IP Library Granted Patent US 11,961,216
Granted Patent B2
US 11,961,216 · App. 17/171,914 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Photography session assistant

Inventor: Keith Benson (Eden Prairie, MN)
Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
G06T7/0002G06F3/0482G06V40/103G06V40/175H04N5/222G06T2207/30168G06T2207/30201
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,961,216
App. No.
17/171,914
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices and methods for conducting a remote photography session are described. In some instances, a computing device at a photography station receives messages from a photography station controller which is remote from the photography station. In some examples, the computing device receives one or more messages instructing the computing device to capture an image from an image capture device. The computing device can also receive one or more messages instructing the computing device to adjust the image capture device. Additionally, the messages may instruct the computing device to present instructions to a subject of the photography session. These instructions can prompt the subject to make adjustments to meet a criteria for a photograph in the photography session.

Claims (51)

1. A method of instructing and capturing at least one photograph during a remote photography session at a photography station, the method comprising:

establishing a communication channel with a computing device of a remote photography station, wherein the remote photography station further includes a digital camera, with a lens and an electronic image sensor, configured to convert received light into digital image data;

receiving live images of the remote photography station from the computing device;

evaluating the live images based on at least one required criteria of a required photograph for the remote photography session; and

generating and sending at least one message to the computing device over the communication channel instructing the computing device to capture an optical image according to the at least one required criteria using the digital camera, wherein the at least one message includes an instruction based at least in part on the at least one required criteria of the required photograph for the remote photography session.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and sending the at least one message to the computing device further instructs the computing device to make an adjustment of the digital camera.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment of the digital camera further includes adjustment of:

a digital camera position setting.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and sending the at least one message to the computing device further instructs the computing device to output audio presenting the instruction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed using a software application simulating a photographer, the software application generating the instruction.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and sending the at least one message to the computing device further instructs the computing device to present the instruction visually on a display.

7. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

establishing a video conferencing session with the computing device of the remote photography station.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the live images based on the at least one required criteria includes detecting at least one feature in the live images and associating the at least one feature with the at least one required criteria.

9. A system for capturing at least one photograph during a remote photography session, the system comprising:

a photography station controller including a first computing device; and

a photography station remote from the photography station controller, the photography station including:

a second computing device; and

a digital camera, with a lens and an electronic image sensor, configured to convert received light into digital image data;

wherein the first computing device includes a non-transitory storage medium and at least one processor, the non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first computing device to:

establish a communication channel with the second computing device;

receive live images from the second computing device over the communication channel;

evaluate the live images based on at least one criteria of a required photograph for the remote photography session; and

generate and send at least one message to the second computing device over the communication channel to instruct the second computing device to capture an optical image according to the at least one criteria using the digital camera, wherein the at least one message includes an instruction based at least in part on the at least one criteria of the required photograph for the photography session.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one message sent to the second computing device further instructs the second computing device to make an adjustment of the digital camera.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the adjustment of the digital camera further includes adjustment of at least one of:

(1) a focus setting;

(2) a zoom setting; and

(3) a digital camera position setting.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one message sent to the second computing device further instructs the second computing device to output audio to present the instruction.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one message sent to the second computing device further instructs the second computing device to present the instruction visually on a display.

14. The system of claim 9 , the system further comprising:

a first webcam, a first microphone, and a first speaker each in data communication with the first computing device;

a second webcam, a second microphone, and a second speaker each in data communication with the second computing device; and

wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor further cause the first computing device to:

establish a video conferencing session with the second computing device of the remote photography station.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for remotely conducting a photography session at a photography station, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processor to:

establish a communication channel with a computing device of the remote photography station, wherein the remote photography station includes a digital camera, with a lens and an electronic image sensor, configured to convert received light into digital image data;

receive live images of the remote photography station over the communication channel;

evaluate the live images based on at least one criteria of a required photograph for the photography session; and

generate and send at least one message to the computing device over the communication channel to instruct the computing device to capture an optical image according to the at least one criteria using the digital camera,

wherein the at least one message includes an instruction based at least in part on the at least one required criteria of the required photograph for the photography session.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one message sent to the computing device further instructs the computing device to make an adjustment of the digital camera.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the adjustment of the digital camera further includes adjustment of at least one of:

(1) a focus setting;

(2) a zoom setting; and

(3) a digital camera position setting.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one message sent to the computing device further instructs the computing device to output audio to present the instruction.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one message sent to the computing device further instructs the computing device to present the instructions visually on a display.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the processor to:

establish a video conferencing session with the computing device of the remote photography station.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2024
From: SHUTTERFLY, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 067788/0387 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2023
From: SHUTTERFLY, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063934/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: BENSON, KEITH
To: SHUTTERFLY, LLC
Reel/Frame 056058/0796 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 17070729 · Oct 14, 2020
Continuation 16386918 · Apr 17, 2019
Related Publication 20210241444A1 · Aug 5, 2021