Patent ID: 7688381
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging system to reposition an image capture device in a position relative to a subject of interest according to six degrees of freedom as preserved in association with a reference image of the subject of interest, comprising: an image capture device; an automatic repositioning apparatus on which the image capture device is mounted, which, in turn, is mounted on a stable platform, said automatic repositioning apparatus operable to orient the image capture device relative to a subject of interest according to six degrees of freedom; an acquired reference image of the subject of interest, wherein said acquired reference image is acquired of a random or arbitrary scene of interest, identifying fixed points in said reference image, and wherein said reference image comprises a computational model generated from an initial image of said subject of interest; a computational device coupled to the automatic repositioning apparatus, including a user interface, such computational device capable of receiving images from the image capture device and receiving the reference image, performing a comparison, and communicating adjustments to reposition the image capture device along any of six degrees of freedom, wherein said image capture device captures a new image of the scene of interest, which new image is input to the computational device through a bi-directional path, and said reference image is input to the computational device through said path, whereupon said computational device determines the difference in position of the imaging device, and transmits this information to said automatic repositioning apparatus through said bi-directional path and said user interface indicates the amount and direction of movement required to accurately reposition the imaging device relative to the scene of interest and where the automatic repositioning apparatus accurately repositions the imaging device if the required displacement is within the range of motion of the apparatus, and if the required displacement is outside the range of motion of the automatic repositioning apparatus, then the user interface instructs the operator to move the stable platform the required distance in the required directions.