Method and system for processing images using time and location filters

• US 9,665,597 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Allen, Mitch, Crowley, Matthew W., Dellinger, Richard, Haitani, Robert Y., Chambers, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Kuen
• Application Number:
  US11/726,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,722 Days
• Field of Search: 707100, 707769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A device may process images (e.g. sort, group, file, e-mail, etc.) using various filters. The filters may relate to non-image data in the image files to be processed. The filters may include time and location filters.

Claims

1. A method of processing images captured by a mobile computing device, the method performed by one or more processors of the mobile computing device and comprising:

associating each respective image of a number of images captured by the mobile computing device with a time at which the respective image was captured, and with a location at which the respective image was captured, the location determined by accessing a location application of the mobile computing device;

accessing a calendar application of the mobile computing device to identify an event entry corresponding to an event during the same time and having the same location as the respective image,

wherein accessing the calendar application of the mobile computing device to identify the event entry corresponding to the event further comprises;

selecting a number of event entries in the calendar application;

assigning a priority to each of the selected number of event entries based, at least in part, on a closeness of a time and a location of the event entry to the time and location, respectively, at which the respective image was captured, wherein the priorities define a hierarchy of the selected number of event entries; and

selecting the event entry having the highest priority as the identified event entry;

associating the respective image with the identified event entry in the calendar application,

wherein the location and the time associated with the respective image remain unchanged;

generating an icon on the identified event entry in the calendar application indicating that one or more images were captured at the event; and

in response to receiving a user selection of the icon, displaying the respective image on a display of the mobile computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album of the event, a plurality of images, including the respective image, captured by the mobile computing device at the event; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon, presenting the virtual album of the event on the display.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying one or more individuals in the plurality of images, captured by the mobile computing device at the event, using an image recognition program of the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

accessing a contacts application of the mobile computing device to identify a contact entry corresponding to a respective one of the one or more identified individuals in the respective image;

associating the respective image with the contact entry;

generating the icon on the contact entry to indicate that one or more images of the respective individual are stored in the mobile computing device; and

in response to a user selection of the icon on the contact entry, displaying the respective image on the display.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album of the respective individual, a plurality of images of the respective individual, including the respective image, captured by the mobile computing device; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon on the contact entry, presenting the virtual album of the respective individual on the display.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

initiating a messaging application to construct a message with an attachment corresponding to the virtual album of the event.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

presenting an option, on the display, to send the constructed message to the respective individual.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more identified individuals is associated with a respective contact entry of the contacts application, the method further comprising:

presenting an option, on the display, to send the constructed message to each of the one or more identified individuals.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a map on the display;

presenting the icon on a map-point on the map, corresponding to the location at which the respective image was captured, to indicate that one or more images were captured by the mobile computing device at the location; and

in response to a user selection of the icon on the map-point, displaying the respective image on the display.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album, a plurality of images associated with the location and the respective image captured by the mobile computing device; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon on the map-point, presenting the virtual album on the display.

11. A mobile computing device comprising:

a display;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions for processing images captured by the mobile computing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to perform operations comprising;

associating each respective image of a number of images captured by the mobile computing device with a time at which the respective image was captured, and with a location at which the respective image was captured, the location determined by accessing a location application of the mobile computing device;

accessing a calendar application of the mobile computing device to identify an event entry corresponding to an event during the same time and having the same location as the respective image,

wherein accessing the calendar application of the mobile computing device to identify the event entry corresponding to the event further comprises;

selecting a number of event entries in the calendar application;

assigning a priority to each of the selected number of event entries based, at least in part, on a closeness of a time and a location of the event entry to the time and location, respectively, at which the respective image was captured, wherein the priorities define a hierarchy of the selected number of event entries; and

selecting the event entry having the highest priority as the identified event entry;

associating the respective image with the identified event entry in the calendar application,

wherein the location and the time associated with the respective image remain unchanged;

generating an icon on the identified event entry in the calendar application indicating that one or more images were captured at the event; and

