Surround video playback

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A surround video system comprising:
a client device configured to receive, simultaneously or consecutively, live or prerecorded, image data streams collected by at least one Image Acquisition Device (IAD), from a plurality of viewing angles of a scene or retakes of a scene; and a user control device coupled with the client device and configured to generate a signal usable to change the user's viewing angle of the scene from a current viewing angle to a selected one of the plurality of viewing angles, each of the plurality of viewing angles corresponding to one of the image data streams obtained from a different IAD, wherein the change of the user's viewing angle comprises a visually smooth transition by automatically transitioning from the current viewing angle to at least one intermediate viewing angle, obtained from an IAD, between the current and the selected one of the plurality of viewing angles, and then transitioning to the selected one of the plurality of viewing angles.