System and method for automatic analysis and categorization of images in an electronic imaging device

Abstract

A system and method for the automatic analysis and categorization of images in an electronic imaging device comprises one or more analysis modules that examine captured image files for selected criteria. The analysis modules then responsively generate and store appropriate category tags with the image file to enable the imaging device to subsequently access the stored category tags and automatically access desired categories of captured images.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for categorizing images, comprising: 
 an analysis module configured to analyze said images;    a processor coupled to said system for controlling said analysis module; and    category tags attached by said analysis module to each of said images, thereby enabling said processor to sort said images into different categories.    
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said processor automatically sorts said images into said different categories.  
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said images are captured by an electronic imaging device.  
     
     
         4 . The system of    claim 2    wherein said electronic imaging device is a digital camera.  
     
     
         5 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said analysis module includes one or more analysis algorithms for identifying said different categories.  
     
     
         6 . The system of    claim 5    wherein said analysis module includes combination logic for combining analysis results from said analysis algorithms.  
     
     
         7 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said analysis module includes parametric controls for controlling said analysis module.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said analysis module is selectively loaded into a volatile memory from a removable memory.  
     
     
         9 . The system of    claim 1    further comprising a plurality of analysis modules.  
     
     
         10 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said images each are stored as image data contained in individual image files.  
     
     
         11 . The system of    claim 10    wherein said category tags are stored with said image data in said individual image files.  
     
     
         12 . The system of    claim 1    further comprising an image processing backplane communicating with image processing modules.  
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 12    further comprising one or more insertion points between said image processing modules for inserting said analysis module to analyze said images.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 13    wherein a selectable plurality of analysis modules are inserted into said one or more insertion points.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 13    further comprising an RGB insertion point and a YCC insertion point.  
     
     
         16 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said analysis module is configured to recognize and label said images that match predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         17 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said analysis module is configured to access and categorize said images after said images have been processed and stored into a storage device.  
     
     
         18 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said processor sorts said images by accessing and analyzing said category tags attached to each of said images.  
     
     
         19 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said different categories include human images and nature images.  
     
     
         20 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said different categories include city images and water images.  
     
     
         21 . A method for automatically categorizing images, comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing said images with an analysis module;    controlling said analysis module with a processor coupled to said system; and    attaching category tags to each of said images with said analysis module, thereby enabling said processor to sort said images into different categories.    
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said processor automatically sorts said images into said different categories.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said images are captured by an electronic imaging device.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said electronic imaging device is a digital camera.  
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said analysis module includes one or more analysis algorithms for identifying said different categories.  
     
     
         26 . The method of    claim 25    wherein said analysis module includes combination logic for combining analysis results from said analysis algorithms.  
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said analysis module includes parametric controls for controlling said analysis module.  
     
     
         28 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said analysis module is selectively loaded into a volatile memory from a flash disk.  
     
     
         29 . The method of    claim 21    further comprising a plurality of analysis modules.  
     
     
         30 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said images each are stored as image data contained in individual image files.  
     
     
         31 . The method of    claim 30    wherein said category tags are stored with said image data in said individual image files.  
     
     
         32 . The method of    claim 21    further comprising an image processing backplane communicating with image processing modules.  
     
     
         33 . The method of    claim 32    further comprising one or more insertion points between said image processing modules for inserting said analysis module to analyze said images.  
     
     
         34 . The method of    claim 33    wherein a selectable plurality of analysis modules are inserted into said one or more insertion points.  
     
     
         35 . The method of    claim 33    further comprising an RGB insertion point and a YCC insertion point.  
     
     
         36 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said analysis module is configured to initially recognize and label said images that match predetermined criteria immediately upon capture of said images.  
     
     
         37 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said analysis module is configured to access and categorize said images after said images have been processed and stored into a storage device.  
     
     
         38 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said processor sorts said images by accessing and analyzing said category tags attached to each of said images.  
     
     
         39 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said different categories include human images and nature images.  
     
     
         40 . The method of    claim 21    wherein said different categories include city images and water images.  
     
     
         41 . A system for automatically categorizing images, comprising: 
 means for analyzing said images;    means for controlling said means for analyzing; and    means for attaching category tags to each of said images, thereby enabling said means for controlling to sort said images into different categories.    
     
     
         42 . A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for automatically categorizing images by performing the steps of: 
 analyzing said images with an analysis module;    controlling said analysis module with a processor coupled to said system; and    attaching category tags to each of said images with said analysis module, thereby enabling said processor to sort said images into different categories.