Image capture and identification system and process

• US 8,774,463 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Inventors: Boncyk, Wayne C., Cohen, Ronald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherali, Ishrat I
• Application Number:
  US13/923,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 382/305, 382/181, 382/103, 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/70 Game security or game management aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5846 using extracted text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5854 using shape and object relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 : Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 : by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 : Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/217 : Validation; Performance evaluation; Active pattern learning techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 : Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/23 : Clustering techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/12 : Classification; Matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 : Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 : Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 : Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 : Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 : Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 : Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3567 : Software being in the reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 : involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 : Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 : User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 : at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 : Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 : Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 : Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 : Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 : Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 : Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/10 : Segmentation; Edge detection motion-based segmentation G06T7/215
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 : Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 : Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/136 : involving thresholding
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/194 : involving foreground-background segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 : using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/33 : using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/337 : involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 : using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/462 : Salient features, e.g. scale invariant feature transforms [SIFT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/56 : relating to colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/7515 : Shifting the patterns to accommodate for positional errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 : Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 : in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 : using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 : of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 : Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 : Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 : Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 : using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 : involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 : Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 : Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 : Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 : Control of cameras or camera modules
• 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 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 : Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.

Claims

1. A method of interacting with a physical environment comprising:

configuring a mobile device to operate as an image processing platform;

obtaining, by the image processing platform, a digital representation including an image of the physical environment;

recognizing, by the image processing platform, an object within the physical environment based at least in part on a visual appearance derived from the digital representation;

determining, by the image processing platform, a position or an orientation of the object with respect to the physical environment and relative to the mobile device at the time that the image was captured;

obtaining target object information related to the object, including an information address; and

enabling an interaction with a computer-system based software application as a function of the information address, and at least one of the position and the orientation of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising discriminating, by the image processing platform, the object from other objects in the digital representation of the physical environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of recognizing the object further comprises using a database of multiple objects having multiple views to find at least a portion of the object in the digital representation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of recognizing the object further comprises comparing different subsets of the digital representation against the multiple views of the multiple objects in the database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position or the orientation of the object further comprises using an identification server to determine at least one of:

the information address, an object name, a number associated with the object, a classification of the object, a size of the object, a color of the object, and a status of the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position or the orientation of the object further comprises using a database having different views of the object from different orientations to determine a relative position or orientation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining the position or the orientation of the object further comprises comparing different subsets of the digital representation against the multiple views of the object in the database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the interaction with the computer-system based software application comprises playing a sound.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the interaction with the computer-system based software application comprises displaying at least one of a text, a graphic, an animation, a video, and an indicator light.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the interaction with the computer-based software application comprises allowing a user to purchase the object via an online transaction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises at least one of a magazine, newspaper, a compact disc, on-screen content, and an advertisement.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is associated with content information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the content information is associated with a consumer product.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the consumer product comprises at least one of the following:

a music recording, a movie, a video, an automobile, and a ticket.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the content information comprises at least one of the following:

a price, show times, game data, audio data, music data, video data, a physical location to purchase the consumer product, a website address to purchase the consumer product.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of enabling the interaction with the computer-based software application comprises displaying the content information.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of enabling the interaction with the computer-based software application further comprises allowing a user to purchase the consumer product related to the object via an online transaction.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the content information is retrieved from the Internet.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a machine having a plurality of parts.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of identifying the object comprises identifying the plurality of parts of the machine based on visual appearance from the digital representation.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of enabling the interaction with the computer-based software application comprises displaying information pertinent to the plurality of parts.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information comprises an identity of one of the parts.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the information comprises a status of one of the parts.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the information comprises an instruction on how to use or maintain one of the parts.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a sign.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a building.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the interaction with the computer-based software application comprises using the position or orientation to navigate.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the interaction with the computer-based software application comprises maneuvering of the object with respect to the mobile device based on the position and orientation.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the interaction with the computer-system based software application to at least one of the mobile device and a second mobile device.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the image comprises video data.

