Method for rating images to facilitate image retrieval

Abstract

A method for rating images to facitilate image retrival that includes, storing a plurality of digital image files in a digital memory; displaying the plurality of stored digital image files; 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. Whereupon being responsive to the user ratings, user image values are provided for each of the the plurality of displayed images. Additionally, the user image values are stored as metadata in each of the plurality of stored digital image files corresponding to the plurality of displayed images, wherein the user image value uses a multi-point scale and wherein a maximum point value corresponds to a best rating.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Regular Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 635,837 filed Aug. 6, 2003, titled “Digital Camera For Capturing Images And Selecting Metadata To Be Associated With The Captured Images “by Kenneth A. Parulski, et al.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to collecting and categorizing images. More specifically, the invention relates to a personal database of metadata labels constructed prior to image capture. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Image metadata is well-known, and is useful in retrieving desired images from a large collection of images. The Kodak DC265™ camera formulates many metadata items, such as the date / time, camera lens setting, scene light level, etc. when the picture is taken, and stores this metadata within the Exif / JPEG digital image file. Unfortunately, this metadata cannot identify the subject of the photo, or whether this parti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention has the advantage of allowing a user to preemptively categorize photos that are particularly noteworthy to the user. The application can display a menu of metadata labels, including labels such as “favorite photos,”“funny photos,” etc. The metadata labels, or alternatively metadata label identifier codes, are then stored within the image files and / or in a database separate from the image files, but referencing the appropriate images. At a later time, when the database contains hundreds or thousands of images, several metadata labels can be selected together to easily retrieve images. For example, by selecting the categories “Matthew,” Matthew's Birthday,” and “favorite photos,” the user can get a thumbnail display or slideshow of the “best” photos of Matthew taken on his birthday every year, rather than searching through a collection of hundreds or thousands of captured digital image files.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, this metadata cannot identify the subject of the photo, or whether this particular photo is one of the user's “favorite” photos.

Unfortunately, this is an extremely tedious method of adding metadata.

In addition, since the user may type in different text to describe the same item (e.g. Matt, Matthew, or X-mas, Christmas) the database may not contain consistent names for the same picture categories.

Unfortunately, these conventional software applications make it difficult for an untrained consumer to categorize their images in a way that enables them to later locate their favorite images of a selected subject.

Images