Sending three-dimensional images over a network
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of transferring over a network a representation of a three-dimensional surface, wherein the physical features of a portion of the surface are represented by data arranged according to a hierarchical structure at a plurality of resolution levels comprising:
- retrieving locally stored data corresponding to the portion of the three-dimensional surface from a local memory and determining whether the stored data is at a resolution level lower than a calculated resolution level, and repetitively requesting remotely stored data over a network until said data meets or exceeds said calculated resolution level;
wherein at least some of said locally stored data and some of said remotely stored data contains elevation information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A benefit is obtained for sending digital information over a network. The digital information is representative of three-dimensional images which include photographic images. The receiving computer renders the images from the received digital information, and a viewer at the receiving computer can interactively choose a viewpoint or perspective to view the images on a display of the receiving computer. The benefit to the sender can be monetary compensation and/or increased recognition of the sender, for example.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of transferring over a network a representation of a three-dimensional surface, wherein the physical features of a portion of the surface are represented by data arranged according to a hierarchical structure at a plurality of resolution levels comprising:
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retrieving locally stored data corresponding to the portion of the three-dimensional surface from a local memory and determining whether the stored data is at a resolution level lower than a calculated resolution level, and repetitively requesting remotely stored data over a network until said data meets or exceeds said calculated resolution level; wherein at least some of said locally stored data and some of said remotely stored data contains elevation information.
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2. A method of receiving at a particular computer in a network of computers information representing shape features of a three-dimensional surface comprising:
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a) computing a desired resolution level for a portion of the surface based on the relationship of the viewpoint and said surface; b) receiving information corresponding to said portion of the surface from memory in said particular computer, said information having a resolution level and containing elevation attributes; c) generating a request to a remote computer for information corresponding to said portion, said information being of higher resolution level if said desired resolution level is not satisfied; d) downloading over said network information in response to said request; e) repeating steps c)-d) until said desired resolution level is satisfied; said information arranged according to a hierarchical structure at a plurality of resolution levels. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of obtaining at a local computer on a network data representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface, said data being arranged hierarchically at a plurality of resolution levels and stored on computers in said network comprising:
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a) determining a desired resolution level for said portion of the three-dimensional surface; b) retrieving stored data from memory at said local computer, said stored data representing said portion and having a first resolution level, and containing elevation attributes; c) determining if said desired resolution level is satisfied; e) requesting data of higher resolution level corresponding to said portion of the three-dimensional surface over said network if said desired resolution level is not satisfied; f) receiving data over the network corresponding to said requesting; g) repeating steps e)-f) until said desired resolution level is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing information representing physical features of a portion of a three-dimensional surface comprising:
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a memory in a local computer which stores sets of information representing physical features of said portion of said surface associated with a particular viewpoint at a first resolution level, said information containing elevation attributes; a communication link connecting said local computer with at least one other computer on a network; a processor executing software to interatively generate requests over said network to another computer for additional sets of information corresponding to said portion of the three-dimensional surface, where later sets of information are of higher resolution than earlier sets, until resolution satisfies a predetermined resolution level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of receiving at a particular computer in a network of computers information representing physical features of a three-dimensional surface, said information being arranged hierarchically as portions of the surface at a plurality of resolution levels, comprising:
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a) determining one or more portions of the surface that are relevant to a viewpoint of said surface and a desired resolution level for said portions; b) receiving an information set from memory in said particular computer, said information set including data corresponding to said one or more portions, said information set also containing elevation information; c) generating one or more requests over said network for some or all of said one or more portions, each request for a portion including information indicating a resolution level for that portion, each subsequent request for said portion indicating a higher resolution level than each previous request for that portion; d) downloading from the network to the memory of said particular computer one or more information sets in response to said requests; e) repeating steps c) through d) until the desired resolution level for each portion has been satisfied by the information received.
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Specification