Automatic image capture

• US 8,798,926 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Stroila, Matei Nicolae, Dorum, Ole Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US13/676,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20140136098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 701/409, 701/451, 701/516, 701/517, 701/537
• US Class Current: 701/516
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3837 Data obtained from a single source
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In one embodiment, a mobile device generates sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device. A list of events is defined according to position data and time data. The geographic position of the mobile device is compared to positions in the list of events of interest and a current time is compared to time data in the list of events of interest. The comparison determines whether events in the list are in range of the mobile device. One or more nearby events in range of the mobile device at the current time or a future time are selected. A command is generated to capture an image of the nearby events using a camera coupled to the mobile device. The captured images may be used to update navigation or map database, provide community or weather data to other users, social media functions, or other features.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device;

accessing a list of events of interest from a memory;

calculating, by a processor, a frustum for a view of the mobile device, wherein the frustum spans a geographic area;

comparing, by the processor, an overlap of the frustum and the geographic position to a threshold level of overlap for positions in the list of events of interest;

comparing, by the processor, a current time to time data in the list of events of interest;

selecting an event from the list of events of interest in range of the mobile device at the current time; and

generating a command to capture an image of the selected event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the image of the selected event in the memory of the mobile device; and

sending the image of the selected event to a server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic area overlaps at least a portion of a geographic position of the selected event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the frustum is defined by at least three points in a three-dimensional space.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data is configured to describe an orientation of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the list of events of interest from locations and time in a social networking service or a calendar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of events of interest includes a building construction, and the captured image is used to add the building construction to a database.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the list of events of interest based on a weather report or a weather condition.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the list of events from a social networking service, a calendar, or a weather report.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a memory including data indicative of a geospatio-temporal event;

a positioning system configured to determine a geographic position of the apparatus; and

a controller configured to compare the geographic position of the apparatus and a current time to the geospatio-temporal event and configured to generate an instruction to capture an image when the geographic position and the current time intersect with the geospatio-temporal event,

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the geographic position intersects the geospatio-temporal event based on a comparison of an overlap percentage of a frustum describing a field of view of a camera and a predetermined threshold level of overlap.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the positioning system is configured to generate sensor data and includes at least one of an accelerometer and a magnetic sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the geospatio-temporal event is selected by an external system to provision data collection by the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a plurality of geospatio-temporal events include a list of points of interest along a route and generated based on calculation of the route.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a plurality of geospatio-temporal events include events based on traffic conditions or criminal activity.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

the camera configured to capture the image based on the instruction to capture the image; and

a display configured to prompt the user to accept the instruction to capture the image.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed are operable to:

receive sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device;

access a list of objects of interest and positions from a memory;

compare the geographic position of the mobile device to the positions in the list of objects of interest based on a comparison of an overlap frustum describing a field of view of view of a camera of the mobile device to a threshold level of overlap;

select a nearby object from the list of objects of interest in range of the mobile device; and

generate a command to capture an image of the nearby object.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the instruction operable to:

capture a low resolution image of the nearby object before the command is generated; and

capture a high resolution image of the nearby object is response to the command to capture the image of the nearby object.

18. A method comprising:

receiving sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device;

accessing a list of events of interest from a memory;

calculating, by a processor, a frustum for a view of the mobile device, wherein the frustum spans a geographic area;

comparing, by the processor, an overlap of the frustum and the geographic position to a threshold level of overlap;

comparing the geographic position of the mobile device to positions in the list of events of interest;

comparing, by the processor, a current time to time data in the list of events of interest;

selecting an event from the list of events of interest in range of the mobile device at the current time; and

generating a command to capture an image of the selected event.

19. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

receiving sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device;

accessing a list of events of interest from a memory;

calculating, by a processor, a frustum for a view of the mobile device, wherein the frustum spans a geographic area;

comparing, by the processor, an overlap of the frustum and the geographic position to a threshold level of overlap for positions in the list of events of interest;

comparing, by the processor, a current time to time data in the list of events of interest;

selecting an event from the list of events of interest in range of the mobile device at the current time; and

generating a command to capture an image of the selected event.

20. A method comprising:

receiving sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device;

accessing a list of events of interest from a memory;

calculating, by a processor, a frustum for a view of the mobile device, wherein the frustum spans a geographic area;

performing, by the processor, a comparison of an overlap of the frustum and the geographic position to a threshold level of overlap for positions in the list of events of interest;

selecting an event from the list of events of interest in range of the mobile device based on the comparison; and

generating a command to capture an image of the selected event.