Method, apparatus, and computer program for generating albums

• US 20040064338A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shiota, Kazuo, Ase, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• 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 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• 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 1/2187 with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/918 Location
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Correlation between images and photography locations thereof is facilitated when generating an album of images photographed during a trip. Map data sets are stored in a storage means of an album generation support server. A user accesses the album generation support server from a personal computer to request album generation. Screens for transmitting image data sets and for prompting input of data that specifies a travel route are displayed at the personal computer. The user inputs data regarding a departure point, a departure time, a final destination, etc., and transmits the image data sets to the album generation support server. An album generation server generates travel route data representing the user'"'"'s travel route based on the input data, estimates locations along the travel route where the image data sets were photographed based on time data attached thereto, and generates album data by correlating the image data sets with a map.

Claims

1. A method for generating an album based on album data including at least one image data set, which has been photographed during a trip and which has time data representing a time of photography attached thereto, comprising the steps of:

obtaining travel route data, which includes data related to the route taken during the trip and times of passage through desired positions along the route;

obtaining a map data set that contains the route from a map database which stores a plurality of map data sets, based on the travel route data;

estimating a photography location based on the travel route data and the time data;

generating photography data which represents that the image data set was obtained at the photography location along the route;

attaching the photography data to the map data set; and

generating album data including the map data set, in which the photography data is correlated with the image data set.

2. A method for generating an album as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining related data, which is related to the photography location; and

generating album data, in which the related data is correlated with the map data set.

3. A method for generating an album as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the travel route data is obtained based at least on data regarding;

a departure point;

a final destination;

date and time of departure;

date and time of arrival at the final destination; and

method of travel.

4. A method for generating an album as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the map data set is obtained based also on user data of a user who generates the album.

5. An album generating apparatus that generates album data including at least one image data set, which has been photographed during a trip and which has time data representing a time of photography attached thereto, comprising:

travel route data obtaining means for obtaining travel route data, which includes data related to the route taken during the trip and times of passage through desired positions along the route;

map data set obtaining means for obtaining a map data set that contains the route from a map database which stores a plurality of map data sets, based on the travel route data;

photography location estimating means for estimating a photography location based on the travel route data and the time data;

photography data generating means for generating photography data which represents that the image data set was obtained at the photography location along the route;

photography data attaching means for attaching the photography data to the map data set; and

album data generating means for generating album data including the map data set, in which the photography data is correlated with the image data set.

6. An album generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the album data generating means further obtains related data, related to the photography location, and correlates the related data to the map data set.

7. An album generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the travel route data obtaining means obtains the travel route data based at least on data regarding;

a departure point;

a final destination;

date and time of departure;

date and time of arrival at the final destination; and

method of travel.

8. An album generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the map data set obtaining means obtains the map data set based also on user data of a user who generates the album.

9. A program that causes a computer to execute a method for generating an album based on album data including at least one image data set, which has been photographed during a trip and which has time data representing a time of photography attached thereto, the program comprising the procedures of:

obtaining travel route data, which includes data related to the route taken during the trip and times of passage through desired positions along the route;

obtaining a map data set that contains the route from a map database which stores a plurality of map data sets, based on the travel route data;

estimating a photography location based on the travel route data and the time data;

generating photography data which represents that the image data set was obtained at the photography location along the route;

attaching the photography data to the map data set; and

generating album data including the map data set, in which the photography data is correlated with the image data set.

10. A program as defined in claim 9, further comprising the procedure of:

obtaining related data, related to the photography location; and

wherein

the procedure for generating album data correlates the related data with the map data set.

11. A program as defined in claim 9, wherein:

the procedure for obtaining the travel route data obtains the travel route data based at least on data regarding;

a departure point;

a final destination;

date and time of departure;

date and time of arrival at the final destination; and

method of travel.

12. A program as defined in claim 9, wherein:

the procedure for obtaining the map data set obtains the map data set based also on user data of a user who generates the album.

13. A computer readable medium storing thereon a program that causes a computer to execute a method for generating an album based on album data including at least one image data set, which has been photographed during a trip and which has time data representing a time of photography attached thereto, the program comprising the procedures of:

obtaining travel route data, which includes data related to the route taken during the trip and times of passage through desired positions along the route;

obtaining a map data set that contains the route from a map database which stores a plurality of map data sets, based on the travel route data;

estimating a photography location based on the travel route data and the time data;

generating photography data which represents that the image data set was obtained at the photography location along the route;

attaching the photography data to the map data set; and

generating album data including the map data set, in which the photography data is correlated with the image data set.

14. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 13, wherein the program further comprises the procedure of:

obtaining related data, related to the photography location; and

wherein

the procedure for generating album data correlates the related data with the map data set.

15. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 13, wherein:

the procedure for obtaining the travel route data obtains the travel route data based at least on data regarding;

a departure point;

a final destination;

date and time of departure;

date and time of arrival at the final destination; and

method of travel.

16. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 13, wherein:

the procedure for obtaining the map data set obtains the map data set based also on user data of a user who generates the album.