Patent ID: 6633317
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
A computer-implemented walkthrough process for providing images of a surrounding scene to a viewer, said process comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions:defining a virtual walkthrough space in which the viewer can select a viewing position on a viewing plane therein for viewing the scene; dividing the viewing plane of the walkthrough space into a sectioned grid comprising a plurality of cells; assigning to each cell of the grid at least one source of image data from which an image of a part or all of the surrounding scene as viewed from that cell can be rendered, wherein each of said image data sources assigned to a cell is associated with at least one point within the cell; and whenever the viewer selects a viewing position, providing an image to the viewer depicting at least a part of the scene as would be viewed from the cell containing the selected viewing position, wherein providing said image to the viewer comprises, determining in which cell the selected position resides, ascertaining which of the points associated with data sources assigned to the cell containing the selected position and any directly adjoining cell is closest to the selected position, and displaying to the viewer an image depicting a portion of the surrounding scene from the perspective of the point ascertained to be the closest to the selected position, said image being rendered from image data taken from the source associated with the ascertained closest point.