US5872575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for the creation of and navigation through a multidimensional space using encoded digital video
Assignee: DIGITAL MEDIA Inc
•
Filing: 1996-02-14
•
Granted: 1999-02-16
•
Expires: 2016-02-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method and system for the creation of, and navigation through, a multidimensional virtual space using digital video encoding and decoding techniques. Specifically, the use of a novel database of randomly accessible, pre-rendered short video sequences associated with a set of predefined "motion vectors" allows a user or operator to navigate smoothly through a highly realistic virtual space.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald M. Segal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for generating a database of motion vectors and encoded digital video sequences, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a virtual space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and each encoded digital video sequence represents a plurality of still images, the method comprising the steps of: imposing a coordinate system on a computer model of the virtual space, the coordinate system including a plurality of discrete points; generating one or more motion vectors associated with each point, each motion vector representing either a rotation about that point or a translation to a different point; generating instructions for a computer image rendering program, the instructions specifying which still images are to be rendered as part of the video sequence associated with each motion vector; and digitally encoding the video sequence associated with each motion vector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for generating a database of motion vectors and encoded digital video sequences, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a virtual space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and each encoded digital video sequence represents a plurality of still images, the method comprising the steps of: imposing a coordinate system on a computer model of the virtual space, the coordinate system including a plurality of discrete points; generating one or more motion vectors associated with each point, each motion vector representing either a rotation about that point or a translation to a different point; generating instructions for a computer image rendering program, the instructions specifying which still images are to be rendered as part of the video sequence associated with each motion vector; and digitally encoding the video sequence associated with each motion vector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein each encoded digital video sequence has a last frame identical to a first frame of another encoded digital video sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the video sequences are digitally encoded according to the MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 standards.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the first frame and the last frame of each video sequence are I frames.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for generating a database of motion vectors and encoded digital video sequences, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and each encoded digital video sequence represents a plurality of still images, the method comprising the steps of: imposing a coordinate system on a computer model of the space, the coordinate system including a plurality of discrete points; generating one or more motion vectors associated with each point, each motion vector representing either a rotation about that point or a translation to a different point; generating instructions for an automated camera, the instructions specifying which still images are to be photographed as part of the video sequence associated with each motion vector; and digitally encoding the video sequence associated with each motion vector.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for generating a database of motion vectors and encoded digital video sequences, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and each encoded digital video sequence represents a plurality of still images, the method comprising the steps of: imposing a coordinate system on a computer model of the space, the coordinate system including a plurality of discrete points; generating one or more motion vectors associated with each point, each motion vector representing either a rotation about that point or a translation to a different point; generating instructions for an automated camera, the instructions specifying which still images are to be photographed as part of the video sequence associated with each motion vector; and digitally encoding the video sequence associated with each motion vector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein each encoded digital video sequence has a last frame identical to a first frame of another encoded digital video sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein the video sequences are digitally encoded according to the MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 standards.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the first frame and the last frame of each video sequence are I frames.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a computer system including a database of motion vectors, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a virtual space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and each encoded digital video sequence has a last frame identical to a first frame of another encoded digital video sequence, a method for displaying a concatenated series of video sequences, comprising the steps of: (a) decoding and playing a first video sequence via a first virtual projector; (b) queuing a second video sequence with a second virtual projector, the second virtual projector synchronized such that the first frame of the second video sequence is identical to the last frame of the first video sequence; and (c) decoding and playing the first frame of the second video sequence with the second virtual projector when the last frame of the first video sequence is played by the first virtual projector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a computer system including a database of motion vectors, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a virtual space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and each encoded digital video sequence has a last frame identical to a first frame of another encoded digital video sequence, a method for displaying a concatenated series of video sequences, comprising the steps of: (a) decoding and playing a first video sequence via a first virtual projector; (b) queuing a second video sequence with a second virtual projector, the second virtual projector synchronized such that the first frame of the second video sequence is identical to the last frame of the first video sequence; and (c) decoding and playing the first frame of the second video sequence with the second virtual projector when the last frame of the first video sequence is played by the first virtual projector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the video sequences are digitally encoded according to the MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 standards.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the first frame and the last frame of each video sequence are I frames.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 9 further comprising: (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) with a plurality of other video sequences.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a computer system including a database of motion vectors, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a virtual space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and at least one encoded digital video sequence is linked both in space and in time to another encoded digital video sequence, a method for generating a navigational framework of the virtual space, comprising the steps of: defining the number of degrees of freedom allowable for an operator navigating through the virtual space, the operator having a position, orientation, and velocity in the virtual space; defining areas within the virtual space in which an operator is permitted to navigate; and generating a state machine for determining which particular motion vector, and therefore which associated encoded digital video sequence, should be accessed from the database at any given time, the determination of the state machine based upon the number of degrees of freedom allowable the operator navigating through the virtual space, the position, orientation, and velocity of the operator in the virtual space, the definition of navigable areas within the virtual space, and which motion vector had been previously accessed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a computer system including a database of motion vectors, wherein each motion vector represents a particular rotation or translation within a virtual space, each motion vector has an associated encoded digital video sequence that shows the translation or rotation represented by that motion vector, and at least one encoded digital video sequence is linked both in space and in time to another encoded digital video sequence, a method for generating a navigational framework of the virtual space, comprising the steps of: defining the number of degrees of freedom allowable for an operator navigating through the virtual space, the operator having a position, orientation, and velocity in the virtual space; defining areas within the virtual space in which an operator is permitted to navigate; and generating a state machine for determining which particular motion vector, and therefore which associated encoded digital video sequence, should be accessed from the database at any given time, the determination of the state machine based upon the number of degrees of freedom allowable the operator navigating through the virtual space, the position, orientation, and velocity of the operator in the virtual space, the definition of navigable areas within the virtual space, and which motion vector had been previously accessed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5130794A
Cited
US5287437A
Cited
US5388990A
Cited
US5579026A
Cited
US5577981A
Cited
US5615132A
Cited
US5499146A
Cited
US5577961A
Cited
US5581271A
Cited
US5617334A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |