Abstract: A decompression unit is configured to partially decompress a compressed image formed by compressed tiles. Each compressed tiles correspond to a tile of the uncompressed image. The decompression unit selects a subset of relevant tiles, which are visible in a view window or a view frustum. Specifically, the decompression unit includes a tile selector to select the relevant tile and a tile decompressor to decompress the relevant tiles. By decompressing only a subset of the compressed tiles, the decompression unit reduces the processing time required to generate the contents of the view window.

Abstract: Asymmetrical camera systems, which are adapted to utilize a greater proportion of the image data from each camera as compared to symmetrical camera systems, are disclosed. Specifically, an outward facing camera system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of equatorial cameras distributed evenly about an origin point in a plane. The outward facing camera system also includes a first plurality of polar cameras tilted above the plane. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention include a second plurality of polar cameras tilted below the plane. The equatorial cameras and polar cameras are configured to capture an complete coverage of an environment.

Abstract: An immersive video system is provided which enables a user to interact with immersive video on a variety of platforms. To accommodate different types of platform components, the resolution of the immersive video may be changed. In one embodiment, a pair of immersive videos, one of the immersive videos having a 360° field of view, are simultaneously played in a standard display software program. In another embodiment, a single immersive video mapping an environment greater than 360° is played in a standard display software program. The display software program can be chosen such that it is supported by a variety of platforms. A view window associated with the standard display software program defines the portion of the immersive video shown to the viewer. A control adjusted by the viewer pans the view window around one of the pair of immersive videos.

Abstract: A decoder decodes a binary input string encoded with a variable length code using an offset lookup table and a symbol lookup table. The decoder reads a first subset of leading bits from the binary input string and calculates an offset index value for the offset lookup table based on the first subset of leading bits. The offset index value is used to index the offset lookup table to obtain an offset value. Then, a symbol index value for the symbol lookup table is calculated from the offset value and a second subset of leading bits from the binary input string. The symbol index value is used to index the symbol lookup table to obtain a symbol, which corresponds to a third subset of leading bits of the binary input string.

Abstract: A method and system for transferring interactive videos from a video source to a video display system is disclosed. The method and system reduces the bandwidth required between the video source and the video display system. Rather than transferring all image data from each image frame of an interactive video, only relevant portions of subsequent image frames are transferred. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, a view window is defined in a current image frame. Then, a view neighborhood is defined for a subsequent image frame. Image data from the subsequent image frame within the view neighborhood is transferred to the video display system.

Abstract: An immersive video system for displays a view window of an environment using multiple video streams. The immersive video system includes a video source containing multiple overlapping video streams. An immersive video decoder selects an active video stream based on the location of the view window. A video decoder decodes the active video stream for the immersive video decoder. The immersive video decoder then selects the appropriate parts of the video stream to display in the view window.

Abstract: An environment map creation system creates an environment map from one or more images representing an environment. The environment map creation system includes a texture projection generation unit, which produces a texture projection having polygonal curved surfaces as facets. An environment map rendering unit uses the texture projection to create the environment map from the one or more images. Specifically, the environment map creation system determines an image area in the one or more images corresponding to each polygonal curved surface. The polygonal curved surface is colored based on the corresponding image area. The environment map is formed from the polygonal curved surfaces which become texels in the environment map.

Abstract: A panoramic imaging system includes multiple cameras and mirrors. The field of view of each camera is directed radially outward from a central axis of the imaging system by one of the mirrors, the target alignment planes for the mirrors being defined by a plurality of planar reference surfaces. Each mirror is mounted in a resilient mounting structure, and is held in place by the mirror contact region of a retaining structure. Each retaining structure also includes a base contact region clamped to one of the planar reference surfaces. The base contact region and the mirror contact region of each retaining structure are coplanar, so that each reflective surface is aligned with a planar reference surface. The properly directed fields of view of the plurality of cameras can be combined to form a panoramic image. According to an embodiment of the invention, the panoramic imaging system comprises an eight-sided camera.

Abstract: An immersive video display system is configured to display an immersive video formed by a plurality of compressed environment maps. The immersive video display system includes a decompression unit to partially decompress each compressed environment map to create a partially decompressed environment map. A texture rendering unit creates an image for a view window for each of the compressed environment maps by texture mapping the visible portion of a texture projection using the partially decompressed environment map. By decompressing only a portion of the compressed environment map, the immersive video display system requires less processing time to generate the contents of the view window.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model of an object can be generated using a computer system by identifying reference points in two or more 2D representations of the object to be modeled, and deriving 3D positional data based on an application of an initial estimation model to the identified reference points. A texture-mapped version of the 3D model can be generated by mapping texture information from the 2D representations onto the derived 3D positional data.

Abstract: A system for aligning the reflective surface of a front surface mirror with a reference surface on a base structure includes a resilient support structure and a retaining structure. The front surface mirror is mounted on the resilient support structure. A contact region of the retaining structure is placed across a portion of both the reference surface and the reflective surface and is clamped to the reference surface. Because the contact region represents a coplanar portion of the retaining structure, and because the resilient support structure holds the reflective surface against the contact region, the reflective surface is aligned with the reference surface. An eight-sided camera according to the invention includes eight mirrors, each mirror being mounted in a resilient mounting structure and being clamped down by a retaining structure having a coplanar contact region spanning a reference surface and the mirror reflective surface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method combines related source images, each represented by a set of digital data, by determining three-dimensional relationships between data sets representing related source images and creating a data set representing an output image by combining the data sets representing the source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional relationships.