Abstract:
The digital photo organizing and tagging method includes software and a database that organizes digitized versions of dispersed collections of images such as photographs, pictures and other graphical objects from a variety of sources. The method facilitates describing, resizing, indexing, and sorting the different aspects contained in images. Features include documentation, e-mail, updating, version control, inclusion of video, embellishment, sound, animation, text to speech and, dynamic search. An Internet application facilitates annotation, organization, researching and sharing images and corresponding information collected at different times and places. Desktop/Internet applications link and relate images that share common elements. The same person found as a child in one image, as an adult in another, and referenced in a newspaper article is a relation example. The method collects the knowledge embedded in multiple images and produces well documented, organized, and clearly explained printable images, as well as dynamic albums of related images.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/365,860, filed Feb. 4, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to Internet photo organizers, and particularly to a digital photo organizing and tagging method that interactively describes, organizes, searches, and shares images uploaded by users. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    People have collections of photographs dispersed in shoeboxes, albums, electronic storage, or other media. The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is misleading; a picture without words becomes harder to understand with the passing of time. Problems present themselves in the form of questions concerning who is in the picture, where, why and when was the picture taken. Oftentimes such questions remain unanswered and valuable information is lost. 
         [0006]    Thus, a digital photo organizing and tagging method solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The digital photo organizing and tagging method has interactive downloadable and online tools that facilitate describing, organizing, and researching images collected at different times, in different places. Images sharing similar components are linked and related to each other. For example, when images concerning a certain person are linked related using the interactive online tools of the image component web/pc database, the same person found as a child in one image, as an adult in another, and as referenced in a newspaper article are seamlessly linked together. The methodology of linking person images and references is similar to that of relating tables having common attributes in a relational database. 
         [0008]    The digital photo organizing and tagging method allows a user to collect the knowledge of many people to produce well documented, organized and clearly explained picture albums. 
         [0009]    The method extends the social information explosion brought about by well-known social networking sites. An e-mail application is provided so that users can e-mail images and the information about the images first to friends and family who arc better equipped to add content including new related images. Moreover, the documented images arc optionally stored in a central web database so that any person can search and add new discovery. Images may be retrieved and displayed in predetermined patterns based on random key selections from the central web database. 
         [0010]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing picture objects exchanged electronically from user to user in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the process for creating new Image Objects in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a screen shot showing presentation of Image Object and annotation in a browser in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a screen shot showing Image Object and story pulldown menu in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a block diagram showing Image Object story entry form after Write About was selected in the menu of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a section of the screen surrounded by a resizable frame, which enables information entry for the highlighted area in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a screen shot showing the frame with a submenu that enables additional commands pertinent to the frame itself in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing how users can mark small areas to reduce the frame size to a single dot in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing how the story application places markings on the edge of the picture to facilitate identification of image components in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a screen shot showing how an index to all the annotated image aspects is provided to allow easy identification of the annotated areas in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing how the computer displays all the information added to the image including bold names that are clickable to display the annotated image area in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing the drop cap embellishment options in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram showing how a designated animation character uses text to speech in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing the Forms interface corresponding to the Album Generator in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14A  is a screen shot showing “search” and “related” pushbuttons in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14B  is a screen shot showing the search popup in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14C  is a screen shot showing thumbnail portion of search results in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14D  is a screen shot showing index portion of search results in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram showing the Image Object displaying video in the bottom left hand corner in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram showing a section of the help manual displayed over the Image Object in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a block diagram showing a conceptual view of the Image Object database in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a simulated screen shot showing a randomized thumbnail search return in the form of dominos in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a block diagram showing examples of how the system-web server supports Internet users in multiple ways in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a block diagram showing server-PC interfaces in a digital photo organizing and tagging method according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    As shown in the diagram  100  OF  FIG. 1 , the digital photo organizing and tagging method can have at least one system server  105  connected to the Internet  102 . System server  105  is the central location accessible from the Internet  102 , and provides the necessary applications, interfaces, and the like, to interact with a user&#39;s personal computing device, e.g., Web-enabled devices  103   a,    103   b,    103   c,  or  103   d.  Image objects  117  can be shared among users of the Web-enabled devices  103   a,    103   b,    103   c,  and  103   d.  Given adequate permissions, a user can add a digital photo  17  to the original image object  117 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , member information can be stored in a database  2005  when it is resident on system server  105 . Image Objects generated and maintained by the image object generator are resizable, allow for descriptions, embellishments, component identification, and become searchable and. shareable by multiple users connected to the Internet. The Image Object  1902  allows the user to highlight, resize, and describe the different things that appear in the selected image. 
         [0038]    The member information is then accessible to system server  105 . The Internet  102  allows for remote support of the inventive photo organizing method available on authorized users&#39; remote personal computing devices. The server&#39;s connection to the Internet  102  allows for communication between the server  102  and a base of user devices, such as Web-enabled devices  103   a,    103   b,    103   c,  and  103   d.  Individuals connect to the server  105  via the Internet  102  to search, upload, and download image (picture) objects  2008 . 
         [0039]    The database portion of server  105  stores Image Objects in corresponding member directories. As shown in  FIG. 19 , an index  902  of image object keys can be extracted from the Image Objects to facilitate searching of the picture objects  1902 . A database search engine  1904  (shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 ) searches and links images that share common elements as dictated by search criteria input by the user. 
         [0040]    Server  105  contains a separate personal computing subset  1908  (PCS) suite of applications, which facilitate stand-alone image management operations on a personal computing device. The system server  105  may have installation services  1906  and may also serve up web pages associated therewith. The stand-alone image management software  1908  can be downloaded from and maintained by installation services  1906 . At least one auxiliary server  2000  may also include database  2005  filled with picture objects  1902  and be accessible by process  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) running on a user&#39;s Web-enabled device (e.g.  103   a    103   b ,  103   c,  or  103   d ) for uploading, viewing, and downloading of the picture objects  1902 . 
         [0041]    Individuals have the option to install software implementing functionality of the digital photo organizing and tagging method on a personal computer without the need of becoming members of the web server; in this ease, the users retain all the organizational facilities of the invention with the ability to share information on the Internet using e-mail. The personal computing subset  1908  provides applications that facilitate browsing within the user&#39;s personal computer, select images and convert them into Image Objects as shown in  FIG. 2 . The PCS software  1908  executes method steps (most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 ), which include method step  202  that allows the user to browse images on the user&#39;s computer, method step  204  that accepts images selected by the user, and method step  205  that converts the image into image (picture) objects. Moreover, the personal computing subset  1908  (shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 ) provides tools to create new albums and add new instances of Image Objects  1902 . 
         [0042]    As shown in Fig,  13 , at least one web page  1300  has a form area  1302  to enter new album title. A user selected image object may be displayed in form area  1308 . A picture object story area  1304  is provided for entry of narrative regarding the image object displayed in selected area  1308 . An iconic directory  1310  of files containing image objects  1 . 902  is also provided on the page  1300 . 
         [0043]    There is also a field  1306  displaying the path for the selected image object. A list of picture objects displayed in screen area  1312  may be selected. A. keyword list  1314  is displayed from the selected picture object. “Add 1”  1316  “Add all  1318 ” or “Remove  1320 ” buttons may be selected to build key word list  1322  that is used to build the album. Once the user is satisfied with the album build keys  1322 , the user selects Build  1324 , Re-Build  1326 , or Refresh  1328  to accomplish building the album with the image objects specified by the album selection criteria specified by build keys  1322 . 
         [0044]    It should be understood that the aforementioned layout on page  1300  is exemplary only and could be done in a variety of ways. For example, selecting a provided “Relate” button and a provided “Search” button can be made to cause the server  105  to use all aspects tagged in the selected current image object and look for other images that have at least one common aspect, i.e., matching keys, to thereby create a picture album having the required search criteria. 
         [0045]    The system server  105  has a database index that retains all the identified key names of objects submitted to the server  105 , including images, image parts, member names, and folder locations. The system server  105  and applications installed by PCS installation services  1906  maintain a history of changes made to Image Objects  1902 . Newly submitted image data is accepted by the system which automatically launches a system server search for other images that contain aspects related (according to search criteria) to the new data. The server utilizes an application that e-mails the search results to the owner of the image. Moreover, the e-mail application allows users to send updates or exchange information with other image owners. 
         [0046]    The Picture or Image Object  1902  encapsulates the image, its overall description, and applications to view, maintain, and update the Image Object plus the ability to create new objects. 
         [0047]    The digital photo organizer also includes a Help tool pop-up window  1600  (shown in  FIG. 16 ) that guides the user throughout the process. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a digital image  302  can be displayed inside a web browser  300 . A blank area  301  is reserved for text, pop=up menus, and the like, A menu bar  310  is provided to perform the various functions of the digital photo organizing and tagging method. 
