Method and apparatus for virtual walkthrough
First Claim
1. A method for producing an interactive virtual movie, which simulates the walking of a user within a real site and exploring the same, comprising:
- a. Defining first minimal conditions for the creation of a new node;
b. Defining second minimal conditions for linking between nodes;
c. Moving a scanning apparatus along routes within the site, measuring the x,y, displacement coordinates, and angular orientation of the scanning apparatus at any given time, and creating a new node at least whenever such first minimal conditions are met;
d. Obtaining an image data at each node location reflecting a camera unit field of view, and associating the said image data and its orientation with the x,y, location coordinates of the node;
e. Finding and registering neighborhood links between pairs of nodes to generally create chains of nodes, each link assignment connecting between any two nodes satisfies at least said second minimal conditions required for linking between nodes, wherein more than one link may be assigned to a node;
f. Further associating and registering with each created link an exit angular orientation from a first node in the pair and entry angular orientation to the second node in the pair.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method for producing an interactive virtual movie, which simulates the walking of a user within a real site and exploring the same, comprising the steps of: (a) Defining first minimal conditions for the creation of a new node; (b) Defining second minimal conditions for linking between nodes; (c) Moving a scanning apparatus along routes within the site, measuring the x,y, displacement coordinates, and angular orientation of the scanning apparatus at any given time, and creating a new node at least whenever such first minimal conditions are met; (d) Obtaining an image data at each node location reflecting a camera unit field of view, and associating the said image data and its orientation with the x,y, location coordinates of the present node; (e) Finding and registering neighborhood links between pairs of nodes to generally create chains of nodes, each link assignment connecting between any two nodes satisfies at least said second minimal conditions required for linking between nodes, wherein more than one link may be assigned to a node (f) Further associating and registering with each created link an exit angular orientation from a first node in the pair and entry angular orientation to the second node in the pair.
26 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for producing an interactive virtual movie, which simulates the walking of a user within a real site and exploring the same, comprising:
-
a. Defining first minimal conditions for the creation of a new node;
b. Defining second minimal conditions for linking between nodes;
c. Moving a scanning apparatus along routes within the site, measuring the x,y, displacement coordinates, and angular orientation of the scanning apparatus at any given time, and creating a new node at least whenever such first minimal conditions are met;
d. Obtaining an image data at each node location reflecting a camera unit field of view, and associating the said image data and its orientation with the x,y, location coordinates of the node;
e. Finding and registering neighborhood links between pairs of nodes to generally create chains of nodes, each link assignment connecting between any two nodes satisfies at least said second minimal conditions required for linking between nodes, wherein more than one link may be assigned to a node;
f. Further associating and registering with each created link an exit angular orientation from a first node in the pair and entry angular orientation to the second node in the pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for producing an interactive virtual movie, which simulates the walking of a user within a real site, comprising:
-
a. A movable platform;
b. Position and orientation unit for obtaining at any given time position and orientation of the platform, and providing the same to an imaging unit;
c. Imaging units for creating a node any time when some first minimal conditions are met, obtaining image data, and associating said image data and its orientation with the node location, thereby forming a node package;
d. Data unit for;
1) receiving node packages from the imaging unit;
2) calculating neighborhood between nodes;
3) registering links between found neighboring nodes, including registering for each link entry and exit directions to and from nodes;
4) calculating possible merging and/or eliminating of nodes;
5) saving in a database within the data unit a linked graph which is the result of steps 1-4;
6) importing linked graph/s from removable media or network device to the database; and
7) exporting linked graph/s from the database to a removable media or a network device. e. A control unit for;
1) Activation and deactivation of the device;
2) Defining parameters necessary for the operation of the apparatus;
3) Providing control over the import and export operations;
4) Monitoring and coordinating the operation of the various units and elements of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification