Abstract: A content delivery and display solution includes a viewing application for displaying immersive images with a region of interest, in addition to conventional fixed-aspect-ratio media. The display can include the layered display of metadata, multiple windows, and images or hotspots embedded into the immersive image. The viewing application can be used for the display of either live or prerecorded images, from local or online sources.

Abstract: A content delivery and display solution includes a viewing application for displaying immersive images with a region of interest, in addition to conventional fixed-aspect-ratio media. The display can include the layered display of metadata, multiple windows, and images or hotspots embedded into the immersive image. The viewing application can be used for the display of either live or prerecorded images, from local or online sources.

Abstract: A content delivery and display solution includes a viewing application for displaying immersive images with a region of interest, in addition to conventional fixed-aspect-ratio media. The display can include the layered display of metadata, multiple windows, and images or hotspots embedded into the immersive image. The viewing application can be used for the display of either live or prerecorded images, from local or online sources.

Abstract: There is provided a system and a method for use by the system to provide live panoramic image capture and distribution. In one implementation, such a method includes capturing multiple perspectives of a visual environment, combining at least a subset of those perspectives to produce a panoramic image of the visual environment, and encoding the panoramic image to generate panoramic image data. The method also includes transmitting the first panoramic image data to a routing and processing portal for distribution of the panoramic image in real-time.

Abstract: A View Track accompanying an immersive movie provides an automatic method of directing the user's region of interest (ROI) during the playback process of an immersive movie. The user is free to assert manual control to look around, but when the user releases this manual control, the direction of the ROI returns gradually to the automatic directions in the View Track. The View Track can also change the apparent direction of the audio from a mix of directional audio sources in the immersive movie, and the display of any metadata associated with a particular direction. A multiplicity of View Tracks can be created to allow a choice of different playback results. The View Track can consist of a separate Stabilization Track to stabilize the spherical image, for improving the performance of a basic Navigation Track for looking around. The recording of the View Track is part of the post production process for making and distributing an immersive movie for improving the user experience.

Abstract: An active pixel masking system for automatic glare suppression uses a variably transmissive screen such as an LCD in front of a lens. A measurement by an image sensor of oversaturated pixels from one or more extremely bright lights is used to generate corresponding opaque pixels in the variably transmissive screen, thereby preventing the excess light from entering the lens, and thereby clarifying the appearance of any objects near to the bright light. A continuous reading of a motion picture image is used to move the location and area of the opaque pixels in response to the motion and area of the light.

Abstract: A content delivery and display solution includes a viewing application for displaying immersive images with a region of interest, in addition to conventional fixed-aspect-ratio media. The display can include the layered display of metadata, multiple windows, and images or hotspots embedded into the immersive image. The viewing application can be used for the display of either live or prerecorded images, from local or online sources.

Abstract: An environmental protection system features a clear spinning curved volumetric enclosure to shed and throw off environmental contaminants such as rain, fog and dust that would affect a sensor image. The described design is especially suitable for cameras with extremely wide fields of view, such as panoramic or immersive cameras. Alternate forms of volumetric enclosures are described for different lens arrangements in compound camera systems. In all of these embodiments it is possible to keep the cover and the mechanism spinning it invisible to the cameras. An additional modification of the shape of the volumetric enclosure is described that prevents any accumulation of liquid drops within the fields of view of the sensors within the spinning volumetric enclosure. Alternate forms of construction with air and magnetic bearings are described for smoother and quieter operation of the spinning enclosure.

Abstract: A scanning camera with a rotating drum has one or more sensors characterized by a non-radial optical axis. With two sensors on opposite sides of the drum and facing in substantially the same direction, stereoscopic recording of a panorama is accomplished as the drum rotates. Rapid rotation of the scanning camera produces panoramic motion picture recording, with the final frame speed dependent on the sensitivity and speed of the sensor, the resolution desired, and the capabilities of the recording device. The preferred embodiment employs rotating fisheye lenses for a substantially fill-sphere field of view. Streamlining of the lens elements on the drum surface is described for quiet operation of the camera, even at high rotation speeds. The rapid rotation of the drum characteristic of motion picture frame rates can improve both the stability and portability of the camera.

Abstract: A scanning camera with a rotating drum has one or more sensors characterized by a non-radial optical axis. With two sensors on opposite sides of the drum and facing in substantially the same direction, stereoscopic recording of a panorama is accomplished as the drum rotates. Rapid rotation of the scanning camera produces panoramic motion picture recording, with the final frame speed dependent on the sensitivity and speed of the sensor, the resolution desired, and the capabilities of the recording device. The preferred embodiment employs rotating fisheye lenses for a substantially full-sphere field of view. Streamlining of the lens elements on the drum surface is described for quiet operation of the camera, even at high rotation speeds. The rapid rotation of the drum characteristic of motion picture frame rates can improve both the stability and portability of the camera.

Abstract: A special synchronization frame generator is used for creating simultaneous easily visible synchronization markers as part of a multi-channel image generating system. It does not rely upon any external objects or markers being simultaneously present in the field of view of several cameras in a multi-camera system, or upon a separate synchonization signal being recorded simultaneously along with the image information, or upon any post-processing of the recorded image to add synchronization markings common to the various channels of the system. The generation of synchronization frames can be applied to either multichannel video or film systems.