Process for automatically determining a probability of image capture with a terminal using contextual data

• US 8,339,469 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Vau, Jean-Marie, Lebihen, Thierry, Masera, Eric, Papin, Christophe Edmond Maurice, Adelbert, Santie Valérie LourdesMarie
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US12/529,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20100165076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/231.7, 348/E5.031, 348/E7.001, 348/E3.029, 348/E3.031, 382/209
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

A process for using a terminal capable of capturing images to determine a probability of capturing the images according to information taken from contextual data provided by the image capture means. The process uses a terminal such as a mobile terminal comprising a first image data sensor and at least one contextual data sensor to automatically determine at least one probability of capturing an image or a sequence of images taking place within a time interval, the capture probability being calculated based on at least one response provided by one of the activated image data and/or contextual data sensors.

Claims

1. A process to automatically determine with a mobile terminal comprising a first image data sensor and at least one contextual data sensor, at least one probability that a capture of an image or of a sequence of images occurs within a time interval, the probability of capture being calculated from at least one response provided by one of the image data and/or contextual data sensors when said sensor is activated.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the probability of capture is calculated according to a sequence according to which the response provided by at least one of the activated contextual data or image data sensors exceeds a pre-established value, preferably numerical, of the output signal of said sensor.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the calculation of the probability of capture and the pre-established value are automatically modified according to a dataset related to a history of the sensor responses and of the capture moments.

4. The process according to claim 2, wherein the probability of capture is expressed as a numerical value comprised between 0 and 1.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the data captured by the image data and/or contextual data sensors have a capture quality and an acquisition frequency that are determined according to a value of probability of capture.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the data captured by the image data and/or contextual data sensors have a capture quality and an acquisition frequency that increase, before the moment of the capture, with the probability of capture.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the data captured by the image data and/or contextual data sensors have a capture quality and an acquisition frequency that increase, before the moment of the capture, all the more that the interval that maximizes the probability of capture is close to the instant at which the capture probability calculation has taken place.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the data captured by the image data and/or contextual data sensors have a data capture quality and an acquisition frequency that both decrease after the moment of the capture.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the data captured by the contextual data sensor is a physical measurement operated continually when the sensor is activated.

10. The process according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the data capture quality is a pixels resolution value for the image captured, expressed by a pixel density per unit of length.

11. The process according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the data capture quality is a value for a number of images captured per second.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a tilt sensor placed on the terminal.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is an acceleration sensor placed on the terminal, such as an accelerometer, for measuring a movement transmitted to the terminal.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a pressure sensor cooperating with an images capture release button of the terminal.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a sound sensor, such as a microphone, placed on the terminal.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a temperature sensor placed on the terminal.

17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is comprised into the images capture release button.

18. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a resistivity sensor placed on the terminal, for measuring an emotional state of a person who exerts a touch on the resistivity sensor during a prehension of the terminal.

19. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is an RFID or NFC type sensor placed on the terminal, for detecting people or objects present within the action field of the sensor.

20. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a geographical localization sensor, such as a GPS sensor, placed on the terminal for measuring the position of the terminal in the space.

21. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contextual data sensor is a second image data sensor preferentially placed on the rear of the terminal, said second image sensor cooperating with detection means built into the terminal to detect a number of human faces present outside the capture field of the first image sensor and/or information inherent to the individual faces of these detected people.

22. The process according to claim 21, wherein the information inherent to the faces are an emotional state;

a position, for example horizontal, of the face;

a speed of motion of the face in relation to the terminal.

23. The process according to claim 2, wherein the terminal has a means for selecting an images capture mode, such as a portrait mode, or landscape mode, or panoramic mode, or sport mode, the value of the signal emitted by the contextual data sensor defining the exceeding being pre-established or calculated according to the selected images capture mode.

24. The process according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a digital camera phone comprising a CCD or CMOS image sensor and a display screen.

25. The process according to claim 5, wherein the contextual data are captured and stored with a flash memory card, for example a SD (Secure Digital) or micro SD card, that is inserted into the mobile terminal.