Visual effect augmentation of photographic images

A method, system, and/or computer program product augment and display a photographic image based on a context of a subject of the photographic image. One or more processors receive a photographic image that was captured by a camera. The processor(s) determine a context of the photographic image, where the context is captured by a context sensor at a location of a subject whose image is captured in the photographic image, and where the context describes a state of the subject whose image is captured in the photographic image. The processor(s) augment the photographic image with an additional feature to create an augmented photographic image based on the context captured by the context sensor. The processor(s) then display the augmented photographic image on a viewing device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to the field of photography, and particularly to hardware devices that capture and manipulate photographic images. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to hardware devices that manipulate photographic images according to a context of the photographic images.

SUMMARY

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method, system, and/or computer program product augment and display a photographic image based on a context of a subject of the photographic image. One or more processors receive a photographic image that was captured by a camera. The processor(s) determine a context of the photographic image, where the context is captured by a context sensor at a location of a subject whose image is captured in the photographic image, and where the context describes a state of the subject whose image is captured in the photographic image. The processor(s) augment the photographic image with an additional feature to create an augmented photographic image based on the context captured by the context sensor. The processor(s) then display the augmented photographic image on a viewing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described herein, the present invention provides a contextual analysis of images for audio and/or visual effect augmentation for photo viewing. Presented herein is a method of contextual analysis of image captured metadata (e.g., location, date, time tags appended to a photograph by a camera), extracted metadata about the image objects and people (e.g., sensor data that describes a state of a subject whose image is captured by the photograph), and/or user biometrics data that describes a mood and sentiment of a user who is viewing the photograph. This captured metadata, extracted metadata, and/or user biometrics data is used as inputs in real time to obtain and display augmented audio and video effects with the photographic image for a more rich experience.

When photographs are taken, the camera may inscribe onto the captured image file metadata such as where and when the photograph was taken. However, there are many attributes of the environment that are not captured in the metadata that, if available, could provide a perspective of the subject being photographed.

Examples of such metadata that is not captured by the camera in the prior art include, but are not limited to weather conditions, ambient sounds, objects near the subject of the photograph, and/or biometric readings for the subject of the photograph.

Weather conditions for when the photograph was taken may include being windy, rainy, misty, cold, hot, dusty, snowy, and/or sunny.

Wind has both physiological effect and a physical effect. For example, wind may cause the physiological effect on a subject of a photograph by making their skin cool/cold (physiological effect), while wind may also cause inanimate objects to move (e.g., may cause a flag to wave, clouds to move, wind to howl, waves to feather, rain to blow, etc.).

Rain not only produces a visual image, but also a sound as it hits the ground or other physical structures (e.g., roves). As with wind, rain can also induce a physiological effect on a person being photographed by making that person chilled when the rain hits his/her skin. Mist may have a similar effect as rain, but to a lesser degree.

Cold temperatures may cause a person being photographed to experience a chill (physiological effect), or may freeze water (physical effect). Similarly, hot temperatures may cause a person to feel flushed (physiological effect) or material to expand, perhaps creating a popping sound while expanding (physical effect).

Dust may obscure an image of a subject being photographed, and is often associated with sounds such as wind.

Snow may obscure an image of a subject being photographed and/or otherwise affect the physical appearance of the subject (e.g., show-capped trees), but can also affect the physiological state of a person being photographed (just as cold temperature does). However, snow in a photograph may invoke different feelings to a viewer of the photograph. That is, snow on a ski slope in January is often viewed with pleasure, while a photograph of snow falling in May after a long winter is often viewed with displeasure.

Sunny weather can make people feel happy in certain contexts (e.g. a picture of a beach), but in other contexts (e.g., a photograph of a desert) may be unpleasant.

Besides weather related context, other contexts may be based on activities of persons who may or may not be in the photograph. For example, at a sporting event, the sounds of an announcer calling a game, players talking on the field, players colliding with one another while playing a contact sport, fans cheering, etc. may invoke the feeling of excitement (pleasant) or fear (unpleasant).

