System and method for determining position of a device

摘要

A system and method is provided for determining the location of a device based on image of objects captured by the device. In one aspect, an interior space includes a plurality of objects having discernable visual characteristics disposed throughout the space. The device captures an image containing one or more of the objects and identifies the portions of the image associated with the objects based on the visual characteristics. The visual appearance of the objects may also be used to determine the distance of the object to other objects or relative to a reference point. Based on the foregoing and the size and shape of the image portion occupied by the object, such as the height of an edge or its surface area, relative to another object or a reference, the device may calculate its location.

主权项

1. A method of determining a location of a camera within an interior space comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, a first image captured by the camera; identifying, by the one or more processors, two different portions of the first image associated with a first object and a second object within the space, wherein the first object defines a first contiguous surface extending to a first edge and the second object defines a second contiguous surface extending to a second edge, and wherein the portions are identified by comparing visual characteristics of the portions with visual characteristics known to be associated with each of the first and second objects; identifying, by the one or more processors, based on visual information contained within the portions of the first image displaying the first and second objects, a distance between the first edge of the first object and the second edge of the second object; determining, by the one or more processors, a first location of the camera based on a comparison of the sizes and shapes of the portions of the first image associated with the first and second objects and the distance between the first edge of the first object and the second edge of the second object; providing, by the one or more processors, information based on the first location of the camera; receiving, by the one or more processors, a second image captured by the camera, the second image having at least one portion associated with at least one object, wherein the at least one object is smaller in size than the first and second objects; determining, by the one or more processors, a second location of the camera based at least on visual information contained within the at least one portion, the second location being more precise than the first location; and providing, by the one or more processors, information based on the second location of the camera.