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Composite imaging method and systemComposite imaging method and system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070182829, Composite imaging method and system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/431,057, filed May 7, 2003. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to imaging systems and more particularly to imaging systems that are adapted to form images having multiple objects therein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Professional and amateur photographers often capture images of groups of people such as images of families and athletic teams. Such group images are typically used for commemorative purposes. A common problem with such group images is that often one or more members of the group will have an appearance at the time that the group image is captured that the member does not prefer. For example, group members can blink, look away, make a comment or otherwise compose their facial attributes in a non-preferable way. Similar problems can occur whenever images are captured that include more than one element. Examples of such elements include people, as described above, animals, objects, areas such as a background of a scene, and/or any other photographic subject that can change over time. Typically, photographers address this problem by capturing multiple images of the group of elements and selecting from the multiple images a group image that shows all of the elements in the group image having a generally acceptable appearance. Even where this is done, it is often the case that one or more elements has a less than optimal appearance. [0004] Various forms of image editing software can be used to attempt to improve the appearance of elements in a group image. Such editing software typically includes automatic image correction algorithms that can resolve common image problems such as the so-called red-eye problem that can occur in images of people. See, for example, commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003-0053663 entitled "Method and Computer Program Products for Locating Facial Features" filed by Chen et al. on Nov. 26, 2001. Further, advanced users of such image editing software can use manual image editing tools such as Adobe PhotoShop.TM. software sold by Adobe Systems Inc., San Jose, Calif., USA, to manually alter images. It will be appreciated however, that the use of such image editing tools to correct a group image is time consuming and can yield results that have a less than authentic appearance. What is needed therefore is an imaging system and method that can effectively form optimal group images with an authentic appearance in a less time consuming manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] 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. [0006] In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming an image is provided. In accordance with this method, a set of imaging information is obtained depicting a scene over a period of time. A base image is provided based on the set of image information. Elements are identified in the base image and portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements are ordered according to an attribute of each element. Imaging information from the set of imaging information is selected depicting each element according to the ordering. An image is formed based upon the set of imaging information with the base image incorporating the selected image information. [0007] In still another aspect of the invention, a method for forming an image is provided. In accordance with this method, images of a scene are obtained at different times. Elements in the images are identified. Attributes for each of the elements in each of the images are determined and it is determined for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes. An image is prepared 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. [0008] In another aspect of the invention, a computer program product is provided having data stored thereon for causing an imaging system to perform a method 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. [0009] In another aspect of the invention, a computer program product is provided having data stored thereon for causing the imaging system to perform a method for forming an image. In accordance with this method, a set of imaging information is obtained depicting a scene over a period of time. A base image is provided based on the set of image information. Elements are identified in the base image and portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements are ordered according to an attribute of each element. Imaging information from the set of imaging information is selected depicting each element according to the ordering. An image is formed based upon the set of imaging information with the base image incorporating the selected image information. [0010] In another aspect of the invention, a computer program product is provided having data stored thereon for causing imaging system to perform a method for forming a group image. In accordance with this method, images of a scene are obtained at different times. Elements in the images are identified. Attributes for each of the elements in each of the images are determined and it is determined for each element which image shows the element having preferred attributes. An image is prepared 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. [0011] In another aspect of the invention, an imaging system is provided. The imaging system has a source of a set of image information and a signal processor adapted to receive the set of image information identified, to 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; to taking 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 group image incorporating the selected image information. [0012] In still another aspect of the invention, an imaging system is provided. In accordance with this aspect, the imaging system has a source of imaging information and a signal processor adapted to obtain a set of imaging information from the source of imaging information depicting a scene over a period of time. The signal processor provides a base image based upon the set of imaging information and identifies elements in the base image. The signal processor orders the portions of the set of imaging information depicting each of the elements according to an attribute of each element. The processor selects imaging information from the set of imaging information depicting each element according to the ordering and forms a group image incorporating the selected image information. [0013] In accordance with a further embodiment aspect of the invention, an imaging system is provided comprising a source of images of a scene captured at different times. The signal processor is adapted to obtain images from the source, to identify elements in the images, to determine attributes for each of the elements in each of the images and to determine for each element which image shows an 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a composite imaging system of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 shows a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for forming a group image in accordance with the present invention; [0017] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of objects and elements within an image; [0018] FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the use of a set of image information to form an image; [0019] FIG. 6 shows an illustration of the use of a desired facial expression or mood selection to influence the appearance of an image; Continue reading about Composite imaging method and system... Full patent description for Composite imaging method and system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Composite imaging method and system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Composite imaging method and system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Monitoring system for a photography unit, monitoring method, computer program, and storage medium Next Patent Application: Image sensing apparatus and image processing method Industry Class: Television ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Composite imaging method and system patent info. 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