Method and apparatus for archiving and visualizing digital images

• US 8,705,897 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Chao, Edward K., Herf, Michael B., Perkins, Lars D., Sturtevant, Reed P. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US13/100,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 382305-307
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/08 Sorting, i.e. grouping record carriers in numerical or other ordered sequence according to the classification of at least some of the information they carry by merging two or more sets of carriers in ordered sequence G06F7/16

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. In one embodiment, the system includes two 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-dimentional 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.

Claims

1. A method of an electronic controller presenting a collection of digital images comprising:

retrieving a plurality of collections of digital image files, each collection consolidating digital image files into groups based on metadata before receipt of an image display request, wherein the metadata includes at least data indicative of user interaction with the digital image files in the plurality of collections subsequent to initially acquiring the digital image files, and wherein the metadata is based on a frequency of access of the digital image files by the user; and

displaying iconic representations of the digital images files by display of the collections in a visual metaphor, wherein the visual metaphor displays the iconic representations for different collections at different sizes and positions relative to one another, and wherein the different sizes of the collections in the visual metaphor are based on the frequency of access.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the electronic controller being responsive to user input by opening a digital image file selected by a user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are displayed along a timeline.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are displayed on a geographic map.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are displayed in association with metadata indicative of a human relationship.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the metadata indicative of a human relationship is metadata indicative of a family tree.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are displayed using a graphic representation indicative of an emotional state based on the metadata.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the graphic representation indicative of the emotional state includes a representation of a human face and the collections of iconic representations of digital image files are visually associated with the representation of a human face.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are displayed based on relative importance of individual collections, and wherein the relative importance is determined based on frequency of access of the digital image files.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the display based on relative importance displays individual collections with differing relative sizes, whereby a larger iconic representation of a collection indicates that the digital image files contained therein are of more interest to a user than the digital image file contents of a smaller iconic representation of a different collection.

11. An apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images comprising:

an electronic controller configured to retrieve a plurality of collections of digital image files, each collection consolidating digital image files into groups based on metadata before receipt of an image display request, wherein the metadata includes at least data indicative of user interaction with the digital image files in the plurality of collections subsequent to initially acquiring the digital image files, and wherein the metadata is based on a frequency of access of the digital image files by the user;

the electronic controller configured to display iconic representations of the digital images files by display of the collections in a visual metaphor, wherein the visual metaphor displays the iconic representations for different collections at different sizes and positions relative to one another, and wherein the different sizes of the collections in the visual metaphor are based on the frequency of access; and

the electronic controller being responsive to user input by opening a digital image file selected by a user.

12. The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of claim 11 wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display the collections of iconic representations of digital image files along a timeline.

13. The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of claim 11 wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display the collections of iconic representations of digital image files on a map.

14. The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of claim 11 wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display the collections of iconic representations of digital image files in association with metadata indicative of a human relationship.

15. The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of claim 11 wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display the collections of iconic representations of digital image files using a graphic representation indicative of an emotional state based on the metadata.

16. The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images comprising of claim 11 wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display the collections of iconic representations of digital image files based on relative importance of individual collections.

17. The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of claim 16 wherein the electronic controller is configure to interactively display the collections of iconic representations of digital image files, whereby a larger iconic representation of a collection indicates that the digital image files contained therein are of more interest to a user than the digital image file contents of a smaller iconic representation of a different collection.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method comprising:

retrieving a plurality of collections of digital image files, each collection consolidating digital image files into groups based on metadata before receipt of an image display request, wherein the metadata includes at least data indicative of user interaction with the digital image files in the plurality of collections subsequent to initially acquiring the digital image files, and wherein the metadata is based on a frequency of access of the digital image files by the user;

displaying iconic representations of the digital images files by display of the collections in a visual metaphor, wherein the visual metaphor displays the iconic representations for different collections at different sizes and positions relative to one another, and wherein the different sizes of the collections in the visual metaphor are based on the frequency of access; and

responsive to user input, opening a collection of digital image files selected by a user.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are interactively displayed along a timeline.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are interactively displayed on a map.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein collections of iconic representations of digital image files are interactively displayed in association with metadata indicative of a human relationship.