Systems and methods for the implementation of a digital images schema for organizing units of information manageable by a hardware/software interface system

• US 8,238,696 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dart, Scott E., Gibson, Bradley P., Evans, Christopher A., Hellyar, Paul S., Vaschillo, Alexander, Platt, John C., Glenner, Steve C., Ballou, Nathaniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desire, Gregory M
• Application Number:
  US10/692,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,210 Days
• Field of Search: 382/228, 382/305, 707/3, 707/5, 707/6, 707/100, 707/104.1, 715/513, 715/762, 715/765, 715/826
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• 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

Abstract

In an Item-based system, Images (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, bitmap, and so on) are treated as core platform objects (“Image Items” or, more simply, “Images”) and exist in an “Image Schema” that provides an extensible representation of an Image in the system—that is, the characteristics of an Image and how that Image relates to other Items (including but not limited to other Images) in the system. To this end, the Image Schema defines the properties, behaviors, and relationships for Images in the system, and the Schema also enforces rules about Images, for example, what data specific Images must contain, what data specific Images may optionally contain, how specific Images can be extended, and so on and so forth.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable media wherein the one or more computer readable media do not consist of a propagated data signal, the one or more computer readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed provide:

a hardware/software interface-for a computer system, said hardware/software interface manipulates a plurality of items stored in a memory device, the plurality of items comprising discrete units of information pertaining to an image and having properties understandable by said hardware/software interface system, wherein said hardware/software interface system comprises an image schema that defines at least one image item and at least one image property, wherein at least one image item is extended to define a photo schema that defines a foundational item type from which photo items manipulated in the hardware/software interface system are derived, the foundational item type defining attributes including a region of interest attribute of one of the photo items, the region of interest attribute including a field identifying at least one person within a first region of the one of the photo items.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said foundational item type further comprises at least one attribute from among the following group of attributes:

a date said photo was taken;

said date a photo was acquired;

a unique identification of an acquisition session for said photo;

an orientation;

a location;

an event;

a make of a camera;

a model of a camera;

an exposure time;

an aperture;

an ISO speed;

an indication of whether a flash was used for said photo;

an indication of whether a red-eye mode was used for said photo;

an exposure mode; and

a distance of the subject of said photo.

3. The one or more computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the hardware/software interface establishes a link between the photo item and an item pertaining to the at least one person in the one of the photo items.

4. The one or more computer readable media of claim 1 wherein said region of interest attribute further comprises a field identifying at least one region of interest within a second region in the one of the photo items.

5. The one or more computer readable media of claim 4 wherein said region of interest attribute further comprises a field for a confidence.

6. A system for manipulating a plurality of items, the items comprising discrete units of information pertaining to an image and having properties understandable by a hardware/software interface system, said system comprising:

a processor;

a computer storage media storing computer executable instructions that when executed provide;

an image schema to define at least one of an image item and at least one of an image property, wherein the at least one of the image items is extended to define a photo schema that defines a foundational item type from which photo items manipulated in the hardware/software interface system are derived, the foundational item type defining attributes including a region of interest attribute in one of the photo items, the region of interest attribute including a field identifying at least one person within a first region of the one of the photo items and a second field identifying at least one region of interest within a second region of the one of the photo items.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of a property in the image schema is a property for a region of said image, the region property comprising fields for the left, top, right, and bottom coordinates of said region.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said region of interest attribute of said one of the photo items further comprises a field for a confidence.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said hardware/software interface system comprises an analysis properties schema to define at least one analysis property (AP) of the one of the photo items.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one AP comprises at least one from among the following group of properties:

a color histogram;

a gray histogram; and

a similarity index.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the computer storage media stores computer executable instructions that when executed establish a link between the one of the photo items and an item pertaining to the at least one person in the photo item.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said foundational item type further comprises at least one attribute from among the following group of properties:

a date said photo was taken;

said date a photo was acquired;

a unique identification of an acquisition session for said photo;

an orientation;

a location;

an event;

a make of a camera;

a model of a camera;

an exposure time;

an aperture;

an ISO speed;

an indication of whether a flash was used for said photo;

an indication of whether a red-eye mode was used for said photo;

an exposure mode; and

a distance of the subject of said photo.

13. A method for a hardware/software interface system to manipulate a plurality of items, the items comprising discrete units of information pertaining to an image having properties understandable by said hardware/software interface system, said method comprising:

establishing by one or more processors an image schema to define at least one of an image item and at least one of an image property; and

establishing by the one or more processors an item in the image schema as a foundational item, constituting a foundational item type, from which all other image items manipulated in the hardware/software interface system are derived; and

establishing by the one or more processors a link between a photographic digital image item defined by the foundational item and an item pertaining to at least one person represented in a region of the photographic digital image item.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, in order to represent a geographic location where the photographic digital image item was taken, establishing by the one or more processors a link between said photographic digital image item and a location item corresponding to said geographic location, such that said photographic digital image item can be queried based on said location item.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, in order to represent a geographic location where the photographic digital image item was taken, setting by the one or more processors a location property on said link to correspond to said geographic location.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising, in order to represent at least one event represented in the photographic digital image item, establishing by the one or more processors a link between said photographic digital image item and an item pertaining to said event, such that said photographic digital image item can be queried based on said item pertaining to said event.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising establishing by the one or more processors a link from a first digital image item to a second digital image item that is either (a) a parent digital image item from which said first digital image item is derived or (b) a child digital image item that has been derived from said first digital image item.