System for delivering and enabling interactivity with images

• US 20050195216A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Virtual IRIS Studios Incorporated
• Inventors: Kramer, Gary, Rubin, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects

Abstract

A system, including apparatuses, software and methods, is disclosed for capturing and delivering images as to which various interactive functions are enabled for a user. The images introduced to the system can come from any one of a variety of sources, including the scalable image-capturing devices described in the specification. Each image is delivered to a user in its own layer of software, which permits complex sets of images of relatively high resolution to be delivered to users without any appreciable delay associated with the delivery or the need for the user to have additional software, such as a plug-in to receive images and enable interactive functions with respect to the images. A viewer perceives only one image layer at a given time, but the currently viewable image layer can be changed rapidly, so that the user can perceive the illusion of motion, including virtual rotation of an object depicted in a set of images. Interactive images can be rendered on a lenticular sheet assembly according to the invention, which allows a user to perceive the illusion of motion by applying pressure to the lenticular sheet assembly, such as with a finger.

Claims

1. A system for rendering at least one image interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

software for processing the at least one image so that one image layer is provided for each of the at least one images;

software for delivering each image layer sequentially to a display device capable of displaying the at least one image layer;

software for displaying each image layer such that only one image layer is the currently viewable image layer from the point of view of the user at any given time;

software for enabling the at least one interactive function with respect to the at least one image, so that the user perceives the illusion of movement in two dimensions or three dimensions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises a plurality of images of at least one object wherein each image represents a view of the at least one object that is captured at a different angle with respect to the at least one object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one images comprises a plurality of images of at least one object wherein each image represents a view of the at least one object that was captured at a different angle in a particular plane of the at least one object.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each image in the plurality of images represents a view of the at least one object that is captured at a different angle in a particular plane of the at least one object through 0 to 360 degrees or some fraction thereof.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to sequentially display each image layer as the currently viewable image layer to provide the illusion of movement in three dimensions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function accepts input from the user that controls the degree to which the user perceives the illusion of movement in three dimensions.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function accepts input from the user that controls the degree to which and the speed with which the user perceives the illusion of movement in three dimensions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to increase the resolution of the currently viewable image layer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to increase the resolution of the currently viewable image layer by increasing the size of the currently viewable image layer by equal amounts in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the software for displaying each image layer further includes displaying the currently viewable image layer in a viewable area defined by an adjustable border.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to increase the resolution of the currently viewable image layer and the size of the adjustable border of the viewing area.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to increase the resolution of the currently viewable image layer by increasing the size of the currently viewable image layer by equal amounts in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to increase the resolution of the currently viewable image layer by increasing the size of the currently viewable image layer by equal amounts in the horizontal direction and the vertical directions and to increase the size of the adjustable border of the viewing area by equal amounts in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein in the increase in size of the currently viewable image layer and the increase in size of the adjustable border of the viewing area is substantially the same.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for displaying each image layer to move the currently viewable image layer from a first position on the display to a second position on the display.

16. The system of claim 1, further including software for displaying a tool bar layer in which a tool bar is disposed, wherein the tool bar layer is perceptible from the point of view of the user along with the currently viewable image layer.

17. The system of claim 1, further including software for providing a transparent layer that overlies the currently viewable image layer whereby the transparent layer is not perceptible from the point of view of the user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for providing the transparent layer to move the transparent layer from a first position on the display to a second position on the display.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for providing the transparent layer to move the transparent layer from a first position on the display to a second position on the display and the currently viewable image layer to move to the second position on the display.

20. The system of claim 1, further including software for providing a first transparent layer that overlies the currently viewable image layer and a second transparent layer that lies between the first transparent layer and the currently viewable image layer whereby the first and second transparent layers are not perceptible from the point of view of the user.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the software for enabling the at least one interactive function causes the software for providing the first transparent layer to move the first transparent layer from a first position with respect to the second transparent layer to a second position, whereby a line is drawn on the second transparent layer which corresponds to the distance between the first position and the second position.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the distance between the first position and the second position corresponds to an actual physical dimension of an object depicted in the at least one image.

23. A system for delivering and allowing interactivity with images so as to provide a virtual three-dimensional effect to a user on a display, comprising:

a plurality of images of at least one object, the plurality of images being combined to form a set of images;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which controls the display of the set of images such that only one of the images will be perceivable by a user on the display at a given point in time;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which enables at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images, whereby the interactive function will give the user the illusion that the object is moving in three dimensions.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of images are digital images.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the language of the software is dynamic hypertext mark up language.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the language of the software is a combination of dynamic hypertext mark up language and JAVASCRIPT.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for controlling the display provides each image in a separate layer, and only one such image layer is viewable by a user at any given time.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of images further comprise different images of the at least one object which are captured in at least one plane of the object through 0 to 360 degrees or some fraction thereof.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the software for the interactive function simulates the rotation of the object through three dimensions by sequentially first displaying and then hiding each image layer to the user at discrete increments of time.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the discrete increments of time are capable of being specified by the user.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of images further comprise different images of the at least one object which are captured in a plurality of planes of the object through 0 to 360 degrees or some fraction thereof.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the software for the interactive function simulates the rotation of the object through three dimensions in each of the plurality of planes by sequentially first displaying and then hiding each image layer to the user at discrete increments of time.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for controlling the display provides a tool bar layer that is perceivable by the user in addition to the one image layer viewable by the user at any given time.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for controlling the display provides each image in a separate layer, each such image layer has approximately the same height and width as ever other image layer, and only one such image layer is viewable by a user at any given time.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the software for controlling the display further provides a transparent layer which is sized to approximate the height and width of the image layers and is disposed on top whichever one image layer is viewable by a user at any given time.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for interactive function enables the at least one object in the set of images to be moved in the horizontal, vertical or diagonal directions on the display.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for interactive function enables the at least one object in the set of images to be zoomed in on to a selected degree.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the selected degree is controlled by a zoom factor.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for interactive function enables at least one dimension of the at least one object in the set of images to be measured and correlated with a corresponding actual physical dimension of the at least one object.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the software for the interactive function enables the at least one object in the set of images to be moved in the horizontal, vertical or diagonal directions on the display by calculating the difference between a first x coordinate and a first y coordinate on the transparent layer and a second x coordinate and a second y coordinate on the transparent layer and by translating the image layers in the set of images a distance on the display corresponding to the difference.

