Virtual space control device, virtual space control method, and program

Abstract

To make it possible to provide an environment that allows a user to easily immerse themselves in the worldview of the objects placed in a virtual space.SOLUTION: A virtual space controller comprises a virtual space control part that reproduces an expansion state in which an object arranged in whole or in part in a virtual space expands in a predetermined manner over time, where the virtual space control part reproduces a state in which an object part that leads to the object in its initial state newly appear as the expansion state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is known a technology for constructing a virtual art museum using 3D images to exhibit artworks using 3D images (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-296587 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When exhibiting objects such as artworks in a virtual space, it is desirable to create an environment in which users can immerse themselves in the worldview and atmosphere of the artwork, as this increases the enjoyment of viewing the artwork.

[0005] In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an environment in which a user can easily immerse themselves in the worldview of objects placed in a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems is a virtual space control device that includes a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object that is placed in whole or in part in a virtual space starts as a starting point and expands in a predetermined manner.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a virtual space control method in a virtual space control device, which includes a virtual space control step of reproducing an expansion state in which an object placed in whole or in part in a virtual space starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object placed in whole or in part in a virtual space starts as a starting point and expands in a predetermined manner. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an environment in which a user can easily become immersed in the worldview of objects placed in a virtual space. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a virtual space control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of plane expansion in this embodiment. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of plane expansion in this embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of plane expansion in this embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of plane expansion in this embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of expansion of the inner wall of the space in this embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a virtual space control device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of original object data in this embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of extended object data in this embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure executed by the virtual space control device in this embodiment in relation to expansion of an artwork object. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] <Embodiment> [Overall configuration example of a virtual space control system] 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a virtual space control system according to this embodiment. The virtual space control system according to this embodiment includes a virtual space control device 100 and one or more user terminals 200. The virtual space control device 100 and the user terminal 200 are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other.

[0012] The virtual space control device 100 constructs a three-dimensional virtual space (metaverse) in which three-dimensional art objects that are reproductions of artworks are arranged. Such a virtual space may be, for example, a reproduction of a real or virtual art museum where artworks are exhibited. The virtual space control device 100 allows the avatar of the user corresponding to the user terminal 200 to exist in the virtual space, thereby providing an environment in which the avatar can appreciate artworks in a virtual art museum (virtual art museum).

[0013] Furthermore, the user can use the user terminal 200 to perform various operations related to the corresponding avatar, such as instructing the behavior of the corresponding avatar present in the virtual space.

[0014] The virtual space control device 100 may be provided as a single server or other device existing on a network, or may be realized by multiple servers or other devices distributed on a network, each with a predetermined function, working together to execute processing.

[0015] The user terminal 200 may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, a wearable VR terminal, or the like.

[0016] [Overview of Art Object Extension] The user can operate the user terminal 200 to make the avatar act as if appreciating the artworks in the virtual museum. The user can then see the avatar corresponding to the user appreciating the artworks in the virtual museum through the video of the virtual museum displayed on the user terminal 200, and the user can then view the artworks in the virtual museum.

[0017] In this embodiment, when an avatar views an object artwork as a single work of art in a virtual art museum, the object artwork is given changes such that it expands over time within the virtual art museum.

[0018] In this embodiment, two examples of the manner in which an object serving as an artwork is expanded (expansion state) are given: planar expansion and space inner wall expansion. Planar expansion is an expansion state in which a planar object, such as a painting, expands along the plane direction over time. The space inner wall expansion is an expansion state in which an object as a two-dimensional painting expands three-dimensionally over time along the inner wall of a three-dimensional space of a predetermined shape set in the virtual art museum.

[0019] [Example of floor plan expansion] An example of plane expansion will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 shows an image of an art object OBJ, which is a painting, hanging on a wall in a virtual art museum, with an avatar AVT approaching the art object OBJ. Also, in FIG. 2, an extended trigger area AR (a trigger region, an example of an extended state indicator) is shown at a position on the floor a predetermined distance in front of the art object OBJ.

[0020] When a user wishes to expand an art object OBJ exhibited in the virtual art museum in Fig. 2, the user operates the user terminal 200 to move the avatar AVT so that it is positioned within the expansion trigger area AR. The expansion trigger area AR indicates that the corresponding art object OBJ can be expanded into a plane, and also indicates the position at which a trigger for the expansion of the plane is generated.

