LOCATION BASED IMAGE ACQUISITION

Abstract

A location based image acquisition data processing method includes determining a geographic location of a mobile device and mapping the location to a proximate imaging system with at least one camera. The method also includes identifying a Web site for the proximate imaging system, and directing a Web browser executing in memory by a processor of the mobile device to navigate to the identified Web site. Optionally, the method additionally includes detecting a change in position of the mobile device to a new location, mapping the new location to a different imaging system, identifying a different Web site for the different imaging system, and directing the Web browser to navigate to the identified different Web site.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 to presently pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/174,777, filed on May 1, 2009 entitled SYSTEMS AND METHOD OF ASSOCIATING SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITH DIGITAL INFORMATION FILES SPECIFIED FOR THOSE LOCATIONS AND NOTIFYING THE USER OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE FILES, and presently pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/174,766, filed on May 1, 2009 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CREATING AND STORING COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES OR VIDEO WITH A REMOTE INTERNET CONNECTED IMAGING DEVICE, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to location based computing and more particularly to image acquisition in location based computing.

2. Statement of the Related Art

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, also known as Positional Information Devices (PIDs) are now quite prevalent. In addition to stand-alone devices for automobiles and boats and airplanes, GPS devices can be found in many cellular phones and in personal digital assistants (PDAs), as well as in other consumer electronic items. GPS devices are known to be useful in locating geographic points and in providing routing information and other information to an end user. The rise of GPS and PID technology has resulted in the specialization of computing to account for the location of a computing device; namely, location based computing.

Image acquisition devices have proven a valuable compliment to mobile computing and have become ubiquitous in cellular telephony and part and parcel of the basic PDA design. Additionally, network aware surveillance makes substantial use of remotely positioned and communicatively coupled cameras in the field. Even further, network video recording (NVR) recording services acquire imagery remotely from cameras disposed about a computer communications network. However, as of yet, network aware surveillance and NVR services are yet to integrate with location based computing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include collecting a database of geographic coordinates and associating those coordinates with hyperlinks to specific digital information files. For example, a location based image acquisition data processing method includes determining a geographic location of a mobile device and mapping the location to a proximate imaging system with at least one camera. The method also includes identifying a Web site for the proximate imaging system, and directing a Web browser executing in memory by a processor of the mobile device to navigate to the identified Web site. Optionally, the method additionally includes detecting a change in position of the mobile device to a new location, mapping the new location to a different imaging system, identifying a different Web site for the different imaging system, and directing the Web browser to navigate to the identified different Web site. As a further option, an image can be acquired by the imaging system and composited with a pre-stored image to form a composite image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a location based image acquisition data processing system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a process for location based image acquisition; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for compositing pre-stored imagery with location based acquired imagery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of invention, a location based image acquisition data processing system can be provided. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a location based image acquisition data processing system. The system can include a mobile device 160 such as a cellular telephone, PDA, laptop computer, and the like. The mobile device 160 can include a PID 150 with or without internal memory storage. A remote server 120 can be coupled to the mobile device 160 through a computer communications network 110 and can host a database management system (DBMS) 180. Optionally, a pre-stored image or set of images 100 can be stored and accessed by the location based image acquisition logic 140 executing in memory by at least one processor of the remote server 120. Further, a personal computer (PC) 130 can be associated with the mobile device 160 and communicatively coupled to the remote server 120 over the computer communications network 110. Finally, multiple different stand-alone imaging systems 170 can be coupled to the remote server 120 over the computer communications network 110 and can be configured to capture still images, and optionally video/audio. In this regard, each imaging system 170 can utilize a conventional camera, or thermal or infrared cameras as an option, and can include a camera structure enabled to pan, tilt, zoom, focus, lighten or darken through iris control of the camera lens.

