Other

Interactive Pictures Corporation

Ipix Corporation

Alexis S Pecoraro

Danny McCall

Karl E Thorndike

Christopher S Hurt

M Kent Ivey

Kimberly Sharman Evans

Kenneth D Kolda

Sean M Kitzmiller

Martin R Merrick

H Lee Martin

Peter Hansen

Martin L Bauer

Laban Phelps Jackson

A method of reciprocally publishing and matching data files is disclosed. The method includes facilitating the creation of Category A and Category B data files having a respective sets of characteristics defined utilizing a common language architecture, associating enhancement objects with each data file, identifying characteristics in each data file which must be met by other data files, weighting characteristics in each data file differently from other characteristics in the same data file, enabling the selection of participation levels for each data file in marketspaces, and matching Category A data files participating in particular marketspaces to Category B data files participating in the same marketspaces using the common language architecture, the enhancement objects, the weights and the required characteristics.

Reciprocal data file publishing and matching system

A method of reciprocally publishing and matching data files is disclosed. The method includes facilitating the creation of Category A and Category B data files having a respective sets of characteristics defined utilizing a common language architecture, associating enhancement objects with each data file, identifying characteristics in each data file which must be met by other data files, weighting characteristics in each data file differently from other characteristics in the same data file, enabling the selection of participation levels for each data file in market spaces, and matching Category A data files participating in particular market spaces to Category B data files participating in the same market spaces using the common language architecture, the enhancement objects, the weights and the required characteristics.

Apparatus for interactive display of any portion of a spherical image preferably comprises a personal computer or other digital processor apparatus for storing digital data representative of at least one image having a 180 degree or greater field of view (or hemispherical image). In order to view a selected image portion without warp or distortion at the seam between opposite hemispherical images, edge filtering is applied to eliminate a halo effect. Moreover, an opposite hemispherical image may either be obtained by creating a mirror image of a first hemispherical image or by capturing a second hemispherical image by means of an oppositely directed camera and storing the digital image. Equations for image transformation are based on a lens' characteristics including the lens' radius R. An input interface preferably comprises a display including a magnification region and a directional cursor for pointing the direction to a next spherical image. &ldquo;Hot spots&rdquo; can be linked to audio, text, graphics, or other media or trigger a charge for a pay event or identify program links to the next spherical image.

Method and apparatus for the interactive display of any portion of a spherical image

Apparatus for interactive display of any portion of a spherical image preferably comprises a personal computer or other digital processor apparatus for storing digital data representative of at least one image having a 180 degree or greater field of view (or hemispherical image). In order to view a selected image portion without warp or distortion at the seam between opposite hemispherical images, edge filtering is applied to eliminate a halo effect. Moreover, an opposite hemispherical image may either be obtained by creating a mirror image of a first hemispherical image or by capturing a second hemispherical image by means of an oppositely directed camera and storing the digital image. Equations for image transformation are based on a lens' characteristics including the lens' radius R. An input interface preferably comprises a display including a magnification region and a directional cursor for pointing the direction to a next spherical image. 'Hot spots' can be linked to audio, text, graphics, or other media or trigger a charge for a pay event or identify program links to the next spherical image.

Method and apparatus for the interactive display of any portion of a

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Alexis S Pecoraro