Photo survey using smart device with camera

• US 9,565,334 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aspekt R&d A/s
• Original Assignee: Aspekt R&d A/s
• Inventors: Freltoft, Tue
• Primary Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US14/650,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20150326778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• 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 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is an image capturing device for use in photo surveys, wherein said image capturing device comprises: a camera unit for capturing images; a processing unit for controlling said camera unit; a first shutter release button for activating said camera unit to capture an image of a motive; and a second shutter release button for activating said camera unit to capture an image of a motive. The processing unit, when either said first shutter release button or said second shutter release button is activated, is configured to control said camera unit to capture an image of a motive, and generate an opinion variable associated with said captured image, wherein said opinion variable is for indicating the opinion of a user towards said motive, and wherein said opinion variable is generated dependent on the used shutter release button.

Claims

1. A method for performing a photo survey of an environment wherein said photo survey is a survey where a plurality of participants are asked to capture images of motives in an environment and further indicate their opinion of said motives, wherein each participant has a smart device comprising a camera unit, a processing unit, and an input unit and each participant is provided with access through their respective smart device to a data storage medium comprising a computer readable code wherein said computer readable code is configured to programme each smart device to:

display on a display instructions for performing said photo survey;

control using said processing unit said camera unit to capture an image of a motive, when either a first shutter release button or a second shutter release button is activated;

generate using said processing unit an opinion variable associated with said captured image, when either said first shutter release button or said second shutter release button is activated, wherein said opinion variable is for indicating the opinion of the participant towards said motive, and wherein said opinion variable is generated dependent on the used shutter release button, whereby a participant can capture an image of a motive and simultaneously record an opinion towards said motive by choosing a particular shutter release button; and

transfer all captured images and generated opinion variables to a server;

wherein the instructions for performing said photo survey displayed on the display of each smart device instruct the participants that said first shutter release button is for recording a positive opinion towards a motive and that said second shutter release button is for recording a negative opinion towards a motive; and

wherein the captured images and the generated opinion variables on the server, transferred from the smart device of each participant, are organized in a database.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first shutter release button has a positive symbol associated and said second shutter release button has a negative symbol associated.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said display is a touch screen and wherein said first shutter release button is a first element displayed on said touch screen and said second shutter release button is a second element displayed on said touch screen.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said computer readable code is additionally configured to programme each smart device to:

display on the display a comment form after an image has been captured;

receive comments associated with the captured image inputted into said comment form by said user using said input unit;

store said received comments in an image comment variable associated with said captured image.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart device of each participant further comprises a position estimation unit, and wherein said computer readable code is additionally configured to programme each smart device to:

generate using said processing unit a position estimate variable associated with said captured image when either said first shutter release button or said second shutter release button is activated;

wherein said position estimate variable comprises a position estimate of said image capturing device received from said position estimate unit.