Discriminating visual recognition program for digital cameras

• US 9,344,615 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bostick, James E., Cunico, Hernan A., Ganci, John M. Jr., Keen, Martin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRABHAKHER, PRITHAM DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/605,073
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

Control of a camera is provided. Data describing a visual key is generated. The data describing the visual key is transmitted. The visual key is identified. A person who is in possession of the visual key is identified. The person is associated with the visual key, wherein the person is authorized to control the camera using gestures. A gesture of the person is recognized. The gesture causes a program to execute a command that corresponds to the gesture, wherein the command cause the camera to perform a function.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, by one or more computer processors, data describing a visual key;

transmitting, by the one or more computer processors, the data describing the visual key;

capturing, by the one or more computer processors, a first image that includes the visual key;

responsive to identifying, by the one or more computer processors, the visual key in the first image, associating, by the one or more computer processors, the visual key with a person who is in possession of a device displaying the visual key based on the first image, wherein the person is authorized to control a camera;

capturing, by the one or more computer processors, a second image that includes a gesture of the person and does not include the visual key, wherein the first image does not include the gesture; and

responsive to recognizing, by the one or more computer processors, the gesture of the person in the second image, executing, by the one or more computer processors, a command that corresponds to the gesture, wherein the command causes the camera to perform a function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual key is a machine-readable pattern of geometric shapes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the machine-readable pattern of geometric shapes is a quick response code.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the machine-readable pattern of geometric shapes is a universal product code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual key is a series of flashes of light.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture causes the camera to initiate a self-timer that initiates a countdown to zero seconds, and wherein the camera takes a third photograph in response to the countdown reaching zero seconds.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the countdown is for a count of seconds, and wherein the count of seconds is equal to a count of extended fingers of the person.

8. A computer program product for controlling a camera, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage device and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage device, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to generate data describing a visual key;

program instructions to transmit the data describing the visual key;

program instructions to capture a first image that includes the visual key;

program instructions to, responsive to identifying the visual key in the first image, associate, based on the first image, the visual key with a person who is in possession of a device displaying the visual key, wherein the person is authorized to control a camera;

program instructions to capture a second image that includes a gesture of the person and does not include the visual key, wherein the first image does not include the gesture; and

program instructions to, responsive to recognizing the gesture of the person in the second image, execute a command that corresponds to the gesture, wherein the command causes the camera to perform a function.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the visual key is a machine-readable pattern of geometric shapes.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the machine-readable pattern of geometric shapes is a quick response code.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the gesture causes the camera to initiate a self-timer that initiates a countdown to zero seconds, wherein the camera takes a third photograph in response to the countdown reaching zero seconds.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the countdown is for a count of seconds, and wherein the count of seconds is equal to a count of extended fingers of the person.

13. A computer system for controlling a camera, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage devices;

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to generate data describing a visual key;

program instructions to transmit the data describing the visual key;

program instructions to capture a first image that includes the visual key;

program instructions to, responsive to identifying the visual key in the first image, associate, based on the first image, the visual key with a person who is in possession of a device displaying the visual key, wherein the person is authorized to control a camera;

program instructions to capture a second image that includes a gesture of the person and does not include the visual key, wherein the first image does not include the gesture; and

program instructions to, responsive to recognizing the gesture of the person in the second image, execute a command that corresponds to the gesture, wherein the command causes the camera to perform a function.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the visual key is a machine-readable pattern of geometric shapes.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the machine-readable pattern of geometric is a quick response code.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the gesture causes the camera to initiate a self-timer that initiates a countdown to zero seconds, wherein the camera takes a third photograph in response to the countdown reaching zero seconds.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the countdown is for a count of seconds, and wherein the count of seconds is equal to a count of extended fingers of the person.