Similarly, the sounds produced by other activities (e.g., cars racing, skis carving up an icy slope, water skis hitting a wake, etc.) may be pleasant or unpleasant, depending on the state of a particular person.

Activity biometrics can also affect whether an activity is pleasant or not. For example, when breathing hard during a run, hike or intense activity, such increased respiratory rate may be pleasant to one accustomed to such activities, but may be unpleasant to one who is not used to such exertion.

Now consider when a user is capturing photos or videos (which may be grouped in an album). From the album of all photos taken, a select set may be published on social media for people to see. The raw photos or album is a more complete set of all the things the person has seen, and can provide insight on data points of metadata that can be associated with photos and/or used to retrieve in real time additional metadata.

Thus, the present invention provides a method that allows external audio/visual metadata to be associated with photographs based on the context of the photograph and/or the state of the user viewing the photographs.

Thus, one or more embodiments of the present invention provide a method for contextual analysis of image captured metadata (location, date, time) and metadata extracted about the image objects and people to use as input in real time to obtain and display augmented audio and video effects with the image.

As described herein and in one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a method by which: 1) Image data is extracted from image metadata (i.e., location, date, time), co-located information about other photos in album, or objects extracted from images; 2) A remote cognitive system performs contextual analysis of the gathered image data to determine extended or surrounding information (weather, events, mood and sentiment, smell); 3) Images are augmented in real time with associated audio and visual effects; and/or 4) Based on the user's preferences while selecting a photo as part of an album or standalone, software will display the image with augmented audio and visual effects.

The present invention utilizes 1) a digital camera device; 2) a computer with the capability to capture metadata for location, date, and time; 3) an (optional) wearable device (e.g., a smart watch) to control biometric sensors on the viewer and/or subject of a photograph; 4) sensors to capture biometric data such as heart rate and pulse to determine a user's current mood while viewing photos; and/or 5) wearable biometrics data that is streamed in real time to a social media site and available to the cognitive system to use while the user is viewing photos to help determine mood.

A cognitive system used to evaluate the photograph and how it should be augmented may extract metadata about objects and people in the photograph, perform a contextual analysis on the imaged objects to determine surrounding information, and then augment the image with audio and/or visual effects in real time. The augmented photographs can then be presented to a social media website for viewing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, metadata about image capture settings (e.g., from the camera) capture information such as the date, time, and place that the photograph was taken by the camera, which may be on a smart phone, a digital camera, etc.

A profile of the subject of the photograph and/or a viewer of the photograph can then define specific attributes of audio or visual effects to be applied to the photograph.

1. System Initialization

The camera is initialized to set the global positioning system (GPS) setting of the camera, such that the system can determine where the camera is located when capturing a photographic image.

Biometric sensors may also be initialized. That is, biometric sensor readings may be taken from the subject of the photograph and/or the viewer of the photograph. In one or more embodiments, biometric sensors for the subject and/or viewer are calibrated for a particular person, in order to obtain meaningful data. For example, some people have very low blood pressure (e.g., 100/60) and others normally have high blood pressure (150/90). Thus, the biometric sensor will establish a baseline for the user in order to determine the appropriate correlation of the biometric reading with the mood of the person. For example, if a person's normal blood pressure is 120/80 with a pulse of 60, and it jumps to 160/100 and pulse 100, there is an indication of a change in mood due to increased stress level.

2. Image Data Extraction

Image capture metadata: When a photo image is captured, the camera (e.g., a digital camera, part of a smart phone, etc.) captures the location, date, time when the photograph is taken, and then stores this information as metadata on the digital image file for the captured image.

