Virtual-Viewpoint Content Processing Using Pre-Generated Model Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for generating virtual-viewpoint content face user-unfriendliness due to long processing times and uncertainty about the availability of necessary material data, leading to delayed recognition of content generation failures.

Innovation Solution

A system that pre-generates and stores material data for three-dimensional models, including texture and color information, and provides time range management information to ensure efficient generation of virtual-viewpoint content by querying the availability of necessary data before processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If three-dimensional models are generated on-demand from multi-viewpoint images, then the system can produce virtual-viewpoint content with high flexibility, but the processing time becomes excessively long and user-friendliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in content generationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating three-dimensional models from multi-viewpoint images and storing them in advance before they are needed for virtual-viewpoint content generation. This allows the system to quickly retrieve and use pre-processed models when users request content, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-demand generation while maintaining flexibility in creating virtual-viewpoint content from various angles and perspectives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the system checks availability of material data before content generation, then generation failures can be prevented, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent generation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by establishing a query mechanism that checks the availability of pre-generated three-dimensional models and material data before initiating virtual-viewpoint content generation. The system receives queries about data availability, checks storage databases, and returns information about whether required models exist. This feedback loop ensures reliable content generation by preventing attempts to create content without necessary materials, while the automated nature of the check minimizes the perceived complexity for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3454562B1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 CANON KK
  • EP3454562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3454562B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3454562B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An information processing apparatus specifies (5) that material data for generating a virtual-viewpoint content at what time is stored in a storage device that stores a plurality of material data for generating a virtual-viewpoint content; and outputs (10), based on a result of the specification, information for causing an image to be displayed, the image indicating a time at which a virtual-viewpoint content can be generated.