Method of matching a digital camera image to a database using a timestamp device

• US 7,215,833 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital Photography Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Digital Photography Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Tepera, Ed J., Gatti, Benjamin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Jingge
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US10/371,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 382/305, 382/306, 348/231.5, 348/371, 348/155, 348/231.6
• US Class Current: 382/306
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• 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 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

The invention is a method for correlating and assigning digital camera images to a database file. The method enables a photographer to keep track of large numbers of subjects and items. The method uses a timestamp from a bar code reader to synchronize recorded swipes of bar codes with the digital images created produced by the camera. The bar code reader is used to swipe identifying bar code on items or subjects that are to be tracked, such as on a student'"'"'s camera card, a police investigation report or a catalogue item. The time and the bar code serve as a means to cross-reference any item or subject to the digital images. The photographs and bar code scans are downloaded into a computer, and then by inspection of the recorded times of when the scans were made and the pictures were taken, the images can be assigned to the appropriate file. The images can then be loaded into the item'"'"'s or subject'"'"'s file, secure in the knowledge that the images are appropriately assigned.

Claims

1. A method of generating and matching digital photographic image data generated by a digital camera to a file loaded in a database, where the file has a unique identifier (UID) for a subject or an item, said method comprising:

a) providing a digital camera that records an image timestamp with every digital photographic image with a camera bar code, at least one digital memory medium with a media bar code, and an identifying bar code for each subject or item;

b) providing a portable bar code scanner that records the bar code and a scanner timestamp with each scan;

c) scanning the camera bar code, therein recording the camera bar code and the camera timestamp;

d) scanning the media bar code, therein recording the media bar code and a media timestamp;

e) taking a time synchronizing picture;

f) scanning the identifying bar code, therein recording the identifying bar code and an identifying timestamp;

g) shooting the digital photographic image that is to be assigned to the subject or the item;

h) repeating step g until sufficient number of images for the subject are collected, or if memory medium is full, going to step j;

i) repeating steps f through i until all digital photographic images of all subjects are taken, then proceeding to step j;

j) transferring data recorded by the bar code scanner and the memory medium to database files creating a bar code timestamp timeline and a memory media timestamp timeline; and

k) correlating data from the bar code timestamp timeline to the memory media timestamp timeline, and assigning appropriate digital photographic image to the file for the subject having the matching UID.

2. A method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 1, further comprises using a digital camera that additionally records audio meta data, wherein the audio meta data is a second UID associated with the digital photographic image that can be used as a means of confirming synchronized data.

3. The method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 1, wherein the memory media is selected from the memory devices consisting of:

PCMCI cards, floppy discs, memory sticks, and compact discs.

4. The method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 1, wherein the portable bar code reader is an OzE Wand.

10. The method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 1, wherein the identifying bar code for each subject or item is a camera card.

11. Apparatus for matching digital photographic images as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wherein the identifying bar code for each subject or item is a camera card.

5. A method of generating and matching digital photographic image data generated by a digital camera to a file loaded in a database, where the file has a unique identifier (UID) for a subject or an item, said method comprising:

a) providing a digital camera that records an image timestamp with every digital photographic image, at least one digital memory medium, and an identifying bar code for each subject or item;

b) providing a portable bar code scanner that records the bar code and a scanner timestamp with each scan;

c) taking a time synchronizing picture;

d) scanning the identifying bar code, therein recording the identifying bar code and an identifying timestamp;

e) shooting the digital photographic image that is to be assigned to the subject or the item;

f) repeating step e until sufficient number of images for the subject are collected, or if memory medium is full, going to step g;

g) repeating steps d through f until all digital photographic images of all subjects are taken, then proceeding to step i;

h) scanning the media bar code of another digital memory medium, therein recording the unique media bar code and a media timestamp, and then going to step f;

i) transferring data recorded by the bar code scanner and the memory medium to database files creating a bar code timestamp timeline and a memory media timestamp timeline; and

j) correlating data from the bar code timestamp timeline to the memory media timestamp timeline, and assigning appropriate digital photographic image to the file for the subject having the matching UID.

6. A method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 5, further comprises using a digital camera that additionally records audio meta data, wherein the audio meta data is a second UID associated with the digital photographic image that can be used as a means of confirming synchronized data.

7. The method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 5, wherein the memory media is selected from the memory devices consisting of:

PCMCI cards, floppy discs, memory sticks, and compact discs.

8. The method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 5, wherein the portable bar code reader is an OzE Wand.

9. The method of generating and matching digital photographic image data according to claim 5, wherein the identifying bar code for each subject or item is a camera card.