Panoramic Image Enhancement via Depth-Based Viewpoint Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional street view applications require tedious and time-consuming operations to switch between image bubbles for viewing different perspectives, leading to inefficient use of bandwidth and time due to the inability to seamlessly integrate multiple image views.
Innovation Solution
Enhancing panoramic images by incorporating alternate viewpoints through a controller that selects and combines image bubbles based on three-dimensional locations determined by depth maps, creating seamless composite images with increased spatial resolution and picture-in-picture enhancements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple image bubbles are loaded to view different perspectives, then the viewing coverage is improved, but the bandwidth usage and loading time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple image bubbles into a single seamless composite image by integrating alternate viewpoints within the same display area. This merging approach provides diverse viewing perspectives without requiring separate image loading operations, thereby reducing bandwidth usage while maintaining comprehensive viewing coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates depth map data to add a third dimension (depth) to the traditional two-dimensional panoramic view. By using depth information to select and integrate appropriate image bubbles, the system provides enhanced spatial resolution and alternate viewpoints without loading complete separate images, thus improving viewing coverage efficiently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users switch between image bubbles to view different perspectives, then the viewing flexibility is improved, but the operation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple image bubbles into a single composite image that displays multiple perspectives simultaneously. Users can view different angles and distances by interacting with a single integrated image rather than switching between separate bubbles, significantly reducing operation time while maintaining viewing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes and integrates multiple image bubbles into a composite image before presentation to the user. The depth map data is used in advance to determine which image bubbles should be combined and how they should be integrated, so that when the user views the composite image, all necessary perspectives are already available without requiring sequential loading or switching operations.
3Device complexity
If a single image bubble is displayed to reduce loading complexity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the spatial resolution and viewing detail decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces depth map data as a third dimension to enhance the traditional two-dimensional image display. By using depth information, the system can selectively integrate portions from multiple image bubbles into a composite image, achieving higher spatial resolution and viewing detail while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated depth-based selection processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different regions of the composite image based on depth information. Areas that require higher detail (closer objects) are rendered with higher resolution from appropriately selected image bubbles, while distant areas use lower resolution, optimizing overall spatial resolution without uniformly increasing complexity across the entire image.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple image bubbles are loaded to provide alternate viewpoints, then the image detail is improved, but the processing time and bandwidth increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses depth map data to add dimensional information that enables intelligent selection and integration of image bubble portions. This depth-based processing allows the system to quickly determine which regions from multiple images should be combined, reducing processing time while maintaining high image detail in the resulting composite image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary portions from multiple image bubbles based on depth map analysis, rather than loading and processing complete images. By extracting and integrating only the relevant regions that contribute to alternate viewpoints, the system improves image detail while minimizing processing time and bandwidth requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, panoramic images, images bubbles, or any two-dimensional views of three-dimensional subject matter are enhanced with one or more alternate viewpoints. A controller receives data indicative of a point on the two-dimensional perspective and accesses a three-dimensional location based on the point. The controller selects an image bubble based on the three-dimensional location. The three-dimensional location may be determined according to a depth map corresponding to the point. A portion of the image bubble is extracted and incorporated into the two-dimensional perspective. The resulting image may be a seamless enhanced resolution image or include a picture-in-picture enhanced resolution window including subject matter surrounding the selected point.