In a digital photography system, users may collect a large number of image files on a computer. Photograph management software allows users to create photograph albums to organize their pictures, usually as part of a process for uploading photographs from the camera. The software also allows the user to manually place a photograph into multiple albums. The photograph albums are static in the sense that the album exists in the form of manually created entities to which the user explicitly adds photographs. Since the only way for a photograph to be added to the album is via manual action of the user, the process of photo album management is inherently time-consuming. Users generally must browse to the photographs during sorting. The user typically views a list of possible albums for insertion of the pictures and manually places the photographs into the desired albums.
A user creating a new photograph album may typically have to browse through all existing pictures to find pictures that are appropriate or desirable for the new album, making difficult the creation of transient collections of photographs.
Two common ways for organizing image files for viewing and accessing are through usage of file system artifacts such as folders and digital photo albums in the form of collections of photographs. Often digital photo albums are directly mapped from file system folders. Typically a file system is used to organize albums, with one directory representing one album. To place a photograph into an album, an associated media file is copied into the album directory.
A user includes an image in multiple albums by duplicating image files in the file system. Images are typically organized into albums which are similar to Personal Computer (PC) files system folders. Thus, an image copy resides in only one album and duplicate copies are used to store the image in multiple albums. For example, content is commonly organized into discrete collections of albums. To include a single content item into multiple albums, a file is copied into multiple album folders. Organizing the image files is generally a manual process.
In either conventional technique for photograph organization, photo albums and folders are static entities so that individual files and photographs are handled independently of other files and photographs, regardless of duplication. Thus, older photos may be ignored or forgotten when a user creates a new album.
Digital cameras typically integrate with computers by using software that allows uploading of photographs into file system folders and creating related photo albums. For example, many digital cameras are supplied in combination with photograph management software. The management software enables simple uploading of new photographs into a new photo album or directory. Users can also create new photo albums and manually move or copy photos into the new album, a time consuming process that involves the usual burdens and error-susceptibility of a manual process. Older photos that may fit into a new album are often ignored or forgotten.
Embodiments of a data processing system facilitate organization of content such as digital photographs, video files, audio tracks, and the like. The data processing system comprises a content manager that manages a content database and includes a content database initialization or creation utility and a content database search utility. The content database initialization utility creates a content database by assigning one or more tags that represents context of the content to content and combines the tag or tags with associated content in a data structure, and saves the data structure in a database. The content database search utility specifies a set of tag values representing context of content and initiates a database query for determining a set of content items that match the specified set of tag values. The content database search utility searches for the set of content items that match the tag values.
Embodiments of the invention relating to both structure and method of operation may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings:
Media content such as photographs are sorted using dynamic tags.
Users with a large collection of photographs appreciate an efficient technique for organization. Illustrative systems and techniques enable users to dynamically associate tags with photographs. The tags can be pre-defined or user-selected. Photographs may be organized in multiple ways based on associated tag values.
As digital photography increases in popularity, users often collect a large number of digital photographs. The systems and techniques disclosed herein enable users to organize their photographs in meaningful ways. A user may want to arrange the same photograph in different contexts. For example, a family picture may fit into both a “family pictures” photograph album and a “family reunion 2005” album. Manual organization of photographs is time consuming when done at the time the photographs are uploaded. The user is often creating a new album and may add the photographs to previously existing albums. The process is even more time consuming if the user later decides to organize older photographs in a new way, for example by creating new photograph albums.
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In some embodiments, the content database search utility 108 can be configured to receive a create content album command from a user 116 that specifies an album name and a set of tag values and respond by performing a database query. The content database search utility 108 compiles a list of content items resulting from the database query and saves the database query as at least part of a content album definition.
The content database search utility 108 can also be configured to receive an open content album command from a user 116 that specifies the album name and respond by opening a specified content album, accessing the saved database query for the specified content album, and determining content items included in the specified content album based on the database query.
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Content can be in the form of digital photographs, video data, audio data, documents, emails, business letters and papers, and other types of data.
The tags can be assigned 304 by selectively combining specified tag values with logical inclusive and logical exclusive operators such as logical-OR and logical-AND functions.
