US5646677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for interactively viewing wide-angle images from terrestrial, space, and underwater viewpoints
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
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Filing: 1995-02-23
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Granted: 1997-07-08
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Expires: 2015-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A broadcast for interactive viewing by a plurality of viewers is provided by contemporaneously capturing a plurality of wide-angle image sequences from a plurality of viewpoints. The viewpoints are selected from the group consisting of a space viewpoint, a terrestrial viewpoint, and an undersea viewpoint. The wide-angle image sequences are broadcasted to the viewers. Each of the viewers receives at least one of the wide-angle image sequences, and selects a portion of the at least one of the wide-angle image sequences. A perspective corrected view of the portion is displayed for view by the viewer. Optionally, prestored textual data and a perspective corrected view of a prestored image may also be displayed.
Inventors
- 👤 William Louis Reber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/218; H04N21/2187; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/4223; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/4728; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N7/002; H04N7/08; H04N7/0806; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N7/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of interactively viewing a broadcast program, the broadcast program including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints selected from the group consisting of a space viewpoint, a terrestrial viewpoint, and an undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; receiving at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences included in the broadcast program to provide the at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences; and displaying a perspective corrected view of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of interactively viewing a broadcast program, the broadcast program including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints selected from the group consisting of a space viewpoint, a terrestrial viewpoint, and an undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; receiving at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences included in the broadcast program to provide the at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences; and displaying a perspective corrected view of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes a plurality of space viewpoints of the region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes a plurality of terrestrial viewpoints of the region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes a plurality of undersea viewpoints of the region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes at least one space viewpoint, at least one terrestrial viewpoint, and at least one undersea viewpoint of the region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast program includes a television signal representative of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences, the television signal selected from the group consisting of an NTSC signal, a PAL signal, and a SECAM signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of receiving the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences includes a step of receiving the television signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of wide-angle image sequences includes a plurality of images having a subset of a spherical field of view.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein all of a plurality of objects in the subset of the spherical field of view are substantially in focus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of retrieving at least one of a plurality of prestored wide-angle images of the region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of prestored wide-angle images are stored on a CD-ROM.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising steps of: selecting a portion of at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images; and displaying a perspective corrected view of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the perspective corrected view includes the steps of: processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences to produce a signal representative of the perspective corrected view; and displaying the perspective corrected view based upon the signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the perspective corrected view includes the step of displaying the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences on a display device having a nonuniform pixel density.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences includes a step of selecting a viewing angle for the perspective corrected view.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences includes a step of selecting a magnification for the perspective corrected view.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of interactively viewing a broadcast, the broadcast including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences having a hemispherical field of view, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints including at least one space viewpoint, at least one terrestrial viewpoint, and at least one undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region of the Earth, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one desired viewpoint from which the region of the Earth is to be viewed; receiving a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences to provide the at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences; processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of image sequences to produce a first signal representative of the perspective corrected view; displaying the perspective corrected view based upon the first signal; retrieving at least one of a plurality of prestored wide-angle images of the region; selecting a portion of at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images; processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images to produce a second signal representative of the perspective corrected view; and displaying the perspective corrected view based upon the second signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of interactively viewing a broadcast, the broadcast including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences having a hemispherical field of view, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints including at least one space viewpoint, at least one terrestrial viewpoint, and at least one undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region of the Earth, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one desired viewpoint from which the region of the Earth is to be viewed; receiving a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences to provide the at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences; processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of image sequences to produce a first signal representative of the perspective corrected view; displaying the perspective corrected view based upon the first signal; retrieving at least one of a plurality of prestored wide-angle images of the region; selecting a portion of at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images; processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images to produce a second signal representative of the perspective corrected view; and displaying the perspective corrected view based upon the second signal.