Abstract: A calibrator for a camera includes a controlling circuit, a photographing circuit, a calculating circuit, and an instructing circuit. The controlling circuit is configured to control a movable body to move into a shooting area of the camera. A marker is provided on the movable body for calibration of the camera. The photographing circuit is configured to control the camera to photograph the marker. The calculating circuit is configured to calculate at least one parameter of the camera based on the photographed marker. The instructing circuit is configured to transmit the at least one parameter to the camera to calibrate the camera.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes: distributing a first model, which is a three-dimensional model of a target space in a target time period, in a first distribution mode; and distributing a second model, which is a three-dimensional model of the target space in the target time period and makes a smaller change per unit time than the first model, in a second distribution mode different from the first distribution mode.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes generating a depth image from a three-dimensional model; and distributing the depth image and information for restoring the three-dimensional model from the depth image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes: distributing a first model, which is a three-dimensional model of a target space in a target time period, in a first distribution mode; and distributing a second model, which is a three-dimensional model of the target space in the target time period and makes a smaller change per unit time than the first model, in a second distribution mode different from the first distribution mode.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes: distributing a first model, which is a three-dimensional model of a target space in a target time period, in a first distribution mode; and distributing a second model, which is a three-dimensional model of the target space in the target time period and makes a smaller change per unit time than the first model, in a second distribution mode different from the first distribution mode.

Abstract: A three-dimensional reconstruction method includes: reconstructing a first three-dimensional model from a first multi-viewpoint image obtained by shooting a real space, and reconstructing a second three-dimensional model from a second multi-viewpoint image obtained by shooting the real space at a different time; and matching world coordinate systems of the first three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A calibrator for cameras includes a controlling circuit, a photographing circuit, a calculating circuit, and an instructing circuit. The controlling circuit is configured to control a movable body in a shooting area of the cameras. A marker is provided on the movable body for calibration of the cameras. The photographing circuit is configured to control the cameras to photograph the marker at a first position at a first timing to generate first images. The photographing circuit is configured to control the cameras to photograph the marker at a second position at a second timing to generate second images. The calculating circuit is configured to calculate parameters of the cameras based on the first images and the second images. The instructing circuit is configured to transmit the parameters to the cameras to calibrate the cameras.

Abstract: This image generation method is for generating a virtual image by a processor using at least one of images obtained by cameras disposed in different positions and attitudes capturing the same target space in a three-dimensional (3D) space. The virtual image is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the target space viewed from a virtual viewpoint in the 3D space. When generating the virtual image using one or more second images captured by one or more second cameras, at least one of which is different from one or more first cameras that capture one or more first images serving as a basis among the images, a second process which includes at least one of luminance and color adjustments and is different from a first process performed to generate the virtual image using the one or more first images is performed on the one or more second images.

Abstract: A free-viewpoint video generating method includes obtaining a multi-viewpoint video including N videos of N viewpoints (N being an integer greater than 1), and generating a free-viewpoint video of a virtual viewpoint based on the multi-viewpoint video such that the free-viewpoint video shows target areas and has a first resolution higher than each of resolutions of the N videos, the virtual viewpoint being different from the N viewpoints. For each target area, the generating includes: referring to a three-dimensional model generated based on the N videos to specify N reference areas which are shown by the N videos and which correspond to the each target area in the free-viewpoint video; and calculating components of pixels to represent the each target area in the free-viewpoint video, based on components of pixels to represent the N reference areas in the N videos.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes: distributing a first model, which is a three-dimensional model of a target space in a target time period, in a first distribution mode; and distributing a second model, which is a three-dimensional model of the target space in the target time period and makes a smaller change per unit time than the first model, in a second distribution mode different from the first distribution mode.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes: distributing a first model, which is a three-dimensional model of a target space in a target time period, in a first distribution mode; and distributing a second model, which is a three-dimensional model of the target space in the target time period and makes a smaller change per unit time than the first model, in a second distribution mode different from the first distribution mode.

Abstract: This image generation method is for generating a virtual image by a processor using at least one of images obtained by cameras disposed in different positions and attitudes capturing the same target space in a three-dimensional (3D) space. The virtual image is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the target space viewed from a virtual viewpoint in the 3D space. When generating the virtual image using one or more second images captured by one or more second cameras, at least one of which is different from one or more first cameras that capture one or more first images serving as a basis among the images, a second process which includes at least one of luminance and color adjustments and is different from a first process performed to generate the virtual image using the one or more first images is performed on the one or more second images.

Abstract: A calibrator for cameras includes a controlling circuit, a photographing circuit, a calculating circuit, and an instructing circuit. The controlling circuit is configured to control a movable body in a shooting area of the cameras. A marker is provided on the movable body for calibration of the cameras. The photographing circuit is configured to control the cameras to photograph the marker at a first position at a first timing to generate first images. The photographing circuit is configured to control the cameras to photograph the marker at a second position at a second timing to generate second images. The calculating circuit is configured to calculate parameters of the cameras based on the first images and the second images. The instructing circuit is configured to transmit the parameters to the cameras to calibrate the cameras.

Abstract: A calibrator for a camera includes a controlling circuit, a photographing circuit, a calculating circuit, and an instructing circuit. The controlling circuit is configured to control a movable body to move into a shooting area of the camera. A marker is provided on the movable body for calibration of the camera. The photographing circuit is configured to control the camera to photograph the marker. The calculating circuit is configured to calculate at least one parameter of the camera based on the photographed marker. The instructing circuit is configured to transmit the at least one parameter to the camera to calibrate the camera.

Abstract: An image distribution method includes generating an integrated image in which images are arranged. The images are generated by shooting a scene from respective different viewpoints. The images include a virtual image generated from a real image. The image distribution method includes distributing the integrated image to image display apparatuses provided to display at least one of the images.

Abstract: A free-viewpoint video generating method includes obtaining a multi-viewpoint video including N videos of N viewpoints (N being an integer greater than 1), and generating a free-viewpoint video of a virtual viewpoint based on the multi-viewpoint video such that the free-viewpoint video shows target areas and has a first resolution higher than each of resolutions of the N videos, the virtual viewpoint being different from the N viewpoints. For each target area, the generating includes: referring to a three-dimensional model generated based on the N videos to specify N reference areas which are shown by the N videos and which correspond to the each target area in the free-viewpoint video; and calculating components of pixels to represent the each target area in the free-viewpoint video, based on components of pixels to represent the N reference areas in the N videos.

Abstract: A three-dimensional reconstruction method includes: reconstructing a first three-dimensional model from a first multi-viewpoint image obtained by shooting a real space, and reconstructing a second three-dimensional model from a second multi-viewpoint image obtained by shooting the real space at a different time; and matching world coordinate systems of the first three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes generating a depth image from a three-dimensional model; and distributing the depth image and information for restoring the three-dimensional model from the depth image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model distribution method includes: distributing a first model, which is a three-dimensional model of a target space in a target time period, in a first distribution mode; and distributing a second model, which is a three-dimensional model of the target space in the target time period and makes a smaller change per unit time than the first model, in a second distribution mode different from the first distribution mode.

Abstract: A video distribution method is a video distribution method to be performed by a server that distributes a plurality of videos captured by a plurality of users from different viewpoints to a terminal apparatus. The video distribution method includes distributing, from a server to a terminal apparatus, a first video that is one of a plurality of videos captured by a plurality of users from different viewpoints and that is requested by the terminal apparatus, selecting a second video that is one of the plurality of videos and that is likely to be next requested next time by the terminal apparatus, and starting transmission of the second video to the terminal apparatus during distribution of the first video to the terminal apparatus.