Co-located time frame meta data: Information from co-located and similar time frame captured photographs may also be extracted. For example, a series of photos in an album or folder captured over period of a day or during a trip can provide a context of a particular photo. For example, consider a photograph of a fire. If other images from the album from which the photograph was taken show images of a forest fire, then the image will have a context of being unpleasant. As such, an appropriate augmentation of that image will be harsh (e.g., color coded red to indicate an emergency, a sound track of disturbing music that indicates a problematic condition, etc.). However, if the other photographs from the album show people around a campfire on a beach, then the image of the fire (from the campfire) will be deemed to have a pleasant context. As such, the image in this context will be augmented with a cheerful border, a cheery soundtrack, etc.

Extracted meta data: The photo digital image often contains information that can be extracted from the image, which can then be used to derive additional information. Through use of image analytics, the image objects and people can be extracted, searched and identified. This could also include visual cues (e.g., an impression of wind, such as hair flying, etc.).

The cognitive system will evaluate the image metadata obtained and extracted to use as input for contextual analysis.

3. Contextual Analysis of Image Data and Surrounding

A remote cognitive system may perform a contextual analysis of the gathered image data to determine extended or surrounding information about the images, either standalone or as part of an album.

The cognitive system may evaluate the viewer's preference for the type of attributes to apply to the photograph(s).

4. Augment Image in Real Time with Enhanced Audio and Visual Effects

While navigating a photograph, the present invention may augment the photograph with an appropriate audio and/or visual effect.

For example, if the photograph (or video) shows an image of a windy condition when the photograph was taken (or sensors on site while the photograph was being taken captured data indicative of such windy conditions), then a photograph of a flying leaf may be augmented with the sound effect of wind, or the photograph may be moved back and forth to indicate wind-induced movement of the leaf.

If the photograph (or video) is that of a hockey game, then the photograph/video may be augmented with the sound of players colliding.

If the photograph (or video) is that of a person driving a vehicle (e.g., a race car driver), then the photograph and/or video may be augmented by a jerking effect on the screen, with or without an appropriate soundtrack of a racecar.

If the photograph is that of a subject having a pleasant or unpleasant smell (e.g., flowers, garbage, food, etc.), certain symbols descriptive of such smells may be applied/overlaid onto a background of the photograph.

The sounds and/or visual effects to be applied to the photograph may be retrieved from a database of sounds and visual effects for the identified image, based on their association with the given context of the subject of the photograph and the state of the viewer of the photograph.

5. Viewing the Photos with Enhanced Audio and Visual Effects Based on the Contextual Analysis

Once the photograph is appropriately augmented as described above, the augmented photograph will be displayed to a person/viewer, optionally based on the current cognitive state of that person/viewer.

With reference now to the figures, and in particular toFIG. 1, there is depicted a block diagram of an exemplary system and network that may be utilized by and/or in the implementation of the present invention. Some or all of the exemplary architecture, including both depicted hardware and software, shown for and within computer101may be utilized by software deploying server149shown inFIG. 1.

Exemplary computer101includes a processor103that is coupled to a system bus105. Processor103may utilize one or more processors, each of which has one or more processor cores. A video adapter107, which drives/supports a display109(which may be a touch-screen display capable of detecting touch inputs onto the display109), is also coupled to system bus105. System bus105is coupled via a bus bridge111to an input/output (I/O) bus113. An I/O interface115is coupled to I/O bus113. I/O interface115affords communication with various I/O devices, including a speaker117(capable of reproducing human and/or environmental sounds), a transceiver119(capable of directly transmitting and receiving wireless signals to transceivers in other devices, such as a global positioning system (GPS) enabled camera151), a media tray121(which may include storage devices such as CD-ROM drives, multi-media interfaces, etc.), and external USB port(s)125. While the format of the ports connected to I/O interface115may be any known to those skilled in the art of computer architecture, in one embodiment some or all of these ports are universal serial bus (USB) ports.

