Guided Navigation Through Geo-Located Panoramas
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for guided navigation of a virtual camera in an interactive three-dimensional environment, comprising:
- displaying a first three-dimensional representation of a panoramic image within the three-dimensional environment from a viewpoint of the virtual camera;
identifying one or more additional panoramic images linked to the first panoramic image based on metadata associated with the first panoramic image;
determining a region of good visual quality for each of the first panoramic image and the one or more additional panoramic images within the three-dimensional environment;
generating one or more navigation channels relative to a path between the first panoramic image and the one or more additional panoramic images based on each region of good visual quality, each navigation channel having a rendering surface that constrains movement of the virtual camera; and
moving the virtual camera in the three-dimensional environment along the path from a first position associated with the first panoramic image toward a second position associated with a second panoramic image of the one or more additional panoramic images based on user input, wherein movement of the virtual camera within the three-dimensional space is constrained to the volume of space defined by each navigation channel.
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Abstract
A capability for guided navigation in an interactive virtual three-dimensional environment is provided. Such a capability may enhance user experience by providing the feeling of free-form navigation to a user. It may be necessary to constrain the user to certain areas of good visual quality, and subtly guide the user towards viewpoints with better rendering results without disrupting the metaphor of freeform navigation. Additionally, such a capability may enable users to “drive” down a street, follow curving roads, and turn around intersections within the interactive virtual three-dimensional environment. Further, this capability may be applicable to image-based rendering techniques in addition to any three-dimensional graphics system that incorporates navigation based on road networks and/or paths.
138 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for guided navigation of a virtual camera in an interactive three-dimensional environment, comprising:
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displaying a first three-dimensional representation of a panoramic image within the three-dimensional environment from a viewpoint of the virtual camera; identifying one or more additional panoramic images linked to the first panoramic image based on metadata associated with the first panoramic image; determining a region of good visual quality for each of the first panoramic image and the one or more additional panoramic images within the three-dimensional environment; generating one or more navigation channels relative to a path between the first panoramic image and the one or more additional panoramic images based on each region of good visual quality, each navigation channel having a rendering surface that constrains movement of the virtual camera; and moving the virtual camera in the three-dimensional environment along the path from a first position associated with the first panoramic image toward a second position associated with a second panoramic image of the one or more additional panoramic images based on user input, wherein movement of the virtual camera within the three-dimensional space is constrained to the volume of space defined by each navigation channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for guided navigation of a virtual camera in an interactive three-dimensional environment, comprising:
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a renderer module configured to display a first three-dimensional representation of a first panoramic image within the three-dimensional environment from a viewpoint of the virtual camera and identify one or more additional panoramic images linked to the first panoramic image based on metadata associated with the first panoramic image; a path planner module configured to determine a region of good visual quality for each of the first panoramic image and the one or more additional panoramic images within the three-dimensional environment; and a path motion module configured to generate one or more navigation channels relative to a path between the first panoramic image and the one or more additional panoramic images based on each region of good visual quality, each navigation channel having a rendering surface that constrains movement of the virtual camera, and move the virtual camera in the three-dimensional environment along the path from a first position associated with the first panoramic image toward a second position associated with a second panoramic image of the one or more additional panoramic images based on user input, wherein movement of the virtual camera within the three-dimensional space is constrained to the volume of space defined by each navigation channel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification