Picture taking method and apparatus

• US 7,015,950 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gesture Technology Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: Timothy R. Pryor
• Inventors: Pryor, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/568,552
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 348/142, 348/169, 348/218.1, 348/208.14, 348/474, 348/475, 348/158, 348/318, 348/207.11, 348/208.15, 345/474, 345/475, 345/158, 382/318
• US Class Current: 348/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

Method and apparatus is disclosed to enhance the quality and usefulness of picture taking and other image acquisition for pleasure or business purposes. In a preferred embodiment, stereo photogrammetry is combined with digital image acquisition to acquire or store scenes and poses of interest, and/or to interact with the subject in order to provide data to or from a computer. This data may be utilized to maximize the effectiveness of photographic sessions, particularly digital still photography or cine-photography. A further embodiment discloses associated displays and teaching apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for photographing one or more persons, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one digital camera, computer, and image processing software, said camera being positioned to view said one or more persons and being separate from said one or more persons,

b. acquiring an image with said at least one digital camera of said one or more persons,

c. processing of said image with the computer,

d. determining locations or motions of one or more points on at least one of said one or more persons with the computer from the acquired image,

e. determining from said locations or motions with the computer a state of at least one of said one or more persons,

f. comparing with the computer said state to a desired state, and

g. using the result of said comparison,

(i) if the comparison is determined to meet predetermined criteria by the computer, having the computer effect the recording of a photograph to be viewed in due course, or

(ii) if the comparison is determined not to meet predetermined criteria by the computer, having the computer generate and provide an instruction to said one or more persons to alter said state of the one or more persons, and then repeating steps b–

g.

2. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photograph is taken with said digital camera.

3. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photograph is taken with an additional digital camera.

4. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photograph is taken at high resolution.

5. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, where said photograph is a sequence of sequential photographs.

6. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said state is taught using prerecorded images.

7. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said state is determined when one or more locations or relative locations is within a certain range.

8. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said state is determined from characteristics in the image of one or more of said persons.

9. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said points on said at least one or more persons is projected onto said person.

10. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein the state of said at least one or more persons is the shape of the lips of at least one person.

11. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein the state of said at least one or more persons is a characteristic of at least one person'"'"'s eyes.

12. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of instructing at least one or more persons to change position pose or engage in movement.

13. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said points on said at least one or more persons is an artificial datum on at least one said person.

14. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image of at least one more persons with an artificial datum is filled in to obscure said datum.

15. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein said state is a pose of said at least one or more persons.

16. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 12, wherein said movement of said at least one or more persons is a sequence of motions.

17. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 12, wherein said movement of said person is a gesture.

18. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instruction provided by said computer is a verbal communication.

19. A method for photographing one or more persons, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one digital camera, computer, and image processing software, said camera being positioned to view said one or more persons and being separate from said one or more persons,

b. acquiring an image with said at least one digital camera of said one or more persons,

c. processing of said image with the computer,

d. determining locations or motions of one or more points on at least one of said one or more persons with the computer from the acquired image,

e. determining from said locations or motions with the computer a relationship of at least one of said persons to another of said persons or an object,

f. comparing with the computer said relationship to a desired relationship, and

g. using the result of said comparison

(i) if the comparison is determined to meet predetermined criteria by the computer, having the computer effect the recording of a photograph to be viewed in due course, or

(ii) if the comparison is determined not to meet predetermined criteria by the computer, having the computer generate and provide an instructions to said one or more persons to alter said relationship of the one or more persons, and then repeating steps b–

g.

20. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said photograph is taken with said digital camera.

21. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said photograph is taken with an additional digital camera.

22. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said photograph is taken at high resolution.

23. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, where said photograph is a sequence of sequential photographs.

24. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said relationship is taught using prerecorded images.

25. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said relationship is determined when one or more locations or relative locations is within a certain range.

26. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said relationship is determined from characteristics in the image of one or more of said persons.

27. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one of said points on said at least one or more persons is projected onto said person.

28. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, including the further step of instructing said at least one or more persons to change position pose or engage in movement.

29. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one of said points on said at least one or more persons is an artificial datum on at least one said person.

30. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein the image of at least one or more persons with an artificial datum is filled in to obscure said datum.

31. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 28, wherein said movement of said at least one or more persons is a sequence of motions.

32. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein said movement of said person is a human gesture.

33. The method for photographing persons as claimed in claim 19, wherein the instruction provided by said computer is a verbal communication.