Composite imaging method and system

Abstract

In a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for forming a group image. In accordance with the method, a set of imaging information is obtained depicting a scene over a period of time. Elements in the set of imaging information are distinguished and attributes of the elements in the set of image information are examined. Imaging information is selected from the set of imaging information depicting each element with the selection being made according to the attributes for that element. A group image is formed based upon the set of imaging information with the archival image incorporating the selected image information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for forming a group image, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a set of imaging information depicting a scene over a period of time;    distinguishing elements in the set of image information;    examining attributes of the elements in the set of image information;    selecting imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element, with the selection being made according to the attributes for that element; and,    forming a group image based upon the set of imaging information with the group image incorporating the selected image information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of examining attributes of the elements comprises comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to a template for that element.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of examining attributes of the elements comprises obtaining an input identifying preferred attributes for an element and comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to the preferred attributes.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of examining attributes of the elements comprises comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to a template for that element and determining a score based upon the comparison.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the scores are compared to a threshold and, further comprising the step of obtaining imaging information for the element from a source other than the set of imaging information when no score meets the threshold.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of determining a preferred expression and wherein scores are based upon correspondence of facial features of elements with the preferred expression.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of examining attributes of the elements comprises comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to a template for that element, wherein the attributes for the element are examined based upon a preferred expression for the group image.  
     
     
         8 . A method for forming an image, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a set of imaging information depicting a scene over a period of time;    providing a base image based upon the set of image information;    identifying elements in the base image,    ordering portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element;    selecting imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element according to the ordering; and,    forming an image based upon the set of imaging information with the image incorporating the selected image information.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of providing a base image comprises automatically selecting an image from the set of image information.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of providing a base image comprises receiving a manual input selecting the base image.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of ordering the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element is based at least in part upon a user input.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of ordering the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element is based at least in part upon user inputs from more than one user.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of ordering the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element comprises comparing the appearance of the imaging information depicting each of the elements to a template over the period of time that the element is depicted in the set of imaging information and ordering the imaging information associated with the element over the set of imaging information based upon the attributes for the element.  
     
     
         14 . A method for forming an image comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining images of a scene at different times;    identifying elements the images;    determining attributes of each of the elements in each of the images;    determining for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes; and,    preparing an image of the scene with each element having an appearance that corresponds to the appearance of the element in the image that shows the preferred attributes for the element.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the images contain a group of more than one person and wherein the step of determining for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes comprises soliciting an input from each person indicating a preferred attribute for elements associated with that person.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the images contain a group of more than one element and wherein the step of determining for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes comprises the steps of transmitting imaging information including imaging information depicting the appearance of the elements over the set of imaging information for review and receiving a response from users having authority to provide attribute preference information.  
     
     
         17 . A computer program product having data stored thereon for causing an imaging system to perform a method of forming a group image, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a set of imaging information depicting a scene over a period of time;    distinguishing elements in the set of image information;    examining attributes of the elements in the set of image information;    selecting imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element, with the selection being made according to the attributes for that element; and,    forming a group image based upon the set of imaging information with the group image incorporating the selected image information.    
     
     
         18 . A computer program product having data stored thereon for causing an imaging system to perform a method for forming an image, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a set of imaging information depicting a scene over a period of time;    providing a base image based upon the set of image information;    identifying elements in the base image,    ordering the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element;    selecting imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element according to the ordering; and,    forming an image based upon the set of imaging information with the image incorporating the selected image information.    
     
     
         19 . A computer program product having data stored thereon for causing an imaging system to perform a method for forming a group image, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining images of a scene at different times;    identifying elements in the images;    determining attributes of each of the elements in each of the images;    determining for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes; and,    preparing an image of the scene with each element having an appearance that corresponds to the appearance of the element in the image that shows the preferred attributes for the element.    
     
     
         20 . An imaging system comprising: 
 a source of a set of image information; and    a signal processor adapted to receive the set of image information, identify elements in the set of image information, to distinguish elements in the set of image information, and to examine the attributes of the elements in the set of image information;    wherein the signal processor is further adapted to select imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element, with the selection being made according to the attributes for that element; and, to form a group image based upon the set of imaging information with the archival image incorporating the selected image information.    
     
