METHOD AND SYSTEM OF STARTING SNAPPING STATIC SCENE

• US 20110157376A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Lyu, Szu-Hao, Yu, Chien-Nan
• Granted Patent: US 8,432,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20

Abstract

A method of starting snapping a static scene is applied to a system, which is electrically connected with an image-capturing device and a display device. The display device has a displaying zone for display a visual field of the image-capturing device. After an instruction of setting a block in the displaying zone is received by the system, a skin color coverage percentage of the block is calculated. According to the skin color coverage percentage, the system determines whether the scene within the visual field is stored or not. By the method and system of the present invention, a self-timer function is activated according to the skin color.

Claims

1. A method of starting snapping a static scene for use with an image-capturing device and a display device electrically connected with said image-capturing device, said display device having a displaying zone for display a visual field of said image-capturing device, said method comprising steps of:

setting a block in said displaying zone, wherein said block is correlated with a portion of said visual field;

calculating a skin color coverage percentage of said block; and

comparing said skin color coverage percentage with a first threshold value, wherein said scene is continuously captured by said image-capturing device in a first operating status, and wherein if said skin color coverage percentage is greater than said first threshold value, said image-capturing device in said first operating status is switched to a second operating status, and wherein a delaying time is counted and said scene is captured and stored after said delaying time when said image-capturing unit is in said second operating status.

2. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 1 wherein after said first operating status is switched to said second operating status, a count of said delaying time is shown on said display device during said delaying time is counted.

3. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 1 further comprising steps of:

refreshing said skin color coverage percentage of said block during said delaying time is counted; and

comparing said refreshed skin color coverage percentage with said first threshold value, wherein if said refreshed skin color coverage percentage is greater than said first threshold value, said image-capturing device in said second operating status is switched to said first operating status.

4. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 3 wherein once said image-capturing device is switched to said first operating status, a snap-stopping message is shown on said display device.

5. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 3 wherein if said refreshed skin color coverage percentage is not greater than said first threshold value, said image-capturing device is maintained in said second operating status.

6. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 1 wherein after said image-capturing device is in said second operating status and before said delaying time is counted, an edge intensity of said scene within said visual field is generated, wherein if said edge intensity is not smaller than a second threshold value, said delaying time is counted.

7. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 6 wherein a count of said delaying time is shown on said display device during said delaying time is counted.

8. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 1 wherein said first threshold value is a positive number greater than zero.

9. A snapping method for use with an image-capturing device and a display device electrically connected with said image-capturing device, said display device having a displaying zone for display a visual field of said image-capturing device, a block correlated with a portion of said visual field being set in said displaying zone, said snapping method comprising steps of:

calculating a skin color coverage percentage of said block; and

switching said image-capturing device to a first operating status or a second operating status if said skin color coverage percentage is present, wherein once said image-capturing device is in said first operating status, said scene is continuously captured by said image-capturing device, wherein once said image-capturing device has been in said second operating status for a delaying time, said scene is captured and stored after said delaying time.

10. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 9 wherein during said delaying time of said image-capturing device is counted, a count of said delaying time is shown on said display device.

11. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 9 wherein after said image-capturing device is in said second operating status and said scene is stored, said image-capturing device is switched to said first operating status.

12. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 9 wherein after said image-capturing device is in said second operating status and before said delaying time is counted, an edge intensity of said scene within said visual field is generated, wherein if said edge intensity is greater than a threshold value, said delaying time is counted.

13. The method of starting snapping a static scene according to claim 9 wherein once said image-capturing device in said second operating status is switched to said first operating status, a snap-stopping message is shown on said display device.

14. A snap starting system, comprising:

an image-capturing unit for capturing a scene within a visual field;

an input unit for setting a block;

an output unit for displaying said visual field and said block; and

a processing unit electrically connected with said image-capturing unit, said input unit and said output unit for calculating a skin color coverage percentage of said block, and switching said image-capturing unit between a first operating status and a second operating status according to said skin color coverage percentage, wherein once said image-capturing unit is in said first operating status, said scene is captured by said image-capturing device, wherein once said image-capturing unit is in said second operating status, a delaying time is counted, and said scene is captured and stored after said delaying time.

15. The snap starting system according to claim 14 wherein said image-capturing unit comprises a web camera.

16. The snap starting system according to claim 14 wherein said input unit comprises a mouse or a keyboard.

17. The snap starting system according to claim 14 wherein said output unit comprises a display device.

18. The snap starting system according to claim 14 wherein said processing unit comprises a processor.

19. The snap starting system according to claim 14 wherein said processing unit further calculates an edge intensity of said scene, and judges whether said delaying time starts to be counted according to said edge intensity.