Photo-image Discovery Device Database Management

• US 20110029522A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hazarika, Prodyut, Vaysburg, Dimitry, Tyagi, Tushar
• Application Number:
  US12/512,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029522A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A system and method are provided for managing a database in a photo-image discovery device. A photo-image discovery device acquires photo-images from a photo-capable device, and automatically classifies the acquired photo-images, without user intervention, in a database management directory. Then, the acquired photo-images are managed in a photo-image discovery device storage-in-transit memory using database management directory rules cross-referenced to classification. For example, the method may uplink photo-images to a network-connected site in response to their classification. Photo-image classification may be based upon photo-capable device type, photo-capable device ID, image creation data, image creation location, or file format.

Claims

1. In a system using a microprocessor executing software instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, a method for managing a database in a photo-image discovery device, the method comprising:

a photo-image discovery device acquiring photo-images from a photo-capable device;

automatically classifying the acquired, photo-images, without user intervention, in a database management directory; and

,

managing the acquired photo-images in a photo-image discovery device storage-in-transit memory-using database management directory rules cross-referenced to classification.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein managing the acquired photo-images in the storage-in-transit memory includes automatically uplinking photo-images to a network-connected site in response to their classification.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically classifying acquired photo-images includes classifying photo-images based upon photo-image source information selected from a group consisting of a photo-capable device type, photo-capable device ID, image creation date, image creation location, and file format.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein managing the acquired photo-images based upon classification includes uplinking the photo-images in response to a condition selected from a group consisting of current uplink conditions, available uplinks, current network-connected storage site conditions, network-connected storage site processing time backlog, network-connected storage site processing cost changes, network-connected storage site memory capacity, network-connected storage site memory capacity changes, uplink bandwidth, photo-image media, type, network-connected storage site account balance, and a photo-image uplink priority scheme.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein managing the acquired photo-images based upon classification includes managing a photo-image using rules selected from a group consisting of photo-image media type, meta-data information, acquisition limits, current storage-in-transmit memory status, permitted photo-capable devices, storage-in-transmit memory allocation dedicated to a particular photo-capable device, storage-in-transmit memory allocation dedicated to an uplink network-connected storage site, photo-image storage-in-transmit memory preservation time, folder designation, and photo-image discovery device power level.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein managing the photo-image using meta-data information includes using criteria selected from a group consisting of content label, location, time, and photo-image format.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein managing photo-image acquisition limits includes limiting the acquisition of photo-images in response to the storage-in-transmit memory allocation.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein managing photo-image acquisition limits includes acquiring photo-images at a rate responsive to uplink storage capacity and uplink storage site bandwidth.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein managing the acquired photo-images based upon classification includes distributing photo-images in a storage-in-transit memory structure consisting of a local media memory, a removable media memory, and a combination of local and removable media memories.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein acquiring photo-images from the photo-capable device includes accepting a removable media memory with photo-images organized in a standard digital image exchange file structure, as defined by JEITA CP-3461;

wherein distributing photo-images in a storage-in-transit memory structure includes;

creating a transparent overlay file structure in the removable media memory, in parallel with the standard digital image exchange file structure, which is invisible to a photo-capable device; and

,

incorporating the removable media memory into the photo-image discovery device storage-in-transmit memory.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein accepting the removable media memory with photo-images organized in the standard digital image exchange file structure includes accepting photo-images in a first sub-directory of the standard digital image exchange file structure associated with a first photo-capable device protocol;

and,

wherein incorporating the removable media memory into the photo-image discovery device storage-in-transmit memory includes storing photo-images in the removable media memory in a second sub-directory of the standard digital image exchange file structure associated with a second photo-cap able device protocol.

12. A system including a microprocessor executing software instructions stored, in a computer-readable medium for managing a database in a photo-image discovery device, the system comprising:

a processor;

a discovery module software application having an acquisition interface for acquiring images for photo-capable devices;

a storage-in-transit memory for storing acquired photo images; and

,

a database control application for automatically classifying acquired, photo-images in the storage-in-transmit memory using database management directory rules cross-referenced to classification.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the database control application classifies photo-images based upon photo-image source information selected from a group consisting of a photo-capable device type, photo-capable device ID, image creation date, image creation location, and file format.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a network module having a network interface, for uploading photo-images to a network-connected storage site; and

,

wherein the database control application automatically uplinks photo-images to a network-connected site in response to their classification.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the database control application uplinks the photo-images in response to a condition selected from a group consisting of current uplink conditions, available uplinks, current network-connected storage site conditions, network-connected storage site processing time backlog, network-connected storage site processing cost changes, network-connected storage site memory capacity, network-connected storage site memory capacity changes, uplink bandwidth, photo-image media type, network-connected storage site account balance, and a photo-image uplink priority scheme.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the database control application manages a photo-image using rules selected from a group consisting of photo-image media type, meta-data information, acquisition limits, current storage-in-transmit memory status, permitted photo-capable devices, storage-in-transmit memory allocation dedicated to a particular photo-capable device, storage-in-transmit memory allocation dedicated to an uplink network-connected storage site, photo-image storage-in-transmit memory preservation time, folder designation, and photo-image discovery device power level.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the database control application manages the photo-image using meta-data information through the use of criteria selected from a group consisting of content label, location, time, and photo-image format.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the database control application limits the acquisition of photo-images in response to the storage-in-transmit memory allocation.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the database control application acquires photo-images at a rate responsive to uplink storage capacity and uplink storage site bandwidth.

20. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a local media memory;

a removable media memory connected to the discovery module acquisition interface; and

,

wherein the database control application distributes photo-images in a storage-in-transit memory structure consisting of the local media memory, the removable media memory, and a combination of local and removable media memories.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the discovery module accepts a removable media memory with photo-images organized in a standard digital image exchange file structure, as defined by JEITA CP-3461;

wherein the database control module distributes photo-images in a storage-in-transit memory structure by;

creating a transparent overlay file structure in the removable media memory, in parallel with the standard digital image exchange file structure, which is invisible to a photo-capable device; and

,

incorporating the removable media memory into the photo-image discovery device storage-in-transmit memory.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the discovery module accepts photo-images in a first sub-directory of the standard digital image exchange file structure associated with a first photo-capable device protocol;

and,

wherein the database control application stores photo-images in the removable media memory in a second sub-directory of the standard digital image exchange file structure associated with a second photo-capable device protocol.