Virtual space control system, virtual space control method and program

Abstract

To provide a virtual space control system, a virtual space control method, and a program allowing a user to identify an area corresponding to different usage.SOLUTION: A virtual space control system S1 according to an embodiment includes a non-coincidence determination unit 135 which determines whether setting of a physical law of a prescribed area in a virtual space where a plurality of partitioned areas are present and setting of a physical law of an adjacent area being adjacent to the prescribed area are different or not, and a wall and gate generation unit 137 which generates a wall through which an avatar cannot pass between the prescribed area and the adjacent area when the non-coincidence determination unit 135 determines that the settings of the prescribed area and the adjacent area do not coincide.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1E

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, services that allow people to engage in various activities related to work and private life in virtual space have become available. Specific examples include TV conference systems using the Internet, information sharing and online games using networks, and virtual network shopping that allows people to shop without going to the store. These services are changing people's lifestyles.

[0003] As an example of a technology for creating a free virtual space, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that separates the virtual world of a game into public and private areas, alternating between areas where players can meet opponents or allies and areas where players can go on adventures, etc.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which, when a user makes a hand movement in a virtual space experience device, a physical quantity corresponding to that movement is assigned to a group of particles present in the virtual space, and physical laws are applied to the group of particles, thereby allowing the user to experience the movement of a fluid. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2007 / 032364 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-083933 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In a virtual space, by changing the settings of the physical laws, various phenomena that cannot occur in the real world can occur. This allows the user to have an experience of being in a so-called magical world. However, in the same virtual space as the place where such an experience can be performed, a separate place that is not intended for such an experience may be provided. In such a place, it is preferable that the physical laws are not changed as described above. In this case, if the user cannot distinguish between the two types of places, the user may experience inconvenience when using the virtual space by performing actions that are not suitable for the area in which the user is located.

[0007] The techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 relate to virtual spaces, but do not take into consideration changes to physical laws within the same virtual space.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a virtual space control system, a virtual space control method, and a program that enable a user to distinguish areas corresponding to different uses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A virtual space control system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a mismatch determination unit that, in a virtual space containing a plurality of partitioned areas, determines whether the settings of physical laws in a specified area differ from the settings of physical laws in an adjacent area that is an area adjacent to the specified area, and a wall generation unit that generates a wall between the specified area and the adjacent area that an avatar cannot pass through if the mismatch determination unit determines that the settings for the specified area and the adjacent area differ.

[0010] A virtual space control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method in which a virtual space control system executes, in a virtual space containing a plurality of partitioned areas, a mismatch determination step for determining whether the settings of the physical laws of a specified area differ from the settings of the physical laws of an adjacent area that is an area adjacent to the specified area, and a wall generation step for generating a wall between the specified area and the adjacent area that an avatar cannot pass through if it is determined that the settings of the specified area and the adjacent area differ.

[0011] A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute, in a virtual space containing a plurality of separated areas, a mismatch determination step of determining whether the settings of the physical laws of a specified area differ from the settings of the physical laws of an adjacent area that is an area adjacent to the specified area, and a wall generation step of generating a wall between the specified area and the adjacent area that an avatar cannot pass through if it is determined that the settings of the specified area and the adjacent area differ. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The present invention makes it possible to provide a virtual space control system, a virtual space control method, and a program that enable a user to distinguish areas corresponding to different uses. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1A] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a virtual space control system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 1B] 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a virtual space setting DB according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 1C] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plurality of areas in a virtual space according to a first embodiment; [Figure 1D] 1 is a table showing an example of setting physical laws for each area according to the first embodiment; [Figure 1E] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a virtual space according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2B] 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of generating a wall and a gate according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2C] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the transmittance of a wall according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2D] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the transmittance of a wall according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2E] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the transmittance of a wall according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the virtual space setting server according to the first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a control unit according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] First embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration example of a virtual space control system (hereinafter also referred to as a control system). The control system S1 is a system for managing and controlling a three-dimensional virtual space, and includes a virtual space setting server 10 and user terminals 20A to 20C (hereinafter collectively referred to as user terminals 20). The virtual space setting server 10 transmits data of the virtual space to the user terminal 20 via the Internet. The user terminals 20A to 20C are any terminals such as HMDs (Head Mounted Displays) and PCs (personal computers), and allow users to experience the virtual space with their five senses such as sight and hearing, and to operate avatars (characters that represent the users) in the virtual space. The user terminals 20 transmit and receive information to and from the virtual space setting server 10 via the Internet.

[0016] The virtual space setting server 10 includes a network connection unit 11, a virtual space setting DB (Database) 12, and a control unit 13. The virtual space setting DB 12 is configured with a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an optical disk drive, or an MO (Magnet Optical Disk). The virtual space setting server 10 may be a centralized system configured with a single computer, or may be a distributed system configured with a plurality of computers. Each component of the virtual space setting server 10 will be described below.

