JP3728231B2 - Stereoscopic image providing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image providing technique, and particularly to a method and apparatus for providing a stereoscopic image to a user terminal via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Over the past few years, the Internet population has increased rapidly and is entering a broadband era, a new stage of Internet usage. In broadband communication, the communication band is dramatically widened, so the distribution of heavy image data, which has been often avoided in the past, is also popular. Concepts such as “multimedia” and “video on demand” have been proposed for a long time. However, in the broadband era, these words can only be experienced by ordinary users.
[0003]
If the distribution of images, especially moving images, spreads, the user naturally wants to enrich the content and improve the image quality. These are largely due to the digitization of existing video software, the development of an authoring tool therefor, and the pursuit of high-efficiency and low-loss image coding technology.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Under such circumstances, as one form of image distribution service in the near future, distribution of pseudo three-dimensional images (hereinafter also simply referred to as “stereoscopic images”) has attracted technical attention, and it is considered that a considerable market is acquired. Stereoscopic images fulfill the user's desire for more realistic images, and are especially attractive for applications that pursue a sense of reality, such as movies and games. Furthermore, stereoscopic images are also useful for the realistic display of products in product presentations in EC (electronic commerce), which is considered to be one of the standards for commerce in the 21st century.
[0005]
However, when we consider a new internet business that delivers 3D images, we can't deny that the service is still untouched. In particular, when a stereoscopic image is visually recognized with a subtle difference for each user, it can be said that such consideration is not yet developed at least at the actual service level.
[0006]
The present inventor has made the present invention by paying attention to such a current situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an object display technique for predicting and solving problems associated with display of a stereoscopic image.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a stereoscopic image providing method. In this method, prior to the start of a stereoscopic image providing service via a network, a confirmation image that can be stereoscopically viewed by the user with the naked eye at a network node involved in the service is provided.
[0008]
Here, it is assumed that the “network” includes a wide range of broadcast media regardless of wired wireless communication and in view of today's situation where communication and broadcasting barriers are disappearing. An example of a “network node” is an image server constructed on the WWW (World Wide Web) using the Internet, but it may also be a broadcasting station.
[0009]
According to this method, the user can confirm by himself whether or not the confirmation image can be stereoscopically viewed before receiving the stereoscopic image service. According to the rule of thumb of the present inventor, it is generally found that a user who has a large difference in left and right visual acuity may have difficulty in recognizing a stereoscopic image even when viewing the stereoscopic image through a parallax barrier or other optical filter. It was. In other words, there are certain users who need a great effort to actually perform stereoscopic viewing even if they receive a stereoscopic image service due to various factors such as visual acuity. There is consideration in providing services for a fee.
[0010]
It is also recognized by the present inventors that users who are difficult to stereoscopically view through an optical filter generally tend to feel inconvenient to stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye, and this knowledge is the basis of the present invention. . A special optical filter or the like is not required for stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye, and by attaching a confirmation image to a service application screen or the like, the user can easily determine whether or not he / she can receive the service.
[0011]
This method further presents, together with the confirmation image, a comment that does not guarantee the effect of the service or suppresses the application for the service to the user whose confirmation image has not been correctly viewed as a stereoscopic image. May be. “Combined” may be written literally, or may be presented at a related place such as a service application screen.
[0012]
Another aspect of the present invention is also a stereoscopic image providing method, wherein a confirmation image that can be viewed stereoscopically with the naked eye is attached to a service application material distributed by an entity that develops the service prior to the start of a stereoscopic image providing service. To do. An example of the service application material is a catalog for catalog shopping. If the confirmation image is printed and distributed here, the above-described effects can be obtained.
[0013]
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a stereoscopic image providing apparatus. The apparatus relates to a first storage unit that holds a stereoscopic image, a second storage unit that holds a confirmation image that can be stereoscopically viewed by the user with the naked eye, and a user applying for a stereoscopic image providing service. A control unit that displays a confirmation image on a user terminal in a scene to be performed. This apparatus is typically a Web server or an image server with the front end. The control unit displays a confirmation image on the user terminal. The entity is a CPU and a communication protocol function realized by the CPU that reads the confirmation image stored in the second storage unit and sends it to the user's browser, for example. There may be. This configuration can provide the above-described effects as a device.