As depicted, computer101is able to communicate with a software deploying server149and/or other devices/systems (e.g., GPS enabled digital camera151, context sensor153, user biometric sensor123, etc.) using a network interface129. Network interface129is a hardware network interface, such as a network interface card (NIC), etc. Network127may be an external network such as the Internet, or an internal network such as an Ethernet or a virtual private network (VPN). In one or more embodiments, network127is a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, etc.

In an embodiment, computer101is able to communicate with a user biometric sensor123via network127. Various embodiments of user biometric sensor123detect various biometric states of a user to whom the user biometric sensor123is attached and/or directed. For example, user biometric sensor123may be a heart monitor that measures the heart rhythm (e.g., generates an electrocardiogram, detects beats per minute, etc.) of the user. User biometric sensor123may be a blood pressure cuff. User biometric sensor123may be a galvanometer/ohmmeter that measures changes in skin resistance caused by a user sweating. User biometric sensor123may be a thermometer that measures a body and/or skin temperature of a user. User biometric sensor123may detect a respiratory rate (e.g., breaths taken per minute) of the user. Such biometric sensor readings are then used by computer101to determine the current physiological and/or emotional state of the user. That is, an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, etc., may indicate that the user is anxious.

In an embodiment, computer101is able to communicate via network127with a GPS enabled digital camera151, which captures and transmits still and/or moving digital images to computer101.

In an embodiment, computer101is able to communicate via network127with a context sensor153. Context sensor153may be a biometric sensor (analogous to user biometric sensor123) that captures a physiological state of a person in a photograph, or context sensor153may capture an environmental (i.e., physical) state of a subject (e.g., a landscape) in a photograph.

A hard drive interface131is also coupled to system bus105. Hard drive interface131interfaces with a hard drive133. In one embodiment, hard drive133populates a system memory135, which is also coupled to system bus105. System memory is defined as a lowest level of volatile memory in computer101. This volatile memory includes additional higher levels of volatile memory (not shown), including, but not limited to, cache memory, registers and buffers. Data that populates system memory135includes computer101's operating system (OS)137and application programs143.

OS137includes a shell139, for providing transparent user access to resources such as application programs143. Generally, shell139is a program that provides an interpreter and an interface between the user and the operating system. More specifically, shell139executes commands that are entered into a command line user interface or from a file. Thus, shell139, also called a command processor, is generally the highest level of the operating system software hierarchy and serves as a command interpreter. The shell provides a system prompt, interprets commands entered by keyboard, mouse, or other user input media, and sends the interpreted command(s) to the appropriate lower levels of the operating system (e.g., a kernel141) for processing. While shell139is a text-based, line-oriented user interface, the present invention will equally well support other user interface modes, such as graphical, voice, gestural, etc.

As depicted, OS137also includes kernel141, which includes lower levels of functionality for OS137, including providing essential services required by other parts of OS137and application programs143, including memory management, process and task management, disk management, and mouse and keyboard management.

Application programs143include a renderer, shown in exemplary manner as a browser145. Browser145includes program modules and instructions enabling a world wide web (WWW) client (i.e., computer101) to send and receive network messages to the Internet using hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) messaging, thus enabling communication with software deploying server149and other systems.

Application programs143in computer101's system memory (as well as software deploying server149's system memory) also include a Photograph Augmentation Program (PAP)147. PAP147includes code for implementing the processes described below, including those described inFIGS. 2-3. In one embodiment, computer101is able to download PAP147from software deploying server149, including in an on-demand basis, wherein the code in PAP147is not downloaded until needed for execution. In one embodiment of the present invention, software deploying server149performs all of the functions associated with the present invention (including execution of PAP147), thus freeing computer101from having to use its own internal computing resources to execute PAP147.

With referenced now toFIG. 2, a GPS enabled digital camera251(analogous to GPS enabled digital camera151shown inFIG. 1) is depicted capturing a photographic image204of a subject202.

