Patent Publication Number: US-10762688-B2

Title: Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/084408 filed on Nov. 21, 2016, which claims priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2016-028033 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 17, 2016. Each of the above-referenced applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program. More specifically, for example, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that transmit images and voices by bidirectional telecommunication via a network so as to execute bidirectional communication. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An bidirectional communication system such as a video conference system that transmits images and voices through bidirectional telecommunication via a network is used in various fields. 
     In recent years, a large number of high-definition large displays are frequently used with enhanced quality of images and voices exchanged in telecommunication via the network, making it possible to perform communication with remote users displayed on the display with realistic feeling. 
     This bidirectional communication system, however, includes a problem that a line-of-sight direction of a user such as a conference participant displayed on a display unit (display) does not match the direction in which the user actually gazes. 
     This is because the camera that photographs the user (conference participant) is a photographed image from a certain viewpoint. An image photographed from one camera viewpoint is displayed on a display apparatus on another party. 
     In a case, however, where there is a viewing user viewing the display image from a direction different from the viewpoint of the camera, the viewing user would feel strange in the viewpoint direction of the user displayed on the display unit. 
     This problem can be serious particularly in a case where a plurality of users (for example, conference participant) is present in front of the display unit. 
     In a case where a plurality of viewers is present in front of the display unit, the user at the position corresponding to the position of the camera that photographed the display image on the display unit can observe the image without feeling strange. In contrast, the user existing at a position different from the position corresponding to the position of the camera that photographed the display image on the display unit, the line-of-sight of the other user (conference participant) displayed on the display unit might look completely different from the original situation. 
     Examples of conventional technologies disclosing a configuration to solve such a problem include Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3139100), Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3289730), Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-070081), Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-096701), Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-088538), and the like. 
     The methods disclosed in these conventional technologies, however, include a configuration that requires the use of a special display, a configuration of correcting an eye image of a face included in the image to change the line-of-sight direction, or the like. The configuration using a special display would disable the use of the conventional display, resulting in high cost. In addition, the configuration of correcting the image of the eyes of the face and changes the line-of-sight direction would be a problem such as artificiality to give a strange feeling about the facial expression because the face is partially corrected. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3139100 
     Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3289730 
     Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-070081 
     Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-096701 
     Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-088538 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problems, for example, and aims to provide an information processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, information processing system, an information processing method, and a program capable of providing a display image of a display unit (display) used in a bidirectional communication system as an image with reduced artificiality to give a strange feeling, for example. 
     One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method and a program capable of matching a line-of-sight direction of a user displayed in a display region of a display unit observed by many viewing user with an actual line-of-sight direction. 
     Solutions to Problems 
     A first aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus including: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     Furthermore, a second aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus including: 
     a reception unit that executes data reception via a communication network; 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs, via the reception unit, a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, and 
     the display unit that displays the combined image, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     Furthermore, a third aspect of the present disclosure is 
     an information processing system including: a transmission apparatus that executes image transmission; and a reception apparatus that receives a transmission image from the transmission apparatus and displays the transmission image on a display unit, 
     in which the transmission apparatus includes: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to the display unit, 
     the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, 
     the image combining unit extracts a portion from each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted image to generate the combined image, and 
     the reception apparatus receives the combined image transmitted by the transmission apparatus, and displays the received combined image on the display unit. 
     Furthermore, a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing method to be executed on an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus including: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with the relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     Furthermore, a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is a program that causes an information processing apparatus to execute information processing, the information processing apparatus including: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, 
     in which the program 
     causes the virtual viewpoint image generation unit to generate a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     causes the image combining unit 
     to execute processing of extracting a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with the relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combining the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     Note that the program of the present disclosure is a program that can be provided by a storage medium or a telecommunication medium provided in a computer readable format to an information processing apparatus or a computer system that can execute various program codes, for example. By providing such a program in a computer readable format, processing according to the program is implemented on the information processing apparatus or the computer system. 
     Still other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description based on exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and attached drawings to be described below. Note that in the present description, the system represents a logical set of a plurality of apparatuses, and that all the constituent apparatuses need not be in a same housing. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve a configuration that reduces the artificiality to give a strange feeling about the viewpoint of the user displayed on the display unit not matching with the actual viewpoint. 
     Specifically, a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints is input to generate a plurality of virtual viewpoint images, and then, the plurality of virtual viewpoint images is combined to generate a combined image to be output on a display unit. The virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of each of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, while the image combining unit extracts a portion from each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted image to generate a combined image. The combined image is generated by extracting a display region image located at a front position of the viewing user at the viewpoint corresponding to the virtual viewpoint image from among the user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images corresponding to individual viewing users. 
     With this configuration, it is possible to achieve a configuration that reduces the artificiality to give a strange feeling about the viewpoint of the user displayed on the display unit not matching with the actual viewpoint. 
     Note that effects described here in the present specification are provided for purposes of exemplary illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other additional effects may also be contemplated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a bidirectional communication system. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are diagrams illustrating a bidirectional communication system. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams illustrating problems of an image displayed on a display unit. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating problems of an image displayed on a display unit. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams illustrating an exemplary solution of a problem of an image displayed on a display unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary solution of a problem of an image displayed on a display unit. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating a specific example of virtual viewpoint image generation processing. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram illustrating a specific example of 3D model generation processing. 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 23  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 25A and 25B  are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 26A and 26B  is a are diagrams illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 27  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram illustrating exemplary processing executed by an information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the description is provided in accordance with the following items. 
     1. Outline and problems of configuration of bidirectional communication system 
     2. Configuration and processing of information processing apparatus according to first exemplary embodiment of present disclosure 
     2-1. Processing executed by information processing apparatus 
     2-2. Configuration example of information processing apparatus 
     2-3. Specific example of virtual viewpoint image generation processing 
     2-4. Specific example of 3D model generation processing 
     2-5. Modification (variation) of configuration and processing of information processing apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment 
     3. Configuration and processing of information processing apparatus according to second exemplary embodiment of present disclosure 
     3-1. Processing executed by information processing apparatus 
     3-2. Configuration example of information processing apparatus 
     3-3. Modification (variation) of configuration and processing of information processing apparatus of the second exemplary embodiment 
     4. Configuration and processing of information processing apparatus according to third exemplary embodiment of present disclosure 
     4-1. Processing executed by information processing apparatus 
     4-2. Configuration example of information processing apparatus 
     4-3. Modification (variation) of configuration and processing of information processing apparatus of the third exemplary embodiment 
     5. Hardware configuration example of information processing apparatus 
     6. Summary of the configuration of the present disclosure 
     1. Outline and Problems of Configuration of Bidirectional Communication System 
     First, an outline and problems of the configuration of the bidirectional communication system will be described. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a bidirectional communication system. 
       FIG. 1  includes: 
     (1) First location; and 
     (2) Second location. 
     The figure illustrates a configuration example of these two locations. 
     These two locations are provided at remote places separated from each other, and users at individual locations perform bidirectional communication with each other. Individual systems at individual locations are connected with each other via a network  30 . 
     The first location includes users A, B, and C. 
     Moreover, the first location includes a data processing unit  10 , together with a display unit (display)  11 , a camera  12 , and a voice input/output unit (microphone and speaker)  13 , connected to the data processing unit  10 . 
     Meanwhile, the second location includes users D, E and F. 
     Moreover, the second location includes a data processing unit  20 , together with a display unit (display)  21 , a camera  22 , and a voice input/output unit (microphone and speaker)  23 , connected to the data processing unit  20 . 
     The camera  12  at the first location photographs the users A, B, and C at the first location, and photographed image data is transmitted to the data processing unit  20  at the second location via the data processing unit  10  and the network  30 . 
     The data processing unit  20  at the second location displays a received image from the first location, on the display unit  21 . 
     Further, the voice input/output unit (microphone and speaker)  13  at the first location obtains speech or the like of the users A, B, and C at the first location, and the obtained voice data is transmitted to the data processing unit  20  at the second location via the data processing unit  10  and the network  30 . 
     The data processing unit  20  at the second location outputs the received voice from the first location via the voice input/output unit (microphone and speaker)  23 . 
     Meanwhile, the camera  22  at the second location photographs the users D, E, and F at the second location, and photographed image data is transmitted to the data processing unit  10  at the first location via the data processing unit  20  and the network  30 . 
     The data processing unit  10  at the first location displays the image received from the second location, on the display unit  11 . 
     Moreover, the voice input/output unit (microphone and speaker)  23  at the second location obtains speech or the like of the users D, E, and F at the second location, and the obtained voice data is transmitted to the data processing unit  10  at the first location via the data processing unit  20  and the network  30 . 
     The data processing unit  10  at the first location outputs the received voice from the second location via the voice input/output unit (microphone and speaker)  13 . 
     This processing enables the users A, B, and C at the first location and the users D, E, and F at the second location to obtain images and speech of remote users via the display unit and the speaker, so as to perform bidirectional communication. 
       FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are diagrams illustrating one example of a communication environment implemented in a bidirectional communication system. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates users A, B, and C on the first location side and users D, E, and F at the second location displayed on the display unit  11 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates users D, E, and F on the second location side and users A, B, and C at the first location displayed on the display unit  21 . 
     In these locations, it is possible to communicate with each other having a realistic feeling that the other users in distant locations are present in front of one user, that is, a feeling that they are in a same conference room as illustrated in  FIG. 2C . 
     This bidirectional communication system, however, includes a problem that a line-of-sight direction of a user displayed on the display unit (display) does not match the direction in which the user actually gazes. 
     This is mainly because the image photographed from one viewpoint where the camera for photographing the user at each of locations is placed is displayed on the other party&#39;s display apparatus. 
     This problem can be serious particularly in a case where a plurality of users (for example, conference participant) is present in front of the display unit. 
     This issue will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B  and the following. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams illustrating an exemplary display image displayed on the display unit of each of locations in the bidirectional communication system described with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C . 
     The display unit  11  of the first location displays images of users D, E, and F at the second location. 
     This image is an image photographed by the camera  22  at the second location. 
     Meanwhile, the images of the users A, B, and C at the first location are displayed on the display unit  21  at the second location. 
     This image is an image photographed by the camera  12  at the first location. 
     Now it is assumed that the user C at the first location starts speaking, with eye-gaze, to the user E at the center of the users D, E, and F at the second location displayed on the display unit  11 . 
     Since the users D, E and F at the second location are displayed on the display unit  11  and the user E is displayed in a central region in the horizontal direction of the display unit, the user C speaks, with eye-gaze, to the center direction (P 2 ) of the display unit  11 . 
     Note that  FIGS. 3A and 3B  include identifiers P 1 , P 2 , and P 3  from the left side of the figure as position identifiers indicating the horizontal direction of the display unit  11 . 
