Virtual navigation system for virtual and real spaces

• US 9,063,633 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mmillenniumm Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mmillenniumm Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Rajasingham, Arjuna Indraeswaran
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US11/730,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,008 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/205 Image-based rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor

Abstract

A system for Virtual Navigation in real and Virtual Spaces. Such navigation in Virtual spaces may be applied particularly in 3D computer games and 3D programming of motion pictures. Such navigation in real spaces creates a new paradigm in communication and media particularly with unique 3 D video interface devices disclosed in this invention.

Claims

1. A system for virtual navigation of one or both of a real space and a virtual space, comprising:

a User Member with a user interface with at least one digital communication protocol, in an Active Network comprising computing resources to enable a navigation infrastructure enabled by at least one of internet and cellular networks, connected to a plurality of Source Members each with a Source,

wherein said virtual navigation from a first Source Member to a second Source Member enables presentation, to the User Member, of stimuli provided by the Source of the second Source Member and the Active Network that comprises visual stimuli generated by the Source of the second Source Member,

wherein stimuli comprising a field of view provided by the Source of the First source member and the Active Network comprises selection points at the location of each Source that corresponds to one of the plurality of source Members that are in the field of view of the Source of the First Source Member at the locations in that field of view of Sources of Source Members, and

wherein said navigation to locations of selection points of Sources of one of the plurality of Source Members in the field of view is enabled by the Active Network enabling User Members to navigate among said Sources and enabling the selection by the User Member of the selection point representing the Source of the Second Source Member on the field of view of the Source of the First Source member,

wherein said Active Network provides computing resources from at least one computing resource provider, and

wherein each Source, in a neighborhood, has a Source Node comprising fields of view, and

wherein the Active Network is enabled to interpolate by stitching together the fields of view of said Source Nodes in order to form fixed landscapes, that are used to create Real Maps, for the subsequent navigation of User Members from one local neighborhood to another.

2. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein said User Member with a User Interface is enabled to navigate to a native field of the User Member on said User Interface from a field of view of the user interface by selection of an icon on the user interface.

3. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein the source of at least one of the plurality of Source Members comprises stereoscopic World Cameras.

4. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein stimuli provided by at least one of the plurality of Source Members comprises audio stimuli from the direction of sight of the Source of the at least one of the plurality of Source Members, and said Source of the at least one of the plurality of Source Members comprises one or more World Microphones.

5. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein stimuli provided by the source are spatial three dimensional fields of one or both of video and audio.

6. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, further comprising:

enabling one or both of verifiable Truth Media and virtual tours,

wherein said verifiable Truth Media is enabled by one or more of said User Members on the Active Network who navigate to one or more of said Source Members, located anywhere on the globe, to receive news coverage using World Cameras of said one or more of said Source Members, and

wherein said virtual tours are enabled by a selection, by one or more of said User Members, of one of said Source Members as a Tour Guide in a local neighborhood of interest.

7. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, further comprising recreating a fixed 3D local landscape and utilizing it for navigation by:

capturing time lagged images from the Sources of one or more Source Members;

creating parallax information from said time lagged images;

reconstructing a 3D landscape of fixed objects, and

creating an image of fixed landscapes in 3D space

thereby enabling navigation.

8. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein the field of view of the Source of the First Source Member comprises visual stimuli in a direction of view of the Source of the First Source Member.

9. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein selection of the selection points for navigation, is enabled with signals from the eyes and eye appendages of the user, that are observed and analyzed by the user interface of the user.

10. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein said Active Network provides bandwidth for communication of information between the plurality of Source Members and the User Members, and wherein said bandwidth is provided by a plurality of wireless hub providers that are enabled to connect with one of the plurality of Source Members or the User Members when said one of the plurality of Source Members and the User Members are in the local neighborhood of said bandwidth providers, said bandwidth providers having a connection to one or more communications media that includes at least one of internet protocols, cellular phone protocols, WiFi protocols, and BlueTooth protocols.

11. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of User Members and clients and protocols to connect directly between User Members in the same local neighborhood of the Active Network of the User Member for peer to peer connection without channeling through the Active Network, thereby enabling direct communication.

12. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 11, wherein the peer to peer connection is preceded by a command by the User Member, subject to authentication to be part of a trusted network at some predetermined level for the user.

13. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, comprising one or both of a plurality of User Members and a plurality of Source Members on the Active Network.

14. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein the User Member in the Active Network is a Source Member and at least one of the plurality of Source Members is a second User Member.

15. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein the Source of at least one Source Member comprises a pair of cluster cameras.

16. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein said visual stimuli provided by at least one Source is video.

17. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein said selection points are color coded to represent at least one of cost and programming quality.

18. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein the Active Network is enabled to use the motion of the Sources in order to recreate fixed 3D local landscape for use in subsequent navigation of User Members from one neighborhood to another.

19. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 18, wherein physical locations of the Sources are determined with location determining technologies.

20. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 18, wherein selection of the selection points for navigation, is enabled with signals from the eyes and eye appendages of the user, that are observed and analyzed by the user interface of the user.

21. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, wherein the Source of one of the plurality of Source Member on the Active Network is on a headset.

22. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 1, for virtual navigation of a real space, by a User Member with a user interface with at least one communication protocol, in a Active Network, connected to a plurality of Source Members each with at least one Source, wherein said Sources are enabled to move, and wherein said virtual navigation from a First Source Member to a Second Source Member enables presentation to the User Member, stimuli provided by the Source of the Second Source Member and the Active Network, comprising visual stimuli generated by the Source of the second Source Member, and wherein stimuli comprising a field of view provided by the Source of the First Source member and the Active Network comprises selection points generated by said Active Network for Sources, in the field of view of the Source of the First Source Member, at the locations in that field of view of Sources of Source Members, and thereby said selection points of locations of said Sources in the field of view of said First Source Member follow the motion of their Sources in said field of view of said First Source Member, and wherein said navigation to the Source of the Second Source Member is enabled by the selection by the User of the selection point representing the Source of the Second Source Member on the field of view of the Source of the First Source member.

23. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 22, further comprising multiple Sources at known physical locations derived from Source Members in the Active Network thereby enabling a User Member to navigate among said multiple Sources by selection of selection points representing said Sources.

24. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 22, wherein at least one Source is a mobile phone comprising a camera.

25. A system for virtual navigation, for virtual navigation of a real space, comprising:

a User Member with a user interface with at least one digital communication protocol, in an Active Network comprising computing resources to enable a navigation infrastructure enabled by at least one of internet and cellular networks, connected to a plurality of Source Members each with at least one Source,

wherein said Sources are enabled to move,

wherein said virtual navigation from a First Source of one of said plurality of Source Members to a Second Source of one of said plurality of Source Members enables presentation, to the User Member, of stimuli provided and generated by the Second Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members and the Active Network,

wherein the stimuli comprises visual stimuli generated by the second Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members,

wherein stimuli comprising a field of view provided by the First Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members and the Active Network comprises selection points generated by said Active Network for Sources, in the field of view of the First Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members, at the locations in that field of view of Sources of the plurality of Source Members,

wherein said selection points of locations of said Sources in the field of view of said First Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members follow the motion of their respective Sources in said field of view of said First Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members enabled by the Active Network enabling User Members to navigate among said Sources, and

wherein said navigation to the Second Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members is enabled by the selection, from the User Member, of the selection point representing the Second Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members on the field of view of the First Source of the one of said plurality of Source Members,

wherein each Source, in a neighborhood, has a Source Node comprising fields of view, and

wherein the Active Network is enabled to interpolate by stitching together the fields of view of said Source Nodes in order to form fixed landscapes, that are used to create Real Maps, for the subsequent navigation of User Members from one neighborhood to another.

26. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 25, wherein said Active Network comprises a plurality of distributed wireless bandwidth providers that provide local bandwidth to User Members.

27. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 26, wherein said one or more of said plurality of distributed wireless bandwidth providers, provide computing infrastructure to the Active Network.

28. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 26, wherein said one or more of said plurality of distributed wireless bandwidth providers to the Active Network are enabled to accept and hand off dialog with one or both of Sources and Users as they move through local neighborhoods.

29. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 25, wherein movement of the Sources enables the Active Network to recreate fixed 3D local landscape for subsequent navigation by User Members.

30. A system for virtual navigation of a real space comprising:

a User Member with a user interface connected to an Active Network comprising computing resources to enable a navigation infrastructure enabled by at least one of internet and cellular networks with at least one digital communications protocol; and

a plurality of Source Members each with at least one Source, wherein each Source is enabled to move and therefore offers stimuli comprising at least one field of view;

wherein a first field of view of one of the at least one Source of the plurality of Source Members comprises selection points,

wherein said selection points are at the locations of each Source while offering stimuli comprising the at least one field of view, said selection points generated by the Sources, offering stimuli, and the Active Network,

wherein virtual navigation of the User Member, from a first field of view of one of the at least one Source of the plurality of Source Members to a second field of view of one of the at least one Source of the plurality of Source Members, is enabled by the Active Network enabling User Members to navigate among said Sources and enabling the selection, by the User Member, of the selection point of the Source offering the stimuli comprising the second field of view, of one of the at least one Source of the plurality of Source Members, on the first field of view of one of the at least one Source of the plurality of Source Members,

wherein each Source, in a neighborhood, has a Source Node comprising fields of view, and

wherein the Active Network is enabled to interpolate by stitching together the fields of view of said Source Nodes to form fixed landscapes, in order to create Real Maps, for the subsequent navigation of User Members from one neighborhood to another.

31. A system for virtual navigation as in claim 30, wherein said Real Maps comprises recreated fixed 3D local landscapes created by the Active Network with the use of the motion of the Sources.