Systems and methods for automatic image capture on a mobile device

Abstract

Real-time evaluation of high quality preview images of a document prior to capturing a final image of the document on a mobile device is disclosed. In one aspect, an image capture device is activated on the mobile device. A plurality of preview images of the document is then captured, each of which has a lower image quality than a final image to be captured by the image capture device. Next, for each of the plurality of preview images, the system measures a parameter associated with the image capturing. Next, the system selects a preview image among a subset of the captured preview images when the value of the at least one parameter meets a threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of capturing and processing an image of a document on a mobile device, comprising:
 activating an image capture device on the mobile device;
 displaying a plurality of preview frames received from the image capture device in real time on a display of the mobile device, wherein the image capture device captures each of the plurality of preview frames with a lower image quality than an image quality associated with the image capture device capturing a final image frame; 
 for each of the plurality of preview frames, measuring at least one parameter related to the image capture process with the mobile device; and 
 selecting a preview frame as a final selected image frame among a subset of the plurality of preview frames when the value of the at least one parameter meets a threshold value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying visual feedback related to the at least one parameter on the display, wherein the visual feedback includes a rectangular outline configured to match a ratio of length to width of the document. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the visual feedback includes a color-changing graphic which changes color as the value of the at least one parameter becomes closer to a threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the size of the rectangular outline corresponds to a threshold size of the document needed before the at least one image can be captured. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the size of the rectangular outline corresponds to a threshold size of the document needed before the at least one image can be captured. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rectangular outline changes color when edges of the document fit within the rectangular outline. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular outline changes color when edges of the document fit within the rectangular outline. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular outline animates when edges of the document fit within the rectangular outline. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying visual feedback including a rectangular outline related to the at least one parameter on the display, wherein the visual feedback includes a rectangular outline configured to match a ratio of length to width of the document, and wherein the rectangular outline animates when edges of the document fit within the rectangular outline. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter includes a brightness level of the preview frames of the document. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising activating a flash on the mobile device if the brightness level of the preview frames does not meet the threshold level. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising detecting a level of image quality of the preview frames in real time using an edge detection algorithm.