Abstract: In order to solve the problem of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner that performs autonomous driving according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a main body; a driving unit for driving the main body; a camera for detecting 3-dimensional coordinate information; a memory for storing pattern information related to a recharging station; and a control unit which compares the 3-dimensional coordinate information detected by the camera and the pattern information stored in the memory and related to the recharging station, and which determines, on the basis of the comparison result, whether or not the recharging station is positioned in the vicinity of the main body.

Abstract: Techniques for rendering a 3D virtual object in an augmented-reality system are described. A system, a method, and a non-transitory memory device for augmented reality rendering of three-dimensional, virtual objects are described. In an example, a number of images of an environment are acquired; relative movement of a camera acquiring the number of images is tracked; camera pose is determined relative to the environment using the number of images and tracked relative movement of the camera; depth and normal surfaces of objects in the environment are estimated using a depth map and a normal map; a surface geometry of the environment is reconstructed using the depth map and the normal map; and the virtual object is rendered using the surface geometry of the environment.

Abstract: A stereo camera apparatus includes a stereo camera, a speed sensor, and a control device. The control device includes one or more processors and one or more storage media. The one or more processors are configured to: detect corresponding points from a first image pair and a second image pair to be captured at different times by the stereo camera; divide each of images of the first image pair and the second image pair into regions; calculate, for each of the regions, a movement speed based on an external parameter by using one or more of the corresponding points included in the each of the regions; and calculate, for the each of the regions, a parallax correction value to cause a difference between the movement speed based on the external parameter and a movement speed detectable by the speed sensor to fall below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: One embodiment illustrated herein includes an optical device. The optical device includes a stacked device, formed in a single semiconductor chip, configured to be coupled in an overlapping fashion to an underlying device. The stacked device includes a plurality of optical output pixels. Each of the output pixels includes a plurality of subpixels. Each subpixel is configured to output a color of light. Each pixel is configured to output a plurality of colors of light. The optical device further includes one or more detectors, configured to detect light, interleaved with the subpixels of the pixels. The stacked device comprises a plurality of transparent regions formed in the stacked device between the pixels. The plurality of transparent regions are transparent, according to a first transmission efficiency, to light in a first spectrum. The underlying device emits light in the first spectrum.

Abstract: A notification system notifies users when there is a match between images. The notification system includes a network interface receiving images from a plurality of user devices including a first user device and a second user device, a memory storing database and instructions, and a processor. The processor executes the instructions to function as an image processing unit processing the received images, a face recognition unit recognizing one or more faces in each received image, a face matching unit checking whether a face in a first image from the first user device matches a face in a second image from the second user device, a metadata processing unit processing metadata in each received image, and a notification unit notifying the first user device and the second user device in a case where the face in the first image matches the face in the second image.

Abstract: A VR system and a positioning and tracking method of the VR system are provided. The VR system includes a head-mounted display and a gamepad. The head-mounted display includes a first inertial sensor, a first processor, and first cameras. The gamepad includes a second inertial sensor and second cameras. The first processor is configured to obtain 6DOF data of the head-mounted display under a world coordinate system based on the inertial data of the head-mounted display obtained by the first inertial sensor and the external environment images of the head-mounted display obtained by the first cameras, obtain 6DOF data of the gamepad under the world coordinate system based on the inertial data of the gamepad obtained by the second inertial sensor and the external environment images of the gamepad obtained by the second cameras, and generate 6DOF data of the gamepad on the head-mounted display.

Abstract: An ultrathin camera device is provided. The ultrathin camera device comprises an optical module including a microlens array in which microlenses are arranged, an image sensor that outputs electrical image signals by sensing light coming through the microlens array, spacers that form a focal length by separating the optical module from the image sensor, and a processor that outputs a final image by reconstructing array images generated from the image signals with a designated imaging process depending on a distance at which the object is located. Here, each microlens convexly protrudes toward the image sensor.

Abstract: A system, device, and accompanying software for the remote, three-dimensional, and high-throughput imaging and analysis of human lesions, across a range of wavelengths, lens radii and imaging sensors. This system, device, and software generates and analyses of tumor images at infrared wavelengths through the use of miniaturized, liquid lenses. It has a number of clinical, diagnostic, research, and other imaging applications, including the remote, three-dimensional, and high-throughput imaging and analysis of human cancer tumors.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a first plurality of feature vectors associated with a first image and a second plurality of feature vectors associated with a second image. The method also includes generating a plurality of transformed feature vectors by transforming each respective feature vector of the first plurality of feature vectors by a kernel matrix trained to define an elliptical inner product space. The method additionally includes generating a cost volume by determining, for each respective transformed feature vector of the plurality of transformed feature vectors, a plurality of inner products, wherein each respective inner product of the plurality of inner products is between the respective transformed feature vector and a corresponding candidate feature vector of a corresponding subset of the second plurality of feature vectors. The method further includes determining, based on the cost volume, a pixel correspondence between the first image and the second image.

Abstract: A system can visually track which items in a store are selected for purchase by a shopper. The system can form a virtual shopping cart by analyzing multiple images, over time, to determine which purchasable items are located with the shopper, such as in a physical shopping cart, in a basket, or held by the shopper. By analyzing multiple images, over time, the system can account for items misidentified in one or more images, or fully or partially obscured in one or more images as the shopper traverses the store. Alternatively, the system can form a virtual shopping cart by analyzing instances in which a purchasable item is removed from a shelf or placed on a shelf. Items removed from, but not returned to, a shelf can be considered to be selected for purchase. The system can include a frictionless checkout that charges the shopper for the selected items.

Abstract: An object detection device includes an external sensor, an inertia sensor, and a control device. The external sensor is fixed to a ship. The external sensor detects an object. The inertia sensor detects information related to an inertial force applied to the ship. The control device acquires a state of relative displacement of a detection object on the basis of a signal output from the external sensor. The control device acquires a state of an attitude change of the ship on the basis of a signal output from the inertia sensor. The control device determines whether a detection object is present outside the ship according to a correlation between the state of the attitude change of the ship and the state of the relative displacement of the detection object.

Abstract: The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for adjusting a displayed content, a host, and a computer readable storage medium. The method includes: displaying a visual content, wherein the visual content comprises a first virtual object and a second virtual object; and in response to determining that a synchronization mode associated with the first virtual object is activated, automatically adjusting a first posture of the first virtual object at least based on a host posture of the host and maintaining a second posture of the second virtual object.

Abstract: A system of machine learning schemes can be configured to efficiently perform image processing tasks on a user device, such as a mobile phone. The system can selectively detect and transform individual regions within each frame of a live streaming video. The system can selectively partition and toggle image effects within the live streaming video.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a rangefinder to measure ranges to points external to the device; a tracking sensor; and a controller connected with the rangefinder and the tracking sensor, the controller configured to: track successive poses of the mobile device in a frame of reference via the tracking sensor; responsive to a first activation of the rangefinder at a first one of the poses, generate a first position, in the frame of reference, of a first external point based on a first range from the rangefinder and the first pose; responsive to a second activation of the rangefinder at a second one of the poses, generate a second position, in the frame of reference, of a second external point based on a second range from the rangefinder and the second pose; and determine a distance between the first and second external points based on the first and second positions.

Abstract: Generally, the disclosed systems and methods implement improved detection of objects in three-dimensional (3D) space. More particularly, an improved 3D object detection system can exploit continuous fusion of multiple sensors and/or integrated geographic prior map data to enhance effectiveness and robustness of object detection in applications such as autonomous driving. In some implementations, geographic prior data (e.g., geometric ground and/or semantic road features) can be exploited to enhance three-dimensional object detection for autonomous vehicle applications. In some implementations, object detection systems and methods can be improved based on dynamic utilization of multiple sensor modalities. More particularly, an improved 3D object detection system can exploit both LIDAR systems and cameras to perform very accurate localization of objects within three-dimensional space relative to an autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a mobile robot that controls an exposure time of an optical sensor during a time interval during which images of a gap between tiles are captured. At an end of the time interval that an image of a gap between tiles is captured, the exposure time of the optical sensor is adjust to the exposure time being used right before the time interval to avoid high brightness of the captured image while the image of a gap between tiles is suddenly disappeared from a field of view of the optical sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video stabilization method including steps of selecting a first area in a first image; determining at least one first feature point based on the first area, and performing feature point matching on the first image and a second image so as to obtain at least one feature point matching pair between the first image and the second image, each feature point matching pair including a first feature point of the first image and a second feature point of the second image; conducting motion parameter estimation based on the at least one feature point matching pair so as to obtain a motion parameter; and carrying out motion compensation with respect to the first image based on the motion parameter so as to acquire a first stable image after compensation.

