Apparatus and methods for providing a cubic transport format for multi-lens spherical imaging

A computerized method for rendering an image, comprising:

• obtaining image data in a transport format, the image data comprising a stitch line, a plurality of image facets associated with the stitch line, and one or more overlapping portions associated with at least a portion of the plurality of image facets, where the stitch line, the plurality of image facets, and the one or more overlapping portions are configured to be in a prescribed arrangement within the transport format;
• decoding at least the plurality of image facets;
• performing a stitching operation on the decoded plurality of facets along the stitch line, the stitching operation producing a stitched image;
• and
• causing the stitched image to be rendered for display.

A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising a computer program having a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by a processor apparatus of a computerized device, cause the computerized device to:

• receive an encoded transport data structure comprising image data, the image data comprising image facets and overlapping portions associated with the image facets, the encoded transport data structure comprising a cubic projection of a panoramic image;
• decode at least two of the image facets, and decode corresponding ones of the overlapping portions;
• generate a stitched image via application of a stitch process to the decoded image facets and to the corresponding ones of the overlapping portions;
• and
• cause rendering of the stitched image on a display.

A computerized method for decoding image data, comprising:

• receiving a data structure comprising encoded image data, the encoded image data comprising a plurality of image facets and a plurality of overlapping portions associated with respective ones of the plurality of image facets arranged in a given transport format within the data structure;
• decoding at least a portion of the plurality of image facets and at least a portion of the plurality of overlapping portions;
• generating a stitched image, the generating comprising (i) algorithmically stitching together the decoded at least portion of the plurality of image facets, and (ii) algorithmically stitching together the decoded at least portion of the plurality of overlapping portions;
• and
• causing the stitched image to be rendered for display.