IP Library Granted Patent US 12,684,230
Granted Patent B2
US 12,684,230 · App. 18/965,994 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Automated guide for image capturing for 3D model creation

Inventors: Manish Upendran (San Francisco, CA); William Castillo (San Carlos, CA); Derek Halliday (Oakland, CA)
Assignee: Hover Inc.
H04N23/64G06T17/00H04N23/633H04N23/661G06T2200/08G06T2200/24G06T2200/28G06T2207/30168
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,684,230
App. No.
18/965,994
Filed
Dec 2, 2024
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2638
USPC
348/207.1
Abstract

An image capture system provides automated prompts for aiding a user in capturing images for use in 3D model creation. While a user is preparing to capture an image, the system provides visual indications that indicate whether a quality-based condition is satisfied. Based on the visual indications, a user can determine whether an image, if captured, would likely be suitable for use in creating a 3D model. Determining if the quality-based condition is satisfied may include monitoring output generated by one or more sensors and comparing the output against a threshold value. Additionally, the system may analyze the visual content or metadata associated with an image to determine if the quality-based condition is satisfied and request user input to further identify certain image features that were identified by the system.

Claims (43)

1 . A system for analyzing image frames for use in creating multidimensional models, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

display, on a device, visual content comprising a target object that would be captured as an image if a capture control for the device were to be activated;

determine whether a quality-based condition is satisfied, wherein the quality-based condition indicates whether the visual content displayed on the device is suitable for use in creating a multidimensional model of the target object, and wherein to determine whether the quality-based condition is satisfied, the one or more processors are configured to:

detect that a particular feature of the target object is identified in metadata generated, at least in part, based on the visual content;

display, on the device, a visual indication associated with satisfaction of the quality-based condition concurrent with displaying the visual content; and

capture the visual content displayed on the device, as an image, in response to activation of the capture control.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

identify one or more features depicted in the visual content; and

generate identifiers associated with the features for inclusion in the metadata.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more features form part of the target object.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more features include one or more of a door, a window, or a roof.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the metadata includes correlations between individual identifiers of features and portions of the image.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to indicate the particular feature of the target object for confirmation.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to store the captured visual content in combination with the metadata for use in creation of the multidimensional model.

8 . A method for analyzing image frames for use in creating multidimensional models, the method comprising:

displaying, on a device, visual content comprising a target object that would be captured as an image if a capture control for the device were to be activated;

determining whether a quality-based condition is satisfied, wherein the quality-based condition indicates whether the visual content displayed on the device is suitable for use in creating a multidimensional model of the target object, and wherein determining whether the quality-based condition is satisfied comprises:

detecting that a particular feature of the target object is identified in metadata generated, at least in part, based on the visual content;

displaying, on the device, a visual indication associated with satisfaction of the quality-based condition concurrent with displaying the visual content; and

capturing the visual content displayed on the device, as an image, in response to activation of the capture control.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying one or more features depicted in the visual content; and

generating identifiers associated with the features for inclusion in the metadata.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more features form part of the target object.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more features include one or more of a door, a window, or a roof.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the metadata includes correlations between individual identifiers of features and portions of the image.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to indicate the particular feature of the target object for confirmation.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising storing the captured visual content in combination with the metadata for use in creation of the multidimensional model.

15 . Non-transitory computer storage media storing instructions that when executed by a system of one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

displaying, on a device, visual content comprising a target object that would be captured as an image if a capture control for the device were to be activated;

determining whether a quality-based condition is satisfied, wherein the quality-based condition indicates whether the visual content displayed on the device is suitable for use in creating a multidimensional model of the target object, and wherein determining whether the quality-based condition is satisfied comprises:

detecting that a particular feature of the target object is identified in metadata generated, at least in part, based on the visual content;

displaying, on the device, a visual indication associated with satisfaction of the quality-based condition concurrent with displaying the visual content; and

capturing the visual content displayed on the device, as an image, in response to activation of the capture control.

16 . The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying one or more features depicted in the visual content; and

generating identifiers associated with the features for inclusion in the metadata.

17 . The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15 , wherein the one or more features form part of the target object.

18 . The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15 , wherein the metadata includes correlations between individual identifiers of features and portions of the image.

19 . The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15 , wherein the device is configured to indicate the particular feature of the target object for confirmation.

20 . The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising storing the captured visual content in combination with the metadata for use in creation of the multidimensional model.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 18478225 · Sep 29, 2023
Continuation 18089425 · Dec 27, 2022
Continuation 17700235 · Mar 21, 2022
Continuation 17010625 · Sep 2, 2020
Continuation 16450717 · Jun 24, 2019
Continuation 15404044 · Jan 11, 2017
Related Publication 20250142204A1 · May 1, 2025
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