System and method for remotely performing image processing operations with a network server device

• US 8,624,989 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Carpio, Fredrik, Georgis, Nikolaos, Zhou, Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerabek, Kelly L
• Application Number:
  US12/217,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/223.1, 348/207.1, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/239, 348/218.1, 348/208.99, 348/208.4, 348/229.1, 382/232, 382/254
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently performing image processing operations includes a camera device that is configured to automatically capture an image sequence of related offset images that correspond to a particular selected photographic target. The camera device then transmits the captured image sequence to an image processing server through an electronic network. The image processing server perform one or more processing-intensive operations upon the received image sequence to thereby produce an enhanced image that may then be transmitted to any appropriate image destination.

Claims

1. A system for performing an image processing procedure, comprising:

a server comprising one or more processors, said one or more processors being operable to;

receive image data comprising a plurality of images captured by an imaging device, wherein at least one of said plurality of images is offset with respect to a preceding image of said plurality of images due to movement of said imaging device; and

automatically perform an image processing operation to create an enhanced high-resolution image corresponding to said at least one of said plurality of images using sub-pixels of said at least one of said plurality of images and said preceding image of said plurality of images, wherein said enhanced high-resolution image is created by splitting pixels of said at least one of said plurality of images and said preceding image of said plurality of images into said sub-pixels.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is one of:

a still camera, a video camcorder, or a cellular telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said image processing operation includes a super-resolution process to create said enhanced high-resolution image.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of images is automatically captured in response to a single activation of an image capture button of said imaging device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of images comprises a header that specifies an origination device for said plurality of images and a destination device for said enhanced high-resolution image.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device uses wireless technology to transfer said image data to said server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device transfers said image data to said server through an electronic network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said electronic network is an Internet network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said server transmits said enhanced high-resolution image back to said imaging device after performing said image processing operation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said server transmits said enhanced high-resolution image to a remote network device after performing said image processing operation.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said server performs said image processing operation according to a premium service subscription.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device transfers said image data to said server after determining that said server is currently available to perform said image processing operation.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said image processing operation comprises a white balance processing operation and a red-eye processing operation for said image data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said image processing operation comprises a smoothing operation and a format conversion operation for said image data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said image processing operation is a resource-intensive procedure with respect to device bandwidth consumption and device memory requirements.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said server performs said image processing operation on behalf of said imaging device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said imaging device is able to perform other processing tasks because said server performs said image processing operation.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said server creates said enhanced-comprises image without combining said image data with an image template.

19. A method for performing an image processing procedure, comprising:

receiving image data comprising a plurality of images captured by an imaging device, wherein at least one of said plurality of images is offset with respect to a preceding image of said plurality of images due to movement of said imaging device; and

automatically performing an image processing operation to create an enhanced high-resolution image corresponding to said at least one of said plurality of images using sub-pixels of said at least one of said plurality of images and said preceding image of said plurality of images, wherein said enhanced high-resolution image is created by splitting pixels of said at least one of said plurality of images and said preceding image of said plurality of images into said sub-pixels.