Patent ID: 6883146

Claim:
A method for browsing and retrieving pictures in a picture database via a graphical user interface (GUI), said method comprising the steps of: capturing a digital image; receiving position information in the form of metadata corresponding to a geographical location where said digital image is captured; storing digital images and associated metadata in said picture database; generating a main display level having a first geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon indicating a specific location in said first geographical metaphor at which a group of pictures in said picture database was captured, and each said picture icon positioned within the environment of the first geographical metaphor at a location that corresponds to the specific location at which the group of pictures was captured; generating at least a second display level linked to said main display level, said second display level having a second geographical metaphor with greater geographical specificity than said first geographical metaphor with picture icons, each said picture icon indicating a specific location in said second geographical metaphor at which a group of pictures in said picture database was captured, and each said picture icon positioned within the environment of the second geographical metaphor at a location that corresponds to the specific location at which the group of pictures was captured; and generating an additional display level comprising digital representations of the pictures corresponding to icons in said second display level, wherein said second display level is generated via activating a picture icon in said main display level, and wherein the additional display level is generated by activating a picture icon in the second display level a picture icon in said main display level.