Method of transmitting data representing the spatial position of a video camera and system implementing said method

Furthermore, the invention includes a process, according to either of the preceding claims, wherein, during a supplementary preliminary step, the said second subsystem (12,2) is configured (51) in a manner conforming to the description of the characteristics of the components comprising the said first (11, 11′) and second (12,2) subsystems, including the characteristics of the said viewing device (10, 10′) and of the software contained in the data processing unit (4) of the said second subsystem (12,2). In another supplementary preliminary step, the said inertial sensing unit (52) is initialized and standardized with respect to a reference point of origin.

Furthermore, the invention includes a process, according to either of the preceding claims, wherein, during a supplementary preliminary step, the said data signals, representing the positional coordinates and the instantaneous inclination of the said viewing device (10, 10′) with respect to the said reference (XYZ), are synchronized (56). Another supplementary preliminary step involves the application of error corrections (53) to the said positional data streams delivered by the said inertial sensing unit. Another supplementary preliminary step involves further improving the quality of the said acquired data (55) by applying an image anaysis procedure, included among the software contained in the data processing unit (4). A final supplementary preliminary step consists of storing the said acquired data (57) within the hard drive data storage module (403) of the said data processing unit (4).

Furthermore, the invention includes a process, according to either of the preceding claims, for integrating the focal planes (FP) of images (I) obtained using the said viewing unit (10, 10′) with the focal planes of images from other sources whose spatial coordinates are already known, by acquiring data identifying the focal length used by the said viewing unit (10, 10′) and by capturing, in real time, data signals representing the spatial coordinates and the instantaneous inclination of the said viewing unit (10, 10′) with respect to the said reference (XYZ), in order to determine the corresponding coordinates of the focal planes (FP) of the said images (I) within the said video sequence, the said coordinates of the focal plane (FP) of the image (I) being:

• the inclination of the said focal plane (FP) in space with respect to the said reference (XYZ), represented by the angles of elevation, azimuth and roll;
• and
• the position of the center (C) of the said plane (FP) of the image (I) with respect to the said reference point (XYZ).

Furthermore, the invention includes a process, according to either of the preceding claims, for navigating within a three-dimensional universe (59) involving a preexistant three-dimentional decor. The said process consists of the supplementary steps of acquisition and transmission to the said second subsystem (2, 12), in real time, of data representing the spatial coordinates and the instantaneous inclination of the said viewing unit (10, 10′) with respect to the said reference point (XYZ), as well as the focal length used, as well as the images captured by the said viewing unit (10, 10′) and the processing of the data signals and the images using software for three dimensional reconstitution, in a manner so as to visualize, in real time, an outline of the framing of the said viewing unit within the said preexisting three-dimensional virtual decor.