Display control method and system for executing the display control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9971157-B2
Application number	US-201715675669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2017
Priority date	Jul 25, 2016
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A method includes defining a virtual space including a virtual camera, a character object, and a field in which the character object is movable, the field defining a peripheral direction and surrounding the virtual camera along the peripheral direction. The method includes defining a visual field of the virtual camera. The method includes displaying a visual-field image on a head-mounted display based on the visual field. The method includes detecting a movement input including a lateral-direction component, the lateral-direction being different from the peripheral direction. The method includes moving the character object in the field along the peripheral direction in response to the lateral-direction component of the movement input. The method includes detecting movement of the head-mounted display and changing a direction of the virtual camera based on detected movement of the head-mounted display. The method includes updating the visual-field image based on the direction of the virtual camera.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
defining a virtual space including a virtual camera, a character object, and a field in which the character object is movable, the field defining a peripheral direction and surrounding the virtual camera along the peripheral direction;
defining a visual field of the virtual camera;
displaying a visual-field image on a head-mounted display based on the visual field and the virtual space;
detecting a movement input including a lateral-direction component, the lateral-direction being different from the peripheral direction;
moving the character object in the field along the peripheral direction in response to the lateral-direction component of the movement input;
detecting movement of the head-mounted display; changing a direction of the virtual camera based on detected movement of the head-mounted display;
updating the visual-field image based on the direction of the virtual camera.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising restricting a movable range of the character object along the peripheral direction in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises a type of a competitive game or an elapsed time in at least one round of the competitive game.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the restricting of the moveable range comprises changing the movable range of the character object depending on a level of a round in a game or an elapsed time in the round.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the restricting of the moveable range comprises placing a wall object in the field, the wall object restricting the movable range.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the restricting of the moveable range comprises changing a shape of the field, the shape being determined for restricting the movable range.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the updating of the visual-field image comprises changing the direction of the virtual camera in synchronization with the movement of the head-mounted display without changing a position of the virtual camera.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising prohibiting the character object from moving in a depth direction of the visual field in the field in response to the movement input.

9. A method comprising:
defining a virtual space including a virtual camera, a character object, and a field in which the character object is movable, the field defining a peripheral direction and surrounding the virtual camera along the peripheral direction;
defining a visual field of the virtual camera;
displaying a visual-field image on a head-mounted display based on the visual field and the virtual space;
detecting a movement input;
moving the character object in the field along the peripheral direction in response to the movement input;
detecting movement of the head-mounted display;
changing a direction of the virtual camera based on a detected movement of the head-mounted display, wherein the changing the direction of the virtual camera comprises changing the direction of the virtual camera in synchronization with the movement of the head-mounted display without changing a position of the virtual camera in the virtual space
updating the visual-field image based on the direction of the virtual camera.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein
the movement input including a lateral-direction component, the lateral-direction being different from the peripheral direction;
the moving of the character object comprises moving the character object in the peripheral direction in response to the lateral-direction component.

11. A system comprising:
a head-mounted display; and
a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for:
providing instructions for defining a virtual space including a virtual camera, a character object, and a field in which the character object is movable, the field defining a peripheral direction and surrounding the virtual camera along the peripheral direction;
providing instructions for defining a visual field of the virtual camera;
providing instructions for displaying a visual-field image on the head-mounted display based on the visual field of the virtual camera and the virtual space;
detecting a movement input including a lateral-direction component, the lateral-direction being different from the peripheral direction;
providing instructions for moving the character object in the field along the peripheral direction in response to the lateral-direction component of the movement input;
detecting movement of the head-mounted display; providing instructions for changing a direction of the virtual camera based on detected movement of the head-mounted display;
updating the visual-field image based on the direction of the virtual camera.

Assignees

• Colopl Inc

Inventors

• Yoshioka Takanori
• Kobayashi Takeshi
• Kashihara Takao
• Terahata Shuhei

Classifications

• G03B25/02

  with interposed lenticular or line screen · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title

• G06F3/1431

  using a single graphics controller · CPC title

• G06F3/14 Primary

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title