Synchronization between image data and location information for panoramic image synthesis
First Claim
1. A method of recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, comprising the steps of:
- storing, in a first memory, data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras with specifying information, including a time code, that specifies each data frame;
using the time code of a specific one of said plurality of cameras as a reference time code, and calculating differences between the time code of said specific one camera and time codes of the other cameras;
acquiring location in formation indicating an image sensing location of said camera, and storing, in a second memory, the location information together with acquisition time information indicating cm acquisition time when the location information is acquired; and
storing, in a third memory, a pair of specifying information that specifies each data frame, and acquisition time information corresponding to the location information acquired at the time when the data frame is generated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image recording apparatus uses a plurality of cameras point in a plurality of discrete azimuth directions so as to realize a walkthrough space. The apparatus stores, in video tapes, data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an environment and time codes TC that respectively specify the data frames; acquires location information LOC associated with the image sensing location of each data frame, and stores the location information together with acquisition time information indicating an acquisition time TIM of the location information in a disk HD; and stores a pair of time code of the data frame and acquisition time information corresponding to the location information acquired at the time of generation of the data frame in the HD.
84 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, comprising the steps of:
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storing, in a first memory, data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras with specifying information, including a time code, that specifies each data frame;
using the time code of a specific one of said plurality of cameras as a reference time code, and calculating differences between the time code of said specific one camera and time codes of the other cameras;
acquiring location in formation indicating an image sensing location of said camera, and storing, in a second memory, the location information together with acquisition time information indicating cm acquisition time when the location information is acquired; and
storing, in a third memory, a pair of specifying information that specifies each data frame, and acquisition time information corresponding to the location information acquired at the time when the data frame is generated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
reading out, using a value of the acquisition time information as a key, the specifying information corresponding to the acquisition time information from said third memory, and the location information corresponding to the acquisition time information from said second memory; and
recording the image data frame in said first memory specified by the specifying information read out from said third memory, and the location information read out from said second memory, in a fourth memory in association with each other.
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9. An image database generated by a recording method of claim 1.
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10. A method of recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, comprising the steps of:
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storing, in a first memory, data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras with generation time information that indicates a generation time of each data frame and differences between the generation time information of one specific camera and the generation time information of the other cameras; and
storing, in a second memory, location information associated with an image sensing location of each data frame, and acquisition time information indicating an acquisition time of the location information. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An image database system obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions, comprising:
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a location-time database including location information associated with an image sensing location with first time information, including a time code, representing an acquisition time of the location information, and time differences between the time code of a specific one of said plurality of cameras and the time codes of the other cameras; and
an image-time database including image data together with second time information indicating a generation time of the image data.
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13. A recording apparatus for recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, comprising:
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a first memory storing data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras with specifying information, including a time code, that specifies data frame;
using the time code of a specific one of said plurality of cameras as a reference time code, calculating differences between the time code of said specific one camera, and time codes of the other cameras;
a second memory storing location information indicating an image sensing location of said camera with acquisition time information indicating an acquisition time of the location information; and
a third memory storing a pair of specifying information that specifies each data frame, and acquisition time information corresponding to the location information acquired at the time of generation of the data frame. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a reader unit reading out, using a value of the acquisition time information as a key, the specifying information corresponding to the acquisition time information from said third memory, and the location information corresponding to the acquisition time information from said second memory; and
a recorder unit recording the image data frame in said first memory specified by the specifying information read out from said third memory, and the location information read out from said second memory, in a fourth memory in association with each other.
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21. A recording apparatus for recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, comprising:
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a first memory storing data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras with generation time information that indicates a generation time of each data frame and differences between the generation time information of one specific camera and the generation time information of the other cameras; and
a second memory storing location information associated with an image sensing location of each data frame together with acquisition time information indicating an acquisition time of the location information. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A recording medium of a computer program that makes a computer execute control for recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, said medium storing:
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first program code means for storing, in a first memory, data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras together with specifying information, including a time code, that specifies each data frame;
second program code means for using the time code of a specific one of said plurality of cameras as a reference time code, and calculating differences between the time code of said specific one camera, and time codes of the other cameras;
third program code means for acquiring location information indicating an image sensing location of said camera, and storing, in a second memory, the location information together with acquisition time information indicating an acquisition time of the location information; and
fourth program code means for storing a pair of specifying information that specifies each data frame, and acquisition time information corresponding to the location information acquired at the time of generation of the data frame, in a third memory.
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24. A recording medium of a computer program that makes a computer execute control for recording images obtained by sensing an object using a plurality of cameras which point in a plurality of directions so as to obtain a basis for forming a sequence of three dimensional image spaces, said medium storing:
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first program code means for storing, in a first memory, data frames of images generated by sequentially sensing an object using a camera of said plurality of cameras with generation time information that indicates a generation time of each data frame and differences between the generation time information of one specific camera and the generation time information of the other cameras; and
second program code means for acquiring location information associated with an image sensing location of each data frame, and storing the location information together with acquisition time information indicating an acquisition time of the location information in a second memory.
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Specification