[0014]
This device is further limited to the service of the confirmation reception unit that receives the confirmation image when the user who has correctly confirmed the confirmation image and the user who has been notified that the confirmation image has been correctly recognized. You may provide with the application process part which receives an application. In this case, since the user applies for the service within his / her own responsibility, even if the stereoscopic image cannot be visually recognized later, a certain exemption can be obtained as the service subject.
[0015]
It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a stereoscopic image providing technique according to an embodiment is applied to a network system 10. The network system 10 includes a service site 12 and a plurality of user terminals 14, which are connected by the Internet 16. The service site 12 includes a stereoscopic image server 18 that is a device that provides stereoscopic images. The user accesses the service site 12 using the user terminal 14 and receives a stereoscopic image providing service. The stereoscopic image server 18 displays a confirmation image on a predetermined screen prior to the start of the service for the user. This confirmation image is an image that the user can stereoscopically view with the naked eye, and the user can know the suitability of stereoscopic viewing by viewing the confirmation image in advance.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the stereoscopic image server 18. The stereoscopic image server 18 includes a communication control unit 20 that controls communication with the Internet 16, a first storage unit 22 that stores a number of stereoscopic images in advance, and a second storage unit 24 that stores the above-described confirmation image. When the user can see the confirmation image correctly, a confirmation accepting unit 26 that accepts the confirmation image, an application processing unit 28 that processes the application when the user has applied for service provision, It includes a user list 30 that manages information of users whose applications have been accepted as a list, and an authentication unit 32 that authenticates the user by referring to the user list 30 when an arbitrary user requests access to a stereoscopic image.
[0018]
This configuration can be based on a Web server technology known as a system, and can be realized in hardware by an arbitrary computer CPU, memory, or other LSI, and in software, for example, HTML (hypertext It is realized by a text file such as markup language (XML) or XML (extensible markup language), and other programs such as HTTPD (hypertext transfer protocol daemon). However, here, functional blocks realized by their cooperation are depicted. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.
[0019]
One feature of the processing by the stereoscopic image server 18 is that when the user applies for a stereoscopic image service, the user is made to judge the suitability of stereoscopic vision by showing the user a confirmation image in advance. Accordingly, the application processing unit 28 does not simply accept the user's application as it is, but permits the application of the service on the condition that the user has received a report from the confirmation accepting unit 26 that the user has correctly viewed the confirmation image. To do. According to this procedure, when the stereoscopic image service is actually started, the trouble that the user cannot correctly stereoscopically view can be greatly reduced.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a screen 50 displayed when the user visits the home page of the service site 12. Here, a title “Welcome to 3D View World” is displayed, and a confirmation image 54 is displayed below the title. The confirmation image 54 is generally configured to be stereoscopically visible even with the naked eye. As an image generation method therefor, a parallel method or a crossing method is known. The outline of the principle of the parallel method is that when the left image is viewed with the left eye and the right image is viewed with the right eye, the left and right images gradually approach the center and overlap. You can see it. On the other hand, the principle of the intersection method is a method of viewing the left image with the right eye and the right image with the left eye, which is the reverse of the parallel method. In FIG. 3, a confirmation image 54 by the parallel method is displayed, and an instruction for stereoscopic viewing is described below the confirmation image 54.
[0021]
Further, a first link 56 and a second link 58 for guiding a person who successfully achieved stereoscopic vision and a person who is not so to different pages are displayed in the lower area. A person who has achieved a proper stereoscopic view clicks on the first link 56 to proceed to the screen 70 of FIG. On the other hand, a person who has not been able to properly view stereoscopically clicks on the second link 58 and proceeds to the screen 80 of FIG.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows the linked page of the first link 56. Here, an outline of the service is described as “a large number of stereoscopic images are prepared on this site ...”, and then a procedure 72 for starting the service is described. Below that, a comment 74 and a button 76 are displayed for allowing the user to confirm that the confirmation image 54 is correctly viewed and then applying for or canceling the service. When the user presses an application button on the screen 70, this action is acquired by the confirmation receiving unit 26 via the communication control unit 20. Thereafter, the application form screen (not shown) is displayed. Necessary information is acquired by the application processing unit 28 and the user is registered in the user list 30. In this embodiment, acquisition of an application action by the confirmation receiving unit 26 activates the process of the application processing unit 28.