Assume that the subject202is a person, as shown inFIG. 2. As such, a context sensor253(analogous to the context sensor153shown inFIG. 1) may be capturing the current state of that person (e.g., being happy, anxious, cold, hot, etc.) and/or the environmental state around the person (e.g., hot, cold, rainy, snowy, etc.). The GPS enabled digital camera251will not only apply to the photographic image204(using internal logic such as a clock, calendar, GPS system) metadata describing the time, date, and location at which the photographic image204was captured, but will also apply metadata to the photographic image204from sensor readings captured from context sensor253describing the state of the person and/or the person's environment. It is to be understood that the photographic image204represents not only the visual photograph itself, but also the digital image file created by the GPS enabled digital camera251when capturing an image of subject202.

For example, assume that when GPS enabled digital camera251captured photographic image204of subject202(a person), the person was standing in a snow bank. As such, the GPS enabled digital camera251will apply metadata to a digital video file that not only describes the date, time and place at which the photographic image204was taken (using internal logic within the GPS enabled digital camera251), but will also apply metadata to that same digital video file from the context sensor253describing the physiological state of the person/subject202(e.g., cold, shivering, wet, etc.) and/or the physical state of the environment (e.g., rainy, snowy, dark, etc.) around the person/subject202at the time the photographic image204was taken by the GPS enabled digital camera251.

Assume that that subject202is actually a non-biological subject, such as a landscape, a campfire, a building, etc. (not depicted inFIG. 2). As such, a context sensor253may be capturing the current state of the non-biological subject, such as being rainy, snowy, cold, hot, etc. The GPS enabled digital camera251will not only apply to the photographic image204(using internal logic such as a clock, calendar, GPS system) metadata describing the time, date, and location at which the photographic image204was captured, but will also apply metadata to the photographic image204from sensor readings captured from context sensor253describing the state of the non-biological subject, such as the weather conditions, darkness, etc. Thus, the GPS enabled digital camera251will apply the metadata describing the time, date, and location at which the photographic image204was captured (using readings from logic internal to the GPS enabled digital camera251) as well as metadata from the context sensor253(e.g., describing lighting conditions, weather, etc.) to the digital image file for the photographic image204.

A system (e.g., computer101shown inFIG. 1) will then process the photographic image204based on the metadata produced by the GPS enabled digital camera251as well as metadata based on sensors readings (e.g., from context sensor253) to generate an augmented photographic image206.

As shown inFIG. 2, the augmented photographic image206may be visually adjusted. For example, if the person/subject202was cold (as described by metadata applied to the digital image file based on readings from context sensor253) when the photographic image204was captured by the GPS enabled digital camera251, then computer101may overlay a dark shading over the photographic image204, thus invoking the feeling of coldness.

The photographic image204may also be augmented with sound. For example, assume that the person/subject202was standing in a snow storm when photographic image204was captured. Context sensor253, which may include a microphone, may send an audio file to the computer101, where the audio file captures the sound of howling wind. When the computer101displays the augmented photographic image206(with or without the depicted shading shown inFIG. 2), a speaker117on the computer101will play the audio file, such that the photograph is presented along with the sound of the howling wind.

As shown inFIG. 2, a user208is viewing the augmented photographic image206. In an embodiment of the present invention, how the photographic image204is augmented depends in whole or part on a state of the user208. For example, assume that a user biometric sensor223(analogous to the user biometric sensor123shown inFIG. 1) detects that the user is feeling strong (e.g., is alert). As such, the computer101will augment the photographic image with bright images and/or borders and/or shading, and/or will augment the photographic image with high energy music that the user208will appreciate while viewing the augmented photographic image206. However, if user biometric sensor223detects that the user is feeling weak (e.g., is tired), then computer101will augment the photographic image with muted images and/or borders and/or shading, and/or will augment the photographic image with slower relaxing music.

With reference now toFIG. 3, a high level flow chart of one or more steps performed by one or more processors and/or other hardware devices to augment a photographic image based on a context captured by a context sensor at a location of a subject whose image is captured by the photographic image is presented.

