Patent ID: 7664341

Claim:
An index layout measurement method of measuring a relative layout relationship between a first index or index group which exists in a first region in a physical space and a second index or index group which exists in a second region in the physical space by sensing an image of a plurality of indices in the physical space by a movable image sensing device, said method comprising: using a processor to perform a first image sensing step of sensing an image so as to simultaneously include some or all of the first index/index group and an auxiliary index which is temporarily laid out in the physical space and a position and orientation in a three-dimensional space of which can be defined; a second image sensing step of sensing an image so as to simultaneously include some or all of the second index/index group and the auxiliary index; a layout calculation step of calculating a relative layout relationship among the first index/index group, the auxiliary index, and the second index/index group from one or a plurality of images obtained by performing the first image sensing step once or repeating it a plurality of number of times, and one or a plurality of images obtained by performing the second image sensing step once or repeating it a plurality of number of times; and an execution step of repeating the first image sensing step, the second image sensing step, and the layout calculation step, after additionally laying out a new auxiliary index in the physical space by a user in a case that an isolated point index other than the laid out auxiliary indices is found from the first index/index group and the second index/index group after the layout calculation step, wherein all of the laid out auxiliary indices are removed in a case that the isolated point index is not found from the first index/index group and the second index/index group after the layout calculation step or the execution step.