Method and system for generating a 360-degree presentation of an object

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating an interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of an object are disclosed. The methods and systems obtain data describing the object, where the data includes information about a number of images of the object, as well as additional information about the object. The images are automatically obtained and rearranged into at least one sequence of images substantially evenly distributed around 360 degrees. It is determined whether to add hotspot(s) to image(s), and if hotspot(s) are to be added, the hotspot(s) are automatically added to the image(s). The ordered images of the sequence(s) are then merged into an interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of the object.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for generating an interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of an object, the system comprising:
 an interface configured to:
 obtain data describing the object, the data describing the object including information about a plurality of images of the object to be obtained and converted into the interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of the object, and additional information about the object; and 
 obtain the plurality of images of the object; and 
   a processor configured to:
 resize the plurality of images such that the images are sized and/or oriented for the interactive 360-degree presentation; 
 arrange the plurality of images into at least one sequence, the at least one sequence including images from a plurality of viewing angles of the object distributed around 360 degrees; and 
 automatically merge the images of the at least one sequence into at least one interactive rotatable 360-degree view of the object, the at least one interactive rotatable 360 degree view comprising at least one of an exterior view of the object and an interior view of the object. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein arranging the plurality of images comprises:
 selecting at least one image from the plurality of images that corresponds to the exterior view of the object for inclusion in a first sequence of the at least one sequence, or   selecting at least one image from the plurality of images that corresponds to the interior view of the object for inclusion in a second sequence of the at least one sequence.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein arranging the plurality of images comprises rearranging the plurality of images into at least one of the first sequence and the second sequence. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to display the at least one interactive rotatable 360-degree view. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a user input selecting at least one hotspot, the at least one hotspot enabling access to a separate media element when selected by a viewer of the interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of the object; and   display, in response to the user input, the separate media element.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interface is further configured to extract at least one of the plurality of images from a video file. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the separate media element comprises any of text, an additional image, a video, a web page link, and an additional interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information about the plurality of images comprises an image uniform resource locator. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to resize the plurality of images to a common size. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation comprises the interior view of the object and the exterior view of the object. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 add the at least one hotspot to at least one image of the at least one sequence; and   determine a position for the at least one hotspot on the at least one image.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein arranging the plurality of images comprises determining an order for the plurality of images. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of images comprises an exterior image of the object, an interior image of the object, and a close-up image of the object. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the additional information about the object includes at least one of a vehicle make, a vehicle model, a vehicle identification number, or a vehicle body style. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sequence including the ordered images from the plurality of viewing angles of the object are substantially evenly distributed around 360 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one image from the plurality of images that corresponds to the interior view of the object comprises a panoramic image. 
     
     
         31 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 obtaining data describing an object, the data describing the object including information about a plurality of images of the object to be obtained and converted into an interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of the object;   obtaining the plurality of images of the object;   arranging the plurality of images into at least one sequence, the at least one sequence including ordered images from a plurality of viewing angles of the object distributed around 360 degrees, wherein the ordered images of the at least one sequence include an exterior image of the object, an interior image of the object, and a close-up image of the object, wherein the ordered images of the at least one sequence are ordered by a viewing angle of the plurality of viewing angles; and   automatically merging the ordered images of the at least one sequence into at least one interactive rotatable 360-degree view of the object, the at least one interactive rotatable 360-degree view including at least one of an exterior view of the object and an interior view of the object.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method as in  claim 31 , further comprising displaying the at least one interactive rotatable 360-degree view on a user interface. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method as in  claim 31 , wherein arranging the plurality of images comprises:
 selecting at least one image from the plurality of images that corresponds to the exterior view of the object for inclusion in a first sequence of the at least one sequence, or   selecting at least one image from the plurality of images that corresponds to the interior view of the object for inclusion in a second sequence of the at least one sequence.   
     
     
         34 . A system for generating an interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of an object, the system comprising:
 an interface configured to:
 obtain data describing the object, the data including information about a plurality of images of the object to be obtained and converted into the interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation of the object; and 
 obtain the plurality of images of the first object; and 
   a processor configured to:
 automatically merge the plurality of images into at least one interactive rotatable 360-degree view of the object, the at least one interactive rotatable 360 degree view comprising at least one of an exterior view of the object and an interior view of the object; 
 display a first image of the plurality of images of the interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation; 
 receive an indication of a selection of the first image, the selection including an initial position on the first image; 
 determine, responsive to the receiving, a change in position of the selection from the initial position; 
 determine, based on the change in position, a display angle of the object; and 
 display, based on the display angle, a second image of the plurality of images for the interactive rotatable 360-degree presentation.