Method and system for generation of multiple viewpoints into a scene viewed by motionless cameras and for presentation of a view path

A method of:

• recording a video stream comprising a plurality of frames that define a plurality of distorted images;
• designating a portion of said video stream to be a video segment;
• specifying a view path through said video segment;
• generating a viewing vector into one of said plurality of distorted images responsive to said view path;
• transforming a portion of said one of said plurality of distorted images responsive to said viewing vector to create a view;
• and
• presenting said view.

An apparatus comprising:

• a recording mechanism configured to record a video stream, said video stream comprising a plurality of frames;
• a segment specification mechanism configured to designate a portion of said video stream to be a video segment;
• and
• a view path specification mechanism configured to specify a view path through said video segment designated by the segment specification mechanism.

An apparatus comprising:

• a recording mechanism configured to record a video stream comprising a plurality of frames that define a plurality of distorted images;
• a segment specification mechanism configured to designate a portion of said video stream to be a video segment;
• a view path specification mechanism configured to specify a view path through said video segment specified by the segment specification mechanism;
• a vector generator configured to generate a viewing vector into one of said plurality of distorted images responsive to said view path specified by the view path specification mechanism;
• a transformation mechanism, responsive to the vector generator, configured to transform a portion of said one of said plurality of distorted images responsive to said viewing vector to create a view;
• and
• a presentation mechanism, responsive to the transformation mechanism, configured to present a view into said video segment, said view corresponding to said view path.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable data carrier having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to record a video stream, said computer readable code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a recording mechanism configured to record said video stream, said video stream comprising a plurality of frames;
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a segment specification mechanism configured to designate a portion of said video stream to be a video segment;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a view path specification mechanism configured to specify a view path through said video segment designated by the segment specification mechanism.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable data carrier having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to present a view from a video stream, said computer readable code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a recording mechanism configured to record said video stream comprising a plurality of frames that define a plurality of distorted images;
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a segment specification mechanism configured to designate a portion of said video stream to be a video segment;
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a view path specification mechanism configured to specify a view path through said video segment specified by the segment specification mechanism;
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a vector generator configured to generate a viewing vector into one of said plurality of distorted images responsive to said view path specified by the view path specification mechanism;
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a transformation mechanism, responsive to the vector generator, configured to transform a portion of said one of said plurality of distorted images responsive to said viewing vector to create said view;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a presentation mechanism, responsive to the transformation mechanism, configured to present a view into said video segment, said view corresponding to said view path.