124 results about "Virtual tour" patented technology

A method of the present invention provides a user with an interactive virtual representation of a geographic location expressed to the user through a three-dimensional or a two dimensional representations and combination thereof generated by a system controlled by an operator. The method creates an interactive virtual tour of the geographic location by correlating a two-dimensional map with a three-dimensional representation of an interactive model to allow the user to synchronously navigate through the two-dimensional map and the interactive model in different directions.

A method and system for creating a transition between a first scene and a second scene on a computer system display, simulating motion. The method includes determining a transformation that maps the first scene into the second scene. Motion between the scenes is simulated by displaying transitional images that include a transitional scene based on a transitional object in the first scene and in the second scene. The rendering of the transitional object evolves according to specified transitional parameters as the transitional images are displayed. A viewer receives a sense of the connectedness of the scenes from the transitional images. Virtual tours of broad areas, such as cityscapes, can be created using inter-scene transitions among a complex network of pairs of scenes.

Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3D. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are provided.

A graphical user interface for a comprehensive user-friendly Internet-based multi-media dual-paned virtual tour presentation system having orientational capabilities and having an image navigation section; an image display section; and a hierarchical information organization and navigation section, where the image navigation section, the image display section and the hierarchical information organization and navigation section are provided all visible at the same time, within the visible area of one browser window.

A method for collecting, organizing, presenting, and using data relative to the scene of an emergency situation is disclosed. The method uses a Responder Assets Management System (RAMS) composed of four modules including information, logistics, operations, and planning. The information module makes general information immediately available to responders. The logistics module assists in managing equipment resources during a contingency and includes an equipment manager interface for managing equipment used to respond to an emergency situation. The operations module supports daily operations responsibilities and scales to handle significant emergencies and includes at least one of a situational awareness interface, a response options generator (ROG) interface, an operations manager interface, a messenger interface and a status board interface. The situational awareness interface is designed for emergency and crisis response managers to provide enhanced, community-wide situational awareness using full immersion, spherical images, Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, site and floor plans, and a database interface to provide virtual walk-through, pre-incident plans, for contingency planning, training visualization, and operational support. The ROG interface provides automated response and resource estimates to decision-makers in command posts and on-site in developing a response to significant, unplanned events. The operations manager interface is used by a remote headquarters to monitor an on-going operation. The messenger interface is a pre-formatted, topic oriented messaging system that supports both informational messages and messages that automatically update system data and displays. The status board interface is a situation display of key situational awareness data. The planning module assists users in planning for critical events.

Global Positioning System (GPS) route creation via server interaction or wireless terminal collection creates a GPS route data file that includes starting location GPS coordinates, ending location GPS coordinates, and at least one way point location data element. Each way point location data element includes respective way point location GPS coordinates and a respective link to a corresponding digital photograph data file. Wireless terminals having corresponding sensors collect local meteorological conditions that are associated with digital photographs and GPS coordinates at capture. The digital photographs, GPS coordinates at capture, and local meteorological conditions are used to produce local weather reports for requesting client terminals. Virtual tours could also be conducted using the captured digital photograph files.

Interactive three-dimensional (3D) virtual tours are generated from ordinary two-dimensional (2D) still images such as photographs. Two or more 2D images are combined to form a 3D scene, which defines a relationship among the 2D images in 3D space. 3D pipes connect the 2D images with one another according to defined spatial relationships and for guiding virtual camera movement from one image to the next. A user can then take a 3D virtual tour by traversing images within the 3D scene, for example by moving from one image to another, either in response to user input or automatically. In various embodiments, some or all of the 2D images can be selectively distorted to enhance the 3D effect, and thereby reinforce the impression that the user is moving within a 3D space. Transitions from one image to the next can take place automatically without requiring explicit user interaction.

A method for authoring and displaying a virtual tour of a three-dimensional space which employs transitional effects simulating motion. An authoring tool is provided for interactively defining a series of locations in the space for which two-dimensional images, e.g., panoramas, photographs, etc., are available. A user identifies one or more view directions for a first-person perspective viewer for each location. For pairs of locations in the series, transitional effects are identified to simulate smooth motion between the pair of locations. The authoring tool stores data corresponding to the locations, view directions and transitional effects for playback on a display. When the stored data is accessed, a virtual tour of the space is created that includes transitional effects simulating motion between locations. The virtual tour created can allow a viewer to experience the three-dimensional space in a realistic manner.

Disclosed is an electronic real property viewing system for providing virtual tours of real property units via a public communications network such as the internet. The electronic property viewing system includes a system for affiliates to create their own virtual tours in real time by uploading photographs into a template, resulting in both movable and still photographs with accompanying data sets. Another embodiment of this invention involves the exchange of the creation and/or maintenance of such virtual tour available on a public communications network for occupation time units in the real property units.

One or more embodiments of the invention provide for an interactive geographic information system on a personal digital assistant (PDA). The system enables the viewing and interaction with geographic information on a PDA. Such information is available while the PDA is connected to a network (i.e., online) and while disconnected (i.e., offline). Embodiments provide the PDA with the functionality commonly available in a standard client comprised of a complete computer system. For example, embodiments provide raster maps for multiple zoom levels, with each zoom level comprising multiple tiles allowing for "virtual roaming" across a map. One or more embodiments also provide raster zooms (by scaling existing raster tiles), selectable vector geometry (for interacting and highlighting with user objects), geo-referencing information for map navigation, meta-data in the form of layer definitions (visibility, display attributes, etc.), links to object attributes in databases, links to object reports generated by corporate web servers, uploadable, sharable redlining data (created from scribbles on the field), offline access on a PDA, and a compact PDA database. Thus, one or more embodiments of the invention provide interactive maps and business objects that can be viewed and queried on a PDA, both in an online and offline mode.

Systems and methods are provided for a virtual building browser with a viewing module displaying images of visible elements and hidden elements, a searchable, relational database configured in a (COBie) compliant format, a query module, and an interface tool for accessing building information management (BIM) data in real-time, monitoring systems to manage facility assets, integration applications linking the searchable database with associated databases, peripheral devices, and user devices. In one embodiment, user devices are iPad® tablet devices with GPS. A computer implemented apparatus for a virtual tour system is also included. Steps for providing a virtual building browser, a virtual tour, and for linking LEED data to a virtual location are included plus computer-implemented methods with computer-usable readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform steps for a virtual tour, displaying building information management images of locations are included.

The present invention concerns a user-friendly software or internet platform that allows potential buyers and sellers visiting the virtual tour website to manipulate the digital images for virtual decorating purposes. The present invention allows the user to take a pre-existing photo image of a building exterior or an interior and ready it for manipulation. The present invention allows a user to conduct in-depth, pre-purchase planning and designing of a home to virtually configure the home to his or her exact desires.

A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to generate a virtual tour of a virtual venue within a virtual environment. The virtual tour is then displayed within the virtual environment.

A new and useful multi-component method of creating computer models of real estate properties for the purpose of conducting virtual and interactive real estate tours. The present invention comprises a 3D mapping component where a 3D model of a property is created using a 3D modeling program, and a 3D walkthrough component where panoramic photos are created and interconnected to create a virtual tour of the interior spaces of the property. A method according to the present invention is believed to allow a user to virtually tour the exterior and interior of a property remotely on their computer, on their own schedule, and other benefits over still photos and current listing practices.

The invention relates to an aerial seamless virtual roaming system constructing method. The aerial seamless virtual roaming system constructing method comprises the following steps of aerial photography sampling point arrangement, aerial photography image acquisition, sequence panoramic image generation, aerial panoramic image demarcation, ground scene expression, navigation route specification, scene rendering and seamless roaming. According to the aerial seamless virtual roaming system constructing method, an image-based rendering technique is adopted, and therefore, rigorous requirements of a huge amount of data in 3D reconstruction, for system hardware, can be avoided; sampling points of aerial panoramic photography are reasonably arranged, and therefore, it can be ensured that as many ground scenes as possible can be obtained with as less sampling data as possible adopted, and therefore, seamless immersive virtual roaming of navigation routes can be specified arbitrarily without constraints.

The present invention concerns an all-inclusive virtual tour website that features virtual tours of real estate properties. The present invention further concerns methods for allowing real estate related businesses to advertise on the website while complying with applicable guidelines. The present invention further allows various product and service vendors to advertise on the website. The present invention also provides information about various neighborhoods, civic, and other important information to potential home buyers. The present invention also contemplates lead generation services, such as generating loan application information, which may then be provided to lending institutions for bidding or sale. The present inventor also concerns related software, business methods, and Internet websites, platforms or other portals

A method of providing virtual tour based advertising comprising providing a virtual tour technology to a real estate agent which enables the real estate agent to create a virtual tour, uploading the virtual tour to a host server such that the virtual tour is available for viewing across a distributed computing network, the uploaded virtual tour including space for display of advertising in conjunction with the virtual tour; and purchasing from one of a creator of the virtual tour technology, a host of a virtual tour and the real estate agent an advertisement placement for display with one or more virtual tours created by the real estate agent.

The invention discloses a method for achieving panorama multi-point roaming. The method for achieving panorama multi-point roaming includes the following specific steps that S1, a roaming path is drawn; S2, a panorama is rendered; S3, coordinates are acquired; S4, a panorama file is generated; S5, spatial point positions are acquired; S6, a multi-point path is drawn. The cubic panorama is selectedas a research object, as the cubic panorama is simple in structure, image storage and compression are promoted, the method is more suitable for multi-space free switching, virtual roaming of the freely-designated roaming path among the panorama is promoted, seamless multi-scene immersive experience is achieved, in actual three-dimensional roaming scene expression, switching of multiple scenes isconverted into virtualized drawing operation, different user-defined roaming path strategies are adopted for different roaming scenes, and high-quality virtual panorama roaming drawing is achieved.

A method and system that archive a three-dimensional site in a highly-compact manner such that real-time, three-dimensional exploration and interaction with the site with high-resolution graphics is enabled. During authoring, information is collected about a site, and processed into a walkmap comprising a number of maps. A visibility map indicates which ones of the many polygons that make up a site are potentially visible from a given region. A collision map establishes where a can navigate in the site. A ground map tracks the terrain for reproducing camera heights and viewing angles, and a trigger map causes scripts to be fired from locations in the site. During navigation, only the maps relevant to a user's current position are active, whereby rapid rendering of an appropriate image for the user's current perspective is possible in real-time, providing a first person, perspective tour of the site in a perceived three-dimensional environment.