AUTOMATED IMAGE-SELECTION METHOD
A computer-implemented method for making a multi-image multi-event product, comprising storing a plurality of digital image files, each file including a digital image and metadata for the digital image. First and second selected dates defining a date range and a theme are stored in the computer system. Automatically identifying digital image files whose metadata include capture dates within the date range and theme elements comprises an identification of relevant images. Automatically sorting the identified relevant digital image files into distinct event groups and automatically incorporating those images into a multi-image, multi-event product.
1 . A method of making a multi-image multi-event product, comprising the steps of:
storing a plurality of digital image files each including metadata for its corresponding digital image;
storing first and second selected dates to define a date range;
storing a selected theme having associated therewith identifiable theme elements;
automatically identifying those of the digital image files whose metadata include both capture dates that are within the date range and theme elements associated with the selected theme;
automatically sorting the identified digital image files into distinct event groups, each event group including one or more of the digital image files;
automatically selecting at least one digital image file from each of at least two distinct event groups;
automatically incorporating images from said at least one digital image file from each of the at least two distinct event groups into a multi-image, multi-event product; and
delivering the multi-image multi-event product.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of printing the multi-image, multi-event product.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing first and second dates that are one year apart.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing first and second dates that correspond to a calendar year, a school year, or to the beginning and end of a period of activities related to a group.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically sorting the identified digital image files into distinct event groups that took place at different times.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of sorting the identified digital image files into distinct events that span the date range.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing a theme selected from the group consisting of an individual's life, events of a sports team, events of a group of people, events of a club, events of a musical group, events of a theater group, events of a political group, events of an organization, or events of a social group.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing duplicate or dud digital image files from the plurality of digital image files.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically calculating a quality value associated with at least some of the digital images and using the quality value to automatically select digital image files.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of using face recognition to identify digital images associated with the selected theme.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further including the step of sorting the identified digital image files into distinct season groups.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further including the step of automatically analyzing the pixels of the digital images to determine which one of a plurality of seasons is depicted by each of the digital images.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the pixels further includes the step of storing an association set including items selected from the group consisting of objects, colors, textures, and shapes, wherein each of said objects, colors, textures, or shapes has one of the plurality of seasons associated therewith.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the pixels includes the step of finding in one of the digital images an item from the association set and assigning said one of the digital images to a season corresponding to the item from the association set.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing includes the step of storing a weighted value for each item identified in a digital image.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the weighted value indicates a likelihood that each item identified in a digital image matches an item in the association set.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the weighted value indicates a prevalence of each item in its associated season.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-image multi-event product includes a pre-determined number of image openings and wherein a number of selected digital image files matches the number of image openings.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-image multi-event product includes a variable number of image openings and wherein a number of selected digital image files determines a number of digital images included in the multi-image multi-event product.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of using the metadata to select digital image files.