Picture database graphical user interface utilizing map-based metaphors for efficient browsing and retrieving of pictures

• US 20020075329A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Beaudet, Douglas B., Prabhu, Prasad V., Rosenzweig, Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 6,883,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

In contrast to prior art picture database browsing and retrieving methods which require the tedious opening and perusing of directories, folders and files, the present-inventive graphical user interface system (500) and method produces several display levels (100, 200, 300, 400) of user-friendly geographical/map metaphors from picture metadata with picture icons (116, 216, 316) representing pictures captured at locations on maps. The characteristics of the display levels (100, 200, 300, 400) are programmable by the user. In the preferred embodiment, the size of the picture icons (116, 216, 316) is proportional to the number of pictures captured at the icon location. Further features of the present-inventive graphical user interface (GUI) include a “tool tip” which appears indicating the number of pictures represented by a picture icon (116, 216, 316), when the screen cursor is placed over the picture icon (116, 216, 316). In an example according to the present-inventive GUI, the first display level (100) includes a world map metaphor (114) with picture icons (116) located at the global capture locations of the pictures in the picture database. Each additional display level (200, 300, 400) provides greater geographic specificity of the picture capture locations. Such additional display levels include continent or country of capture (200), state or territory of capture (300), and city or town of capture (400), etc., with the last display level including thumbnail representations (430-448) of the pictures captured at the specified capture locations.

Claims

1. A method for browsing and retrieving pictures in a picture database via a graphical user interface (GUI), said method comprising the steps of:

capturing a digital image;

receiving position information in the form of metadata corresponding to a geographical location where said digital image is captured;

storing digital images and associated metadata in said picture database;

generating a main display level having a first geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said first geographical metaphor; and

generating at least a second display level linked to said main display level, said second display level having a second geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said first geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said second geographical metaphor.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein said second display level is generated via activating a picture icon in said main display level.

3. The method in claim 1, wherein the relative size of said picture icons is proportional to the number of pictures captured at the locations on the geographical metaphor where said picture icons are placed.

4. The method in claim 1, wherein the geographic specificity of each display level is configurable by a user.

5. The method in claim 1, wherein said metadata further comprises temporal capture information.

6. The method in claim 5, wherein the temporal specificity of each display level is configurable by a user.

7. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating an additional display level comprising thumbnail representations of the pictures corresponding to icons in said second display level.

8. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating a third display level linked to said second display level, said third display level having a third geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said second geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said third geographical metaphor.

9. The method in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

generating a fourth display level linked to said third display level, said fourth display level having a fourth geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said third geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said fourth geographical metaphor.

10. The method in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

generating a fifth display level linked to said fourth display level, said fifth display level having a fifth geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said fourth geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said fifth geographical metaphor.

11. The method in claim 1, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map.

12. The method in claim 1, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, and said second geographical metaphor is a continent map.

13. The method in claim 1, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, and said second geographical metaphor is a country map.

14. The method in claim 8, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, said second geographical metaphor is a continent/country map, and said third geographical metaphor is a state/territory map.

15. The method in claim 9, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, said second geographical metaphor is a continent/country map, said third geographical metaphor is a state/territory map, and said fourth geographical metaphor is a city/town map.

17. The system in claim 16, wherein said second display generator is triggered via activating a picture icon in said main display level.

18. The system in claim 16, wherein the relative size of said picture icons is proportional to the number of pictures captured at the locations on the geographical metaphor where said picture icons are placed.

19. The system in claim 16, wherein the geographic specificity of each display level is configurable by a user.

20. The system in claim 16, wherein said metadata further comprises temporal capture information.

21. The system in claim 20, wherein the temporal specificity of each display level is configurable by a user.

22. The system in claim 16, further comprising:

an additional display generator adapted to generate an additional display level comprising thumbnail representations of the pictures corresponding to icons in said second display level.

23. The system in claim 16, further comprising:

a third display generator adapted to generate a third display level linked to said second display level, said third display level having a third geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said second geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said third geographical metaphor.

24. The system in claim 23, further comprising:

a fourth display generator adapted to generate a fourth display level linked to said third display level, said fourth display level having a fourth geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said third geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said fourth geographical metaphor.

25. The system in claim 24, further comprising:

a fifth display generator adapted to generate a fifth display level linked to said fourth display level, said fifth display level having a fifth geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said fourth geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said fifth geographical metaphor.

26. The system in claim 16, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map.

27. The system in claim 16, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, and said second geographical metaphor is a continent map.

28. The system in claim 16, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, and said second geographical metaphor is a country map.

29. The system in claim 23, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, said second geographical metaphor is a continent/country map, and said third geographical metaphor is a state/territory map.

30. The system in claim 24, wherein said first geographical metaphor is a world map, said second geographical metaphor is a continent/country map, said third geographical metaphor is a state/territory map, and said fourth geographical metaphor is a city/town map.

16. A graphical user interface (GUI) system adapted for browsing and retrieving pictures in a picture database, said system comprising:

memory adapted to store digital images and associated metadata corresponding to capture location in said picture database;

a main display level generator adapted to generate a main display level having a first geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said first geographical metaphor; and

a second display generator adapted to generate a second display level linked to said main display level, said second display level having a second geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said first geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon corresponding to a group of pictures in said picture database captured at a specific location in said second geographical metaphor.