MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL

• US 20080094496A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Hao, Wang, Kong Qiao, Liu, Ying Fei
• Application Number:
  US11/552,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094496A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

A camera equipped mobile communication terminal is used in an image recording mode during which a camera view is displayed. A guiding pattern is displayed in a viewfinder mode such that it facilitates for a user to adjust the camera view. Detection is made that the camera view is in a static state and recording of an image of the camera view is performed. Extraction of a sub-image including an array of picture elements from the recorded image, at a position within the recorded image that corresponds with the guiding pattern being displayed, is then performed and an optical character recognition process is made on the extracted sub-image. This OCR process yields a sequence of symbols that are displayed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile communication terminal, while the terminal is in an image recording mode during which a camera view is displayed, the method comprising:

displaying a guiding pattern configured such that it facilitates for a user to adjust the camera view,

detecting that the camera view is in a static state,

recording an image of the camera view in the detected static state,

extracting a sub-image comprising an array of picture elements from the recorded image, said sub-image being at a position within the recorded image that corresponds with the guiding pattern being displayed,

performing an optical character recognition process on the extracted sub-image, yielding a sequence of symbols,

displaying the recognized sequence of symbols.

2. The method of claim 1, where the detection that the camera view is in a static state comprises detection of spatial changes and detection of absence of spatial changes in the camera view during a specific time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, where the detection that the camera view is in a static state comprises processing of an algorithm representing a hand-held shaking model.

4. The method of claim 3, where, prior to the recording an image of the camera view in the detected static state, the hand-held shaking model is determined by way of a training sequence involving detections of spatial changes and detection of absences of spatial changes in the camera view during specific time intervals.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the recording of an image of the camera view:

zooming the camera view such that the extraction of the sub-image results in an extracted sub-image having a predetermined spatial scale.

6. The method of claim 1, where the image recording mode is such that, during the displaying of the camera view, a first spatial image scale is used and, during the recording of an image of the camera view in the detected static state, a second spatial image scale is used.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the recognized sequence of symbols, said processing involving a translation process comprising accessing at least a first data base of words.

8. The method of claim 7, where the translation process includes at least one step of a three-step procedure of accurate translation, fuzzy translation and word-by-word translation.

9. The method of claim 8, where a first database comprises words representing compound items and a second database comprises words representing ingredients of compound items in the first database.

10. The method of claim 9, where the translation process involves translation of restaurant menu words.

12. A computer program comprising software instructions that, when executed, performs the method of claim 1.

11. A mobile communication terminal comprising control means and a camera that are configured such that they are capable of, in an image recording mode during which a camera view is displayed:

displaying a guiding pattern configured such that it facilitates for a user to adjust the camera view,

detecting that the camera view is in a static state,

recording an image of the camera view in the detected static state,

extracting a sub-image comprising an array of picture elements from the recorded image, said sub-image being at a position within the recorded image that corresponds with the guiding pattern being displayed,

performing an optical character recognition process on the extracted sub-image, yielding a sequence of symbols,

displaying the recognized sequence of symbols.