Virtual Video Viewpoint Switching via Media Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video technologies do not effectively allow users to seamlessly switch between multiple viewpoints of an event in real-time or near real-time, providing an immersive and interactive viewing experience without significant resource overhead.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple cameras capturing videos from different viewpoints, a media server generating virtual videos and pan around videos by identifying panning points, and allowing users to pause and switch between viewpoints, enabling a 3D-like experience with reduced resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple videos from different viewpoints are provided to users, then users can view events from different angles, but device complexity and resource overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual videos that are copies or syntheses of actual camera footage. Instead of requiring users to access multiple separate video streams, the system generates virtual viewpoint videos by processing and combining data from existing camera feeds, effectively creating simplified copies that represent different perspectives without needing additional physical cameras or complex multi-stream management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a media server as an intermediary between the multiple cameras and the user's client device. This server consolidates the complexity of managing multiple video streams by performing centralized processing, including generating virtual viewpoints, identifying panning points, and coordinating video switching. The intermediary handles the computational burden, leaving the client device with simplified playback and switching operations
2Speed
If real-time or near real-time video processing is implemented, then user experience improves, but processing power and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of video data by pre-identifying panning points in the video streams before user interaction occurs. The media server analyzes and marks important moments or transitions in advance, so that when users want to switch viewpoints or pause, the system can quickly jump to pre-identified points rather than searching through entire video streams in real-time, reducing computational burden during actual playback
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the video processing task into distinct components: actual camera footage capture, virtual video generation, panning point identification, and playback control. By dividing the continuous video stream into discrete segments with marked panning points, the system processes only relevant portions at high speed while other segments can be handled with lower computational resources, optimizing the balance between real-time performance and energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
Videos of an event may be captured by camera (e.g., camera devices). The videos may be processed to generated virtual videos that provide different viewpoints of the event. The videos and virtual videos may be analyzed to identify panning points in the videos. A user may pause the video at the identified panning points and may be allowed to pan around the event and/or event location during the identified panning points in the videos and/or virtual videos. The pan around view may be provided by a pan around video generated based on the videos and/or the virtual videos. A user may resume viewing one of the videos and/or virtual videos after pausing playback of the pan around video. A user may also pan around an event and/or event location while the videos and/or virtual videos are playing during the panning points.