     The camera  12  for photographing the users A, B, and C at the first location is fixed in the central region (P 2 ) in the horizontal direction of the display unit. 
     The camera  12  photographs the viewpoint image from the position P 2  and the photographed image is displayed on the display unit  21  at the second location. 
     The users A, B, and C at the first location displayed on the display unit  21  at the second location are set as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     The speaking user C at the first location is speaking, with eye-gaze, to the user E displayed on the display unit  11 . This line-of-sight is directed to the position (P) of the camera  12 . 
     That is, the user C is in a state of speaking with the line-of-sight directed to the camera  12 , and the image of the user C is photographed as a front-facing image with respect to the camera  12 . 
     As a result, the image of the first location C displayed on the display unit  21  of the second location is an image facing the front. 
     That is, the display image of the display unit  21  at the second location is a display image in which the user C seems to be speaking to the user F at the second location. 
     Note that the orientation of the face is changed in the figure with the line-of-sight direction in order to clearly express the strange feeling about the line-of-sight direction of each of the users, although the actual image would give a slight level of strange feeling about the user&#39;s line-of-sight in the display image. This similarly applies to the other drawings illustrated below. 
     In this manner, even though the user C at the first location is speaking to the user E at the second location, the user F at the second location might misunderstand that the user C at the first location is speaking to the user F oneself. 
     In this manner, since the line-of-sight direction of the subject displayed on the display unit is decided by the position of the photographing viewpoint of the camera, leading to observation of an image in a line-of-sight direction different from the actual line-of-sight direction depending on the position of the user arranged in a line in front of the display unit. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating another example in which an image with an erroneous line-of-sight direction is displayed. 
     The display unit  11  of the first location displays images of users D, E, and F at the second location. 
     This image is an image photographed by the camera  22  at the second location. 
     Meanwhile, the images of the users A, B, and C at the first location are displayed on the display unit  21  at the second location. 
     This image is an image photographed by the camera  12  at the first location. 
     The example illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is an example in which the user C at the first location is speaking, with eye-gaze, to the user F at the second location displayed on the display unit  11 . 
     The users D, E, and F at the second location are displayed on the display unit  11 . Since the user F is displayed in a front region (P 3 ) from the user C on the display unit  11 , the user C speaks, with eye-gaze, to a front (P 3 ) of the display unit  11 . 
     The camera  12  for photographing the users A, B, and C at the first location is fixed in the central region (P 2 ) in the horizontal direction of the display unit. 
     The camera  12  photographs the viewpoint image from the position P 2  and the photographed image is displayed on the display unit  21  at the second location. 
     The users A, B, and C at the first location displayed on the display unit  21  at the second location are set as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     The speaking user C at the first location is speaking, with eye-gaze, to the user F displayed on the display unit  11 . This line-of-sight is not directed to the position (P) of the camera  12 . 
     That is, the user C is in a state of speaking with the line-of-sight directed to a direction different from the camera  12 , and the image of the user C is photographed as an image with the line-of-sight directed to a direction different from the camera  12 . 
     As a result, the image of the first location C displayed on the display unit  21  of the second location is an image facing rightward (outer side than F), as illustrated in the drawing. 
     That is, the display image of the display unit  21  at the second location is a display image in which the user C seems to be speaking to outer side than the user F at the second location. 
     Note that the orientation of the face is changed in the figure with the line-of-sight direction for simplification, although the actual image gives a slight level of strange feeling about the user&#39;s line-of-sight in the display image. 
     In this manner, even though the user C at the first location is speaking to the user F at the second location, the user F at the second location might misunderstand that the user C at the first location is not speaking to the user F oneself. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 3A   3 B,  4 A, and  4 B, the line-of-sight direction of the subject displayed on the display unit is decided depending on the position of the photographing viewpoint of the camera. 
     This line-of-sight direction is the line-of-sight direction viewed from the camera viewpoint. 
     Therefore, when the viewing user in front of the display unit displaying the photographed image observes the display image from the viewpoint position different from the viewpoint of the camera that photographed the image, the line-of-sight direction of the person in the display image is different from the actual line-of-sight direction, leading to hindrance of smooth communication. 
     An exemplary conventional configuration for solving such a problem will be described. 
     For example, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3289730) discloses a configuration, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in which images of various viewpoint directions are photographed by a plurality of cameras  31  to  33 , and the plurality of images is displayed on a multi-viewpoint image display  35 . 
     The multi-viewpoint image display  35  is a special display that enables viewing of images that differ depending on the viewing direction. 
     A photographed image of a D viewpoint image photographing camera  31  displayed on the multi-viewpoint image display  35  can be viewed solely from the position of the user D at the second location. 
     A photographed image of an E viewpoint image photographing camera  31  displayed on the multi-viewpoint image display  35  can be viewed solely from the position of the user E at the second location. 
     A photographed image of a viewpoint F image photographing camera  31  displayed on the multi-viewpoint image display  35  can be viewed solely from the position of the user F at the second location. 
     With this configuration, the users D, E, and F at the second location can view images giving no strange feeling corresponding to their individual positions (viewpoints). 
     Implementation of this configuration, however, needs a special multi-viewpoint image display. 
     In addition, there arises a problem that the position of the camera set at the first location has to be changed with the position of the user at the second location. 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , Patent Document 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-070081) discloses a configuration that corrects and displays the position, the shape, or the like of the eyes on the face of a person included in the display image so as to allow the display image on the display unit to match with the actual line-of-sight direction. 
     This processing, however, need to extract a face image to be displayed on the display unit, identify the image region of the eye included in the extracted face image, and perform correction processing on the eye image region in accordance with the actual line-of-sight direction of each of persons, leading to necessity of performing special image processing. 
     Furthermore, image correction processing like this might result in displaying an image that would give more strange feeling. 
     Hereinafter, a configuration of the present disclosure capable of displaying an image in which the line-of-sight direction of the user displayed on the display unit (display) matches the actual line-of-sight direction without causing such a problem will be described. 
     2. Configuration and Processing of Information Processing Apparatus According to First Exemplary Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Hereinafter, a configuration and processing of information processing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
     The information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure described below controls a display image on a display unit (display) used in the bidirectional communication system illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C  described above, for example. 
     Hereinafter, a plurality of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be sequentially described. 
     2-1. Processing Executed by Information Processing Apparatus 
     Processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B  and the following. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate users and a display unit at a first location and a second location during execution of bidirectional communication, similarly to the description with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C . 
       FIG. 7A  is First location 
       FIG. 7B  is Second location 
     These two locations are remote places separated from each other, and users at individual locations perform bidirectional communication with each other. Systems at the individual locations are connected via a network, so as to transmit or receive images and voices. 
     There are users A, B, and C at the first location, and images containing users A, B, and C photographed by cameras  121  and  122  on the first location side, or a combined image generated on the basis of these photographed images is transmitted to the second location and displayed on a display unit  200  at the second location. 
     This display image is observed by viewing users D, E, and F at the second location. 
     Similarly, there are users D, E, and F at the second location, and images containing the users D, E, and F photographed by an L viewpoint camera  221  and an R viewpoint camera  222  on the second location side, or a combined image generated on the basis of these photographed image is transmitted to the first location and displayed on a display unit  100  at the first location. 
     This display image is observed by the viewing users A, B, and C at the first location. 
     The images photographed by the cameras  121  and  122  at the first location side are input to a data processing unit of an information processing apparatus on the first location side, and a transmission image (combined image) for the second location is generated and transmitted to the second location. 
     Similarly, the images photographed by the cameras  221  and  222  on the second location side are input to a data processing unit of an information processing apparatus on the second location side, and a transmission image (combined image) for the first location is generated and transmitted to the first location. 
     Processing executed by the information processing apparatuses of the first location and the second location is similar to each other, and hereinafter, processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location will be described as a representative example. 
     The first location includes the display unit (display)  100 , and further includes the plurality of cameras  121  and  122  for photographing images from different viewpoints. 
     The L viewpoint camera  121  photographs the users A, B, and C from the L viewpoint on the left side of the display unit  100 . 
     Furthermore, the other R viewpoint camera  122  photographs the users A, B, and C from the R viewpoint on the right side of the display unit  100 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location inputs images photographed from these two different viewpoints and generates observation images (virtual viewpoint images) from the three virtual viewpoints illustrated in the drawing. That is, they are observation images (virtual viewpoint images) from the following three virtual viewpoints. 
     (1) Observation image from virtual viewpoint D,  311  (virtual viewpoint D image) 
     (2) Observation image from virtual viewpoint E,  312  (virtual viewpoint E image) 
     (3) Observation Image from Virtual Viewpoint F,  313  (virtual viewpoint F Image) 
     The virtual viewpoints D to F,  311  to  313  respectively correspond to the viewpoint positions of the viewing users D, E and F at the second location. 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location obtains viewing position information of the viewing users D, E, and F at the second location from the first location via a network, and decides the viewpoint position of the virtual viewpoint image to be generated in accordance with the position information of the viewing users D, E, and F on the second location side. 
     That is, the information processing apparatus at the first location sets virtual viewpoints D to F,  311  to  313  corresponding to the viewing positions of the viewing users D, E and F at the second location, and generates a virtual viewpoint image observed from each of the virtual viewpoints. 
     Note that the virtual viewpoint image is generated using two photographed images photographed from two different viewpoint positions, that is, an L viewpoint image photographed by the L viewpoint camera  211  and an R viewpoint image photographed by the R viewpoint camera  212 . While known processing can be applied to this virtual viewpoint image generation processing, a specific processing example will be described below. 
     An example of virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the information processing apparatus at the first location generates an image from a virtual viewpoint corresponding to the viewpoint position (viewpoint position relative to display unit  200  at second location) of the viewing users D, E, and F at the second location. 
     The example illustrated in  FIG. 8  generates three virtual viewpoint images observed from three virtual viewpoints corresponding to the viewpoint positions of the three viewing users D, E, and F at the second location. 
     These correspond to the following three virtual viewpoint images illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     (1) Virtual viewpoint D image  321  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint D,  311 , 
     (2) Virtual viewpoint E image  322  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint E,  312 , and 
     (3) Virtual viewpoint F image  323  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint F,  313 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location generates a combined image to be transmitted to the second location from these three virtual viewpoint images. 
     Specifically, selected regions  326  to  328  illustrated as the dotted line frame regions in individual virtual viewpoint images  321  to  323  in  FIG. 8  are obtained, and these selected regions  326  to  328  are combined to generate one combined image. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example of generating a specific combined image  331 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the selected regions  326  to  328  illustrated as dotted line frame regions in the virtual viewpoint images  321  to  323  are combined to generate one combined image  331 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location transmits this combined image  331  to the second location. 
     The combined image  331  is displayed on the display unit  200  of the location of the second location. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate an example of a display image on the display unit  200  at the second location. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the display image of the display unit  200  at the second location is the combined image  331  generated by combining three virtual viewpoint images, namely the virtual viewpoint D image  341 , the virtual viewpoint E image  342 , and the virtual viewpoint F image  343 . 
