Camera system and method for picture sharing using geotagged pictures

• US 8,144,232 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Larson, Erik, Wilson, Julia, Alstorp, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, QUANG V
• Application Number:
  US12/167,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.05, 348/143, 348/164, 396/322
• US Class Current: 348/333.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters

Abstract

A system and method provide interactive techniques for sharing digital photos, in which a user of a portable electronic device may seek out a location at which another electronic device was used to capture a photo. The captured image may then be displayed on a display of the user'"'"'s electronic device by superimposing the photo on the display while the display functions as an electronic viewfinder for a camera assembly of the electronic device. The viewing of another person'"'"'s photos is made to be an interactive and entertaining experience. The disclosed techniques combine the user'"'"'s “real world” presence (e.g., location and viewing perspective) with the previously captured photo to create a fun and exciting experience that also may serve as a trigger for communication between the user and the person who took the photo.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a camera assembly;

an electronic viewfinder configured to display a preview image representing a portion of a scene that is in a field of view of the camera assembly to a user; and

a controller configured to control the electronic viewfinder to display a photo together with the preview image, the photo containing a representation of a portion of the scene as captured at a previous point in time and geotagged with a location of the place of capture; and

wherein the photo is captured with a different camera assembly and transferred to the electronic device;

wherein the photo is superimposed over the preview image;

wherein the electronic device is configured to function as a browsing device for the geotagged picture as the electronic device approaches the geotagged location in which the picture was captured by display of the photo when a location of the camera assembly comes within a predetermined distance of the geotagged location at which the photo was captured; and

wherein the photo is displayed on the viewfinder turned relative to the preview image and skewed to have a perspective to visually represent a relative orientation of the scene as captured in the photo versus a point-of-view of the camera assembly with respect to the scene.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the photo is displayed with partial transparency.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising call circuitry for establishing a call over a network.

4. A method of viewing a photo with an electronic device that includes a camera assembly and an electronic viewfinder, comprising:

displaying a preview image on the electronic viewfinder to a user, the preview image representing a portion of a scene that is in a field of view of the camera assembly; and

displaying the photo on the electronic viewfinder together with the preview image, the photo containing a representation of a portion of the scene as captured at a previous point in time and geotagged with a location of the place of capture; and

wherein the photo is captured with a different camera assembly and transferred to the electronic device;

wherein the photo is superimposed over the preview image;

further comprising tracking the location of the electronic device relative to a location at which the photo was captured, and wherein the photo is displayed when a location of the camera assembly comes within a predetermined distance of the geotagged location at which the photo was captured; and

wherein the photo is displayed on the viewfinder turned relative to the preview image and skewed to have a perspective to visually represent a relative orientation of the scene as captured in the photo versus a point-of-view of the camera assembly with respect to the scene.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting a notification to alert a user of the different camera assembly that the photo was viewed.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a communication from an electronic device associated with a user of the different camera assembly following the display of the photo.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising initiating a communication with an electronic device associated with a user of the different camera assembly following the display of the photo.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the photo is displayed with partial transparency.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the photo is made available to the electronic device by a user of another electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising browsing a map that identifies locations of available photos, and wherein the location at which the photo was captured is a user selected one of the locations.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a notification that the electronic device is within a predetermined proximity to the location at which the photo was captured.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising outputting cues to the user to assist the user in moving to the location at which the photo was captured.