Method for inter-scene transitions
OwnerByong Ohinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for creating a transition between a first scene and a second scene on a computer system display, simulating motion. The method includes determining a transformation that maps the first scene into the second scene. Motion between the scenes is simulated by displaying transitional images that include a transitional scene based on a transitional object in the first scene and in the second scene. The rendering of the transitional object evolves according to specified transitional parameters as the transitional images are displayed. A viewer receives a sense of the connectedness of the scenes from the transitional images. Virtual tours of broad areas, such as cityscapes, can be created using inter-scene transitions among a complex network of pairs of scenes.
Claims49
A method for creating, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a second scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, and the second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, the method comprising:
- a. graphically identifying on the display the first feature and the second feature and determining a transformation mapping the first scene into the second scene using the first feature and the second feature;
- and
- b. providing a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene.
A method according to claim I wherein providing at least one transitional image includes modeling a plurality of images seen by a virtual camera moving along a path between the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint.
A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a second scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, and the second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, the method comprising:
- a. displaying a first navigational icon embedded in the first scene;
- and
- b. when the first navigational icon is activated, displaying a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene.
A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a selected scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, and the selected scene observed from a selected scene viewpoint and including a selected scene feature, the method comprising:
- a. displaying the first scene;
- b. receiving an indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint;
- and
- c. when the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is received, displaying a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the selected scene feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the selected scene.
A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a first transition between a first scene and a second scene and a second transition between the second scene and a third scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, the second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, the third scene observed from a third viewpoint and including a third feature, the method comprising:
- a. providing a first transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene;
- and
- b. providing a second transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the second feature and on the third feature, such that there is simulated motion from the second viewpoint to the third viewpoint,
- such that the first transitional image and the second transitional image are formed without determining the absolute positions and orientations in a frame of reference of each of the first, second and third scenes.
A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a selected scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, a second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, and the selected scene observed from a selected scene viewpoint, the method comprising:
- a. displaying the first scene;
- b. receiving an indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint;
- c. determining a route from the first viewpoint to the selected scene viewpoint, the route including the second viewpoint;
- and
- d. when the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is received, displaying a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.