Real time virtual reality leveraging web cams and IP cams and web cam and IP cam networks

摘要

Systems and methods for enabling a visitor to access VR representations authored by different authors of locations in a virtual universe via a computer network are provided. A plurality of VR data sets may be stored. Each VR data set comprise web or IP camera VR datasets and may be independently authored by a respective author different from the other authors. One or more VR data servers may be adapted to access and transmit the VR data sets, and each VR data set may be associated with a VR data server for access to the VR data set. A domain server may be adapted to access and transmit domain data comprising the location within the universe of each VR representation and the network address of the VR data server associated with the VR representation. Further, a client host may be adapted to communicate with the domain server to receive domain data representing the network address of the VR data server associated with a selected VR representation, the client host further adapted to communicate with that VR data server to access the VR data set defining the VR representation without leaving the virtual universe.

主权项

1. A system for accessing VR representations in a virtual universe, the system comprising:
memory that stores a plurality of VR data sets including VR data sets captured by a web camera or an IP camera, the VR datasets defining a VR representation of a location, wherein at least one VR data set-is associated with time-sliced data indicating when the at least one VR data set was captured, each data set independently authored or defined by a respective author different from the other authors; one or more VR data servers that accesses and transmits the VR data sets, each VR data set associated with a VR data server for access to the VR data set; a domain server that accesses and transmits domain data including the location within the universe of each VR representation and the network address of the VR data server associated with the VR representation; and a client host that communicates with the domain server to receive the domain data representing the network address of the VR data server associated with a selected VR representation, the client host further communicating with that VR data server to access the VR data set defining the VR representation without leaving the virtual universe, wherein the client host accesses a different VR data set by changing a time option associated with the selected VR representation, and changing the time option comprises switching between real-time and time-sliced VR data sets.