Abstract: A depth calculation processor, a data processing method, and a 3D image device are disclosed herein. The depth calculation processor includes: at least two input ports configured to receive a first image data, wherein the first image data comprises at least a structured light image acquired under projection of a structured light; a data processing engine configured to perform a calculation process on the first image data to output a second image data, wherein the second image data comprises at least a depth map, wherein the data processing engine comprises at least a depth processing engine configured to perform a depth calculation process on the structured light image to obtain the depth map; and at least an output port coupled to the data processing engine and configured to output the second image data to a host device.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to method and system for detecting on-street parking violations. The method include capturing, by using an media capturing device embodied in an electronic device mounted in a vehicle, a video stream of a scene during a trip of the vehicle. The video stream is processed at the electronic device to identify target objects such as no-parking signage and vehicles parked in the vicinity thereof. A meta-information associated with the target objects is stored in form of a short-term historian in a repository associated with the electronic device. The absolute locations of the target objects are determined and the historian is updated with the values of the absolute locations. A set of unique target objects is determined from amongst the target objects and a meta-information associated with the unique objects is sent to a cloud server for determining parking violations.

Abstract: An image sensor arrangement for determining a three-dimensional image comprises an image sensor comprising an array of global shutter pixels and a control unit which is configured to drive the image sensor in an imaging mode and in a time-of-flight mode. In the imaging mode, the control unit drives the pixels according to an imaging timing sequence. In the time-of-flight mode, the control unit drives the pixels according to a time-of-flight, TOF, timing sequence. At least a first subset of pixels are operated with a phase delay with respect to at least a second subset of pixels according to a first phase and a second phase, respectively.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method of defining a negative space in a three-dimensional scene model is performed at a device including a processor and non-transitory memory. The method includes obtaining a three-dimensional scene model of a physical environment including a plurality of points, wherein each of the plurality of points is associated with a set of coordinates in a three-dimensional space. The method includes defining a subspace in the three-dimensional space with less than a threshold number of the plurality of points. The method includes determining a semantic label for the subspace. The method includes generating a characterization vector of the subspace, wherein the characterization vector includes the spatial extent of the subspace and the semantic label.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for generating an image. The apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory. The processor is configured to obtain a wide image of an entire region, obtain one or more teleimages of one or more regions of interest (ROIs) of the entire region using a telecamera according to a capturing order of the telecamera determined for the one or more ROIs based on the wide image, match the wide image and the one or more teleimages, warp the one or more teleimages to the wide image based on a result of the matching, and stitch the one or more warped teleimages based on the wide image.

Abstract: A real-world object-based method and system of performing an authentication of a person in order to permit access to a secured resource is disclosed. The system and method are configured to collect image data from an end-user in real-time that includes objects in their environment. At least one object is selected and its image data stored for subsequent authentication sessions, when the system can determine whether there is a match between the new image data and image data previously collected and stored in a database. If there is a match, the system verifies an identity of the person and can further be configured to automatically grant the person access to one or more services, features, or information for which he or she is authorized.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a blender and a display quality enhancer. The blender is configured to receive a plurality of layer data, generate first image data by blending the plurality of layer data, the first image data including a plurality of pixel values corresponding to a screen in a display device, and generate pixel map data including a plurality of pixel identifications (IDs) based on the plurality of layer data, the plurality of layer data representing a plurality of images to be displayed on the screen, the plurality of pixel IDs indicating display quality enhancement algorithms to be applied to the plurality of pixel values. The display quality enhancer is configured to generate second image data including a plurality of display quality enhancement pixel values by applying the display quality enhancement algorithms to the plurality of pixel values based on the first image data and the pixel map data.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for obtaining a registration error map representing a level of sharpness of an image. Many methods are known which allow determining the position of a camera with respect to an object, based on the knowledge of a 3D model of the object and the intrinsic parameters of the camera. However, regardless of the visual servoing technique used, there is no control in the image space and the object may get out of the camera field of view during servoing. It is proposed to obtain a registration error map relating to an image of the object of interest generated by computing an intersection of a re-focusing surface obtained from a 3D model of said object of interest and a focal stack based on acquired four-dimensional light-field data relating to said object of interest.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle monitoring system includes first and second noncontact sensors configured for coupling with an agricultural vehicle, where the first and second noncontact sensors are configured to sense respective first and second environmental characteristics for determining a position of the agricultural vehicle in a field. The system further includes a comparative vehicle monitor in communication with the first and second noncontact sensors. The comparative vehicle monitor includes a filter module to filter outputs of the first and second noncontact sensors based on an indicator of a relative quality of the output of each sensor. The comparative vehicle monitor additionally includes an evaluation module to determine a vehicle position of the agricultural vehicle relative to at least one of the first and second environmental characteristics according to filtered outputs of the first and second noncontact sensors.

Abstract: A device for extracting depth information according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a light outputting unit for outputting IR (Infrared) light; a light inputting unit for inputting light reflected from an object after outputting from the light outputting unit; a light adjusting unit for adjusting the angle of the light so as to radiate the light into a first area including the object, and then for adjusting the angle of the light so as to radiate the light into a second area; and a controlling unit for estimating the motion of the object by using at least one of the lights between the light inputted to the first area and the light inputted to the second area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting plane positions in multi-dimensional models. Disclosed is moving a plane associated with an architectural element based on a scale and a translation positional error, wherein the scaled is determined based on the architectural element, and the translation position error is based on a position of the architectural element, and reconstructing the multi-dimensional building model based on the moved plane.

Abstract: An SN ratio of light to be received is improved. A polarizing filter (150) that is arranged in a light path extending from an object (11) to a light receiving unit (154) of a ToF sensor (153) and allows transmission of light polarized in a direction vertical to a direction of scanning is provided.

Abstract: A method for automated calibration is provided. The method may include obtaining a plurality of interest points based on prior information regarding a device and image data of the device captured by a visual sensor. The method may include identifying at least a portion of the plurality of interest points from the image data of the device. The method may also include determining a transformation relationship between a first coordinate system and a second coordinate system based on information of at least a portion of the identified interest points in the first coordinate system and in the second coordinate system that is applied to the visual sensor or the image data of the device.

Abstract: A method for depth sensing from an image of a projected pattern is performed at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory. The method includes receiving an image of a projection of an illumination pattern; for a portion of the image, selecting a candidate image of a plurality of candidate images by comparing the portion of the image with a plurality of candidate images; and determining a depth for the portion of the image based on depth information associated with the selected candidate image. Related electronic devices and computer readable storage medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A survey tool for determining position and orientation (P&O) thereof relative to a construction site is provided herein. The survey tool may include: a moveable platform wherein the moveable platform is configured to rotate at least one two-axis electro-optic deflection unit mounted on the moveable platform; at least one light source coupled to the two-axis electro-optic deflection unit configured to project a light beam, wherein steering of the light beam is carried out by operating at least one of: the two-axis electro-optic deflection unit, and the moveable platform, and wherein the light beam forms a projection onto surfaces within the construction site; at least one sensor configured to record at least one of: a steering angle and, a distance between the survey tool and said point; and at least one computer processor configured to determine the P&O of the survey tool relative to the construction site.

