Client-server system for merging of metadata with images

• US 20020087601A1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: FotoMedia Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C., Morris, Robert Paul, Bernstein, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/515
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• 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: 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system for merging metadata with digital images is disclosed, where the digital images are stored as image files having metadata fields associated therewith. The method and system include receiving data uploaded from a remote location, providing a web application to a client device over a network when requested, and transmitting the previously uploaded data to the web application. When an image requires input of metadata on the client device, the uploaded data is displayed on the client device for selection by the user. In response to the user'"'"'s selection, the selected data is then used to automatically populate the metadata fields associated with the image file.

Claims

1. A method for merging metadata with digital images, wherein the digital images are stored as image files having metadata fields associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data uploaded from a remote location;

(b) providing a web application to a client device over a network when requested, and transmitting the previously uploaded data to the web application;

(c) when an image requires input of metadata, displaying the uploaded data on the client device for selection by the user; and

(d) in response to the user'"'"'s selection, using the selected data to automatically populate the metadata fields associated with the image file.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of associating the uploaded data with an account.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of associating the uploaded data with the web application.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the steps of receiving the uploaded data from the client device.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of receiving another data set and associating the data set with the account.

6. The method of claim 4 further including the steps of:

allowing the user to manually enter data on the client device;

receiving the manually entered data transmitted from the client device;

associating the data with the web application from which it was entered; and

when the user subsequently accesses this web application, transmitting the manually entered data to the web application for selection by the user, thereby saving the user from having to manually enter the data again

7. The method of claim 6 further including the step of storing the manually data in a history list within a user account.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of associating the history list with a specific metadata field within the web application.

9. The method of claim 4 further including the step of using XML tags to allow metadata fields to be defined for images and associating one or more XSL stylesheets to the metadata.

10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of using the stylesheets associated with metadata and presentation characteristics of the client device to present the metadata in a manner that is consistent with the semantics and meaning of the metadata.

11. A system for merging metadata with digital images, wherein the digital images are stored as image files having metadata fields associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

means for receiving data uploaded from a remote location;

means for providing a web application to a client device over a network when requested, and transmitting the previously uploaded data to the web application;

means for when an image requires input of metadata, displaying the uploaded data on the client device for selection by the user; and

means for in response to the user'"'"'s selection, using the selected data to automatically populate the metadata fields associated with the image file.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the uploaded data is associated with an account.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the uploaded data is associated with the web application.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the uploaded data is received from the client device.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein another data set is received and associated with the account.

16. The system of claim 14 further including:

means for allowing the user to manually enter data on the client device;

means for receiving the manually entered data transmitted from the the client device;

means for associating the data with the web application from which it was entered; and

means for responsive to the user subsequently accesses this web application for transmitting the manually entered data to the web application for selection by the user, thereby saving the user from having to manually enter the data again.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the manually data is stored in a history list within a user account.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the history list is associated with a specific metadata field within the web application.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein XML tags are used to allow metadata fields to be defined for images and wherein one or more XSL stylesheets are associated with the metadata.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the stylesheets associated with metadata are used along with the presentation characteristics of the client device to present the metadata in a manner that is consistent with the semantics and meaning of the metadata.

21. An online system comprising:

a client device having files stored thereon, wherein each of the files has metadata fields associated therewith;

a server in communication with the client device over a network, the server for supplying a web application to the client device and further for storing previously uploaded data associated with an account; and

a browser running on the client device for interacting with the web application, such that when the web application identifies the account to the server, the server transmits the uploaded data to the web application so that when a file requires the input of metadata, the uploaded data may be displayed on the client device for selection by the user, wherein in response to the user'"'"'s selection, the web application uses the selected data to automatically populate the metadata fields associated with the file.

22. The online system of claim 21 wherein the files comprise image files.

23. The online system of claim 22 wherein the web application performs imaging related function on the image files.

24. The online system of claim 23 wherein the client device comprises an image capture device.

25. The online system of claim 24 including a plurality of client devices that communicate data in different formats, and a plurality of online photo service sites, wherein each of the photo service sites utilize different data models, the server further including;

a meta-application for defining a common data model format for the different formats of the photo service sites, such that when a request is received from a client device for photo services from a particular photo service site, the request is passed to the photo service site, and wherein when a response from the photo service site is received, the response is converted from the data model of the photo service site to the common data model format, the converted request is then presented to the requesting client device in the data format required by the requesting client device.