Automated Image Organization via Geolocation and Event Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital photographs often lack rich identifying information, making it difficult for users to organize and find specific images among large collections, as they typically only contain date and time metadata, which is insufficient for efficient retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A method that automatically organizes images by grouping them based on geolocation and time information, and assigns titles to these groups using event information or text-based feature labels, allowing for the creation of structured albums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If digital photographs are stored with minimal metadata (only date and time), then storage efficiency is improved, but image retrieval and organization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically extracting features from images and pre-generating multiple potential titles and descriptions before user retrieval. This includes identifying visible features, comparing them against repositories, and preparing organized collections with suggested metadata in advance, so that when users search, the information is already prepared and ready for immediate display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between image storage and user retrieval. This intermediary system automatically analyzes images, extracts features, generates metadata suggestions, and organizes collections without requiring users to manually add detailed information. The intermediary bridges the gap between minimal stored metadata and comprehensive retrieval needs.
2Reliability
If users manually organize photographs into albums with detailed naming, then image organization quality is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically performing organization tasks that would otherwise require manual user input. The computer automatically extracts visible features from images, compares them against repositories to identify events and locations, generates appropriate titles and descriptions, and organizes images into collections without user intervention. Users simply review and approve the automatically generated organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of organizing photos with an automated computational system. Instead of users manually creating albums, naming them, and sorting images, the system uses computer vision to extract features, automated comparison algorithms to identify events and locations, and software to automatically create and populate collections, substituting human manual labor with automated processing.
3Speed
If date and time metadata is used for organization, then chronological retrieval is improved, but contextual retrieval capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by implementing a unified organization system that simultaneously supports multiple retrieval methods. The same automated feature extraction and collection organization process that enables chronological retrieval also enables contextual retrieval by location, event, and visible features. A single organizational structure serves multiple access paths, allowing users to retrieve images by date, place, event type, or visual content.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes obtaining a plurality of images, including geolocation information and time information for each image. The method also includes identifying a group of related images from the plurality of images from a common geographical area and a common time period based on the geolocation information and the time information for each of the plurality of images, and identifying an event that occurred within the common time period and within the common geographical area by searching a repository of event information. The method also includes storing the group of related images in an image collection, and assigning a title to the image collection, wherein the title is based at least in part on a title of the event.