Method and apparatus for presenting images from a remote location
First Claim
1. A method of presenting images of a remote location, said method comprising the steps of:
- capturing a digitized annular representation of a panorama at said remote location;
geometrically transforming said digitized annular representation into a planar representation of said panorama;
transmitting a portion of said planar representation of said panorama to a local receiver; and
displaying said portion of said planar representation of said panorama.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Most camera systems only record an image from a limited viewing angle. A new panoramic camera apparatus is disclosed that instantaneously captures a 360 degree panoramic image. In the camera device, virtually all of the light that converges on a point in space is captured. Specifically, in the camera of the present invention, light striking this point in space is captured if it comes from any direction, 360 degrees around the point and from angles 50 degrees or more above and below the horizon. The panoramic image is recorded as a two dimensional annular image. Furthermore, various different systems for displaying the panoramic images and distributing the panoramic images. Specifically, methods and apparatus for digitally performing a geometric transformation of the two dimensional annular image into rectangular projections such that the panoramic image can be displayed using conventional methods such as printed images and televised images.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of presenting images of a remote location, said method comprising the steps of:
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capturing a digitized annular representation of a panorama at said remote location;
geometrically transforming said digitized annular representation into a planar representation of said panorama;
transmitting a portion of said planar representation of said panorama to a local receiver; and
displaying said portion of said planar representation of said panorama. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for presenting images of a remote location, said apparatus comprising:
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a receiver mechanism configured to receive a rectangular representation of a digitized annular representation of a panorama captured at said remote location;
a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform a portion of said rectangular representation, received from the receiver mechanism, into a portion of a planar projection of said panorama; and
a display mechanism configured to display said portion of said planar projection generated by the transformation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for transmitting images of a panorama, said apparatus comprising:
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a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform a digitized annular representation of said panorama into a planar representation of said panorama; and
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a portion of said planar representation of said panorama, generated by the transformation mechanism, to a local receiver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for presenting images of a remote location, said apparatus comprising:
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a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform a portion of a digitized annular representation of a panorama captured at said remote location into a portion of a planar projection of said panorama;
a transmitter mechanism configured to transmit said portion of said planar projection;
a receiver mechanism configured to receive said portion of said planar projection transmitted by the transmitter mechanism;
aa display mechanism configured to display said portion of said planar projection generated by the transformation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer program product including:
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a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to present images of a remote location, said computer readable code including;
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a receiver mechanism configured to receive a digitized annular representation captured at said remote location;
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform a portion of said digitized annular representation, received from the receiver mechanism, into a portion of a planar projection of said panorama; and
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a display mechanism configured to display said portion of said planar projection generated by the transformation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A computer program product including:
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a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to transmit images of a panorama, said computer readable code including;
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform a digitized annular representation of said panorama into a planar representation of said panorama; and
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a portion of said planar representation of said panorama, generated by the transformation mechanism, to a local receiver. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A computer program product including:
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a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to present images of a remote location, said computer readable code including;
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a receiver mechanism configured to receive a rectangular representation of a digitized annular representation of a panorama captured at said remote location;
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transformation mechanism configured to geometrically transform a portion of said rectangular representation, received from the receiver mechanism, into a portion of a planar projection of said panorama; and
computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a display mechanism configured to display said portion of said planar projection generated by the transformation mechanism.
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Specification