Pictosphere™ Patents

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About Ford Oxaal's Patents

a. Background Timeline

In 1975, Ford Oxaal became aware that linear perspective did not describe the curvilinear nature of visual perception. Ford conceived a generalized perspective, which was, based upon his extensive investigation, the first discovery in perspective since linear perspective was discovered during the Renaissance. Between 1975 and 1989, Ford worked diligently to "invent" the mathematics of generalized perspective. During this time, Ford also reduced the concept of generalized perspective to practice in the form of oil paintings, which Ford rendered in both "hyperbolic" and "elliptic" manifestations of this generalized perspective, to use non-Euclidean parlance. His mathematical discoveries resulted in a novel set of transforms that could be used to view any portion of (including the entirety of) a spherical image data set in any selected perspective rendering, including linear and curvilinear renderings, according to the generalized perspective. In 1989, Ford conceived the basic concept of generating or capturing spherical image data sets, and manipulating those data sets. By 1991, Ford had developed software that allowed him to store, manipulate, and view a spherical image data set. Ford then set out to develop image capture techniques to provide input to his software.

b. Coverage

In overview, Ford's patents encompass the fundamental technology, both hardware and software, for capturing the visible space around a given point ("spherical image data set"), using either fisheye or rectilinear lenses, with or without distortion. His patents disclose several embodiments of his technology for capturing spherical image data sets organized in both "cubic" and "non-cubic" formats. These captured image data sets represent the same visual information regardless of how they are organized or labeled. Whether the captured images are "equirectangular" and stored as flat TIFF files, or multiple fisheye images, the captured image data nonetheless represents the visible space around a given point, i.e., a "spherical image data set." In short, his technology is not restricted to any specific type of camera/lens system used to capture the spherical image data set. Also, his technology only corrects lens-induced distortion when required; his technology does not require correction of lens-induced distortion.

c. Research, Patent Prosecution, Fine Art, Commercialization, Litigation

Based upon over twenty-seven (27) years of research, investigation, patent prosecution, and extensive and hard-fought patent ligitation, it is apparent that Ford Oxaal was the first person to conceive and reduce to practice the concept of immersive imaging. Period. Moreover, he developed immersive imaging as a generic concept encompassing spherical, cubical, and panoramic (cylindrical) immersive imaging.

Ford Oxaal was also the first to conceive and reduce to practice image builder and viewer software enabling a user to store a digital representation of an environment and to manipulate the stored image data in such a manner as to enable the user to "step inside" (immerse themselves within) the image, and, from a virtual viewpoint within the image, look in any direction from that viewpoint, without encountering boundaries (i.e., the image space is substantially boundless/seamless). This concept of navigable/interactive, immersive digital imaging was entirely different than anything that preceded it. In short, immersive imaging constituted a revolutionary advancement in the field of imaging, and was a radical departure from the prior art. This concept is not limited to using any particular type of lens (e.g., rectilinear or fisheye(s), any number of cameras/lenses (e.g., 1, 2, 3, ... 6), and is not limited to the capture of a fully spherical image data set (although that was the preferred embodiment).

Ford was also the first to use this technology for artistic purposes (the Lover's Leap interactive multimedia exhibition in Germany in May 1995). Ford disclosed his technology to iPIX in 1995. iPIX was the first company, to anybody's knowledge, to commercialize this technology (in late 1995).

d. More Patents

Ford Oxaal has now obtained nine (9) issued patents, and has another patent application that has been allowed (it will soon become Ford's 10th issued patent). Other applications are presently pending, and more will follow. Ford is doing everything in his power to secure the intellectual property protection to cover the inventions for which he toiled for 27 years in obscurity to create.

e. Statement

Ford has devoted many years of his life to the conception, creation, and development of this technology. In addition to his studies in mathematics, and his work as an artist in this field, Ford obtained a Master's Degree in Computer Science (Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute) primarily for the purpose of developing software necessary to realize his vision of fully spherical immersive, and interactive imaging. His many years of solo effort, at great personal hardship and expense, resulted in the creation of a new and revolutionary technology. In short, Ford invested a great deal of time, creative energy, and hard work in creating this innovative technology, and then had to endure years of litigation wtih iPIX in order to establish his IP rights to this technology. This litigation was hard-fought. But in the end, it is iPIX who licenses from Ford.

f. Objective

Ford has every intention to license his patents on fair and reasonable terms (and is presently doing so), and to license others, including Minds-Eye-View, Inc. (MEV) to make and sell software that is fairly priced and does not impose an onerous per image royalty or fee. Notably, the MEV software (Pictosphere™ Click Away™) uniquely affords the highest level of immunity possible from a lawsuit by iPIX, worldwide. In addition, Ford is working with several software vendors to license his patents in order to foster competition in the field.

Ford's objective in licensing his patents, whether to end users or software providers, is primarily to generate a sufficient royalty income to enable him to commercialize his inventions, and continue to develop innovative technology. Ford sincerely believes that he has much to contribute to the advancement of the field of immersive visual imaging, both in the realm of still photography and videography (including interactive television and motion pictures), and with respect to both hardware (camera system design) and software (including video games).

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