Providing information concerning an object in a picture

• US 20040090527A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanevsky, Dimitri, Pickover, Clifford A., Zlatsin, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/609,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2187 with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32587 Controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

Various enhanced features for a digital camera that add to its functionality are disclosed. These features include interconnection capabilities that allow connecting the digital camera to telephones, modem lines, other digital cameras, watches, etc. By this feature, a digital camera display serves as an enhanced monitor or storage for a smart phone or watch. Another feature that is disclosed is that a digital camera can browse the Internet or content of other digital cameras and download pictures or other relevant information that depend on images that the digital camera captured. These downloaded images can be used as a background (or for other photo composing effects) while a user makes pictures from persons or other objects. These additional digital camera capacities can be useful for tourists especially if a digital camera can communicate via wireless channels.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

storage means;

means for forming a picture of an object as a first image in digital form;

means for storing images including said first image in said storage means;

display means for displaying images stored in said storage means;

input means for providing commands; and

control means responsive to said commands to connect said digital camera to obtain a second image over a communication link, to operate said means for storing to store said second image in said storage means and to operate said display to display said second image either in conjunction with or separate from said first image.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said commands requires said control means to obtain said second image from a device that has a memory and a display of limited capacity, whereby said storage means and said display means serve as an enhanced storage means and display means for said device.

3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said device is a telephone.

4. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said device is a watch.

5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said commands requires said control means to obtain said second image from a personal computer.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said control means contains an editing means for altering an image;

wherein one or more of said commands requires said editing means to edit one or both of said first and second images.

7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein one or more of said commands requires said editing means to edit said first image and said second image to form a merged image and requires said control means to operate said means for storing to store said merged image in said storage means and to operate said display to display said merged image.

8. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein one or more of said commands requires said editing means to form said second image as a background for said first image that is later obtained by said picture snapping means.

9. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a browsing means for enabling interaction with destinations connected in a network;

wherein one of said or more commands requires said control means to connect said digital camera to said network and requires said browsing means to perform a browsing operation of said network to obtain said second image from one of said network destinations.

10. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein said network is the Internet;

and

wherein one or more of said commands requires said control means to send one or more images stored in said storage means to an Internet destination.

11. The digital camera according to claim 1 wherein said communication link establishes a communication path between said digital camera and another digital camera;

and

wherein said second image is obtained from said other digital camera.

12. The digital camera according to claim 11 wherein said commands require said control means to send one or more of said images stored in said storage means to said other digital camera via said communication path.

13. A method of providing a pictorial service to a digital camera, said method comprising:

receiving from said digital camera a picture and a request that concerns an object illustrated in said picture;

searching a set of pictures contained in a database for a first picture of said object;

upon finding said first picture, obtaining a packet of information concerning said object;

providing said packet of information to said digital camera.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said packet of information includes one or more items of the group that includes:

a geographic description, an historic description, said first picture and/or other pictures of said object, or a map.

15. The method according to claim 14 that further comprises:

comparing said picture with said set of pictures for a match; and

upon finding a match, obtaining said packet of information.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said packet of information includes one or more items of the group that includes:

a map, a geographic description, an historic description, said first picture and/or other pictures of said object, nearby restaurants, shops, hotels or other point of interest.

17. A method of enhancing the display capability of a device having a limited display capability, said method comprising:

establishing a communication link between said device and a digital camera that has a relatively larger display;

transferring from said device to said digital camera via said communication link data to be displayed; and

operating said digital camera to display images represented by said data on said larger display.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said device is a telephone.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein said device is a watch.

20. A method of processing images with a digital camera, having a storage means, a display, an input means and a control means, said method comprising:

storing a first image in said storage means;

operating said input means to provide one or more commands;

responding to said commands to obtain a second image via a communication link and storing said second image in said storage means;

responding to said commands to edit said first and second images to form a merged image; and

displaying said merged image on said display of said digital camera.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said first image is a picture taken with said digital camera.