Method and apparatus for generating and viewing combined images

摘要

A method and system for displaying a composite video image to a human viewer has a sub-system associated with a video camera to monitor position, viewing direction or depth of focus of the camera when positioned at a setting to view a modification scene at a recording time. A video recording of an image of the modification scene is made and stored. At a viewing time subsequent to the recording time, a viewer at the setting perceives an image of a foundation scene and a vantage position monitor sub-system associated with the viewer is used to monitor vantage position data related to the viewer's present vantage position at the time of perceives the foundation scene. Modification image data is selected and accessed from memory, the accessed data depending on the monitored vantage position data. The image data corresponding to the foundation scene and the modification scene are combined as a composite image and displayed to the viewer at the subsequent time.

主权项

1. A method of providing a composite video image to a human viewer having a vantage position comprising, at a viewing time, delivering to a portable viewing device at the viewer a first image corresponding to a foundation scene at a setting, the foundation scene viewed at said viewing time from the vantage position, delivering to the portable viewing device at said viewing time a second video image corresponding to a modifying scene at the setting, the modifying scene viewed from the vantage position and recorded at a recording time prior to said viewing time, combining the first image and the second video image to create the composite image, changing the vantage position, tracking the change in the vantage position, accessing another first image and another second video image corresponding to the tracked changed vantage position, combining the another first image and the another second video image corresponding to the tracked changed vantage position to create another composite image corresponding to the changed vantage position, and displaying the another composite image at the viewing device, the method further comprising generating vantage position data corresponding to the changed vantage position, the vantage position data related to at least one of position, viewing direction, head tilt and depth of focus of the viewer.