Patent Publication Number: US-2021181902-A1

Title: Digital image tagging apparatuses, systems, and methods

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/967,517, filed Apr. 30, 2018, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/336,946, filed Jul. 21, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,977,570 on May 22, 2018, which application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/165,414, filed Jun. 30, 2008 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,788,493 on Jul. 22, 2014. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     As digital picture technologies have progressed, the creating, storing, and sharing of digital pictures has become commonplace in society. For example, many users of digital cameras and other digital imaging devices have amassed large electronic libraries of digital pictures. However, conventional digital picture management and sharing applications, especially applications provided on relatively small form-factor devices such as mobile phones, tend to be un-intuitive, short on features, and difficult to use. Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in digital picture management and user interface applications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, identical or similar reference numbers designate identical or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary digital image tagging system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary mobile device having the system of  FIG. 1  implemented therein. 
         FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate an exemplary digital image tagging process and data layer structure. 
         FIGS. 4A-4I  illustrate exemplary graphical user interface views that may be displayed in a graphical user interface (“GUI”). 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary digital image publishing and access system. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary digital image storage and access subsystem. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary digital image tagging method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary digital image tagging apparatuses, systems, and methods are described herein. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, user input is received, a selected portion of a digital image is identified based on the user input, and a tag is applied to the selected portion of the digital image. The applied tag provides an association between the selected portion of the digital image and a data instance. In certain embodiments, application of the tag includes generating an image map that maps the selected portion of the digital image to the tag. For example, the application of the tag may include inserting data representative of the tag in metadata associated with the digital image. In certain embodiments, the tag includes a link (e.g., a hyperlink) to the data instance. 
     In certain embodiments, the tag may include a visual indicator configured to be displayed together with a digital image in a digital image view of a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The visual indicator may include a selectable object in the digital image view. A component of the visual indicator may visually indicate the selected portion of the digital image to which the tag is applied. 
     In certain embodiments, various GUI views may be displayed in a GUI and may be configured to enable a user to interact with digital image tagging tools, features, and functionality. In some examples, the GUI may include an image tagging view and/or other tool(s) configured to enable a user to provide user input defining the selected portion of the digital image and/or defining the tag to be applied to the selected portion of the digital image. 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, data representative of a tagged digital image is published to a digital image storage and access subsystem over a network. The digital image storage and access subsystem may be configured to store and provide a plurality of access devices with access to tagged digital images. In some examples, various users may access a tagged digital image and provide user input defining additional tags to be applied to the digital image. In some such examples, tags may be defined by various users, applied to a digital image, and used to create one or more conversation threads between the users. 
     Exemplary embodiments of digital image tagging apparatuses, systems, and methods will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary digital image tagging system  100  (or simply “system  100 ”). As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  100  may include a communication facility  110 , processing facility  120 , storage facility  130 , input/output (“I/O”) facility  140 , camera facility  150 , image tagging facility  160 , user interface facility  170 , and publishing facility  180  communicatively connected to one another. The facilities  110 - 180  may be communicatively connected using any suitable technologies and may communicate using any communication platforms and/or technologies suitable for transporting communications and data (e.g., image and/or tag data) between the facilities  110 - 180 , including well known communication platforms and technologies. 
     In some examples, system  100  may include any computing hardware and/or instructions (e.g., software programs), or combinations of computing instructions and hardware, configured to perform the processes described herein. In particular, it should be understood that system  100  or components of system  100  may be implemented on one physical computing device or may be implemented on more than one physical computing device. Accordingly, system  100  may include any one of a number of well known computing devices, and may employ any of a number of well known computer operating systems. 
     One or more of the processes described herein may be implemented at least in part as computer-executable instructions, i.e., instructions executable by one or more computing devices, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium. In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions, e.g., from a memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions may be stored and transmitted using a variety of known computer-readable media. 
     A computer-readable medium (also referred to as a processor-readable medium) includes any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer (e.g., by a processor of a computer). Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media may include, for example, dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”), which typically constitutes a main memory. Transmission media may include, for example, coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computer. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves, and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (“RF”) and infrared (“IR”) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computing device can read. 
     Accordingly, each of the facilities  110 - 180  may be implemented as hardware, computing instructions (e.g., software) tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, or a combination of hardware and tangibly embodied computing instructions configured to perform one or more of the processes described herein. In certain embodiments, for example, image tagging facility  160 , user interface facility  170 , and/or one or more other facilities may be implemented as one or more software applications embodied on a computer-readable medium, such as storage facility  130  or other memory, and configured to direct processing facility  120  to execute one or more of the processes described herein. 
     The components of system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  are illustrative only. Other embodiments may add, omit, or reconfigure one or more components. Each of the facilities  110 - 180  will now be described in more detail. 
     Communication facility  110  may be configured to send and/or receive communications to/from one or more external devices (e.g., a server). Communication facility  110  may include and/or employ any device, logic, communication media, communication protocols, and/or other technologies suitable for transmitting and receiving communications and data, including data representative of digital images (e.g., photos) and/or publishing commands and data. Examples of such communication technologies, devices, media, and protocols include, but are not limited to, data transmission media, communications devices, Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”), Internet Protocol (“IP”), File Transfer Protocol (“FTP”), Telnet, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“HTTPS”), Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”), Simple Object Access Protocol (“SOAP”), Extensible Mark-up Language (“XML”) and variations thereof, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), Real-Time Transport Protocol (“RTP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”) technologies, Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) technologies, Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”) technologies, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Message Service (“MMS”), Evolution Data Optimized Protocol (“EVDO”), radio frequency (“RF”) signaling technologies, signaling system seven (“SS7”) technologies, Ethernet, in-band and out-of-band signaling technologies, and other suitable communications networks and technologies. 
