System and method for storing and accessing images based on position data associated therewith

A method for storing and searching images on a single computer containing digital images, the method comprising:

• (a) associating with each image that is to be located on the computer, metadata relating to each image, said metadata comprising at least standardized information about the position where the image was created;
• and
• (b) in response to a user inputting a search criteria based on said standardized information, returning at least one image that matches the search criteria;
• and
• (c) generating a graphical representation of the location being searched, while showing each returned image on the representation.

A peer-to-peer photosharing system, comprising:

• a plurality of peer nodes, wherein each node stores respective images, and each image has an associated a set of metadata which is standardized information describing the image by at least the position where the image was created;
• a central site in communication with the peer nodes over a network, such that when images from each of the peer nodes are to be shared, the image data remains on the respective peer nodes, the central site further configured for functioning to allow a user of one of the peer nodes to submit a search request based on the metadata, and in response, returns at least one image locator matching the search criteria;
• and
• application software on each of the peer nodes for dynamically displaying at least one image by using the image locator to retrieve the at least one image from other peer nodes.

A system for storing and searching images on a single computer containing digital images, comprising:

• a computer storing images, and each image having an associated set of metadata which is standardized information describing the image by at least the position where the image was created;
• application software on the computer for allowing a user to submit a search request based on the metadata, and in response, return at least one image locator matching the search criteria;
• and
• application software on the computer for displaying the at least one image matching the search criteria.