31. A mobile device configure to interact with objects in a physical environment, comprising:

an image capturing sensor configured to capture a digital representation including an image of the physical environment; and

an image processing platform configured to;

generate a plurality of descriptors from the image of the physical environment;

use the plurality of descriptors to recognize a game object considered as part of a computer-system based game;

obtain target object information related to the game object;

determine a position or an orientation of the game object with respect to the mobile device at the time that the image was captured based on the plurality of descriptors; and

enabling an interaction with the computer-system based game via an information address as a function of the position or orientation of the game object, and the target object information.

32. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the plurality of descriptors comprises at least one image descriptor.

33. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the image descriptor comprises a scale invariant image descriptor.

34. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein the scale invariant image descriptor comprises a scale invariant feature.

35. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein each descriptor in the plurality of descriptors represents a portion of the image.

36. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the image processing platform is further configured to present one of an animation and a sound based on the position or orientation of the object.

37. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the object in the physical environment is curved, wherein the image process platform is further configured to determine different orientations for different parts of the object.

38. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the image comprises a still image.

39. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the image comprises video data.

40. A mobile device for allowing a user to interact with a print media, comprising:

an image capturing sensor configured to capture a digital representation including an image of the print media; and

an image processing platform configured to;

recognize an object related to the print media based at least in part on a visual appearance from the image;

associate content information with the object related to the print media;

obtain an information address related to the content information;

display the content information on a mobile device display via the information address.

41. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the image processing platform is further configured to retrieve the content information via a network.

42. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the print media comprises at least one of a magazine, newspaper, a compact disc, on-screen content, and an advertisement.

43. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the content information is associated with a consumer product.

44. The mobile device of claim 43, wherein the consumer product comprises at least one of the following:

a music recording, a movie, a video, an automobile, and a ticket.

45. The mobile device of claim 43, wherein the content information comprises at least one of the following:

a price, show times, audio data, music data, video data, a physical location to purchase the consumer product, a website address to purchase the consumer product.

46. The mobile device of claim 43, wherein the image processing platform is further configured to allow a user to purchase the consumer product via an online transaction.

47. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the image comprises a still image.

48. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the image comprises video data.

49. A mobile device configure to interact with a machine, comprising:

an image capturing module configured to capture a digital representation including an image of the machine;

an image processing platform configured to;

recognize a first machine part as a target object based at least in part on a visual appearance from the image;

retrieve, via an information address, information pertinent to the machine based on the target object; and

configure a display of the mobile device to present the information pertinent to the machine on the mobile device.

50. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the machine comprises a second machine part.

51. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the image processing platform is further configured to recognize the second machine part as a second target object based at least in part on a visual appearance from the image.

52. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the information comprises an identity of the first machine part.

53. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the information comprises a status of the first machine part.

54. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the information comprises an instruction on how to use or maintain the machine.

55. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the image comprises a still image.

56. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the image comprises video data.

57. A mobile device for interacting with a physical environment, comprising:

an image capturing module configured to capture a digital representation including an image of the physical environment; and

an image processing platform configured to;

recognize an object in the physical environment as a target object based at least in part on a visual appearance from the image;

obtain information associated with the target object via an information address;

determine a position or an orientation of the mobile device with respect to the object at the time that the image was captured; and

navigate the mobile device based on the position or orientation, and the information.

58. The mobile device of claim 57, wherein the object comprises a sign.

59. The mobile device of claim 58, wherein the image processing platform further is configured to read the sign to the user.

60. The mobile device of claim 57, wherein the object comprises a building.

61. The mobile device of claim 57, wherein the object comprises a street sign.

62. The mobile device of claim 57, wherein the image comprises a still image.

63. The mobile device of claim 57, wherein the image comprises video data.

64. A mobile device for interacting with a physical environment, comprising:

an image capturing module configured to capture a digital representation including an image of the physical environment; and

an image processing platform configured to;

recognize an object within the environment as a target object based at least in part on a visual appearance from the digital representation;

obtain information associated with the target object via an information address;

determine a position or an orientation of the object with respect to the mobile device at the time that the image was captured; and

enable maneuvering of the object with respect to the mobile device based on the position or orientation, and the information.

65. The mobile device of claim 64, wherein the image processing platform is further configured to discriminate the object from other known objects in the digital representation.

66. The mobile device of claim 64, wherein the image comprises a still image.

67. The mobile device of claim 64, wherein the image comprises video data.