     Processing facility  120  may include one or more processors and may be configured to execute and/or direct execution of one or more processes or operations described herein. Processing facility  120  may direct execution of operations in accordance with computer-executable instructions such as may be stored in storage facility  130  or another computer-readable medium. As an example, processing facility  120  may be configured to process data, including demodulating, decoding, and parsing acquired data, and encoding and modulating data for transmission by communication facility  110 . 
     Storage facility  130  may include one or more data storage media, devices, or configurations and may employ any type, form, and combination of storage media. For example, the storage facility  130  may include, but is not limited to, a hard drive, network drive, flash drive, magnetic disc, optical disc, random access memory (“RAM”), dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), other non-volatile and/or volatile storage unit, or a combination or sub-combination thereof. Data, including data representative of digital images, tags, and/or image metadata, may be temporarily and/or permanently stored in the storage facility  130 . 
     I/O facility  140  may be configured to receive user input and provide user output and may include any hardware, firmware, software, or combination thereof supportive of input and output capabilities. For example, I/O facility  140  may include one or more devices for capturing user input, including, but not limited to, a microphone, speech recognition technologies, keyboard or keypad, touch screen component, receiver (e.g., an RF or infrared receiver), and one or more input buttons. 
     I/O facility  140  may include one or more devices for presenting output to a user, including, but not limited to, a graphics engine, a display (e.g., a display screen), one or more display drivers, one or more audio speakers, and one or more audio drivers. Output may include audio, visual (e.g., digital images), textual, and/or haptic output. In certain embodiments, for example, I/O facility  140  is configured to display a graphical user interface (“GUI”) for viewing by a user. Exemplary GUI views that may be displayed by I/O facility  140  are described further below. 
     Camera facility  150  may include any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to capture digital images. Digital images captured by camera facility  150  may be referred to as “camera images.” Camera facility  150  may include a still-shot camera, video camera, and/or components of a camera such as a camera lens, camera sensor, etc. These and/or any other suitable camera technologies and devices may be employed by camera facility  150 . Accordingly, camera facility  150  may capture one or more digital images, including generating data representative of the digital camera images (i.e., digital image data). Data representative of digital images may be provided to one or more other facilities  110 - 140  and  160 - 180  for processing and/or storage. For example, digital image data may be temporarily or permanently stored in storage facility  130 . A digital image may include data representative of one or more images, including, but not limited to, a photograph, picture, video, or other collection of image frames. In certain embodiments, data representative of a digital image includes an image data file in any suitable file format such as, but not limited to, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, RAW, PNG, and/or GIF formats. 
     Image tagging facility  160  may be configured to identify a selected portion of a digital image and apply a tag to the selected portion of the digital image. In certain embodiments, the selected portion of the digital image may be identified and the tag may be applied based on user input defining the selected portion and/or the tag. Exemplary tags and application of a tag to a selected portion of a digital image are described further below. 
     User interface facility  170  may be configured to generate one or more user interfaces. For example, a GUI including one or more GUI views may be generated and provided to I/O facility  140  for display. Exemplary GUI views, including GUI views related to defining a selected portion of a digital image and a tag to be applied to the selected portion of the digital image, are described further below. 
     Publishing facility  180  may be configured to execute, or direct execution of, one or more operations for publishing digital images, including tagged digital images. Publishing may include, but is not limited to, providing one or more digital images to I/O facility  140  for display, to communication facility  110  for transmission to an external device or devices for storage and/or access, and/or to an external service or platform (e.g., a social networking website) for display. An example of publishing a tagged digital image is described further below. 
     System  100  may be implemented in a variety of ways and as may suit a particular application.  FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary mobile device  200  having system  100  implemented therein. Mobile device  200  may include one or more of the facilities  110 - 180  shown in  FIG. 1  and may be configured to perform one or more of the processes and/or operations described herein. In certain embodiments, mobile device  200  comprises a mobile phone device such as a mobile phone having a built-in digital camera. 
     Implementation of system  100  in mobile device  200  is illustrative only. In other embodiments, system  100  may include or be implemented in other devices or types of devices, including, but not limited to, a computing device (e.g., a desktop or laptop computer), a communication device (e.g., a telephone, a network access device, a wireless computing device, a wireless communication device, a personal digital assistant, a camera, a set-top box, and any other device configured to perform one or more of the image tagging processes described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , mobile device  200  may include a plurality of input buttons  210 - 1  through  210 - 8  (collectively “input buttons  210 ”), which may be actuated by a user to provide input to the mobile device  200 . Exemplary input buttons may include “soft” and/or “hard” coded input buttons. “Soft” coded buttons may be dynamically associated with different user input commands and/or operations based on the context of operations of the mobile device  200 , and “hard” coded buttons may be statically associated with corresponding user input commands and/or operations of the mobile device  200 .  FIG. 2  illustrates mobile device  200  including “soft” input buttons  210 - 1  and  210 - 2 . Operations associated with “soft” input buttons  210 - 1  and  210 - 2  may be indicated to a user.  FIG. 2  shows a visually indicated “menu” operation and “options” operation as being associated with “soft” input buttons  210 - 1  and  210 - 2 , respectively. Mobile device  200  further includes a “clear” (“CLR”) input button  210 - 3 , a “SEND” input button  210 - 4 , an “END” input button  210 - 5 , a camera mode input button  210 - 6 , a selector button  210 - 7 , and one or more directional (e.g., “up”, “down,” “left,” and “right”) input buttons  210 - 8 . 
