Systems and methods for location based image telegraphy

• US 20050078174A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

Systems and methods for associating images with location and/or other information. In some cases, the systems include an image sensor, a location sensor, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is communicably coupled to a computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the microprocessor to: receive a location from the location sensor; receive an image from the image sensor; and associate the location with the image. Some of the methods provide for capturing an object image of an object using an image sensor; capturing a location of the image sensor; and associating the location with the object image. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for providing location information in relation to an imaging device, the system comprising:

a location sensor;

an image sensor;

a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is communicably coupled to the location sensor and the image sensor; and

a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the microprocessor to;

receive a location from the location sensor;

receive an image from the image sensor; and

associate the location with the image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location is a first location, and wherein the system further comprises:

a distance sensor;

a direction sensor; and

wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the microprocessor to;

receive a distance from the distance sensor;

receive a direction from the direction sensor; and

calculate a second location based at least in part on the first location, the direction, and the distance, wherein the first location is the location of the image sensor, and wherein the second location is the location of an object in the image.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system further comprises a transmitter, and wherein the transmitter is operable to provide the location of the object in the image to a query database.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a receiver, and wherein the receiver is operable to receive description information from the query database.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the object is a landmark, and wherein the information about the landmark is selected from a group consisting of:

historic information, access rates, driving directions, parking information, and walking directions.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the object is a restaurant, and wherein the information about the object includes a menu for the restaurant.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the system further comprises a display, and wherein the display is operable to display information selected from the following:

the image, the descriptive information, the location of the image sensor, the direction of the image sensor, the distance, and the location of the object.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the system further comprises a display, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the microprocessor to:

access a map, wherein the map includes a route from the location of the image sensor to the location of the object; and

provide the map to the display.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the map is a topological map.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the microprocessor to associate the location from the location sensor with successive frames of the image from the image sensor.

11. A method for obtaining location information in relation to an object image, the method comprising:

capturing an object image of an object using an image sensor;

capturing a location of the image sensor; and

associating the location with the object image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

capturing a direction of the image sensor;

capture a distance from the image sensor to the object; and

calculating a location of the object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a request for information about the object, wherein the request includes the location of the object.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the information about the object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information about the object is selected from a group consisting of:

historic information, access rates, driving directions, parking information, and walking directions.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying the information about the object local to the image sensor.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

storing the object image;

associating the information about the object, the location of the object, and the location of the image sensor; and

storing the information about the object, the location of the object, and the location of the image sensor.

18. A handheld camera, wherein the camera comprises:

a location sensor;

an image sensor;

a controller, wherein the controller is operable to associate a location from the location sensor with an image from the image sensor.

19. The handheld camera of claim 18, wherein the camera further comprises a display.

20. The handheld camera of claim 19, wherein the controller is operable to update the display to include the image from the sensor and the location from the location sensor.

21. The handheld camera of claim 18, wherein the location is a first location, and wherein the camera further comprises:

a distance sensor;

a direction sensor; and

wherein the controller is operable to calculate a second location based in part on a distance from the distance sensor and a direction from the direction sensor.

22. The handheld camera of claim 21, wherein the first location is a location of the camera, and wherein the second location is a location of an object in the image.

23. The handheld camera of claim 22, wherein the camera further comprises a transmitter, and wherein the transmitter is operable to provide the location of the object in the image to a query database.

24. The handheld camera of claim 23, wherein the camera further comprises a receiver, and wherein the receiver is operable to receive description information from the query database.

25. The handheld camera of claim 24, wherein the object is a landmark, and wherein the information about the landmark is selected from a group consisting of:

historic information, access rates, driving directions, parking information, and walking directions.

26. The handheld camera of claim 24, wherein the object is a hotel, and wherein the information about the object includes rates for the hotel.

27. The handheld camera of claim 18, wherein the handheld camera is selected from a group consisting of a video camera and a still image camera.

28. The handheld camera of claim 18, wherein the handheld camera is a video camera, and wherein the controller is operable to associate the location from the location sensor with successive frames of the image from the image sensor.

29. A system for providing security monitoring, the system comprising:

an image capture device, wherein the image capture device includes an image sensor, a location sensor, and a transmitter; and

a central monitor remote from the image capture device, wherein the central monitor is operable to receive an image from the image sensor and a location from the location sensor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the central monitor plots a representation of the location on a map.