Method, Apparatus and Computer Program Product for Viewing a Virtual Database Using Portable Devices

• US 20080071770A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jacob, Matthias, Schloter, Philipp
• Application Number:
  US11/855,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071770A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location

Abstract

An apparatus for combining a visual search system(s) with a virtual database to enable information retrieval may include a processing element. The processing element may be configured to receive an indication of an image including an object, provide a tag list associated with the object in the image, the tag list comprising at least one tag, receive a selection of a keyword from the tag list, and provide supplemental information based on the selected keyword.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of an image including an object;

providing a tag list associated with the object in the image, the tag list comprising at least one tag;

receiving a selection of a keyword from the tag list; and

providing supplemental information based on the selected keyword.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the supplemental information comprises providing a web site, a document, a television program, a radio program, music recording, a reference manual, a book, a newspaper article, a magazine article or a guide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the supplemental information comprises providing an encyclopedia article related to the selected keyword.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the supplemental information comprises providing information in either audio or visual format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the supplemental information comprises providing a preview of a portion of each of a plurality of documents comprising the supplemental information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the supplemental information comprises providing only a best-matched result based on a ranking of results of a search for the supplemental information, the search being made based on the selected keyword.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of a particular item among a list of items comprising the supplemental information and rendering the particular item and information indicative of other objects proximate to the object in the image within a predefined distance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing supplemental information further comprises emailing the keyword and the supplemental information to an identified email recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the image comprises receiving indications of a captured image or an image in a field of view of a camera.

10. An apparatus, comprising a processing element configured to:

receive an indication of an image including an object;

provide a tag list associated with the object in the image, the tag list comprising at least one tag;

receive a selection of a keyword from the tag list; and

provide supplemental information based on the selected keyword.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to retrieve a web site, a document, a television program, a radio program, music recording, a reference manual, a book, a newspaper article, a magazine article or a guide.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to provide an encyclopedia article related to the selected keyword.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to provide a preview of a portion of each of a plurality of documents comprising the supplemental information.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to provide only a best-matched result based on a ranking of results of a search for the supplemental information, the search being made based on the selected keyword.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to receive a selection of a particular item among a list of items comprising the supplemental information and rendering the particular item and information indicative of other objects proximate to the object in the image within a predefined distance.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing element is further configured to email the keyword and the supplemental information to an identified email recipient.

17. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for receiving an indication of an image including an object;

a second executable portion for providing a tag list associated with the object in the image, the tag list comprising at least one tag;

a third executable portion for receiving a selection of a keyword from the tag list; and

a fourth executable portion for providing supplemental information based on the selected keyword.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for providing a web site, a document, a television program, a radio program, music recording, a reference manual, a book, a newspaper article, a magazine article or a guide.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for providing an encyclopedia article related to the selected keyword.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for providing a preview of a portion of each of a plurality of documents comprising the supplemental information.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for providing only a best-matched result based on a ranking of results of a search for the supplemental information, the search being made based on the selected keyword.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising a fifth executable portion for receiving a selection of a particular item among a list of items comprising the supplemental information and rendering the particular item and information indicative of other objects proximate to the object in the image within a predefined distance.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fourth executable portion includes instructions for emailing the keyword and the supplemental information to an identified email recipient.

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an indication of an image including an object;

means for providing a tag list associated with the object in the image, the tag list comprising at least one tag;

means for receiving a selection of a keyword from the tag list; and

means for providing supplemental information based on the selected keyword.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein means for providing the supplemental information comprises means for providing an encyclopedia article related to the selected keyword.