Video generation method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020175751-A1
Application number	US-201816636441-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Aug 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 4, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image generation system includes a region of interest identifying unit operable to identify a region of interest within a piece of content, the piece of content comprising one or more objects, and an image generation unit operable to generate an image for display comprising one or more of the one or more objects such that objects at a different visual depth to the region of interest are present in the generated image at a lower quality.

First claim

1 . An image generation system for generating 3D images, the system comprising:
a region of interest identifying unit operable to identify a region of interest within a piece of content, the piece of content comprising one or more objects; and an image generation unit operable to generate an image representing the piece of content for display comprising one or more of the one or more objects such that objects at a different visual depth to the region of interest are present in the generated image at a lower quality.

2 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , comprising an image display unit operable to display the generated images to a viewer.

3 . An image generation system according to claim 2 , wherein the image display unit is a head-mountable display device.

4 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the region of interest identifying unit is operable to identify a region of interest using contextual information for the content.

5 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the region of interest identifying unit is operable to identify a region of interest using a detected point of attention of the user, the point of attention being obtained using eye tracking.

6 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the image generation unit is operable to vary the quality of the one or more objects in the generated image such that the quality decreases with increasing depth difference from the region of interest.

7 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the image generation unit is operable to select one of a plurality of available textures for use in rendering an object for display, the available textures each being of a different quality.

8 . An image generation system according to claim 7 , wherein the available textures corresponding to an object are each of a different resolution.

9 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the image generation unit is operable to select one of a plurality of available meshes for use in rendering an object for display, the available meshes each being of a different quality.

10 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the image generation unit is operable to generate an image by combining areas from one or more candidate images of different qualities.

11 . An image generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the region of interest identifying unit is operable to identify a region of interest as an object in the content.

12 . An image generation system according to claim 11 , wherein the image generation unit is operable to vary the quality of the one or more objects in the generated image in dependence upon a relationship between the one or more objects and the object that is the region of interest.

13 . An image generation method for generating 3D images, the method comprising:
identifying a region of interest within a piece of content, the piece of content comprising one or more objects; and generating an image representing the piece of content for display comprising one or more of the one or more objects such that objects at a different visual depth to the region of interest are present in the generated image at a lower quality.

14 . (canceled)

15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium which stores computer software, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to generate 3D images by carrying out actions, comprising:
identifying a region of interest within a piece of content, the piece of content comprising one or more objects; and generating an image representing the piece of content for display comprising one or more of the one or more objects such that objects at a different visual depth to the region of interest are present in the generated image at a lower quality.

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Connor Patrick John

Classifications

• H04N13/25

  using two or more image sensors with different characteristics other than in their location or field of view, e.g. having different resolutions or colour pickup characteristics; using image signals from one sensor to control the characteristics of another sensor · CPC title

• G06K9/3233

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06T15/04

  Texture mapping · CPC title

• H04N13/268

  based on depth image-based rendering [DIBR] · CPC title