in response to receiving a user selection of the icon, displaying the respective image on a display of the mobile computing device.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album of the event, a plurality of images, including the respective image, captured by the mobile computing device at the event; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon, presenting the virtual album of the event on the display.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

identifying one or more individuals in the plurality of images, captured by the mobile computing device at the event, using an image recognition program of the mobile computing device.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 13, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

accessing a contacts application of the mobile computing device to identify a contact entry corresponding to a respective one of the one or more identified individuals in the respective image;

associating the respective image with the contact entry;

generating the icon on the contact entry to indicate that one or more images of the respective individual are stored in the mobile computing device; and

in response to a user selection of the icon on the contact entry, displaying the respective image on the display.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album of the respective individual, a plurality of images of the respective individual, including the respective image, captured by the mobile computing device; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon on the contact entry, presenting the virtual album of the respective individual on the display.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

initiating a messaging application to construct a message with an attachment corresponding to the virtual album of the event.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

presenting an option, on the display, to send the constructed message to the respective individual.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more identified individuals is associated with a respective contact entry of the contacts application, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

presenting an option, on the display, to send the constructed message to each of the one or more identified individuals.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

displaying a map on the display; and

presenting the icon on a map-point on the map, corresponding to the location at which the respective image was captured, to indicate that one or more images were captured by the mobile computing device at the location; and

in response to a user selection of the icon on the map-point, displaying the respective image on the display.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album, a plurality of images associated with the location and the respective image captured by the mobile computing device; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon on the map-point, presenting the virtual album on the display.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for processing images captured by a mobile computing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to perform operations comprising:

associating each respective image of a number of images captured by the mobile computing device with a time at which the respective image was captured, and with a location at which the respective image was captured, the location determined by accessing a location application of the mobile computing device;

accessing a calendar application of the mobile computing device to identify an event entry corresponding to an event during the same time and having the same location as the respective image,

wherein accessing the calendar application of the mobile computing device to identify the event entry corresponding to the event further comprises;

selecting a number of event entries in the calendar application;

assigning a priority to each of the selected number of event entries based, at least in part, on a closeness of a time and a location of the event entry to the time and location, respectively, at which the respective image was captured, wherein the priorities define a hierarchy of the selected number of event entries; and

selecting the event entry having the highest priority as the identified event entry;

associating the respective image with the identified event entry in the calendar application,

wherein the location and the time associated with the respective image remain unchanged;

generating an icon on the identified event entry in the calendar application indicating that one or more images were captured at the event; and

in response to receiving a user selection of the icon, displaying the respective image on a display of the mobile computing device.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album of the event, a plurality of images, including the respective image, captured by the mobile computing device at the event; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon, presenting the virtual album of the event on the display.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

identifying one or more individuals in the plurality of images, captured by the mobile computing device at the event, using an image recognition program of the mobile computing device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

accessing a contacts application of the mobile computing device to identify a contact entry corresponding to a respective one of the one or more identified individuals in the respective image;

associating the respective image with the contact entry;

generating the icon on the contact entry to indicate that one or more images of the respective individual are stored in the mobile computing device; and

in response to a user selection of the icon on the contact entry, displaying the respective image on the display.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album of the respective individual, a plurality of images of the respective individual, including the respective image, captured by the mobile computing device; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon on the contact entry, presenting the virtual album of the respective individual on the display.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

initiating a messaging application to construct a message with an attachment corresponding to the virtual album of the event.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

presenting an option, on the display, to send the constructed message to the respective individual.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein each of the one or more identified individuals is associated with a respective contact entry of the contacts application, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

presenting an option, on the display, to send the constructed message to each of the one or more identified individuals.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

displaying a map on the display;

presenting the icon on a map-point on the map, corresponding to the location at which the respective image was captured, to indicate that one or more images were captured by the mobile computing device at the location; and

in response to a user selection of the icon on the map-point, displaying the respective image on the display.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein execution of the instructions causes the mobile computing device to perform operations further comprising:

storing, in a virtual album, a plurality of images associated with the location and the respective image captured by the mobile computing device; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the icon on the map-point, presenting the virtual album on the display.