[0021] In response to the avatar AVT being positioned in the expansion trigger area AR, the art object OBJ starts to expand, starting from the state of the original art object OBJ shown in FIG. 3 shows the state of the art object OBJ after a certain time has passed since the expansion started. Arrows A to D in the figure indicate the directions in which the art object OBJ expands. As shown in the figure, the art object OBJ has been expanded in all directions, up, down, left, and right, along the wall on which it is displayed, from the initial state in Figure 2. In other words, the art object OBJ has been expanded along the plane corresponding to the wall.

[0022] The expansion of the artwork object OBJ shown in the figure does not involve enlarging the initial painting shown in Figure 2, but rather extending it by drawing new depictions that connect to the initial painting.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the artwork object OBJ has been further expanded from the state in FIG. 3 in response to the passage of a certain amount of time since the state corresponding to FIG. In this figure, the artwork object OBJ has been expanded in all directions, up, down, left, and right, from the state in Figure 3. Furthermore, as for the expanded portion in the downward direction, as shown by arrow B, once it has expanded to a position corresponding to the floor, it continues to expand further by extending forward along the floor.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows the state after a certain time has passed since the state in FIG. 4, when the expansion of the artwork object OBJ is complete. The artwork object OBJ in this figure has been expanded in all directions from the state in FIG. 4, and in the floor area, it has been extended to the extent that it also includes the expanded trigger area AR where the avatar AVT was located. In this state, the avatar AVT appears to be present in the environment represented by the painting, and the user viewing the video of the same figure on the user terminal 200 can also have the sensation of being present in the environment represented by the painting. In other words, by expanding the art object OBJ, an environment is created in which the user can easily immerse themselves in the worldview of the painting as the art object OBJ exhibited in the virtual art museum.

[0025] Furthermore, after the art object OBJ begins to expand, the expansion of the art object OBJ may continue even if the avatar AVT moves outside the expansion trigger area AR. In this case, the user can view the art object OBJ expanded on the floor of the virtual art museum by moving the avatar AVT and also moving the viewpoint. This allows the user, through the actions of the avatar AVT, to feel as if they are viewing the expanded art object OBJ right in front of them.

[0026] Note that there may be avatars other than the avatar AVT that has reached the expansion trigger area AR and started the expansion of the art object OBJ around the art object OBJ that is the target of expansion. In this case, the expanded appearance of the art object OBJ may be similarly displayed on the user terminal 200 of a user corresponding to an avatar other than the avatar AVT. Alternatively, conversely, the expanded appearance of the art object OBJ may not be reflected on the user terminal 200 of a user corresponding to an avatar other than the avatar AVT, and the unexpanded appearance of the art object OBJ may be displayed.

[0027] In addition, when the user has finished viewing the art object OBJ, the user may perform an operation to move the avatar AVT outside the expanded art object OBJ, thereby returning the art object OBJ to its pre-expansion state shown in Figure 2.

[0028] In addition, if the avatar AVT moves to a predetermined distance or more from the art object OBJ while the art object OBJ is expanding, the expansion of the art object OBJ may be interrupted and the art object OBJ may return to the state shown in Figure 2 before expansion.

[0029] [Example of interior wall expansion] Next, an example of the expansion of the inner wall of the space will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the avatar AVT is positioned close to one of the art objects OBJ exhibited in the virtual art museum, the art object OBJ being capable of being extended onto the interior walls of the space. The art object OBJ in the figure is a painting that is displayed hanging on a wall in a virtual art museum. In this case, the contents of the painting as the art object OBJ are displayed around the art object OBJ in a spiral shape (an example of an expansion state indicator), which indicates that the art object OBJ can be expanded onto the interior walls of the space.

[0030] When the user wishes to appreciate the expanded interior space wall of the art object OBJ in the figure, the user performs an operation (space entry operation) to move the avatar AVT as if moving the avatar AVT into the picture frame containing the art object OBJ, using the user terminal 200. In response to the space entry operation being performed, the avatar AVT enters the object expansion space (an example of a trigger area), which is a three-dimensional space where the interior space wall is expanded.

[0031] The manner of entry into the object-augmented space is not limited to the above example. The manner of entry into the object-augmented space may be, for example, entry into a room of a predetermined shape set up in a virtual art museum. Furthermore, the avatar AVT may be allowed to enter the object-augmented space in response to the user (or the avatar AVT acting in response to user operations on the user terminal 200) operating an entry button set up near the art object OBJ in the virtual art museum.

