Method for providing an animation from a prerecorded series of still pictures

摘要

The invention relates to a method for providing an animation from prerecorded still pictures where the relative positions of the pictures are known. The method is based on prerecorded still pictures and location data, associated with each still picture, that indicates the projection of the subsequent still picture into the current still picture. The method comprises the repeated steps of providing a current still picture, providing the location data associated with the still picture, generating an animation based on the current still picture and the location data, and presenting the animation on a display. The invention provides the experience of driving a virtual car through the photographed roads, either by an auto pilot or manually. The user may change speed, drive, pan, shift lane, turn in crossings or take u-turns anywhere. Also, the invention provides a means to experience real time, interactive video-like animation from widely separated still pictures, as an alternative to video-streaming over a communication line. This service is called Virtual Car Travels.

主权项

1. Method, by utilizing a client terminal and a server computer, for providing an animation from prerecorded still pictures provided by the server computer where the relative positions of the pictures are known, the method comprising the following steps:
(a) providing a current still picture; (b) providing location data indicating the location of a projection of a subsequent still picture into the current still picture; (c) generating an animation based on the current still picture and said location data, and (d) presenting said animation on a display; wherein the location data indicating the projection of a subsequent still picture into the current still picture is retrieved from a data storage which also contains data representing the series of still pictures, and wherein said step (c) of generating an animation comprises picture processing steps that result in a virtually continuous stream of events as experienced by a user and wherein said client terminal and said server computer being operatively interconnected by a communication network.