[0017] The network connection unit 11 is an interface that connects the virtual space setting server 10 to a network (here, the Internet). The control unit 13 provides data related to the virtual space to the user terminal 20 via the network connection unit 11. The network connection unit 11 also accepts operations of avatars in the virtual space of each user from the user terminal 20, and outputs the operations to the control unit 13. In the virtual space, it is possible for the avatars to take some kind of action, or for multiple avatars to gather and communicate with each other. Furthermore, the network connection unit 11 may accept processing related to setting changes of the virtual space from the administrator of the virtual space, and output the processing to the control unit 13. The network connection unit 11 may also connect the virtual space setting server 10 to other servers for managing the virtual space.

[0018] The control unit 13 may provide not only video data but also data related to other senses such as sound, touch, and smell as data related to the virtual space to the user terminal 20. By providing such data to the user via the interface of the user terminal 20, the user can experience the virtual space with a more realistic feeling.

[0019] 1B is a block diagram showing an example of the virtual space setting DB 12. The virtual space setting DB 12 includes an environment setting DB 121, an avatar setting DB 122, and a physical law setting DB 123. Each DB will be described below.

[0020] The environment setting DB 121 is a DB in which settings are made regarding the environment of the virtual space. For example, the environment setting DB 121 stores image setting data defined by three-dimensional coordinates in the virtual space for buildings and objects existing in the virtual space, an area in which an avatar can move, and the like. In addition, the environment setting DB 121 may further store setting data related to senses other than vision, such as sound.

[0021] The avatar setting DB 122 stores setting data related to avatars that can be operated by users who can use the virtual space. The setting data also includes information about the users of the avatars. The avatars set in the avatar setting DB 122 can move within the virtual space set in the environment setting DB 121 by operating the user terminal 20. The position of the avatar in the virtual space is defined by three-dimensional coordinates, and is appropriately updated by user operation. The updated position of the avatar is stored in the avatar setting DB 122.

[0022] The physical law setting DB 123 is a DB in which physical laws in a virtual space are set. The physical laws define physical phenomena in the virtual space, and may be laws related to physical phenomena existing in the real world, or may be laws related to virtual physical phenomena not existing in the real world. The laws related to physical phenomena existing in the real world may be laws related to classical physics such as mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, waves such as sound waves, and thermodynamics. In addition, the virtual space defined here has a plurality of areas separated by boundaries, and physical laws can be set for each area individually.

[0023] FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plurality of areas in a virtual space. In FIG. 1C, a virtual space C is divided into a total of nine areas, including a central area 1 and areas 2 to 9 adjacent to the area 1. In FIG. 1C, in order to simplify the illustration, the height of the virtual space is ignored and the virtual space C is represented as a two-dimensional plane. However, in reality, each area is defined in three-dimensional coordinates in the physical law setting DB 123 as a closed region in the virtual space. Therefore, for example, another area may exist above or below a certain area. In addition, an area being "adjacent" to another area means that there is a path that allows movement from one area to another without passing through the other area.

[0024] FIG. 1D shows an example of setting physical laws for each area in FIG. 1C. In FIG. 1D, as an example, physical laws A to C are set for areas 1 to 3, respectively. For each physical law, A1, B1, and C1 are set for area 1, A2, B2, and C2 are set for area 2, and A1, B2, and C1 are set for area 3. Different settings are made for all of physical laws A to C in areas 1 and 2. On the other hand, the same settings are made for physical laws A and C in areas 1 and 3, and a different setting is made for physical law B.

[0025] In the present invention, "different physical laws" is defined as follows. (i) The constants in the mathematical formulas that represent the laws of physics are different. (ii) The mathematical formulas that represent the physical laws themselves are different. (iii) The existence or non-existence of physical laws themselves is different. Specific examples of these will be described below.

[0026] As an example of (i), the virtual space setting server 10 may change the following constants for each area. ·Gravitational acceleration g The coefficient of friction μ between an object and the avatar (including at least one of the coefficient of static friction and the coefficient of kinetic friction) ·Sound speed These constants may be fundamental physical constants or may be coefficients in commonly used physical formulas.

[0027] For example, in the setting of Fig. 1D, physical law A may be a dynamic equation of motion, and in setting A1, gravitational acceleration g may be set to half the value in the real world, while in setting A2, gravitational acceleration g may be set to the value in the real world. In this case, in area 2, the avatar can jump the same height as in the real world, while in area 1, the avatar can jump higher than in the real world. Furthermore, if gravitational acceleration g is set to 0 or an extremely small value in setting A1, the avatar can also fly in area 1.

[0028] As another example, in setting A1, the coefficient of dynamic friction μ between the avatar and concrete may be set to half the value in the real world, and in setting A2, the coefficient of dynamic friction μ may be set to the value in the real world. In this case, the degree of slipperiness of the avatar when walking in area 2 is the same as in the real world, while in area 1, the avatar can walk with a slipperier nature than in the real world.

[0029] As yet another example, in setting A1, the speed of sound may be set to one tenth of the real-world value, and in setting A2, the speed of sound may be set to the real-world value, in which case the user operating the avatar will hear sounds in area 2 in the same way as in the real world, while in area 1 the user will hear sounds much later than in the real world.

