Graphical user interface adapted to allow scene content annotation of groups of pictures in a picture database to promote efficient database browsing

• US 7,032,182 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Prabhu, Prasad V., Cowell, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/745,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 345/767, 345/765, 345/764, 345/805, 345802-803, 345/804, 345744-747, 345/703, 345/704, 345/707, 345/715, 345719-726, 345/838, 345730-732, 345/780, 345853-855, 345712-713, 345/968, 345823-824, 345/837, 707/10, 348/231.2
• US Class Current: 715/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• 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 graphical user interface (GUI) allows a picture database user to enter metadata serving to annotate digital pictures to promote efficient picture database browsing. The annotation is permitted, not just for individual pictures, but for groups of pictures. The annotation information can be entered quickly, via a user-friendly interface (200, 204, 206), and can contain “social” information (via 116, 118 and 120) about groups of pictures (130–146), such as capture location, date and time, people or objects featured in groups of pictures, and events recorded by a group of pictures.

Claims

1. A method of, via a graphical user interface (GUI), annotating picture information for pictures in a picture database, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a user-friendly display with picture indicia representing captured pictures;

in response to on-screen user input that identifies a plurality of the captured pictures as belonging to a group;

providing a single presentation of an information entry area for receiving information once about the group of pictures;

accepting customized metadata being input on-screen at one time by said user to the information entry area, said metadata characterizing said group of pictures; and

automatically associating the accepted customized metadata with each of the pictures of the group.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein said metadata comprises social information.

3. The method in claim 2, wherein said social information comprises at least one event that said group of pictures records.

4. The method in claim 2, wherein said social information comprises temporal aspects of said group of pictures with respect to capture.

5. The method in claim 2, wherein said social information comprises capture location aspects of said group of pictures.

6. The method in claim 2, wherein said social information comprises people who are recorded in said group of pictures.

7. The method in claim 2, wherein said social information comprises objects that are recorded in said group of pictures.

8. The method in claim 2, wherein said social information comprises user-provided comments.

9. A graphical user interface (GUI) adapted to annotate picture information for pictures in a picture database, said GUI comprising:

a display generator adapted to generate a user-friendly display with picture indicia representing captured pictures;

a picture grouper adapted to define a group of pictures in response to on-screen user input identifying a plurality of pictures as belonging to the group;

a single information presentation of an entry area for receiving information once about the group of pictures;

a metadata receiver adapted to accept customized metadata being input on-screen at one time by said user to the single information entry area, said metadata characterizing said group of pictures; and

a metadata association system adapted to automatically associate the accepted customized metadata with each of the pictures of the group.

10. The GUI in claim 9, wherein said metadata comprises social information.

11. The GUI in claim 10, wherein said social information comprises at least one event that said group of pictures records.

12. The GUI in claim 10, wherein said social information comprises temporal aspects of said group of pictures with respect to capture.

13. The GUI in claim 10, wherein said social information comprises capture location aspects of said group of pictures.

14. The GUI in claim 10, wherein said social information comprises people who are recorded in said group of pictures.

15. The GUI in claim 10, wherein said social information comprises objects that are recorded in said group of pictures.

16. The GUI in claim 10, wherein said social information comprises user-provided comments.