Abstract: Systems and methods for capturing omnistereo content for a mobile device may include receiving an indication to capture a plurality of images of a scene, capturing the plurality of images using a camera associated with a mobile device and displaying on a screen of the mobile device and during capture, a representation of the plurality of images and presenting a composite image that includes a target capture path and an indicator that provides alignment information corresponding to a source capture path associated with the mobile device during capture of the plurality of images. The system may detect that a portion of the source capture path does not match a target capture path. The system can provide an updated indicator in the screen that may include a prompt to a user of the mobile device to adjust the mobile device to align the source capture path with the target capture path.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to capturing panoramic images using a computing device. For example, the computing device may record a set of video frames and tracking features each including one or more features that appear in two or more video frames of the set of video frames within the set of video frames may be determined. A set of frame-based features based on the displacement of the tracking features between two or more video frames of the set of video frames may be determined by the computing device. A set of historical feature values based on the set of frame-based features may also be determined by the computing device. The computing device may determine then whether a user is attempting to capture a panoramic image based on the set of historical feature values. In response, the computing device may capture a panoramic image.

Abstract: The aspects described herein include receiving a request for available images depicting a user. One or more time and location indicators indicating one or more locations visited by the user are determined. Based on at least in part the one or more time and location indicators, a set of candidate images may be identified. The set of candidate images depict one or more locations at a time corresponding to at least one of the time indicators. Pose data related to the user may be obtained based on the location indicators. The pose data indicates a position and orientation of the user during a visit at a given location depicted in the set of candidate images. One or more images from the set of candidate images may be selected based on the pose data and the 3D reconstruction. The selected images include at least a partial view of the user.

Abstract: An exemplary method for navigating among photos includes determining, using one or more computing devices, visual characteristics of a person depicted in a first image associated with a first location. These visual characteristics of the person are detected in a second image associated with a second location. Using the one or more computing devices, a series of intermediate images are identified based on the first location and the second location. Each intermediate image is associated with a location. The series of intermediate images and the second image are provided. Images of an intermediate destination from the series of intermediate images are selected based on a density of images at the intermediate destination. A 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination is then generated based on the selected images. Thereafter, a visual presentation of images traversing through the 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination to the second image is prepared for display.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating a sequence of images or other visual representations associated with an entity, otherwise known as a semantic image navigation experience. After an entity is selected, a set of sub-entities may be identified. Each sub-entity in the set has a containment relationship with the selected entity as well as at least one associated landmark and one associated pre-stored navigation experience. Then, a ranking order of the sub-entities in the set may be determined based on characteristics of each entity. Based on the determined ranking order, a subset of sub-entities may be selected. A semantic image navigation experience for the selected entity may then be generated using the pre-stored navigation experiences associated with the subset of sub-entities.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for providing one or more photos associated with a point of interest on a map, the method including receiving an indication of a request from a user to view photos associated with a point of interest on a map, identifying a set of photos associated with the point of interest, wherein the photos comprise at least one of photos taken from the point of interest or photos that depict at least part of the point of interest, ranking the photos within the set of photos according to ranking criteria, wherein the ranking criteria comprises one or more of map context, photo quality, photo type or user request information and providing one or more photos of the set of photos to the user according to the ranking.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to generating a composite image of an image of and another image that has a wider field of view. After an image is selected, the visual features in the image may be identified. Several images, such as panoramas, which have wider fields of view than an image captured by a camera, may be selected according to a comparison of the visual features in the image and the visual features of the larger images. The image may be aligned with each of the larger images, and at least one of these smaller-larger image pairs may be generated as a composite image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning ground based images of a geographic area taken from a perspective at or near ground level and a set of aerial images taken from, for instance, an oblique perspective, are provided. More specifically, candidate aerial imagery can be identified for alignment with the ground based image. Geometric data associated with the ground based image can be obtained and used to warp the ground based image to a perspective associated with the candidate aerial imagery. One or more feature matches between the warped image and the candidate aerial imagery can then be identified using a feature matching technique. The matched features can be used to align the ground based image with the candidate aerial imagery.

Abstract: An exemplary method for navigating among photos includes determining, using one or more computing devices, visual characteristics of a person depicted in a first image associated with a first location. These visual characteristics of the person are detected in a second image associated with a second location. Using the one or more computing devices, a series of intermediate images are identified based on the first location and the second location. Each intermediate image is associated with a location. The series of intermediate images and the second image are provided. Images of an intermediate destination from the series of intermediate images are selected based on a density of images at the intermediate destination. A 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination is then generated based on the selected images. Thereafter, a visual presentation of images traversing through the 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination to the second image is prepared for display.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining whether images of a geographic location identify features with characteristics consistent with shadows cast by people, and using such determination to annotate map information. If such features are identified at the location, the map may be annotated to indicate that the location is frequented by pedestrians.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes prompting a user to capture video data at a location. The location is associated with navigation directions for the user. Information representing visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data is received by one or more computing devices, and a stored data model representing a 3D geometry depicting objects associated with the location is accessed. Between corresponding images from the captured video data and projections of the 3D geometry, one or more candidate change regions are detected. Each candidate change region indicates an area of visual difference between the captured video data and projections. When it is detected that a count of the one or more candidate change regions is below a threshold, the stored model data is updated with at least part of the captured video data based on the visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data.

