METHOD OF PROCURING INTEGRATING AND SHARING SELF PORTRAITS FOR A SOCIAL NETWORK

• US 20160093020A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Umm Al-Qura University
• Original Assignee: Umm Al-Qura University
• Inventors: BASALAMAH, Saleh, BASALAMAH, Anas, ELGANAINY, Mostafa, DAOUD, Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Abdelghany
• Application Number:
  US14/870,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093020A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2624 for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An apparatus and method for combining contributed images from a plurality of imaging devices on a network to create a combined image, such as a group selfie. A group-selfie request is initiated inviting selected network users to contribute images. After receiving the contributed images, sub-images are selected from the contributed images and arranged within a combined image. The border around each sub-image is then blended into the combined image. The sub-images can also be filtered and modified to harmonize with the combined image. Further, each sub-image from the respective contributed image can be assigned to a predefined partition of the combined image, and the sub-images can be continuously updated from the respective contributing network users to provide a real-time combined image.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a group image, the method comprising:

sending, through a network, an image-request message to a plurality of selected users;

receiving, in response to the image-request message, a plurality of contributed images from the plurality of selected users;

selecting a plurality of sub-images from the plurality of contributed images, wherein each sub-image corresponds to a sub-image area within the respective contributed image; and

combining the plurality of sub-images, using processing circuitry, to create a combined image by arranging the plurality of sub-images within the combined image and blending a boundary region of each sub-image with the combined image.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting the plurality of sub-images further includes dividing the combined image into a plurality of partitions assigned to respective sub-images, and each sub-image area of the respective sub-image has a predefined shape within the respective contributed image determined by the respective partition of the combined image.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the combined image is continuously updated to represent a real-time image, wherein the plurality of contributed images are continuously received and the sub-images are continuously updated and combined to create the combined image representing a real-time composite of the contributed images from the plurality of selected users.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

filtering the plurality of sub-images to harmonize a color and a dark level of the plurality of sub-images within the combined image.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting a shape and size of each of the plurality of sub-images to harmonize objects represented in the plurality of sub-images with shapes and sizes of objects represented in the combined image.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting a width of the boundary region of each sub-image; and

selecting a blending method whereby the boundary region of each sub-image is blended with the combined image.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting the plurality of sub-images includes detecting faces in a contributed image of the plurality of contributed images and defining a region localized around each detected face as a facial area, and selecting at least one of the facial areas as the sub-image area of the contributed image.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

arranging the plurality of sub-images within the combined image to minimize overlap among the plurality of sub-images.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a time window during which the plurality of contributed images can be received, and not receiving contributed images outside of the time window;

selecting the plurality of selected users from a list of contacts; and

annotating the combined image.

10. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

selecting a configuration of the partitions of the combined image from a menu of partition configurations, wherein the partition configurations include different numbers of partitions and different arrangements of the partitions.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method according to claim 1.

11. An apparatus for combining images, comprising:

an interface connectable to a network; and

processing circuitry configured to

send an image request to a plurality of selected users,

receive a plurality of contributed images from the plurality of selected users,

select a plurality of sub-images from the plurality of contributed images, wherein each sub-image corresponds to a sub-image area within the respective contributed image, and

combine the plurality of sub-images to create a combined image by arranging the plurality of sub-images within the combined image and blending a boundary region of each sub-image with the combined image.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a digital camera configured to acquire digital images; and

a memory configured to store the digital images acquired by the digital camera.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to divide the combined image into a plurality of partitions assigned to respective sub-images, and each sub-image area of the respective sub-image has a predefined shape within the respective contributed image determined by the respective partition of the combined image.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to continuously receive contributed images and continuously update the sub-images and the combined image as the contributed images are received, such that the combined image represents a real-time composite of the contributed images.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

filter the plurality of sub-images to harmonize a color and a dark level of the plurality of sub-images with the combined image;

and

adjust a shape and size of each of the plurality of sub-images to harmonize objects represented in the plurality of sub-images with shapes and sizes of objects represented in the combined image.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

adjust a width of the boundary region of each sub-image;

and

select a blending method whereby the boundary region of each sub-image is blended with the combined image.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

detect faces in the contributed images;

define a region localized around each detected face as a facial area; and

select at least one of the facial areas as the respective sub-image area of the corresponding contributed image.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

arrange the plurality of sub-images within the combined image to minimize overlap among the plurality of sub-images;

determine a time window during which the plurality of contributed images can be received, and not receiving contributed images outside of the time window;

select the plurality of selected users from a list of contacts; and

annotate the combined image.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

select a configuration of the partitions of the combined image from a menu of partition configurations, wherein the partition configurations include different numbers of partitions and different arrangements of the partitions.