Location-based communication method and system
First Claim
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1. A method for providing location-based messages, comprising the steps of:
- (a) searching among a plurality of world object for a suitable placeholder for a virtual message by using a handheld device provided with image acquisition apparatus;
(b) selecting one of said plurality of world objects as a placeholder by filtering world objects which are not visually isolated from their surroundings and which are not planar and by applying predetermined classification tests; and
(c) attaching one or more virtual messages to an image that identifies said selected placeholder;
wherein the step of selecting one of said plurality of world objects as a placeholder is carried out by performing the following operations;
(i) acquiring an image of a world object;
(ii) pre-processing said acquired image;
(iii) extracting image derivatives from said pre-processed image;
(iv) determining segments within said pre-processed image of a sufficiently high image gradient that are indicative that said acquired image is visually isolated from its surroundings; and
(v) applying validation tests to said determined segments for verifying compliance with predetermined constraints;
wherein a region of the sufficiently high image gradient is identified by projecting gradient image content on two orthogonal axes and analyzing said projected gradient image content with respect to compliance with the predetermined classification tests.
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Abstract
A method for providing location-based messages comprises locating a suitable placeholder for a message within a physical surrounding using a handheld device provided with image acquisition apparatus, and associating a written or visual or audio message, or a combination of two or more of them, with an image that identifies said placeholder, said association being carried out in a server adapted to communicate with said handheld device.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for providing location-based messages, comprising the steps of:
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(a) searching among a plurality of world object for a suitable placeholder for a virtual message by using a handheld device provided with image acquisition apparatus; (b) selecting one of said plurality of world objects as a placeholder by filtering world objects which are not visually isolated from their surroundings and which are not planar and by applying predetermined classification tests; and (c) attaching one or more virtual messages to an image that identifies said selected placeholder; wherein the step of selecting one of said plurality of world objects as a placeholder is carried out by performing the following operations; (i) acquiring an image of a world object; (ii) pre-processing said acquired image; (iii) extracting image derivatives from said pre-processed image; (iv) determining segments within said pre-processed image of a sufficiently high image gradient that are indicative that said acquired image is visually isolated from its surroundings; and (v) applying validation tests to said determined segments for verifying compliance with predetermined constraints; wherein a region of the sufficiently high image gradient is identified by projecting gradient image content on two orthogonal axes and analyzing said projected gradient image content with respect to compliance with the predetermined classification tests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for managing location-based messages, comprising:
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(a) one or more handheld devices for acquiring world object images, for selecting one of said world objects as a placeholder for a virtual message, for attaching a virtual message to an image that identifies said selected placeholder, and for receiving a virtual message attached to said selected placeholder; (b) a database in which is stored placeholder data and data related to one or more attached messages, each of said one or more attached messages being associated with a corresponding placeholder; and (c) a computing device for managing inputs and outputs of said placeholder and said message data with respect to said database and for locating and forwarding one or more of said attached messages; wherein each of said one or more handheld devices is operable to select said placeholder by filtering world objects which are not visually isolated from their surroundings and which are not planar and by applying predetermined classification tests; wherein selecting one of said world objects as the placeholder requires; (i) an image of a world object; (ii) a pre-processed image of the world object image; (iii) image derivatives extracted from said pre-processed image; (iv) segments within said pre-processed image having a sufficiently high image gradient that are indicative that the world object image is visually isolated from its surroundings; and (v) said segments comply with predetermined constraints as determined through applied validation tests; wherein a region of the sufficiently high image gradient is identified by projecting gradient image content on two orthogonal axes and analyzing said projected gradient image content with respect to compliance with the predetermined classification tests. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification