Shared image database with geographic navigation
View Patent ↗There is disclosed a method and device for operating an image database shared by a plurality of users. In an embodiment, each image captured by a user and stored in a shared image database is associating with the geographic coordinates of the location at which the image was captured. A search engine for the image database is configured to accept geographic coordinates as a search criterion for locating at least one captured image stored in the shared image database. The images having location coordinates within a predefined range of geographic coordinates is displayed to the user.
1. A computer-implemented method executed on a computing device, the method comprising:
receiving geographic coordinates from a user interface;
causing a search of an external image database, for at least one image with coordinates near the geographic coordinates; and
displaying on the device an image from the search.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying a name of a location based on the geographic coordinates received from the user interface;
wherein the name corresponds to the geographic coordinates.
3. A computer-implemented method executed on a computing device, the method comprising:
obtaining geographic coordinates from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;
configuring the device for causing a search of an external image database, for at least one image with coordinates near the geographic coordinates; and
displaying on the device an image from the search.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:
displaying a name of a location based on the geographic coordinates received from the GPS receiver; and
wherein the name corresponds to the geographic coordinates.
5. A computer-implemented method executed on a computing device, the method comprising:
determining geographic coordinates from a selection of a point on a map displayed on the device;
configuring the device for causing a search of an external image database for at least one image with coordinates near the geographic coordinates; and
displaying on the device an image from the search.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:
displaying a name of a location based on the geographic coordinates of the point on the map; and
wherein the name corresponds to the geographic coordinates.
7. A computing device for searching an external image database, the computing device comprising a processor configured to:
receive geographic coordinates from a user interface;
cause a search of the external image database for at least one image with coordinates near the geographic coordinates; and
display on a display an image from the search.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display a name of a location based on the geographic coordinates received from the user interface; and
wherein the name corresponds to the geographic coordinates.
9. A computing device for searching an external image database shared by a plurality of users, the computing device comprising:
a Global Positioning System for determining geographic coordinates of a current location of the device;
an interface for causing a search of the external image database for at least one image with coordinates near the geographic coordinates; and
a display for displaying an image from the search.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display a name of a location in based on geographic coordinates received from the GPS receiver; and
wherein the name corresponds to the geographic coordinates.
11. A computing device for searching an external image database shared by a plurality of users, the computing device comprising:
a display for displaying a map;
a user interface for selecting a point on the map from which geographic coordinates are determined;
an interface for causing a search of the external image database for at least one image with coordinates near the geographic coordinates; and
wherein the display further displays an image from the search.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display a name of a location based on geographic coordinates of the point on the map; and
wherein the name corresponds to the geographic coordinates.
13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one image near the geographic coordinates is associated with a location within a range of the geographic coordinates.
14. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2 wherein the range is a predetermined range.
15. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the geographic coordinates correspond to a point on a map selected via the user interface.
16. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the geographic coordinates correspond to a name of a location.
17. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one image has location coordinates and is associated with the geographic coordinates if within a range of the geographic coordinates.
18. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the geographic coordinates comprise latitude and longitude coordinates.
19. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the computing device is a wireless communications device.
20. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 wherein receiving comprises detecting a selection of a point on a map corresponding to the geographic coordinates.