AUTOMATED MULTIPLE IMAGE PRODUCT SYSTEM
A computer system for making a multi-image product comprising a server connected to one or more remote clients through a network. Several software portions executable by the server or client, or any combination thereof, are provided for selecting first and second dates to define a date range and for selecting a theme, for retrieving a plurality of digital images that includes digital images taken within the date range, for segmenting the digital images into distinct events, each distinct event including one or more different digital images, for identifying distinct events corresponding to the theme, for selecting at least one digital image from each of at least two distinct events, and for incorporating the selected images into a multi-image product.
1 . A computer system for making a multi-image product, comprising:
a server computer connected to one or more remote client computers through a computer network;
a first software portion for selecting first and second dates to define a date range and for selecting a theme;
a second software portion for retrieving a plurality of digital images that includes digital images taken within the date range;
a third software portion for segmenting the digital images into distinct events, each distinct event including one or more different digital images;
a fourth software portion for identifying distinct events corresponding to the theme;
a fifth software portion for selecting at least one digital image from each of at least two distinct events;
a sixth software portion for incorporating the selected images into a multi-image product;
means for communicating or printing the multi-image product.
2 . The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising a seventh software portion that is transmitted to one of the remote client computers, the seventh software portion providing a user interface for interacting with a user to enable the selection of the first and second dates to define the date range and to select the theme.
3 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the software portions are stored on the server computer and some of the software portions are transmitted to one of the remote client computers where the transmitted software portions execute.
4 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein a season of a year is a distinct event.
5 . The computer system of claim 4 , further including an eight software portion for automatically analyzing pixels of one or more of the digital images to determine which one of a plurality of seasons is depicted by the one or more of the digital images.
6 . The computer system of claim 5 , further including an association set that includes 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.
7 . The computer system of claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more digital images includes an item from the association set.
8 . The computer system of claim 6 , further including a weighted value for each item detected in the one or more of the digital images.
9 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the weighted value indicates a likelihood that each item detected in the one or more of the digital images matches an item in the association set.
10 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the weighted value indicates a prevalence of each item, detected in the one or more of the digital images, in its associated season.
11 . A computer system for automatically designing a multi-image product, comprising:
a memory for storing a plurality of digital image files, each digital image file including a digital image and metadata defining the included digital image;
a user interface for selecting first and second dates to define a date range, and for selecting a theme, wherein the date range and the theme are stored in the memory;
a first program portion for reading the metadata to find ones of the digital image files having both capture dates that are within the date range and image elements corresponding to the theme;
a second program portion for sorting the digital image files into distinct event groups, each distinct event group including one or more different digital image files, and for selecting at least one digital image files from each of at least two distinct event groups;
a third program portion for arranging the selected images into a multi-image product; and
means for delivering the multi-image multi-event product.
12 . The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the system includes means for downloading the user interface.
13 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the user interface is downloaded to the computer system and at least some of the program portions reside on a server.
14 . The computer system of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of seasons is each stored on the computer system as a distinct event.
15 . The system of claim 14 , further including a fourth program portion for analyzing pixels of a digital image to determine which one of the plurality of seasons is depicted by the digital image.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further including an association set stored in the memory, the association set including items selected from the group consisting of objects, colors, textures, and shapes, wherein each of said objects, colors, textures, and shapes has one of the plurality of seasons logically associated therewith.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the digital images depicts an item from the association set.
18 . The system of claim 16 , further including a weighted value, associated with each item, stored in the memory.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the weighted value indicates a likelihood that its associated item in the association set matches an item detected in the digital image.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the weighted value indicates a prevalence value, of each item detected in the digital image, for its associated season.