Automatic capture modes

• US 8,587,670 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wood, Kenneth, Hodges, Stephen, Williams, Lyndsay, Srinivasan, James, Rother, Carsten, Criminisi, Antonio, Chiloyan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERARDESCA, PAUL M
• Application Number:
  US12/096,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,560 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.9, 348/207.99, 348/231.99, 348/222.1, 396/49
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/212 Selecting different recording or reproducing modes, e.g. high or low resolution, field or frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An image capture device is described which is operable in any one of a number of capture modes. The device comprises a camera, a memory and a processor. The memory stores a plurality of sets of capture triggers, with each set of capture triggers being associated with one of the plurality of capture modes. The processor selects one of the plurality of capture modes, such that the device is operable in the selected capture mode. In the selected capture mode, an image is captured automatically when a capture trigger within the associated set of capture triggers is satisfied.

Claims

1. An image capture device comprising:

a memory arranged to store a plurality of different capture modes, each of the plurality of different capture modes;

being associated with a different image capture environment; and

being associated with one or more capture triggers, at least one of the capture triggers being defined based on a user input, each capture trigger defining a condition that, when satisfied, takes a photograph of a scene in a respective image capture environment; and

a processor arranged to automatically select one of the plurality of different capture modes when one or more mode change parameters signal a change from a first image capture environment to a second image capture environment in response to input received from a calendar program, the input from the calendar program including;

a particular event associated with the second image capture environment; and

a start time for the particular event.

2. An image capture device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor, and wherein at least one of the capture triggers defines a condition with reference to an input of the sensor.

5. An image capture device according to claim 1, wherein at least one capture mode is a user-defined capture mode.

3. A method of capturing images comprising:

automatically selecting a first capture mode from a plurality of different capture modes available on an image capture device, each of the plurality of different capture modes being;

associated with a different image capture environment; and

associated with one or more capture triggers that, when satisfied, take a photograph of a scene in the respective image capture environments, wherein selective ones of the one or more capture triggers for each different capture mode are defined with reference to an input of one or more sensors configured in accordance with the respective image capture environments;

accessing the one or more capture triggers associated with the selected first capture mode;

automatically photographing a scene when the one or more capture triggers associated with the selected first capture mode are satisfied;

obtaining calendar information corresponding to a particular event in time from a calendar program;

automatically selecting a second capture mode from the plurality of capture modes responsive to obtaining the calendar information corresponding to the particular event in time; and

switching from the first capture mode to a second capture mode associated with an image capture environment relating to the particular event in time.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the selective ones of the one or more capture triggers are user-defined.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein at least one capture mode is a user-defined capture mode.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the user-defined capture mode is customized for a memory-impaired individual.

8. A storage medium device comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure a computer to perform acts comprising:

automatically selecting a first capture mode from a plurality of different capture modes available on an image capture device, each of the plurality of different capture modes;

being associated with a different image capture environment;

being associated with one or more capture triggers that, when satisfied within timing parameters, take a photograph of a scene in the respective image capture environments;

defining a minimum time period that must elapse before capturing a first image and a second image in accordance with the one or more triggers; and

defining a maximum time period that automatically captures a next image in the respective image capture environment when the one or more triggers are not yet satisfied;

accessing the one or more capture triggers associated with the selected first capture mode;

taking one or more photographs of a scene when the one or more capture triggers associated with the selected first capture mode are satisfied;

obtaining calendar information corresponding to a particular event;

automatically selecting a second capture mode from the plurality of capture modes responsive to obtaining the calendar information corresponding to the particular event;

switching from the first capture mode to a second capture mode associated with an image capture environment relating to the particular event; and

taking one or more additional photographs in the second capture mode.

9. A storage medium device according to claim 8, wherein the calendar information includes a start time for the particular event and an end time for the particular event for image capture mode switching purposes.

10. A storage medium device according to claim 9, further comprising computer executable instructions that configure the computer to perform an act comprising annotating the one or more additional photographs in an image file.

11. A storage medium device according to claim 10, wherein the calendar information uses location information when:

automatically selecting the second image capture mode; and

annotating the one or more additional photographs in an image file.

12. A storage medium device according to claim 10, wherein the calendar information uses person information when annotating the one or more additional photographs in an image file, the person information including identifications of persons expected to attend the particular event.

13. A storage medium device according to claim 10, further comprising computer executable instructions that configure the computer to perform an act comprising discarding at least a portion of the one or more additional photographs from the image file via calculating a distance between two image histograms and discarding images that satisfy a similarity threshold.