41. A system for delivering and allowing interactivity with images so as to provide an interactive two-dimensional effect to a user on a display, comprising:

at least one image of at least one object, the at least one image comprising a set of images;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which controls the display of the set of images such that only one of the images will be perceivable by a user on the display at a given point in time;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which enables at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images, whereby the interactive function will give the user the illusion that the object is moving horizontally or vertically on the display.

42. A system for delivering and allowing interactivity with images so as to provide an interactive two-dimensional effect to a user on a display, comprising:

at least one image of at least one object, the at least one image comprising a set of images;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which controls the display of the set of images such that only one of the images will be perceivable by a user on the display at a given point in time;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which enables at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images, whereby the interactive function will give the user the illusion that the object is increasing in size on the display.

43. A system for delivering and allowing interactivity with images so as to provide an interactive two-dimensional effect to a user on a display, comprising:

at least one image of at least one object, the at least one image comprising a set of images;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which controls the display of the set of images such that only one of the images will be perceivable by a user on the display at a given point in time;

software associated with and in operable communication with the set of images which enables at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images, whereby the interactive function will give the use the illusion that the object is being moved from a first position to a second position on the display.

44. A method for interacting with images, the method comprising:

providing at least one image in a digital format;

processing the at least one image so that one image layer is provided for each of the at least one images;

delivering the at least one image layer to a user, so that only one of the at least one image layers is perceptible to the user at any given point in time;

enabling at least one interactive function with respect to the at least one image, so that the user perceives the illusion of motion in two dimensions or three dimensions.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein enabling the at least one interactive function includes enlarging the image in the at least one image layer that is perceptible to the user to increase resolution of the image.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein enlarging the image in the at least one image layer that is perceptible to the user enlarges the image to an equal degree in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction.

47. A system for capturing at least one image of an object, comprising:

an image-capturing device having;

an area in which an object can be disposed for imaging, the area having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

at least one lens coupled to a camera, the at least one lens being in operable communication with the interior of the area;

means for commanding the at least one camera to acquire the at least one image of the object via the at least one lens;

means for delivering the at least one image to a storage device.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the interior surface is cylindrically shaped.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the interior surface is spherically shaped.

50. A system for capturing at least one image of an object and rendering the at least one image capable of being interacted with by a user, comprising:

an image-capturing device comprising;

an approximately cylindrically shaped barrel having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an interior aperture in which an object can be situated;

at least one lens associated with and in operable communication with at least one camera, the at least one lens exposed to the interior aperture;

means for commanding the at least one camera to acquire the at least one image of the object via the at least one lens;

means for delivering the at least one image to a storage device;

software associated with and in operable communication with the storage device which is capable of controlling the display of the at least one image such that only one of the at least one images is perceivable by a user;

software associated with and in operable communication with the storage device which is capable of enabling at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to at least one image, whereby the at least one interactive function will give the user the illusion that the object is moving on the display;

a processor on which the software for controlling the display and the software for enabling the at least one interactive function can be implemented.

51. A system for capturing a set of images of an object that can be displayed to a user so as to provide the user with a three dimensional effect with respect to the object, comprising:

an enclosure having a closeable opening through which the object to be imaged can be inserted;

at least one lens coupled to a device for capturing the set of images disposed in the interior of the enclosure;

a lighting source delivered to the interior of the enclosure to illuminate the object during the image capturing process;

means for commanding the at least one camera to acquire the at least one image of the object via the at least one lens;

means for delivering the at least one image to a storage device.

52. A system for capturing a plurality of images of an object, comprising:

an image-capturing device having;

an area in which an object can be disposed for imaging, the area having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

at least one lens coupled to a camera, the at least one lens being in operable communication with the interior of the area;

means for commanding the at least one camera to acquire a first image of the object via the at least one lens;

means for moving the at least one camera relative to the object;

means for commanding the at least one camera to acquire a second image of the object via the at least one lens.

means for delivering the first image and the second image to a user.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the means for moving the camera relative to the object as images in the set of images are captured is software that controls movement of the lens.

54. A system for capturing at least one image of an object, comprising:

an image-capturing device having;

an area in which an object can be disposed for imaging, the area having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

at least one lens coupled to a camera, the at least one lens being in operable communication with the interior of the area;

means for commanding the at least one camera to acquire the at least one image of the object via the at least one lens;

means for delivering the at least one image to a lenticular sheet.

55. A lenticular sheet on which a plurality of images of an object have been deposited on a plurality of lenticular lenses, whereby a user is provided with the illusion of movement when pressure is applied to different portions of the lenticular sheet.

56. A lenticular sheet assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support surface layer,

a lenticular layer containing a plurality of lenticular lenses on which at least one image has been deposited;

means for retaining the lenticular layer on the support surface layer wherein the means for retaining provides a gap between the lenticular layer and the support surface layer.

57. The lenticular sheet assembly of claim 56, wherein the gap permits relative movement between the lenticular layer and the support surface layer when pressure is applied to the lenticular layer.