Abstract: An interactive computer program for seaming a number of images into a panorama. Various parameters which affect how the images are seamed can be changed interactively. Parameters such as position, orientation, focal length, which image will be visible where images overlap, and the opacity curve can be changed. The result of any change is immediately visible. A user can move the control points, thereby “morphing” or distorting the contribution to the panorama of an image. Each pixel is assigned an “alpha” value which indicates the opacity value of that pixel in an area where images overlap. Alpha values can be changed according to a pre-established curve. The original images are not changed. Instead, only the transform between the original images and the final panorama is changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating views of an environment with proper perspective and parallax. This invention captures panoramic views at many points in the environment, preferably by using fisheye lenses with subhemispherical fields of views to yield overlapping fisheye images that are seemed together, and stores them as planar polygons, which have been extended to include imagery occluded at their viewing position but visible at nearby points. Three-dimensional information on the environmental source of these polygons is determined and stored, enabling the playback system to simulate parallax as well as to produce stereographic images. Given a location and orientation in the environment, the playback system finds a nearby capture point and translates the polygons at that point to the specified location, producing an image. It then rotates that image to the desired orientation which it then displays.

Abstract: A system to provide an operator with a predictively distorted display of a theater of operations. An image of the theater is acquired with a conventional camera and then the acquired image is distorted to take into account environmental factors such as air speed, ground speed, wind speed, height, etc. For example in a simple embodiment of the present invention can be used where a platform such as an airplane is moving over a geographic feature and objects are being dropped from the platform. With the present invention, a geographic feature that is actually directly under the platform is made to appear on a display as if it is behind the platform. The reason for this is that if an object is dropped at a particular instant, it can only impact at positions that at that moment are ahead of the platform. Hence, positions ahead of the platform are made to appear directly under the platform.

Abstract: A surveillance system that includes a number of camera subsystems. Each camera subsystem includes a number of single lens cameras pointing in different directions which simultaneously capture images. Each camera subsystem covers a particular theater of interest. Each single lens camera captures an image of a particular region in a particular theater. When an object of interest is identified, the system can follow the object as it moves between regions and theaters in a facility. When an object is being followed, the system can provide a view of the object as it transitions between regions covered different single lens cameras in a particular camera subsystem and as it transitions between theaters covered by different camera subsystems.

Abstract: An improved surveillance system which includes a multi-lens camera system and a viewer. The camera system includes a plurality of single lens cameras each of which have a relatively wide angle lens. These single lens cameras simultaneously capture images that can be seamed into a panorama. The camera system also includes a high resolution camera (i.e. a camera with a telephoto lens) that can be pointed in a selected direction that is within the field of view of the other cameras. The system displays a view window into the panorama that is created from images captured by the wide angle lenses. The image from the high resolution camera is either superimposed on top of the panoramic image or it is displayed on a separate monitor. If it is displayed in the panorama, the higher solution image is positioned at the point in the panorama which is displaying the same area in space at a lower resolution.

Abstract: Multiple streams of data are streamed to a user's terminal with images from different cameras. Low resolution thumbnail images tell the user what image streams are available. A focus stream provides high resolution images from a selected camera. A user can switch the focus stream to another stream by clicking on the associated thumbnail. An intelligent buffer is provided which anticipates the commands that will be issued by a user. Unused bandwidth is utilized to transmit data to the intelligent buffer to prepare to execute the anticipated commands. The data so accumulated is used to execute commands without any significant (or with less) latency. Data concerning a user and data concerning the operation of the system is gathered and added to a data base of user actions. Reports concerning the usage are later prepared.

Abstract: An improved surveillance system which includes a multi-lens camera system and a viewer. The camera system includes a plurality of single lens cameras each of which have a relatively wide angle lens. These single lens cameras simultaneously capture images that can be seamed into a panorama. The camera system also includes a high resolution camera (i.e. a camera with a telephoto lens) that can be pointed in a selected direction that is within the field of view of the other cameras. The system displays a view window into the panorama that is created from images captured by the wide angle lenses. The image from the high resolution camera is superimposed on top of the panoramic image. The higher solution image is positioned at the point in the panorama which is displaying the same area in space at a lower resolution. Thus an operator sees a relatively low resolution panorama; however, a selected portion of the panorama is displayed at a high resolution.

Abstract: An improved surveillance system which includes a multi-lens camera system and a viewer. The camera system includes a plurality of single lens cameras each of which have a relatively wide angle lens. These single lens cameras simultaneously capture images that can be seamed into a panorama. The camera system also includes a high resolution camera (i.e. a camera with a telephoto lens) that can be pointed in a selected direction that is within the field of view of the other cameras. The system displays a view window into the panorama that is created from images captured by the wide angle lenses. The image from the high resolution camera is superimposed on top of the panoramic image. The higher solution image is positioned at the point in the panorama which is displaying the same area in space at a lower resolution. Thus an operator sees a relatively low resolution panorama; however, a selected portion of the panorama is displayed at a high resolution.

Abstract: Movement through multi-dimensional space is simulated using a series of panoramic images which are projected or displayed in sequence. The user's direction of view, that is the selected view window, is maintained as the series of images is projected or displayed. Motion in directions other than forward or reverse is simulated by utilizing “branch” points in the sequence. Each path from a branch point simulates motion in a different direction. Branch points are generally indicated to a viewer by visual indicators called “hot spots”; however, branch points may also be hidden and activated in response to the viewer's selected direction of view. If a branch point is indicated by a visual indicator, a user can select motion in a desired direction by clicking on a “hot spot”. In order to conserve storage space, the image representing each panorama can be stored in a compressed format.

Abstract: The present invention provides a very flexible, digital system for capturing and storing panoramic images using progressive scan (that is, non interlaced) technology. The system includes a digital image input device and an associated control computer. Since the image capture device is digital it can be easily and flexibly controlled by software in the control computer. The image input device has six lenses positioned on the six faces of a cube. While the image input system can have other lens configurations, the use of six lenses in a cubic configuration is optimal for a system that is used to capture a spherical panorama. The six lenses simultaneously focuses different images on six CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices). The image input device also includes an embedded controller, and data compression circuitry. The embedded controller controls the exposure time of the CCDs (i.e. the effective aperture and effective shutter speed) and reads image data from the CCDs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating views of an environment with proper perspective and parallax. This invention captures panoramic views at many points in the environment, preferably by using fisheye lenses with subhemispherical fields of views to yield overlapping fisheye images that are seemed together, and stores them as planar polygons, which have been extended to include imagery occluded at their viewing position but visible at nearby points. Three-dimensional information on the environmental source of these polygons is determined and stored, enabling the playback system to simulate parallax as well as to produce stereographic images. Given a location and orientation in the environment, the playback system finds a nearby capture point and translates the polygons at that point to the specified location, producing an image. It then rotates that image to the desired orientation which it then displays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating views of an environment with proper perspective and parallax. This invention captures panoramic views at many points in the environment, preferably by using fisheye lenses with subhemispherical fields of views to yield overlapping fisheye images that are seemed together, and stores them as planar polygons, which have been extended to include imagery occluded at their viewing position but visible at nearby points. Three-dimensional information on the environmental source of these polygons is determined and stored, enabling the playback system to simulate parallax as well as to produce stereographic images. Given a location and orientation in the environment, the playback system finds a nearby capture point and translates the polygons at that point to the specified location, producing an image. It then rotates that image to the desired orientation which it then displays.