Method and apparatus for electronically distributing images from a panoptic camera system
First Claim
1. An electronic image distribution apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a motion panoramic image source, said motion panoramic image source providing successive frames of panoramic images;
a panoramic image converter, said panoramic image converter extracting a subset of a panoramic image frame, said panoramic image converter reducing a first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame, said panoramic image converter sending said first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame and a second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame; and
a client system, said client system receiving said first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame and said second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame, said client system expanding said second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame, said client system combining and displaying said first portion and said expanded second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic image distribution apparatus for distributing panoramic images is disclosed. The central feature of the system is a panoramic image server coupled to a source of panoramic image information. The source of panoramic image frames may be a panoramic image storage device or a panoramic camera system. The panoramic image server converts the panoramic image frames into a format that is more conducive for electronic transmission. Specifically, the panoramic image server extracts a subset of each panoramic image frame and compresses that subset of the panoramic image. The panoramic image server may also geometrically transform the subset of the panoramic image frame. The compressed subset of a panoramic image frame is transmitted across a transmission medium to a client system The client system decompresses the subset of panoramic image frame and displays the subset of the panoramic image frame. To conserve bandwidth, the panoramic image server compresses a large portion of the panoramic image frame and leaves a smaller portion of the panoramic image frame. The smaller portion of the panoramic image frame is later expanded by the client system.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic image distribution apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
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a motion panoramic image source, said motion panoramic image source providing successive frames of panoramic images; a panoramic image converter, said panoramic image converter extracting a subset of a panoramic image frame, said panoramic image converter reducing a first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame, said panoramic image converter sending said first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame and a second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame; and a client system, said client system receiving said first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame and said second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame, said client system expanding said second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame, said client system combining and displaying said first portion and said expanded second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of distributing electronic images, said method comprising the steps of:
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extracting a subset of a panoramic image frame; reducing a first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame; transmitting said first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame and a second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame; receiving said first portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame and said second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame in a client system; and expanding said second portion of said subset of a panoramic image frame in said client system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electronic image distribution apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
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a transmission medium; a panoramic image server, said panoramic image server coupled to said transmission medium; and a client system, said client system coupled to said transmission medium, said client system initiating a connection to said panoramic image server; and a panoramic image server program running on said panoramic image server, said panoramic image server program determining characteristics of said client system and said transmission medium, said panoramic image server program sending panoramic image information to said client in a format dependent upon said characteristics of said client system and said transmission medium. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of distributing electronic images, said method comprising the steps of:
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initiating a connection from a client system to an image server system; determining connection information about said connection between said image server system and said client system; requesting information about said client system from said image server system; calibrating an image distribution format dependent upon said information about said client system and said connection information; and sending image information from said image server system to said client system in said image distribution format. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification