Patent ID: 6466207
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method for rendering real-time three-dimensional images from prestored depth images in a global coordinate space on a display based on a viewpoint manipulation, said method comprising:(a) generating a layered depth image from the prestored depth images based on a predetermined perspective display viewpoint; (b) assigning the generated layered depth image as the current layered depth image; (c) rendering an output image only from the current layered depth image based on the predetermined perspective display viewpoint; (d) determining if the perspective display viewpoint of the current layered depth image has been manipulated within the global coordinate space; (e) rendering an output image only from the current layered depth image based on the determined perspective display viewpoint, if the perspective display viewpoint has been manipulated and the manipulation is within a predetermined threshold distance from the current layered depth image's perspective viewpoint; (f) generating a next closest layered depth image, if the perspective display viewpoint has been manipulated and the manipulation is outside the predetermined threshold distance of the current layered depth image's perspective viewpoint; and (g) rendering an output image only from the next closest layered depth image based on the determined perspective display viewpoint and assigning the next closest layered depth image as the current layered depth image and repeating (d)-(g), if the next closest layered depth image has been fully generated.