Abstract:
In one aspect, one or more computing devices may capture a panoramic image. Panoramic images may refer to images having a field of view which is greater than that of the human eye, e.g., 180 degrees or greater. Some panoramic images may provide a 360-degree view of a location. In response to capturing the panoramic image, the one or more computing devices may provide for display a request for a non-panoramic, for example, a zoomed-in image. A zoomed-in image may be captured. An area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image is determined by the one or more computing devices. The zoomed-in image is associated with the area by the one or more computing devices. In this regard, the panoramic image and the zoomed-in image may be taken close in time such that the images have the same or similar lighting conditions, scenes, etc.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Various systems provide users with images of different locations. Some systems provide users with panoramic images or panoramic images having a generally wider field of view. For example, panoramic images may include an image or collection of images having a field of view which is greater than that of the human eye, e.g., 180 degrees or greater. Some panoramic images may provide a 360-degree view of a location. 
     Some systems may provide users with the ability to “zoom” into a particular part of a panoramic image. These systems may use highlighting, thumbnails, or icons to indicate where zoomed in images are available. These indicators may give users the opportunity to view a panoramic image including a particular feature and subsequently view another image of that particular feature at a greater zoom level. 
     In order to provide these zoomed in images, the panoramic image must be compared to other images to identify useful zoomed in images. As an example, images from various sources may be compared, based on features, pixels, locations, etc., in order to identify features. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the disclosure provide a method, the method includes receiving, by one or more computing devices, a panoramic image; in response to receiving the panoramic image, providing for display, by the one or more computing devices, a request for a zoomed-in image; receiving, by the one or more computing devices, the zoomed-in image; determining, by the one or more computing devices, an area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image; and associating, by the one or more computing devices, the zoomed-in image with the area of the panoramic image. 
     In one example, the method also includes receiving a request to display the panoramic image; receiving user input identifying the area of the panoramic image; and in response to receiving the user input, providing the zoomed-in image for display. In another example, the method also includes receiving user input identifying a desired area of the panoramic image, and determining the area of the panoramic image is based on the received user input of the desired area. In another example, the method also includes receiving user input drawing a box relative to the panoramic image, and wherein determining the area of the panoramic image is based on the received user input of the drawing of the box. In another example, the one or more computing devices comprise a client computing device. In another example, the method also includes sending the panoramic image, the zoomed-in image, and the association to a server computing device. In another example, the method also includes receiving user input adjusting the area of the panoramic image, and wherein the zoomed-in image is associated with the adjusted area. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure provide a system. The system includes one or more computing devices configured to receive a panoramic image; in response to capturing the panoramic image, provide for display, a request for a zoomed in image; receive the zoomed-in image; determine an area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image; and associate the zoomed-in image with the area. 
     In one example, the one or more computing devices are also configured to receive a request to display the panoramic image; receive user input identifying the area of the panoramic image; and in response to receiving the user input, provide the zoomed-in image for display. In another example, the one or more computing devices are also configured to receive user input identifying a desired area of the panoramic image, and to determine the area of the panoramic image based on the received user input of the desired area. In another example, the one or more computing devices are also configured to receive user input drawing a box relative to the panoramic image, and determining the area of the panoramic image is based on the received user input of the drawing of the box. In another example, the one or more computing devices comprise a client computing device. In another example, the one or more computing devices are further configured to send the panoramic image, the zoomed-in image, and the association to a server computing device. In another example, the one or more computing devices are further configured to receive user input adjusting the area of the panoramic image, and the zoomed-in image is associated with the adjusted area. 
     Further aspects of the disclosure provide a non transitory, tangible recording medium on which instructions are stored. The instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform a method. The method includes receiving a panoramic image; in response to capturing the panoramic image, providing for display a request for a zoomed-in image; receiving the zoomed in image; determining an area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image; and associating the zoomed-in image with the area. 
     In one example, the method also includes receiving a request to display the panoramic image; receiving user input identifying the area of the panoramic image; and in response to receiving the user input, providing the zoomed-in image for display. In another example, the method also includes receiving user input identifying a desired area of the panoramic image, and determining the area of the panoramic image is based on the received user input of the desired area. 
     The medium of claim  15 , wherein the method further comprises receiving user input drawing a box relative to the panoramic image, and determining the area of the panoramic image is based on the received user input of the drawing of the box. In another example, the method also includes sending the panoramic image, the zoomed-in image, and the association to a server computing device. In another example, the method also includes receiving user input adjusting the area of the panoramic image, and the zoomed-in image is associated with the adjusted area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a functional diagram of an example system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial diagram of the example system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a user capturing a panoramic image using a computing device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an example screen shot and computing device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an example of a user capturing a zoomed in image using a computing device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is another example screen shot and computing device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an example screen shot, computing device and user input in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is another example screen shot, computing device and user input in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a further example screen shot, computing device and user input in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a further example screen shot and computing device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is an example screen shot and computing device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow diagram related to capturing and associating zoomed-in images with panoramic images in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     The technology relates generally to providing users with the ability to associate zoomed-in images with panoramic images, (sometimes referred to as a “panorama”). For example, a user may capture a panoramic image on his or her client computing device (such as a mobile phone). Once this is done, the client computing device may display a prompt asking the user whether he or she would like to add any non-panoramic image, such as zoomed-in images, to the panoramic image. The user may then capture a zoomed-in image. In one example, the user may specifically select a point or area within the panoramic image and confirm that the zoomed-in image should be associated with that point. Alternatively, the point or area may be determined automatically using computer vision techniques (e.g. feature matching). Later, the user (or another user) may then select the point or area within the panoramic image and, in response, receive the zoomed-in image based on the association. 
     The user may select the point or area before or after the zoomed-in image is captured. For example, the user may select a point by tapping on a display of the mobile phone with a finger or stylus, or by using a mouse pointer or other input technique. An area may be selected by drawing a box corresponding to the area of the zoomed-in image. In this second example, it may be simpler for the user to draw a box if the user has already captured the zoomed-in image. In another example, the user may drag the zoomed-in image over the corresponding area in the panoramic image. 
     If the area is determined automatically using computer vision techniques, the user may also be able to correct or move any improperly placed zoomed-in images using any of the techniques described above. 
     The panoramic image and any zoomed-in images may then be sent to various other computing devices in order to be shared with other users. As an example, the panoramic image may be uploaded to a server computing device, which can provide the panoramic image and zoomed-in images in response to requests from other user client computing devices. 
     By allowing the user to capture zoomed-in images immediately or shortly after a panoramic image is captured, there is a greater likelihood that the zoomed-in image may be properly placed relative to the panoramic image. In addition, the zoomed-in images are more likely to have similar lighting conditions and features if they are captured proximate in time to the panoramic image. As an example, if a panoramic image is an outdoor scene of people and monuments, the same people may still be positioned within the zoomed-in image as in the panoramic image with the same or similar lighting conditions. In this regard, when the user views the panoramic image, he or she may select the point associated with the zoomed-in image. In response, the display may transition from the panoramic image to the zoomed-in image, making the transition appear more natural to a user than two images that were taken at different times, by different devices, etc. 
     Example Systems 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  include an example system  100  in which the features described above may be implemented. It should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure or usefulness of the features described herein. In this example, system  100  can include computing devices  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  as well as storage system  150 . Computing device  110  can contain one or more processors  112 , memory  114  and other components typically present in general purpose computing devices. Memory  114  of computing device  110  can store information accessible by processor  112 , including instructions  116  that can be executed by the processor  112 . 
     Memory can also include data  118  that can be retrieved, manipulated or stored by the processor. The memory can be of any non-transitory type capable of storing information accessible by the processor, such as a hard-drive, memory card, ROM, RAM, DVD, CD-ROM, write-capable, and read-only memories. 
     The instructions  116  can be any set of instructions to be executed directly, such as machine code, or indirectly, such as scripts, by the processor. In that regard, the terms “instructions,” “application,” “steps” and “programs” can be used interchangeably herein. The instructions can be stored in object code format for direct processing by the processor, or in any other computing device language including scripts or collections of independent source code modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance. Functions, methods and routines of the instructions are explained in more detail below. 
