Identifying and Tracking Digital Images With Customized Metadata

Abstract

A method of tracking digital images includes inputting data identifying a subject of an image into a camera, acquiring an image with the camera, and storing the image and the inputted data, as metadata, in an image file when the image is acquired. The method can be implemented using a scanner, a digital camera, and a data processor. The scanner obtains the identifying data and transmits the data to the camera. The camera obtains digital images and embeds the data into digital image files encoding the digital images. The identifying data has a format different from any of the formats processable by the digital camera. The data processor converts the format of the identifying data to one of the plurality of formats processable by the digital camera loads the converted information into the digital camera as metadata.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of tracking digital images, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first code using one or more input devices;   generating subject data identifying a subject from the first code;   obtaining a second code with the one or more input devices;   generating other data from the second code;   capturing an image of the subject with a digital camera;   storing the image in an image file on the digital camera, the image file including metadata including a metadata field; and   storing the subject data and the other data into the metadata field of the image file to associate the subject data and the other data with the image.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first code is a barcode. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second code is a barcode. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the other data generated from the second code are selected from: classroom, grade, town, and school. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein storing the subject data includes inserting the other data into a GPS data string. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the digital camera includes a GPS input port and wherein storing the subject data includes transmitting the GPS data string to the GPS input port of the digital camera. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the subject is a first subject, and further comprising:
 capturing an image of a second subject with a digital camera;   storing the image of the second subject in a second image file on the digital camera, the second image file including metadata including a metadata field; and   storing subject data identifying the second subject and the other data into the metadata field to associate the subject data identifying the second subject and the other data with the image of the second subject, wherein the subject data for the second subject is different than the subject data for the first subject and wherein the other data for the first and second subjects is the same when the first and second subjects share a same characteristic selected from: classroom, grade, group, team, town, event, and school.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the second code is obtained prior to capturing an image of any subject having the same characteristic, and the second code is obtained only once for all of the subjects having the same characteristic. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising analyzing the other data pertaining to the image by extracting the metadata stored in the image file. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 processing the image according to the other data associated with the image to form a processed image.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein processing the image includes selecting the image based on a group number extracted from the metadata stored with the image file. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 delivering the processed image to a customer based on the other data associated with the image.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein processing the image includes rendering the image. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the other data includes at least one requested finishing technique and processing the image includes modifying the image based on the requested finishing technique. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the input device is a barcode scanner. 
     
     
         36 . A digital camera system for tracking digital images, the system comprising:
 an image capture device configured to capture a digital image;   one or more processing devices; and   one or more computer readable storage devices storing data instructions, which when executed by the one or more processing devices cause the one or more processing devices to:   obtain a first code from one or more input devices;   generate subject data identifying a subject from the first code;   obtain a second code from the one or more input devices;   generate other data from the second code;   capture an image of the subject with the image capture device;   store the image in an image file in the one or more computer readable storage devices, the image file including metadata including a metadata field; and
 store the subject data and the other data into the metadata field of the image file to associate the subject data and the other data with the image. 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein at least one of the one or more input devices is a barcode scanner. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the other data are organizational information. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein storing the subject data and the other data into the metadata field comprises converting a format of the subject data and the other data into a GPS data string format.