Virtual reality environment based manipulation of multi-layered multi-view interactive digital media representations

• US 10,514,820 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fyusion, Inc. (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fyusion, Inc. (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Holzer, Stefan Johannes Josef, Miller, Stephen David, Rusu, Radu Bogdan, Trevor, Alexander Jay Bruen, Chande, Krunal Ketan
• Primary Examiner(s): He, Yingchun
• Application Number:
  US15/724,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20180046356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/205 Image-based rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/768 using context analysis, e.g. recognition aided by known co-occurring patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/111 Transformation of image signals corresponding to virtual viewpoints, e.g. spatial image interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/261 with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0085 Motion estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for generating multi-view interactive digital media representations in a virtual reality environment. According to particular embodiments, a plurality of images is fused into a first content model and a first context model, both of which include multi-view interactive digital media representations of objects. Next, a virtual reality environment is generated using the first content model and the first context model. The virtual reality environment includes a first layer and a second layer. The user can navigate through and within the virtual reality environment to switch between multiple viewpoints of the content model via corresponding physical movements. The first layer includes the first content model and the second layer includes a second content model and wherein selection of the first layer provides access to the second layer with the second content model.

Claims

1. A method for generating multi-view interactive digital media representations in a virtual reality environment comprising:

obtaining a plurality of images having location information and an object, wherein the plurality of images include at least a portion of overlapping subject matter;

fusing, via a processor, the plurality of images into a content model and a context model, wherein the content model includes a multi-view interactive digital media representation of the object and the context model includes a multi-view interactive digital media representation of scenery surrounding the object; and

generating, via the processor, a virtual reality environment using the content model and the context model;

wherein the multi-view interactive digital media representations are generated by fusing multiple images in the plurality of images, connected together in a three-dimensional spatial graph, wherein both the content model and the context model are generated directly from the plurality of images without using 3D polygon models, wherein the content model includes multiple images captured using a convex capture motion and the context model includes multiple images captured using a concave capture motion;

wherein the multi-view interactive digital media representations are configured such that a user can navigate through and within the virtual reality environment to switch between multiple viewpoints of the content model via corresponding physical movements,

wherein the user can directly rotate the content model with the virtual reality environment against a static context model background.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of images is obtained from a plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual reality environment is enhanced using one or more of automatic frame selection, stabilization, view interpolation, filters, and compression.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of images includes images with different temporal information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the context model includes a locally concave surround view, the surround view surrounding the content model in a 360 degree navigable environment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content model includes a locally convex surround view of the object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual reality environment is configured such that the user can appear to be closer or farther to the surround views by physically moving through space.

8. A system for generating multi-view interactive digital media representations in a virtual reality environment comprising:

a processor; and

memory, the memory comprising instructions for;

obtaining a plurality of images having location information and an object, wherein the plurality of images include at least a portion of overlapping subject matter;

fusing, via a processor, the plurality of images into a content model and a context model, wherein the content model includes a multi-view interactive digital media representation of the object and the context model includes a multi-view interactive digital media representation of scenery surrounding the object; and

generating, via the processor, a virtual reality environment using the content model and the context model;

wherein the multi-view interactive digital media representations are generated by fusing multiple images in the plurality of images, connected together in a three-dimensional spatial graph, wherein both the content model and the context model are generated directly from the plurality of images without using 3D polygon models, wherein the content model includes multiple images captured using a convex capture motion and the context model includes multiple images captured using a concave capture motion;

wherein the multi-view interactive digital media representations are configured such that a user can navigate through and within the virtual reality environment to switch between multiple viewpoints of the content model via corresponding physical movements,

wherein the user can directly rotate the content model with the virtual reality environment against a static context model background.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of images is obtained from a plurality of users.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual reality environment is enhanced using one or more of automatic frame selection, stabilization, view interpolation, filters, and compression.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of images includes images with different temporal information.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the context model includes a locally concave surround view, the surround view surrounding the content model in a 360 degree navigable environment.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the content model includes a locally convex surround view of the object.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual reality environment is configured such that the user can appear to be closer or farther to the surround views by physically moving through space.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions to execute a method for generating multi-view interactive digital media representations in a virtual reality environment, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of images having location information and an object, wherein the plurality of images include at least a portion of overlapping subject matter;

fusing, via a processor, the plurality of images into a content model and a context model, wherein the content model includes a multi-view interactive digital media representation of the object and the context model includes a multi-view interactive digital media representation of scenery surrounding the object; and

generating, via the processor, a virtual reality environment using the content model and the context model;

wherein the multi-view interactive digital media representations are generated by fusing multiple images in the plurality of images, connected together in a three-dimensional spatial graph, wherein both the content model and the context model are generated directly from the plurality of images without using 3D polygon models, wherein the content model includes multiple images captured using a convex capture motion and the context model includes multiple images captured using a concave capture motion;

wherein the multi-view interactive digital media representations are configured such that a user can navigate through and within the virtual reality environment to switch between multiple viewpoints of the content model via corresponding physical movements,

wherein the user can directly rotate the content model with the virtual reality environment against a static context model background.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the virtual reality environment is enhanced using one or more of automatic frame selection, stabilization, view interpolation, filters, and compression.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of images includes images with different temporal information.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the context model includes a locally concave surround view, the surround view surrounding the content model in a 360 degree navigable environment.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the content model includes a locally convex surround view of the object.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the virtual reality environment is configured such that the user can appear to be closer or farther to the surround views by physically moving through space.