Automated template layout method

Abstract

A method for producing an image template having one or more openings for displaying images. The openings as well as the images are each associated with a season. The images are automatically analyzed to determine 5 which season they most likely depict. Images are then selected to be placed in a template opening designated for a particular season. This method can be used to automate calendar production.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a template having one or more digital openings, wherein each digital opening is associated with one of a plurality of seasons;   providing one or more digital images having pixels, wherein the one or more digital openings are configured to dispose one of the digital images to be associated with one of the plurality of seasons;   analyzing the pixels of the one or more digital images to determine which one of the plurality of seasons is depicted by each of the one or more digital images;   for each digital opening, disposing a digital image associated with a same season as the season associated with the digital opening; and   producing the template having the digital images disposed by the one or more digital openings therein.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing a date and location corresponding to each of the one or more digital images. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a template having a plurality of openings all associated with a single season. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein producing the templates includes a step selected from steps consisting of printing, storing, displaying, selling, and transporting the template having the one or more digital images disposed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a template includes providing a template that includes digital openings associated with seasons selected from the group consisting of winter, spring, summer, autumn (fall), dry season, harmattan season, rainy (wet) season, monsoon season, and holiday seasons. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the holiday seasons are selected from the group consisting of a birthday, an anniversary, Valentine's Day, National Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing each of the one or more digital images in a seasonal group corresponding to a determined season for each of the one or more digital images;   ranking the digital images in each seasonal group in order of a determined quality of each of the digital images in the seasonal group; and   preferentially selecting digital images having a higher rank.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the pixels further comprises providing an association set including items selected from the group consisting of objects, colors, textures, and shapes, wherein each of said objects, colors, textures, or shapes has one of the plurality of seasons associated therewith. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein analyzing the pixels comprises finding in each of the one or more digital images an item from the association set and assigning each of the one or more digital images to a season corresponding to the item from the association set. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of items in the association set are found in a single digital image. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein analyzing comprises providing a weighted value to each found item. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the weighted value indicates a likelihood that each found item matches the item in the association set. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the weighted value indicates a prevalence of each found item in its associated season. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an item is associated with more than one season. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a digital template comprises providing a digital calendar template. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising associating a month of the calendar with one of the plurality of seasons and wherein the template includes a digital image associated with a season associated with the month. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 accessing a digital template having one or more digital openings, wherein each of the one or more digital openings is associated with one of a plurality of seasons; and   analyzing respective ones of a plurality of digital images to determine one of the plurality of seasons depicted by each of the plurality of digital images, wherein a digital image depicting a same season as that associated with the digital opening of the template is selected as a result of analyzing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein analyzing respective ones of the plurality of digital images comprises detecting one or more elements in the respective ones of the plurality of digital images. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein determining one of the plurality of seasons depicted by each of the plurality of digital images comprises determining a season determination value based on a weight value for each of the one or more elements found in the digital images and on a confidence value for each element detected. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising storing a season identifier with each of the digital images to identify an associated season for said each of the digital images, wherein the season identifier is based on a magnitude of the season determination value.