Taxonometric personal digital media organization

• US 20080104114A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kasperkiewicz, Tomasz S.M., Peart, Benjamin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

Network-based and client-based operating environments implement computerized systems and techniques for organizing and discovering digital media objects originating from personal digital media sources. The association between a user-selected computer-usable descriptor and a particular digital media object serves as a semantic medium for exchange of information about the digital media object via a network, independent of whether the digital media object is registered with an established digital content sharing service. A user-selected computer-usable descriptor is part of one or more collections of such descriptors that are organized into published data structures having data elements corresponding to particular real-world meanings. Leveraging the consistent associations of computer-usable descriptors with the subject matter of personal digital media content within digital media objects enables the widespread and efficient computerized discovery of relevant digital media objects.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:

arranging for user selection of a computer-usable descriptor having an agreed-upon real-world meaning; and

associating the selected computer-usable descriptor with a digital media object including personal digital media content, the real-world meaning associated with the personal digital media content, the association serving as a semantic medium for exchange of information about the digital media object via a network, independent of whether the digital media object is registered with a personal digital media content sharing service.

2. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the digital media object is accessible via a personal digital media source selected from the group consisting of a computer, a digital media player, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile phone, and wherein the step of associating the selected computer-usable descriptor with the digital media object comprises tagging the stored digital with the selected computer-usable descriptor.

3. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element of a data structure having a plurality of data elements, each data element corresponding to a particular real-world meaning, the data structure accessible at a first processing location via a wide-area network.

4. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the first data structure comprises a hierarchically organized data structure.

5. The computer-readable medium according to claim 3, wherein the digital media object is accessible at a second processing location via the wide-area network, and wherein the step of associating the selected computer-usable descriptor with the digital media object comprises arranging for establishment of a hyperlink between the first processing location and the second processing location.

6. The computer-readable medium according to claim 3, wherein the step of arranging for user selection of a computer-usable descriptor further comprises:

arranging for presentation of a user interface to a user;

receiving user-input information via the user interface, the user-input information corresponding to subject matter of user-identified personal digital media content;

evaluating a relationship between the user-input information and the particular real-world meaning associated with at least one of the plurality of data elements of the data structure; and

based on the evaluation, arranging for identification of the first processing location via the user agent,

user selection of the computer-usable descriptor based on user review of the data structure.

7. The computer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the user-input information is selected from the group consisting of:

binary values;

numeric values;

string values; and

predetermined sets of values.

8. The computer-readable medium according to claim 6, further comprising:

based on the evaluation, determining that the computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element associated with a second data structure having a second plurality of data elements, each of the data elements of the second data structure corresponding to a particular real-world meaning, the second data structure accessible, via a wide-area network, at a different processing location than the first processing location,

user selection of the computer-usable descriptor based on user review of the second data structure.

9. The computer-readable medium according to claim 3, wherein the step of associating the selected computer-usable descriptor with a digital media object having personal digital media content comprises identifying a digital media object having a second computer-usable descriptor associated therewith, the second computer-usable descriptor semantically related to the selected computer-usable descriptor.

10. The computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the second computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element within the same data structure as the selected computer-usable descriptor.

11. The computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the second computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element within a different data structure than the selected computer-usable descriptor.

12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the step of arranging for user selection of a computer-usable descriptor having a real-world meaning comprises

storing a plurality of predefined computer-usable descriptors in a computer-readable memory, the plurality of predefined computer-usable descriptors comprising a taxonomy relating to a body of knowledge, and

publishing the taxonomy in such a manner that the taxonomy is accessible by a user agent via a network, the user selection based on the published taxonomy.

13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the step of arranging for user selection of a computer-usable descriptor having a real-world meaning further comprises:

receiving a request from the user agent for access to the taxonomy, the request for one of a one-time access to the taxonomy and for a subscription to updates of the taxonomy; and

based on the request, providing at least one user selection option, the at least one user selection option from the group consisting of;

an option for a user to select at least one of the plurality of predefined computer-usable descriptors to serve as the selected computer-usable descriptor; and

an option for a user to edit the taxonomy, the option for the user to edit the taxonomy comprising the option for the user to modify the taxonomy or add to the taxonomy, the selected computer-usable descriptor being based on one of the modification and the addition to the taxonomy.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are executable by a client-side processor.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are executable by a network-side processor.

16. A system for organizing digital media objects, the system comprising:

a descriptor identification engine configured to receive a user identification of a subject matter related to a body of knowledge and, based on the user identification, to facilitate user selection of a computer-usable descriptor having a real-world meaning related to the subject matter; and

a semantic association engine configured to associate the computer-usable descriptor with personal digital media content associated with a digital media object originating from a personal media source, independent of whether the digital media object is registered with a personal digital media content sharing service.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a user interface receiving the user identification of the subject matter, the taxonomy identification engine responsive to the user interface to receive the user identification.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises a user agent.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises a network-side operating environment.

20. An apparatus for organizing digital media objects, the apparatus comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium; and

a processor responsive to the computer-readable storage medium and to a computer program, the computer program, when loaded into the processor, operable to;

arrange for user agent access to a data structure, the data structure comprising

a first data portion having information identifying a computer-usable descriptor having a real-world meaning, and

a second data portion having information identifying personal digital media content associated with a digital media object originating from a personal digital media source, the real-world meaning user-selected to describe subject matter of the personal digital media content, and

arrange for exchange of information about the digital media object via a network, the data structure serving as a semantic medium for the exchange of information, independent of whether the digital media object is registered with a personal digital media content sharing service.