     A user of mobile device  200  may utilize one or more of the input buttons  210  to provide user input for mobile device operations. For example, camera mode input button  210 - 6  may be actuated to activate or terminate operation of a camera mode on mobile device  200 . When the camera mode is active, camera facility  150  may operate in a state configured for capturing camera images. As another example, directional input buttons  210 - 8  may be used to navigate a visual selector within a GUI and highlight or otherwise indicate specific selectable items in the GUI. Selector button  210 - 7  may be used to select one or more highlighted items and thereby activate one or more operations associated with the selected item(s). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , mobile device  200  may include a display  220  configured to display a graphical user interface  230  (“GUI  230 ”) for viewing by a user of mobile device  200 . Display  220  may be included in I/O facility  140  and may include a display screen on which GUI  230  is displayed. Examples of GUI  230  and various views that may be displayed in GUI  230  are described in detail further below. 
     To help facilitate an understanding of image tagging facility  160  and image tagging operations,  FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate, from a data layer perspective, an exemplary application of a tag to a selected portion of a digital image.  FIG. 3A  illustrates a digital image data layer  310 , which may include data representative of a digital image. For example, digital image data layer  310  may include data representative of a digital picture file stored in storage facility  130  or another data storage facility. 
       FIG. 3A  further illustrates a plurality of data instances  315 - 1  through  315 -N (collectively “data instances  315 ”). Data instances  315  may include any electronically stored information that may be associated with a tag, including, but not limited to, a contact record and/or information included in a contacts database, textual data, visual indicators, service identifiers (e.g., a graphical symbol for a social network site or service), and graphical objects. A data instance  315  may include a discrete data object and/or any information included in a discrete data object. A data instance  315  may exist before or be generated in conjunction with definition of a tag. 
       FIG. 3A  represents a data layer configuration before a tag is applied to a selected portion of a digital image.  FIGS. 3B-3C  represent data layer configurations during performance of an image tagging process.  FIG. 3B  illustrates digital image data layer  310  when a portion  320  of the corresponding digital image has been selected. Selection of portion  320  may include a user providing input defining selected portion  320  of the digital image, and image tagging facility  160  identifying the selected portion  320  as a portion of the digital image to which a tag may be applied based on the user input. 
     The selected portion  320  of the digital image may include any subset of data representing the digital image, e.g., a subset of digital image data layer  310  as shown in  FIG. 3B . In certain embodiments, a selected portion  320  includes an area space that is a subset of the total area space associated with a visible frame of the digital image. 
     A selected portion  320  of a digital image may be represented in any suitable way. As an example, one or more pixels positioned within a certain area may be marked to define a selected portion  320 , or one or more particular pixels may be marked and used together with one or more geometric equations to define a particular area or shape (e.g., corners of a rectangular area or center point of a circle). 
       FIG. 3C  illustrates a data layer configuration when a tag  330  is applied to a selected portion  320  of a digital image. Tag  330  may include any data and/or data structure associating a selected portion  320  of a digital image to one or more data instances  315 . The association may be defined in any suitable way, such as by tag  330  including data pointing to the selected portion  320  of a digital image and to one or more of the data instances  315 . 
     Tag  330  may be applied to and thereby associated with the selected portion  320  of the digital image in any suitable way, such as by creating tag  330  to include data mapping the tag  330  to, or otherwise associating tag  330  with, the selected portion  320  of the digital image. In certain embodiments, data representative of the tag  330  may be inserted in the digital image metadata and may associate the tag  330  with the selected portion  320  of the digital image. In  FIG. 3C , application of tag  330  to the selected portion  320  of the digital image is graphically illustrated as tag  330  being positioned on top of the selected portion  320  of the digital image. 
     In  FIG. 3C , tag  330  is associated with data instance  315 - 2 . Tag  330  may be associated with data instance  315 - 2  in any suitable way. For example, tag  330  may be defined to include data representative of a link  335  to data instance  315 - 2  (e.g., a pointer or a hyperlink to a data location associated with data instance  315 - 2 ). Accordingly, tag  330  may be configured to map the selected portion  320  of a digital image to one or more of the data instances  315 . 
     While  FIG. 3C  shows tag  330  providing a link  335  to data instance  315 - 2 , in other embodiments, tag  330  may include one or more data instances  315  integrated therein. For example, data instance  315 - 2 , or a copy of data instance  315 - 2 , may be incorporated within tag  330 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3C , tag  330  may be included in an image map layer  340 , which may include data representative of an image map associated with a digital image. The image map may include one or more tags  330  configured to map one or more selected portions  320  of the digital image to one or more of the data instances  315 , as described above. In certain embodiments, image map layer  340  may be viewed as being positioned on top of digital image data layer  310  as shown in  FIG. 3C . In certain embodiments, data representative of the image map may be incorporated in digital image metadata. 
     When tag  330  is applied to the selected portion  320  of digital image, an image map may be generated and tag  330  may be stitched in or otherwise included in the image map. The image map may be updated to include other tags linking other selected portions of the digital image to one or more data instances  315 . Accordingly, an image map may be generated and/or updated and may include one or more tags  330  configured to map one or more selected portions  320  of a digital image to one or more data instances  315 . 
     Image tagging facility  160  and/or user interface facility  270  may provide one or more tools configured to enable a user (e.g., a user of mobile device  200 ) to provide user input defining selected portions  320  of digital images, as well as tags  320  to be applied to the selected portions  320 . With the tools, a user of mobile device  200  may define, create, modify, delete, name, search, access, view, and otherwise manage or process tags  320  associated with selected portions  320  of a digital image. 
