Triggering Data Capture Based on Pointing Direction

• US 20090190914A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hodges, Stephen E., Scott, James W., Budvytis, Ignas
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for triggering directional data capture based on pointing direction are described. In an embodiment, the data captured is an image and a camera is described which includes a sensor for detecting the direction in which the image sensor of the camera is pointing. When the sensed pointing direction is one in which a worthwhile image is likely to be taken, the camera is triggered to capture a new image. The determination of when to capture a new image uses a metric based on the sensed direction and one or more specified trigger conditions.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a direction sensing module associated with a directional data capture module; and

a processor arranged to receive direction data from the direction sensing module and to trigger capture of a data set by the directional data capture module when a metric based on the direction data satisfies a trigger condition.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the directional data capture module comprises an image capture module and wherein the data set comprises an image.

3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising the directional data capture module.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to access data relating to one or more previously captured data sets and wherein the metric is further based on said data.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further arranged to update said data after triggering capture of a data set.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said data comprises a sum of distributions, each distribution being associated with a previously captured data set and being centered on a pointing direction associated with the previously captured data set.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein each distribution is reduced with elapsed time from data capture.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a portable recall device.

9. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional sensor;

and wherein the processor is further arranged to trigger capture of a data set when an output received from the at least one additional sensor satisfies a second trigger condition.

10. A method of capturing data comprising:

sensing a pointing direction of a directional capture device; and

initiating capture of a data set by the directional capture device when a metric based on the sensed pointing direction meets specified criteria.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the directional capture device is an image capture device and wherein the data set comprises an image.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

storing the captured data set.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein initiating capture of a data set by the directional capture device when a metric based on the sensed pointing direction meets specified criteria comprises:

analyzing values in a data structure based on the sensed pointing direction, wherein the data structure comprises a set of values, each value being associated with a pointing direction and being dependent on one or more previously captured data sets; and

if specified criteria are satisfied, initiating data set capture.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

when data set capture is initiated, updating the set of values in the data structure according to the sensed pointing direction.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

reducing one or more of the values in the data structure according to predefined criteria.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein reducing one or more of the values in the data structure according to predefined criteria comprises:

reducing one or more of the values in the data structure with time.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein one or more of the values in the data structure are reduced with time at a rate which is selected based upon at least one of:

a current pointing direction of the directional capture device and a velocity of the directional capture device.

18. One or more tangible device-readable media with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

detecting a pointing direction of an image capture device; and

triggering capture of an image by the image capture device based on the detected pointing direction.

19. One or more tangible device-readable media according to claim 18, further comprising device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

storing a captured image.

20. One or more tangible device-readable media according to claim 18, wherein triggering capture of an image by the image capture device based on the detected pointing direction comprises:

triggering capture of an image based on the detected pointing direction and data representative of pointing directions associated with one or more previously captured images.