Method for adding personalized metadata to a collection of digital images

• US 6,629,104 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: McCoy, John R., Parulski, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Al-Hashemi, Sana
• Application Number:
  US09/721,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 707/102, 707/7, 709/201, 705/10, 355/40, 396/2, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/307.R, 348/323, 348/322
• US Class Current: 382/307
• 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: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method for adding personal image metadata to a collection of images,including the steps of: configuring, in response to user'"'"'s answers to predetermined queries prior to image capture, a database of pre-assigned metadata labels useful for classifying future images, wherein at least one pre-assigned metadata label has a label identifier relating to emotional or aesthetic judgment of a user of the database; storing the database of pre-assigned metadata labels in a digital memory; displaying the collection of images that have been captured by the user, and a menu for selecting the pre-assigned metadata labels; selectively assigning at least one pre-assigned metadata label to at least one digital image in response to user'"'"'s input; and storing the label identifier of the selected metadata label in association with the selected digital image.

Claims

1. A method for adding personal image metadata to a collection of images comprising the steps of:

(a) configuring, in response to user'"'"'s answers to predetermined queries prior to image capture, a database of preassigned metadata labels useful for classifying future images, wherein at least one pre-assigned metadata label has a label identifier relating to emotional or aesthetic judgment of a user of the database;

(b) storing the database of pre-assigned metadata labels in a digital memory;

(c) displaying the collection of images that have been captured by the user, and a menu for selecting the pre-assigned metadata labels;

(d) selectively assigning at least one pre-assigned metadata label to at least one digital image in response to user'"'"'s input; and

(e) storing the label identifier of the selected metadata label in association with the selected digital image.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of

(f) selecting at least one pre-assigned metadata label, in response to the user inputs;

(g) searching the collection of digital images to retrieve at least one image having the selected pre-assigned metadata label.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the metadata label includes one type of label indicating that the image is a member of a category selected by the user.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is practiced by a digital camera.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined queries include at least one of:

a)“

Where do you often take pictures?”

b) “

What type of pictures do you often take?”

c) “

What are your nicknames for immediate family members?”

d) “

What are your nicknames of friends that you photograph?”

e) “

Are these good ways to classify your pictures?”

, and

f) “

My best photos, funny photos, cute photos, important moments”

.

11. A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the steps according to claim 1.

12. A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the steps according to claim 2.

13. A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the steps according to claim 3.

14. A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the steps according to claim 5.

6. An image categorization system, comprising:

a) a memory device that digitally stores a collection of captured images;

b) user controlled means for inputting, prior to image capture, personal capturing information, including a plurality of metadata items;

c) means for viewing the collection of captured images on a display device; and

d) means for labeling the collection of captured images with the personal capturing information, wherein the means for labeling includes user selection means for selecting at least one captured image and at least one metadata item from the plurality of metadata items included in the personal capturing information.

7. The image categorization system claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a) means for creating additional personal capturing information; and

b) means for editing existing personal capturing information.

8. The image categorization system claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a) a memory device that digitally stores the labeled collection of captured images; and

b) means for electronically retrieving the labeled collection of captured images.

9. A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the following steps:

a) displaying at least one captured image for categorization; and

b) providing at least one pre-assigned aesthetic category which when selected by the user is associated with the captured image.

10. The computer software product according to claim 9, wherein the aesthetic category comprises at least one of:

a) Favorite image;

b) Humorous image;

c) Artistic image;

d) Emotional image;

e) Cute image; and

f) Important moment image.