System and method for automatically collecting images of objects at geographic locations and displaying same in online directories

• US 7,155,336 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Manber, Udi, Gold, Jonathan A., Dorfman, Barnaby M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US10/809,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-202, 701207-209, 701213-215, 701/25, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.12, 340/988, 340/995.1
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/006 Representation of non-cartographic information on maps, e.g. population distribution, wind direction, radiation levels, air and sea routes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A method and system are provided for collecting images of objects at geographic locations for publication in an online directory, such as online Yellow Pages. A camera and a GPS receiver, both receiving time information from a synchronized clock, are mounted on a vehicle. Time-stamped images captured by the camera and time-stamped geographic locations (e.g., longitude and latitude coordinates) determined by the GPS receiver are recorded. Each image is then associated with a geographic location based on corresponding respective time-stamps. Thereafter, each image is correlated with a street addresses based on each image'"'"'s associated geographic location, for example by referring to a lookup table that correlates addresses with geographic coordinates. The address-correlated images may then be used in an online directory, where each listing (e.g., business) can be displayed with an image of an object (e.g., store front) taken at the address in the listing.

Claims

1. A method of preparing images of objects at geographic locations for use in an online directory, comprising:

(a) receiving images of objects, wherein each image is associated with a geographic location;

(b) automatically correlating each image with a street address based on each image'"'"'s associated geographic location, wherein one or more images are correlated with each street address; and

(c) providing an image for display with a listing in an online directory based on a street address in the listing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically correlating each image with a street address comprises using an algorithm comprising a series of logics to calculate street addresses based on geographic locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically correlating each image with a street address comprises using the image'"'"'s geographic location to refer to a lookup table that correlates street addresses with geographic locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving images of objects further comprises:

(i) receiving time-stamped images captured by a camera;

(ii) receiving time-stamped geographic locations as determined by a GPS receiver that is located with the camera; and

(iii) automatically associating each image with a geographic location based on corresponding respective time-stamps.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving time-stamped distance information as determined by a range finder located with the camera and GPS receiver for measuring a distance to an object being imaged by the camera, wherein the received distance information is used in automatically associating each image with a geographic location.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the time-stamped images are captured using a digital video camera.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the time-stamped images are captured using a digital still camera.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, result in performing the method of claim 1.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an image of an object not associated with a geographic location and calculating the geographic location of the image based on interpolation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving images of objects comprises selectively receiving only a subset of an entire set of images captured by a camera so as to minimize gaps and overlaps.

11. A computer system for preparing images of objects at geographic locations for use in an online directory, comprising:

(a) an input/output interface that receives images, each image being associated with a geographic location;

(b) a memory with information that correlates street addresses with geographic locations; and

(c) a processor coupled to the input/output interface and the memory, the processor being configured to execute computer instructions that cause the processor to;

(i) correlate each image received via the input/output interface with a street address by referring to the information stored in the memory, wherein one or more images are correlated with each street address; and

(ii) provide each image for display with a listing in an online directory based on a street address in the listing.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the information in the memory comprises an algorithm comprising a series of logics to calculate street addresses based on geographic locations.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the information in the memory comprises a lookup table that correlates street addresses with geographic locations.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the input/output interface further receives some images not associated with geographic locations, and the processor is configured to calculate the geographic locations of those images based on interpolation.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the input/output interface selectively receives only a subset of an entire set of images captured by a camera so as to minimize gaps and overlaps.