Patent ID: 8873857
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: G06F,G06K,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for image searching and image indexing for identifying image content in at least two digital images representative of a real world visual scene, comprising the steps of (A) determining for a first mobile pointing device a mobile device geographic location, pointing direction, and a viewing angle; (B) determining for a second mobile pointing device a mobile device geographic location, pointing direction, and a viewing angle; (C) retrieving from a first storage location a first digital image that relates to the real world visual scene that is associated with the first mobile pointing device geographic location; (D) retrieving from the first storage location a second digital image that relates to the real world visual scene that is associated with the second mobile pointing device geographic location; (E) generating a first viewing content cone that includes the first mobile pointing device pointing direction, with the first mobile pointing device geographic location being the index of the first viewing content cone, and overlaying the first digital image with the first viewing content cone; (F) determining potential objects of the first digital image that are within limits of the first viewing content cone; (G) generating a second viewing content cone that includes the second mobile pointing device pointing direction, with the second mobile pointing device geographic location being the index of the second viewing content cone, and overlaying the second digital image with the second viewing content cone; (H) determining potential objects of the second digital image that are within limits of the second viewing content cone; (I) retrieving object-based datasets from a second storage location, with the object-based datasets including at least information relating to potential objects within the first viewing content cone determined at Step (F); (J) retrieving object-based datasets from a second storage location, with the object-based datasets including at least information relating to potential objects within the second viewing content cone determined at Step (H); (K) determining each object within the limits of the first viewing content cone at Step (F) by linking object-based dataset information relating to that object retrieved at Step (I) with each such object by indexing with an indexing mechanism each object potentially contained within the first viewing content cone and assessing at least thematic information associated with each such object; (L) determining each object within the limits of the second viewing content cone at Step (H) by linking object-based dataset information relating to that object retrieved at Step (J) with each such object by indexing with an indexing mechanism each object potentially contained within the second viewing content cone and assessing at least thematic information associated with each such object; (M) electronically annotating the first digital image with an image position and directional orientation based on the determination at Step (A) relating to the first mobile pointing device, and with respect to at least each object determined to be within the first viewing content cone related annotating thematic information, and electronically annotating the second digital image with an image position and directional orientation based on the determination at Step (B), and with respect to at least each object determined to be within the second viewing content cone annotating thematic information; and (N) identifying the objects that are separately within the first viewing content cone and the second viewing content cone, objects that are within both the first and second viewing content cones, and objects that are not within the first or the second viewing content cone.