Method and system for organizing image files based upon workflow

• US 20060212455A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Hong, Wang, James H., Parlin, David R., Gilmore, Michael J., Dart, Scott E., Perry, Benjamin L., Doerr, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US11/079,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212455A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

Methods and systems that permit a user to associate metadata representing one or more workflow-related actions with an image file are provided. Workflow-related actions describe one or more actions which may be undertaken with respect to the associated image file. For instance, workflow-related actions may include, by way of example only, printing, editing, reviewing, sharing, deleting, and the like. Once associated with metadata representing one or more workflow-related actions, the image file may be retrieved based upon a query for at least one of the workflow-related actions. If more than one workflow-related action is represented in the metadata associated with the image file, the image file may be retrieved based upon a query for each workflow-related action individually or multiple workflow-related actions concurrently.

Claims

1. A method for organizing image files based upon workflow, comprising:

receiving at least one image file;

obtaining metadata to be associated with the at least one image file, the metadata representing a workflow-related action; and

storing the at least one image file in association with the metadata.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one image file comprises receiving at least one photograph.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining metadata to be associated with the at least one image file comprises receiving the metadata via user input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining metadata to be associated with the at least one image file comprises obtaining metadata representing a plurality of workflow-related actions.

5. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing a query indicative of the workflow-related action; and

displaying the at least one image file in response thereto.

7. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 6.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining an indication that the metadata is to be disassociated from the at least one image file; and

disassociating the metadata from the at least one image file.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining an indication that the metadata is to be disassociated from the at least one image file comprises receiving the indication via user input.

10. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:

a first field containing data representing a first image file; and

a second field containing metadata representing a workflow-related action capable of being associated with the data representing the first image file.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the first field of the data structure contains data representing a first photograph.

12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the first field further contains data representing a second image file, and wherein the metadata representing the workflow-related action contained in the second field is capable of being associated with the data representing the first image file and the data representing the second image file.

13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the second field further contains data representing a plurality of workflow-related actions each of which is capable of being associated with the data representing the first image file.

14. A user interface for organizing image files based upon workflow, comprising:

an image file indicator display area configured to display a selectable image file indicator; and

a workflow-related indicator display area configured to display a selectable workflow-related indicator capable of being associated with the selectable image file indicator.

15. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the image file indicator display area is configured to display a selectable photograph indicator.

16. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising a control for associating the selectable workflow-related indicator with the selectable image file indicator.

17. The user interface of claim 15, wherein the control associates the selectable workflow-related indicator with the selectable image file indicator in response to user input.

18. The user interface of claim 14, wherein if the workflow-related indicator is associated with the image file indicator, the image file indicator display area is further configured to display the selectable image file indicator in association the selectable workflow-related indicator.

19. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the workflow-related indicator display area is further configured to display a plurality of selectable workflow-related indicators capable of being associated with the selectable image file indicator.

20. The user interface of claim 19, wherein if one or more of the plurality of workflow-related indicators is associated with the image file indicator, the image file indicator display area is further configured to display the selectable image file indicator in association with each of the plurality of workflow-related indicators associated therewith.