Tracker assisted image capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10474921-B2
Application number	US-201314036947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Jun 14, 2013
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A method for picture processing is described. A first tracking area is obtained. A second tracking area is also obtained. The method includes beginning to track the first tracking area and the second tracking area. Picture processing is performed once a portion of the first tracking area overlapping the second tracking area passes a threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for picture processing, comprising:
receiving a user selection of a first tracking area;
receiving a user selection of a second tracking area;
beginning to track the first tracking area and the second tracking area;
determining, in a first frame, an amount of overlap between the first tracking area of a first tracked object captured in the first frame and the second tracking area of a second tracked object captured in the first frame, wherein determining the amount of overlap is based on whether the first tracking area is larger than the second tracking area; and
performing picture processing in response to determining that the amount of overlap passes a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture processing is performed once the amount of overlap becomes greater than the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture processing is performed once the amount of overlap becomes less than the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture processing comprises capturing a photograph, wherein the photograph is captured from prerecorded video footage.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture processing comprises capturing a photograph, wherein the photograph is captured from live footage.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture processing comprises editing a video sequence, wherein the first tracked object is removed from the video sequence.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
selecting a second frame of the video sequence, wherein the first tracking area does not overlap a corresponding replacement area in the second frame; and
replacing the first tracking area in the first frame with the corresponding replacement area from the second frame.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second frame occurs later in time than the first frame.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second frame occurs earlier in time than the first frame.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising storing the first frame as part of an edited video sequence.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein user selection of the first tracking area and the second tracking area are entered by a user via a focus ring.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein beginning to track the first tracking area and the second tracking area occurs after the user has released a finger from a touchscreen.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second tracking area comprises an action line.

14. An electronic device configured for picture processing, comprising:
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor;
instructions stored in memory, the instructions being executable to:
receive a user selection of a first tracking area;
receive a user selection of a second tracking area;
begin to track the first tracking area and the second tracking area;
determine, in a first frame, an amount of overlap between the first tracking area of a first tracked object captured in the first frame and the second tracking area of a second tracked object captured in the first frame, wherein the instructions are executable to determine the amount of overlap based on whether the first tracking area is larger than the second tracking area; and
perform picture processing in response to determining that the amount of overlap passes a threshold.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the picture processing is performed once the amount of overlap becomes greater than the threshold.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the picture processing is performed once the amount of overlap becomes less than the threshold.

17. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the picture processing comprises capturing a photograph, wherein the photograph is captured from prerecorded video footage.

18. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the picture processing comprises capturing a photograph, wherein the photograph is captured from live footage.

19. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the picture processing comprises editing a video sequence, wherein the first tracked object is removed from the video sequence.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
select a second frame of the video sequence, wherein the first tracking area does not overlap a corresponding replacement area in the second frame; and
replace the first tracking area in the first frame with the corresponding replacement area from the second frame.

21. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the second frame occurs later in time than the first frame.

22. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the second frame occurs earlier in time than the first frame.

23. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the instructions are further executable to store the first frame as part of an edited video sequence.

24. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein user selection of the first tracking area and the second tracking area are entered by a user via a focus ring.

25. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein beginning to track the first tracking area and the second tracking area occurs after the user has released a finger from a touchscreen.

26. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second tracking area comprises an action line.

27. An apparatus for picture processing, comprising:
means for receiving a user selection of a first tracking area;
means for receiving a user selection of a second tracking area;
means for beginning to track the first tracking area and the second tracking area;
means for determining, in a first frame, an amount of overlap between the first tracking area of a first tracked object captured in the first frame and the second tracking area of a second tracked object captured in the first frame, wherein the means for determining the amount of overlap is based on whether the first tracking area is larger than the second tracking area; and
means for performing picture processing in response to determining that the amount of overlap passes a threshold.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the picture processing is performed once the amount of overlap becomes greater than the threshold.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the picture processing is performed once the amount of overlap becomes less than the threshold.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the picture processing comprises editing a video sequence, wherein the first tracked object is removed from the video sequence.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:
means for selecting a second frame of the video sequence, wherein the first tracking area does not overlap a corresponding replacement area in the second frame; and
means for replacing the first tracking area in the first frame with the corresponding replacement area from the second frame.

32. A computer-program product for picture processing, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
code for causing an electronic device to receive a user selection of a first tracking area;
code for causing the electronic device to receive a user selection of a second tracking area;
code for causing the electronic device to begin to track the first tracking area and the sec

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Zhong Xin
• Gao Dashan
• Bi Ning
• Laver Steven Douglas
• Beith Scott David
• Maccormack Diarmuid

Classifications

• G06T7/20 Primary

  Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51) · CPC title

• H04N23/6811

  based on the image signal · CPC title

• H04N23/64

  Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image · CPC title

• H04N23/635

  Region indicators; Field of view indicators · CPC title

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title