Google Inc.

Scott Benjamin Satkin

Alan Sheridan

Vivek Verma

Aspects of the disclosure generally relate to connecting panoramic images. One or more computing devices may load and display a first panoramic image captured at a first location and receive a selection of an area on the first panoramic image, the area corresponding to where a connection to other panoramic images may be made. The one or more computing devices may identify and display one or more nearby panoramic images which were captured near the first location and receive a selection of one of the one or more nearby panoramic images. The one or more computing devices may display the selected panoramic image and the first panoramic image and align the selected panoramic image with the first panoramic image such that the selected panoramic image is oriented in the same direction as the first panoramic image. The one or more computing devices may connect the selected panoramic image with the first panoramic image.

Method and system for obtaining pair-wise epipolar constraints and solving for panorama pose on a mobile device

A system and method is provided for smoothing portions of a 3D model of an object based on the likelihood of a portion being an accurate representation of the surface of the object, and based on whether the surface of the object according to the model is relatively jagged or relatively smooth.

Smoothing 3D models of objects to mitigate artifacts

Aspects of the disclosure provide for selecting viewports. A viewport is a sub-portion of an image. For example, a request to select a viewport for a particular image may be received. A set of potential viewports are identified within the particular image, and features are identified within the viewports of the set of potential viewports. A score is calculated for each given viewport of the set of potential viewports based at least in part on a weight vector having a set of feature weights and the identified features within that given viewport of the set of potential viewports. A viewport of the set of potential viewports is selected based on the calculated scores. The selected viewport is then provided in response to the request to select the viewport for the particular image.

Using image features to extract viewports from images

Aspects of the disclosure relate generating navigation paths between images. A first image taken from a first location and a second image taken from a second location may be selected. A position of the first location in relation to the second location may be determined. First and second frames for the first and second images may be selected based on the position. First and second sets of visual features for each of the first and second image frames may be identified. Matching visual features between the first set of visual features and the second set of visual features may be determined. A confidence level for a line-of-sight between the first and second images may be determined by evaluating one or more positions of the matching visual features. Based on at least the confidence level, a navigation path from the first image to the second image is generated.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Scott Benjamin Satkin