System and method for injection of mapping functions

Abstract

A method and system for improving display quality by injecting a portion of computer code into an existing compositor, using the portion of computer code to apply a mapping function to a first digital image, and forming a second digital image based upon the first digital image as adapted by applying the applied mapping function in the compositor. The second digital image may then be displayed to a viewer via one or more displays where each display forms a part of the displayed digital image. The result may be used for creation of blended or stereoscopic images. The mapping function may be also adapted for modification of geometry or correction of a characteristic (such as color, intensity, etc.) of the display system where such characteristic may be sensed using a detector. The portion of code may be injected into a graphics driver controlling hardware composition for a displayed digital image.

1 . A method of improving display quality comprising the steps of:
 injecting a portion of computer code into a compositor operatively arranged and configured on a computer system;   using the portion of computer code to apply a mapping function to a first digital image; and   forming a second digital image of the first digital image with the applied mapping function.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of displaying the second digital image to form a displayed digital image on a display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the forming of the displayed digital image is performed by a multiplicity of displays wherein each display forms a part of the displayed digital image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the multiplicity of displays are projectors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least two of the displays are arranged so that the parts of the displayed digital image from the two displays have partial overlap. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least two of the displays are arranged so that the parts of the displayed digital image from the two displays have substantially complete overlap. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the parts of the displayed digital image from the two displays form a stereoscopic image. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a third display and a fourth display are arranged so that the parts of the displayed digital image from the third display and fourth display have partial overlap. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least two of the displays are arranged so that the parts of the displayed digital image from the two displays are edge joined with no overlap. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least two of the displays are arranged so that the parts of the displayed digital image from the two displays have a gap region. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the gap region is smaller than one of the multitude of displays. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein parts of the displayed digital image are shifted so that a feature of the displayed digital image does not display in the gap region. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 sensing a characteristic of the displayed digital image from a sensor; and 
 using the characteristic of the displayed digital image to control the mapping function. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the characteristic is a position of a pixel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mapping function is a warping function. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mapping function is a color mapping function. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mapping function is a spatially varying filter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mapping function is a temporally varying filter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mapping function is an intensity mapping function. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the first digital image is a full screen image; and 
 injecting the portion of computer code into the compositor if the digital image is a full screen image. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of:
 injecting the portion of computer code into an application if the digital image is not a full screen image. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adding visual information to the first digital image prior to injecting the first digital image with the mapping function into the compositor. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the visual information forms a three-dimensional user interface. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of injecting a portion of computer code is automatically turned on or off. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mapping function is adapted to fit a capability of the graphics driver software and display. 
     
     
         26 . A method of improving display quality comprising the steps of:
 injecting a portion of computer code into a graphics driver;   using the portion of computer code to apply a mapping function to a digital image; and   forming a displayed digital image of the digital image with the applied mapping function.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the digital image is a full screen image; and 
 injecting the portion of computer code into the graphics driver if the digital image is a full screen image. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising the steps of:
 injecting the portion of computer code into an application if the digital image is not a full screen image. 
 
     
     
         29 . A digital imaging system comprising:
 a first computer;   a first compositor which runs on the first computer;   a first portion of computer code injected into the first compositor; and   a first display which forms a displayed digital image from an output of the first computer;   wherein the first portion of computer code applies a first mapping function to a first digital image in the first computer.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising a second display wherein the first display forms a first part of the displayed digital image and the second display forms a second part of the displayed digital image. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  further comprising:
 a second computer; 
 a second compositor which runs on the second computer, 
 wherein and 
 a communication link between the first computer and the second computer to receive signals between first computer and the second computer to enable the first display to form a displayed digital image from an output of the first computer and an output of the second computer. 
 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  further comprising a second display wherein the first display forms a first part of the displayed digital image and the second display forms a second part of the displayed digital image. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31  wherein a second portion of computer code is injected into the second compositor. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31  wherein a second portion of computer code is injected into an application which runs on the second computer. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the first portion of computer code communicates with a portion of mapping software outside of the computer. 
     
     
         36 . A computer-readable medium containing a computer code configured to operatively control a computer system to improve display quality by steps comprising of:
 using a portion of computer code to apply a mapping function to a digital image;   forming a displayed digital image of the digital image with the applied mapping function;   sensing a characteristic of the displayed digital image; and   using the characteristic to control the mapping function.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the characteristic is a position of a pixel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the mapping function is a warping function. 
     
     
         39 . A method of improving display quality comprising:
 adapting a computer operating system to accept injection of a portion of computer code;   injecting the portion of computer code into the computer operating system;   using the portion of computer code to apply a mapping function to a digital image; and   forming a displayed digital image of the digital image with the applied mapping function.