     To help facilitate an understanding of user interface facility  170  and an exemplary user interface provided by user interface facility  170  for tagging digital images,  FIGS. 4A-4I  illustrate exemplary GUI views that may be generated and provided by user interface facility  170  for display. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates GUI  230  having a digital image view  410  displayed therein. Digital image view  410  may include a view of a digital image. In certain embodiments, the displayed digital image may include a camera image captured by camera facility  150 . For example, a user of mobile device  200  may actuate selector button  210 - 7  or other input mechanism, and camera facility  150  may responsively capture a camera image, which may be displayed in digital image view  410  in GUI  230 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , GUI  230  may visually indicate operations associated with “soft” input buttons  210 - 1  and  210 - 2  when the digital image view  410  is displayed. In the illustrated example, a “back” operation is associated with “soft” input button  210 - 1  and an “options” operation is associated with “soft” input button  210 - 2 . When a user of mobile device  200  actuates “soft” input button  210 - 2  from the view shown in  FIG. 4A , an “options” operation may be performed and may include providing an options window  420 - 1  for display in GUI  230 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . Options window  420 - 1  may include a plurality of selectable options, including options for setting a digital image as wallpaper and editing, deleting, tagging, publishing, and zooming in on a digital image. A selector  430  is also displayed in options window  420 - 1 . Selector  430  may be navigated between the selectable options included in the options window  420 - 1  and used to select one of the options. For example, a user may navigate and use selector  430  to select a “tag Image” option included in options window  420 - 1 . 
     In response to user selection of the “tag Image” option, user interface facility  170  may provide an image tagging view for display in GUI  230 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates an image tagging view  435  including a target locator  440  displayed in GUI  230 . Target locator  440  may be moved within the image tagging view  435  and used to select a particular position or area of the digital image displayed in the image tagging view  435 . In certain embodiments, for example, a user of mobile device  200  may utilize directional input buttons  210 - 8  to move target locator  440  in relation to the digital image displayed in the image tagging view  435 . When target locator  440  is placed at a desired position, selector input button  210 - 7  may be actuated to lock target locator  440  at that position. 
     In response to target locator  440  being locked in position as described above, a sizing indicator  450  may be displayed in image tagging view  435  in GUI  230 , as shown in  FIG. 4D . The size of sizing indicator  450  may be adjusted based on user input. For example, GUI  230  may visually indicate operations associated with input buttons  210 - 1 ,  210 - 2 , and  210 - 7  when the view shown in  FIG. 4D  is displayed. In the illustrated example, a “reduce” operation is associated with input button  210 - 1 , an “enlarge” operation is associated with input button  210 - 2 , and a “set” operation is associated with selector input button  210 - 7 . 
     To illustrate, when a user of mobile device  200  actuates input button  210 - 2  from the view shown in  FIG. 4D , user interface facility  170  may enlarge the size of the sizing indicator  450  in GUI  230 .  FIG. 4E  illustrates the sizing indicator  450  enlarged in response to user actuation of input button  210 - 2  and performance of a corresponding enlarge operation. As shown, sizing indicator  450  has been enlarged relative to the digital image displayed in image tagging view  435 . Accordingly, sizing indicator  450  covers a larger portion of the digital image. 
     When sizing indicator  450  covers a desired portion of the digital image, the sizing indicator  450  may be “set” to select the portion of the digital image located within the sizing indicator  450 . For example, while the view of  FIG. 4E  is displayed, a user of mobile device  200  may actuate selector input button  210 - 7  to initiate a “set” operation, which may be performed to identify the portion of the digital image located within the sizing locator  450  as a selected portion  320  of the digital image. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4E , the selected portion  320  includes a generally circular area space within the digital image space. In this example, a portrait view of two people is displayed in the digital image, and the selected portion  320  of the digital image includes a generally circular area about one person&#39;s head. 
     While exemplary tools enabling a user to select a portion  320  of a digital image for tagging have been described, the examples are illustrative only. Other tools suitable for enabling a user to define a selected portion  320  of a digital image may be employed in other embodiments. For example, target locator  440  and sizing indicator  450  may be combined into one tool in other embodiments. Additional or alternative shapes, functionalities, and user inputs associated with target locator  440  and/or sizing indicator  450  may be used as may serve a particular application. 
     With a selected portion  320  of a digital image identified based on user input as described above, user interface facility  170  may provide one or more tools configured to enable a user to provide input defining a tag  330  to be associated with the selected portion  320  of the digital image. As an example,  FIG. 4F  illustrates an options window  420 - 2  that may be displayed in GUI  230  after a portion  320  of a digital image is selected. As shown, options window  420 - 2  may include a plurality of selectable options, which may be associated with respective data instances and from which a user may select a particular data instance  315  to be associated with the selected portion  320  of the digital image. In the illustrated example, the plurality of selectable options includes contact identifiers (e.g., names of persons or entities) associated with “contact” data instances stored in a contacts database. A “contact” data instance (or simply a “contact”) may include information related to a person or entity, including, but not limited to a name or other identifier, physical address, phone number, fax number, email address, domain name or URL address, and/or any other information related to the person or entity. In certain embodiments, a plurality of contact data instances stored in storage facility  130  or one or more other data storage facilities may be accessed and used to populate the list of options included in options window  420 - 2 . For example, a user of mobile device  200  may maintain a database of personal contacts, which may be accessed and used to populate options window  420 - 2 . 
