Patent ID: 8483519

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for image searching and image indexing for identifying image content in at least one digital image representation of a real world visual scene, comprising the steps of (A) determining for a mobile pointing device a mobile device geographic location, pointing direction, and a viewing angle; (B) retrieving from a first storage location the digital image that relates to the real world visual scene that is associated with the mobile pointing device geographic location; (C) generating at least a first viewing content cone that includes the mobile pointing device pointing direction, with the mobile pointing device geographic location being the index of the first viewing content cone, and overlaying the digital image with the first viewing content cone; (D) determining potential objects of the digital image that are within limits of the viewing content cone; (E) retrieving object-based datasets from a second storage location, with the object-based datasets including at least information relating to potential objects within the viewing content cone determined at Step (D); (F) determining each object within the limits of the viewing content cone at Step (D) by linking object-based dataset information retrieved at Step (E) with each such object by indexing with an indexing mechanism each object potentially contained within the viewing content cone and assessing at least thematic information associated with each such object; and (G) electronically annotating the digital image with an image position and directional orientation, and with respect to at least each object determined to be within the viewing content cone annotating thematic information.