US6028584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Real-time player for panoramic imaged-based virtual worlds
Assignee: Transpacific IP Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-08-29
•
Granted: 2000-02-22
•
Expires: 2017-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for displaying a selected portion of a panoramic image onto a view plane is provided. The method provides an environment map in the form of a plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image. A first portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image is mapped to a projection buffer. A second portion of the first portion of pixel values, representative of a desired area of the panoramic image to be viewed is mapped to the view plane. The view plane is displayed on the display.
Inventors
- 👤 Cheng-Chin Chiang
- 👤 Chun-Wei Hsieh
- 👤 Tse Cheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/12; G06T15/00; G06T15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of displaying a selected portion of a panoramic image onto a display, the method comprising: providing an environment map in the form of a plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image, wherein the environment map represents the panoramic image wrapped onto a hypothetical cylinders; mapping, to a projection buffer, a first portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image, wherein the first area of the panoramic image mapped onto the projection buffer represents a horizontal view of the image from a viewing position lying along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder and at a midpoint of the height of the cylinder, the projection buffer lying along a tangent of the cylinder and between the viewing position and the view plane; mapping, to a view plane, a second portion of the first portion of pixel values, representative of a desired area of the panoramic image to be viewed; and displaying the view plane on the display.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of displaying a selected portion of a panoramic image onto a display, the method comprising: providing an environment map in the form of a plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image, wherein the environment map represents the panoramic image wrapped onto a hypothetical cylinders; mapping, to a projection buffer, a first portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image, wherein the first area of the panoramic image mapped onto the projection buffer represents a horizontal view of the image from a viewing position lying along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder and at a midpoint of the height of the cylinder, the projection buffer lying along a tangent of the cylinder and between the viewing position and the view plane; mapping, to a view plane, a second portion of the first portion of pixel values, representative of a desired area of the panoramic image to be viewed; and displaying the view plane on the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image are ordered in a first plurality of scanlines, the first portion of the pixel values representative of the selected first area of the panoramic image are ordered in a second plurality of scanlines, and the second portion of the first portion of pixel values are ordered in a third plurality of scanlines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the second plurality of scanlines form a first rectangular area and the third plurality of scanlines form a second rectangular area smaller than the first rectangular area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of mapping a first portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image includes generating a lookup table having entries corresponding to starting and ending points of each of the second plurality of scanlines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of mapping a second portion of the first portion of pixel values includes calculating starting and ending points of each of the third plurality of scanlines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of mapping a first portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image includes generating a lookup table having entries corresponding to grouped sets of neighboring ones of the second plurality of scanlines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the second plurality of scanlines of each grouped set have the same starting and ending positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the number of neighboring ones of the second plurality of scanlines in each grouped set is dynamically changed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for displaying a selected portion of a panoramic image onto a view plane, the system comprising: a video memory which stores a plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image wrapped onto a cylinder, the video memory having a first bit-mapped area representing a projection buffer and a second bit-mapped area representing the view plane, wherein the first area of the panoramic image mapped onto the projection buffer represents a horizontal view of the image from a viewing position lying along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder at a midpoint of the height of the cylinder, the projection buffer lying along a tangent of the cylinder and between the viewing position and the view plane; an input device which identifies a first portion of the panoramic image desired to be viewed; a microprocessor which maps, to the first bit-mapped area, a portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image; a video processor which maps, to the second bit-mapped area and in response to commands from the microprocessor, a second portion of the first portion of pixel values, representative of a desired area of the panoramic image to be viewed; and a video display which displays a second portion of the panoramic image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for displaying a selected portion of a panoramic image onto a view plane, the system comprising: a video memory which stores a plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image wrapped onto a cylinder, the video memory having a first bit-mapped area representing a projection buffer and a second bit-mapped area representing the view plane, wherein the first area of the panoramic image mapped onto the projection buffer represents a horizontal view of the image from a viewing position lying along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder at a midpoint of the height of the cylinder, the projection buffer lying along a tangent of the cylinder and between the viewing position and the view plane; an input device which identifies a first portion of the panoramic image desired to be viewed; a microprocessor which maps, to the first bit-mapped area, a portion of the pixel values representative of a selected first area of the panoramic image; a video processor which maps, to the second bit-mapped area and in response to commands from the microprocessor, a second portion of the first portion of pixel values, representative of a desired area of the panoramic image to be viewed; and a video display which displays a second portion of the panoramic image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of pixel values representative of the panoramic image are ordered in a first plurality of scanlines, the first portion of the pixel values representative of the selected first area of the panoramic image are ordered in a second plurality of scanlines, and the second portion of the first portion of pixel values are ordered in a third plurality of scanlines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the microprocessor maps the plurality of pixel values to generate a lookup table representative of a first portion of the panoramic image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the video processor includes hardware blitter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-21 | 2003-08-23 | 2004-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-21 | 2007-08-23 | 2008-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-21 | 2011-08-23 | 2012-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |