Planar Attachment Image for Spherical Panoramas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image management systems fail to accurately attach user-drawn images to full spherical panoramic images without curvature, leading to distorted views when the point of view is changed.

Innovation Solution

An image management system that generates and attaches a planar attachment image to the full spherical panoramic image along a straight line intersecting with its boundary, with the attachment point offset from the first intersection point towards the second, ensuring the image remains uncurved and maintains its original appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the attachment image is attached to a full spherical panoramic image following the spherical surface curvature, then the attachment image conforms to the spherical geometry, but the drawn image becomes distorted and curved when the point of view is moved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment image conformity to spherical surfaceVSAvoiddrawn image shape accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from attaching the attachment image on the curved spherical surface to attaching it on a planar (flat) surface. This dimensional change from curved to flat attachment surface prevents the drawn image from being distorted by spherical curvature while maintaining visibility on the full spherical panoramic image display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different attachment characteristics to different regions: the attachment image is kept planar with straight lines remaining straight, while the surrounding full spherical panoramic image maintains its spherical projection. This local differentiation ensures the drawn image retains its original shape without being forced to conform to spherical geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the attachment image is attached as a planar image to the full spherical panoramic image, then the drawn image maintains its original shape without curvature, but the attachment position must be precisely calculated relative to the spherical coordinate system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawn image shape accuracyVSAvoidattachment position calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary calculation of the attachment position on the spherical coordinate system before actually displaying the planar attachment image. By pre-calculating the intersection points and offset distances on the spherical surface, the system simplifies the subsequent rendering process and ensures accurate positioning without real-time complex computations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary coordinate transformation process that maps between the spherical coordinate system of the full spherical panoramic image and the planar coordinate system of the attachment image. This intermediary mapping layer handles the complexity of coordinate conversion, allowing the attachment image to be positioned accurately without directly complicating the display rendering

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3151541B1Image management system, image communication system, method for controlling display of captured image, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3151541B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3151541B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3151541B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An image management system (5) controls a display of a captured image, the system being connected to a communication terminal through a network. The system includes a data exchange unit (51) to receive, from the communication terminal, an instruction for displaying a drawn image drawn by a user on a captured image while the captured image is being displayed to the user, the captured image being a full spherical panoramic image; a generation unit (53) to generate an attachment image containing a drawn-image; and an attachment unit (56) to attach the attachment image containing the drawn image to the captured image, the attachment image containing the drawn image being a planar image.