Method and apparatus for virtual walkthrough

Apparatus for producing an interactive virtual movie, which simulates the walking of a user within a real site, comprising:

• a. A movable platform;
• b. Position and orientation unit for obtaining at any given time position and orientation of the platform, and providing the same to an imaging unit;
• c. Imaging units for creating a node any time when some first minimal conditions are met, obtaining image data, and associating said image data and its orientation with the node location, thereby forming a node package;
• d. Data unit for:
• 1) receiving node packages from the imaging unit;
• 2) calculating neighborhood between nodes;
• 3) registering links between found neighboring nodes, including registering for each link entry and exit directions to and from nodes;
• 4) calculating possible merging and/or eliminating of nodes;
• 5) saving in a database within the data unit a linked graph which is the result of steps 1-4;
• 6) importing linked graphs from removable media or network device to the database;
• and
• 7) exporting linked graphs from the database to a removable media or a network device.
• e. A control unit for:
• 1) Activation and deactivation of the device;
• 2) Defining parameters necessary for the operation of the apparatus;
• 3) Providing control over the import and export operations;
• 4) Monitoring and coordinating the operation of the various units and elements of the apparatus.