Methods and apparatus for associating descriptive data with digital image files

• US 6,462,778 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Abram, Philip Michael, Sato, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US09/258,813
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5225, 348/207, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/239, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 704/3, 704/251, 704/254, 704/276, 704/260, 704/257, 396/429, 396/310, 396/312, 382/100, 382/306
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

Methods and systems for labeling digital image data generated by digital imaging devices, such as digital cameras and camcorders, with descriptive information are disclosed. In one embodiment, a menu of descriptive terms is displayed to the user of the digital imaging device. The user chooses one or more of the descriptive terms and the user'"'"'s choices are associated with the digital image data. The descriptive terms may be used, for example, to generate a file name or may be later displayed with the digital image. In another embodiment, the digital imaging device accepts audio input such as, for example, the user speaking descriptive labels into a microphone. Using speech processing techniques, descriptive terms are extracted from the audio input and associated with the digital image data. In yet another embodiment, the digital imaging device accepts information from a location determination device, such as a GPS system. The location information may be used to determine alphanumeric location labels that can then be associated with the digital image data.

Claims

1. A method for labeling digital image data comprising:

acquiring a digital image;

receiving numeric geographic coordinates from a location determination device;

displaying a menu of at least one alphanumeric location label corresponding to points near the location corresponding to the numeric geographic coordinates;

receiving an input from a user to select at least one of the at least one alphanumeric location label in the menu; and

associating the at least one selected alphanumeric location label with an image data file containing the digital image.

2. A method for labeling digital image data comprising:

acquiring a digital image;

receiving numeric geographic coordinates from a location determination device;

displaying the at least one alphanumeric location label to a user;

receiving an indication from the user selecting at least one alphanumeric location label; and

associating the at least one selected alphanumeric location label with an image data file containing the digital image.

3. A digital imaging device, comprising:

a lens system that acquires a digital image;

an imager device for converting the image to a digital image signal;

a location determination device that generates location information representing a geographic location where the digital image was acquired;

a memory for storing a data base of alphanumeric location labels; and

a processor for

determining at least one alphanumeric location label corresponding to the numeric geographic coordinates; and

associating the at least one alphanumeric location label with an image data file containing the digital image signal;

a display for displaying a menu of the at least one alphanumeric location label; and

a user input mechanism for allowing a user to select at least one of the at least one alphanumeric location labels in the menu.

4. The digital imaging device of claim 3, wherein the location determination device generates a file name for the image data file based the at least one alphanumeric location label.

5. The digital imaging device of claim 3, further comprising:

a second processor for linking the at least one alphanumeric location label with the digital image; and

a display for displaying the at least one alphanumeric location label with the digital image, when the digital image is displayed.

6. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the computer system having a group of data structures reflecting a logical structure of a data source, the method comprising:

acquiring a digital image;

receiving numeric geographic coordinates from a location determination device;

displaying a menu of at least one alphanumeric location label corresponding to points near the location corresponding to the numeric geographic coordinates;

receiving an input from a user to select at least one of the at least one alphanumeric location label in the menu; and

associating the at least one selected alphanumeric location label with an image data file containing the digital image.

7. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the computer system having a group of data structures reflecting a logical structure of a data source, the method comprising:

acquiring a digital image;

receiving numeric geographic coordinates from a location determination device;

determining at least one alphanumeric location label corresponding to the numeric geographic coordinates;

displaying the at least one alphanumeric location label to a user;

receiving an indication from the user selecting at least one alphanumeric location label in the menu; and

associating the at least one selected alphanumeric location label with an image data file containing the digital image.