Method and apparatus for identifying salient subimages within a panoramic image

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the review of at least portions of a panoramic image and to increase the likelihood that a viewer consumes at least those portions of the panoramic image that are considered to be both interesting and of aesthetic value. In the context of a method, one or more regions within a panoramic image are identified based upon a saliency of the one or more regions. The method also includes identifying candidate subimages that at least partially overlap with at least one of the regions identified within the panoramic image. The method further includes scoring the candidate subimages based upon predefined criteria and causing information for one or more of the candidate subimages to be provided based upon scores associated therewith.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]An example embodiment relates generally to the processing and review of a panoramic image and, more particularly, to the identification of one or more salient subimages within the panoramic image that may be of interest to a viewer.BACKGROUND[0002]Panoramic images, such as 360° images, have a wide field of view and represent a large amount of information. While panoramic images are popular with viewers for a variety of purposes including virtual reality applications and other types of applications, the consumption of the large amount of content provided by a panoramic image can be challenging with it oftentimes becoming tedious for a viewer to examine the entire panoramic image. For example, it may be difficult or at least be less intuitive and require more effort for a viewer to examine those portions of the panoramic image which lie behind the viewer.[0003]The challenges associated with the consumption of the large amounts of information provided by a panorami...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a way to make it easier for viewers to consume parts of a panoramic image that are most interesting and aesthetically pleasing. This is done by identifying and highlighting these parts in the image, and also creating separate two-dimensional images that can be easily viewed on a different device. This improves the viewer experience and makes it easier to get the most from the information provided by the panoramic image.

Problems solved by technology

While panoramic images are popular with viewers for a variety of purposes including virtual reality applications and other types of applications, the consumption of the large amount of content provided by a panoramic image can be challenging with it oftentimes becoming tedious for a viewer to examine the entire panoramic image.

For example, it may be difficult or at least be less intuitive and require more effort for a viewer to examine those portions of the panoramic image which lie behind the viewer.

The challenges associated with the consumption of the large amounts of information provided by a panoramic image are exacerbated in instances in which a panoramic image is viewed on a device that has not been specifically designed for the display of a panoramic image, such as a smartphone, a television monitor, a computer monitor or the like.

In this regard, devices that have not been specifically designed to facilitate the consumption of the large amounts of information provided by a panoramic view do not generally permit the viewer to display the panoramic image in its entirety and the viewer must, instead, scroll to view other portions of the panoramic image.

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