Taxonometric personal digital media organization

• US 7,783,641 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kasperkiewicz, Tomasz S. M., Peart, Benjamin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kerzhner; Aleksandr
• Application Number:
  US11/588,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/738
• US Class Current: 707/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

Network-based and client-based operating environments implement computerized systems and techniques for organizing and discovering digital media objects originating from personal digital media sources. The association between a user-selected computer-usable descriptor and a particular digital media object serves as a semantic medium for exchange of information about the digital media object via a network, independent of whether the digital media object is registered with an established digital content sharing service. A user-selected computer-usable descriptor is part of one or more collections of such descriptors that are organized into published data structures having data elements corresponding to particular real-world meanings. Leveraging the consistent associations of computer-usable descriptors with the subject matter of personal digital media content within digital media objects enables the widespread and efficient computerized discovery of relevant digital media objects.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for semantically conveying information about personal digital media content, comprising:

identifying a plurality of predefined computer-usable descriptors published at a network-side processing location, the plurality of predefined computer-usable descriptors comprising a taxonomy relating to a body of knowledge, the plurality of computer-usable descriptors collaboratively edited by multiple end-users of personal digital media content, at least some of the end-users accessing the plurality of computer-usable descriptors via electronic devices operating within different networks, each computer-usable descriptor having an agreed-upon real-world meaning, the taxonomy moderated by an entity that accepts or rejects edits to the plurality of computer-readable descriptors;

presenting a user interface to an end-user of personal digital media content;

identifying a digital media object comprising personal digital media content originating from a personal digital media source, the digital media object not available for distribution via any commercial media content source;

via the user interface, receiving from the end-user edits of one or more of the plurality of computer-usable descriptors comprising the taxonomy;

receiving from the end-user a selection of a computer-usable descriptor having an agreed-upon real-world meaning related to the digital media object, the selected computer-usable descriptor being one of the one or more edited computer-usable descriptors; and

tagging the digital media object with the selected computer-usable descriptor, the tagging serving as a semantic medium for exchange of information about the digital media object via a network in such a manner that the tagged digital media object is able to be located by searching the network for the selected computer-usable descriptor, independent of whether the digital media object is registered with a personal digital media content sharing service.

2. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the digital media object is accessible via a personal digital media source selected from the group consisting of a computer, a digital media player, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile phone.

3. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element of a data structure having a plurality of data elements, each data element corresponding to a particular real-world meaning, the data structure accessible at a first processing location via a wide-area network.

4. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first data structure comprises a hierarchically organized data structure.

5. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the digital media object is accessible at a second processing location via the wide-area network, and wherein the step of tagging the digital media object with the selected computer usable descriptor comprises arranging for establishment of a hyperlink between the first processing location and the second processing location.

6. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the step of tagging the digital media object with the selected computer usable descriptor comprises identifying a digital media object having a second computer-usable descriptor associated therewith, the second computer-usable descriptor semantically related to the selected computer-usable descriptor.

7. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the second computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element within the same data structure as the selected computer-usable descriptor.

8. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the second computer-usable descriptor corresponds to a data element within a different data structure than the selected computer-usable descriptor.

9. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are executable by a client-side processor.

10. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are executable by a network-side processor.