Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program therefor

• US 8,290,957 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sorakado, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Phuong Thao
• Application Number:
  US12/766,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 707/737, 707/754
• US Class Current: 707/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/587 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

Information processing in which a position metadata piece is acquired from a target data piece, the position metadata piece indicating a position. Position metadata pieces are acquired from a plurality of other data pieces different from the target data piece. Target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces are acquired, a distribution of the target metadata pieces is analyzed based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces, and a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece is assigned to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first position acquiring unit configured to acquire a position metadata piece from a target data piece, the position metadata piece indicating a position;

a second position acquiring unit configured to acquire position metadata pieces from a plurality of other data pieces different from the target data piece;

a target acquiring unit configured to acquire target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces;

an analysis unit configured to analyze a distribution of the target metadata pieces based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces;

an assignment unit configured to assign to the target data piece a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece;

a clustering unit configured to, for each value of the analyzed target metadata pieces, organize the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces into a plurality of clusters;

a region creating unit configured to, for each of the clusters, create a region in correspondence with the cluster, in which a position indicated by each position metadata piece included in the cluster can exist;

an inclusion determination unit configured to, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, determine whether or not the first region is included in the second region;

a hierarchical information holding unit configured to hold hierarchical information indicating a combination of values that have a higher-level and lower-level hierarchical relationship from among the values of the target metadata pieces assigned to the other data pieces; and

a hierarchy confirmation unit configured to, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece is included in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, confirm whether or not hierarchical information is held, in which a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in a hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy,

wherein, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in any of the regions, the assignment unit assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the region,

wherein, if the first region is determined to be included in the second region, the assignment unit assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region,

wherein, if the holding of the hierarchical information is confirmed, the assignment unit assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region, and

wherein if the inclusion determination unit determines that the first region is included in the second region, the hierarchical information holding unit further holds hierarchical information indicating that a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in the hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy,

wherein at least one of the first position acquiring unit, the second position acquiring unit, the target acquiring unit, the analysis unit, the assignment unit, the clustering unit, the region creating unit, the inclusion determination unit, the hierarchical information holding unit, and the hierarchy confirmation unit comprises at least one of a processor and a memory.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an excluding unit configured to exclude from a cluster a position metadata piece that indicates a position located more than a predetermined distance away from a representative position that is obtained from positions indicated by a plurality of position metadata pieces included in the cluster,

wherein the region creation unit creates a region from the cluster obtained after the exclusion.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the representative position is an average position or a median position obtained from the positions.

4. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first position acquiring unit configured to acquire a position metadata piece from a target data piece, the position metadata piece indicating a position;

a second position acquiring unit configured to acquire position metadata pieces from a plurality of other data pieces different from the target data piece;

a target acquiring unit configured to acquire target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces;

an analysis unit configured to analyze a distribution of the target metadata pieces based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces;

an assignment unit configured to assign to the target data piece a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece;

a clustering unit configured to, for each value of the analyzed target metadata pieces, organize the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces into a plurality of clusters;

a region creating unit configured to, for each of the clusters, create a region in correspondence with the cluster, in which a position indicated by each position metadata piece included in the cluster can exist;

a hierarchical information holding unit configured to hold hierarchical information indicating a combination of values that have a higher-level and lower-level hierarchical relationship from among the values of the target metadata pieces assigned to the other data pieces; and

a hierarchy confirmation unit configured to, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, confirm whether or not hierarchical information is held, in which a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in a hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy,

wherein, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in any of the regions, the assignment unit assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the region, and

wherein, if the holding of the hierarchical information is confirmed, the assignment unit assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region,

wherein at least one of the first position acquiring unit, the second position acquiring unit, the target acquiring unit, the analysis unit, the assignment unit, the clustering unit, the region creating unit, the hierarchical information holding unit, and the hierarchy confirmation unit comprises at least one of a processor and a memory.