     Selector  430  may be displayed and used to navigate between and select options included in options window  420 - 2 . When a user selects an option (e.g., the “contact 1” option), a data instance  315  corresponding to the selected option may be associated with tag  330 . For example, when the “contact 1” option is selected, the corresponding “contact 1” data instance  315  may be associated with tag  330 . The association may be made in any suitable way, such as by inserting a link to the “contact 1” data instance  315  in tag  330  and/or inserting the “contact 1” data instance  315  or a copy of information included in the “contact 1” data instance  315  in tag  330 . The association between tag  330  and the selected “contact 1” data instance may be made in any suitable way, including any of the ways described above (e.g., generating a link  335  from tag  330  to the “contact 1” data instance.) 
     While a specific example directed to “contact” data instances has been described, the example is illustrative only and not limiting in any sense. Other data instances, and/or types of data instances, including any of those mentioned herein, may be associated with tags  330 . In certain embodiments, user interface facility  170  may be configured to provide one or more tools enabling a user to select from various data instances and/or types of data instances. As an example, in response to the selected portion  320  of a digital image being selected as described above, user interface facility  170  may provide options window  420 - 3  for display, as illustrated in  FIG. 4G . As shown, options window  420 - 3  may include a plurality of selectable options associated with various types of data instances that may be created and/or associated with a tag  330 , including “contacts,” “text,” “symbol,” and “location” type data instances. A “contacts” option may be associated with a contacts database, and a selection of the “contacts” option may initiate display of options window  420 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 4F  and as described above. A “text” option may be associated with a tool enabling a user to provide custom text to be associated with tag  330 . Selection of the “text” option may initiate display of a text input window enabling a user to input text to be associated with a tag  330 . A “symbol” option may be associated with a tool enabling a user to select a graphical object to be associated with a tag  330 . Selection of the “symbol” option may initiate display of a symbol selection window enabling a user to select a graphical object to be associated with a tag  330 . A “location” option may be associated with one or more geographic locations to which the digital image may be related. Selection of the “location” option may initiate display of a window including one or more selectable location options corresponding with one or more geographic locations to which digital image may be related. 
     As an example of associating a “location” data instance with a tag  330 , mobile device  200  may be configured to detect the geographic location of the mobile device  200 , such as by using GPS technologies to determine GPS coordinates for the detected location of the mobile device  200 . When a digital image is acquired (e.g., captured by camera facility  150 ), location data representative of the geographic location of the mobile device  200  may be generated and associated with the digital image. For example, the location data may be included in the digital image metadata. Image tagging facility  160  may be configured to use the location data to selectively identify one or more “location” data instances (e.g., geographic locations and/or features) associated with the location data, and user interface facility  170  may be configured to populate a location options window with selectable “location” options corresponding to the identified “location” data instances. 
     For instance, camera facility  150  may capture a digital camera image at a particular detected geographic location, and corresponding location data may be inserted in the digital camera image metadata. Using the location data, image tagging facility  160  may identify one or more geographic locations and/or features associated with the location data. For example, the location data may indicate a geographic location that is located at or proximate to a particular geographic landmark, such as the Santa Monica Pier. Image tagging facility  160  may identify “Santa Monica Pier” as a “location” data instance that is related to the location data. This information may be provided to user interface facility  170 , which may be configured to populate a location options window with selectable “location” options including the “Santa Monica Pier” data instance. 
     Image tagging facility  160  may identify “location” data instances that are related to location data (e.g., located within a predefined distance of a geographic location) in any suitable manner. In certain embodiments, for example, image tagging facility  160  is configured to communicate with a database and/or mapping application or service to request and obtain “location” data instances that are related to location data. In some examples, this may include communicating with one or more external devices (e.g., application servers). 
     In the above-described or similar manner, digital image metadata may be used to populate lists with selectable data instance options that are related to a digital image. This may save a user time in associating a data instance  315  to a tag  330 . For example, if the selected portion  320  of a digital image includes the Santa Monica Pier or part of the Santa Monica Pier, the user may be provided with a tool for simply selecting a “Santa Monica Pier” option from a list of selectable options such that a “Santa Monica Pier” data instance is associated with tag  330 . 
     While the above example is directed to using location metadata to populate a list of options with geographically related data instance options, this is illustrative only. Other digital image metadata (e.g., time, genre, and image settings data) may similarly be used to identify other related data instances and to populate lists of options with related data instance options that may be selected by a user for association of corresponding data instances with a tag  330 . 
     Tag  330  may be defined to include one or more descriptors of the digital image and/or data instances to which tag  330  is associated. In certain embodiments, one or more tools may be provided enabling a user to provide descriptors for a tag  330 . Tag descriptors may include a name (e.g., a name of a person associated with the “contact 1” data instance) or any other data descriptive of the selected portion  320  of the digital image, the digital image, digital image content, and data instances  315  to which the tag  330  is associated. As an example, when a user selects the “contact 1” option for association of the “contact 1” data instance with tag  330 , data representative of a name associated with the “contact 1” data instance may be inserted in tag  330  as a descriptor. 
     Tags  330  may be searchable, and user interface facility  170  may be configured to provide a user with one or more tools for searching tags  330 , and consequently for using tags  330  to search digital images. For example, a user may provide search terms in a view in GUI  230 , and the search terms may be used to search tag data for matching descriptors. For instance, a user may provide a person&#39;s name as a search term, and the tag descriptors may be searched for the provided name. When a match is found, data representative of one or more tags  330  having matching descriptors may be provided, such as by displaying data representative of the tags  330  in GUI  230 . Accordingly, tag descriptors may be utilized to search for tags  330  and digital images and/or selected portions of digital images associated with the tags  330 . This may allow a user to conveniently search for and identify tagged digital images. 
