Internet-based synchronized imaging

• US 7,936,484 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald Gabriel Roncal
• Original Assignee: Ronald Gabriel Roncal
• Inventors: Roncal, Ronald Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler L
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKER, DENNIS T
• Application Number:
  US11/810,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20070291323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/231.4, 348/239, 348/333.02, 348/231.5, 348/231.6, 348/208.1, 348/231.3, 358/452, 358/537, 358/448, 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/1.18
• US Class Current: 358/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00156 with a group of selected individuals or correspondents
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00169 Digital image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324

Abstract

A internet based method and apparatus is described for automatically processing a captured digital image taken by a smart device at a fixed-location, mobile or virtual event, and synchronizing the combination of that captured primary image with a secondary image, be it a picture frame, or a watermark to create a combined media image. If desired, the combined image may also contain an audio file. Once combined, the image may be stored for later viewing, and/or automatically returned to the user of the smart device or the PC of the user who captured the primary image, forwarded to an online print service website, posted to a photo sharing website, and/or forwarded to a distribution list. The automated post processing of said captured images is handled by a process engine hosted at an Application Provider'"'"'s website, the process engine containing instructions for the media combining and metadata tagging of said images.

Claims

1. A method for creating, transmitting, modifying and posting a digital image file including the steps of:

digitally capturing a photographed image using a hand held digital device;

creating a first digital photographic image file of the captured image;

wirelessly transmitting the captured digital photographic image file from said hand held digital device to an interne based application web service which hosts a process engine for synchronizing said digital photographic image file with a second digital file;

the transmitted photographic digital image file including an associated alias, and one or more of the following metadata attributes selected from the group comprising the date, time, place of image file creation, the device and device settings used to take the image, the network access point, and the identity of the image taker;

selecting from within a menu of instructions stored within said process engine which of said stored instructions are to be applied to the further processing of the captured photographic digital image file, said selection performed by said process engine based upon the transmitted alias and the at least one of the metadata attributes associated with the said alias;

appending to the first digital photograph image file a second digital graphics file, said second digital graphics file including a digital frame which is configured to surround the captured first digital photographic image file to create a combined file, wherein all such image synchronization occurs remote from said hand held digital device; and

thereafter,

wirelessly transmitting the combined photographic image file to a wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the captured first digital photographic image file comprises a digital still image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the captured first digital photographic image file comprises a digital video image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital frame includes media selected from text and graphics disposed therewithin.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second digital file includes a digital image which creates a text or graphic overlay onto the captured first digital photographic image file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second digital file is combined with an audio file.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second digital file is combined with an appended marketing message.

8. The method of claim 1 in which an event configuration file within the process engine reads the alias, and based upon the alias and/or one or more of the metadata attributes associated with said alias selects from within a menu of stored instructions which of said stored instructions are to be applied to the further processing of the captured photographic digital image file.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the stored instructions include instructions for wirelessly transmitting the combined image files back to the sender of the photographic image file.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the stored instructions include instructions for wirelessly transmitting the combined files to a destination other than the destination of the first photographic image file sender.

11. The method of claim 1 further including the step of storing the combined first digital photographic image file and second digital graphics file in an online media depository.

12. A process engine for synchronizing a captured digital photographic image received from a wireless mobile device with stored media files, including:

an event configuration file which receives said forwarded digital image, and reads its associated metadata;

a directory file in communication with said event configuration file which directory file contains sponsored location event based instructions for image processing;

an instructions file in communication with said event configuration file which instructions file includes among other things instructions for post processing of the forwarded digital photographic image file, and instructions for immediately returning the processed image file to the wireless mobile device which sent the image file, the forwarding of the processed image file to a database for on-line storage, forwarding the processed image file to print service provider, or forwarding the processed image file to other mobile devices via wireless or by email provider to a predetermined distribution list; and

,

a tagging file in communication with the event configuration file, which tagging file includes a digital graphics file defining a frame to surround said photographic image, audio files and metadata to be synchronized with said captured digital photographic image file;

whereby, as received by the process engine, a wirelessly sent photographic image file along with its associated alias and metadata attributes is examined by the event configuration file and associated directory and instructions files, the tagging file accessed for retrieval of said digital graphics file for synchronization with said photographic image file, and additional processing performed according to instructions contained within said event configuration, directory and instructions files.

13. The process engine of claim 12 further including an event management system database for storage of said synchronized digital images.