Location estimation using image analysis
First Claim
1. One or more computer storage devices storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform acts comprising:
- acquiring a first image of a location;
iteratively comparing the first image in a first format and a second format with two or more second images in the first format and the second format by;
identifying, using a first image analysis technique on the first image in the first format and the two or more second images in the first format, a subset of potential matching images from the two or more second images, wherein the two or more second images are stored in one or more databases associated with one or more location service devices; and
identifying, using a second image analysis technique on the first image in the second format and the subset of potential matching images in the second format, one or more third images from the subset of potential matching images that match the first image;
determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information;
prompting, based at least in part on determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information, a user to input location information for the first image;
assigning the location information to the first image; and
updating the one or more databases by storing the first image and the location information in the one or more databases for future use by the one or more location service devices in determining a location associated with future images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implementation of location estimation using image analysis is described. In this implementation, an image of a place is obtained and matched with previously stored images. The matching may be achieved by employing methods based on key feature extraction algorithm, color histogram analysis, pattern matching or other image comparison techniques. Upon determining a match, the location information associated with the image provides the location. The location information may be in the form of location tags or location keywords and the location information may be used by the user or other applications for the purposes of location determination. The technique allows for the user to enter location information. The location information may be assigned to the previously stored images residing in local and remote databases for users and applications to assign information or keywords to images.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. One or more computer storage devices storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform acts comprising:
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acquiring a first image of a location; iteratively comparing the first image in a first format and a second format with two or more second images in the first format and the second format by; identifying, using a first image analysis technique on the first image in the first format and the two or more second images in the first format, a subset of potential matching images from the two or more second images, wherein the two or more second images are stored in one or more databases associated with one or more location service devices; and identifying, using a second image analysis technique on the first image in the second format and the subset of potential matching images in the second format, one or more third images from the subset of potential matching images that match the first image; determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information; prompting, based at least in part on determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information, a user to input location information for the first image; assigning the location information to the first image; and updating the one or more databases by storing the first image and the location information in the one or more databases for future use by the one or more location service devices in determining a location associated with future images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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obtaining a first image; matching, by one or more processors associated with a location service and configured by executable instructions, the first image with one or more second images stored in one or more databases associated with the location service, the matching being based at least in part on comparisons between the first image and each of the one or more second images, the matching comprising; converting the first image into a first format for a first image comparison technique and into a second format for a second image comparison technique; and iteratively comparing the first image with two or more of the second images to; identify, using the first image comparison technique on the first image in the first format and the two or more of the second images in the first format, a subset of potential image matches, and identify, using the second image comparison technique on the first image in the second format and the subset of potential image matches in the second format, one or more third images from the subset of potential image matches that match the first image; determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information; prompting, based at least in part on determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information, a user to input location information for the image; assigning the location information to the first image; and updating the one or more databases associated with the location service by storing the first image and the location information in the one or more databases for future use by the location service in determining a location associated with future images. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; an image acquisition component stored in the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, acquires first image of an environment of a computing device associated with the system; a location module stored in the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, performs acts comprising; iteratively comparing the first image in a first format and a second format with two or more second images in the first format and the second format to identify one or more third images that match the first image using one or more image comparison techniques, wherein the two or more second images are stored in one or more databases; determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information or have insufficient location information; prompting, based at least in part on determining that the one or more third images that match the first image lack location information or have insufficient location information, a user to input location information for the first image; assigning the location information to the first image; and updating the one or more databases by storing the first image and the location information in the one or more databases for future use by the location module in determining a location associated with future images. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification