Method and apparatus for providing a three dimensional transition between displayed images

A digital storage medium for storing instructions that cause a processing module to provide a transition between first display data and second display data, the digital storage medium comprises:

• first storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to map the first display data onto a plurality of object elements that constitute a display area;
• second storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to successively alter z values and/or physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements from a first alteration level;
• third storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to map, for each successive alteration and until a desired alteration level is reached, at least a portion of the first display data onto the plurality of object elements to produce first mapped display data;
• and
• fourth storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to map the second display data onto the plurality of object elements when the desired alteration level is reached, wherein one of said first or second display data is live video data which is directly mapped onto said object elements.

A video module comprises:

• a processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes instructions that cause the processing module to (a) map the first display data onto a plurality of object elements that constitute a display area;
• (b) successively alter z values and/or physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements from a first alteration level;
• (c) for each successive alteration and until a desired alteration level is reached, map at least a portion of the first display data onto the plurality of object elements to produce first mapped display data;
• and (d) map the second display data onto the plurality of object elements when the desired alteration level is reached, wherein one of said first or second display data is live video data which is directly mapped onto said object elements.

A method for providing a transition between first display data and second display data, the method comprises the steps of:

• a) rendering the first display data based on a first alteration level, wherein the first alteration level includes z values and physical coordinates for a plurality of object elements, and wherein the plurality of object elements constitute a display area;
• b) successively altering z values and/or physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements from the first alteration level;
• c) for each successive alteration and until a desired alteration level is reached, rendering at least a portion of the first display data based on current z values and current physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements;
• and
• d) when the desired alteration level is reached, rendering the second display data based on the z values and the physical coordinates of the desired alteration level, wherein one of said first or second display data is live video data which is directly mapped onto said object elements.

A digital storage medium for storing instructions that cause a processing module to provide a transition between first display data and second display data, the digital storage medium comprises:

• first storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to render the first display data based on a first alteration level, wherein the first alteration level includes z values and physical coordinates for a plurality of object elements, and wherein the plurality of object elements constitute a display area;
• second storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to successively alter z values and/or physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements from the first alteration level;
• third storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to, for each successive alteration and until a desired alteration level is reached, render at least a portion of the first display data based on current z values and current physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements;
• and
• fourth storage means for storing instructions that cause the processing module to render the second display data based on the z values and the physical coordinates of the desired alteration level when the desired alteration level is reached, wherein one of said first or second display data is live video data which is directly mapped onto said object elements.

A video module comprises:

• a processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes instructions that cause the processing module to (a) render the first display data based on a first alteration level, wherein the first alteration level includes z values and physical coordinates for a plurality of object elements, and wherein the plurality of object elements constitute a display area;
• (b) successively alter z values and/or physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements from the first alteration level;
• (c) for each successive alteration and until a desired alteration level is reached, render at least a portion of the first display data based on current z values and current physical coordinates of the plurality of object elements;
• and (d) render the second display data based on the z values and the physical coordinates of the desired alteration level when the desired alteration level is reached, wherein one of said first or second display data is live video data which is directly mapped onto said object elements.