Sending three-dimensional images over a network

• US 20070094094A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyline Acquisition Corp.
• Original Assignee: Skyline Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Shor, Ofer, Yaron, Ronnie
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/16 involving adaptation to the client's capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures

Abstract

A benefit is obtained for sending digital information over a network. The digital information is representative of three-dimensional images which include photographic images. The receiving computer renders the images from the received digital information, and a viewer at the receiving computer can interactively choose a viewpoint or perspective to view the images on a display of the receiving computer. The benefit to the sender can be monetary compensation and/or increased recognition of the sender, for example.

Claims

1. A method of providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the method comprising:

receiving from the renderer one or more coordinates associated with the portion of the three dimensional surface along with an indication of a respective resolution level;

providing the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more coordinates, from a memory of a local computer;

downloading from a remote server one or more additional sets of information at a resolution level higher than the resolution level of the first set of information which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the provided first set of information from the memory is not at the indicated resolution level.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading the one or more additional sets of information comprises downloading the sets of information from a succession of resolution levels, from a level immediately higher than the resolution level of the first set of information up to the maximal existent resolution level on the remote server not above the indicated resolution level.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the renderer comprises a software object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the renderer comprises a dedicated hardware device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information representing the physical features of a portion of a three dimensional surface further comprises information representing objects upon the portion of the three dimensional surface.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises elevation attributes.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises color attributes.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the sets of information include description of pixels required to produce a display of the portion of the three dimensional surface.

6. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information having a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus comprising:

a memory of a local computer which stores sets of information representing physical features of the portion of the three-dimensional surface associated with coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer;

a communication link, through which the memory receives the information from a remote server;

a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from a renderer, provides the renderer with a first set of information which includes information associated with the one or more specified coordinates from a memory of a local computer, and downloads over the communication link one or more sets of information of a resolution level higher than the resolution level of the first set of information which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the first set of information is not from the indicated level.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the renderer comprises a software object.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the renderer comprises a dedicated hardware device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information representing the physical features of a portion of a three dimensional surface further comprises information representing objects upon the portion of the three dimensional surface.

33. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information comprises elevation attributes.

34. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information comprises color attributes.

36. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sets of information include description of pixels required to produce a display of the portion of the three dimensional surface.

10. A method of providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the method comprising:

receiving from the renderer a plurality of coordinates associated with respective portions of the three dimensional surface along with an indication of a respective resolution level;

said plurality of coordinates being included in a plurality of respective distinct sets of information;

providing the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to at least some of the plurality of coordinates from a memory of a local computer;

downloading from a remote server one or more additional sets of information which include information corresponding to a plurality of respective distinct sets of information if the provided first set of information from the memory is not at the indicated resolution level, wherein sets of information of lower resolution levels are downloaded before sets of information of higher resolution levels.

11. A method of providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information having a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the method comprising:

receiving from the renderer a plurality of coordinates associated with the portion of the three dimensional surface along with an indication of a respective resolution level;

said plurality of coordinates being included in a plurality of respective distinct sets of information;

providing the renderer with first set of information which includes data corresponding to at least some of the plurality of coordinates from a memory of a local computer;

downloading from a remote server one or more additional sets of information which include information corresponding to a plurality of respective distinct sets of information if the provided first set of information from the memory is not at the indicated resolution level, wherein the lower resolution levels are downloaded before sets of information of higher resolution levels and the set of information for which the coordinates were provided last among the sets of information at a common resolution level is downloaded first.

12. A method of providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information having a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the method comprising:

receiving from the renderer a plurality of coordinates associated with the portion of the three dimensional surface along with an indication of a respective resolution level;

said plurality of coordinates being included in a plurality of respective distinct sets of information;

providing the renderer with first set of information which includes data corresponding to at least some of the plurality of coordinates from a memory of a local computer;

downloading from a remote server one or more additional sets of information which include information corresponding to a plurality of respective distinct sets of information if the provided first set of information from the memory is not at the indicated resolution level, wherein the sets of information are downloaded according to the order in which the coordinates were provided.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein downloading the sets of information comprises downloading first the set of information for which the coordinates were provided last.

