Composite image selectivity

• US 20070052856A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John
• Application Number:
  US11/510,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/32 on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• 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 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/212 Selecting different recording or reproducing modes, e.g. high or low resolution, field or frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/216 Arrangements for recording on different types of storage medium, e.g. IC card or magnetic tape; Recording on a plurality of storage media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a technique that processes captured images derived from selected targeted objects in a field of view. The captured images may be transferred via a communication link to a storage location for future availability. A possible aspect may provide a cross-reference association between saved multiple exposures having different quality characteristics. In some instances an identifier record is provided to enable future accessibility to selected captured data by one or more authorized parties or approved devices or authorized recipients. In some embodiments the captured data may include both a video data stream and one or more still image frames derived from related fields of view. Stored versions of the captured images may be provided in original or altered form to be incorporated in a composite visual work.

Claims

1. A composite image selection method comprising:

obtaining access to a collection of captured images;

providing a computerized user-interface that is capable of display of a representation of various visual elements that are part of a captured image from the collection;

allowing a user to have viewing access to the display of the representation in order to make a selection of a possible component element to be incorporated as part of a composite work;

providing an input technique that enables an identification of the user'"'"'s selection of the possible component element; and

establishing a record of the selection made by the user, which record facilitates future availability of the selection.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining retrieval of a particular version of the selection of the possible component element.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

incorporating in the composite work the particular version of the selection of the possible component element in the composite work.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said obtaining retrieval of the particular version of the selection includes:

obtaining the retrieval of the particular version, which retrieval is based at least in part on a cross-reference association between multiple exposures of the same or similar various visual elements.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

incorporating in the composite work an original captured version of the selection of the possible component element.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

incorporating in the composite work a modified version of the selection of the possible component element.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the user-interface includes:

providing a display of two or more captured images to facilitate the selection of the possible component element to be incorporated in the composite work.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of two or more captured images includes;

implementing an adjacent display of the two or more captured images.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes;

implementing a sequential display of the two or more captured images.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured images each having a same type of various visual elements.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured images each having a different type of various visual elements.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured still image frames or video image frames having related fields of view of the same various visual elements.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured images having one or more of the following related fields of view of the same various visual elements;

zoom in, zoom out, close-up, distant, wide angle, narrow angle, frontal, partial right, partial left, upper vantage point, lower vantage point, overlapping, fragmented, variable view, still image view, video image view, simultaneous, and time delayed.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured still images.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured video frame images.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured images that include captured still images and captured video frame images.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured images each having a different quality characteristic.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of captured images having one or more of the following type of different quality attributes;

aspect ratio, color space, color value, color intensity, image intensity, resolution, pixel density, dynamic range, pixel depth, shutter speed, exposure frequency, fidelity, obfuscation level, object deletion, object substitution, and transformation.

19. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing the display of the two or more captured images includes:

implementing the display of two or more captured images having one or more of the following type of different quality characteristics for the same various visual elements;

color balance, white balance, color space, depth of field, pixel capture resolution, pixel storage resolution, capture quality, storage quality, gray scale, ambient light sensor, wavelength setting, infra-red illumination, flash illumination, aperture opening, focal point, filter, shutter speed, automated shutter, manual shutter, still frame frequency, video frame frequency, post-capture alteration, high Q storage media, low Q storage media, programmed quality attribute, automated quality attribute, user-selected quality attribute, ownership right, transfer right, post-capture editing, and meta-data.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the computerized user-interface includes:

implementing the display of an enlarged representation of the various visual elements of the captured image in the collection.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the computerized user-interface includes:

implementing via the computerized user-interface a retrieval and display of the same or similar various visual elements from multiple captured images of the collection prior to the selection of the possible component element to be incorporated in the composite work.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said implementing the display of the multiple captured images includes;

implementing a simultaneous display of different combinations of multiple captured images for comparison prior to the selection of the possible component element to be incorporated in the composite work.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing an input technique that enables an identification of the user'"'"'s selection includes:

enabling the user to activate a screen indicator for identifying the various visual elements to be incorporated as a possible component element in the composite work.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said enabling the user to activate the screen indicator includes one or more of the following techniques:

pull-down menu, cursor placement, directional pointer, area outline, area fill, object boundary, object labeling, manual screen touching, voice activation, identifier tag, editing code, item naming, item confirmation, preview selection, usage right permission, and usage right recognition.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing a tentative assembly of the composite work that includes the possible component element.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said implementing the tentative assembly includes:

enabling one or more of the following type of operations regarding the tentative assembly of the composite work;

element positioning, element orientation, element dimensions, substitution of different element, addition of new element, deletion of element, element combinations, grouping relationship, element spacing, and altered element.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

implementing a user-accessible display of the tentative assembly of the composite work.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing a completed assembly of the composite work that includes the possible component element.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

incorporating the combination of two or more possible component elements in a completed assembly of a composite video image frame.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

incorporating the combination of two or more possible component elements in a completed assembly of a composite still image frame.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

creating a stored version of the completed assembly of the composite work.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

incorporating an original captured version of the possible component element in the completed assembly of the composite work.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

creating an altered form of the possible component element; and

incorporating the altered form of the possible component element in the completed assembly of the composite work.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said creating an altered form of the possible component includes:

implementing one or more of the following type of alteration techniques;

data compression, resolution enhancement, reduced resolution, increased resolution, object obfuscation, object deletion, object addition, object substitution, algorithmic processing, image aggregation, cropping, color balancing, colorizing, and gray-scale implementation.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing the record includes:

transferring an altered form of the possible component to a storage module for future reference.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing the record includes:

transferring an original captured version of the possible component element to a storage module for future reference.

