Sony Corporation

Sony Pictures Technologies Inc.

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.

Other

Sony Electronics Inc

Alan L Davidson

Robert B Engle

Peter H Palombi

Parag Havaldar

Scott Ernest Anderson

Clint Chua

Josh T Wills

John Charles McLaughlin

Paolo Costabel

Steve LaVietes

Brian Steiner

Francisco Xavier DeJesus

Jeff Wolverton

Allen Clifford Ruilova

Blair J Zajac, Jr

Layne Friedman

Mylene Pepe

Amit Agrawal

Parag Halvadar

James Berney

Systems and methods are provided that allow for the rapid creation of multiple novel views for applications. These multiple views may allow for not only stereo views but also for different viewpoints of a stereographic scene to be presented, or for a time progression of the stereo scene to be presented, where a viewpoint is altered with respect to time. The systems and methods may be employed to create the content for auto-stereographic displays or multiple view systems that use a plurality of novel views to display stereo media. Such displays or multiple view systems may include those employing parallax barriers or lenticular lenses.

Method and system for re-projection for multiple-view displays

Systems and methods presented here allow recreation of prior scenes, even if assets used in the scenes have evolved over time. The systems and methods employ query of a database to obtain data for backup and retrieval, e.g., information about shots made at prior points in time, where a 'shot' refers to a scene or associated set of sequential frames (a single image may also be considered a shot in some instances), rendered or not depending on context. In the VP-VCR systems and methods, information may be obtained about rendered scenes which allow knowledge and subsequent use of each asset employed in the scene, including its proper version and representation at the time of the rendering. Such may be employed not only to obtain prior versions of shots, but also to allow modification of assets in prior shots to obtain new effects.

Method and system for recording information about rendered assets

Systems and methods are provided for minimizing re-projection artifacts. From a re-projection method, a distortion map determines areas of excessive stretching or compressing of pixels, which are then rendered. The re-projection and render are composited to create a new stereo image. Systems and methods are also provided for a 'depth layout' process, whereby a new offset view of a 2D plate is created, allowing a stereo pair of images. Custom geometry that approximates the scene is created and 2D rotoscoping is employed to cut out shapes from the geometry. A depth map is created, from which an offset image may be re-projected, resulting in a stereo pair. Systems and methods are also provided for a fast re-projection technique, which creates a novel view from an existing image. The process generates a disparity map and then a distortion map, which is then used to create the new view.

System and method for rendering affected pixels

Systems and methods are provided for resolving artifacts in view-dependent components. The system and method apply a different stereo camera pair to view-dependent versus non-view-dependent or independent rays. In this way the lighting components may be independently dialed to art direct specular components versus diffuse components.

System and method for reducing artifacts caused by view-dependent lighting components

Several embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use with node-based compositing to assist in the generation of a second eye or camera of a stereoscopic image. In one implementation, a method for use in 3D movie production comprises the steps: displaying composite nodes to a user, the composite nodes indicating how to composite a first plurality of rendered 2D elements into an output image, the rendered 2D elements and the plurality of composite nodes corresponding to a first eye of a 3D image; and receiving user input to add one or more transition nodes to the composite nodes, each transition node following a respective composite node and to be used for regeneration of one or more elements corresponding to the respective composite node, wherein the composite nodes and the one or more transition nodes are to be used to direct generation of a second eye of the 3D image.

Composite transition nodes for use in 3D data generation

Systems and methods are provided for viewing and displaying 3D imagery. In one implementation, a method of displaying 3D imagery comprises receiving layout data comprising data representing a first camera, the first camera being non-editable; generating a first pair of a left camera and a right camera from the layout data based on the first camera, wherein the left camera and the right camera are editable; retrieving, from an external memory, streaming geometry data corresponding to the layout data; and generating the 3D imagery using the first pair of the left camera and the right camera and the streaming geometry data.

Method and apparatus for displaying and editing 3D imagery

Method and systems are provided using streaming geometry in 3D imagery production. In one implementation a method for use in the display of 3D video images comprises receiving a first set of data corresponding to an output from a layout in a production pipeline, generating geometry data for one or more objects represented within the first set of data, merging the geometry data for each of the one or more objects to create one or more merged files, generating a table of contents, wherein the table of contents specifies the location of the geometry data for each of the one or more objects within the one or more merged files and storing the geometry data and the table of contents to a memory device for subsequent retrieval.

Streaming geometry for use in displaying and editing 3D imagery

A process is provided for documenting the contents of at least one version of a plurality of data products stored in a database, at least one of the products being a composite product having at least a portion of at least one of the data products included therein. The process includes the steps of: creating a state file to be associated with a version of a composite product to be created, the state file specifying a selected version of at least one selected data product to be used in creating the composite product; using the state file to access the selected version of the selected product from the database; creating the version of the composite product by including therein at least a portion of the selected version of the selected product; and generating a state history file associated with the version of the composite product, the state history file indicating that at least a portion of the selected version of the selected product is included within the version of the composite product. The documenting process also includes the steps of: assigning a product name to the composite product; storing the version of the composite product in the database; and storing the state history file in the database. The documenting further includes a step of assigning a version value to the version of the composite product.

System and method for documenting composite data products

A process for generating animated images of a two-dimensional array of objects advancing in a third dimension includes the steps of: defining an array of objects; defining a start position, an end position, and an advancement path associated with each of the objects, each advancement path extending from the associated start position to the associated end position; defining an associated rate of advancement for each of the objects along the associated path; defining a manifold surface including a locus of points each being defined in a three dimensional coordinate system and having an associated height coordinate value, each of the objects being associated with one of the points on the manifold surface; determining an associated advancement start time for each of the objects based on the associated rate of advancement and an associated height coordinate value of an associated point on the manifold surface; and defining animated images of the array of objects advancing along the associated advancement paths in accordance with the associated rates of advancement and the associated advancement start times. The manifold surface provides an animator with a means for controlling a resulting animation in order to achieve a desired animated effect without the need to perform a cumbersome trial and error process.

Growing community of inventors

Sherman Oaks, CA, United States of America

Alan L Davidson