Abstract: The aspects described herein include receiving a request for available images depicting a user. One or more time and location indicators indicating one or more locations visited by the user are determined. Based on at least in part the one or more time and location indicators, a set of candidate images may be identified. The set of candidate images depict one or more locations at a time corresponding to at least one of the time indicators. Pose data related to the user may be obtained based on the location indicators. The pose data indicates a position and orientation of the user during a visit at a given location depicted in the set of candidate images. One or more images from the set of candidate images may be selected based on the pose data and the 3D reconstruction. The selected images include at least a partial view of the user.

Abstract: In one aspect, one or more computing devices receive a set of image frames. Each image frame includes pixels. The computing devices align image frames in order to identify flows of the pixels in the set of image frames. Regions of bokeh effect are identified in each image frame by measuring the sizes of areas of expansion across image frames using a set of assumptions and the identified flows. The computing devices adjust the alignment of the set of image frames based at least in part on the identified regions of bokeh effect. For each image frame, the computing devices generates an index map of focus values for each of the pixels that image frame using the improved alignment. A depth map is generated by the computing devices based at least in part on the index maps.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for generating a panoramic image of a long scene, are disclosed. These include, fitting a plurality of planes to 3D points associated with input images of portions of the long scene, where one or more respective planes are fitted to each of a ground surface, a dominant surface, and at least one of one or more foreground objects and one or more background objects in the long scene, and where distances from the 3D points to the fitted planes are substantially minimized.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning ground based images of a geographic area taken from a perspective at or near ground level and a set of aerial images taken from, for instance, an oblique perspective, are provided. More specifically, candidate aerial imagery can be identified for alignment with the ground based image. Geometric data associated with the ground based image can be obtained and used to warp the ground based image to a perspective associated with the candidate aerial imagery. One or more feature matches between the warped image and the candidate aerial imagery can then be identified using a feature matching technique. The matched features can be used to align the ground based image with the candidate aerial imagery.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes prompting a user to capture video data at a location. The location is associated with navigation directions for the user. Information representing visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data is received by one or more computing devices, and a stored data model representing a 3D geometry depicting objects associated with the location is accessed. Between corresponding images from the captured video data and projections of the 3D geometry, one or more candidate change regions are detected. Each candidate change region indicates an area of visual difference between the captured video data and projections. When it is detected that a count of the one or more candidate change regions is below a threshold, the stored model data is updated with at least part of the captured video data based on the visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for browsing images of points of interest (POIs) are provided. Indication of selection of POI from among multiple POIs is received. Image graph associated with POI is identified. Image graph includes multiple images of POI. Tour path for POI is defined within image graph. Specific image from tour path defined within image graph is provided for display. Previous image and next image relative to specific image along tour path defined within image graph are determined. First set of additional images from image graph based on specific image is determined. First set of additional images corresponds to set of images in image graph proximate to specific image. Link to previous image or next image, and link to each member of first set of additional images for display with specific image are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating image tour are provided. Method includes receiving sequence of images. Each image has associated depth map and is characterized by plurality of parameters. Method includes interpolating flow path containing points corresponding to each image for each parameter. Each flow path relates parameterization to parameter. Method includes identifying rendering artifacts based on sequence of images, associated depth maps, and interpolated flow paths. Method includes identifying slow segments and fast segments in each of interpolated flow paths based on identified rendering artifacts. Method includes determining start/stop times for each of slow segments. Method includes interpolating time curve based on determined start/stop times for each of slow segments and fixed duration of time for each of fast segments. Time curve relates time to parameterization.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning ground based images of a geographic area taken from a perspective at or near ground level and a set of aerial images taken from, for instance, an oblique perspective, are provided. More specifically, candidate aerial imagery can be identified for alignment with the ground based image. Geometric data associated with the ground based image can be obtained and used to warp the ground based image to a perspective associated with the candidate aerial imagery. One or more feature matches between the warped image and the candidate aerial imagery can then be identified using a feature matching technique. The matched features can be used to align the ground based image with the candidate aerial imagery.

Abstract: An exemplary method for navigating among photos includes determining, using one or more computing devices, visual characteristics of a person depicted in a first image associated with a first location. These visual characteristics of the person are detected in a second image associated with a second location. Using the one or more computing devices, a series of intermediate images are identified based on the first location and the second location. Each intermediate image is associated with a location. The series of intermediate images and the second image are provided. Images of an intermediate destination from the series of intermediate images are selected based on a density of images at the intermediate destination. A 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination is then generated based on the selected images. Thereafter, a visual presentation of images traversing through the 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination to the second image is prepared for display.