Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1993-12-27
2001-06-05
Herndon, Heather R. (Department: 2176)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C348S563000, C348S014160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243085
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to conveying information about events by use of a computer.
A story can be told from several different viewpoints. The different viewpoints can stem from physical differences associated with the viewer's perspective, such as differences in viewer location, lighting, and background noise levels. The differences can also stem from physical differences between different viewers, such as their visual or auditory acuity. The differences can also stem from psychological differences between different viewers, such as their attitudes toward the event or to other events which are distracting them or from cultural differences between different viewers, such as in their interpretation of certain gestures, facial expressions and word usage. The point is that different people will perceive the same event differently.
One of the shortcomings of traditional methods of storytelling is the incapability of the traditional methods to effectively switch perspectives to show a different viewpoint of the same event at the option of the recipient. There is simply no way to switch back and forth between story lines using traditional techniques other than by simultaneously displaying both story lines side by side. Also, little has been done to show how psychological or cultural differences affect a viewer's perceptions.
The conveying of information via computers is a new field. One of the ways in which this new field is different from old methods of conveying information, such as books, movies, television, and video and sound recordings, is in the ability of the user to interact with the information source. Also, accessing particular items of information is nearly instantaneous using the new technology.
A movie technique using a computer to switch perspectives between different viewpoints “on the fly” would be extremely powerful and effective.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a method for producing a movie in which two or more parallel story lines are produced and stored for selective retrieval by the user without loss of continuity.
It is another object of this invention to provide a digital movie in which perspective switching between viewpoints can be carried out at the option of the viewer.
It is another object of this invention to provide a technique for telling a story using a computer to provide “on the fly” perspective switching between different viewpoints.
It is another object of this invention to convey information about an event to a user from different perspectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a user interactive movie. A story is recorded from a first perspective into a first portion of a digital database capable of recording information representing visual images. The story is formed by a sequence of timed events. The story is then recorded from a second perspective into a second portion of the digital database. The events of the story from the second perspective are timed to track the events from the first perspective. Instructions are recorded onto a digital database which can be the same as or different from the digital database containing the story for causing a computer to retrieve and output to a user through user interfaces the story from either the first perspective or the second perspective, one at a time. Instructions are also recorded onto a digital database which can be the same as or different from the database containing the story for selectively causing the computer to switch from the retrieval and output of the story from the first perspective to the retrieval and output of the story from the second perspective at any given point in the story without interruption of the continuity of story. The resultant movie has an almost limitless number of variations, depending on the user interactions.
In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an article of manufacture comprising a computer memory means having certain information recorded thereon. The information includes a digital database. The digital database is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the digital database contains a chain of events as perceived from a first viewpoint and the second portion of the digital database contains the chain of events as perceived from a second viewpoint. Preferably, the information represents motion pictures of the events as perceived from the first and second viewpoints and synchronization information so that the events in the two database portions can be coordinated with each other.
Preferably, the memory means includes instructions for causing a computer to retrieve and output to a user through user interfaces the chain of events from either the first portion of the digital database or the second portion of the digital database, one at a time as well as instructions for selectively causing the computer to switch from the retrieval and output of the chain of events of the first portion of the digital database to the retrieval and output of the chain of events of the second portion of the digital database at any given point in the chain of events while maintaining continuity of the chain of events. The resultant product constitutes an interactive movie with “on the fly” perspective switching in a single convenient package.
In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for a computer user to receive more than one set of information about a series of events constituting a story. The user does this by using the user interfaces of the computer. The computer must be provided with the required user interfaces and access to the appropriate sets of instructions and to at least one digital database which contains the story information concerning the chain of events. The chain of events as perceived from a first viewpoint is stored as a first information set in a first portion of the digital database. The same chain of events as perceived from a second viewpoint is stored as a second information set in a second portion of the digital database. A first set of instructions is provided for causing the computer to retrieve and output to the user through the user interfaces the chain of events from either the first portion of the digital database or the second portion of the digital database, one at a time, as selected by the user. A second set of instructions is provided for selectively causing the computer to switch from the retrieval and output of the chain of events of the first portion of the digital database to the retrieval and output of chain of events from the second portion of the digital database at any given point in the chain of events so as not to interrupt the continuity of the chain of events, again, at the selection of the user. The user receives the information by causing the computer to retrieve and output to the user through the user interfaces the chain of events from the first portion of the digital database, and, as desired, causing the computer to switch to the retrieval and output through the user interfaces the chain of events from the second portion of the digital database. The user, in effect, becomes the editor of the movie by a repeatable, non-destructive technique. The result may be impermanent or retained for playback.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for making available to a user of a television set visual images taken from different viewpoints about a chain of events. The television set is operably associated with a switching box. The switching box is operably associated with a database source for transmitting data representing visual images to the switching box. The data is in the form of a first database portion containing data representing visual images of the series of events as perceived from a first viewpoint and a second database portion containing data representing visual images of the series of events as perceived from a second viewpoint. The switching box is provided with instructions for causing the s
Buskop Wendy K.
Buskop Law Group
Herndon Heather R.
LandOfFree
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