Merging images to form a panoramic image
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of merging images of segments of a view, comprising:
- receiving a first image representing a first segment of the view and a second image representing a second segment of the view, the images being received from a remote location over a network;
determining the position of the second segment of the view relative to the first segment of the view without the aid of positioning information provided by a human operator;
blending the first image with the second image based solely on the content of the images and the determined position of the second segment relative to the first segment to merge the first image and the second image into a panoramic image of the view; and
transmitting the panoramic image over the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, and apparatus implementing methods, including computer program products, for merging images of segments of a view. Methods include: receiving, from a network, a first image representing a first segment of the view and a second image representing a second segment of the view; determining the position of the second segment of the view relative to the first segment of the view; blending the first image with the second image based on the determined position of the second segment relative to the first segment to form a panoramic image of the view; and transmitting the panoramic image over the network.
149 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of merging images of segments of a view, comprising:
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receiving a first image representing a first segment of the view and a second image representing a second segment of the view, the images being received from a remote location over a network;
determining the position of the second segment of the view relative to the first segment of the view without the aid of positioning information provided by a human operator;
blending the first image with the second image based solely on the content of the images and the determined position of the second segment relative to the first segment to merge the first image and the second image into a panoramic image of the view; and
transmitting the panoramic image over the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of merging a set of images, each image representing a corresponding segment of a view, the set including a first image representing a first segment of the view, a second image representing a second segment of the view, and a third image representing a third segment of the view, where the third segment of the view overlaps both the first segment and the second segment of the view, the method comprising;
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determining a first relative position of the third segment relative to the first segment of the view by processing the content of the third image and the first image;
determining a first overlap area of the first image and the third image based on the determined first relative position;
determining a second relative position of the third segment relative to the second segment of the view by processing the content of the third image and the second image;
determining a second overlap area of the second image and the third image based on the determined second relative position; and
if the first overlap area is greater than the second overlap area, offsetting the position of the third image relative to the first image and the second image based on the determined first relative position;
otherwise, offsetting the position of the third image relative to the first image and the second image based on the determined second relative position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An article comprising a computer-readable medium on which are tangibly stored computer-executable instructions for merging images of segments of a view, the stored instructions being operable to cause a computer to:
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receive a first image representing a first segment of the view and a second image representing a second segment of the view, the images being received from a remote location over a network;
determine the position of the second segment of the view relative to the first segment of the view without the aid of positioning information provided by a human operator;
blend the first image with the second image based solely on the content of the images and the determined position of the second segment relative to the first segment to merge the first image and the second image into a panoramic image of the view; and
transmit the panoramic image over the network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An article comprising a computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable instructions for merging a set of images, each image representing a corresponding segment of a view, the set including a first image representing a first segment of the view, a second image representing a second segment of the view, and a third image representing a third segment of the view, where the third segment of the view overlaps both the first segment and the second segment of the view, the instructions being operable to cause a computer to:
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determine a first relative position of the third segment relative to the first segment of the view by processing the content of the third image and the first image;
determine a first overlap area of the first image and the third image based on the determined first relative position;
determine a second relative position of the third segment relative to the second segment of the view by processing the content of third image and the second image;
determine a second overlap area of the second image and third image based on the determined second relative position; and
if the first overlap area is greater than the second overlap area, offset the position of the third image relative to the first image and the second image based on the determined first relative position;
otherwise, offset the third image relative to the first image and the second image based on the determined second relative position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification