Guided Navigation in Virtual Panoramas via Bounded Camera Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for navigating three-dimensional environments, such as geographic information systems, often result in difficult and visually unappealing transitions between different views, especially when trying to maintain visual quality and accuracy, particularly when moving between panoramic images that provide accurate representations from limited viewpoints.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for guided navigation that generates a three-dimensional mesh of polygons for panoramic images based on depth values, calculates a navigation radius for each image, and creates a navigation channel to constrain the virtual camera's movement within a bounded volume, ensuring visual quality is maintained as the camera moves between viewpoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the virtual camera is allowed to move freely between different viewpoints in a three-dimensional environment, then navigation flexibility is improved, but visual quality deteriorates because the camera may move to viewpoints with poor image quality representations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the virtual camera's position and orientation parameters within a bounded volume. The camera is constrained to move only within regions where the panoramic images provide sufficient visual quality, while still allowing flexible navigation along roads and paths. This resolves the contradiction by limiting camera movement to visually acceptable parameter ranges while maintaining navigation freedom within those ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that acts as a mediator between the user's navigation intentions and the actual camera movement. This intermediary system evaluates the visual quality of different viewpoints and guides the camera through intermediate transitions that maintain image quality while achieving the desired navigation goal, preventing direct camera movement to poor-quality viewpoints.
2Manufacturing precision
If the virtual camera is constrained to maintain visual quality by limiting movement to specific regions, then image quality is improved, but navigation freedom deteriorates because the camera cannot access all viewpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the three-dimensional environment into multiple regions based on the quality and availability of panoramic image data. Each region is defined by navigation channels that correspond to areas where sufficient visual quality exists. The virtual camera is then constrained to move within these segmented regions, allowing navigation freedom within each segment while maintaining overall visual quality across the entire environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional constraint by introducing a bounded volume in three-dimensional space within which the virtual camera must operate. This additional dimensional constraint ensures that the camera remains within regions of sufficient visual quality while still allowing full navigation freedom within that volume. The bounded volume acts as an extra layer of constraint that doesn't reduce navigation capability but rather channels it through visually acceptable pathways.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional navigation systems are used to move between different panoramic images, then navigation capability is maintained, but the transition becomes difficult and visually unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by creating smooth, continuous transitions between different panoramic images through the virtual camera. The camera moves continuously along navigation channels that are pre-computed to connect adjacent panoramas, eliminating abrupt jumps or difficult transitions. This continuous movement maintains navigation capability while making the transition process smooth and visually appealing for the user.
Data Source
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AI summary
A capability for guided navigation in an interactive virtual three-dimensional environment is provided. Such a capability may enhance user experience by providing the feeling of free- form navigation to a user. It may be necessary to constrain the user to certain areas of good visual quality, and subtly guide the user towards viewpoints with better rendering results without disrupting the metaphor of freeform navigation. Additionally, such a capability may enable users to "drive" down a street, follow curving roads, and turn around intersections within the interactive virtual three-dimensional environment. Further, this capability may be applicable to image-based rendering techniques in addition to any three-dimensional graphics system that incorporates navigation based on road networks and/or paths.