Method and system for accessing a collection of images in a database

• US 20030084065A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Ho John, Gargi, Ullas, Lin, Qian
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• 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 16/587 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for accessing a collection of images in a database. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the images is sorted into one of a plurality of time-based clusters. A weighted quality metric is used to assign to each image a quality number as a function of an image analysis heuristic. A representative image is automatically selected from each time-based cluster based on the quality number.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a collection of images in a database, comprising the steps of:

sorting each of the images into one of a plurality of time-based clusters;

using a weighted quality metric to assign to each image a quality number as a function of an image analysis heuristic; and

automatically selecting a representative image from each time-based cluster based on the quality number.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a contextual information database for the images; and

accessing the contextual information database to determine the quality number for each image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the contextual information database stores at least one attribute of image use for each of the images.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of accessing comprises the steps of:

updating the contextual information database when at least one attribute of image use changes for at least one of the images;

updating the weighted quality metric corresponding to the at least one of the images using the updated contextual information database; and

updating the quality number for the at least one of the images using the updated weighted quality metric.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting comprises the steps of:

selecting a time scale within which to view the images;

automatically selecting the representative image from each time-based cluster associated with the selected time scale; and

displaying the representative image within the selected time scale.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of displaying comprises the step of:

hierarchically ordering each representative image of each time-based cluster within the selected time scale based on at least one of time and the quality number.

7. A system for accessing a collection of images in a database, comprising:

a memory that stores the steps of a computer program to;

sort each of the images into one of a plurality of time-based clusters,

use a weighted quality metric to assign to each image a quality number as a function of an image analysis heuristic, and

automatically select a representative image from each time-based cluster based on the quality number; and

a processor for accessing the memory to execute the computer program.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory stores steps of a computer program to:

select a time scale within which to view the images;

automatically select the representative image from each time-based cluster associated with the selected time scale; and

display the representative image within the selected time scale.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory stores steps of a computer program to:

maintain a contextual information database for the images; and

access the contextual information database to determine the quality number for each image.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the contextual information database stores at least one attribute of image use for each of the images.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory stores steps of a computer program to:

update the contextual information database when at least one attribute of image use changes for at least one of the images;

update the weighted quality metric corresponding to the at least one of the images using the updated contextual information database; and

update the quality number for the at least one of the images using the updated weighted quality metric.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory stores steps of a computer program to:

hierarchically order each representative image of each time-based cluster within the selected time scale based on at least one of time and the quality number.

13. A computer-readable medium containing a computer program that performs the steps of:

sorting each of the images into one of a plurality of time-based clusters;

using a weighted quality metric to assign to each image a quality number as a function of an image analysis heuristic; and

automatically selecting a representative image from each time-based cluster based on the quality number.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program performs the steps of:

selecting a time scale within which to view the images;

automatically selecting the representative image from each time-based cluster associated with the selected time scale; and

displaying the representative image within the selected time scale.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program performs the steps of:

maintaining a contextual information database for the images; and

accessing the contextual information database to determine the quality number for each image.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the contextual information database stores at least one attribute of image use for each of the images.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program performs the steps of:

updating the contextual information database when at least one attribute of image use changes for at least one of the images;

updating the weighted quality metric corresponding to the at least one of the images using the updated contextual information database; and

updating the quality number for the at least one of the images using the updated weighted quality metric.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the computer program performs the step of:

hierarchically ordering each representative image of each time-based cluster within the selected time scale based on at least one of time and the quality number.