# US 12,002,163 B1 · Automatically generating panorama tours > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,163 B1 - Document ID: US12002163B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/943,282 - Filed: 2022-09-13 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-24 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Alan Sheridan; Aaron Michael Donsbach; Daniel Joseph Filip - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002163B1 ## CPC - G06T 19/003: {Navigation within 3D models or images} - G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases - G06F 16/58: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually - G06F 16/5866: {using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information} - G06F 16/587: using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location - G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management - G06Q 10/101: Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services - G06T 3/60: Rotation of whole images or parts thereof - G06T 5/50: using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction - G06T 11/60: Creating or editing images; Combining images with text - G06V 20/10: Terrestrial scenes (scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59) - G06V 30/422: Technical drawings; Geographical maps - G06T 2207/20221: Image fusion; Image merging - G06V 10/16: {using multiple overlapping images; Image stitching} - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract In one aspect, a request to generate an automated tour based on a set of panoramic images is received. Each particular panoramic image is associated with geographic location information and linking information linking the particular panoramic image with one or more other panoramic images in the set. A starting panoramic image and a second panoramic image are determined based at least in part on the starting panoramic image and the linking information associated with the starting and second panoramic images. A first transition between the starting panoramic image and the second panoramic image is also determined based at least in part on the linking information for these panoramic images. Additional panoramic images as well as a second transition for between the additional panoramic images are also determined. The determined panoramic images and transitions are added to the tour according to an order of the tour. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of generating an automated tour, the method comprising: identifying, by one or more processors, a first image from a plurality of pre-linked images; displaying, by the one or more processors, the first image; selecting, by the one or more processors, a second image from the plurality of pre-linked images based on a link between the first image and the second image; generating, by the one or more processors, the automated tour using the first image, the second image, and a transition between the first image and the second image; and determining, by the one or more processors after transitioning to the second image, an end of the automated tour when a minimum number of images of the plurality of pre-linked images has been displayed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically generating, by the one or more processors, the transition between the first image and the second image, wherein the transition includes consistent non-rotational movement in a first direction from the first image to the second image or rotating the first image from being displayed at a first orientation to being displayed at a second orientation before displaying the second image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the consistent movement in a first direction from the first image to the second image provides a feeling of moving along a line in the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein when the transition includes consistent non-rotational movement, the transition further includes displaying a first portion of the first image at a first orientation to displaying a second portion of the first image at the first orientation before displaying the second image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a request for the automated tour from a first device; and providing for display the automated tour to the first device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying the second image at the first orientation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the transition further includes after displaying the second image, a second consistent movement from a first portion of the second image to a second portion of the second image when the second image is a last image in the automated tour. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the link describes a first orientation of the first image and a second orientation of the second image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the transition further includes a transitioning effect. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the transitioning effect includes at least one of panning or zooming. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transition corresponds to a user moving forward, backward, or forward and backward through a space from the first image to the second image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the transition is further based on an overlap threshold parameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the overlap threshold parameter corresponds to projecting a first field of view of the first image and a second field of view of the second image and determining a percentage of overlap between the projections. ### Claim 14 A system for generating an automated tour, the system comprising one or more processors configured to: identify a first image from a plurality of pre-linked images; display the first image; select a second image from the plurality of pre-linked images based on a link between the first image and the second image; generate the automated tour using the first image, the second image, and a transition between the first image and the second image; and determine, after transitioning to the second image, an end of the automated tour when a minimum number of images of the plurality of pre-linked images has been displayed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate the transition between the first image and the second image, wherein the transition includes consistent non-rotational movement in a first direction from the first image to the second image or rotating the first image from being displayed at a first orientation to being displayed at a second orientation before displaying the second image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the consistent movement in a first direction from the first image to the second image provides a feeling of moving along a line in the first direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: display a first portion of the first image at a first orientation; and display a second portion of the first image at the first orientation after displaying the first portion and before displaying the second image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to display the second image at the first orientation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the transition further includes after displaying the second image, a second consistent movement from a first portion of the second image to a second portion of the second image when the second image is a last image in the automated tour. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the transition corresponds to a user moving forward, backward, or forward and backward through a space from the first image to the second image.