End-user-navigable set of zoomed-in images derived from a high-resolution master image

Abstract

The invention relates generally to improvements in systems used in the development of interactive visual media. More particularly, the invention relates in some embodiments to (a) the automatic or semi-automatic generation of a set of files representing “zoomed-in” sections of a master high-resolution image file, and (b) the automatic or semi-automatic generation of the logical data required to allow navigation of the generated files by an end-user of an interactive visual medium, including but not limited to such optical disc formats as DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Video CD, and Super Video CD, as well as media hosted by a server and delivered over a network.

1 . A method of creating an interactive visual medium comprising:
 providing an image at a first resolution;   causing to be produced a first presentation data representing of the image at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution;   causing to be produced a second presentation data comprising a representation of a portion of the image at a third resolution higher than the second resolution;   causing to be produced logical data linking the first and second presentation data; and   causing the logical data and the first and second presentation data to be placed on the interactive visual medium.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said providing an image at a first resolution comprises rendering an analog image into digital form. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second presentation data further comprises a zoom sequence from the image at the second resolution to a portion of the image at the third resolution. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the logical data allows a user to select the portion of the image. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second presentation data further comprises a plurality of zoom sequences from the image at the second resolution to a plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution and one or more pan sequences from a respective initial one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution to a respective final one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the logical data allows a user to select the initial one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution to the final one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein interactive visual medium is an optical disc format. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the logical data and first and second presentation data are placed on the optical disc in a format that does not support presentation of an image at multiple resolutions. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said optical disc format is a DVD-Audio format. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said optical disc format is a DVD-Video format. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said optical disc format is a Video CD format. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said optical disc format is a Super Video CD format. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said causing to be produced the first and second presentation data and the logical data and causing the logical data and the first and second presentation data to be placed on the interactive visual medium are performed in a automated process. 
   
   
       14 . A method of creating content for an interactive visual medium comprising:
 receiving an image at a first resolution;   forming a first presentation data representing of the image at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution;   forming a second presentation data comprising a representation of a portion of the image at a third resolution higher than the second resolution; and   forming logical data linking the first and second presentation data, wherein the logical data and first and second presentation data are encoded in the format of the interactive visual medium.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second presentation data further comprises a zoom sequence from the image at the second resolution to a portion of the image at the third resolution. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the logical data allows a user to select the portion of the image. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second presentation data further comprises a plurality of zoom sequences from the image at the second resolution to a plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution and one or more pan sequences from a respective initial one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution to a respective final one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the logical data allows a user to select the initial one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution to the final one of the plurality of respective portions of the image at the third resolution. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein interactive visual medium is in an optical disc format. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said optical disc format is a DVD-Audio format.