     The display image at the front of the viewing user D at the second location is the virtual viewpoint D image  341 . Moreover, the display image at the front of the viewing user D is the virtual viewpoint E image  342 . Furthermore, the display image at the front of the viewing user F is the virtual viewpoint F image  343 . 
     In this manner, the display image on the front of each of the viewing users is an image observed from the viewpoints of each of the viewing users, meaning that the display image having a viewpoint direction matching the actual viewpoint direction of the displayed user of the display unit is displayed. 
     The example described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A , and  10 B is an exemplary case where there were three users (bidirectional communication participants) in each of the first location and the second location. 
     The number of users at both locations, however, can be set in various manners. 
     Hereinafter, processing examples in various types of setting will be described. 
     The processing in the following two settings will be sequentially described. 
     (Setting 1) Case where the number of users on the image transmission side (number of displayed users) is smaller than the number of users on the image reception display side (number of viewing users) 
     (Setting 2) Case where the number of users on the image transmission side (number of displayed users) is larger than the number of users on the image reception display side (number of viewing users) 
     Note that, in either case, the basic processing mode in a setting in which the displayed user and the viewing user on the display unit face each other is a processing mode in which a virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user is displayed on the front region of the viewing user. 
     (Processing Corresponding to Setting 1) 
     First, a processing example in a case where the number of users on the image transmission side is smaller than the number of users on the image reception display side will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11A and 11B  and the following. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the user setting of each of locations is performed as follows. 
     Users A and C (displayed users) are present at the first location, and 
     Users D, E and F (viewing users) are present at the second location. 
     This setting is used as user setting. 
     Note that an exemplary case where an image of the user at the first location is transmitted to the second location and displayed on the display unit  200  of the second location will be described herein, and accordingly, the users at the first location will be referred to as displayed user, and the users at the second locations as viewing users. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , in a case where the displayed users are two (A and C), the line-of-sight direction need to be considered solely about the two users A and C. 
     While there are three viewing users D, E, and F are present at the second location, no displayed user is displayed in front of the viewing user E. 
     In such a case, the information processing apparatus at the first location inputs images photographed from these two different viewpoints of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122 , and generates observation images (virtual viewpoint images) from the two virtual viewpoints illustrated in the drawing. That is, they are observation images (virtual viewpoint images) from the following two virtual viewpoints. 
     (1) Observation image from virtual viewpoint D,  311  (virtual viewpoint D image) 
     (2) Observation Image from Virtual Viewpoint F,  313  (virtual viewpoint F Image) 
     The virtual viewpoints D,  311  corresponds to the viewpoint position of the viewing user D at the second location. 
     The virtual viewpoint F,  313  corresponds to the viewpoint position of the viewing user F at the second location. 
     No observation image (virtual viewpoint E image) from the virtual viewpoint E,  312  is not to be generated because there is no displayed user to be displayed at the front position of the viewing user at the second location. 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location obtains viewing position information of the viewing users D, E, and F at the second location from the first location via a network, and decides the viewpoint position of the virtual viewpoint image to be generated in accordance with the position information of the viewing users D, E, and F on the second location side and presence/absence information of the displayed user at that front position. 
     That is, the information processing apparatus at the first location sets virtual viewpoints D to F,  311  to  313  corresponding to the viewing positions of the viewing users D, E and F at the second location, and further determines whether there is a displayed user at the front position of each of the virtual viewpoints, and generates a virtual viewpoint image observed from each of the virtual viewpoints in a case where there is the displayed user. 
     In the present example, since there are the displayed users A and C solely at the front position of each of the virtual viewpoints of the viewing users D and F at the second location, and there is no displayed user at the front position of the virtual viewpoint of the viewing user E at the second location. Accordingly, two virtual viewpoint images observed from the individual virtual viewpoints of the viewing users D and F are to be generated. 
     Note that the virtual viewpoint image is generated using two photographed images photographed from two different viewpoint positions, that is, an L viewpoint image photographed by the L viewpoint camera  211  and an R viewpoint image photographed by the R viewpoint camera  212 . While known processing can be applied to this virtual viewpoint image generation processing, a specific processing example will be described below. 
     An example of virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location will be described with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the information processing apparatus at the first location generates an image from a virtual viewpoint corresponding to the viewpoint position (viewpoint position relative to display unit  200  at second location) of the viewing users D and F at the second location. 
     The example illustrated in  FIG. 12  generates two virtual viewpoint images observed from two virtual viewpoints corresponding to the viewpoint positions of the two viewing users D and F at the second location. 
     These correspond to the following two virtual viewpoint images illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     (1) Virtual viewpoint D image  321  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint D,  311 , 
     (2) Virtual viewpoint F image  323  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint F,  313 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location generates, from these two virtual viewpoint images, a combined image to be transmitted to the second location. 
     Specifically, selected regions  351  and  352  illustrated as the dotted line frame regions in individual virtual viewpoint images  321  and  323  in  FIG. 12  are obtained, and these selected regions  351  and  352  are combined to generate one combined image. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an example of generating a specific combined image  361 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the selected regions  351  and  352  illustrated as dotted line frame regions in the virtual viewpoint images  321  and  323  are combined to generate one combined image  361 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location transmits this combined image  361  to the second location. 
     The combined image  361  is displayed on the display unit  200  of the location of the second location. 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate an example of a display image of the display unit  200  at the second location. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , the display image of the display unit  200  at the second location is the combined image  361  obtained by combining two virtual viewpoint images, namely a virtual viewpoint D image  371  and a virtual viewpoint F image  372 . 
     The display image of the front of the viewing user D at the second location is the virtual viewpoint D image  371 . Moreover, the display image on the front of the viewing user F is the virtual viewpoint F image  372 . A virtual viewpoint E image is not set at the front of the viewing user E. Accordingly, in a case where the viewing user E views the leftward direction, the virtual viewpoint D image  371  is observed. In a case where the viewing user E views the right side, the virtual viewpoint F image  372  is observed. 
     In this manner, in this example, the virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user is displayed in a case where the displayed user is displayed in the front display region of the viewing user viewing the display unit. Each of the virtual viewpoint images is an observation image from the viewpoint of the viewing user viewing from the front, and the display image, meaning that the display image having a viewpoint direction matching the actual viewpoint direction of the displayed user of the display unit is displayed. 
     In a case, however, where the displayed user is not displayed in the display region at the front of the viewing user, the virtual viewpoint image from the viewing user&#39;s viewpoint would not be displayed. 
     (Processing Corresponding to Setting 2) 
     Next, a processing example in a case where the number of users on the image transmission side is larger than the number of users on the image reception display side will be described with reference to  FIGS. 15A and 15B  and the following. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the user setting of each of locations is the following setting. 
     Users A, B, and C (displayed users) are present at the first location, and 
     Users D and F (viewing users) are present at the second location. 
     This setting is used as user setting. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , in a case where there are three displayed users (A, B, and C), the line-of-sight direction need to be considered about the three users A, B, and C. 
     Two users D and F are viewing users at the second location. 
     In such a case, the information processing apparatus at the first location inputs images photographed from these two different viewpoints of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122 , and generates observation images (virtual viewpoint images) from the two virtual viewpoints illustrated in the drawing. That is, they are observation images (virtual viewpoint images) from the following two virtual viewpoints. 
     (1) Observation image from virtual viewpoint D,  311  (virtual viewpoint D image) 
     (2) Observation Image from Virtual Viewpoint F,  313  (virtual viewpoint F Image) 
     The virtual viewpoints D,  311  corresponds to the viewpoint position of the viewing user D at the second location. 
     The virtual viewpoint F,  313  corresponds to the viewpoint position of the viewing user F at the second location. 
     No observation image (virtual viewpoint E image) from the virtual viewpoint E,  312  is not to be generated because there is no viewing user corresponding to this viewpoint at the second location. 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location obtains viewing position information of the viewing users D and F at the second location from the first location via a network, and decides the viewpoint position of the virtual viewpoint image to be generated in accordance with the position information of the viewing users D and F on the second location side. 
     That is, the information processing apparatus at the first location sets virtual viewpoints D,  311  and F 313  corresponding to the viewing positions of the viewing users D and F at the second location, and generates a virtual viewpoint image observed from each of the virtual viewpoints. 
     Note that the virtual viewpoint image is generated using two photographed images photographed from two different viewpoint positions, that is, an L viewpoint image photographed by the L viewpoint camera  211  and an R viewpoint image photographed by the R viewpoint camera  212 . While known processing can be applied to this virtual viewpoint image generation processing, a specific processing example will be described below. 
     An example of virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location will be described with reference to  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the information processing apparatus at the first location. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the information processing apparatus at the first location generates an image from a virtual viewpoint corresponding to the viewpoint position (viewpoint position relative to display unit  200  at second location) of the viewing users D and F at the second location. 
     The example illustrated in  FIG. 16  generates two virtual viewpoint images observed from two virtual viewpoints corresponding to the viewpoint positions of the two viewing users D and F at the second location. 
     These correspond to the following two virtual viewpoint images illustrated in  FIG. 16 . 
     (1) Virtual viewpoint D image  321  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint D,  311 , 
     (2) Virtual viewpoint F image  323  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint F,  313 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location generates, from these two virtual viewpoint images, a combined image to be transmitted to the second location. 
     Specifically, selected regions  381  and  382  illustrated as the dotted line frame regions in individual virtual viewpoint images  321  and  323  in  FIG. 16  are obtained, and these selected regions  381  and  382  are combined to generate one combined image. 
     The selected region  381  of the virtual viewpoint D image  321  is an image region including the displayed users A and B, while the selected region  382  of the virtual viewpoint F image  322  is an image region including the displayed user C. 
     Note that while the example illustrated in  FIG. 16  is an exemplary setting of including the displayed user B in the same selected region  381  as the displayed user A, the displayed user B may be set to be included in the same selected region  382  as the displayed user C. Moreover, it is allowable to have a configuration of deciding in which region the displayed user B is to be included in accordance with the line-of-sight of the displayed user B. 
     For example, in a case where the displayed user B is watching the viewing user D, the displayed user B is included in the selected region  381  on the virtual viewpoint D side, and in a case where the displayed user B is watching the viewing user F, the displayed user B is to be included in the selected region  382  on the virtual viewpoint F side. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates an example of generating a specific combined image  383 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the selected regions  381  and  382  illustrated as dotted line frame regions in the virtual viewpoint images  321  and  323  are combined to generate the one combined image  383 . 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location transmits this combined image  383  to the second location. 
     The combined image  383  is displayed on the display unit  200  of the location of the second location. 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate an example of a display image of the display unit  200  at the second location. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 18A and 18B , the display image of the display unit  200  at the second location is the combined image  383  generated by combining two virtual viewpoint images, namely a virtual viewpoint D image  391  and a virtual viewpoint F image  392 . 
     The display image of the front of the viewing user D at the second location is the virtual viewpoint D image  391 . Moreover, the display image on the front of the viewing user F is the virtual viewpoint F image  392 . A virtual viewpoint E image is not set on the front of the viewing user E. Accordingly, in the case of viewing in the front to left direction, the virtual viewpoint D image  391  is observed. In the case of viewing the right side, the virtual viewpoint F image  392  is observed. 
     In this manner, in this example, the virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user is displayed in a case where the displayed user is displayed in the front display region of the viewing user viewing the display unit. Each of the virtual viewpoint images is an observation image from the viewpoint of the viewing user viewing from the front, and the display image, meaning that the display image having a viewpoint direction matching the actual viewpoint direction of the displayed user of the display unit is displayed. 
     In a case, however, where the viewing user is not present in the front of the displayed user displayed in the display unit, the virtual viewpoint image from the non-existing viewing user&#39;s viewpoint would not be displayed. 
     2-2. Configuration Example of Information Processing Apparatus 
     Next, a configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 19  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing apparatus installed at the first location. 
     Note that the same information processing apparatus is installed in the second location, and mutual transmission and reception of images, voices, and other control information are executed via a network. 
     An imaging unit  401  is an imaging unit that corresponds to the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, and photographs images from different viewpoints. 
     A display unit  403  displays a combined image transmitted from the second location received via a reception unit  402 . 
     The photographed image of the imaging unit  401  is input to a data processing unit  410 . 
     On the basis of these input images, the data processing unit  410  generates a combined image as an image to be displayed on the display unit at the second location. 
     The photographed image of the imaging unit  401  is input to a virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  via an image input unit  411  of the data processing unit  410 . 
     The virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  executes processing of generating an image from a specific virtual viewpoint. 
     For example, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  generates the following virtual viewpoint image described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 , or the like. 
     (1) Virtual viewpoint D image  321  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint D,  311 , 
     (2) Virtual viewpoint E image  322  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint E,  312 , and 
     (3) Virtual viewpoint F image  323  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint F,  313 . 
     These virtual viewpoint images are generated on the basis of photographed images of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, that is, images from different viewpoints, and depth information. 
     The depth information is distance information to the subject in the image detected by a depth detection unit  412 . The distance from the camera is detected in units of pixel. 
     Depth detection processing by the depth detection unit  412  is executed using the photographed images of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, that is, images from different viewpoints, for example. 
     Specifically, a depth map having depth data (distance information) corresponding to pixels included in each of the images generated by a stereo matching method. Note that a depth map corresponding to each of the images may be generated by using a special sensor capable of depth measurement without using the photographed image. 
     The user position detection unit  413  detects the position of the user (communication participant) in front of the display unit  403 . For example, the user position is detected on the basis of photographed images from two different viewpoints input by the image input unit  411 . Note that the user position detection unit  413  may be configured to detect the user position using a position sensor. 
     The user position information  421  detected by the user position detection unit  413  is input to the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  and the image combining unit  415 . Furthermore, the user position information  421  is transmitted to the second location as viewing user position information  432  via a transmission unit  404 . This transmission information is used as viewing user position information  432  at the second location. 
     While the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  generates an image from a specific virtual viewpoint, from which viewpoint a virtual viewpoint image is to be generated is decided on the basis of the corresponding positional relationship between the displayed user and the viewing user as described in the above processing example. 
     For this processing, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  inputs the user position information  421  generated by the user position detection unit  413 , and further inputs the viewing user position information  422  received from the second location where the viewing user is located via the reception unit  402 . 
     On the basis of these pieces of input information, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  decides from which viewpoint a virtual viewpoint image is to be generated. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16, 17, 18A, and 18B , in a case where the viewing user and the displayed user face each other in the front direction, a virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the viewpoint of the viewing user with this setting is generated as basic processing. 
     Note that the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  may include a 3D model generation unit that generates a 3D model formed by three-dimensional data of a subject. The 3D model is formed by three-dimensional position data of the subject and pixel value data of individual positions. Note that the 3D model can also be generated on the basis of images from different viewpoints and depth information. A specific processing example will be described below. 
     The 3D model includes data for generating a virtual viewpoint image from a large number of viewpoints. In a case where the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  includes a 3D model generation unit, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  first generates a 3D model, and then, generates a necessary virtual viewpoint image from the generated 3D model. 
     The virtual viewpoint image generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  is output to the image combining unit  415 . 
     The image combining unit  415  executes combining processing of the virtual viewpoint image generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414 , and generates a combined image (=transmission image (display image)) to be displayed on the display unit of the second location. 
     For example, as described with reference to  FIG. 9  or the like, a selected region is extracted from a plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate one combined image. 
     Note that this combining processing is executed on the basis of the corresponding positional relationship between the displayed user and the viewing user. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16, 17, 18A, and 18B , basic processing generates a combined image in which a virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user is set in a case where there is a displayed user in the front region of the viewing user. 
     The combined image  431  generated by the combined image generation unit  415  is transmitted to the second location via the transmission unit  404 . 
     2-3. Specific Example of Virtual Viewpoint Image Generation Processing 
     Next, a specific example of the virtual viewpoint image generation processing executed by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  will be described with reference to  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 20  illustrates an xz plane in which the rightward direction is the x-axis illustrating the horizontal direction, and the upward direction is the z-axis illustrating the depth. 
     It is assumed that a virtual viewpoint image I_V photographed by a virtual camera C_V of a virtual viewpoint is generated from images I_L and I_R photographed by two cameras C_L and C_R. 
     Note that, in the present specification, a character after an underline (_) represents a subscript. 
     For example, I_L represents IL. 
     The cameras C_L and C_R correspond to the L viewpoint camera  121  and R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A  and B or the like. I_L corresponds to a photographed image of the camera C_L, while I_R corresponds to a photographed image of the camera C_R. 
     A virtual image I_V being a photographed image of the virtual camera C_V corresponds to a virtual viewpoint D to F images each being a photographed image from the virtual viewpoints D to F illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 , for example. 
     An optical center of the camera C_L is defined as an origin (x, z)=(0, 0), while the separation distance between the camera C_L and the camera C_R is defined as a. 
     The coordinate position (x, z) of each of the cameras is as follows. 
     Position of camera C_L=(0, 0), 
     Position of camera C_R=(a, 0), and 
     Position of virtual camera C_V=(pa, 0). 
     where, 0&lt;p&lt;1. 
     The coordinates (x, z) of the image center of the photographed image of each of the cameras are as follows. 
     Center position of photographed image I_L of camera C_L=(0, −f), 
     Center position of photographed image I_R of camera C_R=(a, −f), and 
     Center position of photographed image I_V of the virtual camera C_V=(pa, −f). 
     The subject position in the three images of a subject P (X) at a distance D from a linear axis on which the three cameras are arranged is set as follows. 
     (1) Subject position of photographed image I_L of camera C_L=(x_L, −f), 
     (2) Subject position of photographed image I_R of camera C_R=(x_R, −f), and 
     (3) Subject position of photographed image I_V of virtual camera C_V=(x_V, −f). 
     At this time, the coordinate position (x, z) of the subject P (X) is as:
 
( x,z )=(( x _ La )/( x _ L−x _ R+a ),(− fa )/( x _ L−x _ R+a )).
 
     That is, the position is expressed by the following (Expression 1). 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     The depth (D) of the subject P (X) corresponds to the Z coordinates of the coordinate position (x, z) of the above subject P (X), which correspond to depth data (distance information) in the subject P (X) in the depth map corresponding to the photographed image of the camera C_L and the camera C_R. 
     When the depth data of the subject P (X) in the depth map of the camera C_L is [DM_L (XL)] and the depth data of the subject P (X) in the depth map of the camera C_R is [DM_R (XR)], the following (Expression 2) holds. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     In contrast, the x coordinate: x_V of the coordinate position (x_V, z) of the subject P (X) on the photographed image I_V of the virtual camera C_V is expressed by the following (Expression 3). 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     With the setting of the pixel value of the coordinates (x_L, −f) of the image I_L of the camera C_L or the pixel value of the coordinates (x_R, −f) the image I_R of the camera C_R on the coordinates (x_V, −f) on the image I_V of the virtual camera C_V calculated by the above (Expression 3), it is possible to generate the virtual viewpoint image I_V at the viewpoint of the virtual camera C_V. 
     The virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  illustrated in  FIG. 19  uses the photographed images of the cameras  121  and  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  and the depth map calculated on the basis of these photographed images so as to generate the virtual viewpoint image photographed from the virtual viewpoint in accordance with the above (Expression 3). 
     Note that by substituting the calculation formula of D indicated by (Expression 2) described above as the depth (D) included in the above (Expression 3), the following (Expression 4) is obtained. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     In other words, when the photographed images of cameras from two different viewpoints are used and the corresponding relationship between these images is obtained, it is possible to generate a virtual viewpoint image without explicitly generating a depth map. 
     2-4. Specific Example of 3D Model Generation Processing 
     As described above with reference to  FIG. 19 , the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  may include a 3D model generation unit that executes 3D model generation processing. 
     Hereinafter, a specific example of 3D model generation processing executed by the 3D model generation unit will be described with reference to  FIG. 21 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates an xz plane in which the rightward direction is the x-axis illustrating the horizontal direction, and the upward direction is the z-axis illustrating the depth, similarly to the case of  FIG. 20 . 
     A 3D model observable from a large number of virtual viewpoints is generated from images I_i and l_j photographed by the two cameras C_i and C_j. 
     The cameras C_i and C_j respectively correspond to the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, and thus, I_i is a photographed image of the camera C_i, and I_j is a photographed image of the camera C_j. 
     An optical center of the camera C_i is defined as an origin (x, z)=(0, 0), while the separation distance between the camera C_i and the camera C_j is defined as a. 
     The coordinate position (x, z) of each of the cameras is as follows. 
     Position of camera C_i=(0, 0), 
     Position of camera C_j=(t_j, 0), 
     Position of virtual camera C_V=(t_v, 0). 
     The coordinates (x, z) of the image center of the photographed image of each of the cameras are as follows. 
     Center position of photographed image I_i of camera C_i=(0, −f), 
     Center position of photographed image I_j of camera C_j=(t−j, −f), 
     Center position of photographed image I_V of virtual camera C_V=(t_v, −f), 
     Now, a next task to consider is calculating the coordinates of points in the three-dimensional space corresponding to each of pixels on the image from the images photographed by the camera C_i and the camera C_j and the depth map corresponding to each of the images. At this time, each of the depth maps is assumed to have been generated by using the stereo matching method described above or a special sensor capable of depth measurement. 
