Tag-Based Viewpoint Switching for Wide-Angle Content Reproduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wide-angle pictures, such as those taken with fisheye lenses, can lead to increased viewer confusion and difficulty in maintaining focus on a target when the viewpoint or visual line is changed, as the display region becomes more dynamic, causing viewers to lose their intended view and requiring significant effort to re-find it.

Innovation Solution

A content reproduction system that includes data acquisition for original pictures, tag data indicating subject positions, and display-picture generation based on the display-time viewpoint and visual line, ensuring that the position of a particular subject remains within the visual field before and after switching, using tag data to control the display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wide-angle pictures are used to increase the angle of view, then the display becomes more dynamic and immersive, but the viewer loses track of the target and requires significant effort to re-find it when changing viewpoint or visual line

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle of viewVSAvoideffort to re-find target

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an arrow indicator as an intermediary element that mediates between the wide-angle display and the viewer's target search. The arrow points toward the target's location in the wide-angle view, serving as a visual guide that bridges the gap between the expanded field of view and the viewer's ability to quickly locate the target without manual searching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by displaying directional information (arrows) that indicate where the target is located relative to the current viewpoint. This feedback mechanism allows viewers to understand the spatial relationship between their current position and the target, enabling quick re-orientation in wide-angle displays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If pictures from multiple viewpoints are switchingly used for display, then the display becomes more dynamic, but the viewer gets confused when display after switching is quite different from before switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewpoint switchingVSAvoidviewer continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by displaying an arrow indicator before the viewpoint switching occurs. The arrow预先 indicates the direction or location of the target in the upcoming view, preparing the viewer's attention and reducing the shock of sudden display changes. This preliminary visual cue ensures continuity of the viewing experience across viewpoint transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11385850B2Content reproduction device, picture data output device, content creation device, content reproduction method, picture data output method, and content creation method

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

Original pictures photographed from a plurality of photograph viewpoints are prepared, display pictures for regions corresponding to visual-lines are generated while switching to an original picture photographed from another viewpoint is being performed according to movement of a subject 81 or the like. The original pictures are associated with tag data indicating the positions of images of particular subjects. When the viewpoint is switched, the visual line is controlled such that the position indicated by a tag for a same subject is included within the visual field before and after the switching. Accordingly, a post-switching region is displayed.