The tags can be various text labels assigned values that are system-defined or user-defined. The tags can also include name/value pairs with the name being system-defined or user-defined. An example of a user-define tag can be defined as “Date Taken=Dec. 23, 2007”, a type of tag that enables more complex expressions such as relative comparisons, for example using the logical-OR or logical-AND functions (Date Taken<“Jan. 1, 2005”). The tag that is stored has an absolute value. The database query used to build an album may have a relative expression.
Tags that already are present in the content database can be determined for subsequent tagging of newly added content or modification of tags assigned to previously present content. Referring to
Tags can be assigned to content at any time under user discretion. For example, referring to
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A dynamic content album can be created 340 by saving 342 the database query as at least part of a content album definition.
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The illustrative system and operating method enable a user to perform various editing operations. Referring to
The method 370 can further comprise receiving 376 a request to edit a content album wherein content album edits comprise modification of tag specification, extend content set, and filter content set operations. The content album is edited 378 according to the request.
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A dynamic content album can be created 410 by saving 412 the database query as at least part of a content album definition.
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Later, the user 516 can perform a search operation by specifying a set of tag values (which can be inclusive with ORed tags, or exclusive with ANDed tags), initiating a database query which finds a set of photographs that have a matching set of tags. The search and collection of photographs can be used transiently, for example to narrow a search for a specific picture. The search and collection of photographs can also be used to create a new, dynamic photo album by saving the query as part of the photograph album definition.
Similarly, the user 516 can perform a “create photo album” operation. As part of the process, the user 516 assigns a name to the album and specifies a set of tag values. Creating the photo album involves performing a database query to obtain a selected list of appropriate photographs and saving the query as part of the photograph album definition.
Each time the user 516 opens a dynamic photograph album, the contents are calculated based on the database query. Therefore, for example, new photographs which are tagged “family” are automatically entered in the Family photograph album.
The illustrative photograph management system 500 enables the user 516 to edit existing photographs 512 at any time to add, remove, or edit tag information. Existing photo albums may also be edited to modify their tag specification, to extend or filter the set of included photos.
For an example, when uploading a photograph 512, the user 516 may tag the photograph 512 with the following list of tags including “Family”, “German vacation”, “2006”, “Bamberg”, “Malcolm”, “Susan”, and “funny” tags. The photograph 512 is thus automatically and dynamically entered in multiple photograph albums which were previously created by the user or other authorized parties including:
The illustrative system and approach improves efficiency and enables extended photograph album functionality by introducing dynamic functionality and increased flexibility. Dynamic photograph albums automatically obtain appropriate pictures, thereby saving the user substantial management labor.
The illustrative system and method enable association of a context for photographs and also enables a meaningful way for the user to search their photograph collection. The illustrative tag technique imposes slight burden on system resources and is simple to implement highly flexible from the user's perspective. The user can choose contextual keys that make sense to user objectives, desires, and goals.
Terms “substantially”, “essentially”, or “approximately”, that may be used herein, relate to an industry-accepted tolerance to the corresponding term. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, functionality, values, process variations, sizes, operating speeds, and the like. The term “coupled”, as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. Inferred coupling, for example where one element is coupled to another element by inference, includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “coupled”.
The illustrative block diagrams and flow charts depict process steps or blocks that may represent modules, segments, or portions of code that include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Although the particular examples illustrate specific process steps or acts, many alternative implementations are possible and commonly made by simple design choice. Acts and steps may be executed in different order from the specific description herein, based on considerations of function, purpose, conformance to standard, legacy structure, and the like.
The block diagrams and flow charts further describe an article of manufacture comprising a controller-usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied in a controller for organizing content into albums by tagging, and modeling context of photographic content.
While the present disclosure describes various embodiments, these embodiments are to be understood as illustrative and do not limit the claim scope. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements of the described embodiments are possible. For example, those having ordinary skill in the art will readily implement the steps necessary to provide the structures and methods disclosed herein, and will understand that the process parameters, materials, and dimensions are given by way of example only. The parameters, materials, and dimensions can be varied to achieve the desired structure as well as modifications, which are within the scope of the claims. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may also be made while remaining within the scope of the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US08/79884 | 10/14/2008 | WO | 00 | 2/10/2011 |