Picture distribution system and method, picture distribution apparatus and a method therefor, picture receiving apparatus and a method therefore, and recording medium and program used therewith

A picture distribution method for distributing an omnidirectional picture from a transmitting apparatus to a receiving apparatus by a network, comprising the steps of:

• a first receiving step for receiving viewpoint information from said receiving apparatus;
• an extracting step for, based on the received viewpoint information, extracting a predetermined area as a first picture from an omnidirectional picture to be distributed to said receiving apparatus;
• a first transmitting step for transmitting, to said receiving apparatus, unit regions obtained by dividing the first picture;
• an acquiring step for acquiring the viewpoint information transmitted to said transmitting apparatus;
• a second transmitting step for transmitting the acquired viewpoint information to said transmitting apparatus;
• a second receiving step for receiving the first picture transmitted from said transmitting apparatus;
• a storage step for storing the first picture received in said second receiving step;
• and
• an output step for outputting a second picture as a predetermined area extracted from the stored first picture, the second picture corresponding to the acquired viewpoint information.

A picture distribution apparatus for distributing omnidirectional pictures to a receiving apparatus through a network, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving viewpoint information from said receiving apparatus;
• extracting means for, based on the received viewpoint information, extracting a predetermined area as a picture from an omnidirectional picture to be distributed to the receiving apparatus;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting, to said receiving apparatus, predetermined unit regions obtained by dividing the picture.

A picture distribution method for a picture distribution apparatus for distributing an omnidirectional picture to a receiving apparatus by a network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving viewpoint information from said receiving apparatus;
• extracting, based on the received viewpoint information, a predetermined area as a picture from the omnidirectional picture to be distributed to the receiving apparatus;
• and
• transmitting, to said receiving apparatus, predetermined unit regions obtained by dividing the picture.

A recording medium containing a computer-readable program for a picture distribution apparatus for distributing an omnidirectional picture to a receiving apparatus, the program comprising the steps of:

• receiving viewpoint information from said receiving apparatus;
• extracting, based on the received viewpoint information, a predetermined area as a picture from an omnidirectional picture to be distributed to the receiving apparatus;
• and
• transmitting, to said receiving apparatus, predetermined unit regions obtained by dividing the picture.

A program for a computer controlling a picture distribution apparatus for distributing an omnidirectional picture by a network, said program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

• receiving viewpoint information from said receiving apparatus;
• extracting, based on the received viewpoint information, a predetermined area as a picture from the omnidirectional picture to be distributed;
• and
• transmitting, to said receiving apparatus, predetermined unit regions obtained by dividing the picture.

A picture receiving apparatus for receiving an omnidirectional picture distributed from a transmitting apparatus through a network, said picture receiving apparatus comprising:

• acquiring means for acquiring viewpoint information;
• transmitting means for transmitting the acquired viewpoint information to said transmitting apparatus;
• receiving means for receiving a first picture as a predetermined area extracted from the omnidirectional picture, the first picture being transmitted from said transmitting apparatus;
• storage means for storing the received first picture;
• and
• output means for outputting a second picture as a predetermined area extracted from the stored first picture, the second picture corresponding to the acquired viewpoint information.

A picture receiving method for a picture receiving apparatus receiving an omnidirectional picture distributed from a transmitting apparatus through a network, said picture receiving method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring viewpoint information;
• transmitting the acquired viewpoint information to said transmitting apparatus;
• receiving a first picture as a predetermined area extracted from the omnidirectional picture, the first picture being transmitted from said transmitting apparatus;
• storing the received first picture;
• and
• outputting a second picture as a predetermined area extracted from the stored first picture, the second picture corresponding to the acquired viewpoint information.

A recording medium containing a computer-readable program for a picture receiving apparatus for receiving an omnidirectional picture distributed from a transmitting apparatus by a network, the program comprising the steps of:

• acquiring viewpoint information;
• transmitting the acquired viewpoint information to said transmitting apparatus;
• receiving a first picture as a predetermined area extracted from the omnidirectional picture, the first picture being transmitted from said transmitting apparatus;
• storing the received first picture;
• and
• outputting a second picture as a predetermined area extracted from the stored first picture, the second picture corresponding to the acquired viewpoint information.

A program for a computer controlling a picture receiving apparatus for receiving an omnidirectional picture distributed from a transmitting apparatus by a network, said program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

• acquiring viewpoint information;
• transmitting the acquired viewpoint information to said transmitting apparatus;
• receiving a first picture as a predetermined area extracted from the omnidirectional picture, the first picture being transmitted from said transmitting apparatus;
• storing the received first picture;
• and
• outputting a second picture as a predetermined area extracted from the stored first picture, the second picture corresponding to the acquired viewpoint information.