conceptual and functional, and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the specific form of each device is not limited to that shown, and all or part of them may be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit depending on the processing load and usage status of each device.

[0139] The configuration of the virtual space control system is realized, for example, as software, by a program loaded into memory. In the above embodiment, the functional blocks are described as being realized by the cooperation of these hardware and software. In other words, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms, using only hardware, only software, or a combination of both.

[0140] The components described above include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art and those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described above can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the configurations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0141] 1 Virtual space control system 10 Information terminal device 11 Camera 12 microphones 13 Control section 17 Display section 18 Audio output section 19 Communications Department 20 Terminal control device (control unit) 21 Video acquisition unit 22 Voice acquisition unit 23 Operation reception section 24 Application control section 25 Detector 26 Memory section 27 Display control unit 28 Audio output control unit 29 Communication control section 30 Server device 31 Communications Department 40 Server control device (control unit) 41 Communication control unit 42 Virtual Office Control Unit 49 Memory section

Claims

1. A virtual space control system that causes an information terminal device to display a virtual space and displays an avatar corresponding to a user of the information terminal device in the virtual space, The control unit of the virtual space control system includes: detecting a line of sight of a user of the information terminal device with respect to a display screen of the information terminal device; changing a form of an information sharing range around an avatar corresponding to the user based on a tendency of the user's line of sight toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device; Virtual space control system.

2. The control unit The less frequently the user's gaze is directed toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device, the narrower the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user is changed. The virtual space control system according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit The shorter the time period during which the user's line of sight is continuously directed toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device, the narrower the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user is changed. The virtual space control system according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit The longer the time period during which the user's line of sight is continuously directed toward a display object other than the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device, the narrower the information sharing range around the avatar corresponding to the user is changed. The virtual space control system according to claim 1 .

5. 1. A virtual space control method executed by a virtual space control system that causes an information terminal device to display a virtual space and displays an avatar corresponding to a user of the information terminal device in the virtual space, comprising: detecting a line of sight of a user of the information terminal device with respect to a display screen of the information terminal device; changing an information sharing range around an avatar corresponding to the user based on a tendency of the user's line of sight toward the virtual space displayed on the display screen of the information terminal device; The virtual space control system executes the virtual space control method.

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