METHODS FOR PRACTICALLY SIMULATNIG COMPACT 3D ENVIRONMENTS FOR DISPLAY IN A WEB BROWSER
First Claim
1. A method for simulating movement of a user through a remote environment, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a still camera with a panoramic lens;
defining at least one predefined path through the remote environment;
selecting a plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path;
positioning the still camera at each of the plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path, and capturing a 360 degree panoramic still image using the still camera;
providing a computer system having;
a memory;
a display device having a display screen;
an input device adapted to receive user input;
storing the 360 degree panoramic still images in the memory of the computer system;
displaying a plan view of the remote environment and the at least one predefined path in a plan view portion of the display screen;
receiving input from the user via the input device, wherein the user input is indicative of a direction of view and a desired location; and
displaying portions of the 360 degree panoramic still images in a user'"'"'s view portion of the display screen dependent upon the user input such that the displayed images correspond to the direction of view and the desired location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for simulating movement of a user through a remote environment utilizes a still camera with a panoramic lens to capture 360 degree panoramic still images at intervals along a predefined path through the remote environment. A computer system stores the 360 degree panoramic still images and displays a plan view of the remote environment and the predefined path, receives input from the user indicative of a direction of view and a desired location, and displays portions of the 360 degree panoramic still images in a user'"'"'s view portion of a display screen dependent upon the user input such that the displayed images correspond to the direction of view and the desired location.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for simulating movement of a user through a remote environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a still camera with a panoramic lens; defining at least one predefined path through the remote environment; selecting a plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path; positioning the still camera at each of the plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path, and capturing a 360 degree panoramic still image using the still camera; providing a computer system having; a memory; a display device having a display screen; an input device adapted to receive user input; storing the 360 degree panoramic still images in the memory of the computer system; displaying a plan view of the remote environment and the at least one predefined path in a plan view portion of the display screen; receiving input from the user via the input device, wherein the user input is indicative of a direction of view and a desired location; and displaying portions of the 360 degree panoramic still images in a user'"'"'s view portion of the display screen dependent upon the user input such that the displayed images correspond to the direction of view and the desired location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for simulating movement of a user through a remote environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a still camera with a panoramic lens; defining at least one predefined path through the remote environment; selecting a plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path, each of the plurality of intervals being selected to clearly depict a portion of the remote environment; optimizing the remote environment for being photographed by the still camera from the each of the plurality of intervals; positioning the still camera at each of the plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path, and capturing a 360 degree panoramic still image using the still camera; providing a computer system having; a memory; a display device having a display screen; an input device adapted to receive user input; storing the 360 degree panoramic still images in the memory of the computer system; displaying a plan view of the remote environment and the at least one predefined path in a plan view portion of the display screen; receiving input from the user via the input device, wherein the user input is indicative of a direction of view and a desired location; and displaying portions of the 360 degree panoramic still images in a user'"'"'s view portion of the display screen dependent upon the user input such that the displayed images correspond to the direction of view and the desired location. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for simulating movement of a user through a compact remote environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a still camera with a panoramic lens; defining at least one predefined path through the remote environment; selecting a plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path; positioning the still camera at each of the plurality of intervals along the at least one predefined path, and capturing a 360 degree panoramic still image using the still camera; providing a computer system having; a memory; a display device having a display screen; an input device adapted to receive user input; storing fewer than 150 of the 360 degree panoramic still images in the memory of the computer system, the fewer than 150 of the 360 degree panoramic still images together providing a virtual model of the compact remote environment; displaying a plan view of the remote environment and the at least one predefined path in a plan view portion of the display screen; receiving input from the user via the input device, wherein the user input is indicative of a direction of view and a desired location; and displaying portions of the 360 degree panoramic still images in a user'"'"'s view portion of the display screen dependent upon the user input such that the displayed images correspond to the direction of view and the desired location.
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Specification