SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN IMAGE APPENDED WITH LANDSCAPE INFORMATION

• US 20110149089A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Inventors: YANG, De-Wei
• Application Number:
  US12/762,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149089A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/17 using hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system and method for generating an image appended with extra landscape information are disclosed. An image recorder is provided, and having a global-positioning system, an electronic compass, a gyro sensor, and an accelerometer for determining the space information as capturing an image. Under the determination, the space information can include a view angle, a direction, an elevation angle, and a coordinate. The information is used to compare with the content of a database, in order to obtain the landscape information of the image. After that, an image appended with the landscape information is generated. Thereby, the image appended with the landscape information may be used for generating a space map and be a liveview of the recorder.

Claims

1. A system for generating an image appended with landscape information of an object, comprising:

a micro-processing unit used for processing signals of an image appended with the landscape information;

an image capturing unit used for capturing the image of the object;

an image information controlling unit, electrically with the micro-processing unit, retrieving space information after detection;

a memory unit, electrically connected with the micro-processing unit, having a buffer memory for buffering the signals processed by the micro-processing unit, and connected with a database, wherein the landscape information appended with the image is determined by referring to the space information;

an image generating unit, electrically connected with the micro-processing unit, used for generating the image appended with the landscape information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the space information includes a focal length which is generated by a focus controlling unit of the image capturing unit, thereby a viewing angle is determined.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a step of determining a distance toward the object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the space information includes a direction which is generated by a direction detecting unit electrically with the image information controlling unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the direction detecting unit is an electronic compass.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic compass operates with a gyro sensor for enhancing detection accuracy.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the space information includes an elevation angle, which is generated by an elevation-angle detecting unit electrically connected with the image information controlling unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the elevation-angle detecting unit is an accelerometer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the space information includes a coordinate value, which is generated by a global positioning unit electrically connected with the image information controlling unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the global positioning unit is implemented by a global positioning system retrieving positioning information from a satellite.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a function selecting unit, and the system added with the landscape information appending function by a selection through the function selecting unit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to a digital camcorder.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the image appended with the landscape information is generated in real time through the image generating unit, and the image is displayed on a liveview screen of the digital camcorder.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the space information includes a focal length, a direction, an elevation angle, and a coordinate value.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the focal length, the direction, the elevation angle, and the coordinate value are recorded in EXIF of the image.

16. A method for generating an image appended with landscape information, comprising:

retrieving an image;

obtaining space information as a timing for retrieving the image, wherein the space information includes;

a focal length for determining a viewing angle for the image and a distance toward the image;

a direction;

an elevation angle; and

a coordinate value;

comparing with a database for obtaining landscape information, which presents an object determined by referring to the focal length, the direction, the elevation angle, and the coordinate value; and

generating the image appended with the landscape information, and displaying the image on a liveview screen of a digital camcorder.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the direction is generated by an electronic compass collocated with a gyro sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the elevation angle is generated by an accelerometer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the coordinate value is generated by a global positioning system.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the landscape information in the database is updated via a network.