Digital image geographical special interest guide

• US 6,879,702 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• 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: Fisher, Clay Harvey, Manowitz, Neal Jacob, Sato, Robert Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jon
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US09/737,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 382300-310, 382/100, 707/104.1, 705/79, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 434/130, 434/150
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/008 Touring maps or guides to public transport networks

Abstract

The present invention generates a digital image geographical special interest guide. According to one aspect, digital images are processed and associated with a category on a geographical map. A digital image geographical special interest guide corresponding to a category is generated. The digital image geographical special interest guide containing the associated digital images is provided to a user. A digital image geographical special interest guide aids people in easily locating detailed information on any of the available categories.

Claims

1. A computerized method for generating a digital image geographical special interest guide comprising:

receiving digital images submitted by a user from an electronic device controlled by the user;

processing the submitted digital images to associate the digital images with a category on a displayed geographical map; and

providing a digital image geographical special interest guide for the category containing the associated digital images.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein providing a digital image geographical special interest guide comprises:

allowing selection of a category on the displayed geographical map;

retrieving digital images associated with the selected category; and

generating a digital image geographical special interest guide using the retrieved digital images.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the category is chosen from a group consisting of a geographical locations on a map, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, theatres, nightlife, resorts, shopping malls, bars, entertainment, and scenic spots.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, the electronic device being chosen from a group consisting of a stand alone computer, a networked system, and an online service.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a web page containing data that displays information chosen from the group consisting of digital image geographical special interest guide data, advertisements, banners, text, graphics, and hotlinks.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising storing the processed digital images.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein provider the digital image geographical special interest guide comprises:

associating the processed digital images with hotlinks; and

enabling access of the digital images through the hotlinks.

8. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein providing the digital image geographical special interest guide comprises:

enabling access to the digital image geographical special interest guide upon payment of a fee.

9. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising compensating the user for submitting digital images to the digital image geographical special interest guide.

10. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising receiving compensation for banner and advertisements posted on the digital image geographical special interest guide.

11. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein processing the digital images comprises:

requesting digital images for a particular category on the digital image geographical special interest guide;

receiving the requested digital images corresponding to the particular category; and

associating the received digital images with the particular category.

12. The computerized method of claim 11, wherein requesting being performed by a server by posting data on an Internet web page indicating users to submit digital images corresponding to a category.

13. The computerized method of claim 11, wherein requesting being performed by a server by maintaining a list of prior users and sending email messages to the prior users indicating users to submit digital images corresponding to a category.

14. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the processed digital images with a location on the geographical map corresponding to the category; and

altering the geographical map to represent digital images taken at particular locations of the geographical map.

15. The computerized method of claim 14, wherein associating further comprising:

allowing a user to submit digital images to the digital image geographical special interest guide; and

associating the submitted digital images with a particular location on the geographical map.

16. The computerized method of claim 14, wherein associating further comprising:

allowing a user to submit digital images to the digital image geographical special interest guide; and

associating the submitted digital images with a particular category of the digital image geographical special interest guide.

17. The computerized method of claim 14, wherein associating further comprises allowing users to display digital images corresponding to the particular category on the geographical map.

18. The computerized method of claim 14, wherein associating further comprises allowing users to display digital images corresponding to a geographical location on the geographical map.

19. A computerized system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor through a system bus;

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor through the system bus; and

a digital image geographical special interest guide module executed from the computer-readable medium by the processor to cause the processor to receive digital images submitted by a user from an electronic device controlled by the user, process the submitted digital images to associate the digital images with a category on a displayed geographical map, and provide a digital image geographical special interest guide for the category containing the associated digital images.

20. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to allow selection of a category on the displayed geographical map, retrieve digital images associated with the selected category, and generate a digital image geographical special interest guide using the retrieved digital images.

21. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein the category is chosen from a group consisting of a geographical locations on a map, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, theatres, nightlife, resorts, shopping malls, bars, entertainment, and scenic spots.

22. The computerized system of claim 19, the electronic device being chosen from a group consisting of a stand alone computer, a networked system, and an online service.

23. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to generate a web page containing data that displays information chosen from the group consisting of digital image geographical special interest guide data, advertisements, banners, text, graphics, and hotlinks.

24. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to store the processed digital images.

25. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to associate the processed digital images with hotlinks, and enable access of the digital images through the hotlinks.

26. The computerized system of claim 20, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to enable access to the digital image geographical special interest guide upon payment of a fee.

27. The computerized system of claim 20, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to compensate the user for submitting digital images to the digital image geographical special interest guide.

28. The computerized system of claim 20, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to receive compensation for banner and advertisements posted on the digital image geographical special interest guide.

29. The computerized system of claim 20, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to request digital images for a particular category on the digital image geographical special interest guide, receive the requested digital images corresponding to the particular category, and associate the received digital images with the particular category.

30. The computerized system of claim 29, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to request by posting data on an Internet web page indicating users to submit digital images corresponding to a category.

31. The computerized system of claim 29, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to request by maintaining a list of prior users and sending email messages to the prior users indicating users to submit digital images corresponding to a category.

32. The computerized system of claim 20, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to associate the processed digital images with a location on the geographical map corresponding to the category, and alter the geographical map to represent digital images taken at particular locations of the geographical map.

33. The computerized system of claim 32, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to allow a user to submit digital images to the digital image geographical special interest guide, and associate the submitted digital images with a particular location on the geographical map.

34. The computerized system of claim 32, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to allow a user to submit digital images to the digital image geographical special interest guide, and associate the submitted digital images with a particular category of the digital image geographical special interest guide.

35. The computerized system of claim 32, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to allow users to display digital images corresponding to the particular category on the geographical map.

36. The computerized system of claim 32, wherein the digital image geographical special interest guide module causes the processor to allow users to display digital images corresponding to a geographical location on the geographical map.

37. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to cause a server computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving digital images submitted by a user from an electronic device controlled by the user;

processing the submitted digital images to associate the digital images with a category on a displayed geographical map; and

providing a digital image geographical special interest guide for the category containing the associated digital images.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein providing a digital image geographical special interest guide further comprises:

allowing selection of a category on the displayed geographical map;

retrieving digital images associated with the selected category; and

generating a digital image geographical special interest guide using the retrieved digital images.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the category is chosen from a group consisting of a geographical locations on a map, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, theatres, nightlife, resorts, shopping malls, bars, entertainment, and scenic spots.

40. An apparatus for generating a digital image geographical special interest guide comprising:

means for receiving digital images submitted by a user from an electronic device controlled by the user;

means for processing the submitted digital images to associate the digital images with a category on a displayed geographical map; and

means for providing a digital image geographical special interest guide for the category containing the associated digital images.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for providing a digital image geographical special interest guide comprises:

means for allowing selection of a category on the displayed geographical map;

means for retrieving digital images associated with the selected category; and

means for generating a digital image geographical special interest guide using the retrieved digital images.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

means for generating a web page containing data that displays information chosen from the group consisting of digital image geographical special interest guide data, advertisements, banners, text, graphics, and hotlinks.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising means for storing the processed digital images.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for processing the digital images comprises:

means for requesting digital images for a particular category on the digital image geographical special interest guide;

means for receiving the requested digital images corresponding to the particular category; and

means for associating the received digital images with the particular category.

45. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

means for associating the processed digital images with a location on the geographical map corresponding to the category; and

means for altering the geographical map to represent digital images taken at particular locations of the geographical map.