Live panoramic image capture and distribution

Number: 9635252
Published: 2017-04-25
Filed: 2013-09-25
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc./Immersive Media Company
Inventors: Accardo; Anthony M. et al.
CPC: H04N5/262; H04N23/698
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Live panoramic camera-rig hardware and distribution system for capturing and streaming 360-degree video.

Abstract

There is provided a system and a methodfor use by the system to provide live panoramic image capture and distribution. In one implementation, such a method includes capturing multiple perspectives of a visual environment, combining at least a subset of those perspectives to produce a panoramic image of the visual environment, and encoding the panoramic image to generate panoramic image data. Themethod also includes transmitting the first panoramic image data to a routing and processing portal for distribution of the panoramic image in real-time.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of one exemplary implementation of a system for providing live panoramic image capture and distribution;(2) FIG. 2A shows a more detailed example of a portion of the exemplary system for providing live panoramic image capture and distribution shown in FIG. 1;(3) FIG. 2B shows a more detailed exampleof a portion of the exemplary system for providing live panoramic image capture and distribution shown in FIG. 1;(4) FIG. 3 is a flowchart presenting an exemplary method for use by a system to provide live panoramic image capture and distribution;(5) FIG. 4 shows a more detailed example of a panoramic image generation module suitable for use in the exemplary system of FIG. 1;(6) FIG. 5 is an example visual frame from an on air broadcast during which a substantially live panoramic image view is shown; and(7) FIG. 6 is an example display image from a personal communication device, in which a substantially real-time panoramic image view is included.DETAILED DESCRIPTION(8) The following description contains specific information pertaining to implementations in the present disclosure. One skilled in theart will recognize that the present disclosure may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed herein. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary implementations. Unlessnoted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the f

Claims

1. A method for use by a system to provide live panoramic image capture and distribution, the method comprising: capturing a plurality of perspectives of a visual environment; combining at leasta subset of the plurality of perspectives to produce a panoramic image of the visual environment; receiving an image enhancement request data from a broadcast server over a communications network; encoding the panoramic image in response to receiving the image enhancement request data to generate a first panoramic image data, wherein the first panoramic image data includes a selectable preferred panoramic image view of the panoramic image; transmitting the first panoramic image data to an image routing and processing portal for distribution of the panoramic image in real-time, in response to receiving the image enhancement request data; and re-encoding the first panoramic image data to generate a second panoramic image data for transmission to a rendering device. 9. A system for providing live panoramic image capture and distribution, the system comprising: a panoramic image generation module including an image capture device, a stitcher unit, and an encoder, the panoramic image generation module configured to: capture, using the image capture device, a pluralityof perspectives of a visual environment; combine, using the stitcher unit, at least a subset of the plurality of perspectives to produce a panoramic image of the visual environment; receive an image enhancement request data from a broadcast server over a communicationsnetwork; encode, using the encoder, the panoramic image in response to receiving the image enhancement request data to generate a first panoramic image data, wherein the first panoramic image data includes a selectable preferred panoramic image view of the panoramic image; and transmit the first panoramic image data to a routing and processing portal for distribution of the panoramic image in real-time, in response to receiving the image enhancement request data; a module configured to re-encode the first panoramic image data to generate a second panoramic image data for transmission to a rendering device.