[0023]
On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a screen 80 for a user who has not been able to properly stereoscopically view. Here, after the outline of the site is explained, a comment field 82 is displayed. In this comment field 82, it is displayed that there is a user who cannot perform stereoscopic viewing correctly depending on conditions such as visual acuity, and that this service is not recommended for such users. However, for those who still subscribe to the service, an explanation 84 and a link 86 are provided to go to the application page. Since the user who pressed the link 86 can recognize that the application has been made after recognizing the possibility that proper stereoscopic viewing cannot be performed, the operator of the service site 12 can obtain a kind of exemption effect. .
[0024]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.
[0025]
For example, in the embodiment, provision and application of a service are made via the Internet 16. However, for example, the service application may be made offline. For example, there is a method of placing a service advertisement in a magazine and attaching a confirmation image. In this case, the same effect as the embodiment can be obtained by allowing the user himself / herself to determine the suitability based on the confirmation image as shown in FIG.
[0026]
In FIG. 3, in the procedure 72 for starting the service, a message indicating that a parallax barrier for stereoscopic viewing is sent to the user is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to the display of a stereoscopic image using a parallax barrier, but can be applied to a system using a lenticular lens or any other optical filter.
[0027]
In the embodiment, the suitability of the user's stereoscopic vision is verified by the confirmation image by the parallel method or the intersection method. However, the format of the confirmation image is not limited as long as it can determine the suitability of the user regardless of these methods.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a stereoscopic image providing service can be facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system including a stereoscopic image server according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic image server according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen that is first displayed when a user visits a service site.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a page led by a user who has correctly viewed the confirmation image.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a page to which a user who has not been able to correctly view the confirmation image is guided.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network system, 12 Service site, 14 User terminal, 18 Stereo image server, 20 Communication control part, 22 1st memory | storage part, 24 2nd memory | storage part, 26 Confirmation reception part, 28 Application processing part, 50, 70, 80 screen 54 Confirmation image.

Claims (4)

Prior to the start of a stereoscopic image providing service via a network, in a network node involved in the service,
Let the user input the result of confirming the appropriateness of their own stereoscopic view from the user terminal,
A screen for accepting the application for the service is displayed on the user terminal for the user who has been notified that the stereoscopic viewing is appropriate,
A stereoscopic image providing method, wherein a stereoscopic image stored in a network node is displayed on a user terminal with reference to the application result . 2. The confirmation image which can be viewed stereoscopically by the naked eye on the screen for service application displayed on the user terminal is displayed in order to prompt the user to confirm the appropriateness of the stereoscopic viewing. The three-dimensional image provision method of description. For the user who has not correctly viewed the confirmation image displayed on the user terminal as a stereoscopic image, the user terminal is provided with a comment for guaranteeing the effect of the service or suppressing the application for the service. The stereoscopic image providing method according to claim 2 , wherein display is performed . An apparatus for providing a stereoscopic image to a user,
A first storage unit for holding a stereoscopic image;
A second storage unit for holding a confirmation image for determining whether or not the user can perform stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye;
A control unit that causes the user terminal to display the confirmation image in a screen display related to the application when the user applies for a stereoscopic image providing service;
A confirmation receiving unit that receives a confirmation when the user who has correctly viewed the confirmation image notifies the fact;
An application processing unit that accepts an application for the service only to a user who has been notified that the confirmation image has been correctly viewed, and
The control unit displays a stereoscopic image held in the first storage unit on a user terminal to a user who has received an application for service, and provides a stereoscopic image providing apparatus.

Images