         [0049]    When the user mouses over a previously identified item inside of the image  302 , a semi-opaque, predefined bounding box  304   a  encapsulates the identified item. Descriptive text  304   c  of the user-identified item bounded by box  304   a  is displayed inside a description text box  304   c.  As shown in  FIG. 4A , the descriptive text preparation can be initiated from the Story menu item  999 . When so initiated, as shown in Fig,  413 , an entry form  404  is provided for entry of the description of image  302 . A foreign alpha button  406  is also provided and is used to implement foreign character tools that allow the user to insert foreign characters when they are not available in the keyboard or keypad. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , during the description process, a bounding box  304   a  can be defined by the user via frame pull down menu  602  and positioned over the object of interest in the digital image  302 . “Name” and “About” buttons  304   b  are provided to allow the user to name the object of interest and to enter the description about the item of interest bounded by bounding box  304   a.  The pull down menu  602  allows for a variety of specifications of the bounding box height, width, properties, and the like. As shown in  FIG. 7  the bounding box  304   a  can be reduced to a point or graticule that more finely defines the object of interest subject to the associated descriptive narrative. Moreover, the pull down menu  602  has an option to turn on or turn off guides that are placed over the image  302 , the guides, as shown in  FIG. 8 , being an x-y coordinate grid marked with vertical indicia  802   v  combined with horizontal indicia  802   h  used to assist a user in determining a locus of a particular item of interest. When the name of the object of interest is entered, a unique combination of vertical indicia  802   v  and horizontal indicia  802   h  is defined and can be displayed as an associated superscript marking positioned next to the named specified object of interest. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the name field of the description in box  304   b  is used as an index key maintained by the system&#39;s database. When the index display box is checked, index keys are displayed in screen area  902 . Commands execute using shortcut keys or the drop down menus included in tool bar  310 . The tool bar view displays all commands in drop down menus. they driven commands use the keyboard; this optimizes the presentation of the image in the available screen space and is better suited for cell phones and other small Internet devices. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 10  the computer displays all the image information in story display area  1002 . Names are displayed in bold and are links which when clicked on, cause the associated annotated image area to be highlighted by bounding box  304   a.    
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , drop cap designs  1102  are available, (large initial letters or words at the start of a paragraph or document), in which the user can select a drop cap design that adds user specified style and focus to the image documented in narration area  1002 . Background and decoration tools are provided to enable user addition of attractive presentations to the image story. Additional processes of system  100  creates an album using the desired set of picture objects. The user designs the picture album cover by choosing a background picture, text format and color schemes. The album includes front and back covers, title, introductory page, contents page, the pictures, and a back alphabetical index of topics. Each entry in the table of contents and the alphabetized index links to a corresponding Image Object. A high-level index provides hyperlinks between related web page albums. 
         [0053]    Component annotation and image story applications use narration area  1002  to allow the user to clearly explain, modify, or change information about any image aspect. The component annotation application allows the user to delete selected image components. The image story application allows the user to provide details as to what image was originally created, as well as details as to when, why, and where the image was originally created. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the animation and text to speech optional button  1200  on web page  301  allows the user to embed animation and speech for the presentation of image descriptions using animated characters and digitized speech. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the music and video button  1502  on web page  301  allows the user to embed video for the presentation of image descriptions using video to enrich the image story 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , a Help feature  1600  is available throughout all the processes. Image Object generation  200  provides the capability of Generating new images or picture objects requires saving and running Image Object generation process  200  (having a simple HTML interface) downloaded as part of the PC Component mentioned above. Using the 
         [0057]    HTML interface the user browses the local computer, selects an image, provides a title, and generates the corresponding Image Object  1902 . 
         [0058]    In this digital photo organizing and tagging method, albums related to other albums collect into volumes. Related volumes constitute libraries. Embellishments are available for Image Objects, albums, and libraries, animation and text-to-speech options, music, video, backgrounds, fonts, and drop caps. The digital photo organizing and tagging method prints Image Objects, albums, volume, or libraries. Moreover, the method prints using the browser print preview from other applications, such as Msystem-webosoft Word or PDF. Alternatively, the above collections print at an outside facility. Optionally, it is possible to enlarge or reduce the Image Object displayed in the computer screen. Enlarged images facilitate positioning a frame around an aspect that otherwise would de difficult to distinguish. Image enlargement and reduction allow optimal presentation and composition of the final picture object, Resizing the image keeps the aspect ratio and position of the component frames. 
