Method for feature recognition in mobile communication terminal

• US 8,600,677 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Woo-Jin, Hong, Hyun-Su
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US12/590,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 701/532, 701/533, 348/116, 348/E7.085, 382/190, 382/218
• US Class Current: 701/532
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/39 Urban scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00336 with an apparatus performing pattern recognition, e.g. of a face or a geographic feature image or video recognition or understanding of scenes G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A portable terminal is configured to perform a method for feature recognition. The portable terminal includes a Global Positioning System (GPS), a camera, a sensor, an image geographic information part, an image processor, and a controller. The GPS provides a position of the portable terminal. The camera photographs an image of a feature. The sensor detects a direction of the camera. The image geographic information part stores an image of each feature and geographic information on each feature. The image processor extracts a characteristic of the image of the feature and compares the extracted characteristic with image information stored in the image geographic info illation part. If recognizing a specific feature through the image processor, the controller proportionally compares geographic information of the image geographic information part with size and direction data on a peripheral feature near the specific feature within an image, and recognizes the peripheral feature.

Claims

1. A portable terminal comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) configured to provide a position of the portable terminal;

a camera configured to capture an image of a feature, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image if the portable terminal is still for a predetermined time while capturing the image;

a sensor configured to detect a direction of the camera;

an image geographic information part comprising image information;

an image processor configured to extract a characteristic of the captured image of the feature and compare the extracted characteristic with image information stored in the image geographic information part; and

a controller configured to proportionally compare, in response to recognizing a specific feature through the image processor, geographic information of the image information with size and direction data on a peripheral feature near the feature within the captured image, and configured to recognize the peripheral feature,

wherein the direction data corresponds to the direction of the camera which is detected by the sensor.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a geomagnetic sensor.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the image geographic information part comprises width and height information on the feature.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the image information comprises an image for each of a plurality of features and geographic information corresponding to each of the plurality of features.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a motion of the camera.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store information as a standard feature.

7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to acquire a name, a position, a width, and height information on a feature stored in the image geographic information part.

8. A method for feature recognition in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

recognizing a current position of the portable terminal by a Global Positioning System (GPS);

photographing an image of a feature by a camera, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image if the portable terminal is still for a predetermined time while capturing the image;

detecting a direction of the camera using a sensor;

extracting a characteristic of the image of the feature photographed by the camera;

comparing the extracted characteristic with image information on a feature positioned in a direction of the camera on a position of the portable terminal; and

if recognizing a specific feature, comparing geographic information of an image geographic information part with distance and direction data on a peripheral feature near the specific feature within an image, and recognizing the peripheral feature,

wherein the direction data corresponds to the direction of the camera which is detected by the sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a geomagnetic sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the image geographic information part comprises width and height information of the feature.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising acquiring a name, a position, a width, and height information on a feature stored in the image geographic information part.

12. An image recognition device for use in a portable terminal, the image recognition device comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) configured to provide a position of the portable terminal;

a camera configured to capture an image of a feature, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image if the portable terminal is still for a predetermined time while capturing the image;

an image geographic information part comprising image information;

an image processor configured to extract a characteristic of the captured image of the feature and compare the extracted characteristic with image information stored in the image geographic information part; and

a controller configured to proportionally compare, in response to recognizing a specific feature through the image processor, geographic information of the image information with size and direction data on a peripheral feature near the feature within the captured image, and configured to recognize the peripheral feature,

wherein the direction data corresponds to a direction of the camera which is detected by a sensor.

13. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a geomagnetic sensor.

14. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the image geographic information part comprises width and height information on the feature.

15. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the image information comprises an image for each of a plurality of features and geographic information corresponding to each of the plurality of features.

16. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a motion of the camera.

17. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to acquire a name, a position, a width, and height information on a feature stored in the image geographic information part.

18. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a motion of the camera.

19. The image recognition device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to store information as a standard feature.