GB2520748A - Video image capture apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A video camera obtains a video image of an object and a displays (22) the obtained video image. A processor generates a sequence of guide representations (30) of preferred views of at least a portion of the object on the display concurrently, e.g. as an overlay, with the displayed video as the video image is acquired, each representation comprising a fixed orientation and size relative to the display. The fixed orientation and size of the representation provides a reference point for the camera operator when orientating the camera to acquire the video image. The representations may be presented in a sequence according to a timing arrangement, the timing being indicated to the user via a timer or countdown (16). The sequence may alternatively be triggered according to an operator command. Pitch and roll indicators (18a, 18b, 18c & 18d), e.g. colour bars, may be provided to further assist the camera operator.

Description

The. present invontion relates to video image capture apparatus arid a method. of capturing video images.

It is often desirable to acquire video images of objects., such as vehicles.. for display t on a website o.r similar. The video image is preferah;y captured via an automated vkieo captunny anangemen. in whir h a vehv U IS auitahly loa.ec p-i a atudin haiinq ho requred carriers supports and tracks for automated movement of a camera around the vehicle, The autornahort provdes for a reoroducible viewing profile of vencles, such Cs a profile in which soecific features o the vehicle wifi be iewod at gre-defined tirnes from: preferred viewpoints.

ihe reprr du ble nature of the video pro la facilitates a subsequent automated processing Of the video data whereby related commentary and/or annotations may be added to the video image,, for cxampte.

However, it is not often practical or even possbie to sutabW remove a vehicle to such a studio to acquire the video iniage having the desired video profile. In these 1.5 circumstances, it is necessary to acquire a video image manuafly using a hand--held video.

camera. However. the manual acquisition of the video image resuts in ought variations between video profiles of different videos with the result that it is often difficult to subsequently uniformly process the video images.

We have 11.0W devised a video image capture apparatus and method.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is pro vided. video image capture apparatus comprising a video camera for obtaihing a video image of an object arid a display for displaying the video image: the apparatus further comprising a processor which i arranged to generate a sequence of representations ol preferred views of at least a portion of the object on the display 0000urrentl\ with th.e video image, as the video image is acquired, each representation comprising a fixed orientation and size relative to the display.

frtanrnb:odkneM., thtrepraser. lion of at Jeast: a:odg art!,. ,thJeø'ø"p$S'4'' outikis of the øbjesL The reent*,:s'ares,,Nnepacypesanted?onthdnasan;Gwna on the vIdeo kiageandte rd an4orntabon erSn'UOflS ters:'tot.

S d4sdsy flMde$ the oper*r with an ñ4frA**i, of fre rSq*i' S"aab3ect $p*atWi. *h" $Skinç the vidoc: iflS The tepraentalions tUrther intflcat! i p*rctthe tarnertUe *1e Object t:potn'thøreof wbMt it :,",# tspss,Son sf1 F, $ c,,4ñ4,. p4'1, : .a,:pso:a.

IP mjeeit and f wsotft'ot$ horn ten m pEUJ t*e dliMt. n'ih,:u:4jj: p*:,:,; t,,::': ,;c1 nt us seqtsraaay øai e aper' sge:sU&,, aSte,,: by cIln:thø repr. entatiou.uMmfrig frç,r4fr, eposanthsSthbflrli,h4; the t',,tflIØfl$; In an ø*4nwA the processor is ëitanged I*ene3te4,,1t, spt":sts'. of the sequence on4he afltapr040'";trne accrdk9 h&thn4flganngernenI. Thfl)n,4' display, t)f fl* :repr,,,,,,,' affi. a p e1ør a, s*w'is ktt*,e,,,,, ,. 9re. *f Ut 9j$t For ecamt* in ftuafin WheittP* appslflus j':j ftjft aSsJrna 4g avePIdG tMi The represntatiors may:cornpñte a: se enflap,s,rntaUb*& nguflRie the tM, * 6gSi*ei light Side p (lIe ttjio vehi e4 ar profflea tha:v 1*; btsasstThe we, suth that The. operaS Is restdeted lo foQow a ptedeflne,: *1wh1g: paftit nicø vebideata::predelinSmie,Jn'uder to gerrerateadeswsvideobfle, ths apparatus futthercompttses a timer and the?pcessor Is aitatiged to pr$nt*pe timer on the dIepiy to provkIe the sperMorwPh ah kdIbS' 4! the:tOm, d44rig tM aMuk,Uc S I frjg between dlsptay of onsecuUe mpresen,*ion, of th sequence. Pr s!c,mw!e!.$ !k' : rpay ccni,:Se a repeatable ca'.mtdown tø indK,S IQ operator when the next representation will he displayed, to give the operator sufficient time to rcposihon he iidoo cemera h hs tespect, the irutfl qiTtc U reptebenttk'N provide an indicaRon to the operator of the desired change in viewpoint of the' object and thus the v;deo proNe, S In an embodiment, the apparatus is further arranged to soquire static images. of at least a porhon of the bbject The static images preferably' correspond with the video image correspondihg to the representalldr:1s presented to the user and the tinier may be used to provide an inthcehon to the operator dl the time at which the static image is to be acqtited.

