US7327891B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic selection of a visual image or images from a collection of visual images, based on an evaluation of the quality of the visual images
Assignee: YesVideo Inc
•
Filing: 2002-07-17
•
Granted: 2008-02-05
•
Expires: 2022-07-17
Abstract
Abstract The invention automatically evaluates the quality of the visual images in a collection of visual images and selects one or more visual image(s) from the collection based on the evaluation of the quality of the visual images.
Inventors
- 👤 Michele M. Covell
- 👤 Subutai Ahmad
- 👤 Katerina L. Shiffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/40; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5838; G06T7/0002; G06T7/10; G06T7/13; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/98; G06V10/993; G06V20/00; G06V20/40; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20076; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30168; G06T2207/30196
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for automatically selecting one or more visual images from a collection of visual images, comprising the steps of: automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image in the collection of visual images; and automatically selecting one or more visual images from the collection of visual images, wherein the selection is based only on the evaluation of the quality of each visual image in the collection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for automatically selecting one or more visual images from a collection of visual images, comprising the steps of: automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image in the collection of visual images; and automatically selecting one or more visual images from the collection of visual images, wherein the selection is based only on the evaluation of the quality of each visual image in the collection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating the amount of variation within each visual image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating the amount of smoothness within each visual image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein: the collection of visual images is a chronological sequence of images; and the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating the degree of similarity between each visual image and the immediately previous image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating the presence of sharp spatial edges within each visual image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein: the collection of visual images is a chronological sequence of images; and the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the steps of: automatically evaluating the amount of variation within each visual image; automatically evaluating the amount of smoothness within each visual image; automatically evaluating the degree of similarity between each visual image and the immediately previous image; and automatically evaluating the presence of sharp spatial edges within each visual image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 6 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating the amount of energy within each visual image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image in the collection of visual images, and wherein the selection of one or more visual images from the collection of visual images is further based on the evaluation of the content of each visual image of the collection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating whether or not each visual image includes a recognizably human face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating whether or not each visual image includes human flesh.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating whether or not each visual image includes an object that is, was, or will be moving relative to another object or objects in the visual image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein: the collection of visual images a chronological sequence of images acquired by a visual data acquisition device; and the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating whether or not a change occurred in the field of view of the visual data acquisition device between the time of acquisition of a current visual image and the immediately previous visual image, or over a specified range of temporally contiguous visual images including the current visual image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically evaluating the position of each visual image in the collection of visual images, and wherein the selection of one or more visual images from the collection of visual images is further based on the ovaluation of the position of each visual image in the collection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the position of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating whether the visual image is near the start of a defined segment of the visual recording.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the position of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating whether the visual image occurs during a gradual shot change.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of categorizing the visual images, wherein the visual image categorization is based on the quality evaluation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the visual image categorization is based on image variation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the visual image categorization is based on image structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the visual image categorization is based on inter-image continuity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the visual image categorization is based on edge sharpness.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 16 , further comprising the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image in the collection of visual images, and wherein the visual image categorization is further based on the content evaluation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the step of categorizing further comprises the step of categorizing the visual images into quality levels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 22 , further comprising the step of automatically evaluating the position of each visual image in the collection of visual images, and wherein the visual image categorization is further based on the position evaluation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 23 , wherein the step of categorizing further comprises the step of categorizing the visual images as a potential keyframe or not.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 23 , wherein the step of categorizing further comprises the step of categorizing the visual images as a transitional image or not.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the step of automatically selecting one or more visual images further comprises the step of automatically selecting the one or more visual images based on the categorization.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a score for each visual image, wherein the score is based on the quality evaluation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 27 , wherein the step of automatically selecting one or more visual images further comprises the step of automatically selecting the one or more visual images based on the scores.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claim 27 , further comprising the step of automatically evaluating the content of each visual image in the collection of visual images, and wherein the visual image scores are further based on the content evaluation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 27 , further comprising the step of automatically evaluating the position of each visual image in the collection of visual images, and wherein the visual image scores are further based on the position evaluation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 27 , further comprising the steps of: automatically evaluating the position of each visual image in the collection of visual images; and categorizing the visual images, wherein the visual image categorization is based on the position evaluation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 31 , wherein the step of automatically selecting one or more visual images further comprises the step of selecting the one or more visual images based on the scores and the categorizations.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: extracting the selected visual images from a first version of the collection of visual images; and presenting the extracted visual images to a user together with a second version of the collection of visual images, wherein the first version of the collection of visual images is of better image quality than the second version of the collection of visual images.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 33 , wherein the step of presenting further comprises the step of storing the extracted visual images on a data storage medium or media together with the second version of the collection of visual images.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 33 , further comprising the step of processing the first version of the collection of visual images to produce the second version of the collection of visual images.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: extracting a first version of the selected visual images from the collection of visual images; processing the first version of the selected visual images to produce a second version of the selected visual images, wherein the second version of the selected visual images is of better image quality than the first version of the selected visual images; and presenting the second version of the selected visual images to a user together with the collection of visual images.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 36 , wherein the step of presenting further comprises the step of storing the second version of the selected visual images of a data storage medium or media together with the collection of visual images.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: extracting the selected visual images from the collection of visual images; and presenting the extracted visual images to a user.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 38 , wherein the step of presenting further comprises the step of storing the extracted visual images on a data storage medium or media.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: creating indices that identify the locations of the selected visual images in the collection of visual images; and presenting the indices to a user together with the collection of visual images.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 40 , wherein the step of presenting further comprises the step of storing the indices on a data storage medium or media together with the collection of visual images.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 40 , further comprising the step of enabling the user to browse the collection of visual images using the indices.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 42 , further comprising the step at enabling the user to modify the indices by substituting an identification of a new visual image for an identification of a selected visual image.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image further comprises the step of automatically evaluating the amount of energy within each visual image.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
68 words
A system for automatically selecting one or more visual images from a collection of visual images, comprising: means for automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image in the collection at visual images; and means for automatically selecting one or more visual images from the collection of visual images, wherein the selection is based only on the evaluation of the quality of each visual image in the collection.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
68 words
A system for automatically selecting one or more visual images from a collection of visual images, comprising: means for automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image in the collection at visual images; and means for automatically selecting one or more visual images from the collection of visual images, wherein the selection is based only on the evaluation of the quality of each visual image in the collection.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
79 words
A computer readable medium or media encoded with one or more computer programs for automatically selecting one or more visual images from a collection of visual images, comprising: instructions for automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image in the collection of visual images; and instructions for automatically selecting one or more visual images from the collection of visual images, wherein the selection is based only on the evaluation of the quality of each visual image in the collection.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
79 words
A computer readable medium or media encoded with one or more computer programs for automatically selecting one or more visual images from a collection of visual images, comprising: instructions for automatically evaluating the quality of each visual image in the collection of visual images; and instructions for automatically selecting one or more visual images from the collection of visual images, wherein the selection is based only on the evaluation of the quality of each visual image in the collection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4979050A
Cited
US4885702A
Cited
US4811245A
Cited
US5089887A
Cited
US5719964A
Cited
US5657402A
Cited
US5262856A
Cited
US5583950A
Cited
US5983251A
Cited
US5521841A
Cited
US5589897A
Cited
US6052485A
Cited
US6268863B1
Cited
US6298145B1
Cited
US6829384B2
Cited
US20030081249A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-02-04 | 2011-08-06 | 2012-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-02-04 | 2015-08-06 | 2016-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-02-04 | 2019-08-06 | 2020-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |