Image mapping to provide visual geographic path

• US 8,107,691 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Location Based Services, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US12/802,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20110007093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 382/113, 382/114, 382/155, 382/168, 382/180, 382/181, 382/184, 382/189, 382/216, 382/232, 382/255, 382/274, 382/284, 382/291, 382/305, 382/312, 382/118, 345/8, 345/619, 701/209, 701/200, 701/201, 379/201.03
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/16 using multiple overlapping images; Image stitching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/24 Aligning, centring, orientation detection or correction of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence

Abstract

Provided is a computer system and method for mapping a visual path. The method includes receiving one or more images included in a predefined area; receiving one or more parameters associated with the image; and integrating the images and parameters into a map of the predefined area to enable mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters.

Claims

1. A method for a computing device for mapping a visual path, the method comprising:

receiving, via a computing device, one or more images of a predefined area;

receiving, via a computing device, one or more parameters associated with the one or more images, the one or more parameters including a proximity parameter and a time parameter;

integrating the one or more images and the one or more parameters into a map of the predefined area, said integrating including receiving an identifier associated with an object on at least one of the one or more images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object, and wherein said receiving includes;

matching the object to a class of persons, the object acted upon according to an association with the class of persons; and

mapping the visual path of the user through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters to enable tracking of one or more individuals through the predefined area.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sequentially displaying the visual path of the one or more images on a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters includes

wirelessly receiving a location parameter as one of the one or more input path parameters;

receiving a timing parameter as one of the one or more input path parameters, the timing parameter identifying a periodicity for collecting the one or more images; and

receiving an identification of a user as one or the one or more input path parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more images of a predefined area includes:

receiving an image history taken from one or more public cameras and/or one or more private cameras.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more images of a predefined area includes:

connecting to a server operably couplable to a mobile device to wirelessly receive the one or more images.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters includes:

enabling a user of one or a fixed and/or a mobile device to display the visual path.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more images of a predefined area includes:

receiving at least one current image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more images of a predefined area includes:

receiving at least one current image.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

taking the action with respect to the object, the action including one or more of highlighting the object, removing the object, and/or altering the object.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving an identifier associated with an object on one or more of the one or more mages, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object includes:

matching the object to a person.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the input path parameters, the input path parameters including at least one location or at least one timing parameter.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

combining the one or more images to create the visual path, the visual path including one or more current images of the predefined area, the visual path being scrollable with respect to the predefined area.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the combining the one or more images to create the visual path, the visual path including one or more current images of the predefined area, the visual path being scrollable with respect to the predefined area includes:

combining the one or more images through an image stitching operation.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the combining the one or more images to create the visual path, the visual path including one or more current images of the predefined area, the visual path being scrollable with respect to the predefined area includes:

correlating a time parameter with the visual path to provide an interval for displaying and/or retrieving the one or more images for the visual path.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

an image module coupled to the memory, the image module including;

a data store configurable to hold one or more images of a predefined area; and

an integration module configured to integrate the one or more images and generate a visual path through the predefined area, said integration including receiving an identifier associated with an object on at least one of the one or more images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object, and wherein said receiving includes matching the object to a class of persons, the object acted upon according to an association with the class of persons.

16. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter configurable to transmit the visual path to a mobile device wirelessly connected to the computer system.

17. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the integration module is configurable to correlate a time parameter with the visual path to provide an interval for displaying and/or retrieving images for the visual path.

18. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the integration module is configurable to operate with an image stitching application.

19. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the integration module is configured to receive one or more images of a user via one or more of a transmission from the user and/or a live feed from an internet source.

20. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the integration module tracks the user using the received one or more images.

21. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the integration module prepares a visual path including locations visited by the user.

22. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the integration module prepares a visual path including locations to be visited by the user.