Method of tracking images captured with a digital camera

• US 7,526,106 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• 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:
  US12/113,309
• Time in Patent Office: 362 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 method of tracking images captured by a digital camera includes inputting a profile marker to a profile information database in the digital camera, establishing a profile ratio for captured images. The profile ratio sets a number of captured images required to contain the profile marker. The method further requires scanning with a tracking system captured images stored a memory for the profile marker, and providing one of a visual alarm and an audible alarm indicating that the number of captured images containing the profile marker is less than the profile ratio.

Claims

1. A method of tracking images captured by a digital camera, the method comprising:

inputting a profile marker to a profile information database in the digital camera;

establishing a profile ratio for captured images, the profile ratio setting a number of captured images required to contain the profile marker;

scanning with a tracking system captured images stored a memory for the profile marker; and

providing one of a visual alarm and an audible alarm indicating that the number of captured images containing the profile marker is less than the profile ratio.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the profile marker in the captured images with a facial recognition algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the visual and audible alarm is provided prior to capturing an image.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating the tracking system only upon sensing a power input to the camera body to save energy.