14. A method of providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information having a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the method comprising:

receiving from the renderer one or more coordinates associated with the portion of the three dimensional surface along with indication of a respective resolution level;

providing the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more coordinates, from a memory of a local computer;

downloading from a remoter server one or more additional sets of information which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the provided first set of information from the memory is not at the indicated resolution level; and

downloading from a remote server excess sets of information not currently needed by the renderer to fill up the local memory when not downloading sets of information required by the renderer.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein downloading the sets of information comprised downloading the sets of information via the Internet.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the renderer renders a view from a current viewpoint, and wherein downloading the excess sets of information comprises filling the memory with substantially all of the sets of information surrounding a point on the surface seen from the current viewpoint within a predetermined distance range.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein downloading excess sets of information comprises filling the memory with substantially the same number of sets of information from each different resolution level.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein filling the memory comprises filling the memory with substantially all of the sets of information within the range from a lower resolution level before downloading sets of information of higher resolution levels.

29. The method of claim 14, wherein the coordinates relate to the coordinates of a predetermined course of a flight vehicle.

19. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information having to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus comprising:

a memory of a local computer which stores sets of information representing physical features of a portion of the three-dimensional surface associated with coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer;

a communication link, through which the memory receives the sets of information from a remote server;

a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from a renderer, provides the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more specified coordinates from the memory, and downloads over the communication link sets of information from the resolution level of the first set of information up to a maximal resolution level of the sets of information stored on the server that is not above the indicated resolution level which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the first set of information is not from the indicated level.

20. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus comprising:

a memory of a local computer which stores sets of information corresponding to coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer;

a communication link, through which the memory receives the sets of information from a remote server;

a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from a renderer, provides the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more specified coordinates from a memory of a local computer, and downloads over the communication link sets of information of lower resolution levels before sets of information of higher resolution levels which include data corresponding to the one or coordinates if the first set of information is not from the indicated level.

21. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus comprising:

a memory of a local computer which stores sets of information corresponding to coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer;

a communication link, through which the memory receives sets of information from a remote server;

a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from a renderer, provides the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more specified coordinates from the memory, and downloads over the communication link sets of information which include data corresponding to the one or coordinates if the first set of information is not from the indicated level, wherein the processor downloads sets of information of lower resolution levels before sets of information of higher resolution levels and the set of information for which the coordinates were provided last among sets of information from a common resolution level is downloaded first.

22. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus comprising:

a memory of a local computer which stores sets of information corresponding to coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer;

a communication link, through which the memory receives the sets of information from a remote server;

a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from a renderer, provides the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more specified coordinates from the memory, and downloads over the communication link one or more additional sets of information according to the order in which the coordinates were provided which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the first set of information is not from the indicated level.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the processor downloads in first precedence the set of information for which the coordinates were provided last.

24. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface to a renderer, the information belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes sets of information at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus comprising:

a memory of a local computer which stores sets of information corresponding to coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer;

a communication link, through which the memory receives the sets of information from a remote server;

a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from a renderer, provides the renderer with a first set of information which includes data corresponding to the one or more specified coordinates from the memory, downloads over the communication link sets of information which include data corresponding to the one or coordinates if the first set of information is not from the indicated level; and

downloads excess sets of information not currently needed by the renderer to fill up the memory when the processor is not downloading sets of information required by the renderer.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the renderer renders a view from a current viewpoint and the processor fills the memory with substantially all the sets of information surrounding a point in the terrain seen from the current viewpoint in a predetermined range.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the processor fills the memory with substantially the same number of sets of information from each resolution level.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the processor fills the memory with substantially all the sets of information from a lower level before downloading sets of information of higher resolution levels.

28. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the communication link comprises a connection to the internet.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said sets of information relate to a course of a flight vehicle.