     
         21 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , wherein the source of a set of image information comprises an image capture system for capturing the set of image information.  
     
     
         22 . The imaging system of  claim 20  wherein the source of image information comprises a scanner for obtaining imaging information from film, paper or other tangible medium of expression.  
     
     
         23 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , further comprising a communication module for obtaining the set of imaging information from a separate source.  
     
     
         24 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , further comprising a display adapted to present the set of imaging information and a user input adapted to receive input that can be used to identify preferred attributes for each element and wherein the signal processor examines attributes of the elements by obtaining an input identifying imaging information for an element having preferred attributes and by comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with elements to the preferred attributes.  
     
     
         25 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , further comprising a remote imaging system said remote imaging system having a remote communication module adapted to receive imaging information from the set of imaging information and to provide feedback to the signal process that the signal processor can use to select image information.  
     
     
         26 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , wherein the signal processor examines attributes of the elements by comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to a template for that element.  
     
     
         27 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , wherein the signal processor examines attributes of the elements by comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to a template for that element and determining a score based upon the comparison.  
     
     
         28 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , wherein the imaging system comprises a communication module and the signal processor compares the scores to a threshold and uses the communication module to obtain imaging information for the element from a different source when no score meets the threshold.  
     
     
         29 . The imaging system of  claim 20 , wherein the step of examining attributes of the elements comprises comparing the portions of the set of imaging information associated with the element to a template for that element, wherein the attribute for the element is analyzed based upon a mood setting for the group image.  
     
     
         30 . An imaging system comprising: 
 a source of a set of image information;    a signal processor adapted to obtain a set of imaging information depicting a scene over a period of time, to provide a base image based upon the set of imaging information to identify elements in the base image, and to order the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element, wherein the processor selects imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element according to the ordering; and forms an archival image based upon the set of imaging information with the archival image incorporating the selected image information.    
     
     
         31 . The imaging system of  claim 30 , wherein the signal processor automatically selects a base image from the set of image information.  
     
     
         32 . The imaging system of  claim 30 , further comprising a display for presenting the set of imaging information and a user input adapted to receive an input selecting a base image from the set of image information.  
     
     
         33 . The imaging system of  claim 30 , further comprising a user input, wherein the signal processor orders the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element based at least in part upon a user input.  
     
     
         34 . The imaging system of  claim 30 , further comprising a user input, wherein the signal processor orders the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element based at least in part upon inputs from more than one user.  
     
     
         35 . The imaging system of  claim 30 , wherein the signal processor orders the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element by comparing the appearance of the imaging information depicting each of the elements to a template over the period of time that the element is depicted in the set of imaging information and ordering the imaging information associated with the element over the set of imaging information based upon the attributes for the element.  
     
     
         36 . An imaging system comprising: 
 a source of a images of a scene captured at different times;    a signal processor adapted to obtain images from the source, to identify elements in the images, to determine attributes of each of the elements in each of the images and to determine for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes wherein the signal processor prepares an image of the scene with each element having an appearance that corresponds to the appearance of the element in the image that shows the preferred attributes for the element.    
     
     
         37 . The imaging system of  claim 36 , further comprising a display and a user input, wherein the images contain more than one person and wherein the step of determining for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes comprises using the display and user input to solicit an input from at least one person indicating a preferred attribute for at least one element.  
     
     
         38 . The imaging system of  claim 36 , wherein the images contain a group of more than one element and wherein the step of determining for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes comprises the steps of transmitting imaging information including imaging information depicting the appearance of the elements over the set of imaging information for review and receiving a response from users having authority to provide attribute preference information.  
     
     
         39 . The imaging system of  claim 36  wherein the source of the set of image information comprises a scanning system.  
     
     
         40 . The imaging system of  claim 36  wherein the source of the set of image information comprises an image capture system adapted to capture imaging information from a scene.  
     
     
         41 . The imaging system of  claim 36  wherein the source of the set of image information comprises a communication module.  
     
     
         42 . The imaging system of  claim 36  further comprising a memory interface adapted to receive a removable memory and the source of the set of image information comprises a removable memory stored in the memory interface.