Google Patent | Leading Edge Detection, Rotation, and Occlusion of Space Between Neighboring Image Pairs of a Set of Images
Publication Number: 20180330429
Publication Date: 2018-11-15
Applicants: Google Inc.
Abstract
A user accesses a recommendation website and selects an item from the website. A recommendation application searches for associated items, selects a set of items, and transmits the set to the layout application. A layout application identifies the images by category, creates a virtual presentation space, and positions the images within component sections of the virtual presentation space. The layout application modifies the position of, proportionally resizes, and rotates the component sections based on categorical constraints. To rotate each component section, neighboring component sections are detected, the component sections are grouped, the leading edges are detected between images, the neighboring component sections are positioned so that leading edges of the images are parallel, overlapping empty space is occluded, and the component section pair is jointly rotated. The virtual presentation space is scored and subsequent virtual presentation spaces are created. The best-scored virtual presentation space is displayed on the website.
BACKGROUND
When a user selects an item for purchase from an online merchant via a user device, a recommendation engine may show a set of recommended items based on the user selection. Advertisers may desire that the images of the recommended items be displayed in a visually appealing manner, for example, in a collage format.
Conventional technology does not provide for the detection of leading edges of objects within images and the alignment of the leading edges through rotation according to categorical rules.
SUMMARY
In certain example aspects described herein, a computer-implemented method to create and display a virtual presentation space comprising recommended items in response to a user selection is provided. The user accesses a recommendation website and the user selects an item from the website. The recommendation application searches for associated items, selects a set of items, and transmits the set of items to the layout application, which receives the set of items. The layout application identifies the images by category, creates a virtual presentation space, and positions the images within component sections of the virtual presentation space. The layout application modifies the position of the component sections based on categorical constraints. The layout application proportionally resizes the component sections based on categorical constraints.
The layout application rotates the component sections: each component section comprising an image is selected, neighboring component sections comprising images are detected, the component section is grouped with the neighboring component section, the leading edges are detected between images in the neighboring component sections, the neighboring component sections are positioned so that leading edges of the images within the component sections are parallel, overlapping empty space is occluded, and the component section pair is jointly rotated based on categorical rules. The virtual presentation space is scored based on conformity with categorical constraints and subsequent virtual presentation spaces are created, scored, and stored. The virtual presentation space with the best score is displayed on the website for the user.
In certain other example aspects described herein, a system and a computer program product to create and display a virtual presentation space comprising recommended items in response to a user selection are provided.
These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the example embodiments will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated example embodiments.
