Technique for image acquisition and management

• US 9,723,251 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaacob I. Slotky
• Original Assignee: Jaacob I. Slotky
• Inventors: Slotky, Jaacob I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US14/211,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 348148, 348125-129, 348133-136
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A technique for image acquisition and management, by utilizing a mobile device equipped with a camera and a mobile software application. The software application enables a) providing guidance to an operator for making, by the camera, a set of one or more images of an object, so as to obtain them at one or more angles suggested by the software application for properly registering currently existing visible features of the object, b) obtaining the set of images, c) storing the set of obtained images as a current set, along with its related data, in at least one storage/processing location for further analysis. The technique, using the mobile software application, may also perform d) analysis of thus obtained current set of images by comparing it with another reference set of images of the same or similar object. The technique may be used, for example, for detecting defects on a vehicle body.

Claims

1. A method for image acquisition and management, by utilizing a mobile device equipped with a camera and with a mobile software application;

the method comprises the following steps enabled and/or supported by the software application;

providing, by the mobile software application, guidance to an operator for guided making, by the camera, a set of one or more images of an object, wherein the guidance comprises presenting, by the mobile software application to the operator, one or more respective angles suggested by the mobile software application for obtaining said set of one or more images properly registering currently existing visible features of said object,

obtaining said set of images,

storing said set of obtained images as a current reference set, along with its related data, in at least one storage/processing location being selected from a list comprising the mobile device and a remote location,

analysis including steps of;

comparing said current reference set with an additional reference set, the additional reference set being selected at least from the following two additional reference sets;

an earlier reference set of said object,

a later reference set of said object;

based on said comparison, creating a report concerning differences, if any, between the obtained set of images being the current reference set, and the selected additional reference set, and

displaying the report in at least one of said storage/processing locations.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the guidance is performed based on the earlier reference set for said object, the earlier reference set and its corresponding related data being provided in advance and being accessible by said software application;

and

wherein said guidance is aimed at obtaining said set of images being maximally close to those in the earlier reference set, while said guidance is simultaneously aimed at properly registering the currently existing visible features of said object.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the earlier reference set comprises one of the following two sets of images comprising one or more images provided before said current reference set, and accompanied with its related data:

a default/etalon set of one or more images created for objects of the type to which said object belongs;

a set of one or more images of said object, obtained and stored in said at least one storage/processing location.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said later reference set comprises a set of one or more images of said object, obtained later than said current reference set, stored in said at least one storage/processing location and accompanied with its related data.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is a vehicle body.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preliminarily providing one or more said additional reference sets to be accessible by the mobile software application,

selecting an additional reference set from said one or more additional reference sets for further processing.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising creating, for the same object, more than one said reports respectively based on different more than one additional reference sets, the method further comprising comparing said more than one reports.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said guidance is provided by directing the operator, via the display of the mobile device, to adjust an actual camera position and direction so as to maximally match the selected additional reference set.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising transferring the obtained set of images, along with the related data, to a remote storage/processing location by means of a communication network.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preliminarily providing the mobile device with said camera and said mobile software application,

activating the mobile software application,

obtaining said set of one or more images of the object by using said camera with the guidance of said mobile software application,

storing the obtained set of images as a current reference set in the mobile device and/or in a remote storage/processing location,

selecting an additional reference set from one or more available additional reference sets,

processing said current set of images by analyzing thereof based on the selected additional reference set,

generating a report on differences between said current reference set and the selected additional reference set, and

displaying the report in the mobile device and/or in the remote storage/processing location.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the storage/processing locations is either on a remote central server, or on a server of a dedicated company providing at least one service related to the object and selected from a non-exhaustive list comprising:

support to the software application, manufacturing, trade/sales, transportation, rent, repair, insurance, guard, parking, legal services.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of forwarding the obtained report to at least one company or institution providing services related to the object.

13. A software product stored on an appropriate non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising computer implementable instructions and/or data for carrying out the method according to claim 1, so that the software is capable of enabling operations of said method when used in a computer system.

14. The software product according to claim 13, being a mobile software application, wherein the storage medium is the memory of the mobile device.

15. The software product according to claim 13, specifically designed for detecting defects on the object being a vehicle body.

16. The software product according to claim 13, provided with means for establishing communication with relevant companies or institutions, for filing to them the report.

17. A computerized system for implementing the method according to claim 1.

18. A system comprising a mobile device with the software product according to claim 13, installed in the memory of the mobile device.

19. The system according to claim 18, additionally comprising a storage/processing server at a remote location, connected with the mobile device via communication lines.

20. A computerized system for image acquisition and management, the system comprising

a mobile device equipped with a camera and with a mobile software application, the system also including at least one storage/processing location being selected from a list comprising the mobile device and a remote location;

the system being operative to perform the following steps enabled and/or supported by the software application;

providing, by the mobile software application, guidance to an operator for guided making a set of one or more images of an object using the camera, wherein the guidance comprises suggesting, by the mobile software application to the operator, one or more angles for obtaining said set of one or more respective images properly registering currently existing visible features of said object,

obtaining said set of images, and

storing said set of obtained images as a current reference set, along with its related data, in said at least one storage/processing location, the analysis including steps of;

comparing said current reference set with an additional reference set, the additional reference set being selected at least from the following two additional reference sets;

an earlier reference set of said object,

a later reference set of said object;

based on said comparison, creating a report concerning differences, if any, between the obtained set of images being the current reference set, and the selected additional reference set, and

displaying the report in at least one of said storage/processing locations.