     Now, with consideration of the coordinate x_m on the image I_i photographed by the camera C_i, a coordinate P (X_m) of a point X_m in the three-dimensional space represented by the pixel is calculated with reference to the depth map DM_i (x_m) from the geometric relationship by the following (Expression 5). 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     In addition, a color E (X_m) of this point X_m is given by a value I_i (x_m) of the corresponding pixel. A combination of the coordinates and the color is defined as a component M (X_m) of the 3D model, that is, M (X_m)=(P (X_m), E (X_m)) 
     being the component of the 3D model including the coordinate information: P (X_m) and the color information: E (X_m). 
     A 3D model component is calculated also for points in a three-dimensional space represented by each of other pixels on the same image or each of pixels on an image photographed with another camera (for example, C j ), and a set of these is defined a 3D model. 
     One virtual viewpoint image I_V corresponding to one virtual viewpoint can be generated by assigning a corresponding color E (X_m) to a coordinate position where a line segment connecting the coordinate X_m and the optical center of the virtual camera C_V intersects with the virtual viewpoint image I_V, corresponding to each of components M (X_m) of the 3D model. 
     In a case where the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  illustrated in  FIG. 19  includes a 3D model generation unit, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  414  first generates a 3D model in accordance with the above-described processing described with reference to  FIG. 21 , and further generates a virtual viewpoint image of an arbitrary viewpoint from the generated 3D model. 
     2-5. Modification (Variation) of Configuration and Processing of Information Processing Apparatus According to First Exemplary Embodiment 
     Modifications (variations) of the configuration and processing of the information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12, 13, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16, 17, 18A, 18B, 19, 20, and 21  will now be described. 
     Hereinafter, modifiable configurations of the information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 19  will be sequentially described. 
     (1) Example in which Virtual Viewpoint Image Generation Processing is Omitted 
     It is possible to provide a configuration in which a real camera is arranged at a virtual viewpoint image generation position described in the above exemplary embodiment and a combined image is generated using the photographed image of the real camera. With this processing, it is possible to omit the virtual viewpoint image generation described in the above exemplary embodiment. 
     (2) Example of Changing Virtual Viewpoint Image Generation Processing 
     The depth data to be applied to the virtual viewpoint image generation processing may be obtained using the photographed image or a dedicated sensor (distance sensor). 
     Moreover, depth detection, 3D model generation, virtual viewpoint image generation, and processing for these can be performed using various known methods. 
     (3) Example of Changing User Position Detection Processing 
     The user position detection processing executed in the user position detection unit or the like is capable of performing detection processing using an known method such as face detection. 
     Alternatively, it is also allowable to use depth information obtained from the depth detection unit to judge solely a person in a certain predefined range from the display unit as a participant and detect the position of the person. 
     The detection information obtained by the user position detection unit at the first location can be transmitted to the second location as a communication destination via a network, and a virtual camera can be set at the position based on this detection information until completion of communication at the second location. 
     Alternatively, the user position detection unit at the first location may continuously detect the user position, transmits this detection information sequentially to the second location, and then, the position of the virtual camera is sequentially updated with the input information so as to give motion parallax, at the second location. 
     Execution of virtual camera position sequential change processing, however, might lead to an occurrence of discontinuous appearance at different virtual viewpoint image boundaries on the display unit. 
     In order to avoid this phenomenon, it is preferable to have a configuration to achieve the setting of each of the virtual viewpoint images in which the motion parallax generated gradually decreases toward the boundary portion, and to generate an image with no occurrence of substantial motion parallax at the boundary portion. 
     Alternatively, it is allowable to set the position of each of participants manually by the user and transmit setting information to the other party&#39;s site without providing the user position detection unit. Alternatively, the position of each of the participants may be stored beforehand as a predefined position in the storage unit in the apparatus, and this may be used. 
     (4) Example of Changing Other Configurations 
     While the above-described exemplary embodiment is a case where a combined image to be displayed at the second location is generated at the first location, it is allowable to generate, at the first location, intermediate data needed for combined image generation processing, transmit this generated data to the second location, and execute combined image generation processing at the second location. 
     Examples of the intermediate data include images photographed from different viewpoints and depth data, 3D model data, or the like. 
     Moreover, individual subject positions at the first location may be measured beforehand, transmitted to the second location, stored in the storage unit in the information processing apparatus at the second location, and used as occasionally. 
     In order to avoid disconnection of the subject image by the two virtual viewpoint images, it is preferable to set an extraction position of the selected region of each of virtual images in the background region. In addition, it is preferable to decide the extraction position in consideration of the continuity of the boundary portion during combining. 
     As the combining processing of a plurality of images, it is preferable to use an known stitching method and perform processing to suppress the discontinuity of the boundary portion, for example. 
     3. Configuration and Processing of Information Processing Apparatus According to Second Exemplary Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Next, a configuration and processing of information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
     The information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment described below controls a display image on a display unit (display) used in the bidirectional communication system illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C  described above, for example similarly to the information processing apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment. 
     3-1. Processing Executed by Information Processing Apparatus 
     Processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 22  and the following. 
       FIG. 22  is a diagram illustrating users (A, B, and C) and a wall  501  in the background at the first location during execution of the bidirectional communication described with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C . 
     The images of the users A to C are photographed by the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122 , photographing images from two different viewpoints. 
     On the basis of these images, the information processing apparatus at the first location generates virtual viewpoint images viewed from the viewpoints of the users (D to F) at the second location as the viewing users, and then, generates a combined image on the basis of these virtual viewpoint images and transmits the combined image to the second location. 
     This processing is similar to the case of the first exemplary embodiment. 
     The information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment further separates background images other than the users (A, B, and C) from the images photographed by the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122 , further performs filling correction of an image region (occlusion region) that is not output by being overshadowed by the users (A, B, and C), and uses the corrected background image and the virtual viewpoint image including the users A to C or the like to generate a combined image to be displayed on the display unit at the second location. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the wall  501  to be a background image includes a region overshadowed by the users A to C so as to be unphotographable by the L viewpoint camera  121  or the R viewpoint camera  122 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 22 , regions p to q and r to s of the wall  501  correspond to the unphotographable regions. Such an unphotographable region is referred to an occlusion region. 
     The second exemplary embodiment first separates the background image and the person image from each other and then, executes filling correction for eliminating the occlusion region of the background image. 
     An example of the filling correction will be described with reference to  FIG. 23 . 
       FIG. 23  illustrates an L viewpoint camera photographing background image  502  obtained by extracting and refining a background region from the image photographed by the L viewpoint camera  121  and an R viewpoint camera photographing background image  503  generated by extracting and refining a background region from the image photographed by the R viewpoint camera  122 , in the photographing environment illustrated in  FIG. 22 . 
     Each of these two background images includes an occlusion region where the background image cannot be photographed because it is overshadowed by the users A to C existing between the camera and the background. 
     The information processing apparatus executes filling correction to eliminate this occlusion region. For example, the occlusion region of the L viewpoint camera photographing background image  502  illustrated in  FIG. 23  is corrected by using a pixel value of a corresponding position from the R viewpoint camera photographing background image  503 , while the occlusion region of the R viewpoint camera photographing background image  503  is corrected by using a pixel value of a corresponding position from the L viewpoint camera photographing background image  502 . These corrections are executed to generate a corrected background image  504  in which the occlusion region has been eliminated. 
     Note that the corrected background image is generated as a virtual image of the virtual viewpoint position of a central viewpoint between the center of the L viewpoint camera and the center of the R viewpoint camera, for example. Alternatively, it is possible to have a configuration to generate background images from virtual viewpoints corresponding to a specific virtual viewpoint image used as a combined image, and then combine these images. 
     Moreover, regarding the regions that are not photographed in either the L viewpoint camera photographing background image  502  or the R viewpoint camera photographing background image  503 , correction using interpolation processing or the like based on surrounding pixel values is applied. 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location superimposes the virtual viewpoint image including the user image on the background image generated in this manner to generate a final combined image, that is, an image to be displayed on the display unit of the second location, and transmits the generated image to the second location. 
     3-2. Configuration Example of Information Processing Apparatus 
     Next, a configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 24 . 
       FIG. 24  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing apparatus installed at the first location. 
     Note that the same information processing apparatus is installed in the second location, and mutual transmission and reception of images, voices, and other control information are executed via a network. 
     An imaging unit  401  is an imaging unit that corresponds to the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, and photographs images from different viewpoints. 
     A display unit  403  displays a combined image transmitted from the second location received via the reception unit  402 . 
     The photographed image of the imaging unit  401  is input to a data processing unit  520 . 
     On the basis of these input images, the data processing unit  520  generates a combined image as an image to be displayed on the display unit at the second location. 
     The photographed image of the imaging unit  401  is input to a 3D model generation unit  523  via an image input unit  521  of the data processing unit  520 . 
     The 3D model generation unit  523  executes generation processing of a 3D model including a virtual image from a large number of viewpoints. 
     The 3D model generation unit  523  generates a 3D model on the basis of images from different viewpoints and depth information. The depth information is distance information to the subject in the image detected by the depth detection unit  522 . The distance from the camera is detected in units of pixel. 
     For example, the 3D model generation unit  523  executes 3D model generation processing in accordance with the processing described above with reference to  FIG. 21 . 
     The next background image separation unit  524  executes separation processing between the user region (person region) and the background region using the 3D model generated by the 3D model generation unit  523 . 
     The person region image separated by the background image separation unit  524  is input to a virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526 , and the background image is input to a background image generation unit  527 . 
     The virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  executes processing of generating an image from a specific virtual viewpoint. 
     For example, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  generates the following virtual viewpoint image described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 , or the like, similarly to the first exemplary embodiment. 
     (1) Virtual viewpoint D image  321  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint D,  311 , 
     (2) Virtual viewpoint E image  322  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint E,  312 , and 
     (3) Virtual viewpoint F image  323  corresponding to the observation image from the virtual viewpoint F,  313 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, however, the virtual viewpoint image does not include the background image but includes the image of the person region alone. 
     These virtual viewpoint images are generated on the basis of photographed images of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, that is, images from different viewpoints, and depth information. 
     The depth information is distance information to the subject in the image detected by the depth detection unit  522 . The distance from the camera is detected in units of pixel. 
     Depth detection processing by the depth detection unit  522  is executed using the photographed images of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  or the like, that is, images from different viewpoints, for example. 
     Specifically, a depth map corresponding to each of the images, that is, a depth map having depth data (distance information) corresponding to constituent pixels of each of the images is generated using a stereo matching method or a special sensor capable of performing depth measurement. 
     Note that a virtual viewpoint image may be generated using the 3D model generated by the 3D model generation unit  523 . 
     The user position detection unit  525  detects the position of the user (communication participant) in front of the display unit  403 . For example, the user position is detected on the basis of photographed images from two different viewpoints input by the image input unit  521 . Note that the user position detection unit  525  may be configured to detect the user position using a position sensor. 
     The user position information  531  detected by the user position detection unit  525  is input to the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  and an image combining unit  528 . Furthermore, the user position information  531  is transmitted to the second location as viewing user position information  542  via the transmission unit  404 . This transmission information is used as viewing user position information at the second location. 
     While the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  generates an image from a specific virtual viewpoint, from which viewpoint a virtual viewpoint image is to be generated is decided on the basis of the corresponding positional relationship between the displayed user and the viewing user similarly to what described in the above-described first exemplary embodiment. 
     For this processing, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  inputs the user position information  531  generated by the user position detection unit  525 , and further inputs the viewing user position information  532  received from the second location where the viewing user is located via the reception unit  402 . 
     On the basis of these pieces of input information, the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  decides from which viewpoint a virtual viewpoint image is to be generated. 
     This is processing similar to what is described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16, 17, 18A, and 18B  corresponding to the above-described first exemplary embodiment. As basic processing, in a case where the viewing user and the displayed user face each other in the front direction, a virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the viewpoint of the viewing user with this setting is generated. 
     The virtual viewpoint image generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  is output to the image combining unit  528 . 
     The background image generated by the background image generation unit  527  is input to the image combining unit  528  together with the virtual viewpoint image generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526 . 
     The background image generation unit  527  executes image correction processing such as occlusion filling correction described above with reference to  FIG. 23  on the basis of the background image input from the background image separation unit  524 , for example, and inputs the corrected background image to the image combining unit  528 . 
     Note that the background image generation unit  527  generates the background image as a virtual image of the virtual viewpoint position of a central viewpoint between the center of the L viewpoint camera and the center of the R viewpoint camera, for example. Alternatively, it is allowable to use a configuration to generate background images from virtual viewpoints corresponding to a specific virtual viewpoint image used as a combined image, and then combine these images. In this case, for example, the virtual viewpoint information used by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  can be input to the background image generation unit  527  for use. 
     The image combining unit  528  executes combining processing of combining one or more virtual viewpoint images of the person images generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  and the background image generated by the background image generation unit  527 , and generates a combined image (=transmission image (display image)) to be displayed on the display unit at the second location. 
     Note that the combining processing of the virtual viewpoint image including the person image is processing similar to what described in the first exemplary embodiment. For example, as described with reference to  FIG. 9  or the like, a selected region is extracted from a plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate one combined image. 
     Note that this combining processing is executed on the basis of the corresponding positional relationship between the displayed user and the viewing user. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16, 17, 18A, and 18B , basic processing generates a combined image in which a virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user is set in a case where there is a displayed user in the front region of the viewing user. 
     Furthermore, in the second exemplary embodiment, a combined image of a plurality of virtual viewpoint images including a person is superimposed on the background image so as to generate a final combined image to be displayed on the display unit of the second location. 
     The combined image  541  generated by the combined image generation unit  528  is transmitted to the second location via the transmission unit  404 . 
     3-3. Modification (Variation) of Configuration and Processing of Information Processing Apparatus According to Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     Next, modifications (variations) of the configuration and processing of the information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 22 to 24  will be described. 
     Hereinafter, modifiable configurations of the information processing apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 24  will be sequentially described. 
     (1) Background Image Generation Unit 
     While the above description is an example in which the background image generated by the background image generation unit  527  is generated as a virtual image of the central viewpoint of the L viewpoint camera  121  and the R viewpoint camera  122 , the image may be a virtual viewpoint image to match a virtual viewpoint image including a person used as a combined image. 
     In addition, the background image generation unit  527  may be configured to generate a background image using a 3D model for background prepared beforehand. Alternatively, a 2D image prepared beforehand may be used. 
     In addition, interpolation of a hole caused by the foreground of a person or the like can be performed on the 3D model in a 3D model generation means. 
     The background image generation unit  527  may input viewpoint position information of the other party&#39;s site (the second location) via the reception unit  402  and may determine the viewpoint position of the background image on the basis of the viewpoint position of participant of the other party&#39;s site. 
     (2) Other Modifications 
     Similarly to the first exemplary embodiment, the user position detection unit  525  continuously detects the position of the participant, making it possible to give a motion parallax to a video of the participant. 
     The viewpoint position information of the other party&#39;s site is input in the background image generation unit  527  via the reception unit  402 , making it possible to give a motion parallax corresponding to the change of the viewpoint position of the participant to the background image. 
     In this processing, the background image may be divided and assigned to individual participants, and a different motion parallax may be given for each of the divided regions. 
     Note that in order to avoid an occurrence of discontinuous appearance at the boundary portion between the selected regions of the combined image, it is preferable to allow the motion parallax generated toward the boundary portion of each of the regions to be gradually reduced so as to generate a background image to substantially suppress occurrence of the motion parallax. 
     While the above-described exemplary embodiment is a case where a combined image to be displayed at the second location is generated at the first location, it is allowable to generate, at the first location, intermediate data needed for combined image generation processing, transmit this generated data to the second location, and execute combined image generation processing at the second location. 
     Examples of the intermediate data include images photographed from different viewpoints and depth data, 3D model data, or the like. 
     4. Configuration and Processing of Information Processing Apparatus According to Third Exemplary Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Next, a configuration and processing of information processing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
     The information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment described below controls a display image on a display unit (display) used in the bidirectional communication system illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C  described above, for example, similarly to the information processing apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment 
     4-1. Processing Executed by Information Processing Apparatus 
     Processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 25A and 25B  and the following. 
       FIGS. 25A and 25B  illustrate users and a display unit at the first location and the second location during execution of bidirectional communication, similarly to the description with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C . 
       FIG. 25A  is First location 
       FIG. 25B  is Second location 
     The figure illustrates a configuration example of these two locations. 
     These two locations are remote places separated from each other, and users at individual locations perform bidirectional communication with each other. Systems at the individual locations are connected via a network, so as to transmit or receive images and voices. 
     There are users A, B, and C at the first location, and images containing users A, B, and C photographed by cameras  121  and  122  on the first location side, or a combined image generated on the basis of the photographed images is transmitted to the second location and displayed on a display unit  200  at the second location. 
     This display image is observed by viewing users D, E, and F at the second location. 
     Similarly, there are users D, E, and F at the second location, and images containing the users D, E, and F photographed by the cameras  221  and  222  on the second location side, or a combined image generated on the basis of the photographed images is transmitted to the first location and displayed on a display unit  100  at the first location. 
     This display image is observed by the viewing users A, B, and C at the first location. 
     The images photographed by the cameras  121  and  122  at the first location side are input to a data processing unit of an information processing apparatus on the first location side, and a transmission image (combined image) for the second location is generated and transmitted to the second location. 
     Similarly, the images photographed by the cameras  221  and  222  on the second location side are input to a data processing unit of an information processing apparatus on the second location side, and a transmission image (combined image) for the first location is generated and transmitted to the first location. 
     The above-described first exemplary embodiment is an exemplary configuration of generating and display a combined image in which the line-of-sight of the displayed user displayed in the display region in front of the viewing user watching the display unit is controlled to be in a same direction as the actual line-of-sight direction when observed from the viewpoint of the viewing user. 
     That is, as illustrated in  FIGS. 25A and 25B , the combined image displayed on the display unit  200  at the second location has the following settings. 
     (1) Display region ranging from X1 to X2 in front of the viewing user D are images of virtual viewpoint D, 
     (2) Display region ranging from X2 to X3 in front of the viewing user E are images of the virtual viewpoint E, and 
     (3) Display region ranging from X3 to X4 in front of the viewing user F are images of the virtual viewpoint F. 
     In this manner, the image in the front region of the viewing user is set as the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of each of the viewing users. 
     In the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, in a case where the viewing user views a displayed user other than the front direction of the display unit, the displayed user is a virtual viewpoint image of a viewpoint different from the viewpoint of the viewing user, leading to a possibility of giving a strange feeling about the line-of-sight direction. 
     The third exemplary embodiment is an embodiment that solves such a problem. 
     Specifically, for example, the following processing is executed. 
     (1) Defining the display image of the display unit in the line-of-sight direction of the viewing user as the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the viewing user. 
     (2) Defining the image in the line-of-sight direction of the user (speaker) performing a dialog as the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user (speaker). 
     (3) In a case where there is another viewer viewing the same image region, defining the user closer to the front of the image region as a priority user, and displaying a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the priority user in the image region. 
     The information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment executes the processing like these to generate a combined image, for example. 
     Processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 26A and 26B  and the following. 
       FIGS. 26A and 26B  illustrate the following two processing examples executed by the information processing apparatus of the third exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 26A  is example 1 of controlling output images in accordance with line-of-sight direction of the viewing user. 
       FIG. 26B  is example 2 of controlling output image in accordance with the line-of-sight direction of the viewing user (in a case where there is a plurality of viewing users viewing the same image region, viewing user closer to the screen position is given priority) 
     The example illustrated in  FIG. 26A  is an example of controlling an output image in accordance with the line-of-sight direction of the viewing user. 
     The user D is watching the front direction (region ranging from X1 to X2 of the display unit  200 ), and the region ranging from X1 to X2 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint D image  611 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user D. 
     The user E is watching the rightward direction (region ranging from X3 to X4 of the display unit  200 ), and the region ranging from X3 to X4 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint E image  613 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user E. 
     The user F is watching the leftward direction (region ranging from X2 to X3 of the display unit  200 ), and the region ranging from X2 to X3 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint F image  612 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user F. 
     Note that the users D to F illustrated in the figure are viewing users at the second location. The processing of generating the display image to be displayed on the display unit  200  is executed in the information processing apparatus at the first location. 
     The information processing apparatus at the first location inputs the line-of-sight direction information of the viewing users at the second location from the information processing apparatus at the second location, and on the basis of this information, generates a combined image with the setting as illustrated in  FIG. 26A  and transmits the generated image to the second location. 
     Note that it is also allowable to use a configuration in which the information processing apparatus at the first location generates three virtual viewpoint images corresponding to the entire display region of the display unit, that is, three display entire region-corresponding virtual viewpoint images corresponding to virtual viewpoints of the viewing users D, E, and F and transmits the images to the information processing apparatus at the second location, and the information processing apparatus at the second location executes image extraction from the display entire region-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with the line-of-sight direction of the viewing users D, E, and F and generates the combined image with the setting illustrated in  FIG. 26A  and displays the combined image on the display unit  200 . 
       FIG. 26B  illustrates an example of processing in a case where a plurality of viewing users views one display region of the display unit. 
     The viewing user D and the viewing user E are viewing the central region ranging from X2 to X3 of the display unit  200 . 
     In this manner, in a case where a plurality of viewing users is watching the same display region, one of the users is selected as a priority user and a virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the priority user is displayed in that region. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 26B , a user closer to the display region is defined as the priority user. 
