Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for creating a floor plan from a spherical image. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, wherein the spherical format has a centre that corresponds to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera, and wherein a first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A plurality of selected points are obtained in the spherical format, each defined by spherical coordinates consisting of a yaw angle and a pitch angle defining a line from the centre. A plane is identified that has the first orientation and that is at the first distance from the centre of the sphere. For each of the selected points, a location in a Cartesian coordinate system is identified where the line from the centre of the sphere to the selected point intersects with the first plane, two of the axes of the Cartesian coordinate system being parallel to the first plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transforming data provided in a spherical format. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, the spherical format comprising a notional sphere that has a centre corresponding to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera. A first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A selected point in said spherical format is obtained, which is defined by spherical coordinates consisting of a yaw angle and a pitch angle defining a line from the centre of the sphere. A plane is identified that has the first orientation and is at the first distance from the centre. A location in a Cartesian coordinate system is calculated where the plane intersects with the line, wherein two of the axes of the Cartesian coordinate system are parallel to the first plane. Thereby, the position of the point on the first surface is identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying the orientation of an image in a spherical format. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, the spherical format comprising a notional sphere that has a centre corresponding to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera. A first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A plurality of lines are obtained in the spherical format, each line defined by two endpoints in spherical coordinates, wherein each line intersects with at least one other line. For each of a plurality of rotational definitions of the sphere, the spherical coordinates of the endpoints are transformed into a Cartesian coordinate system relative to the rotational definition, thereby creating rotated lines, and a cumulative deviation, from a predetermined angle, is determined of angles between intersecting rotated lines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for creating a floor plan from a spherical image. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, wherein the spherical format has a centre that corresponds to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera, and wherein a first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A plurality of selected points are obtained in the spherical format, each defined by spherical coordinates consisting of a yaw angle and a pitch angle defining a line from the centre. A plane is identified that has the first orientation and that is at the first distance from the centre of the sphere. For each of the selected points, a location in a Cartesian coordinate system is identified where the line from the centre of the sphere to the selected point intersects with the first plane, two of the axes of the Cartesian coordinate system being parallel to the first plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transforming data provided in a spherical format. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, the spherical format comprising a notional sphere that has a centre corresponding to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera. A first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A selected point in said spherical format is obtained, which is defined by spherical coordinates consisting of a yaw angle and a pitch angle defining a line from the centre of the sphere. A plane is identified that has the first orientation and is at the first distance from the centre. A location in a Cartesian coordinate system is calculated where the plane intersects with the line, wherein two of the axes of the Cartesian coordinate system are parallel to the first plane. Thereby, the position of the point on the first surface is identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying the orientation of an image in a spherical format. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, the spherical format comprising a notional sphere that has a centre corresponding to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera. A first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A plurality of lines are obtained in the spherical format, each line defined by two endpoints in spherical coordinates, wherein each line intersects with at least one other line. For each of a plurality of rotational definitions of the sphere, the spherical coordinates of the endpoints are transformed into a Cartesian coordinate system relative to the rotational definition, thereby creating rotated lines, and a cumulative deviation, from a predetermined angle, is determined of angles between intersecting rotated lines.

Abstract: A method of generating and displaying a virtual map is provided. First and second images are obtained, each image representing a physical space, which may have an equirectangular projection. For each of these images, a projection is generated and output for display. These projections may be circular, and may have a smaller blank circle at the center. Indications are received, possibly via manual input, representing a point in each projection. These are stored in position data, which includes identifications of the points and an indication that the two points are connected. Multiple points in multiple projections may be identified and stored in the position data. First and second display projections of the images are rendered for display, each including a display element corresponding to the identified position within each image. These display projections are outputted for display as a virtual map.

Abstract: A method of generating and displaying a virtual map is provided. First and second images are obtained, each image representing a physical space, which may have an equirectangular projection. For each of these images, a projection is generated and output for display. These projections may be circular, and may have a smaller blank circle at the centre. Indications are received, possibly via manual input, representing a point in each projection. These are stored in position data, which includes identifications of the points and an indication that the two points are connected. Multiple points in multiple projections may be identified and stored in the position data. First and second display projections of the images are rendered for display, each including a display element corresponding to the identified position within each image. These display projections are outputted for display as a virtual map.

Abstract: A method and apparatus delivers a file from a content provider to a requesting client. A request from a client to access a file is received, a common file that is common to all requesting clients is identified in a first storage location, in a second storage location a personalized file that is unique to said client is identified, the common file and are personalized file are analyzed to find their differences, the shared data and the unique data are delivered to the client and the client is instructed to stitch the shared data and the unique data together.

Abstract: Video data is transcoded on the fly to produce a progressive download viewed while the data is being received while streaming and/or may be downloaded and played later. An analyzer analyzes a portion of an input video data file to determine coded characteristics of encoded input video and determines an expected data volume. A generator generates a file header for output video data that includes an indication of the expected volume thereof. A transcoder transcodes the input video data to produce encoded output video data. The output interface supplies the encoded output video data with the file header as a stream to a receiving device. In a first embodiment, the expected volume of data in the header is overestimated and blank video chunks added. In an alternative embodiment, the expected data of volume is underestimated and compression parameters are modified during the transcoding process.

