Object information derived from object images
Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image.
1. An interactive system comprising:
an optical sensor configured to capture image information representative of a displayed image on a display screen; and
an image processing platform coupled with the optical sensor and configured to:
identify features from the image information relating to the displayed image;
recognize a target based on the features;
associate the target with target information pertinent to the target; and
perform a transaction with an account based on the target information.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image information is representative of a static image as the displayed image.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image information is representative of a time varying image as the displayed image.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image information is representative of a pattern within the displayed image.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image information is representative of an identification code the displayed image comprises an identification code.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the identification code comprises a symbol.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the symbol comprises a bar code.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the symbol comprises an alpha-numeric character.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein image processing platform is disposed within a portable device.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image processing platform is disposed within a server.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image processing platform is disposed within automated sales machine.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image processing platform is disposed within a vending machine.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target comprises an object.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target comprises an identification code.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the identification code comprises a symbol.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the symbol comprises a bar code.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the symbol comprises an alpha-numeric character.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transaction comprises a payment to the account.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the account comprises at least one of the following types of accounts: an on-line account, an account linked with the portable device, an account linked to a user of the portable device, a bank account, and a credit card account.
21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transaction comprises a commercial transaction.
22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transaction is associated with a target item.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the target item comprises at least one of the following: a video stream, an audio stream, an audio recording, a video recording, a ticket, an entry ticket, and a vending machine product.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the transaction comprises a purchase of the target item.
25. A method of conducting a transaction with an interactive system, the method comprising
providing access to a device having a display;
displaying a displayed image on the display of the device;
presenting the displayed image proximate to an optical sensor; and
enabling, via the interactive system, identification of features from the displayed image, recognition of a target based on the features, association of the target with target information pertinent to the target, and performance of a transaction based on the target information.
26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising receiving, by the device, information from the interactive system in response to presenting the display image.
27. The method of claim 26 , where in the information comprises interactive information.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of displaying the displayed image includes displaying a pattern.
29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of displaying the displayed image includes displaying a static image.
30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of displaying the displayed image includes displaying a time varying image.
31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of displaying the displayed image includes displaying an identifier code.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the identifier code comprises at least one of the following: a bar code, a matrix code, a 2D code, a 3D code, a recognizable symbol, an alphanumeric characters, and a logo.
33. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of enabling performance of the transaction includes initiating a verification.
34. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of enabling performance of the transaction includes initiating an authorization.
35. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of enabling performance of the transaction includes initiating a billing.
36. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of enabling performance of the transaction includes initiating a tracking of inventory.
37. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of enabling performance of the transaction includes initiating a payment.
38. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of enabling performance of the interaction includes initiating a transaction with an account.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the account includes at least one of the following: an on-line account, an account linked with the portable device, an account linked to a user of the portable device, a bank account, and a credit card account.
40. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of displaying the image includes displaying the image on a luminescent display screen.
41. The method of claim 25 , wherein the device comprises a portable device.
42. The method of claim 41 , wherein the portable device comprises a cellular phone.
43. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of presenting the displayed image proximate to the optical sensor includes presenting the display to a gas pump.
44. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of presenting the displayed image proximate to the optical sensor includes presenting the display to a vending machine.
45. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of presenting the displayed image proximate to the optical sensor includes presenting the display to an automated teller machine.
46. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of presenting the displayed image proximate to the optical sensor includes presenting the display to a portable device.
47. The method of claim 25 , further comprising configuring a second device to operate as the interactive system.
48. The method of claim 47 , wherein the second device comprises at least one of the following: a cell phone, a vending machine, a portable device, a gasoline pump, and an automated teller machine.