Systems and Methods for Incorporating Data Into Digital Files

• US 20080295010A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GeoSpatial Experts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GeoSpatial Experts Incorporated
• Inventors: Bobbitt, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/125,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295010A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

Software systems and methods may be provided for adding data, such as position information, to digital images stored on a computing device. A software system may be provided for integrating information from various sources on a computing device. In preferred embodiments, the software resides on a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other portable computing devices. The software may integrate information from a GPS device and a digital camera so that each image downloaded to the computing device is labeled with position information regarding where the image was taken. The software may automate and monitor downloading of images to the computing device. Once data is downloaded to the computing device, the software may automatically create a data record or allow a user to edit an existing data record to include the new images.

Claims

1. A method of associating information with a digital image comprising:

creating a record on a database, wherein the record comprises one or more user-defined fields,

monitoring a digital image storage on a portable computing device for new digital images,

detecting one or more new digital images, corresponding to the record, in the digital image directory, wherein the one or more new digital images are each associated with a unique image name,

transferring the one or more new digital images to the database,

copying the unique image names to a user-defined field within the record,

altering the one or more new digital images automatically to create one or more altered digital images and corresponding altered image names, and

inserting the one or more altered image names into a different user-defined field within the record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises periodically checking the digital image directory for new digital images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the new digital images are sent to the digital image directory upon receipt of the new digital images by the portable computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the new digital images are received by the portable computing device via digital communications selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, WiFi, wireless, cable, internal imaging systems, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the new digital images are sent to the digital image directory upon receipt of the new digital images by image transfer software on the portable computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering further comprises associating the one or more new digital images with data from an outside data source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outside data source is a global positioning device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the outside data source is user-entered data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering further comprises adding a watermark.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the adding the watermark further comprises:

reading the information from the new record,

writing the information from the new record as text onto the one or more new digital images,

saving the altered digital image under a new name, and

copying the new name into another field in the record.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering further comprises adding metadata.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adding metadata further comprises:

reading the information from the new record,

writing the information from the new record into the header or metadata of the one or more new digital images,

saving the altered digital image under a new name, and

copying the new name into another field in the record.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating two or more new digital images with a single record.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the one or more altered digital images.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying is on a map with indications of the source location of the one or more altered digital images.

16. A method of associating information with a digital image comprising:

monitoring a digital image storage on a portable computing device for new digital images, wherein the one or more new digital images are each associated with a unique image name,

detecting one or more new digital images in the digital image storage,

transferring the one or more new digital images to a database,

requesting data from an outside data source,

receiving data from an outside data source in the database,

creating a record,

copying the unique image names to a user-defined field within the record,

altering the one or more new digital images automatically to create one or more corresponding altered digital images and corresponding altered image names, wherein the processing associates the one or more new digital images with information from the record, and

inserting the one or more altered image names into a different user-defined field within the record.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising accepting user entered attributes into the record.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising viewing the altered digital images and the attributes on a display.

19. A system for associating information with a digital image comprising:

a portable computing device for receiving one or more digital images from a digital imaging device,

wherein the portable computing device receives data corresponding to the one or more digital images from a data device,

wherein the portable computing device creates a new record based on the data,

wherein the portable computing device processes the one or more digital images to create one or more corresponding altered digital images, wherein the processing automatically associates the one or more digital images with the data from the new record, and

wherein the one or more annotated digital images are displayed on a display of the portable computing device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the portable computing device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop, portable digital assistant, cellular telephone, digital video, and combinations thereof.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the digital imaging device is a digital camera separate from the portable computing device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the digital imaging device is a digital camera incorporated into the portable computing device.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the data device is separate from the portable computing device.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the data device is incorporated into the portable computing device.