Surround video playback

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed including a computing device configured to allow a user to view a multi-stream video from a selected angle/direction with respect to the contents of the multi-stream video, under the user's control. The multi-stream video is generated using multiple Image Acquisition Devices (IAD), such as cameras, simultaneously, consecutively, or independently filming a scene, each IAD having a different position with respect to each of the other IADs. Each image data stream obtained from each IAD may be uniquely identified to allow selective real-time playback of image data streams under user control. Each image data stream represents a corresponding viewing angle to the user. The user may dynamically change the selection of an image stream, and thus the viewing angle, while viewing a recorded scene. Multiple image streams of the same scene may be selected and viewed simultaneously to provide 3D or other visual effects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a video, the method comprising:
 receiving a first user command to run a first simultaneous or consecutive image data stream, obtained from a first Image Acquisition Device (IAD), of a particular scene in a multi stream video on a media player;   playing the first image data stream on the media player;   receiving a second user command to select a second image data stream, obtained from a second IAD, of the particular scene in the multi stream video;   in response to receiving the second user command, automatically, without user input, playing at least one image data stream, obtained from an IAD different from the first and the second IAD, of the multi stream video different from the first and the second image data streams; and
 playing the second image data stream on the media player. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a panning command and playing an image data stream, different from a currently selected image data stream, showing a different portion of the particular scene to create an illusion of a panning camera. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a single panning command causes the playing of multiple consecutive image data streams. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a zoom command and playing an enlarged portion of a currently playing image data stream. 
     
     
         5 . wherein selecting a first image data stream comprises additionally selecting a first sound track corresponding to the first image data stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a second user command comprises receiving a user command to change a viewing angle of a content of the multi stream video. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a second user command comprises receiving a user command to change a zoom factor of a content of the multi stream video. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the zoom factor applies to all subsequently played image data streams. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording user commands and associating the user commands with the multi-stream video, enabling automatic execution of the user commands when the multi-stream video is played again. 
     
     
         10 . A surround video playback system comprising:
 a server computing device having a multi-stream video stored thereon and a multi-stream controller module configured to respond to commands from a client computing device; and   a computer network coupled with the server computing device and client computing device configured to facilitate data communications between the computing devices;   wherein the multi-stream controller module is further configured to cause a first stream of video data to be sent to the client computing device, for an indefinite amount of time, on a first command received from the client computing device, and further configured to cause an intermediate stream of video data to be sent to the client computing device, for a limited time, on a second command received from the client computing device, and then cause a target stream of video data to be sent to the client computing device for an indefinite amount of time.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a client computing device coupled with the computer network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a multi-stream video player configured to communicate with the multi-stream controller module. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the commands received from the client computing device are configured to be recorded and associated with the multi-stream video, enabling automatic execution of the commands with a next playback of the multi-stream video. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each stream of video data is associated with a distinct Image Acquisition Device (IAD). 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate stream of video data is associated with an intermediate Image Acquisition Device (IAD) between a first IAD associated with the first stream of video and a target IAD associated with the target stream of video data. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the multi-stream controller module is further configured to receive zoom and pan commands. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a video, the method comprising:
 sending a first image data stream, of a multi-stream video, associated with a first Image Acquisition Device (IAD) upon receiving a first user command to send the first image stream;   sending an intermediate data stream associated with an intermediate IAD, for duration of a transition period, upon receiving a second user command to send a target image data stream associated with a target IAD; and   sending the target image data stream after the transition period.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving a zoom command and a pan command. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising recording user commands and associating the user commands with the multi-stream video, enabling automatic execution of the user commands when the multi-stream video is played again. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein selecting a first image data stream comprises additionally selecting a first sound track corresponding to the first image data stream.