In operation, the mobile device 160 uses embedded PID 150 such as GPS to determine a contemporaneous location. Optionally, the location can be provided from a PID 150 at a remote location and communicated and transmitted to the mobile device 160. Once the mobile device 160 is aware of its location the mobile device 160 wirelessly communicates an identity code to the remote server 120 so that the remote server through location based image acquisition logic 140 can establish the identity of the mobile device 160 by reference to a table 190 in the DBMS 180. In this regard, the remote server 120 accesses the DBMS 180 to map the identity code to the actual identity of the mobile device 160 and to use the geographic location supplied by the mobile device 160 to lookup a location proximate one of the imaging systems 170. Optionally, the location of the proximate imaging system 170 can be displayed in a map view on the display of the mobile device 160.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the logic 140 can direct the mobile device 160 to navigate to a Web page or set of Web pages providing imagery captured by the imaging system 170. Additionally, remote control of the imaging system 170 can be provided to the mobile device 160, including pan, tilt, zoom, focus, lighten or darken through iris control of the camera lens. Imagery acquired by the imaging system 170 can be accessed through the mobile device 160 and stored in local data storage in the mobile device 160. Alternatively, the imagery acquired by the imaging system 170 can be routed to the personal computer 130 associated with the mobile device 160. As a further aspect of the embodiment, imagery (whether the imagery is still imagery or video imagery) acquired by the imaging system 170 can be combined with a pre-stored image 100 or set of images (whether still or video) to form a composite image. In this regard, the pre-stored image 100 can be overlain as a layer of the acquired imagery of the imaging system 170 as directed through the mobile device 160 by an end user.

Of note, as the mobile device 160 changes geographical position, the mobile device 160 can be directed by newly proximate ones of the imaging systems 170 to navigate to a new Web page or set of Web pages of imagery acquired by the newly proximate one of the imaging systems 170. In another aspect of the embodiment, the imaging system 170 can detect the proximity of the mobile device 160 of the end user and can establish a communicative link, either directly through short-range radio frequency communications, or indirectly over the computer communications network 110. Over the communicative link, a Web browser in the mobile device 160 can be directed to navigate to a Web page or set of Web pages providing imagery captured by the imaging system 170. Additionally, remote control of the imaging system 170 can be provided to the mobile device 160, including pan, tilt, zoom, focus, lighten or darken through iris control of the camera lens. Imagery acquired by the imaging system 170 can be accessed through the mobile device 160 and stored in local data storage in the mobile device 160.

In yet further illustrating, FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a process for location based image acquisition. Beginning in block 210, a mobile device identifier for the mobile device and the position of the mobile device can be determined and the device identifier and position can be transmitted to the remote server in block 220. In block 230, the mobile device can be determined from the identifier. In block 240, a camera most proximate to the position can be determined and a Web site for the camera can be retrieved in block 250. In block 260, the Web browser of the mobile device can be directed to navigate to the Web site. In decision block 270, if the position of the mobile device has changed sufficient to warrant a change in cameras, the process can repeat in block 210.

In even further illustration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for compositing pre-stored imagery with location based acquired imagery. Beginning in block 310, an image can be acquired of an end user at an imaging system determined to be proximate to the end user. The image can be video imagery or still imagery. In block 320, a pre-stored image can be retrieved as directed by the end user. For example, the pre-stored image can be an image of another person not proximate to the imaging system. In block 330, the pre-stored image can be combined with the acquired image to form a composite image. Finally, in block 340 the composite image can be stored for access by the end user.

Claims

1. A location based image acquisition data processing method comprising:

determining a geographic location of a mobile device;

mapping the location to a proximate imaging system with at least one camera;

identifying a Web site for the proximate imaging system; and,

directing a Web browser executing in memory by a processor of the mobile device to navigate to the identified Web site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in position of the mobile device to a new location;

mapping the new location to a different imaging system;

identifying a different Web site for the different imaging system; and,

directing the Web browser to navigate to the identified different Web site.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an image of an end user associated with the mobile device from the proximate imaging system;

loading a pre-stored image identified by the end user through the mobile device;

combining the pre-stored image with the received image to form a composite image; and,

storing the composite image for subsequent retrieval by the end user.