Method for inter-scene transitions

Abstract

A method and system for creating a transition between a first scene and a second scene on a computer system display, simulating motion. The method includes determining a transformation that maps the first scene into the second scene. Motion between the scenes is simulated by displaying transitional images that include a transitional scene based on a transitional object in the first scene and in the second scene. The rendering of the transitional object evolves according to specified transitional parameters as the transitional images are displayed. A viewer receives a sense of the connectedness of the scenes from the transitional images. Virtual tours of broad areas, such as cityscapes, can be created using inter-scene transitions among a complex network of pairs of scenes.

1 . A method for creating, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a second scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, and the second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, the method comprising: 
 a. graphically identifying on the display the first feature and the second feature and determining a transformation mapping the first scene into the second scene using the first feature and the second feature; and    b. providing a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the location of the first feature and the location of the second feature correspond to different physical locations.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the location of the first feature and the location of the second feature correspond to the same physical location.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  further including: 
 c. displaying on the display at least one of the first viewpoint in the case of the second scene and the second viewpoint in the case of the first scene.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein graphically identifying on the display the first feature and the second feature includes defining a perspective rectangle in each scene.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein when three activations of the pointing device have been made to partially define the perspective rectangle in the first scene, a plurality of points are identified on the display for selection with the pointing device to define the perspective rectangle in the first scene, the plurality of points chosen to outline the perspective rectangle in the first scene on the screen.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 5 , further including: 
 when the perspective rectangle has been defined in the first scene, graphically identifying locations on the display where an edge of the perspective rectangle in the first scene can be moved and still maintain the perspective rectangle in the first scene on the display.    
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 5 , further including: 
 when the perspective rectangle has been defined in the first scene, graphically identifying locations on the display where a corner of the perspective rectangle in the first scene can be moved and still maintain a perspective rectangle in the first scene on the display.    
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein graphically identifying on the display the first feature and the second feature includes: 
 i. defining a common reference ground plane for the first scene and the second scene;    ii. graphically tracing a first figure on the common reference ground plane in the first scene and a second figure on the common reference ground plane in the second scene; and    iii. and extruding the first figure to form the first feature and extruding the second figure to form the second feature.    
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first figure and the second figure are rectangles.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first feature and the second feature correspond to a common physical feature.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first feature and the second feature correspond to different physical features.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein providing the transitional image includes forming the transitional scene from the first scene and the second scene according to a transitional parameter.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein providing the transitional image includes constructing the transitional scene using a plurality of corresponding features in the first scene and in the second scene, and wherein the contribution of each feature in a given pair of corresponding features is determined by a given transitional parameter.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , further including: 
 determining the transitional parameter from user input.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein providing the transitional image includes forming the transitional scene by alpha-blending the first feature and the second feature according to the transitional parameter.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein providing the transitional image includes morphing the first feature and the second feature according to the transitional parameter.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein providing the transitional image further includes motion blurring at least one of the first and second scenes according to the transitional parameter.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein providing the transitional image further includes adjusting the saturation for at least one of the first and second scenes according to the transitional parameter.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to claim I wherein providing at least one transitional image includes modeling a plurality of images seen by a virtual camera moving along a path between the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the path is a line between the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1  further including: 
 c. graphically inputting viewing directions.    
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein providing the transitional image includes constructing a three-dimensional model of a path from the first viewpoint to the second viewpoint and moving a virtual camera within the model.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first scene and second scene is a panorama.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first scene and second scene is a source image.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the source image includes at least one of a photograph, a sketch and a painting.  
   
   
       27 . A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a second scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, and the second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, the method comprising: 
 a. displaying a first navigational icon embedded in the first scene; and    b. when the first navigational icon is activated, displaying a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene.    
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the viewing orientation for the first viewpoint is oriented to match the orientation of the transitional image.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein displaying a transitional image includes displaying a plurality of images seen by a virtual camera moving along a path between the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the speed at which the path is traversed varies.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 27  further including: 
 c. viewing the first scene where the first scene is a panorama.    
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the first feature and the second feature are at different locations.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the first feature and the second feature are at the same location.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 27  further including: 
 c. displaying an overview image coupled to a perspective image such that the overview image and the perspective image are updated to depict corresponding locations.    
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the overview image includes an overview image navigational icon, the method further including: 
 d. panning the overview image when one of the overview image navigational icon and the first navigational icon is activated.    
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 27  further including: 
 c. displaying an active element in at least one of the first scene and the second scene such that active element activation initiates a specified action.    
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the specified action includes display of information in a display window.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein display of information includes playing a movie.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein display of information includes displaying a list.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the active element is a 3D icon.  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein displaying a transitional image includes at least one of alpha-blending, morphing and motion-blurring the first feature and the second feature.  
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein displaying a plurality of images further includes at least one of alpha blending, morphing and 3D motion-blurring the first feature and the second feature for each of the plurality of images according to transitional parameters.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein the transitional parameters vary among the plurality of images.  
   
   
       44 . A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a selected scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, and the selected scene observed from a selected scene viewpoint and including a selected scene feature, the method comprising: 
 a. displaying the first scene;    b. receiving an indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint; and    c. when the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is received, displaying a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the selected scene feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the selected scene.    
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is produced by use of a search parameter.  
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is provided by activation of an icon.  
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is provided by a selection from a list of items.  
   
   
       48 . A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a first transition between a first scene and a second scene and a second transition between the second scene and a third scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, the second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, the third scene observed from a third viewpoint and including a third feature, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a first transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene; and    b. providing a second transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the second feature and on the third feature, such that there is simulated motion from the second viewpoint to the third viewpoint,    such that the first transitional image and the second transitional image are formed without determining the absolute positions and orientations in a frame of reference of each of the first, second and third scenes.    
   
   
       49 . A method for providing, in a computer system having a display, a transition between a first scene and a selected scene simulating motion, the first scene observed from a first viewpoint and including a first feature, a second scene observed from a second viewpoint and including a second feature, and the selected scene observed from a selected scene viewpoint, the method comprising: 
 a. displaying the first scene;    b. receiving an indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint;    c. determining a route from the first viewpoint to the selected scene viewpoint, the route including the second viewpoint; and    d. when the indication of the location of the selected scene viewpoint is received, displaying a transitional image that includes at least one transitional scene based on the first feature and on the second feature, such that there is simulated motion from the first scene to the second scene.