Patent ID: 6323856
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A method for the interactive real time processing and displaying of camera shots or computer generated video image sequences that include moving objects of variable speed, particularly for generating improved computer games, comprising the steps of:(a) Providing at least one bank containing an original sequence of individually selectable images, said bank of images being shot by a movie or the like camera, and containing at least one object moving at least at one speed;(b) Converting the said camera shot sequence to a digital form;(c) For each computer game, selecting a range of possible modified speeds for objects moving in said sequence;(d) Calculating in advance, for all frames, the transformation from each frame of said original sequence of step (b) above to its next frame;(e) Storing the original digital sequence of step (b) above and the set of transformations of step (c) above as a data-base file in suitable memory means;(f) Calculating in real time any desired manipulation of the image of a frame, or of the part thereof, on the stored transformation of step (e) above, as a function of the desired speed provided by a player;(g) Generating in real time a new virtual frame which is an intermediate frame of at least two frames from the original sequence of step (b) above, according to the results of the calculations of step (f) above;(h) Displaying the new generated frame on suitable display means; and(i) Generating and displaying, in real time any other required intermediate frame, optionally together with selected frames from the original sequence.