GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY BASED ON IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE RENDERED USER RECOMMENDATIONS

• US 20090162042A1
• Filed: 12/24/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ofek, Eyal, Wexler, Yonatan, Epshtein, Boris
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/49
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• 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

Abstract

Guided photography with image capturing device rendered user recommendations. Data is accessed that is associated with an intended photograph. A knowledge base is accessed to obtain data that is related to the data that is associated with the intended photograph. Recommendations are determined for the intended photograph based on the knowledge base data. The recommendations are provided to a rendering system of the device before the intended photograph is taken.

Claims

1. A method for guided photography based on image capturing device rendered user recommendations, comprising:

accessing data that is associated with an intended photograph;

accessing a knowledge base to obtain knowledge data that is related to said data associated with said intended photograph;

determining one or more recommendations for said intended photograph based on said knowledge base data; and

providing access to said one or more recommendations to a rendering system of said device for rendering before said photograph is taken.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing an indicator of an intent to take a photograph wherein said indicator of said intent to take a photograph is provided in response to actions comprising maintaining a scene in a viewfinder of said image capturing device for a predetermined time, moving a physical component of said image capturing device or making a selection in the viewfinder.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said data associated with said photograph includes current device parameters comprising device type, location, orientation, time and date and an image that is shown in the viewfinder of said image capturing device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation comprises changing a location and viewing direction from which a photograph is taken.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation relates to changing lighting for an intended photograph by controlling flash or waiting for a different location of the sun.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation relates to using a database of buildings and geometry wherein obstacles are made semi-transparent in the viewfinder of said image capturing device in order to show occluded objects in order to aid in deciding what to include in a photograph.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation is a simulated view from a suggested location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation is a simulation of lighting conditions at a suggested time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation is to schedule a specific shot based on image analysis comprising motion detection.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation is rendered to highlight objects comprising occluders that hide the subject of an intended photograph.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation is to fill a gap in an existing sequence of images in order to construct a panoramic image.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said recommendation is a suggestion of a specific time to take said intended photograph or to take a series of photographs.

13. A computer useable medium having computer-executable components comprising:

accessing data that is associated with an intended photograph;

accessing a knowledge base to obtain knowledge base data that is related to said data associated with said intended photograph;

determining one or more recommendations for said intended photograph based on said knowledge base data; and

providing access to said one or more recommendations to a rendering system of said device for rendering before and during a taking of a photograph.

14. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

accessing an indicator of an intent to take a photograph wherein said indicator of said intent to take a photograph is provided in response to actions comprising maintaining a scene in a viewfinder of said image capturing device for a predetermined time, moving a physical component of said image capturing device or making a selection in the viewfinder.

15. The medium of claim 13 wherein said data associated with said photograph includes current image capturing device parameters comprising device type, location, orientation, time and date and an image that is shown in the viewfinder of said image capturing device.

16. The medium of claim 13 wherein said recommendation comprises changing an intended photograph location and viewing direction.

17. A device comprising:

an optical element;

a sensor coupled to said optical element; and

a processor coupled to said sensor, said processor for executing operations of a method for guided photography, comprising;

accessing data that is associated with an intended photograph;

accessing a knowledge base to obtain knowledge base data that is related to said data associated with said intended photograph;

determining one or more recommendations for said intended photograph based on said knowledge base data; and

providing access to said one or more recommendations to a rendering system of said image capturing device for rendering before said photograph is taken.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising:

accessing an indicator of an intent to take a photograph wherein said indicator of said intent to take a photograph is provided in response to actions comprising maintaining a scene in a viewfinder of said image capturing device for a predetermined time, moving a physical component of said image capturing device or making a selection in the viewfinder.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said image capturing device related data is selected from the group consisting of current device parameters comprising device type, location, orientation, time and date and an image shown in the viewfinder of said image capturing device.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein said data is used to capture a collection or sequence of images.