Method and system for providing image-related information to user, and mobile terminal therefor

• US 20070036469A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Soon-Ok, Lee, Chul-Hwan, Kim, Dae-Gyu, Park, Yong-Soo, Seo, Yoo-Duck
• Application Number:
  US11/471,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/62 Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• 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 1/00331 with an apparatus performing optical character recognition character recognition G06V30/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile terminal (MT) for acquiring information related to an image photographed through the MT'"'"'s camera module. The MT captures a desired image in the photographed image, and either internally searches for information related to the captured image or transmits an information request to an information server via MT the Internet or a wireless network. Upon receiving the captured image from the mobile terminal, the information server recognizes an image pattern or a character from the captured image, and searches for information related thereto. Alternatively, upon receiving an image pattern or a character, the information server searches for information related to the received image pattern or character. The information server transmits the searched information to the MT, and the MT displays the received information for the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing image-related information to a user in a system including a mobile terminal and an information server, the method comprising:

photographing, by the mobile terminal, an image, recognizing an image pattern or a character from the photographed image, and transmitting the recognition result to the information server;

searching for, by the information server, information related to the recognized image pattern or character, and transmitting the searched information to the mobile terminal; and

displaying, by the mobile terminal, the searched information provided from the information server.

2. A method for providing image-related information to a user in a system including a mobile terminal and an information server, the method comprising:

photographing, by the mobile terminal, an image and transmitting the photographed image to the information server;

recognizing, by the information server, an image pattern or a character from the photographed image;

searching for, by the information server, information related to the recognized image pattern or character and transmitting the searched information to the mobile terminal; and

displaying, by the mobile terminal, the searched information provided from the information server.

3. A method for providing image-related information to a user in a system including a mobile terminal and an information server, the method comprising:

photographing, by the mobile terminal, an image and transmitting the photographed image to the information server;

searching for, by the information server, information related to the photographed image and transmitting the searched information to the mobile terminal; and

displaying, by the mobile terminal, the searched information provided from the information server.

4. A system for providing image-related information to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile terminal for photographing an image and transmitting the photographed image; and

an information server for recognizing an image pattern or a character from the photographed image, searching for information related to the recognized image pattern or character, and transmitting the searched information to the mobile terminal;

wherein the mobile terminal receives the searched information provided from the information server and displays the received information.

5. A mobile terminal for providing image-related information to a user, the mobile terminal comprising:

a camera module for photographing an image;

a database for storing an image, an image pattern or a character, and information related thereto; and

a controller for recognizing an image pattern or a character from an image photographed using the camera module, searching the database for information related thereto, and providing the searched information to the user.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the controller displays a capture window for capturing a part of the image and changes a size and/or position of the capture window according to a key input from the user.

7. A method for providing image-related information to a user in a system including a mobile terminal and an information server, the method comprising:

photographing, by the mobile terminal, an image, recognizing an image pattern or a character from the photographed image, and if there are two or more pattern recognition targets, receiving one pattern recognition target selected by the user, and transmitting the selected pattern recognition target to the information server;

searching for, by the information server, information related to the recognized image pattern or character of the received pattern recognition target and transmitting the searched information to the mobile terminal; and

displaying, by the mobile terminal, the searched information provided from the information server.

8. A mobile terminal for providing image-related information to a user, the mobile terminal comprising:

a display for displaying a moving image;

a database for storing an image, an image pattern or a character, and information related thereto; and

a controller for, if a capture key is pressed by the user while displaying the moving image, capturing from the moving image an image displayed at the time when the capture key is pressed, recognizing an image pattern or a character from the captured image, searching the database for information related thereto, and providing the searched information to the user.