Monitoring digital images

• US 7,120,687 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayman, Timothy B., Lippert, Patrick D., Tessman, Jr., Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nano, Sargon N.
• Application Number:
  US10/158,180
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229, 715/539, 705/51, 705/54, 705/57
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• 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: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Digital images are monitored by enabling access to a digital image, receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user, and regulating access of the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring digital images comprising:

receiving a first identity from a user;

enabling the first user to access to a digital image while operating under the first user identity on a server;

receiving by the server a notification associated with the digital image from the first user while operating under the first user identity;

regulating access by the server of the first user for subsequent access, while operating under the first user identity, to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user;

initiating, by the server, an investigation of the digital image based on the notification received from the first user wherein the investigation is initiated after receiving a number of notifications from multiple users exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

assigning a level to the digital image corresponding to a degree of offensiveness of the digital image by the investigation.

2. The method of claim 1 in which regulating access of the first user further comprises:

identifying a storage location associated with the first user identity; and

modifying metadata associated with the first user identity.

3. The method of claim 2 in which identifying a storage location comprises identifying a storage location based upon an application of a hashing code to account information associated with the first user.

4. The method of claim 2 in which modifying metadata comprises modifying metadata associated with the digital image.

5. The method of claim 4 in which modifying metadata comprises removing metadata corresponding to the digital image from one or more tables associated with the first user identity.

6. The method of claim 2 in which modifying metadata comprises removing metadata corresponding to the first user identity from one or more tables associated with the digital image.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second user identity from a second user

regulating access of the second user, while operating under the second user identity, to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

regulating access of an owner of the digital image to the digital image.

9. The method of claim 8 in which regulating access of the owner further comprises:

identifying a storage location associated with the owner; and

modifying metadata associated with the owner.

10. The method of claim 9 in which identifying a storage location comprises identifying a storage location based upon an application of a hashing code to account information associated with the owner.

11. The method of claim 10 in which modifying metadata comprises modifying metadata associated with the digital image.

12. The method of claim 11 in which modifying metadata comprises removing metadata corresponding to the first user identity from one or more tables associated with the digital image.

13. The method of claim 12 in which modifying metadata further comprises inserting metadata indicating an investigation status in one or more tables corresponding to the digital image.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a storage location containing the digital image.

15. The method of claim 14 in which identifying the storage location comprises identifying the storage location based upon account information associated with the first user.

16. The method of claim 14 in which identifying the storage location comprises identifying the storage location based upon account information associated with the owner.

17. The method of claim 14 in which identifying the storage location comprises identifying the storage location based upon a first image identifier associated with a first storage facility and a directory and a second image identifier comprising a random number.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising changing metadata associated with the stored digital image to effect restrictive access to the digital image by the first user while operating under the first user identity.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving the digital image.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising reviewing the digital image and taking an action based upon the review of the digital image.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the action comprises sending a warning notice to the owner of the digital image.

22. The method of claim 20 in which the action comprises unsharing the digital image to prevent access to the digital image by one or more users.

23. The method of claim 20 in which the action comprises replacing the digital image with a different digital image.

24. The system of claim 1 further comprising regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on notifications received from more than one user.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on notifications received from more than one user.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein regulating access of the first user to the digital image comprises restricting access by the first user, while operating under the first user identity, to all digital images affiliated with a party that is affiliated with the digital image.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein regulating access of the first user to the digital image comprises restricting access by the first user, while operating under the first user identity, to all digital images stored by a party that stored the digital image.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein regulating access of the first user to the digital image comprises restricting access by the first user, while operating under the first user identity, to all digital images received from a party from which the digital image was received.

30. The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting access by a user other than the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

31. The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting access by a user other than the first user to all digital images affiliated with a party that is affiliated with the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user comprises receiving a notification in response to the user selecting a notify button associated with the digital image.

33. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions for:

receiving a first identity from a user;

enabling the first user to access a digital image while operating under the first user identity on a server;

receiving by the server a notification associated with the digital image from the first user while operating under the first user identity;

regulating access by the server of the first user for subsequent access, while operating under the first user identity, to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user;

initiating, by the server, an investigation of the digital image based on the notification received from the first user wherein the investigation is initiated after receiving a number of notifications from multiple users exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

assigning a level to the digital image corresponding to a degree of offensiveness of the digital image by the investigation.

34. The computer program of claim 33 in which regulating access of the first user further comprises:

identifying a storage location associated with the first user identity; and

modifying metadata associated with the first user identity.

35. The computer program of claim 34 in which identifying a storage location comprises identifying a storage location based upon an application of a hashing code to account information associated with the first user.

36. The computer program of claim 34 in which modifying metadata comprises modifying metadata associated with the digital image.

37. The computer program of claim 36 in which modifying metadata comprises removing metadata corresponding to the digital image from one or more tables associated with the first user identity.

38. The computer program of claim 34 in which modifying metadata comprises removing metadata corresponding to the first user identity from one or more tables associated with the digital image.

39. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving a second user identity from a second user

regulating access of the second user, while operating under a second user identity, to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

40. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising:

regulating access of an owner of the digital image to the digital image.

41. The computer program of claim 40 in which regulating access of the owner further comprises:

identifying a storage location associated with the owner; and

modifying metadata associated with the owner.

42. The computer program of claim 41 in which identifying a storage location comprises identifying a storage location based upon an application of a hashing code to account information associated with the owner.

43. The computer program of claim 42 in which modifying metadata comprises modifying metadata associated with the digital image.

44. The computer program of claim 43 in which modifying metadata comprises removing metadata corresponding to the first user identity from one or more tables associated with the digital image.

45. The computer program of claim 44 in which modifying metadata further comprises inserting metadata indicating an investigation status in one or more tables corresponding to the digital image.

46. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising identifying a storage location containing the digital image.

47. The computer program of claim 46 in which identifying the storage location comprises identifying the storage location based upon account information associated with the first user.

48. The computer program of claim 46 in which identifying the storage location comprises identifying the storage location based upon account information associated with the owner.

49. The computer program of claim 46 in which identifying the storage location comprises identifying the storage location based upon a first image identifier associated with a first storage facility and a directory and a second image identifier comprising a random number.

50. The computer program of claim 46, further comprising changing metadata associated with the stored digital image to effect restrictive access to the digital image by the first user while operating under the first user identity.

51. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising retrieving the digital image.

52. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising reviewing the digital image and taking an action based upon the review of the digital image.

53. The computer program of claim 52 in which the action comprises sending a warning notice to the owner of the digital image.

54. The computer program of claim 52 in which the action comprises unsharing the digital image to prevent access to the digital image by one or more users.

55. The method of claim 52 in which the action comprises replacing the digital image with a different digital image.

56. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on notifications received from more than one user.

57. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising:

regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

58. The computer program of claim 57 further comprising regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on notifications received from more than one user.

59. The computer program of claim 33 wherein the instructions for regulating access of the first user to the digital image comprise instructions for restricting access by the first user, while operating under the first user identity, to all digital images affiliated with a party that is affiliated with the digital image.

60. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising instructions for restricting access by a user other than the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

61. The computer program of claim 33 further comprising instructions for restricting access by a user other than the first user to all digital images affiliated with a party that is affiliated with the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

62. The computer program of claim 33 wherein the instructions for receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user comprise instructions for receiving a notification in response to the user selecting a notify button associated with the digital image.

63. A system for monitoring digital images comprising:

means for receiving a first identity from a user;

means for enabling the first user to access a digital image while operating under the first user identity on a server;

means for receiving by the server a notification associated with the digital image, while operating under the first user identity;

means for regulating access by the server of the first user for subsequent access, while operating under the first user identity, to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user;

means for initiating, by the server, an investigation of the digital image based on the notification received from the first user wherein the investigation is initiated after receiving a number of notifications from multiple users exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

means for assigning a level to the digital image corresponding to a degree of offensiveness of the digital image by the investigation.

64. The system of claim 63 in which means for regulating access of the first user further comprises:

means for identifying a storage location associated with the first user identity; and

means for modifying metadata associated with the first user identity.

65. The system of claim 64 in which means for identifying a storage location comprises means for identifying a storage location based upon an application of a hashing code to account information associated with the first user.

66. The system of claim 64 in which means for modifying metadata comprises means for modifying metadata associated with the digital image.

67. The system of claim 66 in which means for modifying metadata comprises means for removing metadata corresponding to the digital image from one or more tables associated with the first user identity.

68. The system of claim 64 in which means for modifying metadata comprises means for removing metadata corresponding to the first user identity from one or more tables associated with the digital image.

69. The system of claim 63 further comprising:

means for receiving a second user identity from a second user

means for regulating access of the second user, while operating under a second user identity, to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

70. The system of claim 63 further comprising:

means for regulating access of an owner of the digital image to the digital image.

71. The system of claim 70 in which means for regulating access of the owner further comprises:

means for identifying a storage location associated with the owner; and

means for modifying metadata associated with the owner.

72. The system of claim 71 in which means for identifying a storage location comprises means for identifying a storage location based upon an application of a hashing code to account information associated with the owner.

73. The system of claim 72 in which means for modifying metadata comprises means for modifying metadata associated with the digital image.

74. The system of claim 73 in which means for modifying metadata comprises means for removing metadata corresponding to the first user identity from one or more tables associated with the digital image.

75. The system of claim 74 in which means for modifying metadata further comprises means for inserting metadata indicating an investigation status in one or more tables corresponding to the digital image.

76. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for identifying a storage location containing the digital image.

77. The system of claim 76 in which means for identifying the storage location comprises means for identifying the storage location based upon account information associated with the first user.

78. The system of claim 76 in which means for identifying the storage location comprises means for identifying the storage location based upon account information associated with the owner.

79. The system of claim 76 in which means for identifying the storage location comprises means for identifying the storage location based upon a first image identifier associated with a first storage facility and a directory and a second image identifier comprising a random number.

80. The system of claim 76, further comprising means for changing metadata associated with the stored digital image to effect restrictive access to the digital image by the first user while operating under the first user identity.

81. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for retrieving the digital image.

82. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for reviewing the digital image and means for taking an action based upon the review of the digital image.

83. The system of claim 82 in which the means for taking an action comprises means for sending a warning notice to the owner of the digital image.

84. The system of claim 82 in which the means for taking an action comprises means for unsharing the digital image to prevent access to the digital image by one or more users.

85. The system of claim 82 in which the means for taking an action comprises means for replacing the digital image with a different digital image.

86. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

87. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for regulating access by a community of users to the digital image based on notifications received by more than one user.

88. The system of claim 63 wherein the means for regulating access of the first user to the digital image comprise means for restricting access by the first user, while operating under the first user identity, to all digital images affiliated with a party that is affiliated with the digital image.

89. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for restricting access by a user other than the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

90. The system of claim 63 further comprising means for restricting access by a user other than the first user to all digital images affiliated with a party that is affiliated with the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.

91. The system of claim 63 wherein means for receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user comprise means for receiving a notification in response to the user selecting a notify button associated with the digital image.

92. A method of monitoring digital images, the method comprising:

receiving a first user identity from a first user;

enabling the first user, while operating under the first user identity on a server, to;

navigate to electronic content;

perceive the electronic content after navigation to the electronic content;

provide feedback regarding the acceptability of the electronic content;

preventing the first user, while operating under the first identity, to perceive the electronic content in subsequent navigations based on the feedback provided by the first user;

initiating, by the server, an investigation of the digital image based on the notification received from the first user wherein the investigation is initiated after receiving a number of notifications from multiple users exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

assigning a level to the digital image corresponding to a degree of offensiveness of the digital image by the investigation.

93. The method of claim 92, further comprising:

preventing the first user, while operating under the first user identity, to perceive other electronic content related to the content for which feedback is provided.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the electronic content includes a digital image.