A to o'tivc'lj inciead of pie-e tinJ Inc r'pt uta ions o the divpIa au. uwvio to a 0 uarticulai timnig ariaooo'nont, th" ropreaertations ma tx drplay 1 in 3LcodLtnce with an operator command. For example, it is envisaged that the display of th.e next representation in the sequence may he triggered by the. operator yia a peripheral, input device, such as a mnous.e or via a. touch sensitive area on the ddplay. The next representation, in ti3 sequenc ma:vaiternabve:ly be dispiayed once the operator ha's' acqu red the static image corresponding to the currently displayed representOtion and in an embodiment, the acquisition of the static images may be obtained manually by the operator using the input device or pressing a touch sensitve area on the screen.

The apparatus further comprises an indicator for generating an indication of the relative orientation of the video camera relative to the object in accordance with a signal from a gyroscope disposed within the camera, The indicator may comprise a visual indication of a pitch (lorward.hack tilt) or red (s,ideto-side tilt) of the video caniermil relative to the object. In an embodiment, the indicator comprises a portion on t:he display which is arranged to generate a colour Of a ooiou,r spectrum, .tl.:lø colours of the spectrum being representative' of the degree of pitch aed/or roll and thus the signal from the gyro'scope The. portion of the display' may comprise a peripheral border, whereby the cdiour of upper anti/or lower sections of the.hoider may be used to provIde an indication c: roll, whereas the coldut ci left and/or right side sections of the border may he used to:ptOvidO an indication ci pitch The apparatus further comprised a. geographical positioning. device dispoe wthin the camera for determiring the geographical location of the camera. Preferably, the de.vie is.

communicatively coupled with the processor In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is providect a method 01 cspthting a video image of an object, the method composing: acquiring a video image of an object using a video camera; displaying the video image of the object on a display; displayEna a sequence of representations of pmferred views of at least a portion ci the object on the display coricurrenhy with the video image. each representation cOfflOf!SUIU.1 hed orientation relative to the, displa; and., moving, the. video camera relative to the object to align the representatiOn, with at least the portion. ol the. object.

The method fhrther comprises displaying the representacons of the sequence in accordance with a predefined tirth'ng ar.rangemeht arid movirtg the video camera re!ative to the ohj:ect to align, the representation with, at east the portion of the object at the corresponding time. Preferably, the method further comprises acqt.uring a static image of th.e at least a portion of the object' corresponding to the representation at the respective timeS In an alternative embodiment, the method cornpdses displayhig the representations.

of the sequence in accordance with an operator command, such as a command via an input device.

in an embodiment, the method further comprises creating the sequence of representations by selecting the desired representations from a repository of representations and suitably ordering the representations' as required., This enables an operator of the camera to generate a bespoka sequence of representations for fecilitating the capture of the video image o.the object.

In a further embodiment, the method cornpnses selectinq i p:redei9hed sequence of representations from an array of seqL.tences and this may be performed in dependence S upon at least one of a qeograØhical location of the video camera, an operator logOn procedure cr manually by the operatoc Ihe method may further comprise uploading the video image and the static images to c sehier tot uosequent Mewing -uuss 4 netwotk E mbothme t of the 4 rSPflt invoitor wifi now be dear r ed h w l cx iuple onlj 10. and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is schematic illustration of a video capture apparatus: OCt3rdnç an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the display of the apparatus illustrated in ticjure 1, shdwira the. indicator renresenUng the till of the camera relative to the desired viewing onentanon of the object; and, Figure 3 is a flowchart seuuencinq the steps associated with a method according to.

an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to figure. 1 oF the drawings, there is illustrated video image capture apparatus 10 for acquiring a Moo. image of an otjech In order to clarify the operation of the apparatus, the following description will: make. rek-rence to the object being a vehicle 20, however the skilled reader will recognise that the. apparatus is not limited Louse with vehicles an.d can. he used to acquire a video image at any object.

The apparatus 10 comprises a video camera 11, which may comprise a mobile telephone or tabdet, and a display 12 communicatively coupled to the video camera Ii via a wireless 13 or wired connection (not shown), for displaying the image being viewer! by the camera ii. The apoaraUts 10 further comprises a reposite 14 of chfiemnt representabo.ns of the vehicle 20 or portions thereot each corresponding with a particular preferred view of e. vehicle or portion thereof. The representations.30 (as illustrated in Figure 2 of The drawings). may comprise an outline of the. vehicle 20 or the portion thereof, as viewed from.

the. preferred view point, or an arrangement of markers. which are alignabie. with a *cortesponding set of features cn the vehicle 20. In this respect.. the representatIons 30 provide a set of refererce points tdr suitab& orientating arid positioning the. car.nera 11 relative to. the vehicle 20, when capturing the. video image.

The appauatus 10 further comprises a processor 15 communicatively coupled With the Garners Ii, display 12 and repositorji4, again via a wireless 13 or wired connection (not shown), which is arranged to generate a predefined sequence of the representations on the display 12. The representations 30 are presented to the operator (not shown) of the earners II as an overlay on theY video image and the orientation and size of the lb representations 30 are fixed reativ to the display 12? So that the opeiato.r is required. to suitably reposition the carners 1 1 in order to align the video image of the chicle 20 or portion thereof with [he overlaid representation 30.

In an embodiment,, the representations are presented on the display 12 according to a pre-defined timing arrangement and the timing of the display of the representations 30 is indicated to the operator using a timer 16, which may be generated on the thspiay i»= by the processo.r 1 5 as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings.. The timer 1$: comphsss a countdown to the display of the next representation of the sequence and enables the operator to suitable control the speed of movement of the camera Ii around the vehicle 20 when capturing the video image. At. the start of the countdown,. the representation. 30 corresponding to the preferred view of the veNole is presented to the operator on the display 12 and the operator is required to suitably position and orientate the curnera 11 before the end of the countdown. Once the countdown reaches 0, a further representation 30 correspondrig to a further preferred view of tOO vehicle 20 is pfEsented on the display 12, to indicate the next or!entauoni:position of the camera I tine representations 30 thus proicie reference points fOr the operator when capturing thevid co image, and by restricting the video image capture to the defined sequence a reproducible video image protile can he S obtwied.

hi a further embodiment; the apparatus 10 is further arranged to acqure static images of the vehkae 20 in addhkn to the video image. The static litages comprise Those Meo images dieplayed when the countdown reaches 0 seconds. For exarnpe, in situations where the. timer 16 is. arranged to countdown from. fi seconds a static image ill he acquired every 6 seconds.. Ft is envisaged that the. acquisition of the s'atic. image may he automated or pant al v ithated by be oper4 va a input de tee I the appi o'r 4te tn io in ie countdown The input device may comprIse any cc.tnventional operator input device for enabling an operator to input suitabe commands and data, and may comprISO a rnousr or a touch sensitive area (not shown) on the display 12 for example.

