Method and apparatus for identifying a digital image and for accessing the digital image over a network

• US 20030131002A1
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Goris, Andrew C., Gennetten, K. Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/041,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00169 Digital image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed that comprises the steps of acquiring a digital image, and automatically assigning an identifier to the digital image. The identifier allows the digital image to be accessed over a network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

acquiring a digital image; and

automatically assigning an identifier to said digital image, said identifier allowing said digital image to be accessed over a network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring a digital image comprises using a digital image capture device to capture said digital image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said digital image capture device automatically assigns said identifier to said digital image.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said identifier is based on said digital image capture device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising using said identifier to access said digital image at said digital image capture device over said network.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transferring said digital image from said digital image capture device to a network device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said network device automatically assigns said identifier to said digital image.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising using said identifier to access said digital image at said network device over said network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifier comprises a permanent unique uniform resource locator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically assigning said identifier to said digital image comprises using Internet Protocol version 6 or a later version thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing said identifier in a computer readable file.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said computer readable file is based on a markup language.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising referencing said digital image in an object-oriented manner over said network.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying a format for said digital image; and

formatting said digital image so that said digital image is in said format when said digital image is accessed over said network.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising allowing a user to specify said format.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein specifying a format for said digital comprises adding an extension to said identifier.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a domain name; and

converting said domain name to an Internet Protocol address, at least a portion of said identifier comprising said Internet Protocol address.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said identifier is based on information provided by a user.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking said digital image.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising sharing said identifier to share said digital image.

21. Apparatus, comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media;

computer readable program code stored on said one or more computer readable storage media, comprising;

program code for acquiring a digital image; and

program code for automatically assigning an identifier to said digital image, said identifier allowing said digital image to be accessed over a network.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises program code for referencing said digital image in an object-oriented manner over said network.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said program code for automatically assigning an identifier to said digital image comprises program code for assigning a permanent unique uniform resource locator to said digital image.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said program code for automatically assigning an identifier to said digital image comprises program code for using Internet Protocol version 6.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises program code for using said identifier to access said digital image over said network.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises:

program code for specifying a format for said digital image; and

program code for formatting said digital image so that said digital image is in said format when said digital image is accessed over said network.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said program code for specifying a format for said digital image comprises program code for allowing a user to specify said format.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said identifier is based on information provided by a user.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said identifier is based on a digital image capture device that captured said digital image.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises program code for tracking said digital image.

31. Apparatus, comprising:

first means for acquiring a digital image; and

second means for automatically assigning to said digital image third means for allowing said digital image to be accessed over a network;

said third means being permanent and unique.

32. A method, comprising:

acquiring a digital image with a digital image capture device;

automatically assigning an identifier to said digital image, said identifier allowing said digital image to be accessed over a network; and

wherein said digital image capture device automatically assigns said identifier to said digital image.

33. A method, comprising:

acquiring a digital image; and

automatically assigning a permanent unique identifier to said digital image, said permanent unique identifier allowing said digital image to be accessed over a network.