Abstract: A depth estimation method and apparatus are provided. The depth estimation method includes obtaining an image from an image sensor comprising upper pixels, each comprising N sub-pixels, obtaining N sub-images respectively corresponding to the N sub-pixels from the image, obtaining a viewpoint difference between the N sub-images using a first neural network, and obtaining a depth map of the image based on the viewpoint difference using a second neural network.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an imaging device whereby enhanced sensing precision and reduced computational load can both be achieved at the same time even when a plurality of objects as sensing subjects are present. In order to achieve this purpose, the present invention has: a first object detection processing unit having a plurality of imaging units, the first object detection processing unit performing first object detection processing for sensing, by stereo processing, a distance for each of a plurality of image elements in partial region of interest in an image acquired by the imaging units, then extracting a group of the image elements on the basis of the sensed distances and detecting an object; and a second object detection processing unit for performing second object detection processing for detecting the distance of the object by stereo processing for a partial region of another region of interest in the image.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes an imaging unit which captures a subject image formed by an imaging optical system forming the subject image indicating a subject, an emission unit which emits directional light as light having directivity along an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system, a light receiving unit which receives reflected light of directional light from the subject, a derivation unit which derives a distance to the subject based on a timing at which directional light is emitted by the emission unit and a timing at which reflected light is received by the light receiving unit, and a control unit which performs control such that at least a part of an imaging period by the imaging unit overlaps at least a part of a distance measurement period by the emission unit, the light receiving unit, and the derivation unit.

Abstract: A height measurement device includes: a lens system; a lens controller to output a drive signal to the lens system; a continuous illuminator to continuously illuminate a workpiece; an image detector to detect an image of the workpiece; an image calculation unit to calculate an EDOF image on a basis of a detected image; a focal depth adjustment unit to cause an extended focal depth of the EDOF image to be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing an amplitude of the drive signal; a focus determination unit to determine a focus state of a portion of interest of the workpiece included in the EDOF image; and a height measurement unit to measure an upper limit or a lower limit of the extended focal depth, the upper limit or the lower limit being based on a timing at which the focus state of the portion of interest has changed.

Abstract: A video acoustical method determines an impact point of a thrown body on a landing area, in particular for athletics throws disciplines, the body describing a trajectory in the air from a take-off area towards the landing area, the impact point being defined by the body hitting on the landing area. The method includes acquiring video exposures of the body impact on the landing area to a frame rate, each exposure showing one position of the body; calculating the body trajectory during at least the body impact on the landing area with the video exposures analysis; detecting an acoustical impact time due to the body hitting on the landing area; and determining the body impact point on the calculated trajectory with the detected acoustical impact time. A video acoustical system can determine an impact point of a thrown body on a landing area.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training and deploying machine-learned communication. One of the methods includes: receiving an RF signal at a signal processing system for training a machine-learning network; providing the RF signal through the machine-learning network; producing an output from the machine-learning network; measuring a distance metric between the signal processing model output and a reference model output; determining modifications to the machine-learning network to reduce the distance metric between the output and the reference model output; and in response to reducing the distance metric to a value that is less than or equal to a threshold value, determining a score of the trained machine-learning network using one or more other RF signals and one or more other corresponding reference model outputs, the score indicating an a performance metric of the trained machine-learning network to perform the desired RF function.

Abstract: An image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a grid shape, and which converts reflection light signals reflected from an object into electrical signals; an image processor which converts the electrical signals to generate subframes, and extracts pieces of second depth information having a higher resolution than pieces of first depth information extracted from a plurality of the subframes; and a memory for storing the pieces of first depth information, wherein the reflection light signals are input to the pixel array through mutually different optical paths shifted in sub-pixel units of the pixel array, and the memory stores a plurality of the pieces of first depth information that correspond to the mutually different optical paths.

Abstract: A system uses a fleet of AVs to assess visibility of target objects. Each AV has a camera for capturing images of target objects. AVs provide the captured images, or visibility data derived from the captured images, to a remote system, which aggregates visibility data describing images captured across the fleet of AVs. The AVs also provide condition data describing conditions under which the images were captured, and the remote system aggregates the condition data. The remote system processes the aggregated visibility data and condition data to determine conditions under which a target object does not meet a visibility threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for a method of determining a geospatial position of a point of interest and a portable positioning device. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting data from a receiving unit and data from at least one of an imaging device and an IMU of the positioning device for each one of a plurality of positions of the positioning device. The collected data is then transmitted to a data fusing processor for determining orientations and positions of the positioning device for the plurality of positions in a global coordinate system. Further, the method includes obtaining a pointing input including a sighting direction towards the point of interest from the positioning device being positioned at at least one reference position. The pointing input is transmitted to the data fusing processor for identifying the point of interest and for determining the geospatial position of the point of interest in the global coordinate system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a host vehicle and control method thereof, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the purpose is to enable quick and accurate recognition of cut-in vehicles that change lanes from adjacent lanes to travel lanes. Disclosed are a control method of a host vehicle, the method including: obtaining a front image by photographing the front of the host vehicle; identifying left and right lines of a travel lane in which the host vehicle is traveling from the front image; determining that a vehicle cutting-in from an adjacent lane to the travel lane exists when the lengths of the left line and the right line of the travel lane are different from each other in the front image.

Abstract: A system of generating a three-dimensional (3D) scan of an environment includes multiple 3D scanners including a first 3D scanner at respective first and second positions. The system further includes a controller coupled to the 3D scanners via a common communications network. The first scanner and second scanner transmit a subset of data to the controller while acquiring a set of 3D coordinates. The controller registers the subsets of data to each other while the sets of 3D coordinates is being acquired.

Abstract: Robot localization or mapping can be provided without requiring the expense or complexity of an “at-a-distance” sensor, such as a camera, a LIDAR sensor, or the like. Landmark features can be created or matched using motion sensor data, such as odometry or gyro data or the like, and adjacency sensor data. Despite the relative ambiguity of adjacency-sensor derived landmark features, a particle filter approach can be configured to use such information, instead of requiring “at-a-distance” information from a constant stream of visual images from a camera, such as for robot localization or mapping. Landmark sequence constraints or a Wi-Fi signal strength map can be used together with the particle filter approach.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for size estimation by image recognition of a specific target using a given scale. First, a reference objected is recognized in an image and the corresponding scale is established. Then the specific target is searched and the size of the specific target is estimated according to the acquired scale.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a displacement of a peripheral device are provided. In one example, a peripheral device comprises: an image sensor, and a hardware processor configured to: control the image sensor to capture a first image of a surface when the peripheral device is at a first location on the surface, the first image comprising a feature of the first location of the surface; execute a trained machine learning model using data derived from the first image to estimate a displacement of the feature between the first image and a reference image captured at a second location of the surface; and determine a displacement of the peripheral device based on the estimated displacement of the feature.

Abstract: A method for fusing a first occupancy map and a second occupancy map comprises: determining at least one fusion parameter representing a potential dissimilarity between the first occupancy map and the second occupancy map and determining a fused occupancy map representing free and occupied space around the vehicle. The fused occupancy map is determined based on the first occupancy map, the second occupancy map, and a fusion rule. The fusion rule is configured to control the influence of the first occupancy map and/or the second occupancy map on the fused occupancy map based on the at least one fusion parameter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a three-dimensional reconstruction method and apparatus for a material pile, an electronic device, and a computer-readable medium. The method may include: acquiring, in response to an instruction for controlling an excavator body of an excavator to rotate to transport materials being detected, a sequence of depth images of an excavated material pile collected by a binocular camera provided on a side of the excavator; and performing three-dimensional reconstruction based on the sequence of depth images of the material pile, to generate a three-dimensional model of the material pile.

Abstract: To estimate the top surface of a measurement target on the basis of a data point group that corresponds to the top surface of a measurement target and is obtained using a laser scanner. This top surface estimation method for hoisting loads and by acquiring, using the laser scanner, data point groups in a hoisting load region which includes a hoisting load and an object from above the hoisting load and the object, dividing the hoisting load region into layers which constitute a plurality of groups which have a prescribed thickness in the vertical direction, and allocating the acquired data point groups to the plurality of layer groups, and estimating the top surfaces of the hoisting load and the object in each layer group on the basis of the data point groups allocated to the plurality of layer groups.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium storing the program capable of extracting, from an input first image group, an image similar to an image extracted from a reference image group are provided. A first image group including a plurality of images of a user is transmitted to an order reception server. A second image group similar to the first image group is searched from a plurality of reference image groups stored in the order reception server. An image similar to an image previously extracted from the second image group is extracted from the first image group. An album is generated by arranging the image extracted from the first image group in a layout similar to a layout of an album generated from the second image group.