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 capable of capturing image information from a displayed image on a portable device 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
enable a transaction with an account based on the target information.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the displayed image comprises a static image.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the displayed image comprises a time varying image.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the displayed image comprises a pattern.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein 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 7 , wherein the symbol comprises an alpha-numeric character.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portable device comprises the image processing platform.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein a server comprises the image processing platform.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein an automated teller machine comprises the image processing platform.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a vending machine comprises the image processing platform.
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 17 , 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, a vending machine product.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the transaction comprises a purchase of the target item.