     The region ranging from X1 to X2 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint D image  621 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user D in front of the region ranging from X1 to X2. 
     While the users D and E are viewing the region ranging from X2 to X3 of the display unit  200 , the user closer to the region ranging from X2 to X3 is the user E, and thus, the user E is defined as the priority user. In this case, the region ranging from X2 to X3 displays a virtual viewpoint E image  622 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user E as the priority user. 
     The user F is watching the frontward direction (region ranging from X3 to X4 of the display unit  200 ), and the region ranging from X3 to X4 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint F image  623 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user F. 
     Similarly to the description with reference to  FIG. 26A , the combined image of this setting is generated by any of the information processing apparatus at the first location and the information processing apparatus at the second location. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates the following processing example executed by the information processing apparatus of the third exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 27  is an example of controlling output images in accordance with line-of-sight direction of a speaker among the viewing users. 
     The example illustrated in  FIG. 27  is an example of controlling an output image in accordance with the line-of-sight direction of the speaker among the viewing users. 
     The viewing user D at the second location is a speaker and is speaking to the user B at the first location displayed in the display region ranging from X2 to X3 of the display unit. 
     In this case, the display image of the display region ranging from X2 to X3 is a virtual viewpoint D image  632 , that is, the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user D being the speaker among the viewing users. 
     While the viewing users D and F are directing their line-of-sight to the display region ranging from X2 to X3, the user D being the speaker is selected as the priority user, and the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user D as the priority user is displayed as the virtual viewpoint D image  632 . 
     The region ranging from X1 to X2 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint D image  631 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user D in front of the region ranging from X1 to X2. 
     The region ranging from X3 to X4 of the display unit  200  displays a virtual viewpoint E image  633 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user E directing the line-of-sight to the region ranging from X3 to X4. 
     Similarly to the description with reference to  FIG. 26A , the combined image of this setting is generated by any of the information processing apparatus at the first location and the information processing apparatus at the second location. 
       FIG. 28D  illustrates the following processing example executed by the information processing apparatus of the third exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 28  is an example of controlling output images in accordance with line-of-sight direction of the displayed user. 
     The example illustrated in  FIG. 28  is an exemplary case where a plurality of viewing users is watching a same displayed user, and an image of the displayed user is decided in accordance with the line-of-sight of the displayed user. 
     The displayed user B at the first location is watching the user F at the second location displayed on the display unit  100  at the first location. 
     In contrast, the viewing user D and viewing user F at the second location are both viewing the same displayed user B. 
     Since the displayed user B displayed in this region is watching the viewing user F, the display region ranging from X2 to X3 displays a virtual viewpoint F image  642 , that is, a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user F among the viewing users. 
     In a case where the displayed user B is watching the viewing user E not viewing the display region ranging from X2 to X3, or in a case where the displayed user B is watching no one, the display region ranging from X2 to X3 presents a virtual viewpoint image of one of the viewing user D and the viewing user F. 
     This series of processing allows the viewing users D and F to understand that the displayed user B is not watching any of the viewing users D and F. 
     Note that the display region ranging from X3 to X4 presents the virtual viewpoint image of the viewing user E watching this region, that is, a virtual viewpoint E image  643  being a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user E among the viewing users. Since no viewing users are viewing the display region ranging from X1 to X2, a virtual viewpoint E image  641  being a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the front viewing user D is presented. 
     Similarly to the description with reference to  FIG. 26A , the combined image of this setting is generated by any of the information processing apparatus at the first location and the information processing apparatus at the second location. 
     4-2. Configuration Example of Information Processing Apparatus 
     Next, a configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 29 . 
       FIG. 29  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing apparatus installed at the first location. 
     Note that the same information processing apparatus is installed in the second location, and mutual transmission and reception of images, voices, and other control information are executed via a network. 
     The configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 29  is based on the configuration of the information processing apparatus of the second exemplary embodiment described above with reference to  FIG. 24 , to which a user state (line-of-sight and speaker) detection unit  711  and a priority determination unit  712  have been added to the inside of the data processing unit  520  of the information processing apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 24 . 
     Moreover, viewing user state (line-of-sight, speaker) information  731  has been added as information from the second location to be input via the reception unit  402 . 
     Furthermore, viewing user state (line-of-sight, speaker) information  742  being the user information on the first location side has been added as the information to be transmitted to the second location via the transmission unit  404 . 
     The other configuration is the same as the configuration described with reference to  FIG. 24  in the second exemplary embodiment. 
     Hereinafter, the configuration and processing of the third exemplary embodiment different from the second exemplary embodiment will be mainly described. 
     The user state (line-of-sight, speaker) detection unit  711  in the data processing unit  520  detects the user state of the user at the first location. 
     Specifically, the user state such as the line-of-sight direction of each of the users, whether each of the users is speaking is detected. 
     Specifically, the line-of-sight direction of the user is determined by executing discrimination of the line-of-sight direction of each of the users as to which user displayed on the display unit  403  is being viewed. 
     This line-of-sight direction determination processing is executed on the basis of a plurality of images photographed from different viewpoints input to the image input unit  521 , for example. 
     The speaker detection is also executed on the basis of the image input to the image input unit  521 . 
     Note that, in addition to the image-based processing, it is allowable to use a sensor for line-of-sight detection and a sensor for detecting voice direction in the line-of-sight detection processing and speaker detection processing. 
     Detection information of the user state (line-of-sight and speaker) detection unit  711  is input to the priority determination unit  712 . 
     Furthermore, the information is transmitted to the second location via the transmission unit  404 . This corresponds to the viewing user state (line-of-sight and speaker) information  742  illustrated in the figure. 
     The priority determination unit  712  inputs detection information of the user state (line-of-sight and speaker) detection unit  711 , that is, the line-of-sight direction information of each of users or speaker information of each of users at the first location and viewing user state (line-of-sight and speaker) information  731  received from the second location via the reception unit  402 , generates priority information of which viewpoint image as a virtual viewpoint image is to be set as the virtual viewpoint image to be set as the combined image, and inputs the generated information to an image combining unit  528 . 
     Various methods are available for setting the priority. For example, the following priority settings are available. 
     (1) Calculate a distance from each of regions of the display unit to each of users, and assign higher priority to closer users. 
     (2) Identify users speaking most in fixed time units by microphone or the like, and assign high priority to that user, and 
     (3) Receive the line-of-sight direction of the participant at the other party&#39;s site and assign higher priority to the user closer to the line-of-sight direction of the user at the other party&#39;s site corresponding to the region viewed by the plurality of users at the own site. 
     (4) Priority of each of users is assigned by the combination of (1) to (3) above. 
     The image combining unit  528  executes combining processing of combining one or more virtual viewpoint images of the person images generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit  526  and the background image generated by the background image generation unit  527 , and generates a combined image (=transmission image (display image)) to be displayed on the display unit at the second location. 
     Note that basic combining processing of combining virtual viewpoint images including a person image in a case where there is a displayed user in the front region of the viewing user is processing of generating a combined image having the setting of a virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user similarly to the first exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 16, 17, 18A, and 18B . 
     Furthermore, the third exemplary embodiment generates a combined image by deciding which viewpoint image as a virtual viewpoint image is to be set as the virtual viewpoint image to be set in each of region of the combined image on the basis of the priority information input from the priority determination unit  712  and the viewing user state (line-of-sight and speaker) information  731  input via the reception unit  402 . 
     Specifically, a virtual viewpoint image to be output to each of the image regions is decided and a combined image is generated in accordance with the processing described above with reference to  FIGS. 26A, 26B, 27C, and 28D . 
     For example, a virtual viewpoint image to be set in each of the image regions is decided in accordance with the following virtual viewpoint image setting algorithm. 
     (1) Defining the display image of the display unit in the line-of-sight direction of the viewing user as the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the viewing user. 
     (2) Defining the image in the line-of-sight direction of the user (speaker) performing a dialog as the virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the user (speaker). 
     (3) In a case where there is another viewer viewing the same image region, defining the user closer to the front of the image region as a priority user, and displaying a virtual viewpoint image observed from the viewpoint of the priority user in the image region. 
     The image combining unit  528  of the information processing apparatus of the third exemplary embodiment executes these series of processing for example, and generates a combined image. 
     Note that the third exemplary embodiment is a case where a combined image of a plurality of virtual viewpoint images including a person is superimposed on the background image so as to generate a final combined image to be displayed on the display unit of the second location, similarly to the case of the second exemplary embodiment. 
     The combined image  541  generated by the combined image generation unit  528  is transmitted to the second location via the transmission unit  404 . 
     4-3. Modification (Variation) of Configuration and Processing of Information Processing Apparatus According to Third Exemplary Embodiment 
     Next, modifications (variations) of the configuration and processing of the information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 27C, 27D, and 29  will now be described. 
     Hereinafter, modifiable configurations of the information processing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 29  will be sequentially described. 
     (1) Priority Setting 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the following setting example has been described as a priority setting example. 
     (a) Calculate a distance from each of regions of the display unit to each of users, and assign higher priority to closer users. 
     (b) Identify users speaking most in fixed time units by microphone or the like, and assign high priority to that user, 
     (c) Receive the line-of-sight direction of the participant at the other party&#39;s site and assign higher priority to the user closer to the line-of-sight direction of the user at the other party&#39;s site corresponding to the region viewed by the plurality of users at the own site, and 
     (d) Priority of each of users is assigned by the combination of (a) to (c) above. 
     These are an example of priority setting, and various other priority setting algorithms can be applied. 
     For example, the priority may be set for a plurality of users (participants) beforehand, and the set priority may be used. 
     Moreover, it is possible to set priorities considering the user states of both the viewing user and the displayed user, priority settings considering solely the user state of either type of user, and the like. 
     In addition, the user closer to the display screen during the viewing user feels more strange about the line-of-sight, and thus, it is allowable to use the setting of increasing the priority for the user closer to the display screen. 
     In addition, various priority setting algorithms according to the situation can be applied. 
     An example of the priority determination executed by the priority determination unit  712  will be described below. For example, the priority determination unit  712  can determine the priority on the basis of the following information. 
     (a) Position of the displayed user to be displayed on the display unit, 
     (b) Line-of-sight direction of the displayed user displayed on the display unit, 
     (c) Speaker among the displayed users displayed on the display unit, 
     (d) Position of the viewing user viewing the display unit, 
     (e) Line-of-sight direction of the viewing user viewing the display unit, and 
     (f) Speaker among the viewing users viewing the display unit. 
     Determination is made on the basis of at least one of the above types of information (a) to (f). 
     The setting example of the priority adopting the above-described criteria is the following setting, for example. 
     (a) For the display region displayed by the displayed user, the closer to the camera the position of the displayed user is, the higher priority is given. 
