EP0959418A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital image retrieval system and method
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-04-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-04-28
Abstract
Abstract System and methods for querying digital image archives 216 containing digital photographs and/or videos (collectively, "digital images"). The digital images are indexed in accordance with a plurality of recorded parameters including time, date and geographic location data (altitude and longitude), as well as image data such as lens focal length, auto focus distance, shutter speed, exposure duration, aperture setting, frame number, image quality, flash status and light meter readings, which are used for searching a database consisting of the digital images. These images are preferably generated by an image capturing system 200 which is capable of measuring and recording a plurality of parameters with each captured digital image. The image retrieval system 200 allows a querying user to search the image archive by formulating one or more of a plurality of query types 300 which are based on the recorded parameters, and then retrieve 306, 330, 350, 318, 344 and display those images 308, 320, 332, 344, 352 having the specified parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Chandrasekhar Narayanaswami
- 👤 Edward Scott Kirkpatrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3212; H04N2201/3214; H04N2201/3215; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3252; H04N2201/3253; H04N2201/3274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A digital image retrieval system (200), comprising: an image database (216) having a plurality of digital images stored
therein, each of said plurality of digital images having at least one of
a plurality of parameters associated therewith; means for inputting at least one of a plurality of image search
queries into said system (202); means for retrieving from said image database, in response to a
corresponding one of said plurality of image search queries which
specifies at least one of said plurality of parameters, digital images
having said specified parameters (206); a geographic boundary database having geographic location data
corresponding to each of a plurality of geographic locations (218); means for accessing said geographic boundary database to retrieve
geographic data of a geographic location in response to a corresponding
one of said plurality of image search queries which specifies said
geographic location, and for retrieving, from said image database,
digital images having parameters which correspond to said geographic data
of said specified geographic location (208); and means for generating a map of a specified geographic location in
response to a corresponding one of said plurality of image search queries
which specifies said map of said specified geographic location and for
determining geographic location data associated with one of a marked
region or path on said map, and for retrieving, from said image database,
digital images having parameters which correspond to said geographic
location data of one of said marked region and said marked path (210);
and means for displaying said retrieved digital images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of digital images in
said image database includes one of a plurality of digital photographs, a
plurality of digital video, and a combination thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: means for generating a set of directions (222) from a specified
origin to a specified destination in response to a corresponding one of
said plurality of image search queries which requests said set of
directions, said set of directions having one of hyperlinked text and
text with thumbnails which links to at least one of a corresponding
digital image in said image database for displaying at least one of said
corresponding digital images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said direction generating means
comprises: means for computing said set of directions based on said specified
origin and said specified destination and providing geographic data
associated with said set of directions; and means for processing said geographic data to provide one of said
hyperlinked text and said text with thumbnails to digital images in said
image database having parameters corresponding to said geographic data
associated with said set of directions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
45 words
The system of any preceding claim, further comprising: means for translating a corresponding one of said plurality of
queries into at least one of said plurality of parameters and for
retrieving, from said image database, digital images having parameters
similar to said translated parameters (214).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said translating means translates
said corresponding query in accordance with at least one of a plurality
of pre-programmed conversion rules.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
45 words
The system of any preceding claim, further comprising an image
capturing device (100) for generating said digital images having said
plurality of parameters automatically recorded thereon, said image
capturing device being detachably coupled to said system for providing
said image database with said digital images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said image capturing device
automatically records said plurality of parameters on said digital
images, said plurality of parameters corresponding to data associated
with a capture of each of said digital images, said plurality of
parameters including one of geographic location data, image mode, image
quality, exposure duration, aperture length, light meter reading, flash
status, lens focal length, auto focus distance, frame number, information
transmitted from an object captured in said image, time of capture of
said image, date of capture of said image, orientation of said image
capturing device, identity of creator of said image, and a combination
thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
25 words
The system of any preceding claim, further comprising means for
indexing said digital images with one of said plurality of parameters and
user-specific parameters (220).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
35 words
The system of any preceding claim, wherein said means for inputting
one of said plurality of queries includes means for inputting a verbal
query into said system, and means for processing said verbal query (204).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for retrieving digital images from an image database
having a plurality of digital images stored therein, each of said
plurality of digital images having at least one of a plurality of
parameters associated therewith, said method comprising the steps: inputting at least one of a plurality of queries (300); retrieving at least one digital image from said database having one
of a specified parameter and a plurality of specified parameters in
response to a corresponding one of said plurality of queries (306); obtaining geographic data in response to a corresponding one of
said plurality of queries which specifies a geographic location (334) and
retrieving at least one of said plurality of digital images from said
database having parameters corresponding to said obtained geographic data
(330); marking one of a region and a path on a map of a specified
geographic location in response to a corresponding one of said plurality
of queries which specifies said map of said geographic location (328) and
retrieving at least one of said plurality of digital images from said
database having parameters corresponding to one of said marked region and
marked path; and displaying said retrieved digital images (332).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a
set of directions from a specified origin to a specified destination in
response to a corresponding one of said plurality of queries specifying
said directions (340), said set of directions having one of hyperlinked
text and text with thumbnail being operatively linked to corresponding
digital images in said image database; and choosing at least one of said hyperlinked text and said thumbnail
text (342); and displaying said digital images corresponding to said text (344).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing said set of
directions includes the substeps of: computing said set of directions based on said specified origin and
said specified destination; providing geographic data associated with said computed set of
directions; and processing said geographic data to generate said hyperlinked text
to digital images in said image database having parameters corresponding
to said geographic data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein said step of displaying said
digital images includes displaying a video simulation of a sequentially
related series of digital images corresponding to said chosen text.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
49 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 14, further comprising the steps
of: translating a corresponding one of said plurality of queries into
at least one of said plurality of parameters (348); and retrieving, from said image database, digital images having
parameters corresponding to said translated query (350).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said step of translating said query
includes the substeps of: retrieving at least one of a plurality of corresponding conversion
rules; and converting said query in accordance with said retrieved rules.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein said plurality of
digital images of said image database are obtained from an image
capturing device which automatically records said plurality of parameters
with each of said plurality of digital images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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