     Data  118  can be retrieved, stored or modified by processor  112  in accordance with the instructions  116 . For instance, although the subject matter described herein is not limited by any particular data structure, the data can be stored in computer registers, in a relational database as a table having many different fields and records, or XML documents. The data can also be formatted in any computing device-readable format such as, but not limited to, binary values, ASCII or Unicode. Moreover, the data can comprise any information sufficient to identify the relevant information, such as numbers, descriptive text, proprietary codes, pointers, references to data stored in other memories such as at other network locations, or information that is used by a function to calculate the relevant data. 
     The one or more processors  112  can include any conventional processors, such as a commercially available CPU. Alternatively, the processor can be a dedicated component such as an ASIC or other hardware-based processor. Although not necessary, computing devices  110  may include specialized hardware components to perform specific computing processes, such as decoding video, matching video frames with images, distorting videos, encoding distorted videos, etc. faster or more efficiently. 
     Although  FIG. 1  functionally illustrates the processor, memory, and other elements of computing device  110  as being within the same block, the processor, computer, computing device, or memory can actually comprise multiple processors, computers, computing devices, or memories that may or may not be stored within the same physical housing. For example, the memory can be a hard drive or other storage media located in a housing different from that of computing devices  110 . Accordingly, references to a processor, computer, computing device, or memory will be understood to include references to a collection of processors, computers, computing devices, or memories that may or may not operate in parallel. For example, the computing devices  110  may include server computing devices operating as a load-balanced server farm. Yet further, although some functions described below are indicated as taking place on a single computing device having a single processor, various aspects of the subject matter described herein can be implemented by a plurality of computing devices, for example, communicating information over network  160 . 
     The computing devices  110  can be at various nodes of the network  160  and capable of directly and indirectly communicating with other nodes of the network  160 . Although only a few computing devices are depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , it should be appreciated that a typical system can include a large number of connected computing devices, with each different computing device being at a different node of the network  160 . The network  160  and intervening nodes described herein can be interconnected using various protocols and systems, such that the network can be part of the Internet, World Wide Web, specific intranets, wide area networks, or local networks. The network can utilize standard communications protocols, such as Ethernet, WiFi and HTTP, protocols that are proprietary to one or more companies, and various combinations of the foregoing. Although certain advantages are obtained when information is transmitted or received as noted above, other aspects of the subject matter described herein are not limited to any particular manner of transmission of information. 
     As an example, computing devices  110  may include one or more web servers that are capable of communicating with storage system  150  as well as computing devices  120 ,  130 , and  140  via the network. For example, server computing devices  110  may use network  160  to transmit and present information to a user, such as user  220 ,  230 , or  240 , on a display, such as displays  122 ,  132 , or  142  of computing devices  120 ,  130 , or  140 . In this regard, computing devices  120 ,  130 , and  140  may be considered client computing devices and may perform all or some of the features described below. 
     Each of the client computing devices may be configured similarly to the server computing devices  110 , with one or more processors, memory and instructions as described above. Each client computing device  120 ,  130  or  140  may be a personal computing device intended for use by a user  220 ,  250 ,  250 , and have all of the components normally used in connection with a personal computing device such as a central processing unit (CPU), memory (e.g., RAM and internal hard drives) storing data and instructions, a display such as displays  122 ,  132 , or  142  (e.g., a monitor having a screen, a touch-screen, a projector, a television, or other device that is operable to display information), and user input device  124  (e.g., a mouse, keyboard, touch-screen or microphone). The client computing device may also include a camera for recording video streams, speakers, a network interface device, and all of the components used for connecting these elements to one another. 
     Although the client computing devices  120 ,  130  and  140  may each comprise a full-sized personal computing device, they may alternatively comprise mobile computing devices capable of wirelessly exchanging data with a server over a network such as the Internet. By way of example only, client computing device  120  may be a mobile phone or a device such as a wireless-enabled PDA, a tablet PC, or a netbook that is capable of obtaining information via the Internet. In another example, client computing device  130  may be a head-mounted computing system. As an example the user may input information using a small keyboard, a keypad, microphone, using visual signals with a camera, or a touch screen. 
