Internet-based synchronized imaging

• US 8,154,755 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKER, DENNIS T
• Application Number:
  US13/065,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/402, 358/448, 358/452, 348/231.1, 348/231.3, 348/333.02, 348/231.6, 348/157, 348/143
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 modifying a first digital image file sent over the interne, the method including the steps of:

receiving said first digital image file by a server system, said server system including a process engine for synchronizing said received first digital image file with a second digital file;

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

processing said first digital image file according to instructions stored within the process engine of said server system, the selection of instructions to be applied 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 said first digital image file a second digital file to create a combined digital file, wherein all such synchronization occurs within said server system; and

thereafter,

transmitting the combined digital files to a select destination.

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

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

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said second digital file is a digital graphics file.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said digital graphics file includes both text and graphics.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said text and/or graphics containing second digital file combines with said first digital image file to create a text or graphic overlay.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said second digital file includes a digital frame which is configured to surround the first digital image file.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said digital frame contains both text and graphics.

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

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

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the appended marketing message is an advertising message.

12. 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 first photographic digital image file.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored instructions include instructions for transmitting the combined digital files to one or more select destinations.

14. The method of claim 13 where the combined digital files include appended marketing and/or advertising messages.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the stored instructions include instructions for transmitting the combined digital files back to the source of the image of the first digital image file.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the stored instructions include instructions for transmitting the combined files to one or more select destinations other than the source of the image of the first digital photographic image file.

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

18. A process engine for synchronizing stored media files with a received digital image file including:

an event configuration file for receiving a forwarded digital image file, and reading 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 image file, instructions for the returning of the processed image file to the source of said digital image file, the forwarding of the processed digital image file to a database for on-line storage, the forwarding of the processed digital image file to a print service provider, or the forwarding the processed image file to other devices according to a predetermined distribution list; and

,

a tagging file in communication with the event configuration file, which tagging file includes stored media files comprising digital image files, audio files, and metadata to be synchronized with said first digital image file;

whereby, as received by the process engine, a received digital 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 stored media file for synchronization with said first digital image file, and additional processing to be performed according to instructions contained within said event configuration, directory and instructions files.

19. The process engine of claim 18 further including an event management system database for storage of said synchronized combined digital files.

20. A method for modifying a first digital photographic image file including the steps of:

receiving a transmitted first photographic digital image file by a server system, said server system including a process engine for synchronizing said first digital photographic image file with a second digital file;

the received first digital photographic 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 source;

selecting from within a menu of instructions stored within the process engine of said server system which of said stored instructions are to be applied to the further processing of the first digital photographic 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 digital file, wherein all such image synchronization occurs within said server system; and

, thereafter,

transmitting the combined digital files to a select destination.