Guided Photography and Video On A Mobile Device

Abstract

In an example embodiment, an item listing process is run in an item listing application. Upon reaching a specified point in the item listing process, a camera application on the user device is triggered (or the camera directly accessed by the item listing application) to enable a user to capture images using the camera, wherein the triggering includes providing an overlay informing the user as to an angle at which to capture images from the camera.

1 . A method comprising:
 displaying image data captured by a computing device on a display of the computing device;   displaying an overlay and instructions for aligning an item depicted in the image data with the overlay on the display of the computing device;   displaying additional instructions on the display of the computing device for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay in response to the item depicted in the image data not being properly positioned in relation to the overlay; and   capturing an image of the item while the item is aligned with the overlay displayed on the display of the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image data comprises a video and capturing the image of the item while the item is aligned with the overlay displayed on the display of the computing device comprises extracting the image of the item from the video. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the overlay comprises a wireframe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions and the additional instructions are text instructions displayed on the display of the computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional instructions specify a direction for moving one of the computing device or the item to properly position the item in relation to the overlay. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional instructions indicate that the computing device should be rotated to properly position the item in relation to the overlay. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay on the display of the computing device include instructions to ensure proper lighting. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay on the display of the computing device include instructions to ensure proper sharpness. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 displaying image data captured by a computing device on a display of the computing device; 
 displaying an overlay and instructions for aligning an item depicted in the image data with the overlay on the display of the computing device; 
 displaying additional instructions on the display of the computing device for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay in response to the item depicted in the image data not being properly positioned in relation to the overlay; and 
 capturing an image of the item while the item is aligned with the overlay displayed on the display of the computing device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the image data comprises a video and capturing the image of the item while the item is aligned with the overlay displayed on the display of the computing device comprises extracting the image of the item from the video. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the overlay comprises a wireframe. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions and the additional instructions are text instructions displayed on the display of the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the additional instructions specify a direction for moving one of the computing device or the item to properly position the item in relation to the overlay. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the additional instructions indicate that the computing device should be rotated to properly position the item in relation to the overlay. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay on the display of the computing device include instructions to ensure proper lighting. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay on the display of the computing device include instructions to ensure proper sharpness. 
     
     
         17 . A mobile computing device comprising:
 a display;   a camera;   at least one processor; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 displaying, on the display, image data captured by the camera; 
 displaying, on the display, an overlay and instructions for aligning an item depicted in the image data with the overlay; 
 displaying, on the display, additional instructions for aligning the item depicted in the image data with the overlay in response to the item depicted in the image data not being properly positioned in relation to the overlay; and 
 capturing, using the camera, an image of the item while the item is aligned with the overlay displayed on the display. 
   
     
     
         18 . The mobile computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the image data comprises a video and capturing the image of the item while the item is aligned with the overlay displayed on the display comprises extracting the image of the item from the video. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the overlay comprises a wireframe. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions and the additional instructions are text instructions displayed on the display.