Panoramic scene capture using a mobile wireless device

• US 20080207261A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TurboPatent Corp.
• Original Assignee: Paten Navigation Incorporated
• Inventors: Billmaier, James A., Kellum, John M., Billmaier, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A device accessible via a wireless service network includes logic to receive digital frames from a wireless communication device, to identify digital frames that are suitable tiles for a digital panorama, to create a digital panorama from the identified frames, and to associate the panorama with one or more locations on a digital map.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

logic to repeatedly capture digital frames, with time in between each frame capture;

logic to determine if a field of view has changed between a current frame and one or more previously captured frames; and

logic to wirelessly communicate the current frame to a network location if the field of view has changed.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the logic to determine if a field of view has changed between a current frame and one or more previously captured frames further comprises:

logic to determine if the current frame is suitable for use as a new tile in a scene panorama.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the logic to repeatedly capture digital frames, with time in between each frame capture further comprises:

logic to drive a peripheral digital frame capture device.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the logic to drive a peripheral digital frame capture device further comprises:

logic to drive a digital camera.

5. A device accessible via a wireless service network comprising:

logic to receive digital frames from a wireless communication device;

logic to identify digital frames that are suitable tiles for a digital panorama;

logic to create a digital panorama from the identified frames; and

logic to associate the panorama with one or more locations on a digital map.