     Once a user has provided input defining properties of a tag  330 , image tagging facility  160  may create and define tag  330  in accordance with the user input. For example, when a user selects a data instance option (e.g., “contact 1” option) for association with a tag  330 , image tagging facility  160  may create and associate tag  330  with the corresponding data instance (e.g., “contact 1” data instance), such as by defining a link  335  mapping tag  330  to the data instance as described above. With tag  330  defined, image tagging facility  160  may apply tag  330  to the selected portion  320  of the digital image as described above. Once applied, tag  330  is ready to be searched, accessed, and otherwise used in conjunction with the selected portion  320  of the digital image. 
     Tag  330  may be visually represented in GUI  230 . When a tagged digital image is displayed in GUI  230 , a visual indicator  460  may also be displayed to represent tag  330  and/or the selected portion  320  of the digital image to which tag  330  has been applied. For example,  FIG. 4H  illustrates an example of a visual indicator  460  representative of tag  330  displayed in digital image view  410  in GUI  230 . 
     Visual indicator  460  may include one or more components. As shown in  FIG. 4H , visual indicator  460  may include a visual component graphically positioned at and indicative of the selected portion  320  of digital image to which tag  330  is associated. In the illustrated example, visual indicator  460  includes a circular shape graphic  465  positioned at the selected portion  320  of the digital image. This example is illustrative only. Any suitable visual indicator of tag  330  may be used in other embodiments. For example, visual indicator  460  may include a boundary, marker (e.g., a tag or label symbol), and/or any other visually discernible indicator and may have any suitable size and shape. In some examples, visual indicator  460  may include one or more display attributes that provide visual contrast to other portions (e.g., non-selected portions) of the digital image, including a contrasting brightness, shading, or highlight. 
     In certain embodiments, the visual indicator  460  may include an information component  470 , which may display one or more descriptors associated with tag  330 . For instance, an information component may include a name for a data instance  315  to which tag  330  is associated. As shown in  FIG. 4H , for example, a name (e.g., “Jane Doe”) associated with the “contact 1” data instance  315  may be displayed as part of visual indicator  460 . This example is illustrative only. Other descriptors associated with the data instance  315  may be displayed in other embodiments. In certain embodiments, for example, a visual indicator representative of a service (e.g., a social network site) associated with the “contact 1” data instance  315  may be displayed and may be indicative that the person represented by the “contact 1” data instance  315  uses the service. For instance, a graphical symbol representative of a particular social network site may be displayed as part of visual indicator  460 . 
     In certain examples, a visual indicator  460 , or one or more components of a visual indicator  460 , associated with tag  330  may be automatically displayed together with the corresponding digital image in digital image view  410 . In certain other examples, visual indicator  460 , or one or more components of visual indicator  460 , may be displayed in response to an occurrence of a predefined event, such as user selection of (e.g., hovering a cursor over) the selected portion  320  of the digital image. In certain other examples, a component of the visual indicator  460  may be displayed in response to the occurrence of a predefined event, and another component of the visual indicator  460  may be displayed in response to the occurrence of another predefined event. In  FIG. 4H , for example, a component of visual indicator  460  visually indicating the selected portion  320  of the digital image (e.g., a circular shape graphic) may be displayed automatically along with the displayed digital image. The “contact” name or other information associated with the “contact 1” data instance  315  may be displayed in response to an occurrence of a predefined event, such as a user selection of the displayed component and/or the selected portion  320  of the digital image. For instance, a cursor may be placed over the displayed shape graphic component and/or selected portion  320  for at least a predetermined length of time, and in response the “contact” name graphic component may be displayed together with the shape graphic component in camera image view  410  as shown in  FIG. 4H . 
     A displayed visual indicator representative of tag  330  may be selectable. Accordingly, a user may select the visual indicator  460 , and one or more operations may be performed in response to the visual indicator  460  being selected. When a user selects visual indicator  460  in  FIG. 4H , for example, the “contact 1” data instance may be displayed in GUI  230 . 
     A tagged digital image may be published. When a user of mobile device  200  actuates input button  210 - 2  from the view shown in  FIG. 4H , for example, user interface facility  170  may perform an “options” operation such as providing options window  420 - 1  for display in GUI  230 .  FIG. 4I  illustrates options window  420 - 1  displayed in GUI  230  and in which selector  430  is positioned at a “publish image” option. In response to a user selection of the “publish image” option, publishing facility  180  may publish the tagged digital image displayed in  FIG. 4H . Publishing of a tagged digital image may include sending data representative of the tagged digital image from mobile device  200  to one or more other devices (e.g., other mobile devices  200 ), or to other destinations such as a website and/or a social networking site (e.g., a user&#39;s page on a social networking site). In certain embodiments, publishing of the tagged digital image includes providing data representative of the tagged digital image over a network to a digital image storage and access subsystem, which may be configured to provide one or more access devices with access to the tagged digital image. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary digital image publishing and access system  500  (or simply “system  500 ”). As shown in  FIG. 5 , system  500  may include a digital image storage and access subsystem  510  selectively and communicatively connected to a plurality of access devices  520 - 1  through  520 -K (collectively “access devices  520 ”) by way of a network  525 . 
