Method and apparatus for electronically distributing images from a panoptic camera system

• US 6,219,089 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Be Here Corporation
• Inventors: Morrow, Howard, Lomax, Willard Curtis, Driscoll, Edward Jr., Steinhauer, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTON, HOWARD W
• Application Number:
  US09/344,528
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.530, H04/N.718, 348/36, 348/38, 348/39, 348/7, 348/15
• US Class Current: 348/36
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

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.

Claims

1. A computer controlled method of providing electronic images comprising steps of:

extracting a subset of a panoramic image frame;

reducing a first portion of said subset; and

transmitting said first portion of said subset and a second portion of said subset over a network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of geometrically transforming said subset from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of extracting extracts said subset from a panoramic image storage device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reducing reduces said first portion to fit within a standard video frame.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reducing geometrically transforms said first portion from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of receiving at least one command over said network, said at least one command used to specify an area of said panoramic image frame to be extracted as said subset.

7. A computer controlled method of receiving electronic images comprising steps of:

receiving, over a network, a first portion of a subset of a panoramic image frame and a second portion of said subset; and

expanding said second portion.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step geometrically transforming said subset from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of expanding is performed by a Java Applet executed by a computing device.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step of presenting a video frame comprised of said first portion and said expanded second portion.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of presenting is performed by displaying said video frame on a display device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of presenting is performed by storing said video frame on a computer readable media.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of presenting is performed by storing said video frame on a data storage device.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step of transmitting at least one command over said network, said at least one command used to specify an area of said panoramic image frame to be extracted as said subset.

15. An apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory coupled to said CPU for providing electronic images, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface that can be connected to a network;

an image extraction mechanism configured to extract a subset of a panoramic image frame;

a reduction mechanism configured to reduce a first portion of said subset extracted by the image extraction mechanism; and

a transmission mechanism configured to transmit said first portion of said subset and a second portion of said subset using said network interface, the transmission mechanism responsive to the reduction mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform said subset from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the image extraction mechanism is configured to extract said subset from a panoramic image storage device in communication with said CPU.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the reduction mechanism is configured to reduce said first portion to fit within a standard video frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the reduction mechanism further includes a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform said first portion from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a receiver mechanism, in communication with the network interface, configured to receive at least one command over said network, said at least one command used to specify an area of said panoramic image frame to be extracted as said subset.

21. An apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory coupled to said CPU for of receiving electronic images, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface that can be connected to a network;

a receiver mechanism configured to receive, through the network interface, a first portion of a subset of a panoramic image frame and a second portion of said subset; and

an expansion mechanism, responsive to the receiver mechanism, configured to expand said second portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform said subset from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the expansion mechanism executes a Java Applet.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a presentation mechanism configured to present a video frame comprised of said first portion and said expanded second portion.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the presentation mechanism is a display device.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the presentation mechanism stores said video frame on a computer readable media.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the presentation mechanism is a data storage device.

28. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a sending mechanism configured to transmit at least one command through the network interface, said at least one command used to specify an area of said panoramic image frame to be extracted as said subset.

29. A computer program product including:

a computer usable data carrier having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to provide electronic images, said computer readable code including;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a network interface that can be connected to a network;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an image extraction mechanism configured to extract a subset of a panoramic image frame;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a reduction mechanism configured to reduce a first portion of said subset extracted by the image extraction mechanism; and

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transmission mechanism configured to transmit said first portion of said subset and a second portion of said subset using said network interface, the transmission mechanism responsive to the reduction mechanism.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the computer usable data carrier is a computer readable media.

31. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the computer usable data carrier is a carrier wave.

32. The product of claim 29 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform said subset from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

33. The product of claim 29 wherein the image extraction mechanism is configured to extract said subset from a panoramic image storage device in communication with said CPU.

34. The product of claim 29 wherein the reduction mechanism is configured to reduce said first portion to fit within a standard video frame.

35. The product of claim 29 wherein the reduction mechanism further includes a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform said first portion from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

36. The product of claim 29 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a receiver mechanism, in communication with the network interface, configured to receive at least one command over said network, said at least one command used to specify an area of said panoramic image frame to be extracted as said subset.

37. A computer program product including:

a computer usable data carrier having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to present electronic images, said computer readable code including;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a network interface that can be connected to a network;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a receiver mechanism configured to receive, through the network interface, a first portion of a subset of a panoramic image frame and a second portion of said subset; and

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an expansion mechanism, responsive to the receiver mechanism, configured to expand said second portion.

38. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the computer usable data carrier is a computer readable media.

39. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the computer usable data carrier is a carrier wave.

40. The product of claim 37 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform said subset from an annular representation to a rectangular projection representation.

41. The product of claim 37 wherein the expansion mechanism executes a Java Applet.

42. The product of claim 37 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a presentation mechanism configured to present a video frame comprised of said first portion and said expanded second portion.

43. The product of claim 42 wherein the presentation mechanism is a display device.

44. The product of claim 42 wherein the presentation mechanism stores said video frame on a computer readable media.

45. The product of claim 42 wherein the presentation mechanism is a data storage device.

46. The product of claim 37 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a sending mechanism configured to transmit at least one command through the network interface, said at least one command used to specify an area of said panoramic image frame to be extracted as said subset.