Image-related methods and arrangements

• US 9,595,059 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Knudson, Edward B, Rodriguez, Tony F
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, UTPAL D
• Application Number:
  US14/109,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly

Abstract

A user captures an image of a retail product with a smartphone. Product recommendations associated with the retail product are provided to the smartphone. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving first imagery captured by a smartphone camera, the first imagery representing a first retail product located at a retail location, and presenting the first imagery on a screen of the smartphone; providing the first imagery to a processor to produce fingerprint data therefrom, the fingerprint data being utilized to identify the first retail product; receiving second imagery representing a second retail product, identified as a product recommendation associated with the first retail product, the second imagery being sourced from a source different than the smartphone camera; presenting, on the screen of the smartphone, the second imagery; receiving user input via a touch screen of the smartphone; as a consequence of said user input, initiating an action. Of course, a great variety of other claims, features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving first imagery captured by a smartphone camera, the first imagery representing a first retail product located at a retail location, and presenting the first imagery on a touch screen of the smartphone;

providing the first imagery to a processor to produce fingerprint data therefrom, the fingerprint data being utilized to identify the first retail product;

receiving second imagery representing a second retail product, identified as a product recommendation associated with the first retail product, the second imagery being sourced from a source different than the smartphone camera;

presenting, on the touch screen of the smartphone, the second imagery;

broadcasting the fingerprint data for access by a retail location only when a global positioning system provides location information indicating that the smartphone is within an area associated with the retail location, whereby battery life of the smartphone is persevered relative to continuous or periodic broadcasts of the fingerprint data, in which the retail location consults a translation table structure to obtain a corresponding identifier;

receiving an in-stock indication from the retail location for a product associated with the corresponding identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating an online posting of the first imagery for viewing by others.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the second retail product is identified, at least in part, based on information associated with a user of the smartphone.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving third imagery, the third imagery being sourced from a source different than the smartphone camera, in which the third imagery comprises one or more alternative images of the first retail product.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input via the touch screen of the smartphone; and

as a consequence of said user input, initiating an action comprising an online posting of the second imagery for viewing by others.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising initiating an online posting of the one or more alternative images for viewing by others.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input via the touch screen of the smartphone; and

as a consequence of said user input, initiating an action comprising an online purchase of the second retail product.

5. A smartphone comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a camera for capturing imagery including video;

one or more electronic processors programmed for;

handling first imagery captured by said camera, the first imagery representing a first retail product located at a retail location;

controlling presentation of the first imagery on said touchscreen display;

producing fingerprint data from the first imagery, the fingerprint data being utilized to identify the first retail product;

controlling receipt of second imagery representing a second retail product, identified as a product recommendation associated with the first retail product, the second imagery being sourced from a source different than said camera;

controlling presentation of the second imagery on said touchscreen display;

receiving user input entered via said touchscreen display;

as a consequence of the user input, initiating an action comprising controlling presentation of a monocle view on said touchscreen display, the monocle view comprising an overlay of graphical imagery on live video captured by said camera such that when said smartphone points in different directions, the graphical imagery shows what social network posts people have made in different directions relative to a current location associated with said smartphone, in which at least one instance of graphical imagery includes digital watermarking encoded therein, the digital watermarking comprising an identifier associated with a person who first posted the one instance of graphical imagery; and

decoding the digital watermarking from the one instance of graphical imagery to obtain the identifier.

6. The smartphone of claim 5 in which the action further comprises initiating an online posting of the first imagery or the second imagery for viewing by others.

7. The smartphone of claim 5 in which the action further comprises initiating an online purchase of the second retail product.

8. The smartphone of claim 5 in which the action further comprises a request for directions within the retail location to a location at which the second retail product is located.

9. The smartphone of claim 8 in which the directions are determined, at least in part, based on radio frequency signals emitted from the smartphone.

10. The smartphone of claim 5 in which the action further comprises a request for pricing of the second retail product from multiple, different sources.

11. The smartphone of claim 5 in which the second retail product is identified, at least in part, based on information associated with a user of the smartphone.

12. The smartphone of claim 5 in which said one or more electronic processor are programmed for:

controlling receipt of third imagery, the third imagery being sourced from a source different than said camera, in which the third imagery comprises one or more alternative images of the first retail product.

13. The smartphone of claim 12 in which the action further comprises initiating an online posting of the one or more alternative images for viewing by others.

14. The smartphone of claim 5, further comprising a gyroscope for providing direction information, in which said smartphone utilizes the direction information to determine whether it'"'"'s being pointed in the different directions.

18. A client device comprising:

a camera for capturing imagery;

a global positioning system (GPS);

a touchscreen display;

a battery for powering said client device;

a transceiver; and

one or more processors programmed for;

controlling presentation of first imagery captured by said camera on said touchscreen display, in which the first imagery represents a first retail product located at a retail location;

generating fingerprint data from the first imagery, the fingerprint data being utilized to identify the first retail product;

obtaining second imagery representing a second retail product, identified as being associated with the first retail product, the second imagery being sourced from a source different than said camera;

controlling presentation of the second imagery on said touchscreen display;

controlling said transceiver to broadcast the fingerprint data for receipt by the retail location only when said GPS provides location information indicating that the client device is within an area associated with the retail location, whereby battery life of said battery is persevered relative to continuous or periodic broadcasts of the fingerprint data, in which the retail location consults a translation table structure to obtain a corresponding identifier; and

receiving an alert communicated from the retail location, the alert providing an in-stock indication for a product associated with the corresponding identifier.

19. The client device of claim 18 in which said one or more processors are programmed for initiating an online posting of the first imagery for viewing by others.

20. The client device of claim 18, in which said one or more processors are programmed for:

as a consequence of receiving user input via said touchscreen display, initiating an action comprising an online posting of the second imagery for viewing by others.

21. The client device of claim 18, in which said one or more processors are programmed for:

as a consequence of receiving user input via said touchscreen display, initiating an action comprising an online purchase of the second retail product.

22. The client device of claim 18 in which said one or more processors are programmed for:

receiving third imagery, the third imagery being sourced from a source different than said camera, in which the third imagery comprises one or more alternative images of the first retail product.

23. The client device of claim 22 in which said one or more processors are programmed for:

initiating an online posting of the one or more alternative images for viewing by others.

24. The client device of claim 18 in which said client device comprises a smartphone, tablet or laptop;

and in which said transceiver comprises a radio frequency transceiver.