VTV system

An electronic device that produces graphical imagery depicting a panoramic (360 degree horizontal view) image such that this overall panoramic image (“Image Sphere”) is composed of a number of smaller image subsections (“Pages”).

An entertainment system consisting of;

• a range of alternative media provision devices (such as VCR, DVD, satellite receiver etc.) an electronic device (VTV processor), which generates panoramic video imagery from video data provided from the aforementioned devices and a display device such as a conventional flat screen television or helmet mounted display device (HMD) or other virtual reality display device, fitted with an optional single view or panoramic video capture device, in conjunction with a wireless data communication network to communicate this video information between the HMD and the VTV processor as shown FIGS. 1-3.

A new audiovisual standard (the virtual television or VTV standard) which consists of a modification to the existing television standard which allows for a variety of different “Frames”, such that these Frames may contain graphical data, sound or control information while still maintaining compatibility with the existing television standards (NTSC, PAL, HDTV etc.)

A new audiovisual standard based around the concept of “Image Spheres” which are 360 degree horizontal by X degree vertical cylinders or truncated spheres, such that each Image Sphere consists of a number of subsections or “Pages”.

An electronic device, in which orientation sensitive audio is provided in real-time, which is controlled by the direction of the viewers head (azimuth and elevation).

An electronic device which is capable of performing both of the functions described in clams 28 and 29.

An electronic device which is capable of analyzing images captured by a simple single view or panoramic camera system as described in claims 39-44 and interpreting the imagery as three-dimensional objects in real-time.

An electro-optical assembly which consists of a plurality of electronic image capture devices (video cameras, HDTV cameras, digital still cameras etc.) which are configured with overlapping horizontal fields of view such that collectively the overlapping horizontal fields of view cover a full 360 degrees.

An electronic device which utilizing data received from one or more video capture devices (video cameras etc.) and by performing a series of simple image analysis processes such as autocorrelation calculates relative movement in the azimuth of the camera (of the viewer in the case of an HMD based camera assembly) as shown in FIGS. 13,14 and more completely described in paragraphs 4.1-4.8.

An electronic device which utilizing data received from one or more video capture devices (video cameras etc.) and by performing a series of simple image analysis processes such as autocorrelation calculates relative movement in the elevation of the camera (of the viewer in the case of an HMD based camera assembly) as shown in FIGS. 13,15 and more completely described in paragraphs 4.1-4.8.

An electronic device which utilizing data received from one or more video capture devices (video cameras etc.) and by performing a series of simple image analysis processes such as autocorrelation calculates relative movement in the roll of the camera (of the viewer in the case of an HMD based camera assembly) as shown in FIGS. 13,16 and more completely described in paragraphs 4.1-4.8.

An electronic device which utilizing data received from one or more video capture devices (video cameras etc.) and by performing a series of simple image analysis processes such as autocorrelation calculates relative movement in the physical (spatial) position of the camera (of the viewer in the case of an HMD based camera assembly) in either or any combination of the X, Y or Z axes as shown in FIGS. 13,17-18 and more completely described in paragraphs 4.1-4.8.