[0030] The user may be able to experience the haptics that the avatar feels when it moves in the virtual space through the interface of the user terminal 20. In such a case, the control unit 13 uses the data stored in the virtual space setting DB 12 to generate data related to the virtual space to be output to the terminal as follows. For example, when the gravitational acceleration g is small, data related to the haptics is generated so that the impact felt by the user when landing in the virtual space is small. Also, when the value of the dynamic friction coefficient μ becomes smaller than the value in the real world, data related to the haptics is generated so that the user can experience a smoother feeling when moving his or her avatar.

[0031] Next, as an example of (ii), the virtual space setting server 10 may change the following mathematical expressions indicating the physical laws for each area. ·Equation of motion Buoyancy calculation formula Laws of refraction (e.g. Snell's law, Fresnel's law)

[0032] For example, in the settings of Fig. 1D, the equation of motion may be set as F = 2ma in setting A1, and as in the real world, F = ma in setting A2. In this case, the avatar can move in the same way as in the real world in area 2, while the avatar can walk and run faster and throw objects farther in area 1 than in the real world.

[0033] As another example, in setting A1, the formula for calculating buoyancy may be set as F=10ρVg, and in setting A2, the equation of motion may be set as F=ρVg, the same as in the real world, where ρ is the density of the target fluid and V is the volume of the object receiving the buoyancy. In this case, in area 2, the avatar can move in water in the same way as in the real world, while in area 1, the avatar can maintain a floating state in the water without making any movement.

[0034] As another example, in the setting A1, Snell's law or Fresnel's law may be changed from the law of the real world, while in the setting A2, the same law of refraction as in the real world may be set. In this case, in the area 2, the appearance of water from the user of the avatar is the same as in the real world, while in the area 1, the user may see objects in the water more refracted than in the real world, or the reflected light from the water surface may appear to be more brilliant than in the real world. In addition to water, a change may be made to a certain object in the virtual space such that the degree of reflection is changed between the settings A1 and A2. Furthermore, the virtual space setting server 10 may change the degree of scattering or attenuation of light in the space between the settings A1 and A2, thereby changing the way the user operating the avatar sees the scenery.

[0035] As an example of (iii), the virtual space setting server 10 can set the presence or absence of laws regarding virtual physical phenomena that do not exist in the real world. A virtual physical phenomenon is defined as magic in a game or the like, and is, for example, something that generates or destroys fire, water, wind, light, darkness, lightning, or some other object by some kind of action of the avatar (for example, a physical action or a sound). When such "magic" is generated, the control unit 13 may output not only visual data such as heat and wind, but also data that generates the sensation of these to the user terminal 20 side using the data stored in the virtual space setting DB 12. This allows the user to experience the existence of "magic" by feeling it through the interface on the terminal side. In addition, some action of the avatar may enable the avatar to fly or move instantly in the virtual space, or change the avatar's clothes, etc.

[0036] The data stored in the above-described environment setting DB 121 to physical law setting DB 123 may be changed as appropriate by access from a terminal of a user or an administrator. However, there may be settings that cannot be changed by a user. For example, in the physical law setting DB 123, an area in which physical laws cannot be changed may be set, or unchangeable physical laws may be set for a certain area.

[0037] As a specific example, assume that in FIG. 1C, all physical laws in area 2 cannot be set by the user, all physical laws in areas 1 and 3 to 8 can be set by the user, and in area 9, physical law A can be set by the user, but other physical laws cannot be set by the user. In this case, information indicating this is stored in physical law setting DB 123. In areas other than area 2, the user can change the physical laws that the user can set by operating an avatar in the virtual space. As a result, the physical laws stored in physical law setting DB 123 are changed and updated.

[0038] The virtual space setting server 10 may classify users into a plurality of attributes, and may set a specific physical law in a certain area for a user with a specific attribute (for example, a premium member of a service). Whether or not a user has a specific attribute is determined by an operation determination unit 134 (described later) that determines the user's operation by acquiring user information stored in the avatar setting DB 122. When a user changes the setting of a physical law in a certain area, the physical law stored in the physical law setting DB 123 is changed, and the change in the setting of the physical law affects all avatars in the area thereafter. However, the virtual space setting server 10 may apply the change in the setting of the physical law only to the avatar of the user by setting an exception to the physical law for that user in the physical law setting DB 123.

[0039] Furthermore, the administrator may change the settings of the physical laws and the like by at least one of operating the administrator's avatar in the virtual space and inputting information to the virtual space setting server 10 outside the virtual space.

[0040] Data relating to the environment setting DB 121 to the physical law setting DB 123 may also be temporarily stored in memory 131 of the control unit 13 described below, and the contents may be changed in response to an operation by a user or the like. In response to this change in information, the control unit 13 accesses the DB in which the information was stored and updates the contents of the DB. In addition, at least one of the DBs in the virtual space setting DB 12 may be provided outside the virtual space setting server 10, for example as a cloud service. In this case, the control unit 13 acquires desired information from the DB via the network connection unit 11.

[0041] Returning to Fig. 1A, the description will be continued. The control unit 13 constructs a virtual space in which the user's avatar exists, based on the data of the virtual space set in the above-mentioned virtual space setting DB 12. Then, the control unit 13 reflects the operation related to the user's avatar received via the network connection unit 11 in the virtual space, and provides the reflected data related to the virtual space to the user terminal of the user via the network connection unit 11.

