Object movie exporter

• US 20030025725A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Nie, Xiaochun, Flick, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,941,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/719
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/004 Predictors, e.g. intraframe, interframe coding

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for compressing and/or transmitting and/or receiving data representing different views of an object. In one method according to the present invention, the method stores a plurality of frames of an object wherein each of these frames represents a view of the object. The method then assigns a reference number to each of these frames, arranges these frames in a preferred layout, divides the preferred layout into a plurality of blocks having frames sharing spatial similarities, and compresses each of these blocks separately.

Claims

1. A digital processing implemented method for processing a data set enabling interactive random access for different views of an object, said method comprising:

storing a plurality of frames of said object, said plurality of frames representing a set of views of said object;

assigning a reference number to each of said plurality of frames;

arranging said plurality of frames in a preferred layout; and

dividing said preferred layout into a plurality of blocks having frames sharing spatial similarities and compressing each of said plurality of blocks separately.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising selecting at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks and compressing each of said non-key frame and said key frame for each of said plurality of blocks separately such that a compressing sequence includes going away from said key frame until reaching a boundary of each of said plurality of blocks to cover each of said non-key frames.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein a longest compressing path of any one of said non-key frames and said key frame is less than a predetermined number of frames from said key frame.

4. A method as in claim 3 further comprising including a video track layout for said set of views, said video track layout making references to a data source track, said data source track to comprise compressed data for said set of views wherein each of said at least one key frame and said non-key frames is compressed only once and is referenced as many times as necessary by said video track layout.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein each of said video track, wherein at least one key frame is near a center of each of said plurality of blocks.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a size that is one of equal to a predetermined size and smaller than said predetermined size.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said preferred layout is a two-dimensional array.

8. A method as in claim 7 further comprising:

dividing said preferred layout such that a smaller size block is at a further top and a further left comer of said preferred layout and a larger size block is at a further bottom and a further right comer of said preferred layout; and

selecting said at least one key frame such that said at least one key frame is closer to a further top and a further left comer of each of said plurality of blocks.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein a frame differencing compression method is used to compress each of said plurality of blocks separately.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein said method is performed by a server computer system.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said method is performed by a world-wide web server.

12. A method as in claim 9 wherein said method is performed by a server computer system.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said method is performed by a world-wide web server.

14. A digital processing implemented method for receiving and using a data set enabling interactive random access for different views of an object, said method comprising:

transmitting a request to receive said data set, said data set including frames of said object, said frames representing views of said object; and

receiving said data set wherein said frames were arranged in a preferred layout, said preferred layout was divided into a plurality of blocks wherein each of said plurality of blocks was compressed separately.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said input further comprising manipulating said object using a cursor which is displayed on a display device.

16. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

receiving an input which requests a selected number of said views;

mapping said input to a selected appropriate number of frames in said frames; and

decompressing said selected appropriate number of frames.

17. A method as in claim 16 further comprising:

storing said selected appropriate number of frames that are compressed; and

allowing a user to playback said selected number of said views in a movie-like sequence.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said method is performed by a digital processing system and wherein said data set is received from a server computer system

19. A method as in claim 14 wherein said data set further comprises at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said pluralty of blocks each of said at least one key frame was compressed prior to said non-key frames such that a compressing sequence includes going away from said key frame until reaching a boundary of each of said plurality of blocks to cover each of said non-key frames.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said preferred layout, said plurality of blocks, said at least one key frame, and said plurality of non-key frames were arranged such that a longest compressing path of any one of said non-key frames and said key frame is less than a predetermined number of frames from said key frame.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said data set further comprising a video track layout for said views, said video track layout making references to a data source track, said data source track including compressed data for said views wherein each of said at least one key frame and said non-key frames is compressed only once and is referenced as many times as necessary by said video track layout.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein each of said at least one key frame is near a center of each of said plurality of blocks.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a size that is one of equal to a predetermined size and smaller than said predetermined size.

24. A method as in claim 23 wherein said preferred layout is a two-dimensional array.

25. A method as in claim 24 wherein said preferred layout is divided such that a smaller size block is at a further top and a further left comer of said preferred layout and a larger size block is at a further bottom and a further right comer of said preferred layout and wherein said at least one key frame is closer to a further top and a further left comer of each of said plurality of blocks.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said method is performed by a digital processing system and wherein said data set is received from a server computer system.

27. A method as in claim 26 wherein a frame differencing compression method is used to separately compress each of said plurality of blocks.

28. A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing implemented method for processing a data set enabling interactive random access for different views of an object, said method comprising:

storing a plurality of frames of said object, said plurality of frames representing a set of views of said object;

assigning a reference number to each of said plurality of frames;

arranging said plurality of frames in a preferred layout; and

dividing said preferred layout into a plurality of blocks having frames sharing spatial similarities and compressing each of said plurality of blocks separately.

29. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 28 further comprising selecting at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks and compressing each of said non-key frame and said key frame for each of said plurality of blocks separately such that a compressing sequence includes going away from said key frame until reaching a boundary of each of said plurality of blocks to cover each of said non-key frames.

30. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 29 wherein said dividing said preferred layout into a plurality of blocks and said selecting at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks are such that a longest compressing path of any one of said non-key frames and said key frame is less than a predetermined number of frames from said key frame.

31. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 30 further comprising including a video track layout for said set of views, said video track layout making references to a data source track, said data source track to comprise compressed data for said set of views wherein each of said at least one key frame and said non-key frames is compressed only once and is referenced as many times as necessary by said video track layout.

32. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 31 wherein each of said video track at least one key frame is near a center of each of said plurality of blocks.

33. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a size that is one of equal to a predetermined size and smaller than said predetermined size.

34. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 33 wherein said preferred layout is a two-dimensional array.

35. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 34 further comprising:

dividing said preferred layout such that a smaller size block is at a further top and a further left corner of said preferred layout and a larger size block is at a further bottom and a further right comer of said preferred layout; and

selecting said at least one key frame such that said at least one key frame is closer to a further top and a further left corner of each of said plurality of blocks.

36. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 35 wherein a frame differencing compression method is used to compress each of said plurality of blocks separately.

37. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 28 wherein said method is performed by a server computer system.

38. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 36 wherein said method is performed by a server computer system.

39. A computer readable storage medium conataining executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing implemented method for receiving and using a data set enabling interactive random access for different views of an object, said method comprising:

transmitting a request to receive said data set, said data set including frames of said object, said frames representing views of said object; and

receiving said data set wherein said frames were arranged in a preferred layout, said preferred layout was divided into a plurality of blocks wherein each of said plurality of blocks was compressed separately.

40. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 39 wherein said input further comprising manipulating said object using a cursor which is display on a display device.

41. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 40 further comprising:

receiving an input which requests a selected number of said views;

mapping said input to a selected appropriate frames in said frames; and

decompressing said selected appropriate frames.

42. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 41 further comprising:

storing said appropriate frames that are compressed; and

allowing a user to playback said selected number of said views in a movie-like sequence.

43. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 42 wherein said method is performed by a digital processing system and wherein said data set is received from a server computer system.

44. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 43 wherein said data set further comprises at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks, each of said at least one key frame was compressed prior to said non-key frames such that a compressing sequence includes going away from said key frame until reaching a boundary of each of said plurality of blocks to cover each of said non-key frames.

45. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 44 wherein said preferred layout, said plurality of blocks, said at least one key frame, and said plurality of non-key frames were arranged such that a longest compressing path of any one of said non-key frames and said key frame is less than two frames from said key frame.

46. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 45 wherein said data set further comprising a video track layout for said views, said video track layout making references to a data source track, said data source track including compressed data for said views wherein each of said at least one key frame and said non-key frames is compressed only once and is referenced as many times as necessary by said video track layout.

47. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 46 wherein each of said at least one key frame is near a center of each of said plurality of blocks.

48. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 47 wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a size that is one of equal to a predetermined size and smaller than said predetermined size.

49. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 48 wherein said preferred layout is a two-dimensional array.

50. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 49 wherein said preferred layout is divided such that a smaller size block is at a further top and a further left comer of said preferred layout and a larger size block is at a further bottom and a further right comer of said preferred layout and wherein said at least one key frame is closer to a further top and a further left comer of each of said plurality of blocks.

51. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 50 wherein said method is performed by a digital processing system and wherein said data set is received from a server computer system.

52. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 51 wherein a frame differencing compression method is used to separately compress each of said plurality of blocks.

53. A digital processing system for processing a data set enabling interactive random access for different views of an object, said system comprising:

means for storing a plurality of frames of said object, said plurality of frames representing a set of views of said object;

means for assigning a reference number to each of said plurality of frames;

means for arranging said plurality of frames in a preferred layout; and

means for dividing said preferred layout into a plurality of blocks having frames sharing spatial similarities and compressing each of said plurality of blocks separately.

54. A system as in claim 53 further comprising means for selecting at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks and means for compressing said at least one key frame prior to compressing non-key frames such that a compressing sequence includes going away from said key frame until reaching a boundary of each of said plurality of blocks to cover each of said non-key frames.

55. A system as in claim 54 wherein said dividing said preferred layout into a plurality of blocks and said selecting at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks is such that a longest compressing path of any one of said non-key frames and said key frame is less than a predetermined number of frames from said key frame.

56. A system as in claim 55 further comprises means for including a video track layout for said set of views, said video track layout making references to a data source track, said data source track to comprise compressed data for said set of views wherein each of said at least one key frame and said non-key frames is compressed only once and is referenced as many times as necessary by said video track layout.

57. A digital processing implemented system for receiving and using a data set enabling interactive random access for different views of an object, said system comprising:

means for transmitting a request to receive said data set, said data set including frames of said object, said frames representing views of said object; and

means for receiving said data set wherein said frames were arranged in a preferred layout, said preferred layout was divided into a plurality of blocks wherein each of said plurality of blocks was compressed separately.

58. A system as in claim 57 wherein said input further comprising means for manipulating said object using a cursor which is displayed on a display device.

59. A system as in claim 58 further comprising. means for receiving an input which requests a selected number of said views;

means for mapping said input to a selected appropriate frames in said frames; and

means for decompressing said selected appropriate frames.

60. A system as in claim 58 further comprising:

means for storing said appropriate frames that are compressed; and

means for allowing a user to playback said selected number of said views in a movie-like sequence.

61. A system as in claim 60 wherein said data set further comprising at least one key frame and a plurality of non-key frames for each of said plurality of blocks, each of said at least one key frame was compressed prior to said non-key frames such that a compressing sequence includes going away from said key frame until reaching a boundary of each of said plurality of blocks to cover each of said non-key frames.

62. A system as in claim 61 wherein said preferred layout, said plurality of blocks, said at least one key frame, and said plurality of non-key frames were arranged such that a longest compressing path of any one of said non-key frames and said key frame is less than two frames from said key frame.

63. A system as in claim 62 wherein said data set further comprising a video track layout for said views, said video track layout making references to a data source track, said data source track including compressed data for said views wherein each of said at least one key frame and said non-key frames is compressed only once and is referenced as many times as necessary by said video track layout.