         [0059]    This application applies to users who wish to store Image Objects on the WEB Server and share and research across the Internet. Users that have installed the PC subset may or may not make use of this option. In this application, an individual using a web browser links to the main interface of the Internet Server  105 , The digital photo organizing and tagging method provides data entry fields on a web page that allow new individuals to establish membership. Existing members are provided with data entry fields for signing in to the secure server  105 . 
         [0060]    As soon as a new member is accepted, the system  100  automatically creates a member directory, a folder in which to store image or picture objects. The browser provided by the computing device does selection of Image Objects and albums. The user validates the selected items and proceeds with “Submit Objects, Verify Content.” 
         [0061]    Server administration analyzes the submitted objects for acceptable content. Rejected objects return to the sender with an explanation including recommended changes. A server global index  902  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) appends key words extracted from the accepted objects. The server  105  stores the accepted Image Objects in the corresponding member&#39;s folder ( FIG. 19 ). 
         [0062]    Database  2005  maintains a global index. The global index directory contains key information for all images, ownership, and component parts. Database generator  2002  compares the newly submitted objects to those previously stored in the database and produces a list of image locations that have matching items. The owner of the newly submitted object uses the list to research previously stored images, thereby providing new relationships with the recent submissions. 
         [0063]    An individual using a web browser links to the main interface of the invention and selects “Run Database Search.” The search engine  1904  allows the user to search by any combination of key words, quoted sentence, period, or physical location. A pictorial view of the Image Object database organization  1700 , search criteria and results is shown in  FIG. 17  where top row  1704  represents images stored in the database. The left hand column represents three different selection choices  1730   a,    1730   b,  and  1730   e . The second through third rows represents the selection results  1706 . After search results have been displayed, the user proceeds with “View Search Results.” As shown in  FIGS. 14A-14D , search results display a hyperlinked list of in all image objects that meet the search criteria. As most clearly shown in  FIG. 14A , a “Related” button  1392  and a “Search” button  1390   a  are provided to aid the user in searching based on either general selection criteria (“Related”) or user specified criteria (“Search”). As shown in  FIG. 1413 , a title or text item in the descriptive narrative may be used for search criteria. The web page provided by system  100  for such search queries includes a search button  1390  disposed above a find text entry field  1400   a,  which is disposed above a find album title entry field  1400   b.  In the exemplary web page, the text “navidad” is entered in the Find field  1   400   a.  The user then clicks on the search button  1390   b  to initiate the database query. Query results in the form of thumbnails and hyperlinks displaying related picture objects  1400   c  (albums, and the like) arc organized on the Search Results web page, as shown in  FIG. 14C . The exemplary objects returned by database search engine have a common word, “navidad” in their description or title, Alternative to the thumbnail view, a General Index  1400   d  having the selection criteria (“navidad”) can be displayed, as shown in  FIG. 14D . Search options include choosing one picture object (called the anchor object) as the source of data to search within all other picture objects. The key words contained in the anchor are used to select other picture objects that contain at least one key word. Moreover, the search engine  1904  contains hundreds of popular nouns. Nouns are added to the index (at the back of the album) if a searched object becomes part of the album. Searched objects become part of the album and the table of contents provided capitalized names (excluding common words that begin a sentence) exist in the anchor and the searched object. 
         [0064]    Searched objects add to the album if anchor titles, sub-titles, places, and dates share commonality with the searched object. 
         [0065]    The search criteria entry field permits exclusion of anchor keywords and inclusion of new words not available in the anchor. Yet another process excludes the anchor object altogether and a list of user provided keywords becomes the search criteria. 
         [0066]    Additional methods of the selection process allow for the display of a suggested, preliminary view of the album. The system permits the user to delete one or more selected Image Objects when the user has determined that those Image Objects do not actually represent the optimal set of images. Search returns generally include thumbnails and/or index of terms, both with hyperlinks to select the Image Objects. 
         [0067]    Clicking on a desired hyperlink displays the corresponding image on the screen of the computing device. The user can then download the desired image Objects, save them in a local PC folder, and proceed to study them. Moreover, the method provides a feature that saves new versions of the Image Objects called Child Image Objects, which inherit the elements of the original object and include new information. 
         [0068]    An additional feature includes the ability of the user to initiate a computer-generated random selection of key indices, which builds a table containing the randomly selected key indices. The computer then utilizes the randomly selected key indices to display in a predetermined structural pattern tagged digital image objects associated with the randomly selected key indices, Results can be a domino-like structure  1800  comprised of randomly selected images  302 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0069]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the applications described above, but encompasses any and all applications within the scope of the following claims.