Automatic photo grouping by events

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9652693-B2
Application number	US-201514953386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2015
Priority date	Apr 29, 2013
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

Intuitive photo grouping is accomplished utilizing photo metadata information, including photos' timestamps, GPS information, name and storage folder identity, to automatically generate logical and meaningful event photo groupings for users.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to perform automated photo grouping of a set of user photos, the system comprising:
at least one element including at least one of a processor or hardware circuitry,
the at least one element configured to identify a first user photo associated with a first timestamp, the first timestamp indicating a time at which the first user photo is captured,
the at least one element configured to identify a second user photo associated with a second timestamp, the second timestamp indicating a time at which the second user photo is captured,
the at least one element configured to assign the first user photo to a first event group,
the at least one element configured to compare the first timestamp and the second timestamp to determine whether the second user photo is to be assigned to the first event group,
the at least one element configured to assign the second user photo to the first event group, which includes the first user photo, in response to a difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp being less than a maximum length of time,
the at least one element configured to assign the second user photo to a second event group that does not include the first user photo rather than the first event group in response to the difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp being greater than the maximum length of time,
the at least one element configured to assign the first user photo to a first event subgroup of the first event group based at least in part on the first user photo being captured at a first location,
the at least one element configured to calculate a distance between the first location and a second location at which the second user photo is captured,
the at least one element configured to divide the distance by the difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp to provide a first distance over time value,
the at least one element configured to compare the first distance over time value and a maximum distance over time value to determine whether the second user photo is to be assigned to the first event subgroup,
the at least one element configured to assign the second user photo to the first event subgroup in response to the difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp being less than the maximum length of time and further in response to the first distance over time value being less than the maximum distance over time value, and
the at least one element configured to assign the second user photo to a second event subgroup of the first event group in response to the difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp being less than the maximum length of time and further in response to the first distance over time value being greater than the maximum distance over time value.

2. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one element is configured to determine whether the second user photo is capable of belonging to a plurality of event subgroups that includes the second event subgroup; and
wherein the at least one element is configured to assign the second user photo to the second event subgroup further in response to a determination that the second user photo is capable of belonging to the plurality of event subgroups and further in response to a determination that a designated user photo in a plurality of photos that are included among the plurality of event subgroups is taken closest in time to the second user photo, as compared to others of the plurality of photos, and further in response to a determination that the designated user photo is included in the second event subgroup.

3. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one element is configured to determine whether the second user photo is capable of belonging to a plurality of event subgroups that includes the second event subgroup; and
wherein the at least one element is configured to assign the second user photo to the second event subgroup further in response to a determination that the second user photo is capable of belonging to the plurality of event subgroups and further in response to a determination that a designated user photo in a plurality of photos that are included among the plurality of event subgroups is taken closest in location to the second user photo, as compared to others of the plurality of photos, and further in response to a determination that the designated user photo is included in the second event subgroup.

4. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein one or more user photos that are included in the second event subgroup have one or more respective second names;
wherein one or more user photos that are included in a third event subgroup of the first event group have one or more respective third names;
wherein the at least one element is configured to assign the second user photo to the second event subgroup in response to the difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp being less than the maximum length of time and further in response to the first distance over time value being greater than the maximum distance over time value and further in response to a name of the second user photo being more similar to the one or more second names than the one or more third names; and
wherein the at least one element is configured to assign the second user photo to the third event subgroup in response to the difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp being less than the maximum length of time and further in response to the first distance over time value being greater than the maximum distance over time value and further in response to the name of the second user photo being more similar to the one or more third names than the one or more second names.

5. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one element is configured to identify a third user photo associated with a third timestamp, the third timestamp indicating a time at which the third user photo is captured, a difference between the first time stamp and the third time stamp being greater than the difference between the first time stamp and the second time stamp; and
wherein the at least one element is configured to compare the third timestamp and the second timestamp to determine whether the third user photo is to be assigned to the first event group, the second event group, or a third event group,
the at least one element configured to assign the third user photo to the first event group with the first user photo and the second user photo in response to a difference between the second timestamp and the third timestamp being less than the maximum length of time and further in response to the second user photo being assigned to the first event group,
the at least one element configured to assign the third user photo to the second event group with the second user photo in response to the difference between the second timestamp and the third timestamp being less than the maximum length of time and further in response to the second user photo being assigned to the second event group, and
the at least one element configured to assign the third user photo to the third event group that does not include the first user photo and that does not include the second user photo in response to the difference between the second timestamp and the third timestamp being greater than the maximum length of time.

6. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one element is configured to identify a third user photo associated with a third timestamp, the third timestamp indicating a time at which the third user photo is captured, a difference between the first time stamp and the third time stamp being greater than the difference between the first time stamp and the second time stamp;
wherein the at least one elemen

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Pozas Trevino Jorge F
• Suley Vinayak N
• Edmiston Greg
• Miranda-Steiner Jose Emmanuel

Classifications

• G11B27/28 Primary

  by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording {(G11B27/22 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G06V10/764

  using classification, e.g. of video objects · CPC title

• G06F18/2431

  Multiple classes · CPC title

• G11B27/329

  on a disc [VTOC] · CPC title

• G06K9/6202

  Physics · mapped topic