Shared Image Database With Geographic Navigation

• US 20100323756A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: FRIEDMANN, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/53 Querying
• 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: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/587 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and device for operating an image database shared by a plurality of users. In an embodiment, each image captured by a user and stored in a shared image database is associating with the geographic coordinates of the location at which the image was captured. A search engine for the image database is configured to accept geographic coordinates as a search criterion for locating at least one captured image stored in the shared image database. The images having location coordinates within a predefined range of geographic coordinates is displayed to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed on a mobile communications device, comprising:

receiving geographic coordinates from a user interface;

configuring the device for wirelessly accessing a shared image database and causing a search of the image database, using as a search criterion the geographic coordinates, for at least one image with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates; and

displaying on the device a view of images having location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a list of available names of locations in response to receiving geographic coordinates from the user interface; and

receiving selection of a name from the list,

whereby the device wirelessly accesses and searches the shared image database with geographic coordinates corresponding to the name.

3. A computer-implemented method executed on a mobile communications device, comprising:

obtaining geographic coordinates from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;

configuring the device for wirelessly accessing a shared image database and causing a search of the image database, using as a search criterion the geographic coordinates obtained from the GPS receiver, for at least one image with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates; and

displaying on the device of view of images having location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a list of available names of locations in response to obtaining geographic coordinates from the GPS receiver; and

receiving selection of a name from the list,

whereby the device wirelessly accesses and searches the shared image database with geographic coordinates corresponding to the name.

5. A computer-implemented method executed on a mobile communications device, comprising:

determining geographic coordinates from a selection of a selected point on a map displayed on the device;

configuring the device for wirelessly accessing a shared image database and causing a search of the image database, using as a search criterion the geographic coordinates generated by the selected point on the map, for at least one image with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates; and

displaying on the device a view of images having location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing a list of available names of locations in response to selecting the point on the map; and

receiving selection of a name from the list,

whereby the device wirelessly accesses and searches the shared image database with geographic coordinates corresponding to the name.

7. A mobile communications device adapted for operating an image database shared by a plurality of users, comprising:

a user interface for receiving geographic coordinates;

an interface for wirelessly accessing a shared image database and causing a search of the shared image database, using as a search criterion the geographic coordinates, for at least one image with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates; and

a display for displaying a view of images with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a list of available names of locations in response to receiving geographic coordinates from the user interface; and

receive selection of a name from the list,

whereby the device wirelessly accesses and searches the shared image database with geographic coordinates corresponding to the name.

9. A mobile communications device adapted for operating an image database shared by a plurality of users, comprising:

a Global Positioning System for determining geographic coordinates of a current location of the device;

an interface for wirelessly accessing a shared image database and causing a search of the shared image database, using as a search criterion the geographic coordinates, for at least one image with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates; and

a display for displaying a view of images with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a list of available names of locations in response to receiving geographic coordinates from the GPS receiver; and

receive selection of a name from the list,

whereby the device wirelessly accesses and searches the shared image database with geographic coordinates corresponding to the name.

11. A mobile communications device adapted for operating an image database shared by a plurality of users, comprising:

a display for displaying a map;

a user interface for selecting a point on the map from which geographic coordinates are determined;

an interface for wirelessly accessing a shared image database and causing a search of the shared image database, using as a search criterion the geographic coordinates determined from the point on the map, for at least one image with location coordinates within a predefined range of the obtained geographic coordinates; and

wherein the display further displays a view of images with location coordinates within a predefined range of the geographic coordinates.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a list of available names of locations in response to selecting the point on the map; and

receive selection of a name from the list,

whereby the device wirelessly accesses and searches the shared image database with geographic coordinates corresponding to the name.