     Access devices  520  and digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may communicate over network  525  using any communication platforms and technologies suitable for transporting data and/or communication signals, including known communication technologies, devices, media, and protocols supportive of remote data communications, examples of which include, but are not limited to, data transmission media, communications devices, Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”), Internet Protocol (“IP”), File Transfer Protocol (“FTP”), Telnet, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“HTTPS”), Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”), Simple Object Access Protocol (“SOAP”), Extensible Mark-up Language (“XML”) and variations thereof, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), Real-Time Transport Protocol (“RTP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”) technologies, Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) technologies, Evolution Data Optimized Protocol (“EVDO”), Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”) technologies, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Message Service (“MMS”), radio frequency (“RF”) signaling technologies, wireless communication technologies (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.), in-band and out-of-band signaling technologies, and other suitable communications networks and technologies. 
     Network  525  may include one or more networks, including, but not limited to, wireless networks, mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular telephone networks), closed media networks, open media networks, closed communication networks, open communication networks, satellite networks, navigation networks, broadband networks, narrowband networks, voice communications networks (e.g., VoIP networks), the Internet, wide area networks, local area networks, public networks, private networks, and any other networks capable of carrying data and/or communications signals between access devices  520  and digital image storage and access subsystem  510 . In certain exemplary embodiments, network  525  includes a mobile telephone network, and digital image storage and access subsystem  510  and access devices  520 , which may include one or more mobile devices  200 , are configured to communicate with one another using mobile phone communication technologies. 
     In some examples, system  500  may include any computer hardware and/or instructions (e.g., software programs), or combinations of software and hardware, configured to perform the processes described herein. In particular, it should be understood that components of system  500  may be implemented on one physical computing device or may be implemented on more than one physical computing device. Accordingly, system  500  may include any one of a number of computing devices and/or computer operating systems (e.g., mobile device operating systems). 
     Accordingly, the digital image publishing, storage, and access processes described herein may be implemented at least in part as computer-executable instructions, i.e., instructions executable by one or more computing devices, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium. In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions, e.g., from a memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions may be stored and transmitted using a variety of known computer-readable media, including any of the computer-readable media described above. 
     Access devices  520  may include any devices in which the system  100  of  FIG. 1  may be implemented and may include one or more mobile devices  200 . Accordingly, access devices  520  may be configured to apply tags  330  to selected portions  320  of digital images as described above and publish data representative of tagged digital images to digital image storage and access subsystem  510 . Alternatively or additionally, access devices  520  may be used to access tagged digital images stored at digital image storage and access subsystem  510 , as well as data instances associated with tags  330 . As an example, in response to a user selecting the “publish image” option shown in  FIG. 4I , mobile device  200  may provide data representative of a tagged digital image over network  525  to digital image storage and access subsystem  510 , which may store the data and provide one or more access devices  520  with access to the data. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary digital image storage and access subsystem  510 . The components of digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may include or be implemented as hardware, computing instructions (e.g., software) embodied on one or more computer-readable media, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, for example, one or more components of digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may include or be implemented on at least one server configured to communicate over network  525 . While an exemplary digital image storage and access subsystem  510  is shown in  FIG. 6 , the exemplary components illustrated in  FIG. 6  are not intended to be limiting. Indeed, additional or alternative components and/or implementations may be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may include a communication module  610 , which may be configured to communicate with access devices  520 , including receiving data representative of tagged digital images from one or more access devices  520  and providing data representative of the tagged digital images to one or more access devices  520  over network  525 . Communication module  610  may be configured to support a variety of communication platforms, protocols, and formats such that digital image storage and access subsystem  510  can receive and distribute tagged digital image data from/to a variety of computing platforms (e.g., a mobile telephone service platform, a web-based platform, a subscriber television platform, etc.) and using a variety of communications technologies. Accordingly, the digital image storage and access subsystem  510  can support a multi-platform system in which tagged digital images can be received from and provided to diverse platforms. 
     Digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may include a processing module  620  configured to control operations of components of the digital image storage and access subsystem  510 . Processing module  620  may execute or direct execution of operations in accordance with computer-executable instructions stored to a computer-readable medium such as a data store  630 . As an example, processing module  620  may be configured to process (e.g., encode, decode, modulate, and/or demodulate) data and communications received from or to be transmitted to access devices  520 . As another example, processing module  620  may be configured to perform data management operations on data stored in data store  630 . For example, processing module  620  may operate on data, including storing data to data store  630  and indexing, searching, accessing, retrieving, modifying, annotating, copying, and/or deleting data stored in data store  630 . 
     Data store  630  may include one or more data storage media, devices, or configurations and may employ any type, form, and combination of storage media. For example, the data store  630  may include, but is not limited to, a hard drive, network drive, flash drive, magnetic disc, optical disc, random access memory (“RAM”), dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), other non-volatile and/or volatile storage units, or a combination or sub-combination thereof. Data store  630  may store any suitable type or form of electronic data, including digital image data  640  and tag data  650 . 
     Digital image data  640  may include data representative of one or more digital images, including tagged digital images received from one or more access devices  520  over network  525 . The digital images may include any form or type of digital images, including those described above. Digital image data  640  may further include data related to digital images, such as digital image metadata, for example. 
     Tag data  650  may include data representative of one or more tags  330  associated with tagged digital images represented in the digital image data  640 . For example, tag data  650  may include one or more tag data objects, references to selected portions  320  of digital images, references to one or more data instances  315 , data instances  315  or copies of data instances  315 , tag descriptors, and any other data associated with tags  330 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may further include a tag module  660 , which may include or be implemented as hardware, computing instructions (e.g., software) tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, or a combination of hardware and embodied computing instructions configured to perform one or more of the tagged digital image storage, management, update, and access operations described herein. In certain embodiments, tag module  660  may be implemented as a software application embodied on a computer-readable medium such as data store  630  and configured to direct the processing module  620  to execute one or more of the processes described herein. 