5. An information processing method comprising:

a first position acquiring step of acquiring a position metadata piece from a target data piece, the position metadata piece indicating a position;

a second position acquiring step of acquiring position metadata pieces from a plurality of other data pieces different from the target data piece;

a target acquiring step of acquiring target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces;

an analyzing step of analyzing a distribution of the target metadata pieces based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces;

an assigning step of assigning to the target data piece a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece;

a clustering step of, for each value of the analyzed target metadata pieces, organizing the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces into a plurality of clusters;

a region creating step of, for each of the clusters, creating a region in correspondence with the cluster, in which a position indicated by each position metadata piece included in the cluster can exist;

an inclusion determining step of, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, determining whether or not the first region is included in the second region;

a hierarchical information holding step of holding hierarchical information indicating a combination of values that have a higher-level and lower-level hierarchical relationship from among the values of the target metadata pieces assigned to the other data pieces; and

a hierarchy confirming step of, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece is included in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, confirming whether or not hierarchical information is held, in which a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in a hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy,

wherein, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in any of the regions, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the region,

wherein, if the first region is determined to be included in the second region, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region,

wherein, if the holding of the hierarchical information is confirmed, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region, and

wherein if the inclusion determining step determines that the first region is included in the second region, the hierarchical information holding step further holds hierarchical information indicating that a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in the hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy.

6. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program to cause a computer to execute an information processing method, the method comprising:

a first position acquiring step of acquiring a position metadata piece from a target data piece, the position metadata piece indicating a position;

a second position acquiring step of acquiring position metadata pieces from a plurality of other data pieces different from the target data piece;

a target acquiring step of acquiring target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces;

an analyzing step of analyzing a distribution of the target metadata pieces based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces;

an assigning step of assigning to the target data piece a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece;

a clustering step of, for each value of the analyzed target metadata pieces, organizing the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces into a plurality of clusters;

a region creating step of, for each of the clusters, creating a region in correspondence with the cluster, in which a position indicated by each position metadata piece included in the cluster can exist;

an inclusion determining step of, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, determining whether or not the first region is included in the second region;

a hierarchical information holding step of holding hierarchical information indicating a combination of values that have a higher-level and lower-level hierarchical relationship from among the values of the target metadata pieces assigned to the other data pieces; and

a hierarchy confirming step of, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece is included in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, confirming whether or not hierarchical information is held, in which a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in a hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy,

wherein, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in any of the regions, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the region,

wherein, if the first region is determined to be included in the second region, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region,

wherein, if the holding of the hierarchical information is confirmed, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region, and

wherein if the inclusion determining step determines that the first region is included in the second region, the hierarchical information holding step further holds hierarchical information indicating that a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in the hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy.

7. An information processing method comprising:

a first position acquiring step of acquiring a position metadata piece from a target data piece, the position metadata piece indicating a position;

a second position acquiring step of acquiring position metadata pieces from a plurality of other data pieces different from the target data piece;

a target acquiring step of acquiring target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces;

an analyzing step of analyzing a distribution of the target metadata pieces based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces;

an assigning step of assigning to the target data piece a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece;

a clustering step of, for each value of the analyzed target metadata pieces, organizing the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces into a plurality of clusters;

a region creating step of, for each of the clusters, creating a region in correspondence with the cluster, in which a position indicated by each position metadata piece included in the cluster can exist;

a hierarchical information holding step of holding hierarchical information indicating a combination of values that have a higher-level and lower-level hierarchical relationship from among the values of the target metadata pieces assigned to the other data pieces; and

a hierarchy confirming step of, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in a first region as one of the regions and in a second region different from the first region, confirming whether or not hierarchical information is held, in which a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region is at a lower level in a hierarchy, and a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the second region is at a higher level in the hierarchy,

wherein, when the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece exists in any of the regions, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the region, and

wherein, if the holding of the hierarchical information is confirmed, the assigning step assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece assigned to another data piece having an assigned position metadata piece included in the cluster corresponding to the first region.