     Storage system  150  may store panoramic images, zoomed-in images, and any associations between these images received from client devices as described in more detail below. In some instances, the panoramic images and zoomed-in images may be associated with data such as date, location, and time of capture, camera characteristics such as the type of device or shutter speed, etc. As with memory  114 , storage system  150  can be of any type of computerized storage capable of storing information accessible by server  110 , such as a hard-drive, memory card, ROM, RAM, DVD, CD-ROM, write-capable, and read-only memories. In addition, storage system  150  may include a distributed storage system where data is stored on a plurality of different storage devices that may be physically located at the same or different geographic locations. Storage system  150  may be connected to the computing devices via the network  160  as shown in  FIG. 1  and/or may be directly connected to or incorporated into any of the computing devices  110 - 140  (not shown). 
     Example Methods 
     In order to take advantage of the techniques described herein, the user may install an application on his or her device, select a setting on the device, and/or the like. After this, the client computing device, in conjunction with the application, may allow a user to capture a panoramic image. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , user  220  uses client device  120  to capture a panoramic image  310 . In this example, the panoramic image includes portions of building  320 . 
     Once the user has captured a panoramic mage, the client device may allow the user to take additional images. As an example, the client computing device may display a prompt asking the user whether he or she would like to add or capture another non-panoramic image.  FIG. 4  is an example of such a prompt  410 . In this example, prompt  410  displayed on client computing device  120  asks whether the user would like to add a zoomed-in image to the panoramic image. In this example, the user is provided with two options, a yes button  420  and a no button  422 . If the user selects the no button  422 , the user may be able to capture additional panoramic images, view the panoramic image  310 , etc. If the user selects the yes button, the user may be able to capture a zoomed-in image. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the non-panoramic image is a zoomed-in image. As used herein, a zoomed-in image includes at least one feature of the panoramic image that appears (or is) to be located closer to the client computing device than in the panoramic image. In this regard, the user may use a zoom function (optical or digital) of the client computing device and/or may simply move closer to the feature in order to capture further details of that feature. Thus, using an optical zoom function and/or moving closer to the feature will provide the zoomed-in image with greater detail for at least the feature than the panoramic image. 
       FIG. 5  is an example of user  220  capturing a zoomed-in image  510  using client device  120 . In this example, the zoomed-in image  510  includes part of building  320  at a greater zoom level than in panoramic image  310 . As noted above, user  220  may have moved the client computing device  120  closer to the building  320  or may have used an optical or digital zoom function of the camera of the client computing device. 
     The non-panoramic image may then be associated with a particular point or area of the panoramic image. This may be performed automatically, for example, by using computer vision techniques in order to identify common features between the two images. Alternatively, the user may specifically select a point or area within the panoramic image and confirm that the zoomed-in image should be associated with that point or area. 
     A user may select a point or area in various ways. In order to assist the user in this task, the client computing device may display another prompt.  FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a prompt  610  which asks a user to place a zoomed-in image on the panoramic image. In response, the user may identify a particular point in the panoramic image for the non-panoramic image with a finger or stylus (if the client computing device includes a touch screen) or with a mouse pointer (if the client computing device includes user input controls for a mouse pointer). 
     Examples of selection techniques are shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , though other selection methods may also be used. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 7 , as client computing device  120  includes a touch screen display, user  220  may use a finger  710  (or a stylus) to tap a point or area  720  (located under  FIG. 710 ) of the panoramic image  310  corresponding to the relative location of zoomed-in image  510 . As another example, in  FIG. 8 , user  220  may use a finger  810  (or a stylus) to draw a box around an area  820  of the panoramic image  310  corresponding to the relative location of zoomed-in image  510 . In yet another example, in  FIG. 9 , user may use a finger  910  (or a stylus) to tap and drag zoomed-in image  510  to an area of panoramic image  310  corresponding to the relative location of zoomed-in image  510 . 
     If the point or area of the panoramic image corresponding to the non-panoramic image is determined automatically using computer vision techniques, the user may also be able to correct or move any improperly placed non-panoramic images using any of the techniques described above. In addition, although in the example above the user may select the point or area after the non-panoramic image is captured, the user may also do so before the non-panoramic image is captured. 
