Associating Presence Information With A Digital Image

Abstract

Providing for using presence information for an object in a digital image is provided. An association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image is indicated. Whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object is determined. In association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured is provided to perform an action using the identified presence information if the identifier is sufficient to identify the presence information.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing for using presence information for an object in a digital image, comprising:
 indicating an association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image;   determining whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object; and   providing, in association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured to perform an action using the identified presence information if the identifier is sufficient to identify the presence information;   wherein at least one of the preceding actions is performed on at least one electronic hardware component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving user input for associating the identifier with the object depicted in the portion of the digital image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein indicating an association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image includes presenting a graphic overlay indicating the object in the portion of the digital image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object includes identifying presence information from one of a presence application and a roster list. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presence information includes contact information and providing a user interface control includes providing a user interface control configured to initiate a communication using the contact information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the communication is one of an email, a text message, and a phone call. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein in response to receiving a communication selection, the user interface control is further configured to initiate the communication based on the received communication selection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a user interface control includes displaying an indicator indicating that presence information is available if the identifier is sufficient to identify the presence information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein in response to receiving a selection of the indicator, providing a second interface control configured to display at least one of status and connection options. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing the user interface control includes displaying the presence information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing, in association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured to perform an action using the identified presence information includes displaying the user interface control in place of at least part of the digital image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein displaying the user interface control in place of at least part of the digital image includes displaying the user interface control in place of the at least part of the digital image in response to user input. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein displaying the user interface control in place of at least part of the digital image includes displaying at least one of an icon and text. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, executable by a machine, for obtaining presence information for at least one object in a digital image, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:
 indicating an association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image;   determining whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object; and   providing, in association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured to perform an action using the identified presence information if the identifier is sufficient to identify the presence information;   wherein at least one of the preceding actions is performed on at least one electronic hardware component.   
     
     
         15 . An image system for providing for using presence information for an object in a digital image, comprising system components including:
 an image presence component configured to indicate an association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image;   the image presence component further configured to determine whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object; and   an image component configured to provide, in association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured to perform an action using the identified presence information if the identifier is sufficient to identify the presence information;   wherein at least one of the preceding actions is performed on at least one electronic hardware component.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the image component is further configured to receive user input for associating the identifier with the object depicted in the portion of the digital image. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein in indicating an association between an identifier and an object depicted in a portion of a digital image, the image component is configured to present a graphic overlay indicating the object in the portion of the digital image. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein in determining whether the identifier is sufficient to identify presence information for the object, the image presence component is configured to identify presence information from one of a presence application and a roster list. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the presence information includes contact information and in providing a user interface control, the image component is configured to provide a user interface control configured to initiate a communication using the contact information. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the communication is one of an email, a text message, and a phone call. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein in response to receiving a communication selection, the user interface control is further configured to initiate the communication based on the received communication selection. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15  wherein in providing, in association with displaying the digital image, a user interface control configured to perform an action using the identified presence information, the image component is further configured to display the user interface control in place of at least part of the digital image. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein in displaying the user interface control in place of at least part of the digital image, the image component is further configured to display the user interface control in place of the at least part of the digital image in response to user input. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein in displaying the user interface control in place of at least part of the digital image, the image component is further configured to display at least one of an icon and text.