     As an example of operations performed by tag module  660 , digital image storage and access subsystem  510  may receive data representative of a tagged digital image from an access device  520 - 1  over network  525 . Tag module  660  may store data representative of the tagged digital image as digital image data  640  and/or tag data  650  in data store  630 . 
     Tag module  660  may be further configured to provide access to the stored, tagged digital image. For example, a user of access device  520 - 2  may provide search parameters to digital image storage and access subsystem  510 . Tag module  660  may use the search parameters to search within the digital image data  640  and/or the tag data  650  and identify any data that may match one or more of the search parameters. For instance, the search parameters may include a name of a person. If the name of the person is associated with a tag  330 , data representative of the tag  330  and/or the corresponding tagged digital image may be identified and provided to access device  520 - 2  over network  525  in response to the search. 
     A user of access device  520 - 2  may utilize any features of system  100  described above to view, update, annotate, tag, or otherwise process the tagged digital image. As an example, the user may wish to add another tag  330  to the digital image. This may be accomplished as described above, including the user utilizing one or more of the GUI views described above to define a selected  320  portion of the digital image and a tag  330  to be applied to the selected portion  320  of the digital image. For instance, the user may tag a shirt worn by a person in the digital image and associate textual data with the tag  330 , such as, “Great shirt! Where did you get it?” Another user of another access device (e.g., access device  530 -K) may add yet another tag  330  to the digital image to respond to the question, such as, “Thanks. Got it at Macy&#39;s.” In this or similar manner, one or more tags  330  may be applied to various selected portions  320  of a digital image. In this or similar manner, tagged digital photos and/or tags  330  applied to digital photos may be used as a platform for communication threads between one or more users. 
     When additional tags  330  are applied to a digital image, data representative of the tagged digital image and/or updates to the tagged digital image may be provided to digital image storage and access subsystem  510  over network  525 . Tag module  660  may use the received data and update digital image data  640  and/or tag data  650  accordingly. 
     In certain embodiments, tag module  660  may be selectively configured to prevent tagged digital images from being updated with additional tags  330 . In this manner, a user may protect or lock a digital image from being tagged or otherwise modified by other users. To this end, when a user tags a digital image, the user may be allowed to select an option to block updates to the tagged digital image. Tag module  660  may be configured to recognize an “update block” command for a tagged digital image and prevent updates from being applied to the tagged digital image. 
     In certain embodiments, tag module  660  may be configured to apply one or more properties to tags  330 , which properties may be used to selectively search and access tags  330 . For examples, tags  330  may be associated with one or more user profiles, such as user profiles corresponding to the users who created the tags  330 . Accordingly, a view of tags  330  associated with a particular user profile may be selected and displayed. For instance, a user of access device  520 - 1  may select to view tags  330  and/or image maps associated with the particular user profile. When the user of access device  520 - 1  views a tagged digital image, only tags  330  associated with the selected user profile will be displayed. In this manner, a user may filter out other tags  330  that have been applied to a digital image. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary digital image tagging method. While  FIG. 7  illustrates exemplary steps according to one embodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the steps shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In step  710 , at least one tool enabling a user to provide user input is provided. Step  710  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including user interface facility  170  providing GUI  230  and one or more views (e.g., image tagging views  435  in GUI  230 ) for display to a user. GUI  230  may include one or more tools configured to enable the user to provide user input defining a selected portion  320  of a digital image and a tag  330  to be applied to the selected portion  320  of the digital image. 
     In step  720 , user input is received. Step  720  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including user interface facility  170  receiving user input by way of GUI  230 . 
     In step  730 , a selected portion of a digital image is identified based on the user input. Step  730  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including image tagging facility  160  using the user input to identify, generate, and/or store data representative of the selected portion  320  of the digital image. 
     In step  740 , a tag is applied to the selected portion of the digital image based on the user input. Step  740  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including image tagging facility  160  using the user input to identify, generate, and/or associate data representative of tag  330  to the selected portion  320  of the digital image. As described above, step  740  may include generating an image map including tag  330  mapped to the selected portion  320  of the digital image, inserting a link to and/or data representative of tag  330  and assigned to the selected portion  320  of the digital image in the digital image metadata. 
     In step  750 , a visual indicator representative of the tag is displayed together with the digital image in a graphical user interface. Step  750  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including user interface facility  170  providing data representative of the visual indicator  460  for display in GUI  430  together with the tagged visual image, such as is shown in  FIG. 4H . In certain embodiments, the visual indicator visually indicates the selected portion  320  of the digital image to which the tag  330  is associated. 
     In step  760 , the tagged digital image is published to a digital image storage and access subsystem  510  over network  525 . Step  760  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including an access device  520 - 1  transmitting data representative of the tagged digital image to the digital image storage and access subsystem  510 . 
     In step  770 , at least one access device  520  is provided with access to the tagged digital image over the network  525 . Step  770  may be performed in any of the ways described above. 
     In step  780 , the tagged digital image is updated based on user input. Step  780  may be performed in any of the ways described above, including repeating steps  710 - 770  to allow a user to define another selected portion  320  of the digital image and another tag  330  to be applied to the other selected portion  320 . Steps  710 - 770  may be repeated for each new tag  330  applied to a selected portion of the digital image. 
     In the preceding description, various exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. For example, certain features of one embodiment described herein may be combined with or substituted for features of another embodiment described herein. The description and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.