21. A method for image acquisition and management, by utilizing a mobile device equipped with a camera and with a mobile software application;

the method comprises the following steps enabled and/or supported by the software application;

providing guidance to an operator for making, by the camera, a set of one or more images of an object, so as to obtain said set of images using respective one or more angles suggested by the software application for properly registering currently existing visible features of said object,

obtaining said set of images,

storing said set of obtained images as a current reference set, along with its related data, in at least one storage/processing location being selected from a list comprising the mobile device and a remote location,

the method further comprises analysis including steps of;

comparing said current reference set with an additional reference set, the additional reference set being selected at least from the following two additional reference sets;

an earlier reference set of said object, and

a later reference set of said object;

based on said comparison, creating a report concerning differences, if any, between the obtained set of images being the current reference set, and the selected additional reference set,

displaying the report in at least one of said storage/processing locations.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the guidance is performed based on the earlier reference set for said object, the earlier reference set and its corresponding related data being provided in advance and being accessible by said software application;

and

wherein said guidance is aimed at obtaining said set of images being maximally close to those in the earlier reference set, while said guidance is simultaneously aimed at properly registering the currently existing visible features of said object.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the earlier reference set comprises one of the following two sets of images comprising one or more images provided before said current reference set, and accompanied with its related data:

a default/etalon set of one or more images created for objects of the type to which said object belongs;

a set of one or more images of said object, obtained and stored in said at least one storage/processing location.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said later reference set comprises a set of one or more images of said object, obtained later than said current reference set, stored in said at least one storage/processing location and accompanied with its related data.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the object is a vehicle body.

26. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

preliminarily providing one or more said additional reference sets to be accessible by the mobile software application,

selecting an additional reference set from said one or more additional reference sets for further processing.

27. The method according to claim 21, comprising creating, for the same object, more than one said reports respectively based on different more than one additional reference sets, the method further comprising comparing said more than one reports.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein said guidance is provided by directing the operator, via the display of the mobile device, to adjust an actual camera position and direction so as to maximally match the selected additional reference set.

29. The method according to any claim 21, comprising transferring the obtained set of images, along with the related data, to a remote storage/processing location by means of a communication network.

30. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

preliminarily providing the mobile device with said mobile software application, and

activating the mobile software application.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the storage/processing locations is either on a remote central server, or on a server of a dedicated company providing at least one service related to the object and selected from a non-exhaustive list comprising:

support to the software application, manufacturing, trade/sales, transportation, rent, repair, insurance, guard, parking, legal services.

32. The method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of forwarding the obtained report to at least one company or institution providing services related to the object.

33. A software product stored on an appropriate non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising computer implementable instructions and/or data for carrying out the method according to claim 21, so that the software is capable of enabling operations of said method when used in a computer system.

34. The software product according to claim 33, being a mobile software application, wherein the storage medium is the memory of the mobile device.

35. The software product according to claim 33, specifically designed for detecting defects on the object being a vehicle body.

36. The software product according to claim 33, provided with means for establishing communication with relevant companies or institutions, for filing to them the report.

37. A computerized system for implementing the method according to claim 21.

38. A system comprising a mobile device with the software product according to claim 33, installed in the memory of the mobile device.

39. The system according to claim 38, additionally comprising a storage/processing server at a remote location, connected with the mobile device via communication lines.

40. A computerized system for image acquisition and management, the system comprising

a mobile device equipped with a camera and with a mobile software application;

the system also comprising at least one storage/processing location being selected from a list including the mobile device and a remote location;

the system being operative to perform the following steps enabled and/or supported by the software application;

providing guidance to an operator for making, by the camera, a set of one or more images of an object, so as to obtain said set of images using respective one or more angles suggested by the software application for properly registering currently existing visible features of said object,

obtaining said set of images,

storing said set of obtained images as a current reference set, along with its related data, in at least one storage/processing location,

comparing said current reference set with an additional reference set, the additional reference set being selected at least from the following two additional reference sets;

an earlier reference set of said object, and

a later reference set of said object;

based on said comparison, creating a report concerning differences, if any, between the obtained set of images being the current reference set, and the selected additional reference set, and

displaying the report in at least one of said storage/processing locations.

41. A method for image acquisition and management, by utilizing a mobile device equipped with a camera and with a mobile software application;

the method comprises the following steps enabled and/or supported by the software application;

providing, by the mobile software application, guidance to an operator for guided making, by the camera, a set of one or more images of an object, wherein the guidance comprises presenting, by the mobile software application to the operator, one or more respective angles suggested by the mobile software application for obtaining said set of one or more images properly registering currently existing visible features of said object,

obtaining said set of images,

storing said set of obtained images as a current reference set, along with its related data, in at least one storage/processing location being selected from a list comprising the mobile device and a remote location,

preliminarily providing the mobile device with said camera and said mobile software application,

activating the mobile software application,

obtaining said set of one or more images of the object by using said camera with the guidance of said mobile software application,

storing the obtained set of images as a current reference set in the mobile device and/or in a remote storage/processing location,

selecting an additional reference set from one or more available additional reference sets, processing said current set of images by analyzing thereof based on the selected additional reference set,

generating a report on differences between said current reference set and the selected additional reference set, and

displaying the report in the mobile device and/or in the remote storage/processing location.