Methods for generating image set or series with imperceptibly different images, systems therefor and applications thereof

• US 6,433,839 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hourplace LLC
• Original Assignee: Hourplace LLC
• Inventors: Siefken, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/538,137
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 348/699-701, 348/390, 348/578, 348/173, 345/427, 345/626, 345/619, 345/625, 345/646, 345/660, 345/661, 345/672, 345/473, 345/475, 345/726
• US Class Current: 348/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation

Abstract

A method for generating a series of images for playback on a display, each image in the series being imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different image in the series, methods for displaying such images, systems for generating and/or displaying the images and media carrying such images. The image series is displayed with such timing that an ordinary viewer cannot perceive the transitions or differences between adjacent or successive images, yet over time, the displayed scene will progress so that at widely disparate points in time, the displayed images are perceptibly different, i.e., the scene can be noticeably different.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

a) comparing first and second electronic representations of at least portions of respective first and second images;

b) based on said comparison, generating an electronic representation of at least a portion of a transition image that represents a difference from said portion of said first image along a transition path from said first image to said second image, said difference being such that said portion of said transition image is imperceptibly different from said portion of said first image as viewed by an ordinary human observer;

c) storing said electronic representation of said portion of said transition image;

d) replacing said first electronic representation of said portion of said first image with said electronic representation of said portion of said transition image; and

e) repeating steps a-d until a series of electronic representations of portions of transition images are generated defining said transition path from said first image to said second image.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of communicating each electronic representation of a portion of a transition image via a communications channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each electronic representation of a portion of a transition image is communicated via the communication channel after it is generated, but before the next electronic representation of a portion of a transition image along the transition path is generated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic representations of portions of transition images defining said transition path are stored on a recording medium.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic representation of at least a portion of a first image;

using a predetermined rate of transition between images, processing at least said portion of said first image and generating a series of electronic representations of corresponding portions of transition images defining a transition path which transitions away from said portion of said first image, said transition path comprising corresponding portions of transition images any given one of which is imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different corresponding portion of an image along the transition path such that upon successive display of said transition images at said predetermined rate of transition between images or slower, an ordinary human observer will not perceive any difference in said corresponding portions of displayed images over any given 5 second interval;

making each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image; and

storing said electronic representation of said corresponding portions transition images defining said transition path.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said portion of any given transition image is different from said portion of its immediately preceding image along the transition path by a predetermined difference.

7. The method of claim 5, where said portion of any given transition image is different from said portion of its immediately preceding different image along the path by a random difference.

8. The method of claim 5, comprising the step of broadcasting each electronic representation of a portion of a transition image.

9. The method of claim 5, comprising the step of broadcasting each electronic representation of portion of a transition image after it is generated, but before a subsequent electronic representation of a portion of a subsequent transition is generated.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

using a predetermined rate of transition between images, generating a series of electronic representations of at least corresponding portions of transition images along a transition path in which each subsequent corresponding portions of an image is imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different corresponding portion of an image such that upon successive display of said transition images at said predetermined rate of transition between images or slower, an ordinary human observer will not perceive any difference in the displayed corresponding portions of said images over any given 5 second interval;

making each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said series different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image; and

storing said electronic representations of said corresponding portions of said images.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising the further step of broadcasting said electronic representations of said portions of said images.

12. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a series of electronic representations of different images defining a transition path in which at least a portion of each image thereof is imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different corresponding portion of an image, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image;

displaying said different images in seriatim with a timing such that a transition between said corresponding portions of said images is imperceptible to an ordinary human observer over any given 5 second interval.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronic representations of said images are stored such that a plurality of copies of a given image are displayed in seriatim to effect such timing.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said images are displayed on a flat screen display.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said images are displayed on a cathode ray tube display.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said images are displayed in a holographic image system.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said images are displayed on a screen using an image projection device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronic representations of said images are received via a recording medium and comprising the step of reading said electronic representations of said images from said recording medium.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronic representations of said images are received via a communication channel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each of said images is displayed as it is received via said communications channel.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said electronic representations of said images defining said transition path are received via said communication channel and then said images are displayed in seriatim.

22. A method of displaying a series of images on a display screen, comprising the steps of:

providing a series of electronic representations of images defining a transition path in which at least a portion of any given image is imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different corresponding portion of an image, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being different from a prior corresponding portion of and image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image;

displaying said images in seriatim and with a timing such that transitioning between said corresponding portions of images along said transition path is imperceptible to an ordinary human observer within a given five second interval.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said series of electronic representations of said images are generated one by one in real time.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said series of electronic representations of said images are provided in a storage medium.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said storage medium is a digital video disk.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said storage medium is a magnetic storage medium.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said electronic representations of said images are stored in a digital format.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said electronic representations of said images are stored in an analog format.

29. A method of presenting information, comprising the steps of:

providing a display;

providing a series of electronic representations of images defining a transition path in which at least a portion of any given image is imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different corresponding portion of a different immediately, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image;

displaying said images in seriatim on said display with a timing such that transitions between different corresponding portions of said images are imperceptible to an ordinary human observer within an interval of five seconds.

30. A method of presenting information, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display, images along a transition path having transition images in which at least a portion of any given transition image is imperceptibly different from an immediately preceding different corresponding portion of a preceding image, the images being displayed with a timing such that said corresponding portions of said images evolve imperceptibly to an ordinary human observer from a first image within an interval of at least five seconds, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image.

31. A storage medium having stored thereon a series of electronic representations of images defining a transition path, said transition path having images for display in succession at a first predetermined rate such that at least a portion of any given image along the transition path is imperceptibly different from a corresponding portion of an immediately preceding different image along the transition path and such that upon successive display of said images at said predetermined rate or slower, a normal viewer will not perceive any change in said corresponding portions along said transition path over a 5 second interval, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being different from a prior corresponding portion of an image.

32. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a digital video disk.

33. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a magnetic recording medium.

34. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is an optical recording disk.

35. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a magnetic recording tape.

36. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a solid state memory module.

37. A system for generating a transition path comprised of a series of transition images, said system comprising:

an input device via which an electronic representation of a first image is received;

a processor programmed to evaluate at least a portion of the first image and to generate a series of electronic representations of corresponding portions of transition images evolving away from a corresponding portion of the first image, said processor programmed to utilize a predetermined playback rate and to generate said corresponding portions of said transition images so that upon playback at said playback rate or slower, an ordinary viewer will not perceive any transitioning between images over a period of at least 5 seconds, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being made different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image; and

a storage device coupled to the processor for storing the electronic representations of said transition images as a transition path.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said processor is programmed to compare said portion of said first image to a corresponding portion of a second image and to generate said transition image as a transition path from said portion of said first image to said corresponding portion of said second image.

39. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a sequence images defining a transition path, the images of the sequence being such that at least a portion of any given image is imperceptibly different from a corresponding portion of an immediately preceding different image, the sequence being provided for in seratim display of the images at a predetermined playback rates such that upon in seratim display of the images at the predetermined playback rate or slower an ordinary viewer with not perceive any transitioning between said corresponding portions of said images over an interval of at least 5 seconds, each subsequent different corresponding portion of an image in said transition path being different from a prior corresponding portion of an image by an image difference determined prior to generation of the subsequent corresponding portion of an image; and

broadcasting one or more communications signals comprised of said sequence of images defining a transition path.