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for interactively viewing a broadcast, the broadcast including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints selected from the group consisting of a space viewpoint, a terrestrial viewpoint, and an undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region, the system comprising: a receiver which receives at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences included in the broadcast to provide at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; a user interface for selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences; and means for displaying a perspective corrected view of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences, the means for displaying operatively associated with the receiver and the user interface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for interactively viewing a broadcast, the broadcast including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints selected from the group consisting of a space viewpoint, a terrestrial viewpoint, and an undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region, the system comprising: a receiver which receives at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences included in the broadcast to provide at least one desired viewpoint from which the region is to be viewed; a user interface for selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences; and means for displaying a perspective corrected view of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences, the means for displaying operatively associated with the receiver and the user interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes a plurality of space viewpoints of the region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes a plurality of terrestrial viewpoints of the region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes a plurality of undersea viewpoints of the region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of viewpoints includes at least one space viewpoint, at least one terrestrial viewpoint, and at least one undersea viewpoint of the region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the broadcast includes a television signal representative of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences, the television signal selected from the group consisting of an NTSC signal, a PAL signal, and a SECAM signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the receiver receives the television signal representative of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of wide-angle image sequences contains a plurality of images having a subset of a spherical field of view.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 25 wherein all of a plurality of objects in the subset of the spherical field of view are substantially in focus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 25 further comprising means for retrieving at least one of a plurality of prestored wide-angle images of the region, the means for retrieving operatively associated with the user interface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the means for retrieving includes a CD-ROM reader for use with a CD-ROM which contains the plurality of prestored wide-angle images.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the user interface allows selecting of a portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images, and wherein the means for displaying displays a perspective corrected view of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the means for displaying the perspective corrected view includes: an image processor which processes the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences to produce a signal representative of the perspective corrected view.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 30 wherein the means for displaying the perspective corrected view includes a display device which displays the perspective corrected view based upon the signal provided by the image processor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the means for displaying the perspective corrected view includes a display device having a nonuniform pixel density, wherein the portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences is displayed on the display device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the user interface is utilized to perform a step of selecting a viewing angle for the perspective corrected view.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the user interface is utilized to perform a step of selecting a magnification for the perspective corrected view.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for interactively viewing a broadcast, the broadcast including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences having a hemispherical field of view, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints including at least one space viewpoint, at least one terrestrial viewpoint, and at least one undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region of the Earth, the system comprising: a receiver which receives a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences to provide at least one desired viewpoint from which the region of the Earth is to be viewed; a CD-ROM reader for retrieving at least one of a plurality of prestored wide-angle images of the region stored on a CD-ROM; a user interface for selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences, the user interface further for selecting a portion of at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images; an image processor which processes the portion of the at least one of the plurality of image sequences to produce a first signal representative of a first perspective corrected view of the region, the image processor further processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images to produce a second signal representative of a second perspective corrected view of the region; a display device which displays the first perspective corrected view and the second perspective corrected view based upon the first signal and the second signal.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for interactively viewing a broadcast, the broadcast including a plurality of wide-angle image sequences having a hemispherical field of view, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences contemporaneously captured from a plurality of viewpoints, the plurality of viewpoints including at least one space viewpoint, at least one terrestrial viewpoint, and at least one undersea viewpoint, the plurality of wide-angle image sequences providing a plurality of different views of a region of the Earth, the system comprising: a receiver which receives a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences to provide at least one desired viewpoint from which the region of the Earth is to be viewed; a CD-ROM reader for retrieving at least one of a plurality of prestored wide-angle images of the region stored on a CD-ROM; a user interface for selecting a portion of the at least one of the plurality of wide-angle image sequences, the user interface further for selecting a portion of at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images; an image processor which processes the portion of the at least one of the plurality of image sequences to produce a first signal representative of a first perspective corrected view of the region, the image processor further processing the portion of the at least one of the plurality of prestored wide-angle images to produce a second signal representative of a second perspective corrected view of the region; a display device which displays the first perspective corrected view and the second perspective corrected view based upon the first signal and the second signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |