Method and apparatus for archiving and visualizing digital images
First Claim
1. A method of managing digital images using an electronic controller comprising:
- acquiring and storing image data;
acquiring and storing metadata related to images represented by the image data;
grouping the images into one or more collections using only the metadata; and
causing the grouped images to be accessed using visual cues graphically illustrating one or more characteristics within the relevant metadata, the characteristics including characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images, the characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images including information related to a click stream of the user, wherein the click stream of the user is generated using at least one of a frequency of access of the grouped images by the user or a characteristic of access of the grouped images by the user.
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Abstract
A computer based, digital image management system that visually presents an entire archive in a manner that facilitates easy, non-textual, searching for specific images. The system consists of two main elements; a file management methodology, and a graphical user interface. The file management method utilizes reference files that contain multiple properties (metadata) relating to each image file. Image files are grouped into a multiplicity of collections based on user-defined associations of the properties. The graphical user interface visually represents the groups of image files on 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional graphic metaphors. In addition, the graphical interface uses multiple display variables such as icons, mnemonics, size, movement, color, and luminance to signify relationships between groups, and/or communicate key properties of individual or groups of images.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of managing digital images using an electronic controller comprising:
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acquiring and storing image data; acquiring and storing metadata related to images represented by the image data; grouping the images into one or more collections using only the metadata; and causing the grouped images to be accessed using visual cues graphically illustrating one or more characteristics within the relevant metadata, the characteristics including characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images, the characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images including information related to a click stream of the user, wherein the click stream of the user is generated using at least one of a frequency of access of the grouped images by the user or a characteristic of access of the grouped images by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus comprising:
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a storage device to store image data and metadata related to images represented by the image data; and an electronic controller to associate the metadata with the image data, to group the images into one or more collections using only the metadata, and to cause the grouped images to be accessed using visual cues graphically illustrating one or more characteristics within the relevant metadata, the characteristics including characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images, the characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images including information related to a click stream of the user, wherein the click stream of the user is generated using at least one of a frequency of access of the grouped images by the user or a characteristic of access of the grouped images by the user. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A computer readable storage medium having instructions, which when executed on a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method comprising:
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acquiring and storing image data; acquiring and storing metadata related to images represented by the image data; grouping the images into one or more collections using only the metadata; and causing the grouped images to be accessed using visual cues graphically illustrating one or more characteristics within the relevant metadata, the characteristics including characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images, the characteristics of user interaction with the grouped images including information related to a click stream of the user, wherein the click stream of the user is generated using at least one of a frequency of access of the grouped images by the user or a characteristic of access of the grouped images by the user. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification