Method and apparatus for photograph finding
AssigneeIntellectual Ventures I LLC
InventorGary Stephen Shuster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Digital image data including discrete photographic images of a variety of different subjects, times, and so forth, are collected and analyzed to identify specific features in the photographs. In an embodiment of the invention, distinctive markers are distributed to aid in the identification of particular subject matter. Facial recognition may also be employed. The digital image data is maintained in a database and quarried in response to search requests. The search requests include criteria specifying any feature category or other identifying information, such as date, time, and location that each photograph was taken, associated with each photograph. Candidate images are provided for review by requesters, who may select desired images for purchase or downloading.
Claims20
(canceled)
A method, comprising:
- a computer system receiving a search request that includes a digital image;
- the computer system analyzing the digital image to identify characteristics of the digital image, including determining a set of one or more colors included in the digital image;
- the computer system searching, using the identified characteristics, information specifying characteristics of respective ones of a plurality of stored digital images;
- the computer system selecting one or more of the plurality of stored digital images, wherein the selecting is based on a comparison of the identified characteristics and characteristics specified by the information, wherein the compared characteristics include colors included in the digital images;
- and
- the computer system returning the selected one or more digital images.
A system, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- one or more memories having program instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a search request that includes a digital image;
- analyzing the digital image to identify characteristics of the digital image, including determining a set of one or more colors included in the digital image;
- searching, using the identified characteristics, information specifying characteristics of respective ones of a plurality of stored digital images;
- selecting one or more of the plurality of stored digital images, wherein the selecting is based on a comparison of the identified characteristics and characteristics specified by the information, wherein the compared characteristics include colors included in the digital images;
- and
- returning the selected one or more digital images.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a computing device to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a search request that includes a digital image;
- analyzing the digital image to identify characteristics of the digital image, including determining a set of one or more colors included in the digital image;
- searching, using the identified characteristics, information specifying characteristics of respective ones of a plurality of stored digital images;
- selecting one or more of the plurality of stored digital images, wherein the selecting is based on a comparison of the identified characteristics and characteristics specified by the information, wherein the compared characteristics include colors included in the digital images;
- and
- returning the selected one or more digital images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.