After initiator block301, one or more processors (e.g., processor103shown inFIG. 1) receive a photographic image (e.g., photographic image204shown inFIG. 2) that was captured by a camera (e.g., GPS enabled digital camera251), as described in block303.

As described in block305, the processor(s) determine a context of the photographic image. As described herein, the context is captured by a context sensor (e.g., context sensor253shown inFIG. 2) at a location of a subject (e.g., a building, landscape, person, etc.) whose image is captured in the photographic image. The context describes a state (i.e., a physiological state for a person or a physical state for a person or an inanimate object such as a landscape) of the subject whose image is captured in the photographic image.

As described in block307, the processor(s) augment the photographic image with an additional feature (visual or aural) to create an augmented photographic image (e.g., augmented photographic image206shown inFIG. 2) based on the context captured by the context sensor.

As described in block309, the processor(s) then display the augmented photographic image on a viewing device (e.g., the display109shown inFIG. 1with or without use of the speaker117).

The flow chart ends at terminator block311.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the context is a physiological state of a person whose image is captured in the photographic image, where the physiological state of the person is detected by a biometric sensor (e.g., context sensor253shown inFIG. 2when operating as a biometric sensor) associated with the person. In an exemplary application of this embodiment, augmenting the photographic image is achieved by the processor(s) adding a sound track to the photographic image, where the sound track evokes the physiological state of the person captured in the photographic image. That is, the sound track may be of howling wind, crackling fire, etc. that are associated with the physiological state (hot, cold, wet, etc.) of the person in the photograph.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound track is captured by the camera while capturing the photographic image. Thus, the sound track is the same as what the person in the photograph is hearing when the photograph was taken. In another embodiment, however, the sound track is retrieved from a database of stored sound tracks that were not captured by the camera. That is, the sound track is retrieved from a database of audio files that each have attached metadata describing their sounds. The computer then matches the metadata from the digital video file generated by the camera (e.g., describing windy conditions) to metadata on the stored audio file (for the sound of wind) in order to provide the appropriate sound track to the photograph (or video).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the context of the photographic image is a physiological state of a person whose image is captured in the photographic image, and where the physiological state of the person is detected by a user biometric sensor associated with the person. In such an embodiment, the processor(s) may overlay a visual effect (e.g., shading, coloring, emojis, etc.) on the photographic image, such that the visual effect evokes the physiological state of the person whose image is captured in the photographic image.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the context is a temperature of a landscape whose image is captured in the photographic image, wherein the temperature is captured by a thermometer associated with the landscape. In such an embodiment, augmenting the photographic image is achieved by the processor(s) overlaying a visual effect on the photographic image, where the visual effect evokes the temperature of the landscape whose image is captured in the photographic image. For example, if a thermometer on the camera provides the camera with metadata describing cold conditions to be applied to the digital image file, then a blue (suggestive of cold) overlay may be applied to the photograph.

As described herein, the state of the viewer may affect in whole or in part the appearance of the augmented photographic image. That is, as described herein one or more processors (e.g., from computer101) may receive biometric sensor readings from a biometric sensor (e.g., user biometric sensor223shown inFIG. 2) associated with (e.g., worn by) a viewer (e.g., user208shown inFIG. 2) of the photographic image. In such an embodiment, augmenting the photographic image can be accomplished by the processor(s) augmenting (or further augmenting) the photographic image according to the biometric sensor readings for the viewer. Thus, if the user208is feeling tired, then the augmented photographic image206may be displayed on computer101with a soothing quiet soundtrack or may be filtered to be shaded, thus providing a calmer viewing experience.

The present invention may be implemented in one or more embodiments using cloud computing. Nonetheless, it is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes a detailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recited herein is not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather, embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented in conjunction with any other type of computing environment now known or later developed.

Characteristics are as follows:

Deployment Models are as follows: