Digital camera with image tracking system

• US 7,391,886 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Theis, Richard, Garbow, Zachary A., Clark, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan; Sheela C
• Application Number:
  US11/971,376
• Time in Patent Office: 167 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/118, 382/115, 382/162, 382/128, 382/167, 382/263, 382/100, 382/275, 396/57, 396/298, 396/299, 396/300, 396/303, 358/1.9, 358/488, 358/518, 358/504, 358/3.26, 358/497, 348/169, 348/E9.037, 348/E9.052, 348/E9.054, 348/333.02, 378/38
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• 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

A digital camera system includes an input member for selecting at least one of an individual profile and a group profile and a memory operatively coupled to the input member. The memory includes digital images captured by the digital camera system and a profile information database. The profile information database includes at least one of an individual profile having an individual profile marker and a group profile having a plurality of individual profile markers. A tracking system, operatively coupled to the memory, selectively scans the captured images for images including at least one individual profile marker. A notification system, operatively coupled to the tracking system, provides one of a visual and an audible alarm indicating that less than a pre-selected number of individual profile markers are present in the captured images.

Claims

1. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having a camera body;

an input member for selecting at least one of an individual profile and a group profile;

a memory operatively coupled to the input member, the memory having stored therein digital images captured by the digital camera system and a profile information database, the profile information database including at least one of an individual profile including an individual profile marker and a group profile including a plurality of individual profile markers;

a tracking system operatively coupled to the memory, the tracking system selectively scanning the captured images stored in the memory for images that include at least one individual profile marker; and

a notification system operatively coupled to the tracking system, the notification system providing one of a visual and an audible alarm indicating that less than a pre-selected number of individual profile markers are present in the captured images.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking system includes a facial recognition algorithm for detecting individual profile markers.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking system is mounted remote from the camera body.

4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the one of the visual and audible indicator is provided prior to capturing an image.

5. The camera system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy saving mechanism, the energy saving mechanism activating the tracking system only upon sensing a power input to the camera body.