Automatic digital image grouping using criteria based on image metadata and spatial information
US7580952B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99953
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automatic digital image grouping system and method for automatically generating groupings of related images based on criteria that includes image metadata and spatial information. The system and method takes an unordered and unorganized set of digital images and organizes and groups related images into image subsets. The criteria for defining an image subset varies and can be customized depending on the needs of the user. Metadata (such as EXIF tags) already embedded inside the images is used to extract likely image subsets. This metadata may include the temporal proximity of images, focal length, color overlap, and geographical location. The first component of the automatic image grouping system and method is a subset image stage that analyzes the metadata and generates potential image subsets containing related images. The second component is an overlap detection stage, where potential image subset is analyzed and verified by examining pixels of the related images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.