# US 2021/0241444 A1 · Photography session assistant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241444 A1 - Document ID: US20210241444A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/171,914 - Filed: 2021-02-09 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-17 - Assignees: Shutterfly, Inc. - Applicants: Shutterfly, LLC - Inventors: Leo Cyrus; Keith Benson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241444A1 ## CPC - G06T 7/0002: {Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06V 40/103: {Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition} - G06V 40/174: {Facial expression recognition} - G06V 40/175: {Static expression} - H04N 5/222: Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment (cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00) - H04N 5/28: Mobile studios - G06T 2207/30168: Image quality inspection - G06T 2207/30201: Face - H04N 5/2628: {Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation} - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Devices and methods for conducting a remote photography session are described. In some instances, a computing device at a photography station receives messages from a photography station controller which is remote from the photography station. In some examples, the computing device receives one or more messages instructing the computing device to capture an image from an image capture device. The computing device can also receive one or more messages instructing the computing device to adjust the image capture device. Additionally, the messages may instruct the computing device to present instructions to a subject of the photography session. These instructions can prompt the subject to make adjustments to meet a criteria for a photograph in the photography session. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of instructing and capturing at least one photograph during a remote photography session at a photography station, the method comprising: establishing a communication channel with a computing device of a remote photography station, wherein the remote photography station further includes an image capture device; receiving live images of the remote photography station from the computing device; and generating and sending at least one message to the computing device over the communication channel instructing the computing device to capture an image using the image capture device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating and sending the at least one message to the computing device further instructs the computing device to make an adjustment of the image capture device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the adjustment of the image capture device further includes adjustment of at least one of: (1) a focus setting; (2) a zoom setting; and (3) an image capture device position setting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating and sending the at least one message to the computing device further instructs the computing device to play audible instructions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed using a software application simulating a photographer, the software application providing the audible instructions to the remote photography station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating and sending the at least one message to the computing device further instructs the computing device to display visual instructions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: establishing a video conferencing session with the computing device of the remote photography station. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: evaluating the live images based on at least one required criteria of a required photograph for the remote photography session; wherein evaluating the live images based on the at least one required criteria includes detecting at least one feature in the live images and associating the at least one feature with the at least one required criteria. ### Claim 9 A system for capturing at least one photograph during a remote photography session, the system comprising: a photography station controller including a first computing device; and a photography station remote from the photography station controller, the photography station including a second computing device and an image capture device; wherein the first computing device includes a non-transitory storage medium and at least one processor, the non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first computing device to: establish a communication channel with the second computing device; receive live images from the second computing device over the communication channel; and generate and send at least one message to the second computing device over the communication channel to instruct the second computing device to capture an image from the image capture device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one message sent to the second computing device further instructs the second computing device to make an adjustment of the image capture device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustment of the image capture device further includes adjustment of at least one of: (1) a focus setting; (2) a zoom setting; and (3) an image capture device position setting. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one message sent to the second computing device further instructs the second computing device to play audible instructions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one message sent to the second computing device further instructs the second computing device to display visual instructions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, the system further comprising: a first webcam, a first microphone, and a first speaker each in data communication with the first computing device; a second webcam, a second microphone, and a second speaker each in data communication with the second computing device; and wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor further cause the first computing device to: establish a video conferencing session with the second computing device of the remote photography station. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for remotely conducting a photography session at a photography station, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processor to: establish a communication channel with a computing device of the remote photography station, wherein the remote photography station includes an image capture device; receive live images of the remote photography station over the communication channel; and generate and send at least one message to the computing device over the communication channel to instruct the computing device to capture an image from the image capture device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one message sent to the computing device further instructs the computing device to make an adjustment of the image capture device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the adjustment of the image capture device further includes adjustment of at least one of: (1) a focus setting; (2) a zoom setting; and (3) an image capture device position setting. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one message sent to the computing device further instructs the computing device to play audible instructions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one message sent to the computing device further instructs the computing device to display visual instructions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the processor to: establish a video conferencing session with the computing device of the remote photography station.