System and method for embedding symbology in digital images and using the symbology to organize and control the digital images

• US 7,475,092 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qmage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rothschild Trust Holdings LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Isaac M
• Application Number:
  US11/202,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2187 with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2191 for simultaneous, independent access by a plurality of different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3267 of motion picture signals, e.g. video clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• 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

A method and system for designing and affixing symbology, e.g., an identifier, into digital and printed images and using that symbology to link these images to a global computer network to allow the organization and processing of these images both while in digital form, and later when in printed form are provided. The method includes the steps of capturing an image with a digital image capture device and creating a digital image file; associating at least one identifier to the digital image file; and encoding the at least one identifier of the digital image file. The identifier includes a site location number (SLN), a customer identification number (CIN), a date the image was taken (DIT) and a picture sequence number (PSN). The identifier will be printed with the image and be used to retrieve the image at a later date and process user requests.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of digital images, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing an image with a digital image capture device and creating a digital image file;

associating at least one identifier to the digital image file, wherein the at least one identifier includes a site location number (SLN), a customer identification number (CIN), a date the image was taken (DIT) and a picture sequence number (PSN);

encoding the at least one identifier of the digital image file;

printing a hardcopy of the captured image with the at least one identifier visible on the hardcopy;

scanning the at least one identifier;

submitting the at least one identifier to a server lookup database;

determining the server location number from the at least one identifier;

transferring a user to the determined server;

submitting the at least one identifier to the determined server;

presenting the image to the user;

submitting a user request to the determined server;

querying a database of the determined server to retrieve a record for the at least one digital image based on the identifier; and

processing the user request with the information in the record associated to the at least one digital image.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the site location number is at least a two digit alphanumeric string.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the customer identification number is at least a six digit alphanumeric string.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the date the image was taken is a six digit numeric string.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the picture sequence number is at least a three digit alphanumeric string.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the encoded at least one identifier is a barcode.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising the step of printing a hardcopy of the captured image with the barcode visible on the hardcopy.

8. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one image storage site residing on a network from a plurality of available image storage sites;

receiving the site location number of the selected image storage site; and

receiving the customer identification number assigned by the selected image storage site.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the selecting step further comprises the step of connecting to the at least one image storage site via a computing device coupled to the network and the method further comprises the step of entering the site location number and customer identification number into the digital image capture device.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein the selecting step further comprises the steps of presenting the plurality of available image storage sites to a user on a digital medium viewable on a computing device and connecting to the at least one image storage site via the computing device coupled to the network, and the method further comprises the steps of connecting the digital image capture device to the network and writing the site location number and customer identification number directly to the digital image capture device.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the selecting step further comprises the step of presenting the plurality of available image storage sites to a user on the digital image capture device, and the method further comprises the steps of connecting the digital image capture device to the network and writing the site location number and customer identification number directly to the digital image capture device.

12. The method as in claim 1, wherein the request is for additional information associated to the at least one image, further comprising the steps of:

querying the record of the at least one digital image for associated information;

retrieving the associated information; and

presenting the associated information to the user.