Portable image processing and multimedia interface

Abstract

A portable device configured to provide enhanced shopping information is provided. The portable device has a display screen and an image capture device and the portable device is configured to access databases through a wireless network. The portable device includes image recognition logic that is configured to perform analysis of an image of an object that includes a bar code associated with a product. The analysis determines if the graphics found on the object correspond to a bar code and a portion of an image with the bar code is communicated through the wireless network to the databases to identify the product. The portable device further includes image generation logic that is configured to obtain product information for the identified product from the databases and present the product information on the display screen of the portable device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 922,514 filed on Aug. 19, 2004 and entitled “PORTABLE AUGMENTED REALITY DEVICE AND METHOD”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates generally to augmented reality applications and more particularly to combining image recognition features with augmented reality applications in order to enrich the augmented reality applications.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Augmented reality (AR) attempts to enrich a user's real environment by adding spatially aligned virtual objects (3D models, 2D textures, textual annotations, etc.) to the user's environment. The goal is to create the impression that the virtual object is a part of the real environment. The users of the AR system experience the augmented environment through special display ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method and device for using a portable device to enhance shopping experiences. The portable device has a display screen and an image capture device, which can access databases through a wireless network. The device can capture images of objects with barcodes and analyze them to identify the associated product. The device can then obtain product information from the databases and present it on the display screen in a user-friendly way. This technology allows for quick and easy shopping experiences using a portable device.

Problems solved by technology

Current augmented reality systems suffer from issues with general registration problems, i.e., getting the computer graphics to stick to a real-world scene.

For example, due to the use of multiple sensors, artifacts, such as miss-movement of the computer graphics with the real-world scene may occur.

These artifacts are due to the multiple sensors having different speeds.

Additionally, delays between the head tracking system and the camera used to capture the real-world scene along with the need to merge the computer graphics into the real-world scene, cause misalignment / registration problems.

These registration problems may even become serious enough to cause a user to become uncomfortable when viewing the image.

Additionally, the augmented reality systems tend to be complex systems that are not portable.

Accordingly, there are no viable consumer applications for these augmented reality systems.

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