Publishing and subscribing to digital image feeds

• US 20070159651A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ryan, Christopher, Fagans, Joshua, Robbin, Jeffrey, Disario, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

Techniques are provided for publishing digital image feeds, where the feeds are automatically created and uploaded to a server along with the images described in the feed, along with techniques for subscribing to digital image feeds, where the feed is downloaded and the images described therein are automatically downloaded and organized. The feeds may be subscribed to and automatically updated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of publishing a digital image feed, the method comprising:

receiving input selecting one or more digital image files;

receiving a request to publish a feed, the feed comprising a list of items corresponding to the digital image files selected for publication, the list including for each item in the list information related to properties of each digital image file; and

in response to the request, causing the feed and the digital image files to be uploaded to a server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the format is an XML compliant format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server is a node in a peer-to-peer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more digital image files belong to a collection of one or more digital image files.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising

receiving input selecting a collection of one or more digital image files;

receiving a request to publish a feed in a syndicated content format, the feed comprising a list of items corresponding to the digital image files in the selected collection; and

causing the feed and digital image files to be uploaded to a server.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting that the collection of digital image files has been modified;

publishing a feed in a syndicated content format, the feed comprising a list of items corresponding to the digital image files in the modified collection; and

causing the feed and digital image files to be uploaded to a server.

7. A computer-implemented method of publishing a digital image feed, the method comprising:

receiving input selecting a collection of one or more digital image files;

receiving a request to publish a first feed, the first feed comprising a list of items corresponding to the digital image files in the selected collection;

in response to the request, causing the first feed and the digital image files in the collection to be uploaded to a server;

after publishing the first feed, detecting that the collection of digital image files has been modified;

publishing a updated feed in a syndicated content format, the updated feed comprising a list of items corresponding to the digital image files in the modified collection; and

causing the updated feed and the digital image files in the collection to be uploaded to a server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the modification comprises adding digital images to the collection.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the modification comprises altering properties of one or more of the digital images in the collection.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the modification comprises deleting digital images from the collection

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the publishing is automatically initiated without user input.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving user input specifying whether the publishing of the modified collection is to be automatically initiated without user input.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the syndicated format is an XML compliant format.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the server is a node in a peer-to-peer network.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the feed comprises authentication information.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying a size for the images selected for publication; and

uploading the images at the specified size.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying a quality for the images selected for publication; and

uploading the images at the specified quality.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing user feedback, the feedback comprising the URL of the published feed.

19. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to user input, automatically creating an e-mail message comprising the URL of the published feed and the authentication information.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the updated feed and a subset of the digital image files in the collection are uploaded to a server.

21. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

uploading to the server a file, the file causing an identification to be made whether a client connected to the server possesses software compatible with a specific mode of operation; and

if a client possessing the compatible software connects to the server, causing the compatible software on the client to be executed.

22. A computer-implemented method of subscribing to a digital image feed, the method comprising:

subscribing to the feed;

receiving the feed responsive to a user request, the feed being on a server and comprising a list of items corresponding to digital image files;

downloading the digital image files listed in the feed; and

organizing the digital image files described by the feed into a collection.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the feed is automatically initiated without user input.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

automatically detecting that the feed on the server has been modified;

receiving the modified feed responsive to a user request; and

downloading the digital image files identified by the feed as being modified or new.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the feed is automatically initiated without user input.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the downloading of the digital image files is in response to a user request.

27. A computer-implemented method of subscribing to a digital image feed, the method comprising:

receiving a first input indicating the feed;

subscribing to the feed;

causing the digital image files listed in the feed to be downloaded from a server;

after first subscribing to the feed, automatically detecting that the feed on the server has been modified;

receiving the modified feed responsive to a user request, the modified feed being on a server and comprising a list of items corresponding to digital image files stored on a server; and

downloading the digital image files identified by the modified feed.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving the feed responsive to a user request, the feed being on a server and comprising a list of items corresponding to digital image files stored on a server.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising organizing the downloaded digital image files according to information in the feed.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising downloading only the digital image files identified by the modified feed as being new or altered since being originally downloaded.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the downloading of the digital image files is in response to a user request.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving the feed is automatically initiated without user input.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving the first input indicating the feed is initiated by clicking on a hyperlink directed to the feed.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving the first input indicating the feed is initiated by user input comprising a URL of the feed location.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the server is a node in a peer-to-peer network.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

organizing the digital images into a collection.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

causing feedback to be displayed, the feedback comprising a message that the subscribed feed has been modified.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the digital image files are downloaded in the background.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the automatic detection is performed by polling the feed at regular intervals.

40. A computer-implemented method of serving a digital image feed, the method comprising:

a server receiving;

a feed;

the digital images listed in the feed; and

a request to publish the feed; and

downloading the feed and the listed images to clients requesting a subscription to the feed.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the downloading is performed only if the client possesses a compatible application.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising automatic updating of the feed.