System and method for creating a collection of images
View Patent ↗System and method for creating a collection of images are described, the method comprising: receiving images from at least one source of images; processing the images to produce an output collection of images, the processing comprising grouping the images to clusters of related images and selecting the preferred images in the clusters; and outputting the output collection of images, the output collection of images comprising the clusters of related images and indication of the preferred images in the clusters. The system for creating a collection of images comprising: a storage medium to receive images from at least one source of images; a processor to produce an output collection of images by grouping the images to clusters of related images and selecting the preferred images in the clusters; and a collection output medium for outputting the output collection of images.
1. A computer system for grouping and selecting images, comprising:
a computer processor configured to:
determine capture times of a set of images,
chronologically order the images in the set of images,
calculate capture time differences dT between capture times of successive images in the set of chronologically ordered images,
identify a maximum capture time difference dTmax in the capture time differences dT between successive images in the set of images,
determine a cluster-splitter range of time differences at least in part based on the maximum capture time difference dTmax, and
divide a plurality of images, based on the cluster-splitter range of time differences, into multiple base clusters each comprising successive images.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein when the cluster-splitter range of time differences is determined, the computer processor is configured to:
identify, in the set of images, capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax, wherein A is a constant factor between 0 and 1, and
calculate a standard deviation S of the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax,
wherein the cluster-splitter range of time differences in part based on the standard deviation S of the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax.
3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein A is between 0.3 and 0.8.
4. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein when the cluster-splitter range of time differences is determined, the computer processor is configured to
calculate a mean capture time difference B for the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax,
wherein the cluster-splitter range of time differences is defined between B−M*S and dTmax, wherein M is a constant factor between 1 and 3.
5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein successive base clusters in the multiple of base clusters are separated by capture time differences in the cluster-splitter range of time differences.
6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein image capture time differences be successive images in each of the base clusters are smaller compared to capture time differences between successive base clusters.
7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to divide one of the multiple base clusters into multiple sub-clusters of image if the one of the multiple base clusters includes more than a predetermined number of images.
8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to divide one of the multiple base clusters into multiple sub-clusters of image if two successive images in the one of the multiple base clusters have a capture time difference that is larger than a predefined threshold value.
9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to:
calculate differences between at least two successive base clusters, and
group the two successive base clusters into a chapter if the difference is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to:
rank images in at least one of the base clusters to produce image ranks; and
select images in the one of the base clusters.
11. The computer system of claim 10 , The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is configured to rank the multiple base clusters at least in part based on the image ranks in the respective base clusters.
12. A computer system for grouping and selecting images, comprising:
a computer processor configured to:
determine capture times of a set of images,
chronologically order the images in the set of images,
calculate capture time differences dT between capture times of successive images in the set of chronologically ordered images,
calculate a standard deviation S of the capture time differences dT in at least a portion of the set of images,
determine a cluster-splitter range of time differences at least in part based on the standard deviation S, and
divide a plurality of images, based on the cluster-splitter range of time differences, into multiple base clusters each comprising successive images.
13. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein when the cluster-splitter range of time differences is determined, the computer processor is configured to:
identify a maximum capture time difference dTmax in the capture time differences dT between successive images in the set of images; and
identify, in the set of images, capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax, wherein A is a constant factor between 0 and 1,
wherein the standard deviation S is calculated using the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax.
14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein when the cluster-splitter range of time differences is determined, the computer processor is configured to:
calculate a mean capture time difference B for the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax,
wherein the cluster-splitter range of time differences is defined between B−M*S and dTmax, wherein M is a constant factor between 1 and 3.
15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein successive base clusters in the multiple of base clusters are separated by capture time differences in the cluster-splitter range of time differences.
16. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the computer processor is configured to divide one of the multiple base clusters into multiple sub-clusters of image if the one of the multiple base clusters includes more than a predetermined number of images.
17. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the computer processor is configured to divide one of the multiple base clusters into multiple sub-clusters of image if two successive images in the one of the multiple base clusters have a capture time difference that is larger than a predefined threshold value.
18. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the computer processor is configured to
rank images in at least one of the base clusters to produce image ranks; and
select images in the one of the base clusters.
19. A computer system for grouping and selecting images, comprising:
a computer processor configured to:
determine capture times of a set of images;
chronologically order the images in the set of images;
calculate capture time differences dT between capture times of successive images in the set of chronologically ordered images;
calculate a mean capture time difference B for at least a portion of the set of images;
determine a cluster-splitter range of time differences at least in part based on the mean capture time difference B; and
divide a plurality of images, based on the cluster-splitter range of time differences, into multiple base clusters each comprising successive images.
20. The computer system of claim 19 , wherein when the cluster-splitter range of time differences is determined, the computer processor is configured to:
identify a maximum capture time difference dTmax in the capture time differences dT between successive images in the set of images;
identify, in the set of images, capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax, wherein A is a constant factor between 0 and 1; and
calculate a standard deviation S of the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax.
21. The computer system of claim 20 , wherein the mean capture time difference B is calculated for the capture time differences dT that are within a range between A*dTmax and dTmax, wherein the cluster-splitter range of time differences is defined between B−M*S and dTmax, wherein M is a constant factor between 1 and 3.