     Specifically, the processing is such that, for example, in a case where there are a large number of displayed users and this makes it difficult to specify the display region for each of the displayed users, and a plurality of displayed users enters one virtual viewpoint image region, priority is given to a displayed user closer to the camera, and the display region of this user is defined as a virtual viewpoint image from the viewpoint of the viewing user viewing the displayed user closer to the camera. 
     (b) For the display region displayed by the displayed user, the higher priority is given to the viewing user present in the line-of-sight direction. 
     (c) For the display region displaying the speaker among the displayed users, higher priority is given to the viewing user being the dialog partner of the displayed user. 
     (d) The shorter the distance between the position of the viewing user and the display region of the display unit, the higher priority is given to the viewing user for the display region. 
     (e) For the display region of the display unit in the line-of-sight direction of the viewing user, higher priority is given to the viewing user. 
     (f) For the display region in which the displayed user being the dialog partner of the speaker among the viewing users, higher priority is given to the viewing user. 
     (2) Modification of Entire Processing 
     While the above-described exemplary embodiment is a case where a combined image to be displayed at the second location is generated at the first location, it is allowable to generate, at the first location, intermediate data needed for combined image generation processing, transmit this generated data to the second location, and execute combined image generation processing at the second location. 
     Examples of the intermediate data include images photographed from different viewpoints and depth data, 3D model data, or the like. 
     5. Hardware Configuration Example of Information Processing Apparatus 
     Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus will be described with reference to  FIG. 30 . 
       FIG. 30  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an information processing apparatus that executes processing according to the present disclosure. 
     A central processing unit (CPU)  801  functions as a control unit or a data processing unit that executes various types of processing in accordance with a program stored in a read only memory (ROM)  802  or a storage unit  808 . For example, the processing according to the sequence described in the above exemplary embodiment is executed. A random access memory (RAM)  803  stores programs executed by the CPU  801 , data, or the like. The CPU  801 , the ROM  802 , and the RAM  803  are mutually connected by a bus  804 . 
     The CPU  801  is connected to an input/output interface  805  via the bus  804 . The input/output interface  805  is connected to an input unit  806  that inputs a photographed image of an imaging unit  821 , and including various switches, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and the like that can be used for user input, and also connected to an output unit  807  that executes data output to a display unit  822 , a speaker, or the like. The CPU  801  executes various types of processing in accordance with an instruction input from the input unit  806 , and outputs processing results to the output unit  807 , for example. 
     The storage unit  808  connected to the input/output interface  805  includes a hard disk and the like, for example, and stores a program to be executed by the CPU  801  and various data. A communication unit  809  functions as a transmission/reception unit for Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark) (BT) communication, and other data communication via a network such as the Internet and a local area network, and communicates with an external apparatus. 
     A drive  810  connected to the input/output interface  805  drives a removable medium  811  such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory such as a memory card, and executes data recording or reading. 
     6. Summary of the Configuration of the Present Disclosure 
     As explained above, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Still, it is self-evident that those skilled in the art can make modifications and substitutions of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. That is, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of exemplification, and should not be interpreted restrictively. In order to judge the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of claims should be taken into consideration. 
     Note that the technology disclosed in this specification can be configured as follows. 
     (1) An information processing apparatus including: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     (2) The information processing apparatus according to (1), 
     in which the image combining unit 
     extracts a display region image located at a front position of the viewing user at the viewpoint corresponding to the virtual viewpoint image from among the user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images corresponding to individual viewing users, and 
     combines individual extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     (3) The information processing apparatus according to (1) or (2), 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint image corresponding to a viewing user solely in a case where there is a displayed user in a display region in front of the viewing user. 
     (4) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit 
     generates a virtual viewpoint image with application of photographed images photographed from a plurality of different viewpoints and depth data including distance information of the subject included in the photographed image. 
     (5) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (4), 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit 
     includes a 3D model generation unit, and 
     generates a 3D model with application of photographed images photographed from a plurality of different viewpoints and depth data including distance information of the subject included in the photographed image and generates a virtual viewpoint image using the generated 3D model. 
     (6) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (5), 
     in which the image combining unit 
     inputs position information of the input viewing user, and uses the position information of the viewing user to generate a combined image including a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit. 
     (7) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (6), 
     in which the image combining unit 
     inputs position information of the displayed user to be displayed at the display unit, and generates a combined image including a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images on the basis of a corresponding relationship between the position information of the displayed user and the position information of the viewing user. 
     (8) The information processing apparatus according to (7), 
     in which the image combining unit generates a combined image including a viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint image of the viewing user in a case where the position of the displayed user and the position of the viewing user are set to face each other. 
     (9) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (8), 
     further including a background image separation unit that separates a person and a background image from the photographed image, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a virtual viewpoint image with application of an image including the person, and 
     the image combining unit 
     executes combining processing of combining a virtual viewpoint image including a person generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit, and a background image. 
     (10) The information processing apparatus according to (9), further including a background image generation unit that performs filling correction on an occlusion region of the background image generated by the background image separation unit to generate a corrected background image, 
     in which the image combining unit 
     executes combining processing of combining a virtual viewpoint image including a person generated by the virtual viewpoint image generation unit, and the corrected background image. 
     (11) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (10), 
     in which the image combining unit 
     decides a virtual viewpoint image to be included in the combined image in accordance with a priority calculated by a predefined priority algorithm. 
     (12) The information processing apparatus according to (11), 
     in which the priority is priority decided by at least any of information of the following (a) to (f): 
     (a) a position of a displayed user to be displayed on the display unit; 
     (b) a line-of-sight direction of a displayed user to be displayed on the display unit; 
     (c) a speaker among displayed users to be displayed on the display unit; 
     (d) a position of a viewing user viewing the display unit; 
     (e) a line-of-sight direction of the viewing user viewing the display unit; and 
     (f) a speaker among the viewing users viewing the display unit. 
     (13) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (12), further including a transmission unit that transmits the combined image generated by the image combining unit. 
     (14) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (12), further including a display unit that displays the combined image generated by the image combining unit. 
     (15) An information processing apparatus including: 
     a reception unit that executes data reception via a communication network; 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs, via the reception unit, a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, and 
     the display unit that displays the combined image, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit 
     generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     (16) An information processing system including: 
     a transmission apparatus that executes image transmission; and a reception apparatus that receives a transmission image from the transmission apparatus and displays the transmission image on a display unit, 
     in which the transmission apparatus includes: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to the display unit, 
     the virtual viewpoint image generation unit 
     generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion from each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted image to generate the combined image, and 
     the reception apparatus 
     receives the combined image transmitted by the transmission apparatus, and displays the received combined image on the display unit. 
     (17) An information processing method to be executed on an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus including: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, 
     in which the virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     the image combining unit 
     extracts a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with the relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     (18) A program that causes an information processing apparatus to execute information processing, the information processing apparatus including: 
     a virtual viewpoint image generation unit that inputs a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints and generates a plurality of virtual viewpoint images; and 
     an image combining unit that combines the plurality of virtual viewpoint images to generate a combined image to be output to a display unit, 
     in which the program 
     causes the virtual viewpoint image generation unit to generate a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, and 
     causes the image combining unit 
     to execute processing of extracting a portion of each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with the relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and processing of combining the extracted images to generate the combined image. 
     In addition, the series of processing described in the specification can be executed by hardware, software, or a combination of both. In the case of executing the processing by software, it is possible to allow the program recording processing sequences to be installed and executed on a memory within a computer, incorporated in dedicated hardware, or possible to allow the program to be installed and executed on a general-purpose computer capable of executing various types of processing. For example, the program can be recorded in the recording medium beforehand. The program can be installed from a recording medium to a computer, or can be received via a network such as a local area network (LAN) so as to be installed in a recording medium such as a built-in hard disk. 
     Note that the various types of processing described in the specification may be executed in parallel or individually in accordance with the processing capability of the apparatus that executes the processing or in accordance with necessity, in addition to execution in time series following the description. Moreover, in the present description, the system represents a logical set of a plurality of apparatuses, and that all the constituent apparatuses need not be in a same housing. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As described above, according to a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve a configuration that reduces the artificiality to give a strange feeling about the viewpoint of the user displayed on the display unit not matching with the actual viewpoint. 
     Specifically, a photographed image from a plurality of different viewpoints is input to generate a plurality of virtual viewpoint images, and then, the plurality of virtual viewpoint images is combined to generate a combined image to be output on a display unit. The virtual viewpoint image generation unit generates a plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images each corresponding to each of viewpoints of each of a plurality of viewing users viewing the display unit, while the image combining unit extracts a portion from each of the plurality of user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images in accordance with a relative position between the viewing user and the display unit, and combines the extracted image to generate a combined image. The combined image is generated by extracting a display region image located at a front position of the viewing user at the viewpoint corresponding to the virtual viewpoint image from among the user viewpoint-corresponding virtual viewpoint images corresponding to individual viewing users. 
     With this configuration, it is possible to achieve a configuration that reduces the artificiality to give a strange feeling about the viewpoint of the user displayed on the display unit not matching with the actual viewpoint. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           10 ,  20  Data processing unit 
           11 ,  21  Display unit (display) 
           12 ,  22  Camera 
           13 ,  23  Speaker 
           30  Network 
           100  Display unit 
           121  L viewpoint camera 
           122  R viewpoint camera 
           200  Display unit 
           311  Virtual viewpoint D 
           312  Virtual viewpoint E 
           313  Virtual viewpoint F 
           321  Virtual viewpoint D image 
           322  Virtual viewpoint E image 
           323  Virtual viewpoint F image 
           326  to  328  Selected region 
           331  Combined image 
           341  Virtual viewpoint D image 
           342  Virtual viewpoint E image 
           343  Virtual viewpoint F image 
           351  to  352  Selected region 
           361  Combined image 
           381  to  382  Selected region 
           383  Combined image 
           391  Virtual viewpoint D image 
           392  Virtual viewpoint F image 
           401  Imaging unit 
           402  Reception unit 
           403  Display unit 
           404  Transmission unit 
           410  Data processing unit 
           411  Image input unit 
           412  Depth detection unit 
           413  User position detection unit 
           414  Virtual viewpoint image generation unit 
           415  Image combining unit 
           520  Data processing unit 
           521  Image input unit 
           522  Depth detection unit 
           523  3D model generation unit 
           524  Background separation unit 
           525  User position detection unit 
           526  Virtual viewpoint image generation unit 
           527  Background image generation unit 
           528  Image combining unit 
           711  User state (line-of-sight and speaker) detection unit 
           712  Priority determination unit 
           801  CPU 
           802  ROM 
           803  RAM 
           804  Bus 
           805  Input/output interface 
           806  Input unit 
           807  Output unit 
           808  Storage unit 
           809  Communication unit 
           810  Drive 
           811  Removable medium 
           821  Imaging unit 
           822  Display unit