Apparatus and method for selecting camera providing input images to synthesize virtual view images

An apparatus for selecting a camera providing an input image to synthesize a virtual view image, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving information on a camera providing an input image;
• and
• a processor for using the information on the camera providing the input image, determining, for the camera, whether or not the camera is comprised in an field of view FoV at a virtual view position, and in response to the camera determined to be comprised, selecting the camera to synthesize the virtual image,
• wherein the processor determines whether or not the camera is comprised in the FoV at the virtual view point based on whether or not a direction from the virtual view position to a position of the camera is in the FoV at the virtual view position,
• wherein the position of the camera is represented on a virtual sphere with an extended radius, and
• wherein the position of the camera on the virtual sphere is determined as a point at which the camera meets the virtual sphere when the camera is moved from an actual camera position in a viewing direction of the camera.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program when executed causes a computing device to perform a method comprising:

• for a camera providing an input image, determining whether or not the camera is comprised in a field of view (FoV) at a virtual view position;
• and
• in response to the camera determined to be comprised, selecting the camera to synthesize the virtual view image,
• wherein determining whether or not the camera is comprised in the FoV at the virtual view point is based on whether or not a direction from the virtual view position to a position of the camera is in the FoV at the virtual view position,
• wherein the position of the camera is represented on a virtual sphere with an extended radius, and
• wherein the position of the camera on the virtual sphere is determined as a point at which the camera meets the virtual sphere when the camera is moved from an actual camera position in a viewing direction of the camera.