[0042] 1E is a block diagram of the control unit 13. The control unit 13 includes a memory 131, an I / O (Input / Output) unit 132, and an information processing unit 133.

[0043] The memory 131 is composed of a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or a combination of them. The memory 131 is not limited to one, and a plurality of memories may be provided. The volatile memory may be, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The non-volatile memory may be, for example, a PROM (Programmable ROM), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or a Flash Memory.

[0044] The memory 131 is used to store one or more instructions. Here, the one or more instructions are stored in the memory 131 as a group of software modules. The information processing unit 133 can perform the following processes by reading and executing the one or more instructions from the memory 131.

[0045] The I / O unit 132 is a hardware interface that executes input and output of information to and from the outside of the control unit 13. In this embodiment, the control unit 13 is connected to the network connection unit 11 and the virtual space setting DB 12, and appropriately executes input and output of information with these via the I / O unit 132.

[0046] The information processing unit 133 is configured with any processor, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The memory 131 may include a memory provided outside the information processing unit 133, as well as a memory built into the information processing unit 133.

[0047] The information processing unit 133 reads out and executes software (computer programs) from the memory 131, thereby realizing functions such as an operation determination unit 134, a mismatch determination unit 135, a wall / gate generation unit 137, a distance calculation unit 136, and a display data output unit 138. Each of these functions will be described below.

[0048] The operation determination unit 134 determines what kind of operation has been performed on the user's avatar (hereinafter, referred to as the target avatar) by determining the user's operation received from the user terminal 20 via the network connection unit 11. For example, the operation determination unit 134 determines that an operation has been performed by the user terminal 20 such as moving the avatar in a certain direction in the virtual space or performing a specific action of the avatar (for example, a gesture or an action of emitting a predetermined sound). In addition, the operation determination unit 134 updates the position of the target avatar in the virtual space based on the operation data received from the user terminal 20 and the position of the target avatar stored in the avatar setting DB 122. The operation determination unit 134 stores the updated position of the avatar in the avatar setting DB 122.

[0049] The mismatch determination unit 135 determines whether the setting of the physical laws of the area (a predetermined area in the claims, hereinafter referred to as the current area) in which the target avatar exists at the time of determination is different from the setting of the physical laws of the area adjacent to the current area (hereinafter referred to as the adjacent area). In detail, the mismatch determination unit 135 determines the current area in which the target avatar exists by comparing the position of the target avatar updated by the operation determination unit 134 with the position of the area in the virtual space defined in the physical law setting DB 123. Then, the mismatch determination unit 135 specifies the adjacent area based on the data of each area stored in the physical law setting DB 123. The mismatch determination unit 135 executes a comparison determination with the current area described above for all the specified adjacent areas.

[0050] Here, if the settings of one or more specific physical laws are different between the current area and the adjacent area, the mismatch determination unit 135 may determine that different physical laws are set between the current area and the adjacent area. In this case, even if the settings of physical laws other than the specific physical law are different, it is not determined that different physical laws are set between the current area and the adjacent area as long as the settings of the specific physical law are not different.

[0051] 1D, assume that the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines physical law A as the object of inconsistency determination. When the current area of ​​the target avatar is area 1, the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines whether the settings of physical law A are different for adjacent areas 2 and 3. Here, the settings of physical law A in areas 1 and 2 are A1 and A2, respectively, so the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines that the settings of physical law A are different. On the other hand, the settings of physical law A in areas 1 and 3 are A1 and A1, respectively, so the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines that the settings of physical law A are the same (not different).

[0052] As another example, the mismatch determination unit 135 may determine that different physical laws are set in the current area and the adjacent area when there are a predetermined threshold or more of different physical law settings in both areas among all the physical law settings or among multiple physical law settings that constitute a specific group.

[0053] 1D, assume that the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines that the settings of the physical laws are different between the current area and the adjacent area when the settings of two or more physical laws, among physical laws A to C, which are a specific group, are different between the current area and the adjacent area. When the current area of ​​the target avatar is area 1, the inconsistency determination unit 135 performs determination for each of the adjacent areas, areas 2 and 3. Here, since the settings of all physical laws A to C are different between areas 1 and 2, the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines that the settings of the physical laws are different between area 1 and area 2. On the other hand, since only the setting of physical law A is different between areas 1 and 3, the inconsistency determination unit 135 determines that the settings of the physical laws are not different between area 1 and area 3.

[0054] Here, the specific physical law to be judged, the multiple physical laws constituting the specific group, and the predetermined threshold value serving as the judgment threshold value are determined in advance by an administrator or the like, and may be defined in advance in the physical law setting DB 123. The mismatch judgment unit 135 executes the above-mentioned judgment using such defined information.

[0055] Distance calculation unit 136 acquires the position of the target avatar in the current area in the virtual space from operation determination unit 134. Then, distance calculation unit 136 calculates the distance between the target avatar and the boundary (a boundary where a wall and a gate described below are generated) between the adjacent area and the current area determined to be inconsistent by inconsistency determination unit 135. The calculated distance may be, for example, the distance between the target avatar and the part of the boundary closest to the target avatar, or the distance may be calculated based on other criteria.

[0056] When the mismatch determination unit 135 determines that the settings of the physical laws are different between the current area and the adjacent area, the wall / gate generation unit 137 generates a wall at the boundary between these two areas that visually indicates that the target avatar cannot pass through, and a gate (entrance) that is the only gate that allows movement between the two areas. These walls and gates are generated so as to be visible at least to the target avatar. The gates are generated so as to be transparent when viewed from the target avatar.

[0057] Furthermore, the wall / gate generating unit 137 acquires the calculation result of the distance between the boundary for generating walls and gates and the target avatar from the distance calculating unit 136, and changes the light transmittance of the wall as seen by the target avatar according to the distance. For example, by making the wall completely transparent for the target avatar until the target avatar approaches a predetermined distance from the boundary, it is possible to prevent the scenery of the virtual space as seen by the user of the target avatar from being spoiled.

[0058] The display data output unit 138 generates display data of the virtual space seen from the target avatar based on the user's operation determined by the operation determination unit 134. Furthermore, when the wall / gate generation unit 137 generates a wall and a gate at the boundary between the current area and the adjacent area, the display data output unit 138 superimposes the video data of the wall and the gate on the display data of the virtual space so that the wall can be seen from the target avatar at the wall transparency set by the wall / gate generation unit 137. Then, the display data output unit 138 outputs the superimposed display data to the user terminal 20 of the target avatar. This makes it possible to visually recognize the virtual space in which the wall and the gate are formed on the user terminal 20 side.

[0059] The process executed by information processing unit 133 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E.

[0060] Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a specific example of the virtual space C shown in Fig. 1C and 1D. In Fig. 2A, the current area in which the target avatar A is currently located is area 1, and area 2 is shown as an adjacent area adjacent to area 1 across a border B.

[0061] The physical laws of areas 1 and 2 are set as shown in FIG. 1D. Here, as physical law A, in A1, which is the setting of area 1, the gravitational acceleration acting on the target avatar A occurs in a direction and with a magnitude specified by a user operation. For example, the user of the target avatar A (hereinafter, referred to as user A) can set the gravitational acceleration acting on the target avatar to 0. Therefore, user A can freely move the target avatar in area 1 in the air (for example, ascend, descend, advance, retreat, rotate, etc.) according to the operation. In other words, area 1 is an area where the target avatar A can act freely without being bound by the constraints of the real world.

[0062] On the other hand, in the setting of Area 2, A2, gravitational acceleration occurs downward in the virtual space with a magnitude of g, just like in the real world, and is set to be unchangeable by the user. Therefore, in Area 2, the target avatar A cannot float or move in the air. Furthermore, the other physical laws B, C, ... in Area 2 are also set according to the real world. Therefore, in Area 2, the target avatar A cannot act freely without being bound by the constraints of the real world.

[0063] Area 2, which is set up in accordance with the real world, is necessary for the purpose of preventing a user from obtaining, without permission, an elaborate digital copy of an important facility (e.g., the National Diet Building) that cannot be easily entered even in the real world, for example, when a mirror world is set up as virtual space C. As another example, a workplace in the virtual space may be set up in area 2. In this case, since a user works in area 2, it is preferable that the physical laws are set up in accordance with the real world so that the user can concentrate on the work. In such a case, if the user cannot distinguish between area 1 and area 2, the user may feel inconvenienced when using virtual space C because the user's actions will not be able to cause a desired phenomenon to occur.

[0064] As described above, the mismatch determination unit 135 determines that the current area in which the target avatar exists is area 1. Then, with reference to the physical law setting DB 123, areas 2 to 9 are identified as adjacent areas. Here, a case will be described in which the mismatch determination unit 135 performs a mismatch determination between area 1 and area 2, with physical law A as the determination target for the mismatch determination. Here, the mismatch determination unit 135 determines that the settings of physical law A for areas 1 and 2 are different.

[0065] Furthermore, the distance calculation unit 136 calculates the distance between the target avatar A and the boundary B between the area 1 and the area 2. The calculated distance is the distance between the target avatar A and the part of the boundary B that is closest to the target avatar A.

[0066] 2B shows a wall and a gate that the wall / gate generating unit 137 generates on the boundary B based on the determination result of the mismatch determining unit 135. The wall W is provided on the boundary B to prevent the target avatar A from moving from area 1 to area 2 from any place other than the gate G. This allows the user A to understand by looking at the wall W that the physical laws are set differently in area 2 from area 1, without the need to check the setting status of area 2 as data. The user can also understand by looking at the gate G from where he or she can move to area 2.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 2B, the wall / gate generating unit 137 generates a ceiling E above the area 2 so as to prevent the target avatar A from entering an area below a predetermined height in the area 2. For example, if there is a structure set in the area 2 in the setting data stored in the virtual space setting DB 12, the height of the ceiling E is set to a height equal to or higher than the height of the structure. At this time, the wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the setting of the physical law A in at least the area above the ceiling E in the area 2 to A1, which is the same as the setting of the physical law A in the area 1, which is the current area. The wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the setting of one or more physical laws other than the physical law A in the area above the ceiling E to the same as the setting of the corresponding physical law in the area 1, or may set them to the same as the setting of the corresponding physical law in the area 2. The setting of the physical law in the area inside the wall of the area 2 is as shown in FIG. 1D. The setting of the physical law in the area above the ceiling E set in this way is stored in the physical law setting DB 123 by the wall / gate generating unit 137. By setting the physical laws as described above, the target avatar can fly in the area above the ceiling E after moving from Area 1. This increases the degree of freedom of movement of the target avatar in the virtual space. However, the setting of the physical laws in the area above the ceiling E may remain the same as the setting of the physical laws A in Area 2.

[0068] Instead of providing a ceiling E, the wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the height of the wall W to such a height that the target avatar A cannot enter from the area 1 to the area 2 from any place other than the gate G. The height of such a wall W is, for example, the height of infinity, the highest altitude of the area 1 defined in the virtual space, or the highest altitude that the target avatar A can take according to the settings of various physical laws set in the area 1. As a result, even if the target avatar A is flying in the area 1, the target avatar A cannot enter from the area 1 to the area 2 from any place other than the gate G. Note that even if the target avatar A cannot fly or perform actions such as high jumps that are impossible in the real world in the area 1, the wall / gate generating unit 137 can set the height of the wall W as described above.

[0069] Furthermore, the wall / gate generation unit 137 changes the light transmittance of the wall W as viewed from the target avatar A as follows according to the distance d calculated by the distance calculation unit 136. When the distance d is equal to or greater than the threshold value th1: Transmittance 100% (transparent) When the distance d is less than the threshold value th1 and equal to or greater than the threshold value th2 (th2 < th1): Transmittance 75% When the distance d is less than the threshold value th2: Transmittance 50%

[0070] Figures 2C to 2E are schematic diagrams showing how the transmittance of the gate changes according to the change in the distance d. Figure 2C shows the case where the distance d is d1 (d1 > th1). In this case, since the wall W has a transmittance of 100%, it cannot be visually recognized from the target avatar A. Also, since the gate is also transparent, the target avatar A can directly see the buildings existing in area 2. In this way, when the target avatar A is sufficiently away from the boundary B, by not visualizing the wall, the aesthetic appearance of the virtual space as seen by the user is maintained. However, although not visualized, the wall W and the gate G have already been generated in this situation.

[0071] Figure 2D shows the case where the distance d is d2 (th1 > d2 > th2). In this case, compared with the state of Figure 2C, since the target avatar A has approached the boundary B, the wall / gate generation unit 137 sets the transmittance of the wall W to 75%. Thereby, the existence of the wall W and the gate G is faintly visualized for the user A, and the existence of area 2 is made to attract attention.

[0072] FIG. 2E shows a case where the distance d is d3 (th2>d3). In this case, compared to the state in FIG. 2D, since the target avatar A has come even closer to the boundary B, the wall / gate generating unit 137 sets the transparency of the wall W to 50%. This allows the presence of the wall W and gate G to be further visualized for the user A, and emphasizes the presence of the area 2 to draw attention to it. Note that when the distance d is less than the threshold th2, the wall W is always visible to the user A at a transparency of 50%, regardless of the position of the target avatar A.

[0073] As described above, the wall / gate generating unit 137 controls the transparency of the wall W so that the wall W and the gate G are gradually visualized clearly in accordance with the distance d for a user of a target avatar that approaches the boundary B to a certain extent. By gradually visualizing the wall W and the gate G clearly, the presence of the wall W and the gate G in the virtual space can be shown to the user in a natural way.

[0074] The lower limit value set for the transparency of the wall W does not have to be 50%, and may be, for example, 0%. In the above example, the transparency of the wall W changes discretely according to the distance d, but the wall / gate generating unit 137 may set f(d) so that, when the transparency is a function f(d) of the distance d, f(d) decreases continuously and monotonically according to d.

[0075] The wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the transparency of the ceiling E to be the same as or different from the transparency of the wall W. In addition, the color of the wall W can be freely set by the wall / gate generating unit 137.

[0076] As described above, the user or the administrator can change the settings of the physical law setting DB 123. Therefore, for example, the wall / gate generating unit 137 can determine that the settings of the physical laws of area 1 and area 2 have changed from the initial state in which the settings of the physical laws are the same to a different state in which the settings of the physical laws of both areas have changed due to a change in the settings of the physical law setting DB 123. As a result of the determination, the wall / gate generating unit 137 can subsequently generate a wall W and a gate G that were not originally present on the boundary B.

[0077] Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the overall processing executed by the virtual space setting server 10, and below, the overall processing of the virtual space setting server 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Note that the details of each process are as described above, and therefore will not be described as appropriate.

[0078] First, the operation determination unit 134 determines an operation performed on the target avatar (step S11). The operation determination unit 134 updates the position of the target avatar in the virtual space based on the determined operation.

[0079] The mismatch determination unit 135 determines the current area in which the target avatar exists, based on the position of the target avatar updated by the operation determination unit 134. Then, it determines whether the physical law settings of the current area and the physical law settings of the adjacent area are different (step S12). This determination and the subsequent processes are performed for each adjacent area.

[0080] If the settings of the physical laws of both areas are different (No in step S12), the distance calculation unit 136 calculates the distance d between the adjacent area and the target avatar (step S13). The wall / gate generation unit 137 determines the transparency of the wall to be generated based on the calculated distance d, and generates the wall and gate (step S14). The display data output unit 138 superimposes the video data of the wall and gate on the display data of the virtual space, thereby generating display data to be displayed to the user of the target avatar, and outputs the display data to the user terminal 20 (step S15).

[0081] If the settings of the physical laws in both areas are the same (Yes in step S12), no processing is performed by the distance calculation unit 136 and the wall / gate generation unit 137. The display data output unit 138 generates display data for the virtual space and outputs it to the user terminal 20 (step S15).

[0082] The process of step S13 may be executed before the determination process of step S12. For example, when the distance d is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold th1, the determination process of step S12 may not be executed, and a wall and a gate may not be generated at the boundary.

[0083] As described above, when two adjacent areas exist in a virtual space, the virtual space setting server 10 according to the present invention detects that the properties of the two areas are different by determining that the settings of the physical laws of the two areas are different. The two areas are, for example, an area in which free action is possible without being bound by the constraints of the real world, and an area in which action is restricted in accordance with the real world. In such a case, the virtual space setting server 10 can generate a wall and a gate at the boundary between the two areas. This wall visually indicates to the user of the avatar that the avatar cannot pass through. This allows the user to distinguish that the area in which action is restricted in accordance with the real world, such as an area in which an important facility that handles confidential matters or a workplace is located, has a different purpose from other areas. In the example of FIG. 2B, the wall W and gate G provided at the boundary B can be seen from the user of the avatar located in area 2, just like user A, so that the user can recognize that area 2 and area 1 are areas with different purposes.

[0084] Furthermore, the wall / gate generating unit 137 can indicate to the user the presence of walls and gates in the virtual space in a natural way by controlling the transparency of the walls as seen by the user of the avatar in accordance with the distance d calculated by the distance calculating unit 136. However, such control of transparency is not essential.

[0085] In addition, when the wall / gate generating unit 137 generates the wall W and the gate G as shown in FIG. 2B, the wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the wall W to have a sound-blocking effect on the user A with respect to the environmental sound in the area 2 set by the virtual space setting DB 12 and the sound generated by the avatar operation of another user in the area 2. In other words, data to be output to the terminal of the user A is generated so that the user A located in the area 1 hears the sound coming from the direction of the area 2 as being quieter than when there is no wall W. In addition, the wall / gate generating unit 137 may define a predetermined tactile sensation for the wall W and the gate G, and set the tactile sensation so that the user A can experience the tactile sensation when the avatar A touches the wall W or the gate G. The predetermined tactile sensation can be used by the wall / gate generating unit 137 by being stored in the virtual space setting DB 12, for example. Such control can also be performed for a sense other than sound (for example, smell). In addition, the ceiling E can be set in the same way as the setting of the wall W.

[0086] Embodiment 2 In the second embodiment, a variation of the first embodiment will be described.

[0087] 4 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration example of a control unit according to embodiment 2. A control unit 13' shown in FIG. 4 further includes a judgment target changing unit 139 in addition to the components of the control unit 13 shown in FIG.

[0088] The judgment target change unit 139 executes a process of changing at least one of the items or the number of physical laws to be judged by the mismatch judgment unit 135. For example, when a user performs some operation via an avatar in a virtual space, the operation judgment unit 134 judges that the detected operation is a process of changing the items or the number of physical laws to be judged by the mismatch judgment unit 135. Based on the judgment result, the judgment target change unit 139 changes the contents of the mismatch judgment unit 135 for the items or the number of physical laws to be judged designated by the user.

[0089] 1D , the initial determination target of the inconsistency determination unit 135 is assumed to be physical law A. In this case, in response to a user operation, the determination target change unit 139 may change the determination target of the inconsistency determination unit 135 to one or more other physical laws B, C, etc. instead of physical law A, or may add these other physical laws to the determination targets of the inconsistency determination unit 135 in addition to physical law A.

[0090] The operation determination unit 134 may determine whether or not the user has a specific attribute as described in the embodiment 1. If the user has a specific attribute, the operation determination unit 134 may cause the determination target change unit 139 to execute a process of changing at least one of the items or the number of physical laws to be determined by the mismatch determination unit 135 in response to the user's operation.

[0091] The administrator may output an instruction to change at least one of the items or the number of physical laws to be judged by operating an avatar of the administrator in the virtual space or by inputting information to the virtual space setting server 10 outside the virtual space. The judgment target change unit 139 executes the above-mentioned process in response to the instruction.

[0092] As described above, the judgment target changing unit 139 can change at least one of the items or the number of physical laws to be judged by the mismatch judgment unit 135. This makes it possible to change whether or not walls and gates are generated according to a desired setting by a user or an administrator.

[0093] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, even if adjacent areas in a virtual space are both areas where free movement is possible without being bound by the constraints of the real world, if the settings of the predetermined physical laws of both areas are different, the wall / gate generating unit 137 can generate a wall and a gate at the boundary between both areas.