37-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A computer program product having one or more computer programs for executing the following process;

displaying a representation of one or more captured images;

providing a user-interface with accessibility to the representation of the captured images in order to facilitate a user'"'"'s selection of a specified visual component to be incorporated in a composite work;

providing an input technique that enables identification of the user'"'"'s selection of the specified visual component; and

establishing a record of the user'"'"'s selection of the specified visual component.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said process component establishing the record includes:

creating a stored version of the specified component of the captured images.

47. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the process further includes:

enabling access and retrieval of the stored version of the specified visual component for incorporation in a composite work.

48. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said process component providing a user-interface with accessibility to the representation of the captured images includes:

providing one or more of the following techniques via the user interface to facilitate the user'"'"'s selection of a specified visual component to be incorporated in a composite work;

pull-down menu, cursor placement, directional pointer, area outline, area fill, object labeling, screen touching, voice activation, identifier tag, editing code, manual activation, bodily movement, device movement, gesture, motion sensor, item naming, item confirmation, preview selection, usage right attribute, and usage right recognition.

49. The computer program product of claim 45 further comprising:

storage media and/or signal communication media for encoding instructions for executing the process.

64. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said process further includes:

associating one or more of the following different quality characteristics with the specified visual component;

privacy right, proprietary right, restricted usage right, distribution right, ownership transfer, and license right.

65. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said process further includes:

providing an identifier tag associated with the specified visual component of the captured images to facilitate one or more of the following;

view, display, forward, create thumbnail, retrieve, copy, edit, change resolution, increase resolution, decrease resolution, change format, combine images, distribute, delete, print, collate, restricted access, access security, modify identifier, delete identifier, add identifier, access right, usage right, limited license, transfer of rights, and ownership assignment.

66. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said process feature displaying the representation of one or more captured images includes:

displaying multiple exposures of one or more of the following type of visual objects;

same objects, related objects, unrelated objects, and specified visual elements.

50. An image access system comprising:

a computerized user-interface for facilitating selection of one or more visual components to be incorporated in a composite work;

a data record that includes an identification of one or more captured images having a possible visual component available for display and retrieval;

a display module operatively coupled with the computerized user-interface to enable viewing of a representation of the possible visual component; and

a processing module for accomplishing retrieval of a selected visual component for incorporation in the composite work.

51. The system of claim 50 further comprising:

storage media for retaining a stored version of the one or more captured images for future reference, wherein the stored version includes a cross-reference association between multiple exposures having different quality characteristics of related visual objects.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the stored version of the captured images includes one or more of the following different quality characteristics:

privacy right, proprietary right, restricted usage right, distribution right, ownership transfer, and license right.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the stored versions of the captured images include one or more of the following type of cross-reference associations between the multiple exposures of the related visual objects:

time stamp, date stamp, background, view location, project name, topic, client, video component, still component, component specification, storage media, storage location, component operator, participant, indicia ID, sequence numeral, thumbnail link, index listing, acronym, abbreviation, pointer link, hyper-link, icon, and barcode.

54. The system of claim 51 wherein said processing module includes an access link to the storage media to enable access and retrieval of selected visual components incorporated in the stored version of the multiple exposures for incorporation in a composite still image frame or a composite video image frame.

55. The system of claim 50 further comprising:

an alteration module for creating a modified version of the possible visual component available for incorporation in the composite work.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said alteration module includes:

a processing configuration for implementing one or more of the following alteration techniques;

data compression, resolution enhancement, reduced resolution, increased resolution, object obfuscation, object deletion, object addition, object substitution, algorithmic processing, image aggregation, cropping, color balancing, colorizing, and grayscale implementation.

57. The system of claim 50 wherein said computerized user-interface includes:

an interface configuration that provides one or more of the following techniques to facilitate the user'"'"'s selection of the specified visual component to be incorporated in a tentative or final composite work;

pull-down menu, cursor placement, directional pointer, area outline, area fill, object labeling, screen touching, voice activation, identifier tag, editing code, manual activation, bodily movement, device movement, gesture, motion sensor, item naming, item confirmation, preview selection, usage right attribute, and usage right recognition.

58. The system of claim 50 further comprising:

storage media for retaining a stored version of the one or more captured images for future reference, wherein the stored version includes multiple exposures of one or more of the following type of visual objects;

same objects, related objects, unrelated objects, and specified visual elements.

59. The system of claim 50 wherein said processing module includes:

a processing module for accomplishing retrieval of an original or altered version of the possible visual component to be available for incorporation in the composite work.

60. The system of claim 50 wherein said computerized user-interface includes;

an interface configuration that provides accessibility to an identifier tag associated with the possible visual component of the captured images to facilitate one or more of the following;

view, display, forward, create thumbnail, retrieve, copy, edit, change resolution, increase resolution, decrease resolution, change format, combine images, distribute, delete, print, collate, restricted access, access security, modify identifier, delete identifier, add identifier, access right, usage right, limited license, transfer of rights, and ownership assignment.

61. The system of claim 50 wherein said display module includes:

a display module that is capable of implementing viewing access to a representation of two or more captured still images frames or captured video images having related fields of view of one or more various visual elements.

62. The system of claim 50 wherein said computerized user-interface is operatively coupled with the display module to implement a user-accessible display of a tentative assembly or completed assembly of the composite work.

63. The system of claim 50 further comprising:

a storage module for retaining a stored version of the composite work.