     The selected point or area may be used to generate an association or link between the panoramic image and the non-panoramic image. For example, returning to the examples of  FIGS. 7-9 , once the point or area of the panoramic image has been selected by the user, this point may be associated with the non-panoramic image, such that the client computing device is able to retrieve the non-panoramic image based on the identification or selection of the point or area associated with the panoramic image. Thus, the association identifies the panoramic image, the non-panoramic image, and the selected point or area. The panoramic image, the non-panoramic image, and the association may be stored in local storage of the client computing device. Alternatively or in addition to being stored locally, if the user would like to share the panoramic image and the non-panoramic image with other uses, the panoramic image, the non-panoramic image, and the association may be set to a server computing device, such as one or more of the server computing devices  110  for storage in a storage system such as storage system  150 . 
     Although the examples above describe capturing and associating only a single non-panoramic image with a panoramic image, one or more additional non-panoramic images may also be captured. For instance, the aspects discussed above with regard to the examples of  FIGS. 4-9  may be repeated in order to capture additional non-panoramic images and select points or areas of association. 
     The user may then switch between a display of the panoramic image and any non-panoramic images using the stored association or associations. As noted above, the user may identify the point or area in the panoramic image associated with a non-panoramic image with a finger or stylus or with a mouse pointer. In response, the client computing device may display the associated non-panoramic image. 
     In order to do so, the client computing device may use an association to display the panoramic image in a way that communicates to a user that a non-panoramic image associated with a point or area of the panoramic image is available for display to the user. For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , client computing device  120  includes a display of panoramic image  310 . In this example, panoramic image  310  includes an indicator  1010  identifying to the user that the panoramic image is associated with a non-panoramic image related to the location of the indicator relative to the panoramic image. In this example, the indicator  1010  is a circle, however various other types of indicators such as a thumbnail image of the associated non-panoramic image, an outline of the area of an association, a flashing circle, etc. may also be used. Again, although only one indicator is shown in the example of  FIG. 10 , additional indicators may also be displayed if there are additional associations and non-panoramic images associated with a displayed panoramic image. 
     In the example of  FIG. 10 , once the user selects the indicator  1010 , in response, the client computing device may display the non-panoramic image associated with the indicator  1010  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Thus, between  FIGS. 10 and 11 , once the user selects the indicator  1010 , the client computing device&#39;s display may transition between a display of panoramic image  310  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ) to a display of zoomed-in image  510  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     As noted above, the panoramic image, the non-panoramic images, and the associations may be sent to one or more server computing devices for storage. In this regard, the user may share the panoramic image, the non-panoramic image, and the association with other users. As such, other users or the same user may use a client computing device to request the panoramic image from one or more of the server computing devices  110 . In response, the one or more server computing devices may retrieve the panoramic image and any associations and associated non-panoramic images from the storage system  150  and send them to the requesting client computing device for display to that user. As with the examples of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the client computing devices may use the associations to display one or more indicators with the panoramic image and the display of the client computing device may transition between a panoramic image and a non-panoramic image based a user&#39;s selection of the indicator. 
     Although the aspects described herein are described as being performed by a single client computing device, any of the aspects described herein may be performed in conjunction with one or more server computing devices. For example, once the user has captured a panoramic image using a client computing device, the user may upload the panoramic image to one or more server computing devices. The client computing device may respond, for example, by displaying a prompt such as in the example of  FIG. 6 . Similarly, once a user has captured a panoramic image and a non-panoramic image, the server computing device may respond by instructing the client computing device to prompt the user to identify any associations between the two images. 
     Flow diagram  1200  of  FIG. 12  is an example of some of the aspects described above which may be performed by one or more processors of a client computing device and/or one or more server computing devices as noted above. For instance, a panoramic image is captured at block  1202 . In response to capturing the panoramic image, a request for a zoomed-in image is provided for display at block  1204 . The zoomed-in image is captured at block  1206 . A point or an area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image is determined at block  1208 . As noted above, this determination may be performed based on a user selection. The zoomed-in image is then associated with the point or area of the panoramic image at block  1210 . 
     Most of the foregoing alternative examples are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. As an example, the preceding operations do not have to be performed in the precise order described above. Rather, various steps can be handled in a different order or simultaneously. Steps can also be omitted unless otherwise stated. In addition, the provision of the examples described herein, as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “including” and the like, should not be interpreted as limiting the subject matter of the claims to the specific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only one of many possible embodiments. Further, the same reference numbers in different drawings can identify the same or similar elements.