Devices, methods and systems for multi-user capable visual imaging arrays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9942583-B2
Application number	US-201514945342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2015
Priority date	Nov 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

Computationally implemented methods and systems include accepting input of a request for a particular image of a scene that is larger than the particular image, transmitting the request for the particular image to an image sensor array that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene and retain a subset of the scene that includes the request for the particular image of the scene, receiving only the particular image from the image sensor array, wherein the particular image represents a subset of the scene, and wherein a size characteristic of the particular image is at least partially based on a property of a requestor, and presenting the received particular image to the requestor. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:
accepting input of a request for a particular image of a scene that is larger than the particular image;
comparing one or more previously received images that are determined to be similar to the particular image to determine a changed portion;
identifying a portion of the particular image that corresponds to the changed portion;
determining an updated request that identifies the portion of the particular image that corresponds to the changed portion as targeted for updating; and
transmitting the updated request that identifies the portion of the particular image to an image sensor array device that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene and retain a subset of the scene that includes the portion of the particular image;
receiving the portion of the particular image from the image sensor array device; and
transmitting to a requestor device at least the portion of the particular image for presentation of the particular image of the scene.

2. A system comprising:
circuitry configured for accepting an input of a request for a particular image that is part of a scene that is larger than the particular image;
circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar;
circuitry configured for modifying the request for the particular image into an updated request that identifies a portion of the scene targeted for updating based on a comparison of the one or more previously received images determined to be similar;
circuitry configured for transmitting the updated request to an image sensor array device that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene and to retain the portion of the scene targeted for updating;
circuitry configured for receiving from the image sensor array device the portion of the scene targeted for updating; and
circuitry configured for outputting at least the portion of the scene targeted for updating for presentation at a requestor device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said circuitry configured for accepting an input of a request for a particular image that is part of a scene that is larger than the particular image comprises:
circuitry configured for receiving from an automated component an input of a request for a particular image that is part of a scene that is larger than the particular image.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said circuitry configured for receiving from an automated component an input of a request for a particular image that is part of a scene that is larger than the particular image comprises:
circuitry configured for receiving from an object tracking component an input of a request for a particular image of a tracked object, which particular image is part of a scene that is larger than the particular image.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein said circuitry configured for transmitting the updated request to an image sensor array device that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene and to retain the portion of the scene targeted for updating comprises:
circuitry configured for transmitting the updated request via a relay to an image sensor array device that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene and to retain the portion of the scene targeted for updating.

6. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
circuitry configured for combining the updated request with at least one other request.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said circuitry configured for combining the updated request with at least one other request comprises:
circuitry configured for combining the updated request with at least one other request such that one or more redundant portions are removed.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar comprises:
circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar to the part of the scene associated with the request for the particular image.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein said circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar comprises:
circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar to identify the portion of the scene targeted for updating.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein said circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar comprises:
circuitry configured for comparing one or more previously received images determined to be similar including at least comparing a first previously received image with a second previously received image to determine a changed portion; and
circuitry configured for identifying the portion of the scene targeted for updating that corresponds to the changed portion.

11. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
circuitry configured for generating an expanded request.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said circuitry configured for generating an expanded request comprises:
circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that includes at least a request for a border image.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that includes at least a request for a border image comprises:
circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that includes at least a request for a border image that borders the particular image on one or more sides.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein said circuitry configured for generating an expanded request comprises:
circuitry configured for determining an image projected to be subject to a future request; and
circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that identifies a portion of the scene corresponding to the image.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said circuitry configured for determining an image projected to be subject to a future request comprises:
circuitry configured for determining an image projected to be subject to a future request based at least partly on a direction in which a requestor device is moving.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein said circuitry configured for generating an expanded request comprises:
circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that includes at least a request for a border image that borders the particular image and a request for a secondary border image that borders the border image.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that includes at least a request for a border image that borders the particular image and a request for a secondary border image that borders the border image comprises:
circuitry configured for generating an expanded request that includes at least the request for the particular image at a first resolution, a request for a border image that borders the particular image at a second resolution that is less than the first resolution, and a request for a secondary border image that borders the border image at a third resolution that is less than the second resolution.

18. The system of claim 2 , wherein said circuitry configured for receiving from the image sensor array device the portion of the scene targeted for updating comprises:
circuitry configured for receiving from the image sensor array device the portion of the scene targeted for updating

Assignees

• Elwha Llc
• The Invent Science Fund Ii Llc

Inventors

• Brav Ehren
• Hannigan Russell
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Johanson 3Ric
• Kare Jordin T
• Pan Tony S
• Rutschman Phillip
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Whitmer Charles
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Wood Victoria Y H

Classifications

• H04N23/80

  Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N23/698

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

• H04N23/661

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

• H04N23/90 Primary

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title