Image Enhancement and Repair Using Sample Data from Other Images

• US 20170195557A1
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dellinger, Richard R., Sabatelli, Alessandro F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,205,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5854 using shape and object relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30216 Redeye defect
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/77 Retouching; Inpainting; Scratch removal
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image

Abstract

Techniques for capturing images are described. In one scenario, one or more processors of an imaging device can obtain geodata information and time information associated with the imaging device. The geodata and time information is obtained prior to capturing a first image. Next, one or more second images can be identified from a database of images based on the geodata information and the time information. The processor(s) can be communicatively coupled to the database via a communications network. Additionally, the one or more processors can determine one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images; and automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image. The settings can be modified based on at least one of the one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images. Other embodiments are possible.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for image capture, comprising:

obtaining, by one or more processors of an imaging device and prior to capturing a first image, one or more of geodata information and time information associated with the imaging device;

identifying from a database of images one or more second images based on one or more of the geodata information and the time information, wherein the one or more processors are communicatively coupled to the database via a communications network;

determining one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images; and

automatically modifying one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image based on at least one of the one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more image capture conditions comprises lighting information associated with the one or more second images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more image capture conditions comprises an object that is common to each of the one or more second images.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more second images comprises searching the database of images for the one or more second images, wherein the search is constrained by one or more predetermined criteria.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises one or more of the geodata and time information associated with the first image.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the search of the database is constrained by a temporal window, and wherein each of the one or more second images is captured during the temporal window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically modifying one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image comprises:

combining one or more corresponding regions from the one or more second images to generate a third image;

determining one or more characteristics associated with the third image based on the one or more image capture conditions that are associated with the one or more second images; and

automatically modifying one or more settings of the imaging device based on the one or more determined characteristics associated with the third image.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for image capture, the instructions comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

obtain, prior to capturing a first image, one or more of geodata information and time information associated with an imaging device;

identify from a database of images one or more second images based on one or more of the geodata information and the time information, wherein the one or more processors are communicatively coupled to the database via a communications network;

determine one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images; and

automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image based on at least one of the one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more image capture conditions comprises lighting information associated with the one or more second images.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more image capture conditions comprises an object that is common to each of the one or more second images.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to identify one or more second images comprise instructions for causing the one or more processors to search the database of images for the one or more second images, wherein the search is constrained by one or more predetermined criteria.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises one or more of the geodata and time information associated with the first image.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the search of the database is constrained by a temporal window, and wherein each of the one or more second images is captured during the temporal window.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image comprise instructions for causing the one or more processors to:

combine one or more corresponding regions from the one or more second images to generate a third image;

determine one or more characteristics associated with the third image based on the one or more image capture conditions that are associated with the one or more second images; and

automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device based on the one or more determined characteristics associated with the third image.

15. A programmable device configured for image capture, comprising:

memory storing data, the data comprising instructions for image capture logic coupled to the memory and configured to execute the memory to;

obtain, prior to capturing a first image, one or more of geodata information and time information associated with an imaging device;

identify from a database of images one or more second images based on one or more of the geodata information and the time information, wherein the one or more processors are communicatively coupled to the database via a communications network;

determine one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images; and

automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image based on at least one of the one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images.

16. The programmable device of claim 15, wherein the one or more image capture conditions comprises lighting information associated with the one or more second images.

17. The programmable device of claim 16, wherein the one or more image capture conditions comprises an object that is common to each of the one or more second images.

18. The programmable device of claim 16, wherein the logic being configured to execute the instructions to identify one or more second images comprises the logic being configured to execute the instructions to search the database of images for the one or more second images, wherein the search is constrained by one or more predetermined criteria.

19. The programmable device of claim 18, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises one or more of the geodata and time information associated with the first image.

20. The programmable device of claim 18, wherein the search of the database is constrained by a temporal window, and wherein each of the one or more second images is captured during the temporal window.

21. The programmable device of claim 15, wherein the logic being configured to execute the instructions to automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image comprises the logic being configured to execute the instructions to:

combine one or more corresponding regions from the one or more second images to generate a third image;

determine one or more characteristics associated with the third image based on the one or more image capture conditions that are associated with the one or more second images; and

automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device based on the one or more determined characteristics associated with the third image.