Mobile terminal and method for automatic geotagging

1. A mobile terminal configured for geotagging image data, the mobile terminal comprising:

a display configured to display information;

a memory configured to store information;

a camera configured to capture an image and generate the image data;

a location information module configured to determine location information of the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured to:

control the location information module to continuously determine the location information of the mobile terminal when the camera is activated;

control the display to display an indicator icon that indicates whether the location information is determined by the location information module;

control the display to display the indicator icon in a first state in which the indicator icon flashes when geotagging of the generated image data is being performed and the location information is being determined;

control the display to display the indicator icon in a second state in which the indicator icon does not flash when the location information has been determined;

control the display to reset the indicator icon to from the second state to the first state when the mobile terminal is moved to a different location;

control the camera to capture the image and generate the image data in response to a user input when the displayed indicator icon is in the second state;

control the memory to store the generated image data and the determined location information when the location information is determined;

control the display to display a notification message when the location information cannot be determined in order to inform a user that the generated image data is stored without the determined location information; and

control the memory to automatically store previously-determined location information with the generated image data when the location information cannot be determined.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first state is further distinguished from the second state based on a form of the displayed indicator icon or a color of the displayed indicator icon.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

access a map information database stored in the memory or a server;

receive geographical information corresponding to the determined location information; and

control the memory to store the received geographical information with the generated image data,

wherein the determined location information comprises global positioning system (GPS) related information, and

wherein the received geographical information comprises at least a name of a place, a name of a building, or a name of a road.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the stored location information and generated image data are each in an exchangeable image file (EXIF) format.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to display a notification message when the determined location information has been stored with the generated image data.

6. A method for automatically geotagging image data in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

continuously determining location information of the mobile terminal using a location information module of the mobile terminal when a camera of the mobile terminal is activated;

displaying an indicator icon on a display of the mobile terminal to indicate whether the location information is determined;

displaying the indicator icon in a first state in which the indicator icon flashes when geotagging of the image data is being performed and the location information is being determined;

displaying the indicator icon in a second state in which the indicator icon does not flash when the location information has been determined;

resetting the displayed indicator icon from the second state to the first state when the mobile terminal is moved to a different location;

generating the image data using the camera in response to a user input when the displayed indicator is in the second state;

storing the generated image data and the determined location information in a memory of the mobile terminal when the location information is determined;

displaying a notification message when the location information cannot be determined in order to inform a user that the generated image data is stored without the determined location information; and

automatically storing previously-determined location information with the generated image data when the location information cannot be determined.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first state is further distinguished from the second state based on a form of the displayed indicator icon or a color of the displayed indicator icon.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

accessing a map information database stored in the memory or a server;

receiving geographical information corresponding to the determined location information; and

storing the received geographical information with the generated image data,

wherein the determined location information comprises global positioning system (GPS) related information, and

wherein the received geographical information comprises at least a name of a place, a name of a building, or a name of a road.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

grouping a plurality of generated image data according to the determined location information and received geographical information; and

storing the plurality of generated image data in the memory based on the grouping.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

displaying a message on the display when the displayed indicator icon is in the first state, the message notifying the user that the location information has not yet been determined.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

displaying a notification message informing that the determined location information has been stored with the generated image data.