Method and system for establishing autofocus based on priority

• US 9,077,888 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Luong, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Xi
• Application Number:
  US13/339,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 348/352, 348/345, 348/349, 382/117, 382/118, 386/241, 396/95, 396/121, 396/124
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions

Abstract

An approach for enabling the autofocus feature of a camera to be directed towards priority targets within a frame is described. A camera retrieves a stored object image. An autofocus platform then compares an object viewed by the camera within a scene with the stored object image. The autofocus platform then determines a focus point within the scene based on the comparison. The image is captured by the camera using the determined focus point.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

viewing, by a camera, a scene that includes a plurality of objects;

retrieving, by the camera, a stored object image, relationship type, and ranking associated with a social networking profile of a user of the camera, wherein the stored object image, relationship type, and ranking are retrieved over a communication network as part of a subscription service;

comparing the plurality of objects in the scene with the stored object image for a match;

identifying a specific object from among the plurality of objects as a match with the stored object image;

determining, in response to the match, a priority associated with the specific object based on the relationship type and ranking;

determining a focus point on the specific object within the scene based on the comparing of the object in the scene with the stored object image;

focusing the camera on the focus point based on the specific object being identified as a priority target object; and

capturing, by the camera, an image of the specific object using the determined focus point.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the priority is based on the ranking assigned to the stored object image by the user of the camera, and the focusing of the camera is based on the priority.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a frequency of imaging and/or viewing of the specific object by the camera meets a predetermined threshold, the imaging and/or viewing of the specific object corresponding to a detecting of the specific object within a scene prior to the capturing of the image of the specific object;

uploading an object image of the specific object to a signature repository based on the determination of the frequency; and

updating the priority associated with the specific object based on the determination.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the image of the specific object,

wherein the image is determined not to match a stored object image.

5. A method of claim 4, further comprising:

associating a label, context information, or a combination thereof with the image of the specific object,

wherein the label, the context information, or a combination thereof is associated with the camera, a user of the camera, the specific object, or a combination thereof, and the label, the context information, or a combination thereof is stored with the image of the specific object in association with the social networking profile of the user of the camera.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a plurality of autofocus modes, wherein at least one of the plurality of autofocus modes is a theme based prioritization structure that accounts for different environments and settings of a user of the camera;

determining if a condition associated with the camera, a user of the camera, the specific object, or a combination thereof is met;

updating the priority associated with the specific object based on the condition; and

determining a focus point within a scene based on the determination of the priority.

7. A method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a change of context information associated with the camera,

wherein the context information is based on location information, motion information, device usage information, device status information, network information, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the condition is based on a location of the user, a location of the specific object, an activity associated with the scene, a time associated with the scene, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the stored object image is retrieved by the camera from a remote repository maintained by the user, and the camera is a standalone device or is integrated with a mobile device.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the object is a face, a symbol, a specified item, a keyword, or a combination thereof.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

view, by a camera, a scene that includes a plurality of objects;

retrieve, by the camera, a stored object image, relationship type, and ranking associated with a social networking profile of a user of the camera, wherein the stored object image, relationship type and ranking are retrieved over a communication network as part of a subscription service;

compare the plurality of objects in the scene with the stored object image for a match;

identify a specific object from among the plurality of objects as a match with the stored object image;

determine, in response to the match, a priority associated with the specific object based on the relationship type and ranking;

determine a focus point on the specific object within the scene based on the comparison of the object in the scene with the stored object image;

focus the camera on the focus point based on the specific object being identified as a priority target object; and

capture, by the camera, an image of the specific object identified using the determined focus point.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the priority associated with the specific object is higher than one or more other priorities associated with the one or more other objects.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine if a frequency of imaging and/or viewing of the specific object by the camera meets a predetermined threshold, the imaging and/or viewing of the specific object corresponding to a detecting of the specific object within a scene prior to the capturing of the image of the specific object;

upload an object image of the specific object to a signature repository based on the determination of the frequency; and

update the priority associated with the specific object based on the determination.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

store the image of the specific object,

wherein the image is determined not to match a stored object image.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

associate context information with the image of the specific object,

wherein the context information is associated with the camera, a user of the camera, the object, or a combination thereof, and wherein the context information is based on location information, motion information, camera usage information, camera status information, network information, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine if a condition associated with the camera, a user of the camera, the object, or a combination thereof is met;

update the priority associated with the specific object based on the condition; and

determine a focus point within a scene based on the determination of the priority.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the condition is based on a location of the user, a location of the object, an activity associated with the scene, a time associated with the scene, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stored object image is retrieved by the camera from a remote repository maintained by the user, and the camera is a standalone device or is integrated with a mobile device.

18. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the object is a face, a symbol, a specified item, a keyword, or a combination thereof.