US 7,120,293 B2 · Interactive images

Abstract

A system and process for creating an interactive digital image, which allows a viewer to interact with a displayed image so as to change it with regard to a desired effect, such as exposure, focus or color, among others. An interactive image includes representative images which depict a scene with some image parameter varying between them. The interactive image also includes an index image, whose pixels each identify the representative image that exhibits the desired effect related to the varied image parameter at a corresponding pixel location. For example, a pixel of the index image might identify the representative image having a correspondingly-located pixel that depicts a portion of the scene at the sharpest focus. One primary form of interaction involves selecting a pixel of a displayed image whereupon the representative image identified in the index image at a corresponding pixel location is displayed in lieu of the currently displayed image.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An interactive image system for allowing a viewer to interact with a displayed image so as to cause the displayed image to change with regard to a desired effect, comprising:

a general purpose computing device comprising an image display device;
a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to,
access an interactive image, said interactive image comprising a set of representative images which depict a scene with one or more image parameters varying between images,
input an interaction mode selection made by the viewer,
implement the mode of interaction by displaying one of said representative images, or a modified version thereof, on the image display device in accordance with requirements of the selected mode of interaction.

2 more elements

An interactive video system for allowing a viewer to interact with the video so as to cause frames thereof to exhibit a desired effect as they are being displayed, comprising:

a general purpose computing device comprising a video display device;
a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to,
input an interaction mode selection made by the viewer, and
for each frame of the video that is scheduled for play after the viewer interaction mode selection has been input,
access an interactive image associated with the frame, wherein said interactive image comprises a set of representative images which depict a scene with one or more image parameters varying between images, and
implement the selected mode of interaction by displaying one of said representative images, or a modified version thereof, on the video display device in accordance with requirements of the selected mode of interaction.

3 more elements

An interactive virtual reality system for allowing a viewer to interact with virtual images generated by the system so as to cause the virtual images to exhibit a desired effect when displayed, comprising:

a general purpose computing device comprising an image display device;
a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to,
input a viewer-selected viewpoint and viewing direction,
input a viewer-selected interaction mode,
access an interactive image that is capable of being used to generate a virtual image showing a scene from the viewpoint and viewing direction selected by the viewer, wherein said interactive image comprises a set of representative images which depict the scene with one or more image parameters varying between images, and
implement the selected mode of interaction by,
generating from one of said representative images, or a modified version thereof, the virtual image in accordance with requirements of the selected mode of interaction which shows the scene from the selected viewpoint and viewing direction, and
displaying the generated virtual image on the image display device.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive images

Life of this patent

Interactive images

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38