Method and apparatus for reproducing video images to simulate movement within a multi-dimensional space

A method for reproducing video images to simulate movement within a multidimensional imaginary space, comprising the steps of:

• storing on a storage medium a plurality of sequences of video images, each of said sequences portraying a plurality of views seen by an operator moving from a given particular one of a plurality of points within said multidimensional space to another one of said plurality of points within said multidimensional space spaced apart from said given point,
• each of said video images representing a panoramic projection of a scene viewable by the operator within said multidimensional space,
• each of said sequences including a starting image associated with said given particular point and an ending image associated with said other spaced apart point;
• retrieving from said storage medium a first one of said sequences associated with simulated movement from a first point within said multidimensional space to a second point;
• displaying as a full screen on a video display stored video image data corresponding to only a predetermined window portion of each image of said first sequence, said predetermined window portion comprising a portion of each stored video image in said first sequence less than the entire stored video image;
• adjusting the spatial relationship of said predetermined window portion with respect to each of said stored video images as a function of an operator input as said images of said first sequence are displayed so as to select different portions of said video images for display;
• selecting and retrieving from said storage medium a second one of said sequences associated with simulated movement from said second point to a third point spaced apart from said second point as a function of said operator input, for display subsequent to said first sequence;
• and
• displaying on said video display a predetermined window portion of each image of said second sequence, said predetermined window portion comprising a portion of each video image in said second sequence less than the entire stored video image,
• said predetermined window portion of an ending image of said first sequence being substantially duplicative of said predetermined window portion of a starting image of said second sequence to provide a relatively imperceptible transition from said first sequence to said second sequence.

Apparatus for reproducing video images to simulate movement within a multidimensional space, comprising:

• video image storage means for retrievably storing a plurality of selectable sequences of video images on a storage medium, each of said images of each of said sequences portraying a view seen by an operator moving from a given particular one of a plurality of points within said space toward another one of said plurality of points within said space,
• each of said sequences including a starting image associated with said given point and an ending image associated with said other point;
• means for retrieving from said storage medium a first one of said sequences associated with simulated movement from a first point within said space toward a second point spaced apart from said first point;
• means responsive to said retrieving means for displaying on a video display a predetermined window portion of each image of a sequence of images on a video monitor, said predetermined window portion comprising a portion of each video image in said sequence less than the entire stored video image;
• operator control means for providing operator control signals indicative of operator selection of direction of simulated movement within said multidimensional space;
• means for adjusting the spatial relationship of said predetermined window portion with respect to each of said stored video images as a function of said operator control signals as said images of said first sequence are displayed so as to select different portions of said video images for display;
• and
• selection means responsive to said operator control signals for selecting a second one of said sequences associated with simulated movement from said second point to a third point spaced apart from said second point as a function of said operator control signals, for display subsequent to said first sequence,
• said predetermined window portion of an ending image of said first sequence being substantially duplicative of said predetermined window portion of a starting image of said second sequence to provide a relatively imperceptible transition in view from said first sequence to said selected second sequence.