In yet a:ftirther embodiment, instead of advancing the presentattori çî the representations 30 on the display 12 according to a timing arrangement, the dispLa'j of the representat:ons 3.0 may be triggered wprflng to art operator command or signal via the input device 17. Altemativety, the dispiay of the rer.asentaflon.s 30 may be. triggered by th.e operator acquiring a static image of the vehicle or portion emof, corresponding to the tltsjlaycri rrprnsentution 5 dbG euv agee nowover tnd the statv rages may he ctcqLttR\I s nq too tnpu device 1 7and ii a tim rn)nua' acquiihon ol each static image causes I e ext rer>re0ont<.diun ot the s quence to ho generated i eitht't situation, this manual advance of the representations 30 of the sequence provides the operator with. more flexibIlity when obtaining. the video image.

In order to fUrther facilitate the orientation oi the camera 11, the display 12 further comprises an indicator 18 which is arranged to ndIcate to an operator of the camera 11 the pitch (fcrward..back tilt) and roil (side1o-*sidO tilt) of the camera 11 r&ativc to the vehicle 20.

The indication is provided in accordance with a signal from a yroscOpc4 (not shown) disposed within the camera 11 and this signal is communicated to. the pmcessor in which processes the signal and generates the corresponding i.ndioator on the display 12. ReferrIng to figure 2 of the drawings, the indicator 18 may comprIse ci porilon on the display 12 which is arranged to display a colour of a colour spectrum, the colours of the spectrum being ier"-unatvc of to dogioe ci pitch and/op roil namely the scnial honi tr'c gyioscoe (nd showrp For example., the spectnim may compnse. a gr.yscale,. whereby the g.reye.r the indicator potion the more severe the pitch. or oil from, the desired orientation,. the 10. ilkistrated embodiment, the portion of the dieptay compress perIpheral border sections Tha** lEd, wherein ffr' colour of nnpe.r and/or ower sections 1 8a. 18h of the border are used to provide an indication of roil, whereas the odour of the left and/or right side sections 1 fIr:, 1 8d of the border are used to pro\dde an indication of pitch.

Rete nq to tiq{ P 3 ci d'aw1nqs, ft ore s il itratod a met' od 100 captuong -video image Of an Object, such as a vehicle 20, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Tha rriel..hod 100 comprises socoiring a video imacie of the vehicle or portion.

theno, qsmti -i vdo camera 11 ann isp ayirig thL ideo m age of he vehvio on i clisplaj 1 The method I 0( h t Inem.onlpmises di pldy g a saqucico ci representatioi iC of preferred views of the vehicte 20 on the display 12 concurrently with the video image.

The sequence. of representations 30 may he tailored to suit the desired vehicle 20 or viewing preference by first creatinq the tequeiice from the repository 14 of representations at step 110 using the input device 17 prior to capturing the video image. A timing arrangement for the presentation of the representations 30 on the display 12 may also be chosen at step 11.5 to suit th.e viewing speed or to introduce one or more dwell times within the sequence, where it riiay be.necessary to provide for a.n increased. viewing time of a particular aspect of the vehide 20. Afternatively, instead of selecting a liming arrangenien.t (4 for the display of the representations., the representations of the sequence may he advanced manually by the operator (130% shown) using the input device 17, fqr example.

In an emhodirneni toe repostory 14 may further comprise a stored array ci selectable sequences of representations, U is envidaged that different vehicle manufacturers s for example, may have diftërent preferences for the type of video prolde for their vehicles.

Accordingly, the preferred sequence corespondi.pg to a particular vehicle manufacturer may aftinaUveJy be selected at step 115. However, it. is also enyis4 the.! the particular sequence used may be selected automatically in accordance with an operator ogon pD"ndure for useot the apparatus 1 ft.

In a further embodinenh a particular sequence of representations may he selected automatically horn the array in dependence upon a signal from a geOgi'Sphic positioning device 1 B disposed within the camera ii. The geographic postioning device 1.5. is communrcatwely coupled. with the processor 15 arid, the processr s arranged to process the signal to determine the geographic locaboxl Of the can'iera and crosareforence the location with the pm-stored locations of vehicle manufactures within the repOsitory 14. tn the event that the geographic location corresponds with a pra-stored ocabori. then the procesuor may acquire the.breferred sequence from the array PS that vehicle manuFacturer, for subsequent use in capturing the video image. it is also envisaged that in situations where tne location isoetermined to be an unauthcynsed location tot' the camarO 1 then the processor may lock or otherwise prrvmt any krrther use of the apparatus 10.