[0032] 7 shows the state when the avatar AVT enters the object augmented space. This figure shows an example in which the object augmented space has a hemispherical top and a flat bottom. As shown in this figure, within the object augmented space, the original (before expansion) art object OBJ shown in FIG. 6 is used as the starting point, and the object augmented space is expanded so as to extend along the inner wall of the object augmented space. The object extension space is not limited to a shape having a hemispherical top surface and a flat bottom surface, but may be, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped, a cube, a triangular pyramid, a cone, or a shape having a curved surface other than a sphere.

[0033] FIG. 8 shows the state of the object extension space during extension when a certain time has passed since the state of FIG. FIG. 9 shows the state of the object extension space during extension when a certain time has elapsed since the state shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows the state of the object extension space in the middle of extension when a certain time has elapsed since the state of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the artwork object OBJ is expanded so as to extend over time along the hemispherical surface of the expanded object space and the bottom surface of the inner wall.

[0034] 11 and 12 show the state of the object expansion space after the expansion of the artwork object OBJ is complete. 11 and 12, the avatar AVT can move and change the viewpoint within the object-augmented space into which the art object OBJ is extended. As the avatar AVT moves within the object-augmented space, the viewpoint from which the object-augmented space is viewed also changes, resulting in different views of the scenery as the art object OBJ being viewed between FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0035] The user terminal 200 displays images in the manners shown in Figures 6 to 12. By viewing images displayed in this manner, the user can experience the worldview and image of the painting as the artwork object OBJ in 360 degrees in a horizontal space. Therefore, an environment in which the user can easily become immersed can be obtained by expanding the interior walls of the space.

[0036] In the object-augmented space, an exit may be provided for the avatar AVT to exit the object-augmented space and return to the floor of the virtual art museum. When the avatar AVT returns to the floor of the virtual art museum from the exit, the extension of the art object OBJ in the space inner wall extension space may be released.

[0037] For example, in a case where other avatars are acting together with the avatar AVT, when the other avatar enters the object extension space after the avatar AVT, the state of the extended art object OBJ may be made visible to the user of the other avatar in the same way as it is visible to the user of the avatar AVT that has already entered. Alternatively, if another avatar enters the object expansion space after the avatar AVT, the user of the other avatar may be able to see the start of expansion of the artwork object OBJ, regardless of the avatar AVT.

[0038] [Example of functional configuration of virtual space control device] Fig. 13 shows an example of the functional configuration of the virtual space control device 100. The functions of the virtual space control device 100 shown in the figure are realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) included in the hardware of the virtual space control device 100 executing a program. The virtual space control device 100 in the figure includes a communication unit 101, a control unit 102, and a storage unit 103.

[0039] The communication unit 101 is connected to the user terminal 200 via a network so that communication can be performed.

[0040] The control unit 102 executes various controls in the virtual space control device 100. The control unit 102 includes an extended object data generation unit 121 and a virtual space control unit 122.

[0041] The extended object data generation unit 121 generates extended object data corresponding to the art object OBJ exhibited in the virtual art museum. The extended object data is data obtained by extending the art object OBJ, as shown in Figures 2 to 10. The extended object data generating unit 121 may generate the extended object data by using data of the original art object (original object data).

[0042] The extended object data generation unit 121 may generate extended object data in response to input of original object data using a trained model that is configured to extend the content of a painting represented by the original object data. Specifically, such a trained model may be constructed, for example, by training a learning model to generate data of peripheral objects that are naturally connected to the content of the painting, based on the content of the original painting represented by the input original object. The extended object data generated by the extended object data generating unit 121 is stored in the extended object data storage unit 133.

[0043] The function of the extended object data generation unit 121 may be provided by an external device other than the virtual space control device 100. In this case, the extended object data generated by the external device having the function of the extended object data generation unit 121 may be transmitted to the virtual space control device 100 via a predetermined transmission path, and the virtual space control device 100 may store the transmitted data in the extended object data storage unit 133.

[0044] The virtual space control unit 122 constructs the virtual art museum of this embodiment and controls the actions of the avatar AVT within the constructed virtual art museum. The virtual space control unit 122 also controls the expansion of the art object OBJ.

[0045] The storage unit 103 stores various types of information corresponding to the virtual space control device 100. The storage unit 103 includes a virtual space data storage unit 131, an original object data storage unit 132, and an extended object data storage unit 133.

[0046] The virtual space data storage unit 131 stores data (virtual space data) used by the virtual space control unit 122 to construct a virtual space as a virtual museum. The virtual space construction data includes data for constructing structures as a virtual museum. It may also include audio data for reproducing sounds to be output along with the images of the virtual museum.

[0047] The original object data storage unit 132 stores original object data, which is object data that reproduces an original, unaugmented artwork object OBJ that is exhibited in the virtual art museum. The virtual space control unit 122 uses the original object data to recreate the artwork object OBJ in its pre-expansion state to be exhibited in the virtual art museum.

[0048] 14 shows an example of the structure of original object data stored in correspondence with one art object OBJ by the original object data storage unit 132. As shown in the figure, the original object data corresponding to one art object OBJ has a structure in which an object ID that uniquely identifies the corresponding art object OBJ is associated with the original object data.

[0049] The explanation will return to Fig. 13. The extended object data storage unit 133 stores the extended object data generated by the extended object data generation unit 121.

[0050] FIG. 15 shows an example of the structure of extended object data stored in the extended object data storage unit 133 in association with one artwork object OBJ. As shown in the figure, the extended object data corresponding to one original object has a structure in which an object ID that uniquely identifies the corresponding artwork object OBJ is associated with the extended object data. The extended object data stored in the extended object data field in the same figure becomes planar extended object data that reproduces the planar extension of the corresponding art object OBJ if the corresponding art object OBJ is to be extended in a plane, and becomes intra-space extended object data that reproduces the spatial inner wall extension of the art object OBJ if the corresponding art object OBJ is to be extended in a space.

[0051] 14 and 15, in this embodiment, the original object data and extended object data corresponding to the same art object OBJ are stored in association with the object ID assigned to the corresponding art object OBJ. This makes it possible to associate the original object data and extended object data corresponding to the same art object OBJ.

[0052] It should be noted that not all of the art objects OBJ exhibited in the virtual art museum may be extensible, and only some of the art objects OBJ exhibited in the virtual art museum may be extensible. In this case, the extended object data storage unit 133 may store extended object data that corresponds to the original object data that is extensible for the corresponding art object OBJ, out of all the original object data stored in the original object data storage unit 132.

[0053] [Example of processing procedure] An example of a processing procedure executed by the virtual space control device 100 of this embodiment in relation to the expansion of an artwork object OBJ will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 16. The processing in Fig. 16 may be common to both the expansion of a plane and the expansion of an interior wall of a space.

[0054] Step S100: In the virtual space control device 100, the virtual space control unit 122 waits for an extension trigger to occur. If the target art object OBJ is one that expands on a plane, the expansion trigger is generated when the avatar AVT reaches the expansion trigger area AR. If the target art object OBJ is one that expands on an inner wall of a space, the expansion trigger is generated when the virtual space control unit 122 accepts a space entry operation performed on the user terminal 200.

[0055] Step S102: When an extension trigger occurs, the virtual space control unit 122 acquires, from the extended object data storage unit 133, the extended object data associated with the object ID of the target art object OBJ.

[0056] Step S104: The virtual space control unit 122 reproduces the acquired extended object data to extend the artwork object OBJ by expanding the plane or the interior wall of the space.

[0057] Step S106: The virtual space control unit 122 determines whether or not an operation to move the avatar AVT within the expanded range has been performed while the artwork object OBJ is expanded. In the case of planar expansion, the expansion range here may be, for example, the range of the art object OBJ expanded on the floor of the virtual art museum. In the case of space inner wall expansion, the expansion range may be within the object expansion space.

[0058] Step S108: In response to an operation to move the avatar AVT within the extension range, the virtual space control unit 122 moves the avatar AVT within the extension range in a direction and at a speed according to the operation.

[0059] Step S110: If it is determined in step S106 that no operation to move the avatar AVT has been performed, or after the processing of step S108, the virtual space control unit 122 determines whether or not an operation to change the viewpoint (viewpoint change operation) has been performed on the user terminal 200. The viewpoint changed by the viewpoint change operation may be specified as the line of sight of the avatar AVT, or may be specified arbitrarily regardless of the avatar AVT.

[0060] Step S112: If a viewpoint change operation is performed, the virtual space control unit 122 changes the viewpoint to the one specified by the viewpoint movement operation.

[0061] By the processes of steps S106 to S112, when the avatar AVT is present within the extension range, the user can operate the user terminal 200 to move the avatar AVT and change the viewpoint.

[0062] Step S114: If it is determined in step S110 that the viewpoint change operation has not been performed, or after the process of step S112, the virtual space control unit 122 determines whether or not the avatar AVT has moved outside the extension range. If it is determined that the avatar AVT has not moved outside the extension range, the process returns to step S106.

[0063] Step S116: When the avatar AVT moves out of the expansion range, the virtual space control unit 122 cancels the expansion of the artwork object OBJ.

[0064] <Modification> Modifications of this embodiment will be described below. The following modifications may be combined as appropriate.

[0065] For example, when an art object OBJ such as a painting depicting a landscape is being augmented, it may be possible to display, for example, the fluttering of plants, a person's hair or clothing in the wind, the movement of clouds, etc. In this case, augmented object data generated to impart movement to the augmented art object OBJ may be used. Furthermore, by including sound data in the extended object data, sounds that can be heard in the surroundings, such as people, animals, wind, flowing rivers, rain, etc., may be output on the user terminal 200 depending on the content of the artwork object OBJ.

[0066] For example, when an art object OBJ such as a painting depicting an outdoor scene is being expanded, the current real weather conditions may be reflected. Specifically, if the current weather is sunny, the spatial range into which the art object OBJ is extended may be depicted as having clear distinctions between sunshine and shade, making it clear that it is sunny, and if the current weather is rainy, it may be depicted as if it is raining even in the spatial range into which the art object OBJ is extended. To change the representation of the enlarged artwork object OBJ in accordance with the actual weather, for example, the extended object data generation unit 121 may obtain the current weather from a website or the like that provides weather information via the communication unit 101, and generate extended object data that reflects the obtained weather. The virtual space control unit 122 plays back the generated extended object data, and the artwork object OBJ is expanded so that a depiction that reflects the current weather is added.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the expansion is performed starting from the entire original art object OBJ, but the expansion may be performed starting from a predetermined part of the original art object OBJ. Furthermore, the art object OBJ in its original state exhibited in the virtual art museum may be exhibited in its entirety, or only a predetermined part of it.

[0068] In this embodiment, the art objects to be expanded are not limited to paintings, but may be reproductions of art such as sculptures, photographs, calligraphy, ceramics, crafts, etc. Furthermore, the objects to be expanded are not limited to art, but may be, for example, photographs, drawings by young children, various plants such as flowers and fruits, and predetermined items to be provided in a home in a virtual space.

[0069] Note that a program for implementing the functions of the virtual space control device 100 and the user terminal 200 described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed to perform the processing of the virtual space control device 100 and the user terminal 200 described above. Here, "loading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program on a computer system. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. The term "computer system" may also include multiple computer devices connected via a network, including the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a dedicated line, and other communication lines. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as floppy disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as HDDs and SSDs built into a computer system. Thus, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium may also include internal or external recording media accessible from a distribution server for distributing the program. The program code stored on the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the program code executable on the terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored on the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that is executable on the terminal device. The program may be divided into multiple parts, each of which may be downloaded at different times and then combined on the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a storage medium that stores a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted over a network. The program may also be one that realizes part of the functions described above.Furthermore, the above-mentioned functions may be realized in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program).

[0070] <Additional Notes> (1) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device that includes a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object, placed in whole or in part in a virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner.

[0071] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the virtual space control device described in (1), wherein the virtual space control unit may reproduce, as the expansion state, a planar expansion state in which the object extends in a predetermined planar direction.

[0072] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device as described in (2), in which an expansion status indicator may be provided for an object in the virtual space on which the planar expansion is performed, indicating that the object is capable of the planar expansion.

[0073] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device described in (1) or (2), wherein the virtual space control unit may reproduce, as the expansion state, a state of space inner wall expansion in which an expanding object extends along the inner wall of an object expansion space of a predetermined shape.

[0074] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device as described in (4), in which an expansion status indicator may be provided for an object in the virtual space for which the interior wall of the space is to be expanded, indicating that the object is capable of undergoing the interior wall expansion of the space.

[0075] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device described in any one of (1) to (5), wherein the virtual space control unit may start playing the expansion state in response to an avatar existing in the virtual space reaching a predetermined trigger area in the virtual space that is defined corresponding to the object to be expanded.

[0076] (7) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device described in any one of (1) to (6), wherein the virtual space control unit may be capable of changing the viewpoint of the expanded object while the object is in the expanded state.

[0077] (8) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control device described in any one of (1) to (7), wherein the virtual space control unit may reproduce the expansion state using data of an expansion object having content expanded starting from all or part of the object before expansion.

