Information technology for finding a location based on an image at another location

• US 8,364,393 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeLuca, Lisa Seacat, Grigsby, Travis M., Jania, Frank Lawrence, Miller, Steven Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/511,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 701207-213, 701408-410, 701/420, 701/431, 701/436, 701/450, 701/451, 701/461, 340990-994, 3409951-99528, 348/231.2, 348/113, 348/116, 382/100, 382/305, 382/217, 382/218
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes

Abstract

A computer system displays an image of a first geographic location by a computer system, receives a user selection of a portion of the image of the first geographic location, processes the user-selected image portion to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion, computes a logical connection between the computer system identified meaning and a second geographic location, and directs the user to the second geographic location. Computing the logical connection may include finding a match between a significance of the second geographic location and the meaning identified for the user-selected image portion. Receiving a user selection of an image portion may include receiving a user selection identifying an ad within the image and wherein the processing to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion includes identifying a meaning for the ad.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a non-hyperlinked, real-world image of a first geographic location by a computer system;

receiving, by the computer system, a user selection of a portion of the image of the first geographic location;

processing the user-selected image portion by the computer system to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion, wherein identifying the meaning includes i) the computer system identifying an object in the user selected image portion and finding a matching description of the object in a database or ii) identifying text in the user selected image portion;

the computer system computing a logical connection between the computer system identified meaning and a second geographic location, wherein the logical connection is a logical connection more than or other than proximity of the second geographic location to the first location; and

the computer system providing directions to the second geographic location responsive to the computed logical connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the logical connection includes finding a match between a significance of the second geographic location and the text or description of the user-selected image portion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a user selection of an image portion includes receiving a user selection identifying an ad within the image and wherein the processing to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion includes identifying a meaning for the ad.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the ad includes:

the computer system recognizing text in the user selected image portion; and

wherein computing the logical connection between the user-selected ad and the second geographic location includes;

the computer system searching a database for commercial outlets relating to the recognized text and searching among the commercial outlets relating to the recognized text for one located nearest to the first location.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the processing to identify a meaning for the ad includes:

the computer system identifying an object in the user selected image portion;

the computer system searching for a matching description of the object in a database; and

identifying text for the matching description responsive to the searching; and

wherein computing the logical connection includes;

the computer system searching a database for commercial outlets relating to the identified text and searching among the commercial outlets relating to the identified text for one located nearest to the first location.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second geographic location includes a retail outlet, wherein the logical connection includes a connection wherein the outlet sells goods or services corresponding to the ad.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selling goods or services corresponding to the ad includes selling goods or services from a source associated with a trademark in the ad.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing directions to the second geographic location includes identifying the second geographic location on a map.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing directions to the second geographic location includes providing a text-based description of a route from the first geographic location to the second geographic location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing directions to the second geographic location includes graphically showing a route on a map from the first location to the second geographic location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the image includes a panoramic street-level image of city street surroundings.

12. A program product for exploring or navigating via images, the program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable code configured to receive a user selection of a portion of a non-hyperlinked, real-world image of a first geographic location;

computer readable code configured to process the image to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion, wherein identifying the meaning includes i) the computer system identifying an object in the user selected image portion and finding a matching description of the object in a database or ii) identifying text in the user selected image portion;

computer readable code configured to compute a logical connection between the meaning and a second geographic location, wherein the logical connection is a logical connection more than or other than proximity of the second geographic location to the first location; and

computer readable code configured to direct the user to the second geographic location responsive to the computed logical connection.

13. The program product of claim 12, wherein computing the logical connection includes finding a match between a significance of the second geographic location and the text or description of the user-selected image portion.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein receiving a user selection of an image portion includes receiving a user selection identifying an ad within the image and wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion includes identifying a meaning for the ad.

15. The program product of claim 14, wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the ad includes:

recognizing text in the user selected image portion; and

wherein computing the logical connection between the user-selected ad and the second geographic location includes;

searching a database for commercial outlets relating to the recognized text and searching among the commercial outlets relating to the identified text for one located nearest to the first location.

16. The program product of claim 14, wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the ad includes:

identifying an object in the user selected image portion;

searching for a matching description of the object in a database; and

identifying text for the matching description responsive to the searching; and

wherein computing the logical connection includes;

searching a database for commercial outlets relating to the identified text and searching among the commercial outlets relating to the identified text for one located nearest to the first location.

17. The program product of claim 14, wherein the second geographic location includes a retail outlet, wherein the logical connection includes a connection wherein the outlet sells goods or services corresponding to the ad.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein selling goods or services corresponding to the ad includes selling goods or services from a source associated with a trademark in the ad.

19. A computer system comprising:

at least one storage system for storing a program; and

at least one processor for processing the program, the system being configured with the program and the processor to receive a user selection of a portion of a non-hyperlinked, real-world image of a first geographic location, process the image to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion, wherein identifying the meaning includes i) the computer system identifying an object in the user selected image portion and finding a matching description of the object in a database or ii) identifying text in the user selected image portion, compute a logical connection between the user-selected image portion and a second geographic location, wherein the logical connection is a logical connection more than or other than proximity of the second geographic location to the first location, and direct the user to the second geographic location responsive to the computed logical connection.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein computing the logical connection includes finding a match between a significance of the second geographic location and the text or description of the user-selected image portion.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein receiving a user selection of an image portion includes receiving a user selection identifying an ad within the image and wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the user-selected image portion includes identifying a meaning for the ad.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the ad includes:

recognizing text in the user selected image portion; and

wherein computing the logical connection between the user-selected ad and the second geographic location includes;

searching a database for commercial outlets relating to the recognized text and searching among the commercial outlets relating to the identified text for one located nearest to the first location.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein processing the image to identify a meaning for the ad includes:

identifying an object in the user selected image portion;

searching for a matching description of the object in a database; and

identifying text for the matching description responsive to the searching; and

wherein computing the logical connection includes;

searching a database for commercial outlets relating to the identified text and searching among the commercial outlets relating to the identified text for one located nearest to the first location.

24. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the second geographic location includes a retail outlet, wherein the logical connection includes a connection wherein the outlet sells goods or services corresponding to the ad.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein selling goods or services corresponding to the ad includes selling goods or services from a source associated with a trademark in the ad.