Once the desired sequence and optional timing has been set/selected, the initiation of the sequence is arranged to coincide with the start of the video image capturing process at step 120. in this respect, it is envisaged that the processor 15 may generate a default representation on the display at step 121 to iRdit.atC to. the Operator the desired etartihg 2% position and orientation of the camera 11. Once the operator has suitably positioned the carre.ra ii such that the video image rnat:ches. the displayed default represerttation the: itt Q*!$:n)ay ffi at * ta, , the np 17, W whIth:t*rn w't1# edtSpsyØ1,h," rs, tssita". ip**vr"wbe tfrt anngament it appdc the start nf. the: first wfldown Th opei,,, Is q*ec, $t,*4i'flY tnqve the QidS camera ii mlaflvs. the verds zc: tb i the vi*. 1may40 the velMde 20 With thaiS vesntS' p t M. 13, an in tie *atkm whets a flmhig arran9ema# irias: been applied ia the sequw "flM be per(*nt1e befw'$flPst 4oflSwnre::sO secandL Uc'*$P*tg t*flguts Ztt sxemp!t K*mid, t thatthe.

camsa ti IS tc coserQtherrntsJ ezhbWng an sxnesslø worn f the 4'tbe vetilda Mø*mgiy the pe'ar is. requfrec:P m*ve the s*raa it away froni:u1a tO. WtYS 2i so:that the auw etimeb" ttba vidCoSs edtø wheM21Eba®ne aJgrted UouthneepredaUwtoUhewhSand urrøunthn9p*flSZZ.

(ince: the reprostntation has. bee.. u. tr aHed wkt, Us 4deg; frag of *0: c! pq1*, $cI$i*. ***e'$ fløW sMiflM'G at: step 124,t&'ttah1Øut4evibe. 17, tar examDte. in sftua$cnswhere a tmkiarrangen,,,nt S' Ias b*e' app c4tp hø hft*es WØ $tc! Pc'* may b *:Y1,,c. **4$0 *m* it:" ;umr ss*s:p' $t'tS QM* the stt ima" S b"t aS" or the 1lmer O!e:,,,* $fl 1Z,: tcrtt4 p1 Sd as. s øt U!i the seq era,ThesM4: Itige,, n be*itther 1abS1ed4udnq:acqUStiM (0 fdwpastpro of the ifllfles, tn ftuatkirs whets a liming suansrnent * pphS S the dIspIa' ci the :yeresp%n% S cc4flb,k,,,,, asSa ted S ah r:, $4. at tny omthn,, from the Ø$fle tbm su4h Ss 6i "ds, su* øa tIe ds' tRiage is a:"uh;b'foiIowg a unlfcnr progression around lhnehiS2t Jn an aiternat,,,,, snb,:dnim* varThsaIsc ernAsaged that flnay take mot*tUne to acq,,ir1b nextcøef*rS (tie et$'PbZQ$ !S It Enay be n" SSet$tMde arø1àngeO*w'f the Siicte 20 orpbrthntbemof. In this ease, the countdown to each reprosentaftqn may oe thosen to stflt the desfred viewing w.fb and/or $WpIe Z'L 11..

Once a.H the rpresentaUons have been presented to the. operator end the video image and static images have been acquired, th processor IS is arranged to present thei captured static images to the operator on the display llat step 125, so that the operator can review the quahty of the static images and where necessary tag one r more of the images for repacement at step t26. in the. event that the operator tags one or more of the sttic images, the processor 15 suhs.equerWy separately presents the representations 30.

corresponding to the tagged images on the display 12 at step 127, to facilitate the acquisition of replacement, static images at. step 128> The proceseor 15 is fprther amrnngeci to piayback tie captured video image at step 119 so that the operator can further assess the quality of the video image and f necessary replace the video irnaqe with a further video image.

Once the video image and static images have been approved, the processor IS i c 9Pd to b'-q erñ'y uolodd the vd o and touc imaqes Ic n >ie (nok nuwn; ston for subsequent pnicessng and/c.rviewinq over a networK such as the internet.