Systems and methods for suggesting meta-information to a camera user

• US 20040174434A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US10/740,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.3
• 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: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3229 further additional information (metadata) being comprised in the file name (including path, e.g. directory or folder names at one or more higher hierarchical levels)
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a camera captures an image. The image is transmitted to a server for image recognition processing. The camera receives information from the server, including an indication of information to suggest to a user for meta-tagging the image. The suggested information may be based, for example, on a comparison of the image with meta-information stored by the server and/or a database of stored images. The camera asks the user if the user would like to meta-tag the image with the information. Optionally, the camera receives an indication from the user that the user would like to meta-tag the image with the suggested information, and the camera meta-tags the image with the information.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

means for recording an image;

means for transmitting the image to a remote computer for determining at least one question based on the image;

means for receiving from the remote computer an indication of at least one question; and

means for outputting to a user a representation of the at least one question.

2. A method comprising:

recording an image;

transmitting the image to a remote computer for determining at least one question based on the image;

receiving from the remote computer an indication of at least one question; and

outputting to a user a representation of the at least one question.

3. A camera comprising:

means for capturing an image;

means for transmitting the image to a remote computer for determining at least one meta-tag based on the image and a database of images, each respective image of the database of images having at least one associated meta-tag;

means for receiving an indication of a meta-tag from the remote computer; and

means for receiving an instruction from a user to associate the meta-tag with the image.

4. A camera comprising:

means for recording an image;

means for transmitting wirelessly at least a portion of the image to a remote computer;

means for receiving from the remote computer an indication of a question to provide to a user, the question including an indication of at least one meta-tag determined by the remote computer;

means for transmitting the question to the user;

means for receiving a response to the question from the user; and

means for associating at least one of the at least one meta-tag based on the response.

5. A camera comprising:

means for receiving a meta-tag from a remote computer; and

means for associating the meta-tag with at least one image.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, at a camera, a meta-tag from a remote computer; and

associating, by the camera, the meta-tag with at least one image.

7. A camera comprising:

means for receiving a first meta-tag and a second meta-tag from a remote computer; and

means for receiving from a user a request to associate at least one of the first meta-tag and the second meta-tag with at least one image.

8. A camera comprising:

means for transmitting to a user an indication of a first meta-tag received from a remote computer and an indication of a second meta-tag received from the remote computer;

means for receiving an indication of a selection by the user of at least one of the first meta-tag and the second meta-tag; and

means for modifying meta-data of at least one image based on the selection.

9. A device comprising:

means for recording a first digital image;

means for transmitting the first digital image to a remote computer for comparison with at least one second digital image;

means for receiving from the remote computer at least one image category based on the comparison; and

means for associating the at least one image category with the first digital image.

10. A method comprising:

outputting a question to a user;

receiving a response to the question from the user;

storing an indication of the response;

determining an expiration condition;

associating the expiration condition with the response;

determining if the expiration condition has occurred; and

adjusting at least one camera setting if the expiration condition has occurred.