Method and system for creating panoramas

• US 6,246,413 B1
• Filed: 08/17/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MGI Software Corporation (MelodyVR Group Plc)
• Inventors: Teo, Patrick Cheng-San
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US09/136,108
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 345/430, 345/418, 345/419, 345/420, 345/428, 345/429, 345/433
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

A method and system for modifying a panoramic image of a scene, so as to alter its surface geometry, including providing an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface, generating, in response to user input, a desired surface upon which the scene is to be projected, and modifying the initial panoramic image by mapping points on the desired surface to corresponding points on the initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to projection of the scene onto the desired surface.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a panoramic image of a scene, so as to alter its surface geometry, comprising:

providing an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface;

generating, in response to user input, a desired surface upon which the scene is to be projected, wherein the desired surface is distinct from the initial surface; and

modifying said initial panoramic image by mapping points on said desired surface to corresponding points on said initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to a projection of the scene onto said desired surface.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing said modified panoramic image.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said modified panoramic image on a server computer for providing access over a network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating comprises repositioning indicators at selected areas within said initial panoramic image.

5. The method of claim 1 and wherein said generating comprises repositioning indicators to control the scale of said desired surface.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said modified panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said initial panoramic image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired surface is a surface with a rounded polygonal cross-section.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said generating comprises positioning indicators to control the lengths of sides of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

9. The method of claim 7 and wherein said generating comprises positioning indicators to control the curvatures of corners of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial surface is a cylinder parameterized by a polar angle, a, and a height, h, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, h) on the initial surface is given by

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial surface is a sphere parameterized by a polar angle, a, and an altitude angle, b, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, b) on the initial surface is given by

12. A method for creating a panoramic image of a scene, comprising:

generating, in response to user input, a desired surface onto which a scene is to be projected, comprising;

positioning indicators at selected areas within an initial panoramic image; and

computing a projection of the scene onto said desired surface to produce a panoramic image.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising printing said panoramic image.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing said panoramic image on a server computer for providing access over a network.

15. The method of claim 12 and wherein said generating further comprises positioning indicators to control the scale of said desired surface.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said initial panoramic image.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said desired surface is a surface with a rounded polygonal cross-section.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said generating further comprises positioning indicators to control the lengths of sides of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

19. The method of claim 17 and wherein said generating further comprises positioning indicators to control the curvatures of corners of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

20. A method for creating, from a first panoramic image of a scene projected onto a first surface, a second panoramic image of the scene projected onto a second surface, wherein the second surface is distinct from the first surface, comprising:

providing said first panoramic image; and

modifying said first panoramic image using said first and second surfaces to produce a second panoramic image corresponding to projection of the scene upon said second surface.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising printing said second panoramic image.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising storing said second panoramic image on a server computer for providing access over a network.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said second panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said first panoramic image.

24. A system for modifying a panoramic image of a scene, so as to alter its surface geometry, comprising:

a memory storing an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface;

a user interface generating a desired surface upon which said scene is to be projected, wherein the desired surface is distinct from the initial surface; and

an image processor modifying said initial panoramic image by mapping points on said desired surface to corresponding points on said initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to a projection of the scene onto said desired surface.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising a printer for printing said modified panoramic image.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising a server computer for distributing said modified panoramic image over a network.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein said user interface comprises adjustable indicators for selecting areas within said initial panoramic image.

28. The system of claim 24 and wherein said user interface comprises indicators for controlling the scale of said adjusted surface.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein said modified panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said initial panoramic image.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein said generated surface is a surface with a rounded polygonal cross-section.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said user interface comprises indicators for controlling the lengths of sides of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

32. The system of claim 30 and wherein said user interface comprises indicators for controlling the curvatures of corners of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

33. The system of claim 24 wherein the initial surface is a cylinder parameterized by a polar angle, a, and a height, h, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, h) on the initial surface is given by

34. The system of claim 24 wherein the initial surface is a sphere parameterized by a polar angle, a, and an altitude angle, b, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, b) on the initial surface is given by

35. A system for creating a panoramic image of a scene, comprising:

a user interface generating a surface upon which a scene is projected, to form a desired surface, comprising

adjustable indicators for selecting areas within an initial panoramic image; and

an image processor projecting said scene onto said desired surface to produce a panoramic image.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising a printer for printing said panoramic image.

37. The system of claim 35 further comprising a server computer for distributing said panoramic image over a network.

38. The system of claim 35 and wherein said user interface further comprises indicators for controlling the scale of said desired surface.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein said panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said initial panoramic image.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein said desired surface is a surface with a rounded polygonal cross-section.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said user interface further comprises indicators for controlling the lengths of sides of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

42. The system of claim 40 and wherein said user interface further comprises indicators for controlling the curvatures of corners of said rounded polygonal cross-section.

43. A system for creating, from a first panoramic image of a scene projected onto a first surface, a second panoramic image of the scene projected onto a second surface, wherein the second surface is distinct from the first surface, comprising:

a memory storing first panoramic image of a scene; and

an image processor modifying said first panoramic image using said first and second surfaces to produce a second panoramic image corresponding to projection of the scene upon said second surface.

44. The system of claim 43 further comprising a printer for printing said second panoramic image.

45. The system of claim 43 further comprising a server computer for distributing said second panoramic image over a network.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said second panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said first panoramic image.

47. A method for modifying a panoramic image of a scene, so as to alter its surface geometry, comprising:

providing an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface;

manipulating a polyhedral surface upon which the scene is to be projected, relative to said initial panoramic image, to form a desired surface, wherein the desired surface is distinct from the initial surface; and

modifying said initial panoramic image by mapping points on said desired surface to corresponding points on said initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to projection of the scene onto said desired surface.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said manipulating comprises adjusting the scale of said polyhedral surface.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein said manipulating comprises rotating said polyhedral surface.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein said manipulating comprises re-positioning edges of said polyhedral surface.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein said modified panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said initial panoramic image.

52. The method of claim 47 wherein the initial surface is a cylinder parameterized by a polar angle, a, and a height, h, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, h) on the initial surface is given by

53. The method of claim 47 wherein the initial surface is a sphere parameterized by a polar angle, a, and an altitude angle, b, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, b) on the initial surface is given by

54. A system for modifying a panoramic image of a scene, so as to alter its surface geometry, comprising:

a memory storing an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface;

a user interface manipulating a polyhedral surface upon which said scene is to be projected, relative to said initial panoramic image, to form a desired surface, wherein the desired surface is distinct from the initial surface; and

an image processor modifying said initial panoramic image by mapping points on said desired surface to corresponding points on said initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to a projection of the scene onto said desired surface.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein said user interface comprises adjustable indicators for adjusting the scale of said polyhedral surface.

56. The system of claim 54 wherein said user interface comprises adjustable indicators for rotating said polyhedral surface.

57. The system of claim 54 wherein said user interface comprises adjustable indicators for repositioning edges of said polyhedral surface.

58. The system of claim 54 wherein said modified panoramic image has reduced distortion of straight lines as compared with said initial panoramic image.

59. The system of claim 54 wherein the initial surface is a cylinder parameterized by a polar angle, a, and a height, h, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, h) on the initial surface is given by

60. The system of claim 54 wherein the initial surface is a sphere parameterized by a polar angle, a, and an altitude angle, b, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, b) on the initial surface is given by

61. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

provide an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface;

generate, in response to user input, a desired surface upon which the scene is to be projected, wherein the desired surface is distinct from the initial surface; and

modify said initial panoramic image by mapping points on said desired surface to corresponding points on said initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to projection of the scene onto said desired surface.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 61 wherein said computer-readable medium is a computer data signal encoded in a carrier wave.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 61 wherein said computer-readable medium is a computer data signal encoded in a carrier wave.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 61 wherein the initial surface is a cylinder parameterized by a polar angle, a, and a height, h, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, h) on the initial surface is given by

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 61 wherein the initial surface is a sphere parameterized by a polar angle, a, and an altitude angle, b, and the desired surface is a surface of extrusion parameterized by an arc length, s, and a height, z, and wherein the mapping from points (x(s), y(s)) on the desired surface to corresponding points (a, b) on the initial surface is given by

66. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

generate, in response to user input, a desired surface upon which a scene is to be projected by positioning indicators at selected areas within an initial panoramic image; and

compute a projection of the scene onto said desired surface to produce a panoramic image.

67. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

provide a first panoramic image; and

modify said first panoramic image using first and second surfaces to produce a second panoramic image corresponding to projection of a scene on said surface, wherein the second surface is distinct from the first surface.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67 wherein said computer-readable medium is a computer data signal encoded in a carrier wave.