Patent ID: 8077213
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of capturing a sequence of images by an imaging device and storing said images in a digital format, the method comprising: guiding, after having captured and stored at least one image, a user to move the imaging device so that an image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image can be captured; providing current positional information indicating a current orientation and position of the imaging device; storing, for each captured and stored image, positional information indicating an orientation and position of the imaging device at a time of capturing a corresponding image; utilizing the current positional information and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image to guide the user to move the imaging device to an orientation such that the image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image can be captured; automatically controlling a current zoom factor to adjust a zoom setting of a lens of the imaging device based on a comparison of the current positional information and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image; and automatically capturing the image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image in response to automatically controlling the current zoom factor, wherein automatically controlling the current zoom factor further comprises: automatically controlling the current zoom factor based on the current positional information, a stored zoom factor stored at the time of capturing said at least one captured and stored image, and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image to compensate for a difference in distance between the imaging device and a subject of the image to be stitched relative to that of said at least one captured and stored image, and wherein the difference in distance between the imaging device and a subject of the image to be stitched relative to that of said at least one captured and stored image is determined using a distance meter.