Method and system for managing images over a communication network
OwnerDale F. McIntyre, John R. Fredlundinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, system and software product for managing digital media files for a user. An unique user icon or image content identifier is associated with an unique user that can be used for allowing controlled access by an authorized party to digital media files based on the presence of the icon. The digital image media file can be analyzed for determining if an image content identifier is present. The icon or image identifier allows for the automatically forwarding the digital image to an electronic address over the communication storing the image, based on identifying the feature within the image. The icon may also include metadata that is searchable.
Claims21
-3. (canceled)
A method for automatically forwarding a digital image file by a first party to a second party over a communication network, comprising the steps of:
- automatically analyzing the digital image file at a first party for determining if a portion of said digital image file matches an image content identifier file, said image content identifier file including an electronic address of a second party;
- and
- automatically forwarding said digital image file from said first party to said electronic address of said second party over said communication network if said image content identifier file matches a portion of said digital image file.
-9. (canceled)
A method for automatically sharing images over a communication network, comprising:
- obtaining at least one image identifier comprising an image content identifier file that includes an electronic address stored therein;
- automatically analyzing digital images at a first location different from a location of said electronic address for determining if said image content identifier file substantially matches a portion of said images;
- and
- automatically forwarding said images that substantially match said image content identifier file over said communication network to said electronic address.
-20. (canceled)
A computer software product for automatically forwarding an image by a first party to a second party over a communication network comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:
- automatically analyzing a digital image file using an image content identifier file for determining if a portion of said digital image file matches the image content identifier file, said image content identifier file including an electronic address of a second party;
- and
- automatically forwarding said digital image file from said first party to said electronic address of said second party over said communication network in response to determining that the portion of said digital image file matches said image content identifier file.
-30. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.