System and method for providing a functional virtual environment with real time extracted and transplanted images
First Claim
1. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
- first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment, said first means including means for providing a three-dimensional computer generated environment, said environment including at least one object;
second means for receiving a plurality of video images extracted from a heterogeneous background; and
third means for transplanting said extracted video images into said environment, said third means including means for transplanting at least some of said extracted images into said environment as a texture on said object.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing a functional virtual environment with real time extracted and transplanted images. The system includes hardware and software for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment and for receiving a plurality of extracted video images. The system is adapted to transplant the extracted video images into the environment in a manner that preserves the virtual metaphor thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, a realistic virtual city is created in accordance with the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) protocol. The extracted images are transplanted onto an object in the environment as a texture. In the best mode, the object is invisible. The extracted video images are streamed continuously into the environment such that a live real time interaction is enabled. The environment is networked and the system is adapted to receive multiple simultaneous streams which are transplanted and exported to enable a virtual community. Within the community, users seated in their native environment, appear to walk when navigating due to the unique teaching of the present invention by which a series of stored extracted images of the user walking are transplanted into the environment and replayed for so long as the user is navigating. A separate series is displayed to each person within a predetermined range of the walker that has the walker in his field of view depending on the viewing angle of the observer. A master copy of the environment is stored on a server and downloaded to each client on the network as part of a setup process. Thereafter, local changes in the environment are uploaded to the server and subsequently downloaded to selected clients as updates. The environment will support private areas and the system is adapted to allow extracted video streams within private environments to be sent to each person in the private environment directly, bypassing the server.
152 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment, said first means including means for providing a three-dimensional computer generated environment, said environment including at least one object;
second means for receiving a plurality of video images extracted from a heterogeneous background; and
third means for transplanting said extracted video images into said environment, said third means including means for transplanting at least some of said extracted images into said environment as a texture on said object.
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2. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment;
second means for receiving a plurality of video images extracted from a heterogeneous background; and
third means for transplanting said extracted video images into said environment. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment, said first means including means for providing a three-dimensional computer generated environment, said environment including at least one computer generated building, said first means includes means for adjusting the height of said building based on the amount of traffic therethrough;
second means for receiving a plurality of extracted video images; and
third means for transplanting said extracted video images into said environment. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment, said environment including at least one computer generated building, said first means includes means for adjusting the color of said building based on the amount of traffic therethrough;
second means for receiving a plurality of extracted video images; and
third means for transplanting said extracted video images into said environment. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A system for depicting a walking motion of a video avatar comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment said first means including means for providing a three-dimensional computer generated environment created in accordance with the Virtual Reality Modeling Language protocol, said environment including at least one object;
second means for receiving a plurality of extracted video images extracted from a heterogeneous background;
third means for storing a set of said extracted images; and
fourth means for transplanting a series of said set of extracted video images into said environment depending on a viewing angle of an observer, said third means including means for transplanting at least some of said extracted images into said environment as a texture on said object. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated networked virtual environment, said first means including means for providing a three-dimensional computer generated environment created in accordance with the Virtual Reality Modeling Language protocol, said environment including at least one object;
second means for receiving plural simultaneous continuous streams of video images extracted from a heterogeneous background, said second means further including means for selectively exporting at least one of said plural simultaneous streams of extracted image data depending on a viewing angle of a participant in said networked virtual environment; and
third means for transplanting said selectively exported simultaneous stream of extracted video images into said environment, said third means including means for transplanting at least some of said extracted images into said environment as a texture on said object.
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33. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment;
second means for receiving a plurality of video images extracted from a heterogeneous background; and
third means for transplanting a subset of said extracted video images into said environment depending on a viewing angle of an observer.
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34. A system for transplanting extracted video image data comprising:
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first means for providing a multi-dimensional computer generated environment;
second means for receiving a plurality of video images extracted from a heterogeneous background; and
third means for transplanting a subset of said extracted video images into said environment in real time.
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Specification