Apparatus and method for detecting and connecting counterpart device by capturing image of counterpart device in wireless device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9300854-B2
Application number	US-201113298101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2011
Priority date	Nov 17, 2010
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus and a method detect and connect a counterpart device by capturing an image of the counterpart device in a wireless device. A Relative Distance Value (RDV) between the wireless device and the counterpart device is determined via image capture using a camera. The counterpart device is identified using the determined RDV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a wireless device in a network environment where the wireless device and a counterpart device exist, the method comprising:
registering the counterpart device to be connected for performing at least one function, by mapping a pre-determined Relative Distance Value (RDV) to a captured image of the counterpart device;
while capturing the image of the counterpart device, determining an RDV between the wireless device and the counterpart device by matching a height of the counterpart device in a preview image to a focus zone on a display of the wireless device;
identifying the counterpart device corresponding to the determined RDV; and
performing a function determined in advance between the wireless device and the counterpart device using the identified counterpart device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the function determined in advance between the wireless device and the counterpart device comprises at least one of an image view function, a multimedia play function, a data backup function, a data share function, a synchronization function, and a slide show function.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the RDV comprises:
displaying a focus zone and a preview image corresponding to the captured image associated with the counterpart device on a display unit;
after a shooting key is selected, determining whether an object image and a height of the focus zone coincide in the preview image;
when the object image and the height of the focus zone coincide in the preview image, capturing the counterpart device; and
when the object image and the height of the focus zone do not coincide in the preview image, indicating that the object image and the height of the focus zone do not coincide and requesting to match the object image and the height of the focus zone.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the object image and the height of the focus zone are matched using at least one of a user's position movement, an auto-focus function of a camera, and a zoom function of the camera.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the RDV further comprises:
displaying an input window for receiving a device type of the counterpart device on a display unit; and
after the device type of the counterpart device is input via the input window, determining a height of the object based on the input device type and determining a shooting distance based on the height of the object, a focal length of the camera, and a height of an image sensor of the camera,
wherein the shooting distance D is determined using Equation below:

Shooting
⁢

⁢
distance
⁢

⁢
D

=

Height
⁡

(
H
)

⁢

⁢
of
⁢

⁢
object

Height
⁡

(
h
)

⁢

⁢
of
⁢

⁢
image
⁢

⁢
sensor

×
Focal
⁢

⁢
length
⁢

⁢

(
d
)

*

.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the RDV is determined based on the determined shooting distance using the Equations below:

R
⁢

⁢
D
⁢

⁢
V

=

shooting
⁢

⁢
distance
⁢

⁢
D

image
⁢

⁢
proportional
⁢

⁢

const
.

⁢
ɛ

×
focal
⁢

⁢
length
⁢

⁢
proportional
⁢

⁢

cont
.

⁢
η

image
⁢

⁢
proportional
⁢

Assignees

• Kang Shin-Il
• Yeon Hun-Je
• Lee Jin-Wook
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Shin-Il
• Yeon Hun-Je
• Lee Jin-Wook

Classifications

• H04N23/635

  Region indicators; Field of view indicators · CPC title

• H04N23/632

  for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters · CPC title

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N23/661 Primary

  Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet · CPC title

• H04N21/41407 Primary

  embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop (constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57) · CPC title