Categorization of Digital Media Based on Media Characteristics

Abstract

Techniques of digital media categorization are described. An exemplary technique can include receiving a plurality of media objects that includes a first media object and a second media object. Each media object may comprise one or more images. The exemplary technique can also include detecting a first feature in the first media object and a second feature in the second media object and determine that the first and second features are similar based on comparing the first and second features. Furthermore, the exemplary technique can include associating the first media object with the second media object based on metadata describing the first media object. The association can be performed based on the determined similarity. The exemplary technique can also include grouping the first and second media objects in response to the association. Other embodiments and/or techniques are possible.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions, the instructions comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a plurality of media objects that includes a first media object and a second media object, each media object comprising one or more images;   detect a first feature in the first media object and a second feature in the second media object;   compare the first and second features to determine a similarity between the first and second features;   associate, in response to the determined similarity, the first media object with the second media object based on metadata describing the first media object; and   group the first and second media objects in response to the association.   
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 2 , wherein a feature in a media object comprises one or more of a person's face as depicted in the media object, a portion of a person as depicted in the media object, an object as depicted in the media object, a landform as depicted in the media object, a building as depicted in the media object, a color of the media object, and a hue of the media object. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the metadata comprises one or more of:
 a description of the first feature;   a description of one or more third features of the first media object;   a description of the first media object's content;   time information associated with the first media object; and   geographic information associated with the first media object.   
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to determine that the first and second features are similar comprise instructions for causing the one or more processors to:
 determine, in response to the comparison of the first and second features, that a difference between the first and second features is within a threshold degree of variation.   
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the difference between the first and second features comprises one or more of:
 a difference in shading values of the first and second features;   a difference in proportion values of the first and second features;   a difference in color values of the first and second features; and   a difference in hue values of the first and second features.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to cause the one or more processors to cause a display to present one or more of the first and second media objects. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first and second media objects comprises one or more of:
 an image defined by a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) standard; and   an image defined in a graphics interchange format (GIF).   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to associate the first media object with the second media object comprise instructions for causing the one or more processors to:
 modify metadata describing the second media object based, at least in part, on at least some of the metadata describing the first media object, or   replace at least some of metadata describing the second media object with at least some of the metadata describing the first media object, or   append at least some of the metadata describing the first media object onto metadata describing the second media object.   
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, a plurality of media objects that includes a first media object and a second media object, each media object comprising one or more images;   detecting, by the one or more processors, a first feature in the first media object and a second feature in the second media object;   comparing the first and second features to determine a similarity between the first and second features;   associating, by the one or more processors and in response to the determined similarity, the first media object with the second media object based on metadata describing the first media object; and   grouping the first and second media objects in response to the association.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a feature in a media object comprises one or more of a person's face as depicted in the media object, a portion of a person as depicted in the media object, an object as depicted in the media object, a landform as depicted in the media object, a building as depicted in the media object, a color of the media object, and a hue of the media object. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the metadata comprises one or more of:
 a description of the first feature;   a description of one or more third features of the first media object;   a description of the first media object's content;   time information associated with the first media object; and   geographic information associated with the first media object.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining that the first and second features are similar comprises:
 determining, in response to the comparison of the first and second features, that a difference between the first and second features is within a threshold degree of variation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the difference between the first and second features comprises one or more of:
 a difference in shading values of the first and second features;   a difference in proportion values of the first and second features;   a difference in color values of the first and second features; and   a difference in hue values of the first and second features.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising causing, by the one or more processors, a display to present one or more of the first and second media objects. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first and second media objects comprises one or more of:
 an image defined by a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) standard; and   an image defined in a graphics interchange format (GIF).   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein associating the first media object with the second media object comprises:
 modifying metadata describing the second media object based, at least in part, on at least some of the metadata describing the first media object, or   replacing at least some of metadata describing the second media object with at least some of the metadata describing the first media object, or   appending at least some of the metadata describing the first media object onto metadata describing the second media object.   
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 logic circuitry configured to:
 receive a plurality of media objects that includes a first media object and a second media object, each media object comprising one or more images; 
 detect a first feature in the first media object and a second feature in the second media object; 
 compare the first and second features to determine a similarity between the first and second features; 
 associate, in response to the determined similarity, the first media object with the second media object based on metadata describing the first media object; and 
 group the first and second media objects in response to the association. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a feature in a media object comprises one or more of a person's face as depicted in the media object, a portion of a person as depicted in the media object, an object as depicted in the media object, a landform as depicted in the media object, a building as depicted in the media object, a color of the media object, and a hue of the media object. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the metadata comprises one or more of:
 a description of the first feature;   a description of one or more third features of the first media object;   a description of the first media object's content;   time information associated with the first media object; and   geographic information associated with the first media object.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic circuitry being configured to determine that the first and second features are similar comprises the logic circuitry being configured to:
 determine, in response to the comparison of the first and second features, that a difference between the first and second features is within a threshold degree of variation.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the difference between the first and second features comprises one or more of:
 a difference in shading values of the first and second features;   a difference in proportion values of the first and second features;   a difference in color values of the first and second features; and   a difference in hue values of the first and second features.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic circuitry is further configured to cause the one or more processors to cause a display to present one or more of the first and second media objects. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein one or more of the first and second media objects comprises one or more of:
 an image defined by a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) standard; and   an image defined in a graphics interchange format (GIF).   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic circuitry being configured to associate the first media object with the second media object comprises the logic circuitry being configured to:
 modify metadata describing the second media object based, at least in part, on at least some of the metadata describing the first media object, or   replace at least some of metadata describing the second media object with at least some of the metadata describing the first media object, or   append at least some of the metadata describing the first media object onto metadata describing the second media object.