Abstract: Video data is compressed for streaming to mobile devices. The data includes spatially compressed frames (I frames) followed by a plurality of temporally compressed frames (P frames) a source of input video data is coded to produce compressed data having I frames and P frames. The data volume of the I frames is compared with that of the P frames. In response to the data volume of the I frames being too large when compared to the data volume of the P frames, the input video data is coded again to produce I frames having a smaller data volume.

Abstract: A transcoding procedure is shown for decoding coded video data and re-coding the video data. An input device (201) receives coded video data and a distribution device (304) supplies a copy of the input data to each of a plurality of transcoding processors.

Abstract: The optimising of video data files for downloading to a mobile device is disclosed, in which the total data volume of the file is limited. An input video clip of image frames is coded to produce a first coded video data file having a predetermined data volume. A measure of spatial data loss is obtained and the obtained measure of data loss is compared against a predetermined data loss value. If too much spatial loss has occurred, frames are removed from the input clip and a re-coding process is performed of the input video clip to produce an alternative output data file. Preferably, the data frame-rate is not allowed to drop below a predetermined minimum and if too much spatial loss still occurs, audio quality is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a file from a content provider to a requesting client is disclosed. A request from a client to access a file is received, a common file that is common to all requesting clients is identified in a first storage location, in a second storage location a personalised file that is unique to said client is identified, the common file and are personalised file are analysed to find their differences, the shared data and the unique data are delivered to the client and the client is instructed to stitch the shared data and the unique data together.

Abstract: The streaming of video data to mobile devices (101 to 103) is shown in which a support server (106) and an asset server (107, 108) are provided. The support server receives a first request (303) from a mobile device for a selected video asset. The support server relays (304, 305) the first request to the asset server. The asset server serves (306) the selected video stream to the requesting mobile device from the start of the asset. The support server is halted (307) from streaming video and the asset server provides an indication (308) of the halt position to the support server. The support server records an indication of the mobile device and the halt position of the asset. The support server receives a second request (311) from the mobile device for the selected asset. The support server relays (310 to 313) the selected request to the asset server and the asset server serves (314) the selected asset as a video stream to the requesting mobile device from the previous halt position.

Abstract: The streaming of video data to mobile devices (101 to 103) is shown in which a support server (106) and an asset server (107, 108) are provided. The support server receives a first request (303) from a mobile device for a selected video asset. The support server relays (304, 305) the first request to the asset server. The asset server serves (306) the selected video stream to the requesting mobile device from the start of the asset. The support server is halted (307) from streaming video and the asset server provides an indication (308) of the halt position to the support server. The support server records an indication of the mobile device and the halt position of the asset. The support server receives a second request (311) from the mobile device for the selected asset. The support server relays (310 to 313) the selected request to the asset server and the asset server serves (314) the selected asset as a video stream to the requesting mobile device from the previous halt position.

Abstract: Video data is transcoded on the fly to produce a progressive download viewed while the data is being received while streaming and/or may be downloaded and played later. An analyser analyses a portion of an input video data file to determine coded characteristics of encoded input video and determines an expected data volume. A generator generates a file header for output video data that includes an indication of the expected volume thereof. A transcoder transcodes the input video data to produce encoded output video data. The output interface supplies the encoded output video data with the file header as a stream to a receiving device. In a first embodiment, the expected volume of data in the header is overestimated and blank video chunks added. In an alternative embodiment, the expected data of volume is underestimated and compression parameters are modified during the transcoding process.

Abstract: A transcoding procedure is shown for decoding coded video data and re-coding the video data. An input device (201) receives coded video data and a distribution device (304) supplies a copy of the input data to each of a plurality of transcoding processors.

Abstract: Video data is supplied from a plurality of video material suppliers (102, 103) to a plurality of mobile devices (107-109). Original video data is requested and received, and a data store (303) is arranged to store additional video data. A processing system (304) analyses original coding characteristics of the original video data received via second interface (302) and selects additional video data from the data store (303). The additional video data is coded in accordance with the original coding characteristics to produce coded additional data and the coded additional data is combined with the original video data, to produce combined video output data.

Abstract: The optimising of video data files for downloading to a mobile device is disclosed, in which the total data volume of the file is limited. An input video clip of image frames is coded to produce a first coded video data file having a predetermined data volume. A measure of spatial data loss is obtained and the obtained measure of data loss is compared against a predetermined data loss value. If too much spatial loss has occurred, frames are removed from the input clip and a re-coding process is performed of the input video clip to produce an alternative output data file. Preferably, the data frame-rate is not allowed to drop below a predetermined minimum and if too much spatial loss still occurs, audio quality is reduced.