Method for interactive viewing full-surround image data and apparatus therefor

• US 6,243,099 B1
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grandeye Limited (Oncam Global Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Ford Oxaal
• Inventors: Oxaal, Ford
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAVAN, THU THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/228,760
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 345/430, 345/431, 345/427, 345/424, 345/425, 345/428, 345/419, 382/181, 382/190, 382/154, 382/285, 382/276, 382/164, 382/162, 382/293, 382/294, 396/584, 428/141, 348/48, 600/411, 600/425
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A method of modeling of the visible world using full-surround image data includes steps for selecting a view point within a p-surface, and texture mapping full-surround image data onto the p-surface such that the resultant texture map is substantially equivalent to projecting full-surround image data onto the p-surface from the view point to thereby generate a texture mapped p-surface. According to one aspect of the invention, the method also includes a step for either rotating the texture mapped p-surface or changing the direction of view to thereby expose a new portion of the texture mapped p-surface. According to another aspect of the invention, a first the texture mapped p-sphere is replaced by a second texture mapped p-sphere by interactively selecting the new viewpoint from viewpoints within the second texture mapped p-sphere. A corresponding apparatus is also described.

Claims

1. A method of modeling of the visible world using full-surround image data, said method comprising:

selecting a view point within a p-surface; and

texture mapping full-surround image data onto said p-surface such that the resultant texture map is substantially equivalent to projecting full-surround image data onto the p-surface from said view point to thereby generate a texture mapped p-surface.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising rotating said texture mapped p-surface so as to simulate rotating the direction of view in the opposite direction.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting the view point and a direction of view, and wherein said method further comprises interactively changing said direction of view to thereby expose a corresponding portion of said texture mapped p-surface.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying a predetermined portion of said texture mapped p-surface.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein a viewer is allowed to interactively alter at least one of focal length or an angle of view relative to said textured mapped p-surface to thereby vary the displayed portion of said texture mapped p-surface.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a predetermined portion of said p-surface;

selecting a new viewpoint;

repeating said texture mapping step using said new viewpoint; and

redisplaying said predetermined portion of said p-surface,

whereby a first image portion occupying said predetermined portion displayed during the displaying step is different than a second image portion occupying said predetermined portion during the redisplaying step.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said selecting step comprises interactively selecting said new viewpoint.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein a first said texture mapped p-surface is replaced by a second texture mapped p-surface by interactively selecting said new viewpoint from viewpoints within said second texture mapped p-surface.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a new viewpoint; and

displaying said texture mapped p-surface from said new viewpoint.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the new viewpoint is close to the surface of said p-surface.

11. A method of modeling of the visible world using full-surround image data, comprising:

providing said full surround image data;

selecting a view point within a p-surface;

texture mapping full-surround image data onto said p-surface such that the resultant texture map is substantially equivalent to projecting full-surround image data onto the p-surface from said view point to thereby generate a texture mapped p-sphere; and

displaying a predetermined portion of said texture mapped p-sphere.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising rotating said texture mapped p-sphere so as to simulate rotating the direction of view in the opposite direction.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting the view point and a direction of view, and wherein said method further comprises interactively changing said direction of view to thereby display another portion of said texture mapped p-sphere.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

selecting a new viewpoint; and

repeating said texture mapping and said displaying steps using said new viewpoint.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a first said texture mapped p-sphere is replaced by a second said texture mapped p-sphere by interactively selecting said new viewpoint from viewpoints within said second texture mapped p-sphere.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

selecting a new viewpoint; and

displaying said predetermined portion of said texture mapped p-surface using said new viewpoint.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said selecting step comprises interactively selecting said new viewpoint.

18. An apparatus for modeling the visible world using full-surround image data, comprising:

means for selecting a view point within a p-surface;

means for texture mapping full-surround image data onto said p-surface such that the resultant texture map is substantially equivalent to projecting full-surround image data onto the p-surface from said view point to thereby generate a texture mapped p-sphere; and

means for displaying a predetermined portion of said texture mapped p-sphere.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said selecting means comprises means for selecting said view point and interactively selecting a direction of view to thereby interactively display portions of said texture mapped p-surface p-sphere.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, further comprising means for replacing a first said texture mapped p-sphere by a second said texture mapped p-sphere by interactively selecting said viewpoint from a plurality of viewpoints within said second texture mapped p-sphere.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said selecting means permits interactive selection of said viewpoint.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said selecting means comprises means for selecting said view point and interactively selecting a direction of view to thereby interactively display said predetermined portion of said texture mapped p-sphere.