[0094] In the example shown in Fig. 2C, when the distance d is equal to or greater than the threshold th1, the wall / gate generating unit 137 determines that the target avatar A is sufficiently far from the area 2, and does not need to execute the process of generating the wall W and the gate G. Here, when the distance d is less than the threshold th1, the wall / gate generating unit 137 determines that the target avatar A has approached the area 2, and executes the process of generating the wall W and the gate G with transparency as shown in Fig. 2D.

[0095] The wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the gate to be generated so that only users with a specific attribute can enter. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2B, the wall / gate generating unit 137 may determine users who can enter the area 2 (for example, users who have a workplace in the area 2) from the user information stored in the avatar setting DB 122, and set the gate G so that only the users are permitted to move to the area 2. Note that the wall / gate generating unit 137 may set the gate G so that the gate G in FIG. 2B can be seen by users who cannot enter the area 2 but cannot enter the area 2, or the gate G in FIG. 2B cannot be seen by such users (i.e., only the wall W can be seen).

[0096] The wall / gate generating unit 137 may display the gate to the user in some color different from the wall, rather than being transparent when viewed from the target avatar. Here, the wall / gate generating unit 137 may change the transparency of the gate discretely or continuously depending on the distance between the boundary (or the gate) where the gate is provided and the target avatar. This process is executed in the same manner as the control of the transparency of the wall according to the first embodiment.

[0097] Also, the wall / gate generating unit 137 does not necessarily need to generate a gate, and may generate only a wall between the areas when the mismatch determining unit 135 determines a mismatch between the determination targets of two areas. This also allows the user to identify that the uses of both areas are different. It is also possible to restrict the user's movement between areas. However, by the wall / gate generating unit 137 generating not only a wall but also a gate, it is possible to restrict the user's actions in an area where, for example, an important facility is located, while allowing the user to move to that area.

[0098] Furthermore, the control unit 13 may be provided on the user terminal 20 side, instead of the virtual space setting server 10. In this case, the user terminal 20 acquires data related to the virtual space from the virtual space setting DB 12 of the virtual space setting server 10 via the Internet in response to a user's operation, and can use the data to generate walls between areas that avatars cannot pass through, as necessary, in the same manner as described above.

[0099] As described above, one or more processors included in the imaging system in the above-mentioned embodiments execute one or more programs including a set of instructions for causing a computer to execute the algorithms described with reference to the drawings. This process realizes the processes described in each embodiment.

[0100] The program includes a set of instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray® disk or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, the transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals. The program may also take the form of, for example, an application program.

[0101] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] S1 Virtual Space Control System 10 Virtual space setting server 11 Network connection part 12 Virtual space setting DB 13 Control section 20 User terminal 121 Environment setting DB 122 Avatar setting DB 123 Physics law setting DB 131 Memory 132 I / O section 133 information processing unit 134 operation determination unit 135 Discrepancy judgment section 136 Distance calculation section 137 wall / gate generating unit 138 display data output unit 139 Judgment object change section

Claims

1. a mismatch determination unit that determines whether or not a setting of a physical law in a predetermined area differs from a setting of a physical law in an adjacent area that is an area adjacent to the predetermined area in a virtual space in which a plurality of partitioned areas exists; a wall / gate generating unit configured to generate, when the inconsistency determining unit determines that the settings for the predetermined area and the adjacent area are different, a wall between the predetermined area and the adjacent area that an avatar cannot pass through and a gate that is the only gate that allows movement between the predetermined area and the adjacent area, a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between the avatar and a boundary between the predetermined area and the adjacent area, the wall / gate generation unit controls transparency of the wall in accordance with the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit; the wall / gate generating unit displays the gate to the user in a color different from that of the wall; Virtual space control system.

2. a judgment target change unit that changes at least one of the items or the number of physical laws that are judgment targets of the mismatch judgment unit, The virtual space control system according to claim 1 .

3. a discrepancy determination step of determining whether or not a setting of a physical law of a predetermined area differs from a setting of a physical law of an adjacent area adjacent to the predetermined area in a virtual space in which a plurality of partitioned areas exist; a distance calculation step of calculating a distance between an avatar and a boundary between the predetermined area and the adjacent area when it is determined that the settings are different between the predetermined area and the adjacent area; a wall / gate generating step of generating a wall between the predetermined area and the adjacent area that the avatar cannot pass through and a gate that is the only gate that allows movement between the predetermined area and the adjacent area; a transparency control step of controlling the transparency of the wall in accordance with the distance calculated in the distance calculation step; a display control step of displaying the gate to a user in a color different from that of the wall; A virtual space control method executed by a virtual space control system.

4. a discrepancy determination step of determining whether or not a setting of a physical law of a predetermined area differs from a setting of a physical law of an adjacent area adjacent to the predetermined area in a virtual space in which a plurality of partitioned areas exist; a distance calculation step of calculating a distance between an avatar and a boundary between the predetermined area and the adjacent area when it is determined that the settings are different between the predetermined area and the adjacent area; a wall / gate generating step of generating a wall between the predetermined area and the adjacent area that the avatar cannot pass through and a gate that is the only gate that allows movement between the predetermined area and the adjacent area; a transparency control step of controlling the transparency of the wall in accordance with the distance calculated in the distance calculation step; a display control step of displaying the gate to a user in a color different from that of the wall; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images