System for omnidirectional image viewing at a remote location without the transmission of control signals to select viewing parameters
First Claim
1. A display control system comprising:
- a camera imaging system having a wide-angle lens at a first site for receiving a partial spherical image and for producing output signals corresponding to the partial spherical images;
a transmitter, responsive to the camera-imaging system, at the first site for transmitting the output signals from the first site to at least a second site and a third site;
a first receiver at the second site for receiving the transmitted output signals;
a second receiver at the third site for receiving the transmitted output signals;
an image memory at the second site for digitally storing data representing the partial spherical image obtained at the first site;
a control input at the second site for receiving a signal representing a selection of a portion of the partial spherical image; and
a converter at the second site, responsive to said control input, for converting stored digital data representing the selected portion to digital data representing a planar image for display without the transmission of said signal representing the selection of the portion of the partial spherical image to the first site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for achieving perspective-corrected views at a location removed from the site of the creation of a distorted wide angle image without the transmission of control signals to the site of image creation. Angles of tilt, pan and rotation, as well as degrees of magnification, are achieved without the use of mechanical devices by using transform algorithms. The system provides for the transmission of signals related to an uncorrected image from a site where this distorted image is created, with the transmitted signals being received at one or more processing sites for creating the perspectively-corrected views. Transmission can be via telephone lines, with the system including signal compression and decompression units. Wireless transmission is also utilized where desired.
131 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A display control system comprising:
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a camera imaging system having a wide-angle lens at a first site for receiving a partial spherical image and for producing output signals corresponding to the partial spherical images; a transmitter, responsive to the camera-imaging system, at the first site for transmitting the output signals from the first site to at least a second site and a third site; a first receiver at the second site for receiving the transmitted output signals; a second receiver at the third site for receiving the transmitted output signals; an image memory at the second site for digitally storing data representing the partial spherical image obtained at the first site; a control input at the second site for receiving a signal representing a selection of a portion of the partial spherical image; and a converter at the second site, responsive to said control input, for converting stored digital data representing the selected portion to digital data representing a planar image for display without the transmission of said signal representing the selection of the portion of the partial spherical image to the first site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 22, 25)
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10. A method of controlling an image display comprising the steps of:
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generating output signals corresponding to a partial spherical image; transmitting from a first site the output signals to at least a second site and a third site; receiving the transmitted signals at the second site and the third site; storing in a first image memory at the second site digital data representing the partial spherical image generated at the first site; storing in a second image memory at the third site digital data representing the partial spherical image generated at the first site; inputting a first signal representing a first selected portion of the partial spherical image at the second site; inputting a second signal representing a second selected portion of the partial spherical image at the third site; converting the stored digital data at the second site representing the first selected portion of the partial spherical image to digital data representing a first planar image for display without transmitting said first input signal representing the first selected portion of the partial spherical image to said first site; and converting the stored digital data at said third site representing said second selected portion of the partial spherical image to digital data representing a second planar image for display without transmitting the second input signal representing the second selected portion of the partial spherical image to said first site; whereby the first selected portion for display at the second site is different from the second selected portion for display at the third site. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 26)
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19. A computer-readable storage medium for selectively displaying a selected portion of a spherical image comprising:
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a first module for receiving from a remote source a digital signal representing a partial spherical image; a second module for receiving an input signal which designates a selected portion of said partial spherical image; a third module for converting the selected portion of said partial spherical image from the digital signal representing said partial spherical image to digital data representing a planar image for display without transmitting said input signal representing the selected portion of the partial spherical image to said remote site, whereby the designation of the selected portion is unique among receiving sites. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 24)
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Specification