IP Library › Granted Patent US 12693177
Granted Patent B2
US 12693177 · App. 18/271,951 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program for presenting information based on a force estimated by user preparation to handle an object and a force presented to the user when the user handles the object

Inventors: Shingo Utsuki (Kanagawa, JP); Tsuyoshi Ishikawa (Kanagawa, JP); Junki Inoue (Kanagawa, JP); Takayuki Kurihara (Kanagawa, JP); Takanobu Omata (Kanagawa, JP); Shin Shiroma (Tokyo, JP); Kaoru Koike (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G01L1/005G06F3/0481
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693177
App. No.
18/271,951
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information processing apparatus including circuitry configured to acquire state information of a user during a preparatory motion of the user as the user prepares to handle a tangible object, estimate, based on the acquired state information, a first amount corresponding to a magnitude of a force predicted by the user regarding the tangible object, and control presentation of information to the user based on the first amount and a second amount stored in a memory in association with a force to be presented to the user when the user handles the tangible object.

Claims (50)

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

acquire state information of a user during a preparatory motion of the user as the user prepares to handle a tangible object,

estimate, based on the acquired state information, a first amount corresponding to a force predicted by the user regarding the tangible object, and

control presentation of information to the user based on the first amount and a second amount stored in a memory in association with a force to be provided to the user when the user handles the tangible object.

2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the circuitry controls the presentation of the information to the user based on a difference that is calculated between the second amount and the first amount.

3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to present predetermined information to the user, based on the difference exceeding a predetermined threshold.

4 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to display a virtual object for increasing or reducing a size of the tangible object recognized by the user, based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

5 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to display a virtual object with brightness different from brightness of the tangible object, in at least a partial area of the tangible object in a field of view of the user, based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

6 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to display a video depicting a motion of a subject handling the tangible object, based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

7 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the motion of the subject is a motion in which the subject is holding the tangible object to represent a light weight or a motion in which the subject is holding the tangible object to represent a heavy weight.

8 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to display a virtual object at a predetermined position corresponding to an area of the tangible object in a field of view of the user, based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

9 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to present at least either predetermined text or a predetermined sound, based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

10 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the circuitry performs control to display a virtual object whose motion corresponds to the difference.

11 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 ,

wherein the motion includes at least one a motion of traveling at a velocity corresponding to the difference or a motion of rebounding to a degree of rebound corresponding to the difference.

12 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to

adjust the second amount based on the difference, and

perform control to provide the user with a force corresponding to the adjusted second amount.

13 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 12 ,

wherein, in a case where the adjusted second amount is above a predetermined upper limit, the circuitry performs control to provide the user with force corresponding to the upper limit and performs control to display a virtual object corresponding to an amount by which the adjusted second amount exceeds the upper limit.

14 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to calculate the difference based on subtraction of the first amount from the second amount.

15 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein the circuitry calculates the difference based on subtraction of the first amount from the second amount to which an amount corresponding to a difficulty level of handling of the tangible object or an amount corresponding to an importance level of the tangible object has been added.

16 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first amount is an amount that is predicted by the user with regard to a magnitude of the force or a mass of the tangible object, and

wherein the second amount is magnitude of the force or a mass of the tangible object stored in the memory.

17 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the state information includes posture information regarding the user.

18 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the tangible object is a real object or a virtual object.

19 . An information processing method, executed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

acquiring state information of a user during a preparatory motion of the user as the user prepares to handle a tangible object;

estimating, based on the acquired state information, a first amount corresponding to a force predicted by the user regarding the tangible object; and

controlling presentation of information to the user based on the first amount and a second amount stored in a memory in association with a force to be provided to the user when the user handles the tangible object.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to function as execute a method, the method comprising:

acquiring state information of a user during a preparatory motion of the user as the user prepares to handle a tangible object;

estimating, based on the acquired state information, a first amount corresponding to a force predicted by the user regarding the tangible object; and

controlling presentation of information to the user based on the first amount and a second amount stored in a memory in association with a force to be provided to the user when the user handles the tangible object.