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US 2019/0056236 A1Published application
Interactive virtual reality tour
OwnerPamala Meador, Tony Meadorinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interactive viewing system of the present invention provides a user with a viewing duality in which a user is shown a floor plan, schematic layout, or other diagram on one side of a display and a visual representation, such as a digital image, corresponding to a selected portion of the schematic layout or diagram, on the other side of the same display. The user is presented with a current position marker and a directional indicator as they navigate through the schematic layout. At designated positions within the schematic layout, a corresponding image is concurrently displayed. In this manner, the user maintains a sense of where they are within the entire structure, while at the same time seeing images of the corresponding area.
Claims66
A method of electronically viewing a remote location, the method comprising:
- providing a schematic layout comprising a plurality of pathways and a plurality of viewpoints, wherein a changeable current position within the schematic layout is represented by a current position marker, wherein the current position marker is able to be selected after selecting a first previous position marker or after selecting a second previous position marker, wherein the current position marker is in a first direction from the first previous position marker and in a second direction from the second previous position marker, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different, wherein only one of the current position marker, the first previous position marker and the second previous position marker are displayed at a time;
- while navigating a pathway of the plurality of pathways from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, displaying the current position marker on the pathway of the schematic layout such that a portion of the pathway is occupied by the current position marker;
- and
- selecting and displaying one of a plurality of perspectives of a visual representation of a portion of the schematic layout corresponding to the current position marker when the current position marker is selected, the plurality of perspectives each having a different perspective direction, wherein the selection of the one of the perspectives is based on either the first previous position marker or the second previous position marker such that when the current position marker is selected after selecting the first previous position marker, the perspective direction of the one of the perspectives that is selected and displayed is in the first direction, whereas when the current position marker is selected after selecting the second previous position marker, the perspective direction of the one of the perspectives that is selected and displayed is in the second direction.
1 more element
An apparatus for providing an interactive tour, the apparatus comprising:
- a user interface to navigate a schematic layout comprising a plurality of pathways and a plurality of viewpoints, wherein a current position within the schematic layout is represented by a changeable current position marker, wherein the current position marker is able to be selected after selecting a first previous position marker or after selecting a second previous position marker, wherein the current position marker is in a first direction from the first previous position marker and in a second direction from the second previous position marker, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different, wherein only one of the current position marker, the first previous position marker and the second previous position marker are displayed at a time;
- while navigating a pathway of the plurality of pathways from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, displaying the current position marker on the pathway of the schematic layout such that a portion of the pathway is occupied by the current position marker;
- and
- a display device coupled to the user interface to display the schematic layout and one of a plurality of perspectives of a visual representation of a portion of the schematic layout corresponding to the current position marker when the current position marker is selected, the plurality of perspectives each having a different perspective direction, wherein the selection of the one of the perspectives is based on either the first previous position marker or the second previous position marker such that when the current position marker is selected after selecting the first previous position marker, the perspective direction of the one of the perspectives that is selected and displayed is in the first direction, whereas when the current position marker is selected after selecting the second previous position marker, the perspective direction of the one of the perspectives that is selected and displayed is in the second direction.
1 more element
A network of devices to provide an interactive tour, the network of devices comprising:
- one or more computer systems comprising one or more processors configured to communicate with other systems;
- and
- an interactive viewing system configured to;
- couple to the one or more computer systems to navigate a schematic layout comprising a plurality of pathways and a plurality of viewpoints, wherein a changeable current position within the schematic layout is represented by a current position marker, wherein the current position marker is able to be selected after selecting a first previous position marker or after selecting a second previous position marker, wherein the current position marker is in a first direction from the first previous position marker and in a second direction from the second previous position marker, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different, wherein only one of the current position marker, the first previous position marker and the second previous position marker are displayed at a time,
- while navigating a pathway of the plurality of pathways from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, displaying the current position marker on the pathway of the schematic layout such that a portion of the pathway is occupied by the current position marker, and
- display the schematic layout and one of a plurality of perspectives of a visual representation of a portion of the schematic layout corresponding to the current position marker when the current position marker is selected, the plurality of perspectives each having a different perspective direction, wherein the selection of the one of the perspectives is based on either the first previous position marker or the second previous position marker such that when the current position marker is selected after selecting the first previous position marker, the perspective direction of the one of the perspectives that is selected and displayed is in the first direction, whereas when the current position marker is selected after selecting the second previous position marker, the perspective direction of the one of the perspectives that is selected and displayed is in the second direction.
3 more elements
66-111. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.