[0078] (9) One aspect of this embodiment is the virtual space control device described in (8), wherein the data of the augmented object may be generated using a trained model that has been trained to generate an augmented object by extending an input object in response to input of the object before augmentation.

[0079] (10) One aspect of this embodiment is a virtual space control method in a virtual space control device, which includes a virtual space control step of reproducing an expansion state in which an object placed in whole or in part in a virtual space starts as a starting point and expands in a predetermined manner.

[0080] (11) One aspect of this embodiment is a program for causing a computer to function as a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object, the whole or part of which is placed in a virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 100 Virtual space control device, 101 Communication unit, 102 Control unit, 103 Storage unit, 121 Extended object data generation unit, 122 Virtual space control unit, 131 Virtual space data storage unit, 132 Original object data storage unit, 133 Extended object data storage unit, 200 User terminal

Claims

1. a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object, the whole or a part of which is placed in the virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner over time; The virtual space control unit reproduces, as the expansion state, a state in which an object portion connected to the object in the initial state newly appears, and when reproducing the expansion state, imparts movement to the object and outputs a sound corresponding to the movement. Virtual space control device.

2. A virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object, the whole or a part of which is placed in a virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner over time, The virtual space control unit reproduces, as the expansion state, a state in which an object portion connected to the object in the initial state newly appears, and when reproducing the expansion state, reproduces the expansion state so that the expansion is uniform among a plurality of avatars acting together in the virtual space. Virtual space control device.

3. The virtual space control unit reproduces, as the expansion state, a planar expansion state in which the object extends in a predetermined planar direction. The virtual space control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the virtual space, an expansion state indicator is provided for the object to be subjected to the planar expansion, which indicates that the object is capable of the planar expansion. The virtual space control device according to claim 3 .

5. The virtual space control unit reproduces, as the expansion state, a state of space inner wall expansion in which the expanding object extends along the inner wall of the object expansion space of a predetermined shape. The virtual space control device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. In the virtual space, an expansion state indicator is provided for the object for which the space inner wall expansion is to be performed, which indicates that the object is capable of the space inner wall expansion. The virtual space control device according to claim 5 .

7. The virtual space control unit starts playback of the augmented state in response to an avatar existing in the virtual space reaching a predetermined trigger area in the virtual space that is defined corresponding to the object to be augmented. The virtual space control device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The virtual space control unit is capable of changing a viewpoint for the augmented object while the object is in the augmented state. The virtual space control device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The virtual space control unit reproduces the expansion state by using data of an expansion object having content expanded from the whole or part of the object before expansion as a starting point. The virtual space control device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The data of the augmented object is generated using a trained model that has been trained to generate an augmented object by augmenting an input object in response to the input of the object before augmentation. The virtual space control device according to claim 9 .

11. A virtual space control method in a virtual space control device, a virtual space control step of reproducing an expanded state in which an object, the whole or a part of which is placed in the virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner over time; The virtual space control step reproduces, as the expansion state, a state in which an object portion connected to the object in the initial state newly appears, and when reproducing the expansion state, gives movement to the object and outputs a sound corresponding to the movement. A virtual space control method comprising:

12. Computer, A program for causing a virtual space control unit to function as a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object, the whole or a part of which is placed in a virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner over time, The virtual space control unit reproduces, as the expansion state, a state in which an object portion connected to the object in the initial state newly appears, and when reproducing the expansion state, imparts movement to the object and outputs a sound corresponding to the movement. program.

13. A virtual space control method in a virtual space control device, comprising: a virtual space control step of reproducing an expanded state in which an object, the whole or a part of which is placed in the virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner over time; The virtual space control step reproduces, as the expanded state, a state in which an object portion connected to the object in the initial state newly appears, and when reproducing the expanded state, reproduces the expanded state so that it is expanded uniformly among a plurality of avatars acting together in the virtual space. A virtual space control method comprising:

14. A computer, A program for causing a virtual space control unit to function as a virtual space control unit that reproduces an expansion state in which an object, the whole or a part of which is placed in a virtual space, starts as a starting point and the object expands in a predetermined manner over time, The virtual space control unit reproduces, as the expansion state, a state in which an object portion connected to the object in the initial state newly appears, and when reproducing the expansion state, reproduces the expansion state so that the expansion is uniform among a plurality of avatars acting together in the virtual space. program.

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