Method and apparatus for producing digital images with embedded image capture location icons
View Patent ↗A digital image production and display method and apparatus produce digital images ( 102 ) that include at least one iconic region ( 104 ) having one or more location icons ( 106 ) with a likeness corresponding to the geographic location at which a digital image was captured. The capture location iconic region ( 104 ) contains several hierarchical layers of linked icons ( 106.1–106. n ) varying from a general geographic location to a more specific one. A click on a thumbnail button in an icon displays a new icon with greater specificity of the geographic location of where the image was captured, culminating in one or more user-chosen icons representing very specific locations ( 106.1–106.5 ), and in the preferred embodiment, a hyperlink to a sponsor-chosen web site ( 106. n ) on the World Wide Web. The icons are chosen from an icon library ( 432 ) to correspond to Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) information generated by a GPS receiver ( 424 ) integrated with or proximate with a digital camera ( 402 ) when an image is captured.
1. A method for producing geographical information to be presented with a a digital image for display, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving position information corresponding to a geographical location where said digital image is captured;
converting said position information into at least one user perceivable image capture location icon comprising, at least in part, an image representing the geographical location where said digital image is captured; and
generating a display presenting both said digital image and an associated capture location iconic region, said capture location iconic region comprising an associated a plurality of hierarchically layered image capture location icons arranged according to geographic specificity.
2. The method in claim 1 wherein said position information is from a Global Positioning Satellite/System (GPS).
3. The method in claim 1 wherein said capture location icons are interactive.
4. The method in claim 1 wherein said image capture location icons are linked, and activated for display by a user.
5. The method in claim 1 wherein said capture location iconic region further comprises a web site icon having a hyperlink to web site or other network database.
6. The method in claim 5 wherein said web site icon is layered with said image capture location icons.
7. The method in claim 1 wherein said capture location iconic region further comprises at least one icon corresponding to an entity affiliated with said image capture location.
8. The method in claim 1 wherein said converting step comprises the steps of
accessing an icon graphics library having multiple location icons; and
generating an icon from said icon graphics library based upon said position information.
9. The method in claim 1 wherein said position information is from a Radio Triangulation (RT) System.
10. A system for producing geographical information to be presented with a digital image for display, said system comprising:
a position information receiver adapted to receive position information corresponding to a geographical location where said digital image is captured;
an image capture location icon generator adapted to convert said position information into at least one user perceivable image capture location icon comprising, at least in part, an image representing the geographical location where said digital image is captured; and
a display generator adapted to generate a display presenting both said digital image and an associated capture location iconic region, said capture location iconic region an associated a plurality of hierarchically layered image capture location icons arranged according to geographic specificity.
11. The system in claim 10 wherein said position information is from a Global Positioning Satellite/System (GPS).
12. The system in claim 10 wherein said capture location icons are interactive.
13. The system in claim 10 wherein said image capture location icons are linked, and activated for display by a user.
14. The system in claim 10 wherein said capture location iconic region further comprises a web site icon having a hyperlink to web site.
15. The system in claim 14 wherein said web site icon is layered with said image capture location icons.
16. The system in claim 10 wherein said capture location iconic region further comprises at least one icon corresponding to an entity affiliated said image capture location.
17. The system in claim 10 wherein said image capture location icon generator comprises an icon graphics library having multiple location icons, from which an icon from said icon graphics library is generated based upon said position information.
18. The system in claim 10 wherein said position information is from a Radio Triangulation (RT) System.
19. The system in claim 10 further including a digital camera adapted to capture a digital image.
20. A processing unit for producing geographical information to be presented with a digital image for display, comprising:
a position information receiver circuit adapted to receive position information corresponding to a geographical location where a digital image has been captured;
an image capture location icon generator circuit adapted to convert said position information into a plurality user perceivable image capture location icons with each icon comprising, at least in part, an image that represents the geographical location where said digital image is captured and with each image providing a different level of specificity of information about the geographical location; and
a display generator adapted to generate at least one display image presenting both said digital image and an associated capture location iconic region wherein said capture location iconic region comprises a plurality of image capture location icons with each image capture location icon being linked to another image capture location icon in a hierarchically layered arrangement so that activation thereof by a user causes a different one of the icons to be presented in the capture location iconic region.