System and methods for network image delivery with dynamic viewing frustum optimized for limited bandwidth communication channels

A portable display client system supporting dynamic visualization of image data provided through a wireless network communications channel, said client system comprising:

• a) a display of defined resolution suitable for visual presentation of a graphical image, said display including video memory for storing image data representative of said graphical image;
• b) a network interface coupleable to a wireless network through which to request and receive image data parcels;
• c) an image parcel data store providing for the storage of image data parcels;
• d) navigation controls providing input information defining a point of view location relative to said graphical image;
• and
• e) a processor coupled to said video memory, network interface, image parcel data store, and navigational controls, said processor operative to selectively request image data parcels of determined resolution through said network interface in a priority order computed relative to the defined resolution of said display.

A client system providing for the three-dimensional viewing of an image relative to a dynamic viewpoint, said client system comprising:

• a) display memory corresponding to a two-dimensional display of defined resolution;
• b) a network interface through which image data parcels of respective image parcel resolution can be requested and received;
• c) navigational controls providing for the definition of an image viewpoint;
• and
• d) a processor operative to progressively render image data parcels into said display memory and to progressively request image data parcels through said network interface in a priority order determined with respect to the defined resolution of said two dimensional display and the location of said image viewpoint.

A method of supporting dynamic visualization of image data transferred through a communications channel, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining, in response to user navigational commands, a viewpoint orientation with respect to an image displayed within a three-dimensional space;
• b) requesting, in a priority order, image parcels renderable as corresponding regions of said image, each said image parcel having an associated resolution, wherein said priority order is determined to provide a progressive regional resolution enhancement of said image as each said image parcel is rendered;
• c) receiving a plurality of image parcels through said communications channel;
• and
• d) rendering said plurality of image parcels to provide said image.