Using metadata stored in image files and a separate database to facilitate image retrieval

Abstract

A digital camera for capturing images and for adding personal image metadata labels to the captured images, including an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images; an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the plurality of captured images, from the image sensor, to produce a plurality of captured digital images. Also, included in the digital camera is a memory location for storing the plurality of captured digital images; a display coupled to the memory location for displaying at least one of the plurality of captured digital images. The digital camera has a user control for selecting a personal image metadata label which corresponds to an emotional or aesthetic category as judged by a user; and a processor responsive to the user control for associating the personal image metadata label with the at least one of the plurality of displayed captured digital image.

1 . A method for rating images to facilitate image retrieval, comprising: 
 (a) storing a plurality of digital image files in a digital memory;    (b) displaying the plurality of stored digital image files;    (c) permitting a user to select one of the plurality of displayed images and to select a rating, wherein the rating indicates how much the user likes the image;    (d) storing metadata, indicating the user's selected rating, in both a stored digital image file corresponding to the displayed image and in a database separate from the stored digital image file.    
   
   
       2 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rating is provided using a multi-point scale.  
   
   
       3 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) displaying a group of thumbnail images corresponding to at least some of the plurality of stored digital image files;    (f) retrieving the metadata from the stored digital image files corresponding to the group of thumbnail images; and    (g) displaying an icon adjacent to at least one of the thumbnail images correlating to or associated with the retrieved metadata.    
   
   
       4 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stored digital image files comprise JPEG image files.  
   
   
       5 . The method claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the stored digital image files comprise Exif image files.  
   
   
       6 . The method claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of transferring the plurality of digital image files from a digital camera, prior to storing the plurality of digital image files in the digital memory.  
   
   
       7 . The method claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the metadata also includes a label for identifying the person or event depicted in the selected displayed image.  
   
   
       8 . The method claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 (i) displaying a group of thumbnail images corresponding to at least some of the plurality of stored digital image files;    (ii) retrieving the label metadata from either the stored digital image files corresponding to the group of thumbnail images or from the database; and    (iii) displaying the retrieved label as text adjacent to the thumbnail image.    
   
   
       9 . A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program, which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the steps according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . A method for rating images to facilitate image retrieval, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) storing a plurality of digital image files in a digital memory;    (b) displaying the plurality of stored digital image files;    (c) permitting a user to select ratings for each of the plurality of displayed images, wherein the rating indicates how much the user likes each displayed image;    (d) storing metadata, indicating the user's selected rating, in each of the plurality of stored digital image files corresponding to the plurality of displayed images, and in a database separate from the plurality of shared digital image files.    
   
   
       11 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the rating is provided using a multi-point scale.  
   
   
       12 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 (e) displaying a group of thumbnail images corresponding to at least some of the plurality of stored digital image files;    (f) retrieving the value metadata from either the stored digital image files corresponding to the group of thumbnail images or from the database; and    (g) responsive to the retrieved metadata, displaying an icon adjacent to at least one of the thumbnail images.    
   
   
       13 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the stored digital image files comprise JPEG image files.  
   
   
       14 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the stored digital image files comprise Exif image files.  
   
   
       15 . The method claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising transferring the plurality of digital image files from a digital camera, prior to storing the plurality of digital image files in the digital memory.  
   
   
       16 . The method claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the metadata also includes a label for identifying the person or event depicted in the selected displayed image.  
   
   
       17 . A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program, which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the steps according to  claim 10.