Method and apparatus for themes using photo-active surface paint

• US 9,014,417 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Johnny, Teller, Eric, Patrick, William Graham, Peeters, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Tom Y
• Application Number:
  US13/657,348
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/02 Scenery; Curtains; Other decorations; Means for moving same fireproof curtains A62C2/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/021 Mixing live action with images projected on translucent screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/60 characterised by the nature of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/00 Aspects of pattern recognition specially adapted for signal processing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling themes using photo-active surface paint is described. The method may include capturing image data with at least a camera of a painted surface display system. The method may also include analyzing the image data to determine a real-world context proximate to a painted surface, wherein the surface is painted with a photo-active paint. The method may also include selecting a theme based on the determined real-world context. The method may also include generating a theme image, and driving a spatial electromagnetic modulator to emit electromagnetic stimulation in the form of the theme image to cause the photo active paint to display the theme image.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing image data with at least a camera of a painted surface display system;

analyzing the image data to determine a real-world context proximate to a painted surface, wherein the painted surface is painted with a photo-active paint;

selecting a theme based on the determined real-world context;

generating a theme image; and

driving a spatial electromagnetic modulator to emit electromagnetic stimulation in the form of the theme image to cause the photo active paint to display the theme image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determination of the real-world context further comprises:

capturing an image or video of one of a plurality of different users with the camera;

performing one or more computer vision processes on the image or video to determine an identity of a user from among the plurality of different users;

determining the real-world context based, at least in part, on the determined identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein image recognition is performed on the image or video to recognize a face of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determination of the real-world context further comprises:

analyzing inherent context data, wherein the inherent context data includes one or more of a time of day, a time of year, and one or more user theme preferences; and

determining the real world context based on a combination of the inherent context data analysis and the image data analysis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected theme is a package of audio-visual data that contains content relevant to the determined real-world context, wherein the content is to be displayed by the photo-active paint in response to electromagnetic stimulation to customize an appearance of the painted surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the selected theme is a color-based theme that customizes the appearance of the painted surface based on user color preferences.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the selected theme is a weather-based theme that customizes the appearance of the painted surface based on weather data obtained from a remove server.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the selected theme is a dynamic theme and the theme image is updated on a periodic basis over time based on an updated to the real-world context.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a store of painted surface display system themes;

transmitting user purchase information for one of a plurality of different painted surface display system themes; and

downloading the one of the plurality of different painted surface display system themes to the painted surface display system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the photo-active paint is one of a photo-luminescent material that emits visible spectrum light in response to electromagnetic stimulation or a photochromatic material that changes light absorption properties in response to the electromagnetic stimulation, and wherein the theme image displayed on the photo-active paint persists for a period of time even when an obstruction moves into a path between the spatial electromagnetic modulator and the theme image displayed on photo-active paint.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

capturing image data with at least a camera of a painted surface display system;

analyzing the image data to determine a real-world context proximate to a painted surface, wherein the painted surface is painted with a photo-active paint;

selecting a theme based on the determined real-world context;

generating a theme image; and

driving a spatial electromagnetic modulator to emit electromagnetic stimulation in the form of the theme image to cause the photo active paint to display the theme image.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determination of the real-world context further comprises:

capturing an image or video of one of a plurality of different users with the camera;

performing one or more computer vision processes on the image or video to determine an identity of a user from among the plurality of different users;

determining the real-world context based, at least in part, on the determined identity of the user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein image recognition is performed on the image or video to recognize a face of the user.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determination of the real-world context further comprises:

analyzing inherent context data, wherein the inherent context data includes one or more of a time of day, a time of year, and one or more user theme preferences; and

determining the real world context based on a combination of the inherent context data analysis and the image data analysis.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the selected theme is a package of audio-visual data that contains content relevant to the determined real-world context, wherein the content is to be displayed by the photo-active paint in response to electromagnetic stimulation to customize an appearance of the painted surface.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the selected theme is a color-based theme that customizes the appearance of the painted surface based on user color preferences.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the selected theme is a weather-based theme that customizes the appearance of the painted surface based on weather data obtained from a remove server.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the selected theme is a dynamic theme and the theme image is updated on a periodic basis over time based on an updated to the real-world context.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing a store of painted surface display system themes;

transmitting user purchase information for one of a plurality of different painted surface display system themes; and

downloading the one of the plurality of different painted surface display system themes to the painted surface display system.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the photo-active paint is one of a photo-luminescent material that emits visible spectrum light in response to electromagnetic stimulation or a photochromatic material that changes light absorption properties in response to the electromagnetic stimulation, and wherein the theme image displayed on the photo-active paint persists for a period of time even when an obstruction moves into a path between the spatial electromagnetic modulator and the theme image displayed on photo-active paint.

21. A painted surface display system comprising:

a camera to capture image data;

an event detector to analyze the image data to determine a real-world context proximate to a painted surface, wherein the painted surface is painted with a photo-active paint;

a theme engine to select a theme based on the determined real-world context; and

a display engine to generate a theme image, and drive a spatial electromagnetic modulator to emit electromagnetic stimulation in the form of the theme image to cause the photo active paint to display the theme image.